Thursday, January 03, 2008
New Beginnings
Peace and blessings,
I pray everyone had a safe, wonderful, and blessed Christmas and New Years. For those whom for whatever reason had a difficult time during this holiday season, I pray that God continues to shower you with His love, peace, and comfort (Psalms 55:22; Matthew 11:28).
It seems fitting that I would begin my first post of the new year on the birthday of my late grandfather, who was one of most admirable and honorable men of God I will ever know. I pray that through my life I will make you proud...
In 2006 while attending a church in Cambridge, MA I was prophesied to. When I approached the pastor right before he laid hands on me I can honestly say that while I believed in the gift of prophecy, I did not put too much stock in someone speaking into my life about specific areas in my life that were "cut off" from those around me. To my surprise, however, that's exactly what happened. I think for all of us there are some things we believe without witnessing it first hand, and other things we have to witness first hand to believe. For me, prophecy was one of those things.
After I told him the three things that were weighing on my heart at the time, he told me what God was telling him with regards to those three things. It wasn't until he "changed course" in a sense that I truly felt the presence of God. He basically said that before I come into what God has for me, God had to "take the lid off and show you some things." Once he started revealing what one of those things was, I suddenly felt encapsulated by the Holy Spirit to where I literally couldn't move (i. e. my legs felt cemented into the ground despite me trying to move them). It was at that moment that I knew that only God could have told Him that, because no one else knew.
After that experience, I have since been wondering what were some of those other "things" that God had to show me. In 2007, I feel like some of those things have been revealed to me, as well as the purpose for me experiencing those things. Given that "7" is the biblical number of completion, I feel like the ups and downs of last year occurred the way they did because for me (and I am only speaking for myself), it could not have happened any other way. In other words, I believe that there are some things that we each must experience in order for God to straighten out our "character-kinks." Put frankly, God loves us such that He is always concerned with building our character and making us better people, and thus a better reflection of Him.
There are some things in my spirit that if left unchecked, can do tons of damage to myself, to those around me, and to my relationship with God. Through experiencing the ups and downs of 2007, and seeing God reveal Himself to me in many different ways during those experiences, I can honestly say that I am a better, stronger, wiser man of God this year than I was last year. This is only the beginning, however, because God will never stop working on us because we can never be perfect on our own. Understanding that what defines us is not who we are when things are going "as usual," but who we are when things in our life are anything but usual, I am really looking forward to this year. Therefore, my new year's resolution is three-fold:
1) To work on viewing people and myself the way God views us
2) To work on viewing the situations and experiences that come up in life the way God views them
3) To work on viewing the world the way God views it.
What about you? Anything you've learned in 2007 that you think will make you a better person in 2008? Any new years resolutions? God bless, happy new year, and speekonit...
I pray everyone had a safe, wonderful, and blessed Christmas and New Years. For those whom for whatever reason had a difficult time during this holiday season, I pray that God continues to shower you with His love, peace, and comfort (Psalms 55:22; Matthew 11:28).
It seems fitting that I would begin my first post of the new year on the birthday of my late grandfather, who was one of most admirable and honorable men of God I will ever know. I pray that through my life I will make you proud...
In 2006 while attending a church in Cambridge, MA I was prophesied to. When I approached the pastor right before he laid hands on me I can honestly say that while I believed in the gift of prophecy, I did not put too much stock in someone speaking into my life about specific areas in my life that were "cut off" from those around me. To my surprise, however, that's exactly what happened. I think for all of us there are some things we believe without witnessing it first hand, and other things we have to witness first hand to believe. For me, prophecy was one of those things.
After I told him the three things that were weighing on my heart at the time, he told me what God was telling him with regards to those three things. It wasn't until he "changed course" in a sense that I truly felt the presence of God. He basically said that before I come into what God has for me, God had to "take the lid off and show you some things." Once he started revealing what one of those things was, I suddenly felt encapsulated by the Holy Spirit to where I literally couldn't move (i. e. my legs felt cemented into the ground despite me trying to move them). It was at that moment that I knew that only God could have told Him that, because no one else knew.
