Blog Archives
Back To Normal….Why?
Why would we want to go back to normal after this quarantine? If life has taught us anything it would be normalcy has left the building. The time to go back to normal is over. There shouldn’t be anything in our lives that is normal, not the way we wake up in the morning, not the way we say our hello’s, teach, guide, do our daily business, loving one another, forgiving each other, forgetting the past, and most of all giving God the praise and glory that he deserves; no matter what your circumstances have been through this trying season of the Covid 19.
Normal is out and different is in. Jesus Christ is tired of normalcy and is looking for a church that is ready for and is ready to do things different; when I say church I mean us. Us disciples that are ready to go out and be different and do different in our community and in the world. We are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the widows, and take time out to honor God by helping the ones that are in need, whether it be our neighbor church member, family members, and people that we know and don’t know.
Spreading our love in this world while it is the way it is right now is showing that Jesus Christ does exist. It shows that even though things are different, normal things can happen; such as love, peace, joy, being a humanitarian, humbling yourself, laying down your life for others. During this pandemic let’s remember all of those that have given their life to help others and let’s pray for the families that have lost love ones, because things will never be normal for them and things will never be the same for the world.
So now we know that this virus will always be here, it’s not going anywhere, but we can leave all of our baggage, all of our sin, our depression, lies, deceit, adultery, drug/ alcohol additions and any other negative traps that are keeping you from saying yes, Jesus I accept you as my Lord and savior. When this season is over and things start to open back up; please make a choice to choose Jesus and leave all of those things in the past.
If you decide to choose him, if you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose three days later so that you may have ever lasting life and life more abundantly say this prayer at the end of this blog. Please remember to Always be SAFE, STAY HOME, WASH HANDS, COVER COUGH, SICK STAY HOME (unless medical profession says otherwise).
What if your life were to end today?
Are you 100% certain that you would go to Heaven? If you are not certain about the answer to the question, then please consider what God says in His Word.
1.) You have sinned against God. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” -Romans 3:23
2.) There is a penalty for sin. “For the wages of sin is death….“ -Romans 6:23
3.) Jesus died on the cross, was buried and rose again, victorious over sin, Hell and the grave. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” -Romans 5:8
4.) Jesus is able and willing to save you from your sin penalty. :For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” -Romans 10:13
God wants you to believe in His word and receive Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour.
If you will, then right now, in simple faith, pray this prayer, asking the Lord to forgive you of your sin and save you:
“Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner. I know that Jesus died on the cross for me. Please forgive me of my sin, come into my heart and save me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Now walk into your spiritual blessings, I am not saying it will be easy, but am saying you will not be alone. You have the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit with you. Surround yourself with Christian like folks, find a church home to strengthen your faith, indulge yourself in the word and prayer. God Bless!!
Fibromyalgia Hasn’t & Will Not Beat Me!!!!! God Bless!!!!! Keep on Bogging………
Does Cell Phones Ruin Relationships?
As I look around each and every day I see more and more Americans face down, thumbs and fingers going, not a care in the world and not paying attention to each other. People are sitting at the American table waiting on their food, one would think you could spend that time getting to know each other, asking about each other’s day, preparing to see each other that night or whenever; no your head is down in the lighted screen, square box, at times headphones in your ear.
At this point you may say that I have some, or a little hatred for them, and you ask who
are them? Them would be cell phones, I wish at times they would all disappear, vanish off the face of the earth. I wish we could go back to the good old days where a good relationship was based on you spending time with each other, looking in that person’s eyes at the table, without interruptions, smiling, laughing, holding, kissing; but no, you have to get that important call from the office.
You come home not to see your wife or girlfriend, but to spend time on the toilet with your phone, then just to get out, take a shower, eat dinner with your phone, watch television with your phone, go to bed with your phone, pay little to no attention to the living and breathing wife, husband, boyfriend, or girlfriend next to you, but spending time in bed on the phone whether it’s work or games it comes first then him or her.
So, you tell me CAN or does cell phones ruin relationships?
Fibromyalgia Hasn’t & Will Not Beat Me!!!!!
God Bless!!!!!
