"Condom Sense"...?

Essence Magazine has featured an article in their September 2008 edition with intentions to heighten the awareness of protected sex. The advice given is to assist cautious females who find themselves in the heat of the moment trying to deny their partner’s request not to use protection. “Just this one time”, the male says as the female almost helplessly yet cautiously tries to use common sense without killing the moment.

Four points of reference are given to help avoid throwing caution (and condoms) to the wind. If he says this, she should say that… four subsequent ways to respond in the moment for the female to protect herself without dampening the mood. With the alarming statistics for women affected by the pandemic of HIV/AIDS, I completely understand the author and editor’s intent to pro-actively address the issues at hand.

However, when it comes to your sex life verses your spiritual lifestyle, when does Christ-centeredness trump “condom sense”? Now, I know Essence is not solely targeting a biblical-based community. But should we, Kingdom Citizens, spend more time teaching and equipping the church on safe sex since we all know most folk are going to do it anyway? Or should we educate ourselves about the consequences of premarital sex, etc. etc., while encouraging abstinence or celibacy and a lifestyle that pleases God?

I guess what I'm really trying to say is... Should the church hand out condoms and/or the Cross?

What do you think? Let’s hear from you!

Kill it with Kindness

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Romans 12:20

Does your temper often get the best of you, because of what someone says or does to you? Do you find it hard refraining from exploding simply because the nerve that is next to your last nerve had been plucked? Has it been easy for others to push your buttons resulting in a few choice words expressing how you really feel? Have you ever been in a predicament where your reactions were contrary to the “new you” that you’ve grown to be? If any of this is close to what you have experienced in your lifetime, know that you are not alone. Most of us, whether we are honest with ourselves or not, will have or have already had moments where we let the moment get the best of us.

I, for one, know how frustrating it is to let something creep under your skin when you’ve done your best not to let it affect you. Yet and still it does. And before you know it your returning the very same thing that was delivered to you. This is exactly what it was designed to do. No matter what the situation, the argument, or the disagreement was the ultimate goal and objective was to get us to feed into it. And before we know it, we’ve lost our civility. We have “laid our ‘ligion down”.

If this is familiar, no need to despair. All hope is not lost. My first encouragement to you today is to know that everything does not require a response… Especially when you have yet to get your thoughts together. (Tell your neighbor “Hear this…” ) – Before you respond to whatever it is, before you “go-off”, please take time to get yourself together before you respond. Amen somebody!

Before Jesus responded to the adulterous women’s accusers in John chapter 8, He had a moment to collect Himself before He responded. You know the story, Jesus bent down and wrote in the ground, and then He responded… I like to think Jesus ignored them for second. Sometimes you have to ignore to ignorance of others and give them the benefit of the doubt. Nevertheless, He paused before He responded.

Paul also tells us the same, yet in another way. Paul reminds us not to be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Instead of proving that the strife in our lives has accomplished what it was designed to accomplish, we ought to prove it wrong. Instead of allowing the inner rage and anger take over and come out, spend more time and energy asking God to deliver you, and then leave room for God to handle it.

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody (including God)… leave room for God’s wrath” (Rm 12:17,19). While God is handling it, do your best to be a blessing in the mist of whatever it is. Do your best to show that what is meant for evil, God has turned it around for your good! Instead feeding into the strife, kill it with kindness. Instead of giving it a piece of your mind, keep your mind in tack and kill it with kindness. Instead of cussing them out… smile, and tell them God Bless You and Kill it with Kindness!

Are You Full... Or Still Hungry?

I’m not mad at a certain level of celebration during worship services, especially when I know that the celebration is sincere and is followed by a substantiative “Word”; a message that will change my life rather than tickle my ear. But when the celebration is more ritual or routine and the so-called message never includes the Word… what do you do? I’m curious to know what type of Sunday mornings you have had and how they have shaped your overall worship experience - might I add and stress how has it shaped your overall relationship with Christ and with your neighbor? How have your worship experiences been? Are they more emotional, or full of life-changing substance? Do you leave feeling full in the spirit, or do you leave looking for the next place to eat? By Monday are you better prepared to face the world and the demonic presence on your job, or are you already defeated before you make it to work? Do people appear to respond to God with major worship while in worship, but their lifestyles after corporate worship provides evidence that it’s only a Sunday morning thing? "We sure had church!" ...Or did we?

How have your worship experiences been? Let’s hear from you!

-Another Wilderness Perspective by John a.k.a "The Baptist"

Eliminating the Drag

"...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, let us run..."
Heb. 12:1

Nike has done it again. The mammoth sports apparel corporation known around the world by its stylish "swoosh", has taken things to another new level. Several years ago Nike introduced newly designed swim gear for the Swim Team representing the United States in the Olympics. The new gear not only made them look like fish, but it also helped the team swim win its way to several gold metals. Well, if you thought the swim gear was off-the-hook, wait until the results from the Athletics (Track & Fields) Olympic team wearing the newly designed "Nike Swift System" gear this year. This new gear, for the 2008 USA Track Team, is designed to knock off 31.5% of drag from the runners arms and legs adding .02 seconds to their time. Wow! Nike has found a way to reduce the drag by redesigning and reducing the material on the uniforms.

Although Nike is cashing in, Paul had the concept to this "swift system" years ago. "Throw off everything that hinders...", he says to the Hebrews. Paul understood the importance of a makeover. This makeover is not about fashion, grooming, or a house turned into a home. Like Nike, Paul is talking about redesigning our lives to reduce the drag slowing us down while running this race call life. Nike decreased their material and cut away certain areas allowing the runner to cut through the forces of wind against them. With this vivid image in mind of the runners in their new aerodynamic wears, what are the areas in your life that prevent you to run at your top speed.

What persons, places, or things in your life need to be cut away? What's the excess material that is slowing you down? Is it the "crew", your friends who are only your friends when you have what they need? Is it the significant other or the other significant that is consistently and purposefully headed in the wrong direction insisting that you follow or it over? Is it trying to keep up with neighbors? The Jones’ have moved and still you cannot rest until you have more tangible processions than the new neighbors? And this is just the external variables that often slow us down... I have yet to even talk about the sin. The stuff that we know we’re doing that is slowing us down.

Well, this nugget is to encourage you to let go of everything that is hindering you and the sin that has entangled you. You know exactly what needs to go… we don’t need to spell it out! Just cut it off, say good-bye, ignore the calls, avoid the locations or conversations that take your mind there, and run this race with perseverance! The Lord is calling you onward. I can see Him at the finish line waiting to say well done, my good and faithful servant… Well done!