When the world sees more repentance in the church the church will see more repentance in the world.

​Be salt.

I have decided to stop posting here, and to go out and interact more with the world.

When I first began this site, I assumed it was a lack of knowledge and information that allowed all of the sin to progress.  I thought that if I brought some information together, folks would see how foul our world is becoming and get up and try to make a change.

How silly of me to think that in 2019 people were lacking information!  It isn't information that we are lacking.

• We can easily see police brutality against African Americans (boys, girls, men, and women), seemingly without mercy or justice
• We can easily see sexual abuse from authority figures against boys and girl, again without justice.  Pedophiles in positions of power, abusing children, honored by our leaders.
• We can easily see the abuse of the immigrant/sojourner at our borders.  Families torn apart, children forced to abide in filth and cold and hunger.  Adults caged, uncared for, unloved, cold, hungry, dirty, diseased.  All without mercy or justice.
• We see it.  Our leaders see it.  Our cameras see it.  Our God sees it.  Our God also sees our reactions to it.

It is not a lack of information...it is a lack of concern.  A lack of care.  A lack of the Holy Spirit moving through us.  Tweeting isn't enough.  Blogging isn't enough.

I have to go do.
So, I will cut back on my posting, and seek to physically make changes where I can.  I am going to help my neighbor.  I pray that we all will be able to face God at that time and will hear:  "When I was naked, you clothed me, when I was hungry, you fed me, when I was imprisoned, you visited me..."

In an attempt to help people along, to share ideas there comes a time when we s tihould recognize who we are talking with and adjust our tone, topic, goal...exit strategy.  Some are in conversations only to repeat what they have previously heard while others are seeking to understand, to increase in knowledge.

How do you exit when you discover that your partner in the conversation is only repeating...not listening...not sharing?  Do you have a 'go to' exit?  "I gotta go check my food on the stove?"  or "dang prostate!  I gotta go!"  or "Musta been a bad burrito, excuse me?"

Staying in the conversation beyond your exit is a fools errand.  Don't be mislead by thinking this one extra phrase or idea will get them to at least hear you- a fools errand.  Remember: when they tell you who they are, believe them!




https://twitter.com/keithboykin/status/1147301694952411136

For the past few months there has been discussion of asylum seekers at the southern borders of the US.  In the past few weeks stories and images have leaked describing the horrible conditions of those that are being detained.  Last week congress persons reported the conditions as being very similar to concentration camps.

This week we have tanks in the nations capital...surrounding the white house.

Did I miss the coup?  Who won?  Where do I get the new uniforms?

This time of year- when the candidates are saying what we want to hear and are speaking to issues that concern us- is the saddest time for me.  It goes to tell me that my issues and my hurt are known, but ignored.  Only spoken of to get my attention, my contributions, my vote and not to have the issues resolved.

I often played this game with my dogs.  We'd play catch until she was tired.  I then would wave the ball in front of her...touch her nose with it...bounce it so close to her trying to get her to get up and run after it one last time.  So much teasing on my part not for her sake, but for my pleasure.  I wanted to continue to play catch even after she was too tired, after she was telling me that play had become work...had become hurtful.  Yet, I was still there with the ball.

The politicians have my issue in hand.  They have studied it and are willing to speak it out of both sides of their mouths, but only for their pleasure.  My hurt and fatigue with the issues isn't a concern of theirs.  They want my attention, my finances, my vote, and not my well being.  Chase it once again, Dave...

Systemic racism is known by them, but they only speak of it in a way that provided something for them and not sincerely to resolve the issue.  They all wave the ball in front of me.  None seem to care that I'm tired.  Vote for me once more...I'll fix it this time...

https://twitter.com/i/status/1144659978457735168

It is hard to imagine having agents of the government (police, ICE, FBI, etc.) at the front door to take away an entire family.  I cannot imagine them at my door to take me and mine away to captivity.  Who do I call for help?  Will my neighbors help?  Who will help right this injustice?

That is what happened to Japanese Americans.  They aren't the only group to be illegally colonized/captured/incarcerated by this government...just one of the most recent.  So, it is not surprising that they are being neighbors to others that are likewise having their freedom taken.  They must remember the feelings of helplessness and loneliness, wondering, 'who will help right this injustice.

As compassion seems in short supply, we must stand for the voiceless.  We must show the love of our Lord.  We must call out the wrongs and make things right.  Silence is not a virtue in these cases.  In these cases, our silence is consent.


https://twitter.com/i/status/1143914480658571265

I am not surprised that this is happening.  Nor am I surprised that not all humans feel the pain of the abused and incarcerated.  

I am informed now of a reason for my pain.  It isn't about me!  The comfort that I receive is so that I can abundantly comfort others.

I got it.  Thank you Lord.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

https://t.co/Ml3v21vKWD

​https://t.co/hdDfFWr1Bo

As I listened to this American history essay, my mind kept jumping in two opposite directions.  The first was a sad realization of where I was and who I was.  The history of this nation demonstrates its distain for me and those like me.  My sadness was accompanied by surprise that I'd made it this far in life.  It also informed much of the treatment I'd received here, as I erroneously assumed I was the cause of all my problems.  The 'invisible hand' had been at work against me in ways I'd not seen/known.  Now, my ever present question is 'which problem was me, and which was not'?

The second set of thoughts were directed towards my non-Black friends.  How will they respond to this?  Will they become offended, and then turn obviously, outwardly, aggressively against me?  Will they deny the truth of this and thus attempt to undermine it, discredit it?  Will this revelation make my life more difficult?  Or, will they accept the truth and work with me to help mitigate, and undo the harm that has now been exposed?

This scripture seems to display God's heart regarding those made in His image and likeness:
Deuteronomy 1512 If any of your people—Hebrew men or women—sell themselves to you and serve you six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free. 13 And when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed. 14 Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to them as the Lord your God has blessed you. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.

Our nation has not walked in that light, however, it isn't too late.

​https://twitter.com/i/status/1141425769299828737