Keep on Bogging………
Politics….Does it belongs in the Church?
Time and time again there has been much association with Politics and “The Church”. Should pastors preach or teach about politics or their views on who we should pick for candidates running for offices? Yes, we can and should pray for whom ever is holding offices, but to go as far as to tell us which way we should sway is outlandish.
Listening to the sermons of pastors that feel that they must add their political belief during Sunday service is unwarranted and ill advised. One may see this as a under hand attempt to lead God’s sheep’s down a path that’s unconstitutional. One must be free to pick any candidate running for office without any interference from the Church.
Just think about how this goes in your regular Church, have you ever sense that your pastor interjects now and again about how well Donald Trump is doing? Has he ever said that when Obama was in office? Listening to him or her preach about how well the republicans or democrats are doing, on a certain situation regarding something around the world that “we” the United States took part of.
Yes, it has been said that even Jesus sent people whom he trusted to governments in the Bible.
There are many scriptures in the bible that speak of governments and how we should present and carry ourselves in the eyes of the Lord and man. The following scriptures are just a few depicting how Christ wants us to walk out a life regarding government and laws:Acts 5:29 states But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.Titus 3:1 states Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work.
Psalms 22:28 states For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.Deuteronomy 16:18-20 “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
It is okay to speak about what is handed to us in the Bible, about the abominations that
God has stated and not be swept away with giving your own opinion about who we are to vote for. We as a Church must speak out on issues and that’s okay, this is what divides us from Church and State, however we as the congregation should never be force to agree or feel force to have a candidate shoved down our throat. Hearing about how a candidate is doing so well is your opinion and should not always be told from the pulpit, keep it to yourself. In my opinion Politics does not belongs in Church unless it’s a side bar discussion at a later time; at a meeting.
Fibromyalgia Hasn’t & Will Not Beat Me!!!!!
God Bless!!!!!
Keep on Bogging………
How Well Do You Really Know Someone?
Is it the way they say I love you, that make you think you know him or her? Is it the way that he holds you at night when you are alone, and no one else is around? Maybe it’s the way she makes you breakfast before you rush out the door and before the electrician or pool boy comes in. Or rather he tells you he is in his separate space, because he likes this area as his man cave, but in reality; it’s more than a man cave.
It’s where he goes to escape mentally from you and all the stress that you place on him, the place he goes to unwind and think about what has transpired the night before with a woman that won’t nag; but just satisfy his every need. Or maybe it’s her that says she’s out with her girls but what dubious behavior she displays. Gyrating from one man to the next letting lust fall where it wishes. I ask again, “How well do you really know someone?”
Knowing someone is really a big commitment and with that comes trust, honesty, and loyalty. Let’s say one day for the sake of argument and I have seen this time and time again on so many movies and shows, that trust, loyal, and commitment have been thrown by the wayside due to lust, sex, desire, yearning, and deceitfulness. You think you know one another so well, and then his or her best friend does the unthinkable!!
While you and your significant other is trying your best to get pregnant, your best friend is already pregnant with his first child and you have no clue; and you never will. Your best friend does the unthinkable with the pregnancy, so you don’t every know; just to spare you the humiliation, the insanity, and the abhorrence. Let’s keep this in mind this can go both ways, vice versa, it’s a two-way street here we are talking about knowing each other.
The lies that he tells you that anger you, you should be mad, I would? The way that he tells them, he can’t keep the story straight. The lies change constantly, more frequently than he changes his draws. Yes, what about her? She looks innocent enough, but is she? Of course not, imagine where those lips have been and who they have been on she is just as guilty. So, you see I was once told by a friend of minds a very long time ago, and yes, she was married for over sixty something years and she stated, and I quote “It doesn’t matter how long you have been with someone you will NEVER know ever thing about that person, NEVER.”
She said it and I believe it and I hope you really enjoyed my piece I have just written, because it makes you really think about people and how well you will NEVER know them, and how you will never know everything about that person, even when they say, “I am an open book”. Yeah you say that but, just like a book it to has many interpretations also.
