Praising in pain and hurt By: KB © 11.11.14

REAL TALK from KB: Man, I am angry and I am hurt; I can acknowledge those feelings but I can also say that the God in me will not allow me to give in to the ugliness that comes attached to my bruised pride. 

In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. Psalm 10:4 (I don’t want to do anything apart from or to offend God)

For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. Psalm 59:12 (Who am I to talk down Gods creation – I can speak of the actions but I dare not slander their person or purpose)

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

If my faith is all that I tout and preach about I am persuaded (as the song goes) to remain humble. I can speak of and call out injustice to teach others “the way” but I must also remain humble. I must bring my flesh under the subjection of the cross. Ephesian 4:32, Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:28,

First and foremost I must forgive myself…I am never a victim in any situation…if I am a victim I am victimized by my choices. Did I respond accordingly to the voice and the will of God? We tend to resent the things that mirror our own shortcomings and character defects (1 John 1:9).

I cannot be emotionally or physically well until I begin to forgive others (Job 21:25)

I cannot be spiritually well until I release (Mark 11:25; Psalm 66:18)

Bottom line…when my ego takes a blow, when my pride is hurt, when I want to grab hold of my NY roots and go all “greasy, grimy, gully” I must humble myself and forgive.

1 Corinthians 6:12 "I have the right to do anything," you say--but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"--but I will not be mastered by anything. (NIV)

 I will not be a slave to my anger!!!

1 Corinthians 10:23  All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. (KJV)

I can be angry and get all “gully” but will it bring me life or edify the God I say can do all?

Fool for counsel By: kb © 10.13.14

I was talking to a girlfriend the other day

When she gave me reason to pause

She was going through something

And needed someone to take up the cause

Y’all already know I started talking about prayer

I started talking

But I could tell she’s checked out

Like she was talking to static air

She started talking about what her girlfriend said

How she was told to this and that

I sat and I listened, didn’t say a word

The conversation and instruction: what I’m going to do went on for quite a while

I couldn’t believe what I heard

All of it just made me smile

You much rather listen to and follow

Someone broken, busted, bitter and always in despair

As opposed to humbling yourself, getting on your knees and taking it to God in prayer

Pride and hubris the downfall of man

Imagine just how much God laughs

Every time we make a plan

REAL TALK from KB: 11.10.14 Taming the Tongue James 3

REAL TALK from KB: 11.10.14

Rudeness is a broken man’s imitation of strength. We must learn to bring all of who we are under submission. We must learn to recognize the voice and the call of God. We must be able to hear, see and act in accordance when we see hurt and pain.

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REAL TALK from KB: 11.10.14

 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

My Country 'tis of thee, sweet land of bigotry BY: KB © 11.8.14

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/01/michael-brown-assata-shakur-racist-state-of-america

I read this story and my blood began to boil.  I grew up with parents who were "undercover" militants. They had both grew up with parents who experienced the ugliness of the segregated South. They both understood and taught about the subtleties of racism in America. Those subtleties became very real for me when I learned to read; I started reading at a very early age because my mom and grandparents stressed the importance of education. My parents were in a "higher education/enlightenment" mode and had both enrolled in a Black Lit course at the University of Buffalo.  The first adult books I read was the Souls of Black Folks and the Soul On Ice. My beast was awakened. I began to question anything and everything about race in America. I began to read Black Literature like the books were being printed in my home. I remember my father throwing a major fit when I sent away for Black Panther Literature; I was 8 or 9 years old. His rant included letters like CIA and FBI, he also mentioned words like communists and I was told that I could only read books in the home or from the library ..yeah right, like the "alphabet police" didn't monitor libraries.

Over the years I have learned just how corrupt our government can be. COINTELPRO, Watergate, Iran-Contra,  and other Black Ops that we have yet to learn about. So after reading this story I have to ask...who are the real terrorists? How much evidence is real? What was manufactured? How was the media manipulated?

I know that there are people who will say that racism is harbored in the minds of people of color, to that I say tell that to any mother who has had their children murdered or brutalized by the police who "feared for their lives" from unarmed black men. To that I say listen to how conservatives and the media address the President. Have you ever heard Nixon, Carter, Ford, Reagan or Bush being addressed as Mr.?

I also want to remind people that America is STILL at war with people of color and has been since 1865; we're still pawns in the game of free, white and 21.

