Zing!

 

1. Chicago has long had violence issues, so why all of a sudden is Chicago in the news for murders? We get it, mass shootings & murders are commonplace. No need to constantly report that 50+ people were shot & killed.

2. Stevie J (Love & Hip Hop Atlanta) is doing the most. He's got Mimi and Joseline wrapped around his finger. When he says jump, they ask how high.

3. There's a time & place for everything: A time for laughter & grief, a time for jokes and seriousness, a time for grinding, and a time to relax. You get where I'm going with this?

4. Why is it that seemingly all singers get hooked on drugs? You have fame & fortune, and throw it away because you want to puff, puff, pass.

5. It's hard for most people to trust, because they have taken so many L's in life.

6. Sometimes, God will take you through storms in your childhood, so you can become a strong (wo)man.

7. You have to go back 60 years in order to find good music. Today's music is fecal matter.

8. When it comes to food, I'm not picky. As long as it tastes good, I'm all in.

9. Jay-Z, Stevie Wonder, Usher, and other artists are boycotting Florida because of our Stand Your Ground Law. Florida will go on with(out) them. Besides, millions of tourists will continue coming to Florida for vacation.

10. When you say, "I'll do anything", be ready for someone to hold you to that.

11. Some people want the fame and glory right now. They want the high paying job, want the perfect relationship, want the success now. But what seeds have you sewn to yield that crop? Thankfulness and humility goes a long way.

12. Going to the gym is my time to get away from everything & everyone. When I'm working out, I have no worries.

13. Ever since Lebron James said "I ain't got no worries". I try to adopt that motto to my life.

14. In order to prosper, you may have to leave your stagnant environment. For example: If you're looking for a decent job, and can't find one where you're at, look elsewhere.

15. Why are some people afraid to step out on faith? The worst that can happen is *gasp* THINGS FALL INTO PLACE!

Real Talk In 140 Characters Or Less

1. Men who say we need to heal our women, are the very ones who hurt them.

2. When a woman says she wants a man who can "handle" her, she means tolerate her disrespect, and he not check her.

3. Constant prayer for things to be alright means nothing without actually putting in WORK for it. The Bible says, faith without works is dead.

4. Making cornball moves like getting rid of Nate Robinson guarantees the Bulls will NEVER see another championship. Nate Robinson had heart.

5. Just like you can be fed God's word under the right ministry, you can be fed poison under the wrong ministry.

6. Some blacks raise hell on Trayvon Martin's behalf, but go back to shooting each other in the streets over perceived disrespect. Yes, way to go. MLK would be proud.

7. Everybody is scared to come to Florida, because of the Stand Your Ground Law. Interesting, because other states have similar laws, and people still visit those. That's fine, Florida will continue prospering with(out) a select few.

8. There can only be one chief, and one Indian. If you have two or more chiefs, each will try to push their agenda.

9. Employers complain about the lack of qualified candidates; Of course some employers are going to complain, because employees won't allow companies to lowball them.

10. I wonder if I can have my own reality show; think about it, I get paid $500,000 per episode to make a fool of myself on national TV.