I hope and pray that when that person is found, he or she is great, wonderful, and doesn’t hold back anything. Be that open book with no room for interpretations. Be awesome, be transparent, honest, trustworthy, loving, caring, God fearing, committed, and loyal. I know I have found mines all Glory goes to God.
Fibromyalgia Hasn’t & Will Not Beat Me!!!!!
God Bless!!!!!
Keep On Blogging….
Food Review: Mission BBQ “The America Way”
The America Way is the slogan at Mission BBQ and it seems like they are standing up to their slogan. They proudly open their doors on September 11, 2011. As I entered one of their establishments I notice the loud greeting from behind the counter as they were preparing the food “Welcome to Mission BBQ, we will be right with you.” My party replied as we looked over the menu and watch them prepare the orders in front of us.
The way they are set up; you place your order up front and move along the line. They have quite the options to pick from. You can get the Market sampler which you can choose two or three meats which includes sliced brisket, turkey, chopped brisket, pulled chicken, pulled pork, and sausage (jalapeno & chorizo). There are racks and sandwiches you can order from also.
When you order those combos you then have a choice of side which includes Maggie’s mac-n-cheese, cold slaw, baked beans w/ brisket, seasonal side, and green beans & bacon. I know this sounds yummy, but we have just scrapped the surface because, I have not even spoken to you about the taste of some of these items on the menu. Are they worthy to be called “The America Way?”
The sauces they have to choose from have crazy ranges in taste of spicy to darn outright good smokey bbq sauces and they are as follows: Memphis Belle, KC Classic, Tupelo Honey Heat, Craftsman Special, Smoky Mountain, Alabama White, Carolina Vinegar, Texas Twang, Bay-B-Que, Georgia Mustard. With names like those the taste GOT TO be right!!
So, as we sit down we notice that the tables are filled with six different BBQ flavors for you to choose from for your meal; along with a roll of paper towel for your messing hands. The staff are very friendly making sure you are taken care of and all your needs are attended to; even going the extra mile to make short conversation while you wait for your food.
As I am sitting, I couldn’t help but notice the décor; former Veterans, first responders, fire fighters, soldiers, officers, and soldiers that are serving our country. Yes, this place did speak loud volumes of the American Way. Many people in the United States have gave their life for our freedoms and looking around at these walls make you feel nostalgic about where you are from and what others have done for you to be here today.
Okay, food is here, and I ordered the pulled pork and the sausage, and my husband ordered the sliced brisket and ribs along with two side and cornbread with both orders. The sausage was amazing, it was a party in my mouth the great spice with the chorizo and jalapeno was an awesome mixture. The two together was not to over powering, a great relationship. The pull pork was nice and wet, I hate pull pork that is dry, and this was nice and moist. The choice of sauce made it a great pair and I was very happy with the pull pork. I also tasted my husbands sliced brisket and oh my God!! It was wonderful, once again here it was moist and not dry at all. It was tender, and it was like falling apart and the sauce that he chose was out of this world; two thumbs up.
The side are just as great as the meals itself, just be careful with the deserts it can be a little to sweet. Like the peach cobbler, if you are a diabetic I would not recommend it. Some things work good at restaurants like this one and some things don’t; desert aren’t their forte. So, do Mission BBQ stand up to their slogan “The American Way” I would have to say YES. Thank you, Mission BBQ, for your great BBQ and for what you stand for.
Fibromyalgia Hasn’t & Will Not Beat Me!!!!!
God Bless!!!!!
Keep on Bogging………
Traces of You
Traces of you on your birthday, all I have is the memories all I have is emptiness, but God fills it with joy, God fills it with peace, God gives me the strength to see all the loving memories that we had, that we will have in the future. Traces of you is what we had, traces of you is all I see on your birthday, how could this be? We were so close as the sap of a pecan tree. Traces of you on your birthday, I wish I could reach out and say how much I love you. Traces of you on your birthday, I wish I could pick up the phone and say I love you. Traces of you on this day, it’s a bittersweet sadness that God has taken away, he makes me not feel sorry, he makes me not feel sad, he makes me feel happy, he makes me feel the joy that he God can only bring; such a joy to a person’s life, a person choice to distant themself is painful. I wish I had more time, I long for more, I reach out for more, I’ve done all I could but, I only have traces of you on today, on your birthday.
