SUPERMAN

I like music. As long as the music is not vulgar or profane, I like to listen to the lyrics. Lyrics are someone’s thoughts in a poetic form. So for me, listening to music give me some insight into the way people think. Not just the artist, but the type of person who listen to a particular artist.

As a matter of fact, when I meet people, music is one of the topics that I like to explore, because you learn what a person is in agreement with by the music they listen to. “As a man thinketh…”

So I like the style of Anthony Hamilton, and knowing that he has a new project out, I wanted to give it a listen. As I was looking through the song titles, I can across a song entitled “Prayin For You/Superman”. I thought this an odd title just because it is like two in one. But so is the song. It is literally two songs in one. It give you a glimpse into two sides of the same man, or two modes of operation- leading to a single purpose.

When the song was over, I couldn’t help but wonder where is the modern day prototype of this kind of man. The song gave me hope that this kind of man does exist in modern times, but when it was over – I thought, ‘and where is my superman’?????.

I had come to believe that men no long wanted to be superman – not in the sense of being a hero. There are some who want to be superman, in a way that recognizes their strength and ability. But a true hero is about his ability being used to fulfill the character of the man. The ability cant make one a hero, it is the underlying character that challenges the hero to use is ability for the good of others.

The secular world has lied. The secular world has convinced so many that there is greater wisdom than to follow the teachings of God. Many have followed what they believed would give then the desires of their heart---- only to find out that they are not sure what their heart desires, and that what they have been chasing is not making them happy. But instead of looking elsewhere for their answers, they seek their answers in the same secular world that has lead them astray in the first place.

Psalms 4: 2-5
O men, how long shall my honor suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? [Selah] 3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him. 4 Be angry, but sin not; commune with your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. [Selah] 5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.


Andre Crouch wrote a song that said it as simply as it could be put-----“Jesus is the answer for the world today, above him there’s no other—Jesus is the way…”


The challenge in ministry is how do we help guide people to look in the right direction when everything in the world is telling them to look to material objects and heartless human interactions? The bible spoke of the statistical situation that we are facing today. Isaiah 4:1 “And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.”

Men are loving these statistical odd that are currently working in their favor toward being greedy in their lust for women. But the sad part of the story is that this is causing a rise in the spread of HIV, and African American women are leading in the mortality rate of this disease –due to all this polygamist sexuality.

I cant help but wonder if this economic crisis is actually a blessing for the family. Maybe it will keep parents in the same household, determined to work in harmony to save their family… as one song writer put it ---‘its cheaper to keeper’. Splitting and creating two sets of household bills means there is less money to go around, less for the children’s needs, less money for personal needs, etc. And just maybe this trying to work on being a family will draw people back to seeking God in prayer for wisdom and guidance. Maybe it will help people to learn to be thankful and appreciative of what God has already blessed them with, instead of basking in this ideology that there is something better to upgrade to….

Not that I am not struggling like everyone else, but I think it will draw people to look for satisfaction for their soul instead through their lifestyle. Having less will make us all more appreciative of what we have, and less wasteful with what we get. Hopefully this will include appreciating the people in our lives, instead of worshipping the attainment of material wealth. There is nothing wrong with having nice things, but objects should never be worshipped.

I cant help but to think that as more people are forced to downsize their lifestyle, many will have to give up their favorite cable channels- which means fewer messages of worldly thinking will be coming into the home. But the charge to keep has been given to those of us who call ourselves Christians, we have a part to play in this. What can I do? How am I suppose to change anything?

Well the truth is you cant change anything without the help of God. But you can call for God’s help…

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

God can and will turn a whole community, and nation around for HIS people.

I said all of that to say, I don’t know where the prototype is for a modern day Superman, other than to look at example given to what is expected of a Godly Man. I believe when God and man are in relationship, the qualities of God’s original intent for man will grow and manifest in the life of the man---


SELAH

Shame on Who?

There is a saying. “ IF you get over on me once, shame one you. IF you get over on we twice, shame on me”.

But now the question that I am asking myself is what about time, 3 or 4…or even to the point of losing count??. Good Christian teaching is about forgiveness and redemption, but in the midst of all that, how many times do you really allow someone to have the chance to disappoint you. When is it appropriate for a good Christian to say, “I have had enough of this and I wont accept it any longer?”

I have known so many women who stayed in bad relationships for the reason of proving their Christianity by the ability to endure. Whenever I would speak to them about their situation, I would always talk about how a husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the Church. This kind of love does not intentionally harm or hurt others. There is a huge tension between ideology and reality. I don’t know where the two make peace and meet in a way that is reasonable.

