Lent: Day 2: Genesis 2:4b-3:24

After reading this passage, I was trying my best to string together some words to convey what I saw in the text. I wanted to sound profound. I wanted my words to be eloquent. I wanted to sound like a prolific theologian with some deep explanation of the text. However, I couldn't come up with any of that. All I could muster was one sentence. One sentence to describe the action that took place during the encounter in the Garden of Eden between God, Adam, Eve, and the serpent with much emphasis on Adam and Eve. If you have any questions about the sentence feel free to email me at michaelswortham@gmail.com. So here is the sentence:

We can sabotage our own blessings by not following instructions.

That is all.

This is Minister Mike and I want you to Consider This...

Lent: Day 1-Psalm 51

David is pouring out his heart to God in Psalm 51. The words of Psalm 51 are born out of a situation in which David has transgressed against God by committing adultery with Bathsheba and having her husband Uriah killed. David tried different ways to cover his “secret” sins but God has a way of bringing all things done in the dark to the light. Psalm 51 is his plea of forgiveness and reconciliation with God. And a verse that stands out in this Psalm is that of verse 10. It says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.”

This time of lent is a time in which we seek God and plea as David did, for God to create in us a clean heart and give us a new and right spirit. This period of consecration is not a time of competition but completion. This period of sacrifice is not a gimmick but a time for growth. This period is a time for God to make us into new creatures. My prayer tonight is that we begin the renewal process. My prayer tonight is that we sacrifice in order that we become something new at end. Lord create in us a clean heart and put in us a new and right spirit.

This is Minister Mike and I want you to Consider This....

Weekly Prayer and Scripture Itinerary for Lent

The season of Lent in Christendom begins on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 and ends on Saturday, April 23, 2011. This 40 day period of fasting and prayer (excluding Sundays) has been recognized by the Christian faith for centuries. Below is a prayer and scripture itinerary for this year. This was compiled by my church and I am sharing it with you all in hopes that it can serve as a guide for all of us during this time.

If you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email. michaelswortham@gmail.com

God Bless. Minister Mike

Weekly Prayer & Scripture Itinerary

GOD FORGIVES SIN
March 9: Psalm 51:1-12

March 10: Genesis 2:1-3:15

March 11: Psalm 32

March 12: Romans 5:11-17

March 13: Isaiah 53:6 & Joel 2:12-18

GOD DELIGHTS IN SHOWING MERCY

March 14: Psalm 103:17

March 15: Lamentations 3:23

March 16: Luke 6:36

March 17: Titus 3:5

March 18: Proverbs 3:3

March 19: Micah 6:8

March 20: Matthew 5:7

JUSTIFIED BY GOD'S GRACE

March 21: Romans 5:18-21

March 22: Acts 15:11

March 23: Romans 3:22-26

March 24: Titus 2:11-14

March 25: Ephesians 2:6-9

March 26: Philippians 4:19

March 27: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

THE REAL EVIDENCE OF OUR FAITH

March 28: Matthew 6:1-4

March 29: Psalm 92:12

March 30: Isaiah 3:10

March 31: Matthew 25:34-40

April 1: Acts 9:36

April 2: Psalm 37:3

April 3: Hebrews 16:16

TRUE FASTING

April 4: Isaiah 58:1-14

April 5: Matthew 6:17-18

April 6: Daniel 10:3

April 7: Acts 13:2-3

April 8: Romans 8:13

April 9: Luke 12:22-34

April 10: Colossians 3:1-10

TRANSFORMATIVE PRAYER

April 11: Ecclesiastes 5:2

April 12: Matthew 6:5-13

April 13: Mark 1:35

April 14: Luke 22:41-42

April 15: Psalm 91:15

April 16: Isaiah 65:24

April 17: Luke 11:9

RESISTING TEMPTATIONS AND VICTORIOUS LIVING

April 18: Matthew 4:1-11

April 19: Hebrews 13:20

April 20: 1 Corinthians 10:13

April 21: James 1:12

April 22: 2 Peter 2:9

April 23: Ephesians 6:13

April 24: 1 Corinthians 15:56-58

The Season of Lent is upon us

Wednesday, March 9, 2011 marks the beginning of Lent for this year. Lent is a period of preparation and consecration for all of Christendom. During this 40-day period (March 9-April 23: excluding Sundays), we engage in a time of fasting and prayer, of self-denial and sacrifice in hopes of strengthening our relationship with the God of our salvation.