Fibromyalgia Hasn’t & Will Not Beat Me!!!!!
God Bless!!!!!
Keep on Bogging………
Race, Creed, Money, Power, & The Citizens of Tampa FL Spring Music Festival 2018
The day was wonderful, the sun in the sky not a cloud around. The traffic was normal for what it was like on a Saturday in Tampa, FL; in other words, busy. However, on this day it would be a little busier than most due to a festival that was planned over a year ago with the Parks & Recreations office. The festival would be taking place at the beautiful Water Works Park they would be calling it The Spring Music Festival 2018 hosted by non-other than yours truly GroovEntertainment LLC.
Like any festival the day was going perfect there were plenty of vendors, food trucks, music, family, and friends. You could see people from all walks of life come together for a weekend of music and fun by the river. There are bike trails, walk ways, and even a water taxi near by for commuters to easily get to and from the water park venue shops, park, and plaza. There were also enough room for the four-legged friends as well.
As the music got started and more and more and more people began to come to enjoy the show, placing their blankets and chairs, we cozied up closer to the front, so we could enjoy the show as it got underway. Many people started singing along with artists that were on stage or as the DJ played some songs in between acts. My family and I enjoyed the songs from the old school as well as the here and now.
Blanket down, chairs set, food gotten, and beverages gotten; let’s keep this music festival rolling. The talent that would be hitting the stage during the festival was Theo Lodge, Sierra Amora, Angel Brown, DJ Tone Kapone, DJ Brian B, Tone Kapone, plus more. As my family and I were enjoying this beautiful festive day considering my mother-in-law was joining us all the way from NY, and she had made her plans around this event she was counting on a great show while here visiting Florida.
Let’s just say my family visited the Primavera Music Festival the week prior, the festival was AWESOME thank you to Safety Harbor by the way! The music was of a different caliber—meaning it was just not hip hop & R&B, it was rock and roll, some R&B, and jazz. There was a predominantly caucasian surrounding that had a slim minority population base present. This is not a bias statement; this is based on factual ocular fact base on who came out to the festival.
There were no disruptions, no interruptions, there was peace, joy, families, food, and friends. This event was located by the harbor; thus, you may walk on the docks in very close proximity to private property and other homes nearby. The festival also had a Ferris wheel that stood so tall that it could had disrupted the neighbors, but there were no complaints—everyone played along, and no calls were made to the parks of recreations office.
I only bring this up to you as a concern citizen of Florida regarding the event that happen in Tampa on that afternoon at the Spring Music Festival. I and many other have felt that an injustice was and has been done to the people of Tampa, FL on the 31st day of March on Saturday afternoon. At approximate between 5:30 -6pm while the people of Tampa were enjoying the Spring Music Festival, there was a caucasian couple Ms.Vogelsang and Mr. Shkurii tying the knot, however their wedding planner did not check to see if there were going to be other events going on that day in the park when she pick that venue on that day.
So we all know in life there are two side to every stories and I will give you both sides because obvious one of the people did not want to hear the other person’s story on that day; maybe it was due to race, creed, color, or the power trip that they were on—we the people need to speak up!
Let’s hear Tony Mulkey’s side, he is one of the associates that works with the director Paul Dial of Parks and Recreations. Tony states he was in Columbus Ohio and could not deal with the situation directly, so he dealt with it over his phone he stated “The organizer from the wedding called him around 5:30-6pm to see if he could call the festival organizer and see if they could pause the music for the wedding ceremony. Then he stated that he got a call back from the event coordinator from the music festival side, that stated he has a permit for the festival and he is not going to pause but he will turn it down.”
So, then Tony with all this back and forth finally says you know what “I am going to shut you DOWN” and he does just that, not taking into consideration of the families, vendors, sponsors, talents, music, and for what? A hand full of people that did not even stay on the roof even for 5mins after they announce they had to stop the music. Was this a fair trade off? You decided.