After that experience, I have since been wondering what were some of those other "things" that God had to show me. In 2007, I feel like some of those things have been revealed to me, as well as the purpose for me experiencing those things. Given that "7" is the biblical number of completion, I feel like the ups and downs of last year occurred the way they did because for me (and I am only speaking for myself), it could not have happened any other way. In other words, I believe that there are some things that we each must experience in order for God to straighten out our "character-kinks." Put frankly, God loves us such that He is always concerned with building our character and making us better people, and thus a better reflection of Him.
There are some things in my spirit that if left unchecked, can do tons of damage to myself, to those around me, and to my relationship with God. Through experiencing the ups and downs of 2007, and seeing God reveal Himself to me in many different ways during those experiences, I can honestly say that I am a better, stronger, wiser man of God this year than I was last year. This is only the beginning, however, because God will never stop working on us because we can never be perfect on our own. Understanding that what defines us is not who we are when things are going "as usual," but who we are when things in our life are anything but usual, I am really looking forward to this year. Therefore, my new year's resolution is three-fold:
1) To work on viewing people and myself the way God views us
2) To work on viewing the situations and experiences that come up in life the way God views them
3) To work on viewing the world the way God views it.
What about you? Anything you've learned in 2007 that you think will make you a better person in 2008? Any new years resolutions? God bless, happy new year, and speekonit...
Labels: 2007, 2008, church, God, Matthew, prophecy, Psalms
Thursday, November 22, 2007
What Are You Thankful For?
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;his love endures forever."
-Psalms 107: 1 (NIV)
"In that day you will say: 'Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.'"
-Isaiah 12:4 (NIV)
"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before."
-Daniel 6:10 (NIV)
"For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened."
-Romans 1:21 (NIV)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
-Phillipians 4:6 (NIV)
Peace and blessings,
Although I reject the historical associations that today may elicit (e.g. the "good" relationship between the Pilgrims and Native Americans), I believe that we should take time out of our busy lives more often to step back and 1) acknowledge the things that we are grateful for and 2) to thank the God, because it is only through His grace, love, and mercy that we can even have anything to be grateful for in the first place. I must note that I am not suggesting that those who feel they have something to be grateful for are "on God's team" and those who do not feel they have something to be grateful for are not. All I am asking is for us to see if, despite our situation, there is anything that we are grateful to God for. I am currently trying to get in the mindset so I can be like "God, if you don't bless me anymore in my natural life, I thank you because you've already done more than I could have ever imagined." I figure the sooner I get to that level, the sooner I can stop "tripping" over the little things in life and start showing more gratitude. Please take some time to think about what you are grateful to God for and post it here. Not just today, but as often as possible. Take care, stay blessed, and speekonit...
Labels: Daniel, God, Isaiah, Phillipians, Psalms, Romans, Thanksgiving
Sunday, September 23, 2007
JustUs?: The Jena 6
Peace and blessings,
I wanted to provide a brief outline of the events surrounding the case of the Jena 6, a case that is gaining much attention throughout the country, and duly so. I encourage everyone to seek out more info regarding the situation, and participate in any and every way that you can. The information below can be found atColor of Change and Truthout.
As you read the outline, I urge you to keep the following scriptures in mind, as this case represents another instance of how we often distort and manipulate God's conception of "justice."
"The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed."
Psalms 103: 6
"It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their
affairs with justice."
Psalms 112: 5
"I know that the Lord maintains the cause of the needy, and executes justice for the poor."
Psalms 140: 12
1) after black students sat under the "white tree," nooses were hung from
the tree. In reaction, black students sat under the tree in protest,
prompting the superintendent and District Attorney to get involved. The
superintendent dismissed the nooses as a "prank," while the DA,
accompanied with Jena police, told the black students protesting that "I
can be your best friend or your worst enemy...I can take away your lives
with a stroke of the pen."
