"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!

"Dreams Deferred No More"

“Dreams Deferred No More"

Dream Deferred
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?

Langston Hughes

Similar to Langston Hughes, I too have often wondered not only what happens to our dreams that are deferred, but also why have they become deferred in the first place. Many of us have aspirations and dreams that actually come to fruition at one point or another. However, there are those of us who have yet to catch a glimpse of anything that resembles a piece of what we had once hoped to see. Could it be that our dreams or our aspirations are nowhere near God’s dreams or aspirations? Or is it that the realization of these dreams never materialize because we are bound by fear, which has caused us to move no further than where we are… no further than the land of the familiar.

This reminds me of the book “The Dream Giver”, by Bruce Wilkerson. Bruce shares with us a simple yet profound story about a character and his challenges with living in the land of Familiar. Ordinary is his name. Ordinary had a desire to become more than just ordinary, but his fears had the potential of keeping him from discovering the dream that awaited him. Like Ordinary, I wonder how many of us never reach our full potential in life because we have allowed our fears to talk us out of “becoming”.

If it’s not fear of the unknown, it’s either our own limitations, or the voices of those around us that influence our decision not to move forward towards a dream. And most of the time those that have influence over us are afraid to move beyond where they are. Yet these are the ones who are persistent in making sure that we never out-do them. It is sad to say, but its true. Some folk cannot stand to see you blessed. This sounds a lot like young Joseph and how his brothers and his circumstances attempted to kill his dreams, but failed (Gen. 37-50).

Was it that young Joseph was a risk-taker; he was young and did not have much to loose while in pursuit of the dream? Or was it that Joseph understood that the dream wasn’t his? The Dream Giver, God, had revealed to Joseph His plan and purpose for his life. God spoke to Joseph through his dreams, and disclosed to him what the future held in store for him and his people. Joseph believed the dream and shared what he saw, which lead to the dream unfolding in his life.

What dream has the Dream Giver given to you that lies dormant? What are you afraid of? Is it your age, your financial situation, or is it just fear? If God has given it to you years ago and it is still in your mind and heart today regardless of your age, it means that you have not outgrown it. If you still have the dream but no finances, if its God’s dream, He will provide. And if you have fears about the dream, don’t let them stop you from pressing forward. Often times our greatest discoveries or blessings are in the directions where we would most likely never travel.

If God has given you a dream, go after it... Because its waiting to explode in your life!

Sean John, Christian Audigier, Enynce... What About the Kingdom?

I'm not mad at the latest styles and designers who are largely influenced by the multi-million dollar industry, or shall I say culture, called Hip Hop.

Some of the wears ain't bad. The t-shirts, polos, mens, and women apparel is stylish, cute, and cool. At least the jeans that stay up on your be-hinds and the women's gear that leaves much to the imagination. But for the most part, I'd pay $35 to $50 for a name brand piece done by a well known designer. If I could get it from TJ Max... I'd much rather pay less. (lol)

The only issue I have with wearing some of this stuff, even though I don't mind supporting "some" of these designers, is that I'm walking around advertising for them. If I push it a step further, I'm witnessing for them and whatever message they're communicating. I know, some of ya'll are saying you have over spiritualized it. That's cool if that's what you think. I just need more clothing that has a message I know I'm in agreement with and it looks good too. As long as it looks good, I won't have to worry about my crew looking at me funny while they're wearing the latest "whoever" and I have some cheesy "I Go to Sunday School" stuff on. I'm not saying that I'm scared to "rep" my Lord. I'm not like those who only express their allegiances to the Lord on Sunday's. If I'm going to stand bold for Him it needs to be tight! Not that I want to blend in and conform in any way, but it needs to be able to take my witness and my wardrobe to the next level. A level where believers and non-believers want to wear it. Now wouldn't that be powerful!

I could be wrong, but one thing I do know is that I need some stuff that not only expresses my personality, but it has to also represents the Kingdom of God! I know of a few Christian clothing labels and they're not that bad. I'm just praying for more! And the Lord can do more than I can ever ask, thing, or imagine... So look out! Some Rapper or R&B songstress may be in the next video rocking some wears that rep the Kingdom. And you never know... after 30 seconds of watching the video, you may hear that their lyrics and their lifestyles rep the Kingdom as well! (Romans 4:17). That may not be relevant to all as most don't watch videos anyway. Nevertheless... its still an interesting thought.

If you feel the same as I do, pray with me! Every item doesn't have to have a tag or scripture on it, but to know that the motives are pure and its worth sowing into... I'm rocking it!

How do you feel about it? Let me know what you think!

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

Spinning "In" Control

Within the charismatic or more progressive church you may find ministries that provide opportunities for individuals to express their adoration, worship, and praise through the medium of dance. Liturgical Dance ministries at the turn of the 21st Century have set in motion a new way to reach the masses. A ministry that provides illustrated sermons with precision and grace. All executed with the purpose to change lives. And I must admit that experiencing a spirit filled dance ministry is life changing.

Liturgical dance ministries have not only captivated numbers within the congregation, but they have also captivated me. In fact, the experience is so incredible, when done under the anointing, it is exhilarating. I shall never forget a time when a dancer went into the long spin as if they were a propeller on the helicopter turret preparing for lift-off. At the rate of speed and velocity that dancer traveled, revolution after revolution, you would have thought that they were going to spin out of control. The crowd was praising God for this major spin that was in sync with the words of the song, but I was praising God for simple fact that they did not lose it, spin out of control, and launch into a pews.

How in the world did the dancer keep this spin so tight, so perfect, and so concentrated that even in what looked to be a disaster turned into a major move? Well, I had to ask the dancer after the moment how in the world they did it. And they explained that to avoid losing control of the body while spinning like that you must find a focal point as you spin and keep your eyes on it. Find something and focus on it until the spin is over. Wow…

Can you image what would have happened with Peter if he stayed focused on Jesus when Jesus told him to walk on water (Mt 14:28-30)? In the stormy seasons of life when the waves overtake our boats, and the dark clouds have blocked out any possibility for hope, find that “One” important point to focus on. While the currents of life – bereavement, stress, overloaded work schedules, bills, crime, gas and food prices, cutbacks, downsizing, and foreclosures – fix your eyes on Jesus, who is the author and perfector of our faith (Heb 12:2)!