Second side of the story is coming from DJ Prince stating that he was getting calls from someone in parks and recreations to lower the music, so he did so, then even after that he even stopped the music at one point in time. He received another call stating the wedding coordinator was still complaining of the music and that the music needed to be paused. Keep in mind the music had been paused, so we don’t know what they were complaining about at this point. By the time everything was said and done the festival was shut down and we were left holding our tails. DJ Prince felt like he would need to find out who he would need to play politics with now since this seemed to be a political move. If it was then–there is no way, no way at all a music festival should have been shut down due to a wedding that was happening on private property over 100yards plus away, that the organizer only had rented out one speaker which was idiotic on their part, and as soon as the music was shut off everyone in the wedding party have already ventured indoors of the rooftop restaurant.
There was also the opinion of Dejavu an artist they did not get a chance to perform at the music festival “if we have the same equal right in the sense of the permit in what we are doing, we shouldn’t have to turn down anything. If it’s coming from the people up above, the people from the wedding you should know what’s going on in your town the wedding planner, what makes yours event more than ours?”
He states “no one here is angry or aggressive, no shooting, the children are here with their families with the lawn chairs, and food trucks on site smelling good. He goes on to say “you have Black folks, Asian, White, Puerto Rican, all nationalities interacting with each other, people on their bikes stopping and listening to the music.
In Daniel Riley’s opinion he felt that they were belittle by the incident because the wedding party stated, “we do not like the music that was played.”
All in all, this could have been handle more better than it was done to ease the feelings of the citizens of Tampa. In this day and age there should be no favoritism, no back-door dealings, no unfairness due to race, creed, color, power, money status, or socioeconomic status. Fair should be fair, it should remain that way, judgement shouldn’t be made in a blink of an eye, or as quick as a bullet train. Decision that can come back and bite you in the butt should be handle with grace and finesse. Decision need to be handle with God on your mind and with him in your heart.
Every time I think of how God did great things for me and the people of this world I thank him and pray even harder because I know that the world needs more caring, compassionate, God fearing, joyful, peaceful, loving people in this world that can spread the joy by showing others what kindness we have inside of us. We have come so far, yet we have much further to go, lets show one another kindness and remember the next decision that you make could be the one that determines what the rest of your life might look like.
I would like to thank 99 Jams WUJM, CEO Don Scott and our super cool DJ’s Big Mark, Super Dave, R1, Daryl Askey, and Bizzy B, all our acts. Saving the best for last DJ Prince and Dejavu, keep it blessed gentlemen and above all keep Christ in your lives and always be true to your gift and to yourself. I wish to see more good things to come from this incident on that sad day Saturday March 31st. Let’s learn and move on from it and grow to a bigger and better festival for September; thanks to Tony for answering questions that he might have saw was tough but answered them anyhow.
2018 JITG Music Festival
Fibromyalgia Hasn’t & Will Not Beat Me!!!!!
God Bless!!!!!
Keep on Bogging………
Day Two: 2018 JITG Music Festival Miami
Day Two at the JITG Music Festival there was right away a noticeable amount of more jazz goers than on Saturday. Maybe they were here for the early afternoon churching of Tasha Cobbs Leonard, or perhaps it was Mrs. Anita Baker they were waiting for; who knows. On day two there were so many great performers that would hit the stage from the renowned Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Pieces of a Dream, Avery Sunshine, Walter Beasley, none other than Anita Baker, Joe, and bringing the 90’s was Biz Markie, Kid ‘N Play, Trick Daddy, and Salt-N-Pepa with Spinderella.
Hitting the stage first was Mrs. Tasha Cobbs Leonard and let me say she took us to church with her amazing voice. She sang favorites likes Break every chain, Praise on It, I will follow and many more of her amazing hits. The crowds were on their feet given God all the praises he deserved. The weather was warm, sunny, and we were stomping the enemy under our feet. I give a round of applause to Tasha Cobbs for the amazing performance that she brought to this years 2018 JITG Music Festival. Thank you, Tasha.
