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Meditations of a christizen (christian-citizen)upon today's topics. |
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I, Brother James, cultivated through my imagination 'The Word Courier's Journal'. It is but one of several literary efforts so conceived to include the "Word", the mind altering, eye opening, lifesaving Gospel of Jesus Christ into the everyday conversation on those things deemed relevant to readers. I and all other followers of the Lord are called to witness. Jesus said "Go therefore and teach all nations..." (see Matthew 28:19 KJV Holy Bible) Here lies my modest attempt to introduce the unknowing people to the Lord and immerse they who know Him in discussion with respect to His outlook on all that matters. |
Previously, I had misgivings about the college football season and specifically about my alma mater’s participation in it. This season happened not without a hitch but should be considered a safe and success. Having said that, I wasn’t disappointed we didn’t play in a bowl game though our gridiron greats were eligible. Given how football survived, neither panic nor worry entered my heart when the other sport seasons began. In fact, I was excited about the condensed ’21 wrestling season. Our grapplers in 2020 were the clear cut, no doubt about it, uncontested best college wrestling program in the nation. However, my top ranked Hawkeyes would not get a chance to prove themselves. The tournament was cancelled (rightfully so) amidst Covid-19 concerns thereby crushing my team’s aspirations. It appeared Spencer Lee would be denied a chance to be a four-time national champion. But, even that’s been resolved. So what did my Hawkeye grapplers do? They simply picked up where they left off. The aforementioned Spencer Lee, winner of the tournament’s main event match and his 3rd N.C.A.A. division 1 title, led a contingent of seven All-Americans to win back the long absent 1st place trophy. It was our first title since 2010. For Iowa, 11 years is an eternity to go between national wrestling championships. We were in the midst of nine consecutive N.C.A.A. titles when I was on campus. Just the same, I’d rather enjoy today than bask in our team’s past glory. This sentiment applies to all else in this time of pandemic, mask wearing and the onset of mass vaccinations. Today is the best day we’re in. It must be, it’s the only day we’re in. . |
| I am so happy to report that I saw a robin yesterday. I don’t care what the calendar says. The robin is God’s way of showing us spring has arrived. I’ve heard but haven’t confirmed that the Hebrew Book of Enoch defines spring as the beginning of the calendar year. Now of course, that knocks out our understanding of when the biblical events listed in the 66 books that make up the old and new testaments took place. But, right now, I’m not going too deep into that. I’m just glad to have seen my first robin of this year. That is, according to some if this year has started yet. |
| Those who aren't willing to work, fight or risk for their dreams aren't dreamers they're day dreamers. |
| “…choose you this day whom ye will serve…” “Joshua 24:15 KJV Holy Bible I was pleasantly surprised at what was inside the pages of the Sunday (January 31 2021) Chicago Sun-times. (that’s right I still read the print editions of newspapers) Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger announced that he has started a movement to bring good sense back to the current political atmosphere. That movement is the ‘Country First’ movement aimed at rescuing the Republican Party from its lunatic fringe that thrived under the now deposed and former POTUS Donald Trump. As the name suggest the emphasis is on our nation rather than the whims of so many of today’s elected Republicans. The six term congressman boldly stated his case : “ This is no time for silence. Not after last month. Not after the past few years. Someone needs to tell the truth. Someone needs to say what history needs to hear. So here I am. The Republican Party has lost its way.” The ‘Word Courier’ earlier suggested that the Republican do some soul searching about their ties with Donald Trump. Now, a national Republican Party leader has seen fit to stand up for principle over party and perceived political power. It’s about time. |
| I get the feeling that comedians are secretly saddened by Donald Trump's election loss. Trump's tweets have provided tons of ready made joke material. I guess joke writers are the big losers here. No need for them. Comedy has lost a valuable resource with Donald Trump's eventual exit from the public political sphere. The lame duck president will soon become a lame dud loser now unable to rant on Twitter and Facebook. Now what is Stephen Colbert going to talk about? |
| Kwanzaa is a cultural celebration of beliefs held dear by those of us in African and Afro diaspora communities throughout the world. It is a yearend-year beginning ritual that rings out the old year beginning on December 26th and rings in the new year on January 1st. Each of the seven days highlights a different principle valued by traditional African and Afro-centric communities. (see list) Today, December 29th is day 4, Ujamaa. This day is dedicated to cooperative economics. Economy based upon cooperation more so than competition is the priority expressed here. Kwanzaa Week Day 1, Umojo (unity) Day 2, Kujichagulia (self-determination) Day 3, Ujima (Collective work and responsibility) Day 4, Ujamaa (cooperative economics) -Today Day 5, Nia (purpose) Day 6, Kuumba (creativity) Day 7, Imani (faith) We here in the United States have historically practiced this principle. Rent parties provide a perfect example of such. Our forefathers and those among us old enough to remember (which I’m not) devised a way to raise the rent money by throwing a party. They would put together a potluck, find some musicians, throw a party, get donations and pay the rent. Harlem of the 1920’s is generally credited as being the birthplace of such events. Rent parties provided a beginning and a boon to popular black music of that day. Noted jazz and blues musicians performed at these functions. The Harlem renaissance it seems benefited from this social gathering born out of desperation. This began in Harlem, but it was carried out across the industrialized North and Midwest during early 20th century years. Chicago, Cleveland and Pittsburgh played host to these occasions as well. Regardless of location, the more enterprising party host used this device to supplement their incomes on occasions besides their rent being due. The parties captured the spirit of other principles espoused by Kwanzaa. The ideal is certainly creative (kuumba) and requires a unified mindset.( umojo) The functions displayed the ultimate in pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps ( kujichagulia) mixed with a sprinkling of community spirit (ujima) which took faith (Imani) to attempt in the first place. Rent parties enabled black people of the day to survive and thrive. Rent partyers weren’t trying to connect to their African ancestry. They were just doing what they had to do in a world fraught with high rents and low wages. Yet, their efforts continued the tradition of ujamaa first conceived in the mother land. |
