LIFE FACT: the truth hurts...but it sets you free

Sooooooo, if ya read a previous blog of mine you already know that I had an abortion some years ago. Yup, I exercised my right to "planned parenthood", and murdered my 12 week-old son by having him vacumn-sucked and swept out of my womb like some dust bunny in the corner of my house. I didn't have the money to raise him, I was already a young, single mother to my firstborn, whom I had given birth to at the not very mature age of barely 19. I was not married, I was not even in a relationship with the father of my now-dead son, that I felt was secure enough to expect him to stand by me, never mind his flesh and blood. There really wasn't much consideration for how God felt about my circumstances, nor how He could redeem those circumstances, as I had an estranged relationship with God, and was not willing to address my inward struggle to do what I knew to be right. Nor did I even consider how I could have kept my legs closed, in the first place, as the best protection against another unwanted pregnancy. Nope! All I thought about was my lack of finances, and my feelings that told me that repeating single motherhood, with a second unwilling father, would be a burden I could not bear. I eliminated even considering adoption as an option. How could "I" deal with "giving away" my own flesh and blood to complete strangers? I was so against the thought of how I would have to cope emotionally knowing I had a child in the world who I would likely never know or see, and they never know me, that the "alternative choice" of ending the life of my son did not even process in my brain as a murder. It was simply me making a decision to "plan" when I would be pregnant. And in that plan, a baby, conceived because of MY CHOICE to have sex outside the God-ordained context of marriage; to have sex without exercising consistent and effective contraceptive methods, and to do so in financial circumstances that could only frustrate any circumstance of me getting pregnant - that baby, was simply an unwanted 'glitch' in my plan for my own life. A glitch I had to 'remedy' so that my plans could work 'smoothly' in the manner I wanted.

Last night, after much protest from many influential African-Americans and supportive voices, an anti-abortion ad, which drew a poignant and FACTual picture of the current crisis in the African-American community regarding abortion rates, was taken down. Scraped off billboard walls like the D & C abortion that ripped my son out of my womb, in a bloody mess that signalled the end of his life. The truth of what I did to my child that day HURTS, but the FACT is, acknowledging the TRUTH that I did actually murder him, and not simply chose to plan out my parenthood, has set me free from the guilt and remorse over his death, because it allowed me the opportunity, through Christ, to repent, and change my way of thinking and doing towards a greater and better plan for my life. By acknowledging the TRUTH, I was able to see my error, and to take steps towards change and growth.

The first time I saw this ad, it pricked me deeply. It hurt, not just because my son had been one of the endangered children in the womb, but because the ad represented the truth of a crisis of genocide that is quietly going on throughout the world...and here in America, to my people, and to every kind of people. I know there are some out of bounds Pro-Life organizations who are dumb and irresponsible enough to kill and physically attack those who perform abortions, but the FACT is what they ultimately stand for cannot be thrown out like a proverbial baby with the bath water. I can't vouch for this particular Pro-Life organization on their moral decency in dealing with those who perform abortions. But what I do endorse in the ad campaign they put forth is FACT and TRUTH:

 "According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , since 1973, the year of the Supreme Court Decision Roe vs. Wade, 13 million (13,000,000) African American lives have been lost to abortion. The CDC reports that of the approximately 4000 abortions that are performed daily in the United States, 1452 of them are performed on African American women and their pre-born children. This means that although African Americans represent only 12% of the population of the United States, they account for 35% of the abortions performed in this country." http://www.nbccongress.org/features/abortion_silent_no_more_01.asp

It is sad that we repress the truth so that we might be comfortable in the lie that we live...May these ads and images stand here as a memorial to all who have died, and all who continue to die through murder by abortion.

         My Son would have developed in the womb

                like this at the time of abortion - 12 weeks.

                                      R.I.P iShaka Zulu

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

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UPDATE September 2011 - I was introduced to the work of this awesome Spoken Word Artist from Kenya by Alffie of http://kifalme.com/newkifalme/en/ ...This is one of his pieces...Ladies and Gentlemen, the raw and uncut TRUTH....courtesy of Number 8.