Up next was Pieces of a Dream playing sweet jazzy tunes to today’s modern songs and as I say, back in the days greatest hits from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. Joining them on the stage later in the performance would be the jazzy songstress Avery Sunshine. She was greeted to the stage with a warm welcome. As I sat back and listened to the sound of her soulful voice it took me back down memory lane with some other famous jazz singers such as Abbey Lincoln, Billy Holiday, Betty Carter, and Nina Simone just to name a few. Loving to sit in my chair and relax to her voice made me really enjoy how Sunday was starting out; hats off you both of your groups.
Walter Beasley played excellent, the smooth rhythmic sounds of jazz continued as he hit the stage and played a few of his and the audience favorites. There was no shortage in music at this festival and neither was the applauds and smiles as Walter Beasley played. Crowd goers sang along with the band as many of the also danced in the isles with love ones they came with or others they met alone they way; jazz music never felt so good.
Now, the moment that I think many, and I mean many people had been waiting for all night, was here Mrs. Anita Baker. It was a standing ovation in JITG, she graced the stage with her presence wearing an all red beautiful tailored dress, and hair was short and stylish. As she walked the stage she immediately thanked her fans, the band, the backup singers, and any other stage workers with a bow to them; very elegant and classy of her. Anita Baker can be seen this year on her farewell tour, so be sure you check your local listings to see when she will be in or around your area. Mrs. Baker did an awesome job with all the songs that she performed on Sunday night it was unforgettable. Thank you, Mrs. Anita Baker, for your grace, elegance, passion, drive, and vocals you be blessed.
Then we have the sweet sounds of Joe mesmerizing the crowds and getting everyone all into their feelings. Joe has does what he does always; greets the crowd and comes right off the stage as he is performing and into the crowds. Security is making sure he is guarded and protected as he put on an amazing show sharing his vocals and his body with the first few rows of the festival. There was no short supply of Joe, he came thru and did his thing and I thank you.
This year’s bringing the 90’s we have up next Biz Markie of course everyone also knows him as the human beatbox. Biz Markie comes on and does a few oldies for us and then he starts to belch out words that seems like he’s trying to actually sing…why? Well I understand him because I have known for years that’s Biz Markie; has tried and wants to sing, but the words just don’t come out quite right. So many people at the festival was at that point, booing him off the stage and saying No! No! for my husband and I we new the deal. It was like watching a little teenage girl singing in the shower and got caught trying to sing and her little petty brother and being told to shut up. Well my words to Biz Markie, you keep doing you Boo!
Our next 90’s was Kid ‘N Play, you would not believe how much energy that these two brought to the stage. People were back onto their feet jumping to the beat and had forgotten about the last act—sorry. Kid ‘N Play rock the stage with their crazy dance moves and their fast and cool rap, they even went into a rap battle against each other—very awesome I must say so. They did crack a joke saying, “Boy we are tired as hell.” The crowd laughs I could see how all that running and jumping around could make anyone tired when you’re their age. They put on an excellent show and I really enjoyed it, thank you Kid ‘N Play.
Trick Daddy do I need to say any more? I guess I will it’s only fair to the readers. Hitting the stage was your 90’s rapper, the crowd went wild. The crowds sang and rapped along to the verses of his music leaving me to just sit back and guise at the crowd. They knew word for word seems like before he was going to say it. They were true and loyal fans, I did not know this Trick Daddy so for me I was on the outside looking in at what all the fuss was about, and from what I saw he had a loyal fan base. Keep up the work Trick Daddy.
Our last act of the night with over thirty years working in this music industry Salt-N-Pepa, with Spinderella. I was so happy when they grace the stage with their presence. It was like a little girl getting a Christmas gift early and opening it; this was the final act of the night that I wanted to see. I loved listening to Salt-N-Pepa when I was growing up, because as a kid in my home it was always church, church, church so when school came, and I could listen to music; that’s where it was at I fell in love with these ladies. They came to the stage all grown and sexy, singing all the greatest hit and apologizing to all the women they got in trouble with their provocative songs. All I got to say to that is, no worries ladies you were doing sex education. Spinderella had all the great beats as usually; Salt and Pep had all the great moves and rhymes. All three ladies and their dancers did their thing on stage they came out to entertain us and that’s just what they did. I feel that they brought a hell of a show ladies keep up the work and I look forward to seeing more years ahead. God bless you all!