The 40 days are representative of the time period that Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and praying while being tempted by Satan. This time in the wilderness occurred prior to his public ministry. Before engaging in ministry, Jesus went through a period of fasting and prayer. Jesus went through a period in which he went into solitude to be with God and eliminated those things that were hindering him from being closer to God. Jesus throughout his ministry found time to get away from everyone and spend time with God. Before we embark on journeys in life it important that we pull ourselves from the things that distract us from hearing God. In order to gain clarity and insight on our life's journey, it is important that we engage in periods of fasting and prayer.

The period of Lent is not a competition. It's not about "who can out fast who." This period of fasting and prayer is between us and God. We do not have to advertise that we are participating in Lent or that we are fasting. We don't have to share with the world what we are giving up. This is about us and God.

And give up something that is going to actually to be a struggle for you. The point of fasting is removing those things that we feel we can't "live without" and replace those things with the One we can't "live without." Jesus fasted from food and water, two things we need to live, but that was replaced with God. For us is may be fried food, candy, fast food, etc. For some it may be twitter, facebook, television, etc. For others it may be alcohol, sex, clubbing, etc. What we must do is search within ourselves and be honest with ourselves and ask "What is it that is hindering me from getting closer to God? What is it that is preventing from hearing the voice of God"

In the next post, I will provide a weekly scripture and prayer itinerary that my church provided for us. We can use this as a guide to help us during this period.

I will be in much prayer for all us during this period. God Bless.

This is Minister Mike, and I want you to Consider This...

Love Has Everything To Do With It

“What love got to do, got to do with it...” -Tina Turner

“How beautiful love can be/On the streets love is hard to see/It’s a place I got to be/LOVING YOU IS LOVING ME...” -Common

“‘Teacher which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. One these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’” -Matthew 22:36-40

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” -John 13:34-35

“This is my commandment, that you love another as I have loved you. No greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. I do not call you servants any longer...but I have called you friends...” -John 15:13,15

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.” -1 John 4:7-8


Tina Turner in 1984 asked a question that many people have continued to ask since that day. Tina asked the world “What’s love got to do with it?” She went on to say that love was nothing but “a second hand emotion.” Then she topped off and said “who needs a heart when a heart can be broken.” And I know in some way, shape or fashion people can relate to what Tina Turner was talking about. If we look at her life and the history of abuse she faced, we can see why she questioned love. There have been times in our lives where we probably questioned loved. If we look at society, the lack of love is easy to see. When we look at the news, stories of violent crimes are generally the headlines. The abuse that occurs behind closed doors that we don’t hear about. The way we treat the homeless, poor, and less fortunate. The lack of love is evident in the world. It appears that the world has taken on the “what’s love got to do with it attitude.” But Jesus reminds me that love has EVERYTHING to do with it.

Love is a (and I almost want to say the) foundational principle that Christianity stands upon. Christianity and Love go together like lock and key. As a Christian we are commanded by God to love. Not only this but people will recognize that we belong to God if we love one another. The problem is that we have a hard time loving one another. We have difficulty loving our enemies. We have challenges loving people who have betrayed us. We have problems loving somebody who we cannot profit from in some way, shape, or fashion. Sometimes we even struggle to love people we know we are “supposed” to love. God never said that loving would be easy, but that does not mean that we excused from loving God and God’s people.