| I love recollections of Christmas past, and look forward to Christmas future, but my favorite part of Christmas is the "present(s)." |
| Matthew 18:8-9 KJV Holy Bible 8) Wherefore, if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 9) And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee: it is better to enter into life with one eye than having two eyes to be cast into hellfire. Americans delivered the Republican party a Godsend in the guise of a seven million differential popular vote thumping and 306-232 Electoral College beatdown of Donald Trump in the 2020 general election. And we did this even as Republicans increased their numbers (though still a minority) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Voters paved a way to prevent a Republican party titanic sinking with its wayward ships’ captain Donald J. Trump. Among them the Lincoln Project and Republican Voters Against Trump (RVAT) unabashedly supported Sen. Joe Biden for president. They recognized the rampant spread of the Trumpian cancer would in time turn the Republican body into a corpse. Black voters, independents and moderates led the charge to dump Trump. And enough though not most Republicans joined in. To the Republican party, we who played a part in this simply respond as such:"your welcome." Some among the party leadership don’t feel grateful. Their thanklessness is due to a lack of perspective. It seems at least 100 party house members and the Attorney General in 17 states need a different outlook. Fortunately, our Lord provides such. Jesus tells us in no uncertain terms that we need to do away with that which can send us down the wrong path- no matter how much it hurts. (see Matthew 18:8-9) He said these things regarding the survival of our very souls. He was not talking about politics. And neither is this column. Sen Joe Biden correctly stated during the campaign the election was about the soul of this nation. It wasn’t about court appointments, tax breaks, immigration or abortion. It was about who and what are we going to be as a people and as a country. Will we as citizens project hostility, intimidation and violence towards those who differ from us in even the slightest regard? Or will we find a way to peaceably move forward even when not in agreement? As such, we the people clearly decided to remove the offending hands, feet and eyes from our collective body. Now, certain remaining Republican party leaders need to follow suit unless they’re comfortable being flunkeys to an autocrat who represents everything against stated Republican values. The party at its best displayed leadership. Ronald Reagan confronted rather than colluded with a hostile Russian state. Abraham Lincoln eventually took the right position on the slavery issue. Theodore Roosevelt established the national parks. If the party is to return to any semblance of such accomplishment, they must shed soul stagnating stuff. Donald Trump’s filthy eyes should be plucked from among them. His hands bloodied by caged children, and 300,000 mostly preventable Covid-19 deaths should be cast off from out of their midst. And his feet marching us towards dictatorship, death and destruction should be severed never again to enjoin the body politic. No pain- No gain. |
| Joel 1:14 KJV Holy Bible “Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord and cry unto the Lord.” Bishop Charles Edward Blake Sr, leader of the Church of God in Christ has declared a worldwide fast today. It is to occur from 6 a.m.- 6 p.m. in all our respective time zones. I expect to participate along with many of our nearly 9,000,000 members across the world. The scripture from Joel 1:14 was the key verse used in the announcement concerning this fast. A renewed reading of this verse and its surrounding text suggest why it has been selected. The context of Joel’s first chapter is eerily like today’s pandemic reality. It describes an unprecedented wave of destruction which did or would fall upon Judah, the Hebrew nation that he was speaking to. A plague that like the Corona Virus would entail devastating economic consequences. And this anomaly like todays involved bugs the smallest of creatures waging havoc on the people. Joel instructs the people in their fast to do so with spirit of penitence. I think that this would apply to today’s fasting as well especially given the events and spiraling death toll as of late. I get the feeling (and that’s what it is feeling not something I claim to have scriptural backing on) that this goes beyond however long the pandemic last. We have heard about a new normal. The wearing of mask, social distancing, and disinfecting are all needed protective measures against this plague. That is part of a new normal. However, we simply need new. It could be that we need to renew our selves our world and our intimacy with the Lord. Perhaps the future has new in store for us minus the normal. |
| Isaiah 55:10-11 KJV Holy Bible 10) For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returned not tither, but watereth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Ezekiel 12:25 KJV Holy bible For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass: it shall be no more prolonged : for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word and will perform it, saith the Lord God. Scriptures that refer to when God speaks do so in a direct assertive manner. Words that denote limited, conditional, unfinished and uncertain qualities are not used in these verses. Take note that the words except, if, unless, but and maybe are not used in either Isaiah 55:11 or Ezekiel 25:12. The meanings conveyed by these words have no place with respect to the power of God’s word. Instead, words such as shall and will dominate the discourse. Shall and will together account for more than one of every ten words depicted in these scriptures. It’s made clear here that what God said will happen. People who claim God revealed something that doesn’t happen blaspheme the Lord. The Scriptures also read “God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of man that he should repent:…” (Numbers 23:19 KJV) Yet, recently a glut of church leaders claim that God told them Donald Trump would win the 2020 election. He didn’t. Donald Trump clearly lost in his bid for reelection as president. Kenneth Copeland, Paula White and Pat Robertson lead a contingent of those who say the Lord revealed a Donald Trump victory to them. Mr. Copeland can laugh all he wants to and as crazily as he wants to, but the joke’s on him. Paula White speaks in tongues (or so it appears) but lies on God. It’s not entirely out of the question someone told them Donald Trump would win the 2020 election. In fact, it’s believable that a spirit (of sorts)revealed their misinformation to them. However, given the “prophecy’s” failure to be fulfilled it’s clear the someone wasn’t the Lord and the spirit wasn’t His. |
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