How do you wait? By: KB © 11.3.14

Christians like to sing songs about waiting on God and how God is on time but are also some of the most impatient people in the world. We get impatient and irritated at the things that really don’t matter. We get anxious because God is not moving fast enough or is not answering things how WE had them planned out in our minds. WE extend all kinds of petty permissions to people who take us off our path; all because we CANNOT or DO NOT know how to wait!

As a believer does your “wait” align with your faith?

Proverbs 16:9 Amplified Bible (AMP)

9 A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.

Galatians 5:22 Amplified Bible (AMP)

22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,

James 1:4 Amplified Bible (AMP)

4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

Your soul IS comprised of your mind, your will and your emotions; is it under the subjection to the will and the word of God?

Matthew 16:26 Amplified Bible (AMP)

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life [his blessed life in the kingdom of God]? Or what would a man give as an exchange for his [blessed] life [in the kingdom of God]?

How do you wait?

Radically Inclusive Faith Walk By: KB 10/2012

I know I’m going to make a few people mad with this one and you know I don’t care; you may consider my points once you read it and think about it.

I received a call this weekend telling me that a Pastor from a once big (mega-church in its day) church was stepping down. I was told that the Pastor seemed somewhat torn about the decision. I wasn’t shocked or surprised at all, let me tell you why. The church itself was like a slice of Orange County in the Central Valley; ultra conservative, ultra white. It made no attempts to be inclusive unless it fell under their definition/interpretation/dogma of the term ministry. Any interaction with people of color was a major production as if to announce “see how liberal we are!” There were never more than 20 people of color in a church that once boasted over 1000 members. Someone in the music ministry knew Andre Crouch and he performed there a time or two but the announcements pertaining to the music seemed to be a veiled warning to people who couldn't handle African American contemporary Gospel.

Like any church there were scandals, some should have been addressed publicly not to denigrate an individual but because it impacted the public but churches have a tendency to deal with things with confession and prayer. To that, I say, God gives common sense as well and we are to use. There were power struggles and many good preachers and teachers were left in the lurch. There was favoritism concerning positions and money allocations (never mentioned but very obvious to those who cared enough to be observant.)

All that garbage aside I think the biggest hurt and pain will felt by the congregation with no vision; a church left with memories of thriving. A church stuck in a time-warp where defacto segregation was the norm. I’m not talking about just racial segregation…I’m talking sexism, classism and the staunch practices of church ritual as opposed to the willingness to be Christ-like and become radically inclusive.Do you see and hear language in your church that includes all walks of life? Where is that addict? Is there a ministry for him/her? Are single mothers recognized or is the push to get a husband the cure all? Is there a place for a prostitute trying to get out of the life? What is being told to battered women? Ephesians 5:22-23 doesn't work when a woman is beaten but I know of several instances where is was spoken as a preventative.  We bemoan the fact that kids today don’t have hope…but hope cannot live or be demonstrated in hypocrisy…we’ll understand it better by and by is not a working solution when there is no action or education.

It’s time to wake up! A Pastor is a teacher and a guide not a Messiah we have a responsibility for our education and our faith walk 2Timothy 2:14-26

Wrong in Righteousness By: KB ©10/2013

 In my recent trip to Modesto I happened upon a religions network, they have a million of ‘em. The reason I’m writing about this is because in my channel surfing I happened to hear a snippet of conversation that has had me thinking for days about the subject. This brother, God bless him (didn't catch his name nor can I find a picture of him on the net), said something so profound that I just have to share it.

He said and I quote “the church has gotten righteousness wrong!” I don’t know about you but as a person of faith that should make your ears perk up….The brother went on to explain that righteousness means that an individual should examine him/her self and align up with the will and purpose of God and then begin to do the works according to the will. We, however, have used the word righteous as a measure and a standard of judgment for others….say amen somebody!!!!

 I ran this vein of conversation by some of my “Bible buddies” and seminarian peers and we had a time just discussing the topic. We also got into how people are attempting to apply commandments specific to Israel (in historic context) to the population of modern society…REAL TALK some things are specific to the Israelite's (in the moment) Scripture is a tricky thing when you try to apply it literal when it should be figurative and vise versa.

Bottom line …be like Jacob in the Old Testament and wrestle with the subject until it blesses you….but keep in mind the quote on righteousness