My Philosophical Bent

For the things which we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing: men become builders by building houses, and harpists by playing the harp. Similarly, we become just by the practice of just actions, self-controlled by exercising self-control, and courageous by performing acts of courage . . . [W]e must see to it that our activities are of a certain kind . . . Hence it is no small matter whether one habit or another is inculcated in us from early childhood; on the contrary, it makes a considerable difference, or rather, all the difference." From Aristotle's Ethics. The ironic thing is everyone knows this, maybe not in these words but in our own words. Yet, we continue to ignore this simple truth. Today, we no longer require of our children the respect, the set the high expectations, and we negotiate what should not be non-negotiables. All because we do not want to let them down, or hurt their feelings. We give stuff rather than teach ethical living, integrity and civility, and give our self. Why? Because it is easier, than doing the work it takes, and putting out effort to correct and educate intentionally. Now, we wonder why we, see so many people who feel entitled, and why they cannot cope. Well, we have not allowed our expectations to match our actions, therefore the goals and outcome are not what we want to achieve. But Shakespeare in"As You Like It": put it this way, and we would do well to pay attention to it …..All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts . . Until we understand when it is time for us to play that part, play it, and stay in our lane, we will always find ourselves wondering – how do I move from here and achieve my goal?...The answers lies in our choices…In our decisions…Our inability to control ‘do what you feel’ mentality…Man’s distinction is we are capable of reflecting on our past and the motives behind them, approving and disapproving what we are done. Usually this comes when we are facing death, or a brush with death, personally or loved one, all too late for most, and with far too many carcasses (mentally, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually). We destroy others because we have not learned to put in practice the truths we know and to control the urges we carry as crutches – the selfish gene that dominates us. John 3:19-21 - This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through (NIV). We got to get this or the darkness shall consume us, and we shall have nothing but our own self to blame…

It is one of those days!

Okay, this post shall be a little different. I thought I put in something more personal stuff here. Yesterday, was horrible, I just felt like h-e-double hockey sticks. I was like what am I doing here in this town, doing this job, and where the heck is my life going. Why does God like to play games with me, or am I being so hard-headed that I am trying to do what I want, not what God said? You know the day where you feel you are between not here, and not there yet.You do not talk to anyone about it because heck, no one really gets it, and you get some lame response that result in you wanting to just go off. But instead you smile, and say something equally lame, shake your head and move the heck on…Yes, I was there yesterday. People say, I will be there but when you cannot articulate it where they understand, or they do not get it because it takes them beyond the peaceful shores of surfaced and light stuff; not so much of being there…So, after completing my professional obligations for the night around 9pm, and preparing for a bed, I was reminded by God in way it would only make sense to me (God knows how to talk to each of us, to get our attention)…How great is His mercy toward me…He is forever faithful toward me…Always he has provides for me, when I could not see him, feel him or recognize his hand, he is always there working things out for me. Loving me and preparing me for the next phase of my life, and this disorientation is just me getting use to this new place that I am currently sit in my Christian walk. I could no longer shake my tail feather, and get what needs to be done, done. ..See, I forgot how God just shows up out of the blue, and grants sparkle of grace in my life. Then I realize, Great is His Grace and Mercy toward me with such gravity, I find tears forming in my eyes, brimming, my face warms, my vision blurs, and the droplets roll down my cheek…And I begin to ask God what, whatever you are doing in this season, please do not do it without me because of my lack of knowledge or unbelief…I receive a calm over me, and see with my heart, peace, and know if nothing else is down for me, he has done enough… I see his manifold blessings come rushing toward me of my past, my present, and my future. See, his blessings manifest daily in my spirit, and His grace is sufficient for me; I just have to believe. ..Matthew 14:25-33 - During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." …Yeah, that was me too…but I am good now…I hope the next time you are where I was yesterday, you find encouragement to push through it, and not let it over take you….

Integrity of Christian

Integrity (the state of being sound or undamaged or unwavering...2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind). of a Christian...The first question must be asked and answered is before we go on with our 'pious lives'- are we doing God's will?...If we are not, then we should just keep still because we are just spinning our wheels and creating a mess for others to clean up, and for us to finagle a way to get out of the responsibly...It is not enough to provide a beautiful descriptive outlook of God's glorious presence and love, but really, we need to be able to relate the information in a usable form to whomever we speak to, and demonstrate in how we live, our life daily...For example, the other day a woman muse over how we can be an examples, even when we do not think about; it is just who we are..she was in the a public restroom washing her hands, and as she left, another person in the restroom told her ' you did that right.' She was both surprised and awed that someone would be watching something so mundane, routine, and basic, but it was important to the stranger, and she complemented her on it... thus, we are always example to someone, even when do not intend to be, we are not trying to impress some - we are the only bible some people will ever see; scary, but true....


