Saturday, September 1, 2018

Where are Black Father's?

I like, an untold amount, am an eyewitness to the venom regarding black fathers not being in the home. Until I began to research this epidemic, I assumed all black fathers was either lazy or feared responsibility as fathers. This, I discovered, is so far from the truth! The attack focuses more on the microcosm of this rather than focusing on the macrocosm of what has now become a pandemic. If we are going to investigate this occurrence, we must be prepared to find the truth. The truth is, before my ancestors were stolen from their land by savage beast, they operated in a cohesive family unit. Barbarically, my ancestors were stripped of their dignity and value; brought to this land with the intent to permanently be slaves to those who used religion to justify their evil and wicked nature. As slaves, we were victimized, dehumanized and demonized. Like a rapist, they forced themselves on us; impregnating us with a doctrine of white supremacy. As slaves, men were treated like filth before their wives and mothers and children. Our woman were raped and abused. Our men couldn't rescue their woman for fear of being killed. This brought a separation into our family; psychologically traumatizing our people. The temerity of those who  contracts convent amnesia for their own benefit.

Slavery was allowed to be reinvented in a new form. This new form of racism is disguised under black robes, police badges, voter suppression, systematic mass incarceration and felonies. These are some of the reasons the black father's are not in the home. A major percent of our black men are either locked up or caught in the web of the criminal justice system. What do we say to the black fathers who spent an astronomical amount of time incarcerated due to being framed, lies and corruption? Do we attack them for not being in the home? Or do we attack the system that is responsible for this. Some circumstances will prohibit the father from being in the home, yet some father's are in the life of the child.

These are just a few facts to show why a percentage of fathers are not in the homes. To those who argue that the absence of black father's is to blame for their criminal behavior, would you argue that white children could be serial killers and mass murderers because they were in the home of father's that allowed them to witness lynchings, rapes, murders and abuse of African Americans. When having an issue with absent fathers, ask yourself are you going to take a stand against the systems that are preventing them from being in the home. Present or absent fathers will not stop children from turning astray. It's easy to see the symptoms, but can you resolve the illness?

Monday, June 18, 2018

: ‘Exposing the Plot of Genocide’

God gave me a message as we celebrated Fathers entitled: ‘Exposing the Plot of Genocide’. In this message, God highlighted that men are targeted due to being a threat to the kingdom of darkness. Men in our society are chemicalized, feminized and criminalized. This is a tactic used by the enemy to triumph over God's creation.
We have so many men, like the New Testament Saul, who are lost yet they are chosen vessels. Chosen vessels are buried beneath the crevice of degradation and despair. Genocide is an attempt to halt a promised prophecy. This prophecy is mentioned in Acts 2:17 and states, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams."
Give me a person that has dreams and vision embedded in them and I will show you a person that cannot be stopped.

Saturday, May 19, 2018

"Unshackling Panhandlers"

Panhandlers have flooded the streets of American cities. These cities range from rural to urban. 564,708 people in the U.S. are homeless. According to a one night national survey conducted January 2017, over half a million people were living on the street, in cars, in homeless shelters or in subsidized transitional housing. Since we are required by Jesus to feed them, should we only feed them naturally or should we feed them with the knowledge necessary to provide for themselves? Was it Jesus’ intention that we permanently care for them? I believe Jesus would want us to first discover if they want to be made whole.

There are some panhandlers who exploit the church for their on personal advancement. This advancement will sometimes feed a habit and work on the mind of vulnerable people. Most panhandlers do not desire to work or they use God for their convenience. This is a crisis that both the church and community must engage. Peter, in Acts chapter three, faced this same dilemma. A panhandler presented himself to Peter as he was leaving church and as usual, asked for a handout. He asked for just enough to get by.

Most panhandlers only want enough to get by. This mentality will contribute to that person remaining in the cycle of poverty and begging. Peter informed the man, “silver and gold have I none”( Acts 3:6). Peter could have provided what the man was requesting. However, the principal was that the panhandler didn't need it. Peter says to the man, “such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). A revolutionist was on the apex of birthing through this act of transformation. Peter unshackled the panhandler resulting in a constant cycle being terminated. Like Peter, our focus should be on unshackling panhandlers. The misconception that the church doesn't help the homeless must be dispelled. Most small churches do not have the resources to help. Churches play a vital role in the lives of people and that role should be to educate, empower and enlighten.

In most communities barriers are erected making it impossible for the church to assist. Pastors around the country are being arrested because of this matter. In Florida, a homeless advocate by the name of Arnold Abbot and ministers Dwayne Black and Mark Sims, were arrested as they handed out food to homeless people in a Fort Lauderdale park. This is one of many episodes of modern day church abuse and persecution. The charge of “failing to assist” has been leveled against the church and its leaders. This charge has caused the church and its leaders to suffer under a false pretense by those who are the enemies of Christ. Most people have no idea what the church does for its people.

If leaders would disclose certain aspects of what they do, critics would have a better understanding. The church has not always done everything right. Yet the foundation of the church is legitimate and authentic. I call on the defenders of the faith to refute through truth every false narrative that is causing the church to be defaced and debased. Unlike others, I applauded the actions of President George W. Bush who established the Faith-Based Initiative. It is the faith-based community that is in the trenches. We are on the front lines. We are the boots on the ground reviving, restoring and resuscitating.

New York Mayor, Bill De Blasio, said on a radio show that he would like to ban panhandling but would not try because the courts would not allow it. Many panhandlers "are not particularly in need and just are finding a way to get some easy money and that does frustrate me,” he said. These are also my sentiments. I have watched panhandlers beg for money and use that money to purchase beer, cigarettes, drugs or engage in prostitution. Is the church contributing to this deficit? Absolutely not! The best position for the church is to teach them how to fish so they will never be hungry again. Bishop T. D. Jakes once stated, "If you take the gross national income of all the churches in America; if we didn't pay the mortgage, if we didn't pay the staff, if we didn't pay the light bill and took all of our money and gave it all away to the poor and become homeless to feed them, we still don't have the money.” Bishop Jakes was highlighting the role of the church and the government to care for the needy. The church cannot lose its compassion. Compassion is the core of our Christian values. Aa highlighted in 1 John 3:17, “If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion--how can God's love be in that person?” (NLT)

Monday, March 26, 2018

"A evil exists"

We cannot truly acknowledge gun violence and the plethora of problems that our world is challenged with unless we acknowledge there is an evil in this world! That evil has embedded itself in a culture of white supremacy, racism, bigotry, evil, and wickedness. This is a defining moment for the church to rise up in power and authority; reforming a perverse sytem. There are those who do not desire change due to the fact they benefit like pharaoh from this evil.

There are demonic portals that have become open in our world. These portals have unleashed agents of hell that inflict wickedness of all degrees. Jesus prepared us for these precarious times. A true messenger, like Jesus, will generate hostile opposition from forces that resist truth. Messengers of truth will be sought out to be killed. As Jesus said in John 8:49, ““But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham” (John‬ ‭8:40‬ ‭KJV)‬‬.

None of us can be reformist if we are on the side of those whom Jesus exposed. There are white evangelicals that have sold there soul for agendas that advance their interest and not the teachings of Jesus. This type of behavior must be denounced and repudiated. When souls become cold they become available to being sold! It is deceitful to denounce any voice that has been sanctioned to speak out against injustice, oppression, inequality, disenfranchisement, police brutality, corrupt politicians, and policies that are biased. Someone will pay for the blood that is on their hands. How many more lives must be taken before drastic measures are taken?

We, that are Christians, believe all acts of aggression will be dealt with. Those who have carried out these heinous acts of torture, abuse, and assaults will be judged by God.