2) Racial tension escalated over the next couple of months, with the main
academic building of Jena high school getting burned down on Nov. 30th,
2006 in an unsolved fire. Later that same weekend, a black student was
beaten up by white students at a party. The next day, black students were
threatened by a young white man with a shotgon at a convenient store. They
restled the gun from him and ran away. No charges were filed against the
white man, but the students were arrested for gun-theft.
3) That Monday, a white student taunted the black student who as beaten up
at the party, and allegedly called several black students "nigger." After
lunch, he was knocked down, punched, and kicked by black students. He was
taken to the hosptial, released, and was well enough to attend a social
event that same evening. Six black Jena high students were arrested and
charged with second-degree attempted murder. Bail was set so high (between
70,000-138,000) that the students were in jail for months as families went
into debt to release them.
4) The local district attorney Reed Walters, who initially charged the six
with attempted murder, later reduced the charges to aggravated assault,
contending that Bell's tennis shoes constituted a dangerous weapon.The
first trial ended in June 2007, and Mychal Bell (16) was convicted of
aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated (both felonies)
battery by an all-white jury. In addition, Mychal's public defender did
not call a single witness to testify during th trial. During the trial,
Mychal's parents were ordered not to speak to the media and the court
prohibited protests from taking place near the courtroom or where the
judge could see them.
5) Louisiana's 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, acting on an emergency
defense appeal, reversed the aggravated second-degree conviction of Mychal
Bell, ruling that the youth had been tried improperly as an adult in a
case. Last week, the judge who presided over Bell's trial in June, LaSalle
Parish District Judge J.P. Mauffray, vacated a conspiracy conviction
against the youth for the same reason, but inexplicably let the more
serious battery conviction stand. Now Walters must decide whether to
refile the entire case in juvenile court.
6) Walters said in a statement Friday, September 14th 2007 that he
intended to appeal the reversal of Bell's conviction to the Louisiana
Supreme Court
More on the conviction reversal can be found in an article by theChicago Tribune.
Rather you are aware of the situation or are just hearing about it for the first time. I'm interested in people's thoughts on the issue. What are your reactions? Who do you think plays a more significant role in how the events that have taekn place (Superintendent, local district attorney, the school for not addressing the tree issue sooner, etc...)? Do you see any difference between how justice is used in the Jena 6 case, and God's sense of justice as illustrated in the scriptures? From what i've heard about the case so far, the thing that gets me is how no attention (prior to these events taking place and while they were taking place) has been given to the tree-issue. The fact that there existed (for so long) a tree at Jena high school with this much racist, divisive power in itself speaks volumes as to the value the high school places on their students' worth, because racism and divisiveness is detrimental to all who are involved.
I am asking anyone who comes across more updates regarding this issue can sent it to me at info@speeklife.com, so that I can frequently update the blog regarding this matter. Also, make sure you check out the third video of fox news, and pay attention to the last minute of the clip, where Hannity "dodges" Rev. Sharpton's question about whether or not he supports the Jena 6. They have been talking for over six minutes, but as soon as Re. Sharpton asks this question, all of a sudden Hannity can't hear him. Even his partner on the show heard him clearly. Racism, like any sin, cannot stay "hidden." Eventually it's going to come out and get exposed. I'm not saying i'm perfect or anything, but Hannity's "true feelings" regarding U.S. race relations is extremely evident in this clip. Jesus help us... Please share your thoughts, continue to pray that God heals this situation, and as always, speekonit...
I wanted to provide a brief outline of the events surrounding the case of the Jena 6, a case that is gaining much attention throughout the country, and duly so. I encourage everyone to seek out more info regarding the situation, and participate in any and every way that you can. The information below can be found at
As you read the outline, I urge you to keep the following scriptures in mind, as this case represents another instance of how we often distort and manipulate God's conception of "justice."
"The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed."
Psalms 103: 6
"It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their
affairs with justice."
Psalms 112: 5
"I know that the Lord maintains the cause of the needy, and executes justice for the poor."
