Come Let Us Reason Together

Omission and filtering your words is a form of lying and if you engage in this practice you’re devaluing your relationship/friendships because you’re in essence saying that the person you’re interacting with is not worthy of truth or can’t handle truth.  What I’m attempting to convey to you is that you should allow room for uncomfortable conversations it promotes growth on both sides. While that other party may get upset with you, if they are truly a friend, if they truly love you or know how to love, the anger or hurt will pass and they will appreciate the fact that you helped them grow.

Colossians 3:9-10 New International Version (NIV)

9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

The proper way to approach any conflict or struggle is to begin with introspection. You must begin by asking yourself, which part of my pride is impacted and why is it impacted? This must be done before you can even reach the stage of asking for forgiveness or mending a relationship….and note, it must be done on both sides. We, as believers, need practice in apologetics….read 2 Corinthians 10:5 and pay close attention to the words “everything that sets itself up against the knowledge of God” because isn’t that exactly what the ego does? The word say “come now, and let us reason together.” Isiah 1:18.

It doesn’t say tell yo’ mom and them, get 3 or 4 of your friends together and dog the person out tractor running their name and character through the mud.

Ephesians 4:31-32 New International Version (NIV)

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:15-16 New International Version (NIV)

15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

All this being said brings me back to my favorite passage of scripture, if it’s even possible to have a favorite, but being a romantic it just appeals to my soul….let’s just say it and leave it at that…

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Be Blessed Y’all

Perseverance and Preservation

You know, I learned at lot of what I know about God and the bible at the feet of the older saints and I can relate and equate all my experiences to songs that I’ve heard groaned and moaned a capella….you know the kind of singing that touched the very essence of your soul and ushered in the praise dance of the Holy Spirit.

Today I was reminded of hearing…..the heartfelt singing of the church mother’s kicking off evening services with “just another day that the Lord has kept me” and I was flooded with the memories of seeing my grandmother bowing her head in prayer. Anyone who knows my story knows that my grandmother and I were tighter than cheap pantyhose and I can say that seeing her in prayer and remembering her in prayer is one of the most beautiful memories of my life. I know for a fact that because she prayed and taught my mother to pray, who in turn taught me, I know, that I know, that I know that there is a God who sits high and sees low. You know we were taught that aforementioned phrase in our “churching” but have you ever really stopped to consider what it means? Well, allow me to elucidate, it means that God on high, sees and protects us in our mess; in our “Lord if you just see your way to help me and I’ll never do it agains” It means God is in the midst of working out our lows and elevating us.

If your grandmother was anything like mine, she did what they called “canning”, some of you young folks won’t understand this concept so I’m going to take a little time to explain. Canning or preserving was a way to save and store food in the event of a crisis or emergency. What happens in the canning process is that they would take fresh fruits and veggies and place them in mason jars and boil the jars to produce the proper amount of heat to safely seal the lid and thereby “preserving” and protecting the contents to be used at a later time. Doesn’t this remind you of life? Think about it, we periodically have breakthroughs and were all fresh and new, full of energy and focus and then something happens that just staggers the imagination and undermines all what you thought you were going to do! Some, people are questionably preserved; their seal leaked and they cannot be used… but then there are the people who have gone through the fire and are properly refined and are fresh for that thing that popped up…… you following me with this? You finding hope in this word?

So the next time, oh trust and believe there will be a next time….you find yourself struggling think about the circumstances that caused David to write the Psalms specifically Psalm 91: 1-16 New International Version (NIV)

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Remember God’s promise in Isiah 41:10 New International Version (NIV)

10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

The next time you’re in hot water and begin to feel the heat, look to God, stay focused and just know that you’re being preserved and you’re obtaining your seal

James 1:12 New International Version (NIV)

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

The victory is not given to the swift or the strong but to the one who endures to the end (paraphrase of Ecclesiastes 9:11)

Hang in there y’all

At the Altar of You

By kb ©2005

I dream of making love to you

Not just in an oooh baby…..kind of way

But with a slow, rhythmic, methodical, sanctified passion,

Sho’ ‘nough Holy Ghost, Hallelujah sway.