Our society encourages us to be self-centered. The world revolves around us and it is a privilege for you to be in MY galaxy. I believe that it is important for people to love themselves but when it gets to a point of narcissism then we have a problem. This self-obsession that has overtaken many in the world has become detrimental to the health of society. I love the line in hook to Common’s song “Love Is.” He says that “loving you is loving me.” Common has summed up what Christ teaches us in the Gospels. By loving my neighbor, I am loving God and myself. By treating God’s people as my neighbor and my friend, I am in turn loving God and myself. By stepping out of my own little world and stepping into the world of my neighbor’s, I am loving God and myself.

So at the end of the day, Love has everything to do with it. It is important that we embrace this principle of love. Love has the capacity to change the world. The love of God has transformative power. Love has the capability of turning the most cold-hearted person and this cold-hearted world around. We must embrace it though. By embracing love, we are embracing God because God is love.

This is Minister Mike and I want you to Consider This...

“Get Up, Stand Up”

“He has told you O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”- Micah 6:8

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Amos 5:24

“Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights! Get up, stand up: don't give up the fight!” - Bob Marley, “Get Up, Stand Up”

Yesterday, January 17, 2011, marked the 25th anniversary of The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. National Federal Holiday. For the past 25 years on the third Monday in the month of January, we have celebrated the life and legacy of one who committed his life to freedom and justice for ALL people. When we think of Dr. King, one of the first words that comes to mind is “dream.” The eloquent speech that he gave on August 28, 1963 on the steps of the memorial honoring the “great emancipator” (laced with sarcasm) is what many people remember of the Atlanta, GA native. But his life was so much more than this speech and his dream was not one conceived by his own genius. Dr. King was not the first to have a dream nor will he be the last to have a dream. The dream that Dr. King spoke of was a dream birthed by so many before him. A dream and vision of a world where love, justice, and righteousness would reign. A world where the “-isms” that separate us can be destroyed and we live in harmony. A place where the people of God would not lack. A place where the poor will be cared for. A place where the orphan and widow will experience love and compassion. A place where all injustice would be eradicated and justice will reign supreme. This dream and vision trickled down through the ages. This dream and vision was conceived in the mind of God, professed loud by the prophets, and exemplified best through Christ.

On the third Monday in the month of January we have a tendency to idolize The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. We try to live vicariously through him and be satisfied with the work that he did with his life. We talk about “carrying on Dr. King’s dream” but if we are honest we would be satisfied if someone would do it for us, whether it be our preachers, pastors, politicians, or whoever. What we miss is that it is our job to help this dream and vision of “love, peace, and justice” come to fruition. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Thurgood Marshall, Frederick Douglas, W.E.B. DuBois, Marcus Garvey, Booker T. Washington, Ella Baker, Shirley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and host of others have done their part but the fact of the matter is they are dead and are not going to resurrect from their resting places. It is time for a new generation to rise up. We need to stop waiting for someone to declare a leader then we all follow. If you see injustice, inequality, or hate, do your part to stand and fight against it. Marley said it in these simple words, “Get up stand up/Stand up for your rights/Get up stand up/Don’t give up the fight.” It is time for us to get up and stand up. If Dr. King and others were living, they would not be pleased with the state of the world. They would not be pleased with the random acts of violence that continue to happen in this country. They would not be satisfied with our failing school systems. They would not be pleased with disparity between the haves and have-nots. They would not be pleased.

So it is my plea to my generation that “WE GET UP AND STAND UP!!!!!” so “JUSTICE CAN ROLL DOWN LIKE RIVERS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE AN EVER-FLOWING STREAM” and do what God expects of us and that is “ TO DO JUSTICE, AND TO LOVE KINDNESS, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH OUR GOD.”

This is Minister Mike and I want you to Consider This....

Consider This...Episode 3 "Christmas Edition: Share Your Gift" MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

"Consider This..." Episode 2: Fear

Choose This Day

14 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24:14-15

Idolatry is a huge problem in Christianity. If we honestly look at ourselves, we worship everything but God. I’m not one to categorize “sin” but idolatry has to be at the top of the list of most committed sin. God has called and commanded us to worship him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Simply put, God wants us to worship him with our whole being. God understood that we would have other “gods” in our lives, hence the reason we are told not to worship these other “gods” before him. The problem is that we are easily distracted by so many different things in this world. We are distracted by our successes and our failures, our joys and our pains, our ups and downs. So many things vie for our attention and we graciously and willingly give it over to them.