Psalms 140: 12
1) after black students sat under the "white tree," nooses were hung from
the tree. In reaction, black students sat under the tree in protest,
prompting the superintendent and District Attorney to get involved. The
superintendent dismissed the nooses as a "prank," while the DA,
accompanied with Jena police, told the black students protesting that "I
can be your best friend or your worst enemy...I can take away your lives
with a stroke of the pen."
2) Racial tension escalated over the next couple of months, with the main
academic building of Jena high school getting burned down on Nov. 30th,
2006 in an unsolved fire. Later that same weekend, a black student was
beaten up by white students at a party. The next day, black students were
threatened by a young white man with a shotgon at a convenient store. They
restled the gun from him and ran away. No charges were filed against the
white man, but the students were arrested for gun-theft.
3) That Monday, a white student taunted the black student who as beaten up
at the party, and allegedly called several black students "nigger." After
lunch, he was knocked down, punched, and kicked by black students. He was
taken to the hosptial, released, and was well enough to attend a social
event that same evening. Six black Jena high students were arrested and
charged with second-degree attempted murder. Bail was set so high (between
70,000-138,000) that the students were in jail for months as families went
into debt to release them.
4) The local district attorney Reed Walters, who initially charged the six
with attempted murder, later reduced the charges to aggravated assault,
contending that Bell's tennis shoes constituted a dangerous weapon.The
first trial ended in June 2007, and Mychal Bell (16) was convicted of
aggravated battery and conspiracy to commit aggravated (both felonies)
battery by an all-white jury. In addition, Mychal's public defender did
not call a single witness to testify during th trial. During the trial,
Mychal's parents were ordered not to speak to the media and the court
prohibited protests from taking place near the courtroom or where the
judge could see them.
5) Louisiana's 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, acting on an emergency
defense appeal, reversed the aggravated second-degree conviction of Mychal
Bell, ruling that the youth had been tried improperly as an adult in a
case. Last week, the judge who presided over Bell's trial in June, LaSalle
Parish District Judge J.P. Mauffray, vacated a conspiracy conviction
against the youth for the same reason, but inexplicably let the more
serious battery conviction stand. Now Walters must decide whether to
refile the entire case in juvenile court.
6) Walters said in a statement Friday, September 14th 2007 that he
intended to appeal the reversal of Bell's conviction to the Louisiana
Supreme Court
More on the conviction reversal can be found in an article by the
Rather you are aware of the situation or are just hearing about it for the first time. I'm interested in people's thoughts on the issue. What are your reactions? Who do you think plays a more significant role in how the events that have taekn place (Superintendent, local district attorney, the school for not addressing the tree issue sooner, etc...)? Do you see any difference between how justice is used in the Jena 6 case, and God's sense of justice as illustrated in the scriptures? From what i've heard about the case so far, the thing that gets me is how no attention (prior to these events taking place and while they were taking place) has been given to the tree-issue. The fact that there existed (for so long) a tree at Jena high school with this much racist, divisive power in itself speaks volumes as to the value the high school places on their students' worth, because racism and divisiveness is detrimental to all who are involved.
I am asking anyone who comes across more updates regarding this issue can sent it to me at info@speeklife.com, so that I can frequently update the blog regarding this matter. Also, make sure you check out the third video of fox news, and pay attention to the last minute of the clip, where Hannity "dodges" Rev. Sharpton's question about whether or not he supports the Jena 6. They have been talking for over six minutes, but as soon as Re. Sharpton asks this question, all of a sudden Hannity can't hear him. Even his partner on the show heard him clearly. Racism, like any sin, cannot stay "hidden." Eventually it's going to come out and get exposed. I'm not saying i'm perfect or anything, but Hannity's "true feelings" regarding U.S. race relations is extremely evident in this clip. Jesus help us... Please share your thoughts, continue to pray that God heals this situation, and as always, speekonit...
Labels: attention, God, Jena 6, justice, Lord, oppressed, Psalms, scriptures
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