I pray about making love to you

One night to hear angels sing….

passion on an altar

womanhood offerings

blessed communion in this union

a baptism as I drink you in.

I dream of making love to you

Not just in an oooh baby…..kind of way

But with a slow, rhythmic, methodical, sanctified passion,

Sho’ ‘nough  Holy Ghost, Hallelujah sway.

Allow me

By :  ©KB

Allow me to introduce myself

I’m the one who wants to know you

Allow me to introduce myself

I’m trying to be your friend

Allow me to introduce myself

Let’s start at the beginning and end at the end

Allow me to introduce myself

I want to be your mate

Allow me to introduce myself

Let’s start this thing off with a date

Allow me to introduce myself

I want to get to know you well

Allow me to introduce myself

I have secrets I wish to tell

Allow me to introduce myself

My life I wish to share

Allow me to introduce myself

With someone who will care

Allow me to introduce myself

In poetry and in rhyme

Allow me to introduce myself

A lover, partner, friend in spirit and in mind

Allow me to introduce myself until the end of time

All the reason that I need

By: KB  ©

I'm a poem without rhyme

a dancer out of time

hoping that you'll be

all the reason that I need

Food without flavor

a pauper out of favor

hoping that you'll be

all the reason that I need

I was a fool who gave up on love

then you came into my life...a gift from up above

you opened my eyes and made me see

that you're all the reason that I need.....

My eyes, my days, my life no longer reflected sun

I'd convinced myself I'd never find anyone

you opened my eyes and made me see

that you're all the reason that I need......

Addiction

By: KB       1.7.2013

Addiction is a vindictive bitch

Turn a penthouse girl to an outhouse girl

Livin’ foolish rich

Addiction will make you forget you’re a mom

Bobbin’ and weavin’, noddin’ and skeezin’

All to get the drug induced calm

Addiction will kill you slow

Livin’ pillar to post, jail as host

Or worse yet a 10 dollar ho

Addiction the lifestyle

Invites other disease to spread

Addiction ma,

if you don’t recognize and give it respect

it will leave you dead

A Sister’s Lament

By ©Karen Banks   2005

Oh no my friend you got it twisted

I ain’t the one to get treated like I’m unlisted

Neglected and ignored

A fool to call when you are bored.

I said I love you

Said it without regret

How can it be that you don’t give as good as you get?

I am dedicated, devoted and loyal…

Yet you treat me like just so much soil

Walking all up and down my back

Kiss my ass I don’t deserve that

I hear you and your “friend” laughin’

When you come at me sideways with that lame

“what had happened…..”

It hurts, I’m sorry

I think you should know

I can do bad all by myself so I’m letting you go

A Hot Night

By ©kb 2005

Baby, scratch my back

Let me pull your hair

As we fall into the sack

And I take you there

Wrap your legs around me

Draw me closely in

Let me dive in your ocean

Let me take a swim

Drinking all your nectar

Juices oh so sweet

Scream my name, hold my head

To guide me in the treat.

Multiple orgasms

This is best one yet

Oh my God, here we go

Baby you are so wet

You say no more, can’t take it

You say it oh so sweet

Pull me close hold me tight

We both fall asleep

A funky jazz tune

By © kb 2005

I’ve waited for this moment for so very long

To touch and tease you composing our own erotic song

A funky hiss of cymbals a ping of hi - hat

My hands play out a rhythm

Damn girl I know you like that

Tapping out a beat on a sweet sweet snare

Picking up the rhythm when I hear

Oooooo baby touch me there

Adding in the bass

Syncopated bliss

Burying my face ooo shit can’t take this…

Absorbed in the rhythm played out in my mind

Go ahead baby touch me slowly….oh god take your time…..