However, God has given his recommendation that we “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all things will be given to you as well.” God has warned us that we cannot “serve two masters, because we will love one and hate the other, we will devote ourselves to one and despise the other.” God has advised us that the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength.” So let us begin to look into our lives and see what it is that we truly worship. What are the “gods” and “idols” in our lives that are preventing us from worshiping God? What is it that is blocking us from having real relationship with God? And then we must answer Joshua’s challenge to the people of Israel: “choose this day who you will serve...but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” So on this day ask yourself “Who will I serve?” I know for me, I will serve the Lord.

This is Minister Mike and I want you to Consider This...

For Colored People in a State of Emergency Searching For Something to Fight For!!!

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12:28-31

This past weekend I found myself in a place of deep reflection after watching For Colored Girls and Black Girls Rock. While watching Black Girls Rock, I felt this energy that I had not felt in a while. I saw a resurgence of power occurring in people byway of Twitter. Seeing the tweets from my sisters and the inspiration they felt encouraged and inspired me as a black man. Not to mention the intensity of For Colored Girls and how it challenged me deep in my spirit. Both productions touched me in a special way and caused me to look at the state of my people at the moment.

We are in a state of emergency as a people (some would probably argue that we have been in this state for a while). That is the only way I can express it. I am not going to list a bunch of statistics because I witness this emergency we are in with my own eyes everyday. The mental, physical, and verbal assaults we launch on each other is down right depressing and sad. Despite this, I feel like there is a shift in the tide.

My generation has been asking the question for a while “What cause is there for us to fight for?” “What is our movement?” When we look our ancestors, the clear cut enemy for them was the evil that is racism and many of them decided to fight against this evil, even putting their very lives on the line. And yes, racism is still an evil that exists in the world, but I am convinced that the enemy most prevalent and damaging to our community is the self-hate that we have for ourselves and each other. It saddens me because it appears this self-hate has become all too natural. It appears that the self-hate is a part of our very DNA and flows through our veins.

So you may ask, how do you reverse over 300+ years of mental damage? How do you reverse over 300+ years of being taught to hate yourself? It is simple, we start by reversing the mental damage today. We understand that people took the time and effort to mentally crush us as a people. That same time, energy, and effort must take place to resurrect us as a people. This can occur by each of us “young professionals” mentoring a young male and/or female. We must begin to affirm each other with words of encouragement. We must hold accountable the people who perpetuate self-hate. It is essentially a radical movement of love. By re-establishing love as a dominant force in this world to counter the hate and evil that is all too pervasive now. Love is an action and state of being that we should operate in on a daily basis. It is a love for God, ourselves, and our people.

So let us being the love movement so we can reclaim this world and reclaim who we are as a children of God.

This is Minister Mike and I want you to Consider This....

Clear Vision

"Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision: make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. For there is a still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay." -Habakkuk 2:2-3

"Where there is no vision the people will perish..."-Proverbs 29:18

"I don't stop until I see the end my vision clear..."-Kanye West, "Power remix"

Since the beginning of 2009, I feel like I have been wandering with no vision. Yes I finished graduate school and I experienced other accomplishments since that time but I felt like I was lost. I was mad and frustrated because everything just didn't seem right. But then something hit me one day, I was lacking vision. I was walking through the world getting things accomplished but I didn't know where I was going. Just aimlessly walking with no destination in sight. But that all changed one morning.

I began to reflect on a Habakkuk 2. The text tells us to "Write the vision. Make it plain on tablets..." We lack direction because we fail to write down the vision God has shown us. For myself, I began to realize that I felt so lost because I did not write down the vision God placed in my heart. It's like going into Wal-Mart without a list. I can go into Wal-Mart without a list and purchase many items that really don't matter and spend more money than i expected and still leave without fully my intended purpose. However, if I go to Wal-Mart with a list, something written on paper, I am focused and only get the items on the list because they are essential. Writing down the vision keeps us focused on the path where God wants us and we don't wander all over store getting items we don't need.