Follow Number 8:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DannNumber8 
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MUSICAL FACTS: We are what we eat, view and listen to

Bobby "Tre9" Herring is Co-Owner of popular Hip-Hop website, http://www.dasouth.com/, and Founder of  Eyes On Me Inc., a 501C3 non-profit organization, 'committed to creating a positive environment using Biblical principles and standards, to shape youth culture, for lifelong success and stability in the world.' He is also Owner of Much Luvv Records, and is currently on a mission, with others, to clean up the inFILTHtration of mainstream radio which plays music that is "raping our youth of their innocence". 

 

Operating through 'The Youth Are Listening Campaign', Tre9 is inviting and encouraging everyone, who wants to see real change in what children, and we, as adults, are subject to listen to on the radio, to begin a campaign of forwarding Federal Communications Commission (FCC) complaints against local radio stations that give airplay to songs of a sexual, violent nature, and songs that promote a lack of morality within our society and among our youth. The initial campaign is targeting complaints against airplay of Twista's song "Let's Make a Movie", featuring Chris Brown. The song is of a very graphic sexual nature and describes the making of a movie, which documents sexual acts with a woman. 

Between now and March 8th Tre9 plans to forward at least 1000 FCC complaint forms to mainstream radio stations in Houston, TX. If you would like to assist in efforts to bring about change please contact Tre9 at tretothenine@gmail.com for forms, complete and fax to 1-866-418-0232. You are only required to provide your name and address on these forms.


You can also expand the campaign by sending FCC complaint forms against radio airplay for Twista and Chris Brown's, Let's Make a Movie song (or any offensive songs) to your own local radio station. Here is the link for the form: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgb/fcc475B.cfm


Please lend your support and help to be a part of real change that shall impact our children's children.


Here's Tre9's direct appeal for the Youth Are Listening Campaign. PLEASE ALSO CHECK SOON FOR THE UPCOMING WEBSITE FOR THE CAMPAIGN http://www.youtharelistening.com/ (under construction)


The Youth Are Listening Campaign from Von Won on Vimeo.

Matthew 18:6: But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. (NIV)

Romans 12:9: Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. (NASB)

ARTFUL FACTS: Memory is persistent

  "Cash Crop" (partial exhibit) by Stephen L. Hayes Jr.

Unforgettable
© 2010 KalinagoWoryi

The feet of my Ancestors beat
down
on the
ground
like a
drum
heavy-laden
with burdens
too big for White men’s hands
So they forced my People to toil
in soil and sun
too hard and hot for their liking
Feet that speak
beat a pain of stories
so long and far away from Home
No longer heard by our Motherland
forgotten, it would seem,
were brothers, sisters
mothers, fathers
wives and husbands
Children of the Soil -
all hands to the plough
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
Feet beat down on the ground
like a drum
heavy-laden
with burdens
too big for White men’s hands.
Children trailing blood-soaked dirt
bare-footed and clothed in cotton sacks -
dragged along,
too heavy for their backs
beaten blacker and blue-red
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
Feet beat down on the ground
echoing throughout time
still heard by those who would listen
Never Forgotten
Why do you ask me to forget?
Forgive you I must
but your crime? – Never Forgotten
like all who fell in 9:11
all who were gassed in the Holocaust
and every Native American
waiting for reparations on Reservations
Like those who perished in Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima
in Katrina and the Tsunami…in Haiti
Never Forgotten!
Do not ask me to forget!



Ephesians 4:31-32: Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

BLACK FACTS: We ain't nothing but a bunch of NIGGERS!