11. Some women expect a man to be complete before stepping to her, but she won't help him come up.

12. Some people have a knack for selectively quoting the Bible. They quote scripture when it suits them.

13. Since when did church become a social club?

14. When a man tells the truth about a woman, he should expect deflection, and attacks on his manhood and/or sexuality.

15. When you have responsibilities, you don't have time to dream. Dreaming is what you did when you were a child.

Church Beef

 "I Told You So" isn't one of my favorite phrases, but I utter it from time to time. This is what I don't like: Whenever a church split happens, half or 3/4 of the congregation follows a pastor to his new church. The former pastor badmouths the church, and those who still attend. Ok, if you started a new church, why are you still hating on the old church you left? That's stupid. Are you that bitter because the pastor of your old church hasn't given you the time of day? He refuses to speak ill of you, because his focus is on HIS OWN CHURCH. If I'm a pastor, and I have a successful ministry; I'm not worried about what the next pastor is doing. My focus is on being a shepherd to my congregation, feeding them God's Word, so they can go out and make disciples. If a pastor wants to badmouth another pastor, that's his decision. Understand that he's contributing to the lack of souls being won for God's Kingdom. Unsaved people come to your church looking to get fed, and you go on tirades about how this and that church did you wrong. What message are you sending to the unsaved? Better yet, what does that say to your congregation? No one in their right mind would sit under a ministry that a pastor shoots venom out of their mouth, at least I wouldn't. Just like you can get fed God's word under the right ministry, you can get fed poison under the wrong ministry. Looking for a church is just as important as choosing who to spend your life with, what college you're going to, which job to take, etc. You wouldn't buy the first car you see (unless you already did your homework, and that car has what you're looking for.), so why would you just follow man? That's the problem with some Christians, they idolize man instead of God. When your focus is on a pastor instead of God, God will remove that pastor. He wants all eyes on Him. All these Christians who sit under a poisonous pastor are blind. They don't have sense enough to get out from that church, and look for another church. You want to know why? Finding a church that preaches accountability, and growing in God is TOO MUCH LIKE RIGHT.

People First, Things Second

Question From A Friend: I have a question. Several men from facebook have asked when am I coming to see them, a couple offered to send me tickets. None have been my type. For one, my type wouldn't ask. He would come to me. Anyway, I haven't expressed that sort of interest, and I don't catty myself like that online. What gives?

MY RESPONSE: Simple. They want to enjoy your company. Doesn't matter if they're not your type, you never turn down free tickets, especially if they're paying. On to my sermon. I hear many people say People First, Things Second. What does that statement mean to me? To me, that means you value people over posessions, which is how it should be. Posessions will fade away, but people will remain forever, in most cases. Let me speak on People First, Things Second from a relationship standpoint. When two people are getting to know each other, they engage in small talk, along with probing questions. The probing questions are designed to gauge his/her outlook on life, their beginning, and how that has shaped the way they view the world, etc. An established (wo)man seeks a likeminded person, but also wants to be a husband/wife, and eventually have children. When family comes into the picture, a man's priorities change. It's not about going out with the fellas every night, it's about being there for your family so you can provide them with guidance through life's turbulent waters. A man's identity is tied with being a provider. Even the Bible states that a man who doesn't provide for his family is worse than an unbeliever. Many men don't understand that provision isn't necessarily about finances, but providing time, affection, and guidance to those under you. Once you (the man) are gone, your family is left to carry on your legacy. A man can leave a good or bad legacy for his family. A bad legacy involves a man putting his job ahead of his family; he's so focused on trying to move up the ladder, that his family is put on the backburner. The wife gets lonely, and may resort to adultery (which I don't condone, but I see why it happens). The kids wonder why dad's never home, and start doubting his love for them. Over time, the children become accustomed to their father being a workaholic, that they could care less whether he's there or not. A good legacy involves a man being there for his family, even at the expense of his job. He has the choice of missing his daughter's school play or son's football game in lieu of a big work project, that carries major implications: Big promotion with a 30% raise, with an appearance in Who's Who Magazine For Executives. The father puts his children first, even if he may not get that big raise by taking on that project. For him, seeing his children smile is far more important. It boils down to priorities: What a person values, goes into how they conduct their lives.

Respect Yourself

 

I approve this message 100%. If a woman doesn't respect herself, she can't expect a man to respect her. Respect will always be a 2-way street. The respect factor goes double for a couple in a committed relationship. What woman wants to spend her life with a man who doesn't respect her? No Bueno. Then again, some women have low self-esteem that they will tolerate disrespect from her man, so she won't have to be alone. Usually, these women are tired of being alone so they settle for a no-good man. I feel like this: A disrespectful woman DOES NOT deserve respect from anyone, let alone a man. Look at her ratchet conduct, and tell me you would respect a woman who's acting out of character. I have a hard time respecting women WHO don't behave in a worthy manner. It's very simple: To get respect, you have to earn it. There are some women who believe ALL women deserve respect, regardless of how ratchet she is. I have a hard time following logic like this. I appreciate the loyalty of some women, but the stand-up women can easily become tainted by the unruly ones. There's a saying that I go by, and it fits: The majority dictates the whole. Simply put, if the majority of people are foul, then the entire population is foul, even if a select few don't partake in foolishness. Stand-up women who condone disrespectful women are not a good look; What fellowship does light have with darkness? NONE. If you're condoning the actions of disrespectful women, then that means you support ratchet behavior; most likely you partake of such behavior yourself. In case some people forget the text in the picture, I will repeat myself: It's a man's job to respect a woman, BUT it's a woman's job to give him something to respect. Then again, I steer clear of nonsense, so that's why I don't have the conundrums of most people. I respect those who respect me; that will never change. Flipping the script, some women respect themselves and those around them, and many stand-up women STILL get disrespected by some men aka clowns. It's a Catch 22.