IF you look to the bible for the answers concerning forgiveness, you find the concept of forgiving someone 70x7. So you should forgive someone 490 times? I cant help but to think that the point here is that true forgiveness will eventually lose count, and not that you reach your breaking point of not being able to forgive someone after the number of their offenses reach this special number.

Human relationships require a lot of work, even in good times. So what do you do when this work is strained all the more by one of the people involved repeatedly hurting the other – whether it be intentionally or unintentionally? My challenge to the person receiving the hurt is always to reaffirm value in self. Christ love for the church is affirming. Christ love is healing. Christ love does no intentional harm.

There is no easy absolute answer to how or what to do. But what is true and sure is that to find the answer you have to look to Christ. For it is through Christ and His LOVE, that you find the answers and the strength to walk in the plan of God for your life and to find the LOVE that God wants you to have in your life.

I believe that a person who harms others will have to answer to God. But I also believe that a person who allows self to be treated any less than what God would have for the individual to receive, will also answer to God for not living up to the sacredness of being created in God’s own image. For God loved God’s own image enough to share that with each of us. God loves, because God’s Love started with God’s Self.

Reality Check

Mic test, mic test….123

Just want to send a brother and sister something to think about. This is an open wake up call to the Black Men of the United States of America. We are proud of the accomplishment of electing this country’s first African- American president, but there are the untold stories that will take place all across this country--- and that is what I am flashing the caution light concerning.

You see, now the bar has been raised, not only politically, but socially and familial-ly . We have an example standing before us of a successful, educated, happily married man. This is something that gives us great joy, but I don’t want to talk to you about ‘Joe the Plumber’ but instead I want to talk to you about ‘Raiquan the Jack of All Trades’. Before there was the example of Obama to follow, we lived with the efforts of the man who might not be able to fix it or afford to get it fixed, but could put some duck-tape on it so that it didn’t completely fall apart.

If it hasn’t started to happen yet, soon there will be sisters all over this country saying these word----“who do you think you are?…. you aint Barack Obama!”. This statement is inevitably going to be resonated across this country and possibly around the world.

We have to be careful what we say, not only because we may destroy someone, but also because we never know what kind of potential we need to be cultivating in this sensitive time when more people now than ever have ‘the audacity to hope’.

Some may never do any better than they are doing today, but I dare say that there are thousands, maybe even millions who have been inspired to make some personal changes in their own life, for the better. Now that we can see that there are limitless possibilities minds are shifting in ways that wont be seen right now, but will manifest in coming days.

As the newly elected President and his first family were waving to the crowd before Obama gave his speech, I thought about how this family is now the model by which America looks for its greatest expectations on so many levels. Michelle Obama has to have the fashion sense that will carry over on to many women in this country. ( I was not a fan of the red and black that she was wearing last night, by the way, but that is just my taste speaking). And the Obama daughters now represent the tweeners of country, and before they leave the White House we will watch them develop into teens.

So for the first time in American History, the life and times of African Americans can be view in a completely different light. But what about the rest of us/ U.S.? Just like Michelle Obama stayed with her husband through some hard years, when it would have made sense to leave, many women will have to decide now to endure the man they have, not only for economic reason in the midst of a bad economy, but also for reason that will vary from situation to situation.

As Michelle smiled and looked her newly headed for power husband in the eye, as they stood on that stage, I am sure that all of the X’s girlfriends who got frustrated with where Obama was in his life years ago were absolutely sick to the stomach thinking that it coulda, woulda, shoulda been her on that stage. But she was not fit for the journey. She was not destined to stand by that man on the journey to the top.

I have so much respect for Michelle Obama because she was the greater money earner in their household, and she was also able to allow time to develop her husband into the man that he is today. If she had walked away from him and his potential--- this story would be very different, it literally would have changed history. Maybe another women would have been standing beside Obama, or maybe he would have given up a long time ago when things got hard. But because of Michelle who supported, lovingly corrected and was his head cheerleader, her husband was able to accomplish a large feat.

This is why, who you attach your life to is so significant, and developing the determination to love and pray for your companion daily are such key elements to fortifying a great future.

So to all those women who are looking at your man, or the man that you are not even giving the time of day- stay prayerful because you never know where God will lead his future and you never know how God can use you to encourage, support and love a man to finding his best self.

To my brothers, I want to say- be careful about the woman you attach your life to, she can be the catalyst for your greatest demise or the right one can be the companion of your destiny.

To both my brothers and sisters---- “ Be careful for nothing, but all things by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving….”