Forgiveness is Just a Word People Say!!!
Forgiveness were are you? Some people know not of the word, they say they do, they say they have forgiven, but in reality they are just as broken as the lies they tell to your face.
Let me tell you a story about a Church, a place that is so caught up in image; keep in mind am not judging, am not telling you what I heard, am telling you what I know. This church was so caught up in numbers, caught up in how big they could get the audience, which type of people they could preach or teach to without being offensive, a church that was to scared to deal with real issues that surrounded everyday life, a church that condemned ME.
Luke 6:37 (ESV)- “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
Matthew 7:1-5 (ESV) “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Okay, Okay I could go on and on with scriptures about judgement and condemnation, however I choose not too. When you have a person tell you that they forgive you then say that they don’t approve of a novel you have written and neither does the church–you thank God for the Holy Spirit for keeping you grounded and not saying nothing.
First and foremost I did not write my novel for the person(s) that condemned me at that church (The Crossing in Brandon, FL), I wrote my novel for me, for others like me that could relate and see themselves as survivors. If my book offended your congregation….I will not apologize, I will not suppress what is happening to thousands of children a day, I will not lay down and not be heard, I will FORGIVE YOU of your pettiness, of your condemnation that you brought against me, I will forgive you of how you called me demonic for writing such novel. How dare you pastors nowadays think they are the only ones that hear from God? If that was the case we would all be in trouble–because we are the flock following blindly after our teacher(s).
FORGIVENESS; don’t say it, don’t use it if you really don’t mean it, don’t let it slip out your mouth because you think I want to hear it……I don’t. I am telling you All that I forgive you of your IGNORANCE. You are forgiven and I mean it, I look beyond the pettiness, and feel sorry for the ones that are following you blindly. I hope this message cause you to look at the way you are raising your flock and ask God to deliver you all from what’s beneath the surface and into your hearts.
The real tragic to this story was this church lost three members that were actively involved in the church and doing the work of God. Thanks for reading my novel or pages of it, it lets me see how narrow minded church people can be, it lets me see how you can take an innocent fragile scene as rape and turn it around and say that, that child will grow up to be a lesbian/gay….how dare you!! You are weak, sick, and closed minded people. Furthermore this is the real kicker the book was written and published in the state of NY and the author (me) moved to FL three years later, there happen to be names that were the similiar as the congregation and of course the church did not like that so it was said.
Well that’s why we have disclaimers, I don’t know you, I lived many states away, and if you are feeling convicted in your spirit maybe you need to deal with your demons from the past instead of finding a way to chastise me about my novel; just saying. So I hope this little story peaked you interest enough to FORGIVE someone, everyone, or yourself before it’s too late; please really mean it!!
Fibromyalgia Hasn’t & Will Not Beat Me!!!!!
God Bless!!!!!
Keep on Bogging………
Even Your Text Message Is Depressing!!!!!!!!
Have you ever got a text message from someone, and the text message sounded just as depressing as the person sending it? At times that may be the case. A person may send a text message that only says “Hello” and that “Hello” is so depressing. Maybe it’s because you know the person that’s sending it is sad, lonely, a downer, and is always in the dumps…….. Or perhaps you maybe sense it’s just what it is a depressing “Hello”. Does this make you a physic? No, it does not to say the least. Should you be concerned about the person on the other end that’s sending you the text message? Maybe, are they looking for sympathy, are they bored and justed wanted to see how you were truly doing. Bottom line, I dislike getting
your one word text message that is filled with guilt, depression, shame, loneliness, and isolation. Please if you want to send me something send cheerful news, happiness, a time we can meet for lunch, a time we can gather for dinner, a time where we can congregate for girls night for movies, bowling, or game night; something other than depression. I have enough depressing things in my life to deal with without taking on yours. I love you whoever you may be, do what I do, turn to who I turn to…….God he can change your situation I promise.
Fibromyalgia Hasn’t & Will Not Beat Me!!!!!
God Bless!!!!!!!
Keep Blogging!!!!!!!!
A New Day With Fibromyalgia 