 

 

Socialite vs. Homebody, Can It Work?

Shout Out to Jeannine Carswell for this topic. If there's any definition of opposites, it's the Socialite/Homebody relationship. A socialite someone who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining, and being entertained at fashionable events attended by others of similar standing. Socialites are often in the top 1-2% income bracket, so in a sense, they can afford to participate in social events. A homebody is a person who prefers home-based activities; they're a stay-at-home person. If there's a good example of opposites, it's the socialite/homebody relationship. Socialites like to be out & about, whereas homebodies prefer home activities. Homebodies aren't concerned with being seen, although their relationships center around those of similar standing. Can a homebody and socialite work? Yes & No. Yes, because if they have a common goal, and are willing to work towards that purpose; they should be able to have a successful relationship. No, because the homebody may want to spend time with a socialite (wo)man, and if (s)he has to compete for time, that poses a problem. Socialites have many demands on their time, that I'm willing to guess many of them are unmarried. Homebodies have periods where they are out & about, but much of their time is spent at home. A homebody's best bet is to seek out a likeminded person. They can spend all their time in the confines of their home. There is someone for everyone, let's make that clear. Just like socialites are better suited for socialites because fellow socialites understand time committments, the same applies for homebodies. Only in extreme cases can socialites and homebodies work, because both parties take time to understand each other's lifestyles. It takes a lot of understanding on both sides, and many people don't have the patience for it.

Justice For All? I Can't Tell

 

Anyone who has recited the Pledge Of Allegiance, knows the last sentence: One Nation Under God, With Liberty, & Justice For All. In a perfect world, there would be Justice For All, but we live in a flawed society so you do the math. When I think of Justice For All, I envision JUSTICE FOR ALL. That's what the statement is supposed to mean, right? Wrong. As evidenced in the Trayvon Martin trial, the facts can be in your favor and you still get no justice. What are you supposed to do then? Keep fighting for justice. Trayvon Martin's parents have filed a civil suit against Zimmerman, and they should. Don't let this slide; Not Guilty doesn't mean the case is over. When it comes to your family, you can't let things slide. You have to fight for your family because no one else will. Trayvon Martin's parents are in my prayers, that they will get some kind of justice for their son. Even though the criminal justice system failed them, they still have some hope. Only this time, I hope things work out for the Martins. People are expected to have faith in a flawed criminal justice system, because IT'S THE LAW. Well, how can one have faith in something that's proven to favor a select few? Let me explain: Two people commit the same crime (one black, and working class; one is white and in the top 1% of incomes.) They are charged with 1st degree murder, let's say the black killed someone in self-defense (similar to the way Zimmerman did Trayvon). The evidence clearly shows the black man killed in self-defense, whereas the white man deliberately shot someone. Who do you think is going to get off? The white person, because he will be able to afford top-notch legal representation. It's true that with the right amount of money, you can buy the best of anything, including legal representation. Sorry, but the black person will be charged with 1st degree murder, even though he has a strong case, and all evidence points to him shooting in self-defense. I can seriously understand why some blacks have little to no faith in the criminal justice system, because it has been slighted towards African-Americans for the longest. It's mess like this that's why I don't want to bring children in this world. I do NOT want my kid(s) subjected to wanton foolishness, and unfairness. I just pray that no other parent has to endure what Trayvon Martin's parents are going through.