Meditation: December 30

“You shall eat the old harvest, and clear out the old because of the new.” Leviticus 26:10

Eating the old harvest is not a call to gluttony, but rather a challenge to release and dispense all that should be used. It is when we hoard what ought to be distributed that disqualifies one from full participation with God. His intention is to use each of His servants as conduit to reach others with what flows through us. As we enter into this New Year with and open heart and a clear conscience, room is available in us for an abundance of blessings from God to reach us. Yesterdays promises made and commitments are the opportunities to prove ones integrity when we rest at the end of the day with completed tasks. A fresh vision is given to visionaries who provide the impetus to see the old ones come to pass. The Spirit of God will grace the soul who is led to believe His Word and act accordingly. God wills to do a new thing among us. The New is before us, while the old is awaiting our consumption in order to make room.

Meditation: May 23

“You’ll find wisdom on the lips of a person of insight, but the shortsighted needs a slap in the face.” Proverbs 10:13

We must see into a matter and not just casually view it. It is the gaze accompanied by a rash opinion that influences many today. Little wonder why it has become so difficult for sound reasoning to be the guiding principle for so many. There are precious hidden nuggets contained within many messages that are hurriedly scanned by the minds of those who are wise in their own eyes. It requires the Holy Spirit and meditation on what God has promised in order for His Word to be rightly interpreted. The heart must be prepared first. Then one can ponder in their hearts what they have heard before they speak. If the old references remain in place, the pollution within the mind will distort the truth rather than purifies the soul. The Holy Spirit must be our filter so that we are enabled to attain a heavenly perspective. Our vision then would not be shortsighted, but we are enabled to participate in God’s eternal plan.

Meditation: April 20

“Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.” Mark 14:18

Before Jesus was crucified, He was identified through betrayal by one who sat at His table and ate with Him. One who loved so deeply would be exposed by a friend to His enemies. Jesus knew when it would happen and who it was who would be so used as a spy among them. Yet He did not make Him known among the brethren. There are times when sin must run its course. Any intervention on our part to defend ourselves or expose the adversary would be counterproductive. God will allow many to dwell among us who do not carry our heart or vision. Nevertheless, God uses all things for the fulfillment of His purpose. Jesus loved, provided for, and even dined with His betrayer. These events led to the cross, the inevitable end that marked a new beginning for all who would believe on Him. His will transcended the pain suffered by dishonest companions and even the pain of suffering and death on the cross. The glory that shall be revealed in us was worth all that He sacrificed. He was betrayed by a friend. He called Judas, “friend”. He is speaking of the beginning of their journey together. Jesus was yet focused upon what ought to have remained. He did not change His mind or position, but Judas shifted from where he once stood. We are His friends if we remain faithful to the end.

Meditation: December 30

“You shall eat the old harvest, and clear out the old because of the new.” Leviticus 26:10

 Eating the old harvest is not a call to gluttony, but rather a challenge to release and dispense all that should be used. It is when we hoard what ought to be distributed that disqualifies one from full participation with God. His intention is to use each of His servants as conduit to reach others with what flows through us. As we enter into this New Year with and open heart and a clear conscience, room is available in us for an abundance of blessings from God to reach us. Yesterdays promises made and commitments are the opportunities to prove ones integrity when we rest at the end of the day with completed tasks. A fresh vision is given to visionaries who provide the impetus to see the old ones come to pass. The Spirit of God will grace the soul who is led to believe His Word and act accordingly. God wills to do a new thing among us. The New is before us, while the old is awaiting our consumption in order to make room.

November 2014 Article: “Politics and the Pulpit”

The message that we proclaim from the pulpit is the driving force of change in society. When God’s Word is accurately and boldly proclaimed, an element is infused within the current chaos that is potent enough to challenge the declining course that contributes to the erosion of culture.  It is only when the clergy agrees with the culture that calloused hearts and closed minds prevail and the people’s passion is turned away from God to idols. The experiment of both politics and science is to compile and arrange facts that reach a logical conclusion. Yet, the full knowledge of what is being arranged is absent. There are intricate details within each thing that we may know when arranged differently and used more effectively that would otherwise produce different results. Our message is not a mere reaction to cries of the people. It is not a matter of giving the people what they want. Our primary job is to transform the passions of those who lack the ability to see how their passions have driven them and forced them into this current dilemma. It requires the knowledge and wisdom of God to place all things into their proper arrangement. We must hear their cries but only God is able to rightly interpret the root of the problem. As with the disease of Ebola, the question is whether it is airborne or contracted through bodily fluids; the experiment only leads to logical conclusions. If more evidence sways the sentiments of science in a different direction, the conclusion will be more decisive. Yet the cause and cure is completely known by God. His message addresses more than any of us are capable of fully understanding.