BLACK HISTORY MONTH LESSON #2: Division in the Black community is, in FACT, still REAL & RAW. From proportionally high statistics on single parenthood, absent fathers; lack of unity in family, business, class, and society, as a whole, among various 'skin tones' of Blacks; a widening gulf regarding respect for each other in male/female relationships and interactions, as evidenced in much of our music, literature and media; rising disrespect for, and the abandonment of, the elders of our community as a 'village' to raise our children; to the FACT of our blatant lack of self-respect for our own uniqueness - in the form of submitting to Eurocentric myths and lies of 'good hair' and 'right skin'...and on and on. Historians may challenge the validity of Willie Lynch's letter "The Making of a Slave", but it's psychology is FACT & REAL within the Black psyche, Black family, Black marriage, male/female relationships, etc. - with the proof being in the pudding of today's Black Community - particularly the Westernized Black Diaspora. We battle more than mere racism and prejudice; more than the unfair polarization of the classes; more than disproportionate poverty; more than the injustice of second class citizenship...we are under threat by two-fold assault upon our psyche - the natural and the supernatural:
EMANCIPATE YOURSELF FROM MENTAL SLAVERY. WE SHALL FORWARD IN THIS GENERATION BY THE HAND OF THE ALMIGHTY #1people #1love #1GOD

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints... (Ephesians 6:10-18)