Living, Christian integrity, Socrates once said - 'What we we're enagaged in here isn't a chance conversation but a dialogue about the way we ought to live our lives'. He was talking about the exchange between teacher and students, but as Christian it is also applicable because as my pastor likes to say -' is not by accident, or coinciden that you are where you are, at the time you are there...' they are all opportunities to show the world we have a risen King, and He lives in me, and although I am not perfect, and I striving for excellence in His will. This means that we must be comfortable with our walk, and that cannot be done, without scholarship, implementation, application, so that you will learn what not to do, just you have learned what not to wear - 2 Tim 2:15-16 : Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness...This allows you to be comfortable, confident, and convincing because it is the true you, and not an attempt to impress - fidelity (conforming to the truth itself)...We are, who we love, and we love God...as we represent the diversity of his character, infinity of his love, and the largess of his forgiveness... and the mentors in our life participate in shaping our core principles and values,  then we should do the same should and be true Christian...as with everything there will be bumps, struggles, falls, but we get up and learn - what happen in life are 1 of 2 things: teaches a lesson we shall never repeat, or an experience we are destine to repeat until we learn the lesson...the only difference in getting it right is mercy, grace, based in love...God is love....good day my friends

The Right Conditions

Song of Songs 7:10-12 - I belong to my love, and his desire is for me. Come, my lover, let us go to the countryside, let us spend the night in the villages. Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom— there I will give you my love (NIV).


The right conditions allows for the enjoyment that filled of contentment as it allows for cherished moments to be treasured forever; when the relationship is gone. See, enjoyment without contentment leaves you empty. Yet, we gain the prevalent, immediate gratification which comes from the physical intimacy but it, like most facades in life, leaves us wanting after it is over. All because we missed the cues, the nuances, and silent messages of the body language, in order to fulfilled our humanly need. Now, before we go on, I am not saying the physical intimacy is wrong, or inappropriate, I am concluding without the right conditions, it is empty and worthless. See our fleshly desires, and human logic keeps us from seeing, this truth - birds of a feather flock together, or should I say, what does godly have to do with ungodly? God has given us instructions in nature we, man, in our infinite ability to reason, and think, have gotten lost, in what we think is right, or perfect or best. While ignoring the fundamental truth, it is about timing, and timing lets each of us know the conditions are right.

In the verses, you see the there is a longing and desire to come together, but only if, the conditions are right. We longer wait for the right conditions; we do what makes us feel good, and is right to us. We consummate physical relationships, for the same reasons we give our seal of approval to business deals and new promotion – self and what man thinks is a good. Like with physical intimacy, we do not think about future implications of our present actions which have lasting and some times, detrimental consequences lingering long past the act. We are emotional people who find comfort in the twins - insecurity and man’s approval is vital to our standing. We forget and ignore the hallow truth that changes lives, instead our lens we see life through, and dictates our relational connections, for all aspect of our lives, and it is flawed. However, if we wait for the right conditions to consummate and validate, all relational connections, and then we would have less of rattled lives. We would have less unrest, a more forgiving heart; bitterness would be shunned, rather than embraced as a badge of honor, and confidence in who God is, would increase, dramatically. We no longer hear ourselves saying those old clichés that say more about the speaker, than it does about the issue spoke of – it does not matter, it is no big deal, and I did not think about it (consequence and implications). Therefore, we would reduce the number of times we ask God these questions – How did I get here? …Why is this happening to me?...What did I ever to do to desires this?...Why don’t the get?...When the truth lies in ‘self-focused’ mindset, and the refusal to do the unpopular and the difficult. Waiting for the right conditions before acting, according to God, demonstrate and illustrate our behavior, obedience, what words could never teach or explain. LORD is – the Priest (minister to the needs), the Prophet (forecaster for our future) and the King (sovereign ruler) of my life. This is what waiting on the right conditions does for us in love, and in living life.

What are we thinking? Change is, what it is...

Matt 8:21-22 -Another of the disciples said to Him, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead (NASB)."

We are finicky people when it comes to change. We like it, change, when it is a gradual evolution that is unfelt, unseen, and without immediate consequence to our lives, otherwise we resist, or if it is for someone else. This is the main reason, most find it difficult to face death, become emotional at birth, grapple with the notion of marriage, or graduating result in nervous uncertainty. The immediacy sends our mind into a tizzy of whirling unsettled state of psyche mayhem. As it has us confronting our fears, reminds us of what we have not done, and revelations after revelations of what we have deferred or postponed to a later day. The later day is here. We act if it is a shock to us, yet, the truth of the matter we have strived, worked for this all along. What am I talking about? As Christian, we all say we want to go to heaven, or we are living our life to live again, or this is not my home –death….We engaged in the physical intimacy that creates baby – birth…We take intentional actions to obtain our perfect and just so right mate – marriage…We take the classes, do the internship, participate in the networking arena, and work hard to get the good grades – graduation…Yet, we act as if change is some foreign movie with subtitles and we do not really get the gist of the movie. It is not. We are all confronted, challenged with changes and we all know, but we constantly ignore its existence….You ever hear this quote or old adage – the only constant in this life is change- It is. Sometimes it is unexpected and immediate, but if we are doing, what we say we are doing as ‘good’ people and/or fellow labourers of Christ, Christians, then nothing should surprise except for the when, because it should not be an ‘if’. However, we should not be resistance to change.