                Science, philanthropy, and the preaching are as necessary today as in times past. Yet neither must be seen as the solution to resolve the issues that we face. When worship is introduced, the scientist, philanthropist, and the preacher are transformed in order to see all things from a higher plane.  The knowledge of God provides the vision to see into each matter and the wisdom of God provides understanding for the cause and effect of each occurrence. Politics by definition has to do with “the people.” There is no salvation among people who are left to their own devices. Their choices are expressed through their vote and their decisions are based upon what and who they have become. It is the duty of the preachers of righteousness to hear from Heaven so that alternatives can be both heard and demonstrated. If we must hear from Heaven, the order of Heaven’s kingdom must be expressed before those who will otherwise perish.  Simply put, to worship is the acknowledgement of God’s wisdom and man’s ignorance. It cannot be both ways. The humility on the part of the worshipper leads to repentance in failed attempts to resolve the challenges independent of His Divine assistance.

                Additionally, voting is both a right and a privilege. It is the voice of the people given full expression to where they stand on various issues. Even when it is difficult to decide which candidate must be chosen, a choice must be made on the basis of the higher moral ground that leads to God’s ultimate intention. But unless we heard the message which transforms the lives of the people from our pulpits in order to distinguish between right and wrong, political ideologies will be rehashed and petty divisions will persist, but lack an ultimate purpose. The trumpet in our mouths must make a clear and certain sound so that the people can be rightly prepared for the battle.

September 2014 Article: “Where Are Our Conservative Brethren Now?”

Jesus speaks of a house divided in Matthew 12:25, where His focus is on the spiritual state of man. When His presence appears among a people, mindsets are changed and the habits of the heart shift to a different direction. Jesus Christ, our High Priest, empathizes with our emotional frame, even though He does not condone the outward expressions that result from our past wounds and injuries. The Spirit of Christ within the Church is not a judgmental spirit that merely looks at acts on the part of a people, but He addresses the root of the problem. If there is ever to be a revival in African American communities it definitely will not be as a result of Conservative Christians who stand against abortion, gay rights, or other controversial topics. Even though these issues are serious and damaging in our pursuit to establish and maintain a civil society, divisive rhetoric does not remedy anything. The question that remains is what do you stand for? Where are my White Conservative brethren on the issues that are currently dividing the Nation? The Siamese twins of civility are righteousness and justice. Righteousness cannot be right without justice and justice cannot be just without righteousness. The voices of those who see themselves as guardians of the flame have become strangely silent when injustice raises its ugly head as in the George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin case, and just recently, when Michael Brown was murdered by Law Enforcement in Ferguson, Missouri.

The grotesque head of racism has always existed, but recently its increasing visibility has reopened the wounds of American culture. Conservative African Americans are becoming figureheads to justify the disfigurement of justice by over-emphasizing the social ills among their own people.  However, they do not connect the cause and the effect of sin. How can anyone trust those who are called “Christians” when they only care about their own concerns? These pundits use statistics and every other means to appear righteous, but they are void of compassion. The looting and rioting that took place in Ferguson did not define the cause. Those who did it were out of control, but they are also in need of answers. Sinners sin because they cannot see anything other than what they see. It is spiritual blindness that reduces a person to the level at which self-gratification becomes the rule and order of the day. Without a vision or the right perspective the people cast off all constraints (Proverbs 29:18). However, a vision must transcend words to become a presentation or demonstration of righteousness before people are able to embrace its standard. That is why Jesus Christ came in the flesh—in order to not only tell us the way, but to also show us the way we are to live our lives.

I deeply appreciate all of those who have researched, analyzed, and studied subjects and shown us the points of departure that lead to the devastation and corruption all around us. But now it is time to commit to resolving what is seen. Although the Pharisees thought of themselves as keepers of the Law and guardians of the flame of righteousness, Jesus saw them as the greatest deterrent to the establishment of His Father’s Kingdom. The polarization of race while maintaining a private distain for a people-group compromises the Christian witness. I love my White Conservative brethren, but I do not necessarily always agree with them. Likewise, I love my African American brethren, but I do not necessarily always agree with them. Does that make me an oddball who is unable to fit into either camp? My disagreement is the result of not buying into a political philosophy of all or nothing when it comes to being a part of a people. I refuse to be categorized as either Conservative or Liberal because there are good and bad points on either side. I stand for God where the best of both camps should meet.

Meditation: April 20, 2014

“Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.” Mark 14:18

Before Jesus was crucified, He was identified through betrayal by one who sat at His table and ate with Him. One who loved so deeply would be exposed by a friend to His enemies. Jesus knew when it would happen and who it was who would be so used as a spy among them. Yet He did not make Him known among the brethren. There are times when sin must run its course. Any intervention on our part to defend ourselves or expose the adversary would be counterproductive. God will allow many to dwell among us who do not carry our heart or vision. Nevertheless, God uses all things for the fulfillment of His purpose. Jesus loved, provided for, and even dined with His betrayer. These events led to the cross, the inevitable end that marked a new beginning for all who would believe on Him. His will transcended the pain suffered by dishonest companions and even the pain of suffering and death on the cross. The glory that shall be revealed in us was worth all that He sacrificed. He was betrayed by a friend. He called Judas, “friend”. He is speaking of the beginning of their journey together. Jesus was yet focused upon what ought to have remained. He did not change His mind or position, but Judas shifted from where he once stood. We are His friends if we remain faithful to the end.