So let us begin to live with vision. God tells us to write this vision so we will stay focused because it may not occur immediately. However, this written vision serves as reminder of what God has already planned and that we must be patient, persevere, and praise while the vision comes to fruition at its appointed time.

This is Minister Mike and I want you to Consider This...

“What Am I Doing?” (Drizzy Voice)

“You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything.”- 1 Corinthians 6:12 (New Living Translation)

There was a report that hip-hop artist, Pittsburgh’s own Wiz Khalifa, was arrested on drug charges in Greenville, NC yesterday evening. Wiz Khalifa has now become a part of the revolving door of hip-hop artists who cannot escape their infatuation with criminal justice system. Lil Wayne was just released after serving a little under a year for a weapons charge. TI is headed back to prison for violating his probation after just being released from prison earlier this year. And the list can go on and on about artists who have been in and out of prison. I wonder if them and others ever ask themselves, “What Am I Doing?” (Drizzy Voice)

Now let me turn the light off these artists and focus it on ourselves. What actions are we engaging in that are detrimental to our progress? What actions are we engaging in that can undermine the work that has already taken place? What actions are we engaging in that are just not beneficial for us? “What Are We Doing?” (Drizzy Voice)

The Corinthians text above reminds us that we must be mindful of all of our actions. Just because we are in a position to do anything we want does not mean those actions are beneficial. We cannot continue to undermine the blessings of God by failing to make wise decisions. The above MCs are or have participated in actions that can, have, or will lead to their demise. What actions have we engaged in that can, have, or will lead to our demise? It is time to take assessment of our lives and begin to adjust life accordingly. We must make sure that we do not sabotage the work of God in our lives because of our foolishness. We cripple the body of Christ and ourselves when we live reckless lifestyles. Therefore I encourage us not to become slaves to our vices (drinking, smoking, sex, pride, ego, ambition, men, women,etc.) but remain faithful to the calling that Christ has placed on each of our lives.

This is Minister Mike and I want you to Consider This...

Consider This...Episode 1 "Who Controls Your Mind?"

Why Be the Best?

"Before destruction the heart of man is haughty. But humility goes before honor."-Proverbs 18:12 (New American Standard Bible, NASB)

"But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and things will be given to you as well. "-Matthew 6:33 (New Revised Standard Version, NRSV)

I was driving to campus yesterday and en route this thought came across the surface of my mind: Why do we strive to be the best? I began to think to myself, "What would it mean to be recognized as one of the BEST preachers, if not the BEST preacher, in America?" Do I do what I do so I can be recognized as the best? Do I work hard to perfect the craft in efforts to be recognized as the best? What does it mean to be the best?

For me it is preaching, pastoring, and ministry. For others it may be teaching, sports, finance, law, science, singing, rapping, DJing, art, dance, cooking, and various other occupations or trades that one undertakes. In whatever endeavor we pursue, why do we strive to be the best?

Do we strive to be the best in order to receive accolades and praise from others? Do we strive to be the best so that our names will be recognized or to accomplish some semblance of fame? In our pursuit to be the best, do we compromise others who are also in this pursuit to be the best?

I submit today that our strivings to be the best should not be rooted in a pursuit to please and receive praise and accolades from others. Our strivings to be the best should not be motivated in efforts to be recognized or receive praise from others. Our strivings for being the best should be undertaken with humility. Honor is not found by placing ourselves on a pedestal but in humbly perfecting the gift God has placed in us in order to fulfill God's will and give honor, praise and glory to God.

Proverbs 18:12 reminds us that honor is preceded by humility and our haughtiness will bring about our destruction. Our pursuit in being best should be undertaken with the utmost humility and remembering that God is the one who has blessed us with this gift. Therefore we should handle it with care because if we are not careful, we could potentially allow our own selfish pursuits of greatness hinder us from being the best person that God wants us to be and also impacts the effect we can have on the world.