Cash, Check, or Credit?

I can remember when this was the question you would be asked when making a purchase at a department store, but now it is almost assumed that you will pay with a card. So now the question is debit or credit?

Everyone gets irritated with the person who is slowing down the checkout line by taking the time to write a check. On top of that, many vendors are not interested in handling cash because of security and accounting issues related to cash. For example - It is much harder for an employee to steal money from their employer when customers pay with a form of credit or debit card. Stolen cash is virtually none traceable with the exception so certain circumstances where the serial number are use systematically or when in a dye bag. But a vendor cant really put those measures into action without a lot of hassle—I wont say it is impossible, but well……

So now you are wondering what all of this has to do with you or with the ‘average hockey mom or Joe Six-pack”. (now there are two turn of phrases that have the potential to get on my nerves just as much as dat Soulja Boy).

In the name of modern technology and modern convenience we have been overly trusting of following the masses. My grandmother understood this concept because she said that credit cards would lead to the “Mark of the Beast”. When I was a child that seemed un-sensible and illogical. But now when I look at what all has shifted in the way that we ‘barter’ and ‘trade’ with merchants and vendors. I can’t help but to take a second look at this theological point of view.

We have bought into or been manipulated into this system of funds management…… but lets bring it home.

The issue this brings up for me----- is that both the credit and debit systems of payment are tied to either your banking institution or another bank that owns the card. So in the midst of the current Wall St turmoil, what is the safest way to deal with money issues?

“Let me clear my throat!..... I hope you don’t mind!” What about payday? Most employers currently only give employees the option to receive their paycheck via direct deposit – one bank sending money to another bank. So what happens if one, or both of those banks go under? Oh yes, I understand the concept of the FDIC, but on a reality of process, how fail proof is this system based on today’s economic and financial systems? Is the FDIC set up to handle the downfall of a large banking institution or several banking institutions at one time? And even if it is, how long will it take until an individual actually gets some money in hand? And will it be cash, check or credit?

My Own Audacity

I cant help but to see something bigger and more significant to me in this years Presidential Candidate and Potential First Lady. Don’t get me wrong, the thought of having this country’s first president who is truly African and American, is beyond huge in its significance to me and to history.

But I cant help but to take a more narcissistic thought process to task when it comes to Barack and Michelle Obama. There is something more happening than the political. It is on such a large scale the world’s first glimpse into Black Love.. This Bonny and Clyde dedication to sharing a life together that brings about an affinity towards each other that can be, not only seen, but felt just from looking at a picture of them standing together.

Sure we have seen Beyonce and Jay-z, as the one’s who brought this Bonny and Clyde concept to modern popular culture to express their thoughts towards each other…. and there are other African American couples that have endured the test of time, such as Bill and Camille Cosby, whose brand of endurance is not as outspoken – or viewed as publicly. That is my point, popular culture has been a louder voice, and especially in the African American Community than that of the well educated who are also a part of this ethnic identity and story of American potential.

The Obamas’ represent the other side of African American culture and family life that is not often shared with the mainstream of society. The other thing is that this kind of dedication toward each other seems to have become an image from another generation, but now I am able to see that covenant relationship is possible for my generation. “True Devotion” is not a thing of the past, it is possible in the here and now.

This is why I now have the audacity to find more hope for my own life. For so many years I have felt like I had traded becoming educated for the possibility to have a life long companion. In the African American community it seems quite hard to make those two things a match. (I can only speak from my perspective, it might be the same amongst other cultural backgrounds and ethnicities too, I just cant speak to their experience). The more academic and career oriented a woman is, the less likely she is to be in a long term committed relationship. And most of the women who are, got into the relationship before they really went full force into their ambition. Michelle Obama’s story lets me know the two (career and love) can co-exist.

The next element is that the more progress a woman makes, the less often she comes into contact with a man of similar interest and lifestyle, just because they are not present that often in the same circles. So a lot of factors come into play, proximity being high on the list, as to why my hopes dimmed over the years, but now, if no more than vicariously, I find hope for my own situation in looking at the example being set by Barack and Michelle Obama.

Positive Black Love Still Exist!!!!!!!!!!!

I am glad to know that my theory had been wrong. Because she even made more money than him, and that didn’t keep her from standing by her man and supporting and encouraging him to be the best of his own potential. When you look at them, you can see not only the obvious aspects of their success, but an ability to survive the untold dilemmas that those outside of this ethnic group don’t completely comprehend as part of the African American story.

Regardless to the outcome of this election –the Obama’s have left with me the courage to continue to have “the audacity to hope”.