Every day we are confront with opportunities, choices, to change; to do the thing we said, we wanted to do. But if it does not come in the way we wanted, from the person we expected, manifest in the desired environment, or the best circumstances, we become indignant. We begin making baby steps of living in a mental space of negativity and unproductive perspectives. We begin creating our own enemies because we have not learned to live by the providence of God. Yet, we push toward the mark of changing, growing, evolving, and seeking. What do you expect? No, change….not so much…see we get, what we seek in this life…So, we do not have to say, let me go do this or that because when it is time to do, we just do it….Because it does not take us working harder to get the change, it is about us working smarter to achieved the desired change!

Sometimes you are the sacrifice

Gen. 22:10-12 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.(NASB)"


Sometimes we are the sacrifice. We must trust God will provide, in spite of what we see. Like Abraham did. See, there were two sacrifices on that fateful day, we hear so many preach and teach about. When Abraham was instructed to lay his only son (the promised seed), on the altar for a sacrifice, he really asked for more. Yes, it was. The sacrifices were interdependent, if one was secured, and then the other was saved to create a more perfect sacrifice for the future. The other sacrifice, most do not speak about is Abraham. See, it was important to God to know Abraham was willing to sacrifice all to him, trusted him unquestionably, and Abraham obedient is not a negotiation. Then, there is no need to sacrifice, Isaac, the promised seed.

God saw, Abraham accepted that He, his Lord, has a more perfect plan, even when Abraham did not understand or see it…Now what are you unwilling to sacrifice, and thus, forfeit the promise seed to flourish. All because you are too smart for your own good…have retractable trust…a delicate and fine point focus that is easily interrupted…fear that clouds your clarity…Sometimes we are the sacrifice, but we are beholden to our truth, our logic, our box, therefore, losing more than just today or right now. Because it is the tiny changes that never occur, thus, the big changes will always be on lay-away, or a dream deferred to later…See, sometimes we are the sacrifice to reap the legendary blessings which is meant to change generations; one plant, one waters, one tends the garden, but God gives the increase; have you done your part?. Let it rain, and see the Shekinah Glory reign upon us!

Moving to the next level

In this time period of unsure economic times. Here is something to think about - Moving to the next level. We all want that promotion in our porfessional, personal, and spiritual relationship, and financial status. However, many of us do not want to move outside of our comfort zone. Going into the arena, walking on the road never taken my 'me'? Not many people actually sign up for that type of tour of duty but in order to move upward and forward, we all must go outside of familiar territory to reach the next level. For some of us it never comes because we are never force or we do not rise to the occasion, or we are forced - this happens to all of us. Some of the time the movement so minor that you do not think about it, it just happens. Yet, deliberate, decisive, goal oriented actions into the unfamiliar takes a leap of faith.  We, Christians, should  know the promises given, and understand who gives them. Thus, you go when all around questioned the logic of it all. You go places where you are challenged to pick up your game that if you do not step up to the challenge, you are overwhelmed with the fear, engulf by nerves of uneasinest, and succumb to stagnation of running in places. You become angry with life and blame others for what only you can change. As envy of anothers' success, progress, bounty eats away at your clarity, and the view of living is colored by the madness..think about it for a minute..you will get..


You see gifts, attention, annointing will not keep you where the foundation has not been laid, and the foundation for you is laid where God has directed you to go and what he has instructed you to do. Everyone is different, so what is for one is not for other, but all matter in the larger scheme of things; so do not assume your way is the way for another, even you end up in the same places. Each learns differently, thus another road needs to be taken, for your friend, family, or foe, even you are going to the same place...Although, our minute glimpse comprehension of reality, truth, right, knowledge, order, logic, and love, do not always allow us to visibly see it. Faith becomes the compass that guides us to the next level, if we believe and trust without reservation.

I do not make these statements lightly or without proof...Saul needed his tenacious and unrelenting determination to do the work as Paul; next level, unknown, foundation laid...David need the time as the shepherd boy, the hidding in the woods, and relationships with Jonathan to be the king after God's heart, next level, unknown, foundation laid...Peter the scrupulous money changer, next level unknown, foundation laid, the rock on which the church was builit...if we look at our lives, risk we take and choices we make, no one else sees, and only in time did it become clear...time explains everything, when ones do not clarify, if we believe..if it shows us, it was a mistake, and working harder was the answer, then more would be winner and have success stories but there is more. there is an education in the mistake and it directs you to your next day, and lay the foundation to your future...

I believe God's logic is summed up with this...love is nothing until you give it away, freely..work has no meaning until you work to help another...words are worthless until it is matched with your actions...winning competition has no reward unless it brings you growth.....amazing....Isaiah 1:19-20 -If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel,  you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."