The Field: Miami

I received this video on my Facebook wall from a friend, and I must say it's a well-done documentary on the REAL Miami. Anyone from Miami understands that Miami isn't just South Beach, but the real Miami has the hoods, poverty, violence and drugs. Each neighborhood profiled shows aspiring rappers telling their story through their music. Watch the video:

I Want A Promotion

When someone gets a job, hopefully they don't want to stay in the same spot 5 or 10 years from now. Many people should want to move up in the company, because that shows you're willing to stretch out of your professional comfort zone. It's fine to want a promotion, but if it comes at the expense of your peace of mind, you might want to scale back a bit. Every job I may have in the future, yes I want to advance in the company, but if I'm going to be stressed everyday, forget it. I would rather make the same money and have peace of mind, than land a promotion and have headaches everyday. I don't have time for that. As much as I've gone through in my life, I'm trying to keep my life stress-free as much as I can. That involves using my discernment to know that if I'm presented with an opportunity to get ahead, I'm gonna pray about it and request a week to weigh the pros and cons. If the pros outweigh the cons, I move forward. If the cons outweigh the pros, I'm falling back.

Promotions bring out the worst in people, because so much is at stake. You get a big pay increase, challenging projects, you get to network with higher-ups, and you're closer to the executive ranks. If a supervisor told their staff "Whoever has the best proposal for this project is in line for a promotion", the backstabbing is sure to fly. There will be people who will get ahead by any means necessary, even if they have to step on others to win. I couldn't go out like that. I get ahead the right way, because I want to sleep at night. One fact people learn about getting promotions: The higher up you go in the company, the more responsibility you'll have. Some people can handle the responsibility of a promotion, others can't, and that's ok. When it comes to promotions, make sure you know what you're getting into.

I'm Not A Virgin, But My Lady Has To Be One

Some men want their lady to be a virgin when he's slept with half the female population. Where They Do That At? #ThickerThanWater.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) January 27, 2015

I'm watching last night's Thicker Than Water when Cyrene and her boyfriend were chilling at the pool. They discuss sex when her boyfriend reveals that he's not a virgin. He asks Cyrene if she's a virgin and Cyrene says yes. That's good, right? Right, except for one problem: Her boyfriend has the nerve to say that he doesn't want a girl that's been with other guys sexually. Let me get this straight: Some men want their lady to be pure while he defiled himself with other women? I need to do some research to figure out where they do that at. If a man is promiscuous, he cannot expect his woman to be a virgin. No woman who's a virgin would want an experienced man because he's going to want to test drive her. He might as well get an experienced woman who would be comparable to him. Cyrene's virginity is very important to her, and she shouldn't allow her boyfriend to make her feel bad for it. Put it this way: If a man wants a virgin woman, he should be a virgin. If a man wants an experienced woman, he should be experienced as well. A couple must be compatible on all fronts in order for their relationship to work. I just think it's hilarious that some men believe they're entitled to a virgin woman when some of them have slept with everything walking. But hey, there's nothing wrong with wanting a higher caliber woman, right? Some men just need to make sure that before they demand their woman be a virgin, he's also pure himself. There's nothing worse than a non-virgin man and a virgin woman. 

Bull's Eye

The Bible was spot on when it said the enemy has a Bull's Eye on God's people. Whenever Satan targets God's children, it's for a reason: The devil doesn't like the anointing that's on someone's life, and Satan will come with everything he's got to ensure he derails a child of God from their calling. My heart goes out to all pastors and their wives for being willing to stand in the gap and be leaders to their congregation. It takes a strong (wo)man to shoulder the burden of leading their congregation to God. Ultimately, God can bring someone to him on his own, but pastors' responsibility is to point people to Christ. Pastors have burdens their congregation will never understand, because many pastors won't be open about their struggles. The reason is that the congregation looks to their pastor for spiritual guidance, and if the pastor can't keep it together, what does that mean for the rest of the congregation? Pastors are human just like everyone else, and it takes a brave soul to tell his congregation "I'm your pastor, but I'm human. I struggle just like you guys, but I know someone who has your back." It's important for Christians to keep their pastors in prayer, because pastors are fighting battles that their congregation may never know about. Pastors & spiritual leaders have taken on the charge of leading their congregation to God, and anytime someone's called into ministry, they can expect the enemy to come at them hardcore.

R.I.P? Only If You're Right With God.

Death should be nothing to cry over. That's passage to heaven (if your loved one was right with God).