The Paradox + (-)

By: KB 11-19-13

Why (-)

Life’s open-ended question

 that creates a void

in anything that has to do with SELF

Why (+)

Life’s question that motivates

For personal growth

Tender Kisses

By KB 12.05.13

Tender kisses

starts a fire

creating wishes

of desire

Gentle touches

A caressing hand

Set flesh aglow

With passions plan

Love making

rivers flow

swimming in the afterglow

None But The Righteous

As kid coming up I heard the old saints singing, what seemed to be a million times, this song: None but the righteous, none but the righteous, none but the righteous shall see God. It was used as a chorus during baptisms.

As I grew older, I knew a sister, who like to refer to herself in the third person and use the title Evangelist repeatedly say “The bible says that the righteous shall scarcely make it in (heaven)…”

Her interpretation of the word bothered me to no end because it reminded me of the heavy-handed way the old church mothers taught from a place of judgment and bias. Don’t get me wrong….I learned some discipline from those ladies and a lot of what they taught was valuable to me in my lifetime but I also began to realize that some of what they taught was a result of oppression and an oppressive theology given to them via slavery.

With this knowledge I began to reflect on and repeatedly revisit what it means to be righteous.

Merriam-Webster defines righteous as such:

1: acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin

2a: morally right or justifiable a righteous decision

b: arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality, righteous indignation

3: slang: GENUINE, EXCELLENT

 Now, with the word defined ask yourselves, who or what defines my righteousness? Believe it or not, righteousness needs both a who and a what to define it. Trust and believe the who, is not the church, the saint, your friends or your mother and father! They can all provide instruction and guidance but righteousness and right standing is determined by God and God alone!

The what, in righteousness, are your actions. To keep this all real for you, folks, your actions may be the only Bible that people read. What do you actions say about your righteousness? These scriptures are supports to what I’m saying:

“For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face” (Ps. 11:7).

“And I–in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Ps. 17:15).

“Surely the righteous will praise your name and the upright will live before you” (Ps. 140:13).

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matt. 5:8).

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world” (John 17:24).

The bible says to study to show ourselves approved which leads me to bring this all together for you. These few verses address righteousness in its proper context. If we truly see God, our actions reflect what we see, so righteousness is both literal and figurative. Righteous is a noun and a verb linked together by love; the love of God and the love of his people.

Now, getting back to the words of the Evangelist, I knew she had it wrong, her quote of the Scripture was rooted in a judgment and her vision of what it means to be righteous. What I know today is that we ALL fall short of the glory of God …the words scarcely;  1 Peter 4:18 simply translates to having difficulty and what in the world is more difficult than living in it?  There is no judgement attached to this passage because God KNOWS that we are full of flaws and character defects

God knows our struggle Romans 7:19

Stop beating yourselves up for falling short on some things and learn to look for lessons and blessings “BLessons”   Amen.

Pax Christi, One Love Y’all

Sports Fan

By: KB       ©   1.6.2013

I love my baby but she just don’t understand…

That ESPN, Fox and televised sports are just what drives this ‘man

Football, baseball, basketball, boxing fill my weekend’s day

Transfixed, glued, mesmerized in front of the tube I’ll stay

She just don’t get it…she talks and talks and often blocks the way

Halftime is my sweet relief, my respite and reprieve

I answer questions, give hugs and kisses

She gets her fill and leaves

Rhythm Of Life

By: KB ©11-19-13

Conception

Heartbeat

Birth

Walking

Talking

Dancing

Dating

Love

Sex

Marriage

Children

Aging

Death

Milestones, setbacks and miracles in every step

Rescue Me

Rescue Me…

You know that oldies song by Fontella Bass

I recognize the tone and tune in your voice

And I run to save that ass

Driving the ambulance

Wearing the cape

You whimper, you call, I come swoopin’ in to see

Modern day psychiatrists call it codependency

Just let me need something

No single leaps you bound

I could be flat, assed out

And you’re nowhere to be found

I tell you what I’m going to do

The next time I hear Rescue me

Gonna fix my mouth so you can hear, nice and clear

BITCH how ‘bout reciprocity!

