Making It Plain

First impressions…it’s the thing we learn to do when going on a job interview, getting a loan from a bank, meeting his/her parents for the first time, and yes, when we are going on that first date. The things we go through just so the person seeing us initially will believe that you are honest, forthcoming, having integrity, loyalty, with a focused plan for the future. It puts the other person receiving you at ease….well, that’s what we intended, right? But what if…just envision for a moment, the boss from the job interview, the loan officer, the parent of your love interest, or the love interest were in the car with you right in the middle of rush hour and you had 5 minutes to make it to work on time? Or if anyone of the aforementioned were coming to your home unannounced? Or on a day off and your idea of relaxing around the house is to be in your pajamas all day long eating junk food and marinating in your own ilk? Would it matter what impression you made on them then? If so, what’s ...

The title and subject matter for this entry came from a co-worker having the audacity to ask me, "I don't know why you expect something different just because they say they are Christian." I try not to answer people that leave me dumbfounded especially when they profess that we believe in the same God. Let me try to put this in perspective to understand why it is necessary for the purposes of living a single Christian life whether for the purposes of marriage or not. My career is culminated around and smack in the middle of Human Service Professional. This stems from Youth Specialist to Domestic Violence Social Worker, to a Director of a Learning Center and everything in between from the geriatric community to mental wellness of a child. How I treated each and every person initiated from what each person told me about themselves coupled with the answers to my questions. If the person didn't have the same belief system as myself, we tackled their issues one way; but...

I was on my way to work and as much as I like to drive, there is a pet peeve of mine when people think that they can drive up to the fender of a car ahead of them to intimidate the driver to move out of the way rather than the aggressive driver moving he/she does vehicle acrobatics by driving right up close to the fender ahead so they can swerve in the next lane barely missing the next car ahead and the other driver in the next lane. I patiently wait for them to see that what they were hoping for me to do, is not going to happen. I then call them something (ungodly) in my car with the windows rolled up. Knowing that just me and God heard what was said, does that make it more or less alright?                                     Ugh, it’s not a big deal! Stop making mountains out of nothing! The Word tells us to refrain from evil speaking ( Psalms 34:13-14 KJV ).  But it’s the Old Testament so w...

This blog originally served as refreshers notes for my children. It then became larger than that when people outside of my family asked me questions about my belief system. The biggest question that posed opposition for me was, why aren't you married, yet? I paused and took a deep breath thinking with all of these entries, the answer would be obvious. A pastor of a well known ministry incorporated in his sermon that when he was dating he asked the Lord what sort of wife he wanted. He had a list of what he expected her to look like because it is what he found he was attracted to ( James 1:11 AMP ). She had to have a certain complexion, tiny in the waist, wide in the hips and shapely legs. Assuming he thought it not necessary to ask that she be a born again believer; it was one of the things he seemed not to mention. When he saw his wife to be, he was at a loss for words. He was so pleased with who he knew was perfect for him. Eventually, the pastor's now wife would begin to prea...

 The Word of God tells us not to call anyone a fool ( Matthew 5:22 AMP ) and to have a good reputation so not to be discredited ( 1 Timothy 3:7 AMP ) So, what would you call it when you notice that the older aren’t teaching the younger and the acts of the elderly make no sense, especially when they know better? Over the years, my career has given me invaluable experiences; however, there was a position I held in a senior community where I was really expecting a vast of information. There were at least 150 residents that I engaged with conversations and activities. My expectation was for the women to build a rapport with me to tell me some things I didn’t already know, complete with colorful stories. That did not happen. What I did hear were the things they didn’t say. I saw what they looked like as months passed when no one came to visit them. Or when the family did pay a visit, members stayed on the phone or spoke to their parent as if talking to a child. The elderly male resident...

Social media continually evolves to where it is today. This comes from what people migrate to and based upon the current trends that influences the masses. There was a thread posted on a popular website where the question of marital vows are sanctioned by God. Truth be told, I asked the question. The focus was if the ambiguity of the vows were concentrated on fear. If not, then why won't a man include loving her as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25 KJV)? The group where the question was asked was full of outspoken members. It wasn't surprising, seeing that the group is made up of mostly men, there were some hours that passed before answered. I specifically asked for scripture references seeing that an opinion would not be of any interest to me. Why that request, at first was disregarded, was also not surprising. However, I was surprised for a pastor to state that the love of both people was obvious and unnecessary to mention in the vows. Sigh. A young, single man interest...

I had to take 2 sips of coffee before starting this one. It is a task to write in a Christian blog and not get your feelings involved. You see, the subject matter happens to be a passion of mine because there have been entirely too many ministers, preachers, evangelists, so-called teachers, pastors, and bishops that qualify themselves to minister the Word of God laced with the opinions of man and causing for there to be more detriment than good. God didn't tell the 5-fold ministry to do that. Preaching the "good news" was all that was required. No one got up to put on their finest to hear about what your wife cooked or didn't, what your children could have been, or why you moved into your third mansion when most of the congregation is struggling to pay one utility bill. Okay, what happened! Don't ask me that. This isn't gossip. It took me some time to digest the information, have an epiphany, be flabbergasted, and then come up with an entry that is for edifica...