God Bless,

Rev

Emergency Exit

"No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it." -1 Corinthians 10:13

I remember being in school and in the building they would have posted on the walls the directions we should take in the event an emergency should happen. All arrows pointed to the closest door with the sign lit in red that spelled E-X-I-T. We all knew that in the event of an emergency if we were able to make it to the exit we would be safe.

In life we will be faced with tests and temptations, but in the event of these emergencies God has provided and will always provide an emergency exit. The text tells that we will all face different tests and that facing tests is nothing new. Also the text tells us that God will not give us a test we are not able to handle and the reason we are able to handle it is because has provided and emergency exit. The beauty is that the text tells us that God is faithful in that the testing will not beyond our strength and God will provide an escape route.

My question is will we be faithful to God and use the emergency exit that God provides. I have noticed that many us like to take a walk on the wild side. We like the thrill of danger and instead of taking the emergency exit we sit there and enjoy the fire too long. God's grace and mercy is abundant and it renews on a daily basis but we must not take this for granted. God is faithful enough to provide an emergency exit when we face danger, let us be faithful and trust God and take advantage of the grace and mercy that God has extended.

God Bless,

Rev

Scripture and Prayer Guide for Lent

Below is the weekly itinerary that my church (Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA) is following during this season of Lent. The guide is composed of different scripture passages for each day of Lent that can be used in your time of meditation and devotion. I hope this helps during this time of prayer, fasting, and consecration. And see some Baptist churches do observe Lent lol. I am praying for all of us.

God Bless,

Rev

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE & PRAYER ITINERARY

Resisting Temptation:

Wed. 2/17: Matthew 4

Thurs. 2/18: 1 Corinthians 10:13

Frid. 2/19: Romans 5:12-19

Sat. 2/20: Psalm 91:1-2; 9:16

God's Promises to Believers:

Mon. 2/22: John 3:1-17

Tues. 2/23: Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

Wed. 2/24: Psalm 27

Thurs. 2/25: Genesis 12:1-4a

Fri. 2/26: Mark 9:14-23

Sat. 2/27: John 9:32-40

Hunger for God

Mon. 3/1: John 4:5-42

Tues. 3/2: Psalm 42

Wed. 3/3: Isaiah 55:1-9

Thurs. 3/4: Psalm 63:1-8

Fri. 3/5: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Sat. 3/6: Isaiah 41:17

The Riches of God's Grace

Mon. 3/8: Ephesians 2:1-10

Tues. 3/9: Romans 3:1-24

Wed. 3/10: Titus 2:11-15

Thurs. 3/11: Psalm 23

Fri. 3/12: Psalm 84

Sat. 3/13: 1 Peter 4:1-10

Fasting

Mon. 3/15: Joel 1:14

Tues. 3/16: Matthew 6:17-18

Wed. 3/17: Exodus 34:28

Thurs. 3/18: Daniel 10:2-3

Fri. 3/19: Luke 4:1-2

Sat. 3/20: Zechariah 7:4-10

Praying Power

Mon. 3/22: Isaiah 56:7

Tues. 3/23: Matthew 6:9-13

Wed. 3/24: Matthew 26:41

Thurs. 3/25: Romans 8:26-27

Fri. 3/26: Ephesians 6:18

Sat. 3/27: 1 Samuel 1:9-27

Self-Sacrifice

Mon. 3/29: Hebrews 9:11-15

Tues. 3/30: Galatians 6: 14-17

Wed. 3/31: Hebrews 12:1-3

Thurs. 4/1: John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Fri. 4/2: Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Sat. 4/3: Psalm 16

Transformative Power of Lent

Tomorrow will begin the season of Lent. Lent is a liturgical season that precedes the holiest period on the Christian Calendar, Easter. This 40 day period is a time for the church universal to fast and prayer together in anticipation and celebration of the resurrection of Jesus which is celebrated on Easter.