Moving On

By KB 2.26.2013

I’m right you’re wrong

You’re right and I’m wrong

They should set these petty arguments to song

Harsh words

Exposed vulnerabilities

Oh God! Here come the tears

We’ve been having versions of the same argument for years

I’m through, you’re done

We’ve got to end this milieu

Let’s just agree to disagree and go our separate ways

I’ll see you when I see you

Love

By: KB 1/2013

Passion a fever that overtakes the brain

Desire, fever spread and the heart is dead

Living Waters

Oh I feel like preaching.....let's have church y'all. My Pastor, teacher, mentor once told me "we preach out of our experiences." Yes, we do!!!!!

Let me tell you….there is just something about being around the people who love God and having a high energy conversation when you know that your spirit is off.
My inner circle is comprised of people of all walks of faith but my “go to” folks are people in different ministerial capacities. I like to engage in what I call “rabbinical conversation” you know when rabbis get together they discuss their interpretation of the scriptures. Well, yesterday was my turn to engage. A sister and I were talking about the “but God said…” moments in our lives and I began the discussion on the leading of the Holy Spirit and how it compels us to do and seek the will of God. John 16:12-14 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth … He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” We went on and on about that for a while then the topic shifted to Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

I tell you I began to really examine and dissect this passage and it down to this, have you ever been so deeply impacted by something that you could not find the words to express the magnitude of the thing? Like when you were a kid and you cried; your mother could tell the difference between a “normal” no big deal cry and a cry of distress and she would respond accordingly. The Holy Spirit does the same for us. The Holy Spirit interprets the things that impact our souls and our righteousness because we have a tendency to minimize and “deal with” things. We have a tendency of telling others before we tell God! We listen to the advice of others rather than seeking the word and comfort of God! We complain about it or have pity parties magnifying the thing before we magnify our prayer! When we do this we interfere with God’s presence and promise….it’s kind of like being so out of it that you fight with paramedics who are there to render aid.

The Holy Spirit tells God all about our distress cries that’s behind our “brave face and I’m ok’s” the thing that we don’t allow the world to see for fear of further exploitation or pain… so, why do we so freely share it without thinking about what could result from it; without considering the fact that someone could exploit our vulnerabilities? WE WANT RELIEF! Pure and simple we want the hurt to go away. The Holy Spirit takes that pain and translates it; so we do not walk in the nature of or desires (give in to fixes of the flesh)

I tell you by the time we finished talking I had that sister speaking in tongues and I was praising God like I’d lost all ability to reason….

When is the last time you had a good water cooler conversation?….I had a living water cooler conversation ; )

Perennials With Purpose

REAL TALK from KB: Anybody who has spent any amount of time with me knows that I am a fool, fun and crazy jokester but on the same hand I am ‘bout about it when it comes to my faith and spirituality. I acknowledge God first and foremost. My faith is a verb, in action (action word in action….let that sink in) I live, move and breathe in Hebrews 11:1 11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. I believe what God speaks into my spirit and I work on His word….I am like Noah at times, it doesn’t have to make sense to anybody else. The people that KNOW me will also tell you when things go down and get thick. I’m that go to person who will fight…..physically if need be but spiritually for sure.

The enemy rejoices when he thinks he has me,  seeing me go to my knees and then he quakes with fear when he hears the amen. I am that person of faith, that soldier!!!!!!

I once heard a bit of this story on a morning radio show and the person speaking was discussing the Spiritual concept of seasons. He stated that most people don’t understand it because they relate it to the four seasons; winter, spring, summer and fall. He went on to explain that he struggled with the concept for years because he too thought of seasons as a quarterly event. He stated that expected some type of bareness after a milestone event.

After hearing him talk for a minute I began to think about how many people think like this. Just think about your own thought process as a believer. We pray for God to equip us. We receive the answer and we then brace ourselves to await the next trial or blessing.