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) January 20, 2015

Death is something we all experience: Some experience death earlier than others, but eventually everyone will have to come to terms with their pending demise. The best way to live is to the fullest because life has no rewind button. You can't go back and redo the opportunities you've passed on, the chances you had to tell that person how you feel about them, etc. If & when the time presents to do something, do it or you'll have that would've, could've & should've moment on your deathbed. Nobody wants to be on their deathbed with regrets. Most people (if they're honest) want to go to their deathbed saying they came, they saw & conquered all life had in store for them. In any event, should a Christian mourn at the loss of a loved one? That depends on their salvation. There's nothing wrong with Christians mourning over their loved one's demise. (S)he meant a lot to them, so mourning is natural. I do have a little issue with grieving over the loss of a saved loved one. Why should a Christian grieve over the loss of a saved loved one? They should celebrate that person's passing because (s)he's no longer suffering. They've completed their course and they've been promoted to Heaven. I could not see myself crying because God took my loved one home. If they were saved, I'm rejoicing with them because they're going to a much better place. God is calling his people home at a rapid pace, so folks might as well stay ready.

The only possible reason I would probably shed tears is if my loved one died without getting right with God. Sure, I'd do my part to tell him/her about Christ, but the acceptance decision is on them. Christians can't force people to come to Christ, all they can do is tell them and God will do the rest. If you're right with God, you shouldn't fear death because the way I see it, God's calling you to his presence. The only people who should fear death are those who don't have a relationship with God. The good news is that it's not too late to introduce yourselves to Christ.

Silent No More

It used to be taboo for black men to complain about anything (women included), now social media has given them a tool to voice their issues.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) January 21, 2015

In the past, black men didn't have a voice. Black men were expected to remain silent while black women threw them under the bus. The reason is that men complaining about anything was considered a feminine trait. What do you do when you try to complain, but don't want to be seen as weak? You remain silent. The issue is that being silent can be deadly because all that frustration is building up to a dangerous level. When you let loose, everyone feels it. Because many black men didn't want to be seen as weak, they had no choice but to keep calm and say nothing. This allowed black women to run reckless with their mouths because they weren't going to be accountable for their reckless mouths. When you have free reign, you're going to milk it. Here's one problem: Times have changed. Since social media was introduced, this gave brothers a voice they never had, and as a result, black men are standing up to these reckless black women with a fury they've never seen. Because some black women aren't used to an equally vocal black man, they resort to shaming tactics such as: Men don't argue with women. Last time I checked, there's no universal law that states that men aren't to argue with women. If a man wants to argue with a woman, he has that right. Anytime a woman resorts to shaming tactics, she's already lost the argument. She has no ammunition so she resorts to what she knows: shaming tactics. Even those are starting to wear thin among black men because every black man's heard it all: He's gay, he hates women, men don't argue with women, this, that and the other. Social media has been a blessing for many black men because they aren't afraid to let black women know what they think. Those shaming tactics are no longer silencing black men because they're used to hearing the same ones repeatedly. It's a new day, and some black women are no longer able to silence the voices of many black men. My suggestion is they (black women) get used to it because their time is up. Black men are no longer silenced by many black women's shaming tactics.

Family Friction

Folks, I want to talk to you about family friction. In a perfect world, there would be no family conflict because everyone would be on the same page. Families walk & talk alike, think alike, etc. Wouldn't that be great? Yes, but here's the problem: We don't live in a perfect world and unfortunately, families fight. Most families fight and get over it, other families fight and don't speak to each other. Sides are taken, and you're either Team this or that. I was watching Sunday's episode of Thicker Than Water when the Tankard sisters were at odds. Jewel and Junice feel some kind of way about each other, so they're going at it. Hurtful things have been said by each sister and apparently the Tankard sister beef is so deep that they've pretty much stopped speaking to each other. Being the leader, Ben decides to try and mediate by getting to the root of their issues, so some ground was made. My hope is the Tankard sisters can work through their issues, and go back being close. I think they'll get through their issues during the season. 

Unfortunately, many families battle so much that they stop speaking to each other. There's a code that you don't break: Never air your family drama. Whatever issues you have with a family member, you work it out in secret or part ways, but you don't put your family out on Front St. I don't respect that. No matter what issues I may have with my family, I will never put them on blast. I look at these tabloids with these "Tell-All" stories and I shake my head because the enemy (Satan) is wreaking havoc on families, and people are too blind to see it. I'm for family reconciliation, but a person can only do so much (prayer, talking to them, etc) until they feel it's no use. You can't reason with the unreasonable. If a family member refuses to respect your feelings and continues to mistreat and abuse you, it's time to cut that family member loose. It may hurt at first, but you'll understand it's for the best. Sometimes, you have to cut toxic people in your life, and that includes family. I'm blessed to have a cool family, but I feel for those who aren't as blessed to have decent family members.