This 40 day period is also a time for the church universal to commit and dedicate itself to the Lord through the spiritual disciplines of fasting and prayer. Fasting is a spiritual discipline in which we deprive ourselves of desires in efforts to deepen and strengthen our relationship with God. Those desires we deprive ourselves are replaced with prayer, meditation, and scripture in efforts to become closer to God.

This 40 day period of fasting and prayer is representative of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and praying prior to his public ministry (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). I am convinced that the 40 day period was necessary preparation for Jesus so he would be able to fulfill the task that God placed before him. There are also other references in the gospels in which Jesus went to be alone. It is important that we reserve time in which we spend intimate time with God so we can remain clear on what God's will for us in this world.

I encourage us all to take this time serious. Let us not give up something for 40 days, pat ourselves on the back, and then go back to business as usual. In the words of my big sis (shout out to Allyson Smith) Lent is not about giving up things in efforts to "prove how hardcore you are for God" but with hopes of getting closer to God.

We should come out the season of Lent transformed and renewed. We should better coming out of Lent than we did coming in. I encourage us to allow the transformative work of God to take place in all us during this season of Lent in hopes that we will be more dedicated and committed to the work of God just as Christ was when he descended from that mountain after 40 days of fasting and prayer.

I'm praying for you all.

God Bless,

Rev

Where's Your Integrity???

"I dumb down for my audience and double my dollars/They criticize me for it yet they all yell "Holla"/If skills sold truth be told/I'd probably be/Lyricly Talib Kweli/Truthfully I wanna rhyme like Common Sense/(But i did five Mil)/I ain't been rhymin like Common since"

Jay-Z is one of my favorite hip-hop artist. Despite all the rumors of his affiliation with Freemasonry and Illuminati, no one can deny his ability to use words to paint a picture. The above lyrics are from his song "Moment of Clarity" from The Black Album. These series of lines display not only an issue found in the hip-hop community but it is found in the church as well and that is the "dumbing down" lyrics/sermons for the sake of money, profits, or popularity.

Jay-Z says that he has the ability to rap like Talib Kweli and Common (both are associated most with a form of rap that is conscience based). However Jay-Z is convinced that this style of rap and pure skill does not sell. So he says he "dumbs down" or gives a diluted form of rap in efforts to make a larger financial profits. Not only did this work for him ("But I did 5 Mil") but the audience tends to like this diluted music as well.

The same can be said about preaching. There are many gifted preachers throughout the world but how many of these preachers/pastors have "diluted" the gospel and revelation of God in efforts to gain financial profit, popularity, or increased numbers in the congregation. If you would allow me to remix Jay's lyrics for a sec "Dumbed down for my congregation to double my tithes/they criticize me for it but they all yell Hallelujah." I know it doesn't rhyme but I hope the message is clear.

In sanctuaries and studios across this nation, integrity needs to be re-established. Preachers/Pastors and Musicians (rappers, singers, producers, etc.) have the ability to influence the moves of all those within the reach of their voice. We must all hold fast to our integrity and not allow the outside pressures of money, fame, and fortune compromise the integrity of the art.

Pastors/Preachers hold fast to your integrity when preaching the Word of God. So many people trust the words that come out of our mouths. Therefore we must handle the Word of God with care. Also we must not be afraid to preach the truth and not fear that "people won't like us" or "my church won't grow." If your primary motive for preaching is to be known as "the best preacher in America" or for people "to like you" or "to have the largest congregation" do the world a favor and stop preaching now.

Pastors/Preachers integrity and faithfulness to God is more important than the accolades and ovations of others. Remember they cheered for Jesus at the beginning of the week and screamed "Crucify Him" at the end of the week. So we must hold fast to our integrity and preach the truth even if that means to the point of death.

I'm committed to trusting God in all I do and not compromising my integrity...who's joining me???