Now, here’s where I’m going to mess you up a bit…still using the “Mother Nature” example. Believing that we live from trial to victory and vice versa is a denial of the power of the cross. We are perennials.

Perennial plants can be short-lived (only a few years) or they can be long-lived, as are some woody plants like trees. They include a wide assortment of plant groups from ferns and liverworts to the highly diverse flowering plants like orchids and grasses.

Plants that flower and fruit only once and then die are termed monocarpic or semelparous. However, most perennials are polycarpic (or iteroparous), flowering over many seasons in their lifetime.

Perennials typically grow structures that allow them to adapt to living from one year to the next through a form of vegetative reproduction rather than seeding. These structures include bulbs, tubers, woody crowns, rhizomes plus others. They might have specialized stems or crowns that allow them to survive periods of dormancy over cold or dry seasons during the year. Annuals produce seeds to continue the species as a new generation while the growing season is suitable, and the seeds survive over the cold or dry period to begin growth when the conditions are again suitable.

We are always in season. We have to learn to recognize and embrace our source, our gardener and the purpose of our state of being….please note the fact than perennials produce seeds….seeds that survive…

When you read this also think about global warming and what “always sunny conditions” can do; always sunny can harden you and make you take things for granted. Always sunny can dry you out and leave you withered. Always sunny can burn you into bareness…cold, dry, dark is necessary for growth y’all! We are built to survive when we acknowledge the gardener….

Do you have good, strong roots?

Life Process

By: KB  © 1.3.2013

My soul

Every bump, dent , knock and ping

A life lesson.

My heart

Every break, tear and piercing

A reason to try again

My mind

Ever open, inviting and enticing

New birth

Feeding, increasing, ever beating, never ceasing life process

Left/ breakup / divorce

By KB 2.26.2013

Crumpled paper blowing like tumbleweed

Voices echoes in the hall

Discarded moving boxes and bubble wrap

Your voice and laughter just a faint ghost call

Memories linger waiting to die

You left with no goodbye at all.

Insomnia

By: KB          1.6.2013

Wide awake

Sleep eludes me

I close my eyes

My thoughts pursue me

My body craves rest

But my mind says NO!

Subliminal and subconscious won’t let me go

I am

By: KB       1.7.2013

I am

The tears cried in the night to wash away the undeclared pain

I am

The words trapped in a broken heart and carved upon a damaged soul

I am

The balm

I am

The healer

I am

The way, the truth and the light

Look to me and I will set things right

Goodbye? Breakups are a question

By: ©KB 11.19.13

I said goodbye and I meant it….

I don’t want you in my space,

My face, taking up my time….

I don’t want to hear my voicemail, read my email,

Have you pop up or hear you whine…..

I won’t miss your voice, your touch, your kiss

Oooops, I just f’d up because I’m writing this!

Girl You Trippin’

By: KB 1.5.2013

You ask me about my day when I come home and then you flip the script

Simple question turns into interrogation

Where you been, what’d you do, who you with

Girl, you’re a jealous trip

My answers ain’t good or fast enough

I see you leave your body and hear the psycho snap

I’ve become a beep, boop, fippity floop

I’m too tired for this crap

You keep it going most of the night

My ears and brain are dead

I ain’t got time for the sh—

Girl I’m going to bed!

Football

By: KB          1.6.2013

Football is my religion

From the days of the previous season’s firings and hiring’s,

trades and training camps

Through the season, playoffs and super bowl

I’m worshiping at the altar of Hi Def sidelines

Baptized in gridiron sweat and Gatorade

Communion with Fox, CBS and ESPN

Football is my religion

3 Words

By KB © 8.2013

You will know
In the midst
Through the storm
A prayer away
Run to you
My hiding place
My safe refuge
Safe, Sanctified, Secure

Cycle of Love

By: KB  © 1.16.13

Eye contact

conversations

Falling

Passions

Deep collective of years

Resistance

Arguments

Pride

Fault finding

Alone in the dark river of tears