God Bless,

Rev

Don't Ignore Your Angel

"Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him"-Matthew 4:11

This is the closing verse in the story of Jesus being tempted by the devil. The last verse does not get much attention. Primary focus is given to the encounter between Jesus and the tempter but this last verse has so much meaning to my life.

Thursday evening I ran over a pothole (please get those potholes fixed city of Atlanta...Thanks) and it caused major damage to one of tires. Fortunately I was able to get my car to a Krispy Kreme parking lot. Now it is raining, I do not have a spare tire and I find myself getting frustrated. In my moment of frustration and weakness, "suddenly angels came waited on me."

My first angel was a homeless brother. The brother approached me simply asking for a blanket and I gave him my QT6 (shout out to Quintessence 6 and Hampton University). After I gave him the blanket he asked if he I need help with my tire. Truth be told I was not thrilled about changing a tire in the rain and this brother came right on time. He took the tire off in record time and it was a humbling moment for me. It's not the fact that he changed the tire in record time but he was willing to do something for me that I was not willing to do for myself. I didn't want to get on the wet concrete to help myself. I didn't want to get on the wet concrete in order to help myself move forward. Thank God for this angel. He attended to me when I was in need.

Im just going to end this like this. Be conscience of how you treat all people. If you allow me to be transparent, I looked at myself as being above this brother but at the moment when he went to a place to help me and I wasn't even willing to help myself, it humbled me. I thank God I did not ignore that brother. I encourage us not to ignore each other regardless of socio-economic status, race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, sexual-orientation, etc. because you could be potentially ignoring an angel.

God Bless,

Rev

Moving Beyond Cliche Faith (Inspired by Book of Eli)

"I don't know what God is doing. I don't think God knows what God is doing sometimes. However, I will still trust God."

The above quote is a paraphrase of a statement Howard Thurman said towards the end of his life. To me, it exudes an unrelenting faith in God, even if we do not know what is going on or we are not sure if God knows what is going on. Some may find it shocking for someone to dare say "I don't think God knows what God is doing." Some may say this is borderline blasphemous. However, this speaks to a faith that goes deeper than the typical cliches (God is good all the time and all the time God is good; I'm blessed and highly favored; To blessed to be stressed; etc.) uttered by many (including myself) on a daily basis. What I want to talk about is a faith that goes beyond rhetoric and cliches. I am talking about an unwavering faith even when we have the slightest ideal what is going on.

When thinking about this type of faith, it took me back to the Garden of Gethsemane. The Garden of Gethsemane was not a pretty place for Jesus. It was here that Jesus had to face the reality of his call and purpose in his life. Jesus had to face the reality of the cross at this moment. Jesus did not want to face the cross. The text (Mat. 26:37-38) says that Jesus was grieved and agitated. And he asked for the cup to pass over him (Mat. 26:39). Jesus did not want to go to the cross. But even in this moment of weakness, Jesus was able to say "not what I want but what you want" (Mat. 26:39). Jesus could have chosen not to go to the cross. Jesus could have said no. But Jesus chose to trust in God. I dare say that if it were up to Jesus he would have avoided the cross. However, it was Jesus faith and trust in God that enabled him to say "not MY will but YOUR WILL."

Deep faith is total submission to the will of God even if the will of God takes us down a path that we would not have chosen for ourselves. Deep faith is trusting God even if we cannot rationalize or find the logic in the situation. Deep faith is trusting God when we don't know what is going on and all we have to rely on is God. Deep faith causes us to be vulnerable. Deep faith means we have no control. Deep faith means really trusting God with our lives. Ask yourself "Do I really trust God with my life?" Do I really want to let God control my life or do I want to have a say so? Take time to really meditate on this question.

It is time for all of us to move beyond the cliches of faith. It is time for us to take our walk and relationship with God seriously. We must allow ourselves to explore the depths of God and open ourselves to the possibility of being vulnerable to God. Allowing God to truly use us and allowing God's will to be done in our lives. LET US NOT REDUCE FAITH TO CLICHES. Let us live out our faith in God and let us live out his will for our lives.

God Bless,

Rev