THE MAKING OF A SLAVE
""Gentlemen. I greet you here on the bank of the James River in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and twelve. First, I shall thank you, the gentlemen of the Colony of Virginia, for bringing me here. I am here to help you solve some of your problems with slaves. Your invitation reached me on my modest plantation in the West Indies, where I have experimented with some of the newest and still the oldest methods for control of slaves. Ancient Rome's would envy us if my program is implemented. As our boat sailed south on the James River, named for our illustrious King, whose version of the Bible we Cherish, I saw enough to know that your problem is not unique. While Rome used cords of wood as crosses for standing human bodies along its highways in great numbers, you are here using the tree and the rope on occasions. I caught the whiff of a dead slave hanging from a tree, a couple miles back. You are not only losing valuable stock by hangings, you are having uprisings, slaves are running away, your crops are sometimes left in the fields too long for maximum profit, You suffer occasional fires, your animals are killed. Gentlemen, you know what your problems are; I do not need to elaborate. I am not here to enumerate your problems, I am here to introduce you to a method of solving them. In my bag here, I HAVE A FULL PROOF METHOD FOR CONTROLLING YOUR BLACK SLAVES. I guarantee every one of you that if installed correctly IT WILL CONTROL THE SLAVES FOR AT LEAST 300 HUNDREDS YEARS. My method is simple. Any member of your family or your overseer can use it. I HAVE OUTLINED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENCES AMONG THE SLAVES; AND I TAKE THESE DIFFERENCES AND MAKE THEM BIGGER. I USE FEAR, DISTRUST AND ENVY FOR CONTROL PURPOSES. These methods have worked on my modest plantation in the West Indies and it will work throughout the South. Take this simple little list of differences and think about them. On top of my list is "AGE" but it's there only because it starts with an "A." The second is "COLOR" or shade, there is INTELLIGENCE, SIZE, SEX, SIZES OF PLANTATIONS, STATUS on plantations, ATTITUDE of owners, whether the slaves live in the valley, on a hill, East, West, North, South, have fine hair, course hair, or is tall or short. Now that you have a list of differences, I shall give you a outline of action, but before that, I shall assure you that DISTRUST IS STRONGER THAN TRUST AND ENVY STRONGER THAN ADULATION, RESPECT OR ADMIRATION. The Black slaves after receiving this indoctrination shall carry on and will become self refueling and self generating for HUNDREDS of years, maybe THOUSANDS. Don't forget you must pitch the OLD black Male vs. the YOUNG black Male, and the YOUNG black Male against the OLD black male. You must use the DARK skin slaves vs. the LIGHT skin slaves, and the LIGHT skin slaves vs. the DARK skin slaves. You must use the FEMALE vs. the MALE. And the MALE vs. the FEMALE. You must also have you white servants and over- seers distrust all Blacks. But it is NECESSARY THAT YOUR SLAVES TRUST AND DEPEND ON US. THEY MUST LOVE, RESPECT AND TRUST ONLY US. Gentlemen, these kits are your keys to control. Use them. Have your wives and children use them, never miss an opportunity. IF USED INTENSELY FOR ONE YEAR, THE SLAVES THEMSELVES WILL REMAIN PERPETUALLY DISTRUSTFUL. Thank you gentlemen." (Attributed to Willie Lynch, Slave Owner,1712. The term "lynching" is derived from his last name.)
LET'S MAKE A SLAVE 
It was the interest and business of slave holders to study human nature, and the slave nature in particular, with a view to practical results. I and many of them attained astonishing proficiency in this direction. They had to deal not with earth, wood and stone, but with men and by every regard they had for their own safety and prosperity they needed to know the material on which they were to work. Conscious of the injustice and wrong they were every hour perpetuating and knowing what they themselves would do. Were they the victims of such wrongs? They were constantly looking for the first signs of the dreaded retribution. They watched, therefore with skilled and practiced eyes, and learned to read with great accuracy, the state of mind and heart of the slave, through his sable face. Unusual sobriety, apparent abstractions, sullenness and indifference indeed, any mood out of the common was afforded ground for suspicion and inquiry. Frederick Douglas LET'S MAKE A SLAVE is a study of the scientific process of man breaking and slave making. It describes the rationale and results of the Anglo Saxons' ideas and methods of insuring the master/slave relationship. LET'S MAKE A SLAVE "The Original and Development of a Social Being Called "The Negro." Let us make a slave. What do we need? First of all we need a black NIGGER man, a pregnant NIGGER woman and her baby NIGGER boy. Second, we will use the same basic principle that we use in breaking a horse, combined with some more sustaining factors. What we do with horses is that we break them from one form of life to another that is we reduce them from their natural state in nature. Whereas nature provides them with the natural capacity to take care of their offspring, we break that natural string of independence from them and thereby create a dependency status, so that we may be able to get from them useful production for our business and pleasure
CARDINAL PRINCIPLES FOR MAKING A NEGRO 
For fear that our future Generations may not understand the principles of breaking both of the beast together, the NIGGER and the horse. We understand that short range planning economics results in periodic economic chaos; so that to avoid turmoil in the economy, it requires us to have breath and depth in long range comprehensive planning, articulating both skill sharp perceptions. We lay down the following principles for long range comprehensive economic planning. Both horse and NIGGERS is no good to the economy in the wild or natural state. Both must be BROKEN and TIED together for orderly production. For orderly future, special and particular attention must be paid to the FEMALE and the YOUNGEST offspring. Both must be CROSSBRED to produce a variety and division of labor. Both must be taught to respond to a peculiar new LANGUAGE. Psychological and physical instruction of CONTAINMENT must be created for both. We hold the six cardinal principles as truth to be self evident, based upon the following the discourse concerning the economics of breaking and tying the horse and the NIGGER together, all inclusive of the six principles laid down about. NOTE: Neither principle alone will suffice for good economics. All principles must be employed for orderly good of the nation. Accordingly, both a wild horse and a wild or nature NIGGER is dangerous even if captured, for they will have the tendency to seek their customary freedom, and in doing so, might kill you in your sleep. You cannot rest. They sleep while you are awake, and are awake while you are asleep. They are DANGEROUS near the family house and it requires too much labor to watch them away from the house. Above all, you cannot get them to work in this natural state. Hence both the horse and the NIGGER must be broken; that is breaking them from one form of mental life to another. KEEP THE BODY TAKE THE MIND! In other words break the will to resist. Now the breaking process is the same for both the horse and the NIGGER, only slightly varying in degrees. But as we said before, there is an art in long range economic planning. YOU MUST KEEP YOUR EYE AND THOUGHTS ON THE FEMALE and the OFFSPRING of the horse and the NIGGER. A brief discourse in offspring development will shed light on the key to sound economic principles. Pay little attention to the generation of original breaking, but CONCENTRATE ON FUTURE GENERATION. Therefore, if you break the FEMALE mother, she will BREAK the offspring in its early years of development and when the offspring is old enough to work, she will deliver it up to you, for her normal female protective tendencies will have been lost in the original breaking process. For example take the case of the wild stud horse, a female horse and an already infant horse and compare the breaking process with two captured NIGGER males in their natural state, a pregnant NIGGER woman with her infant offspring. Take the stud horse, break him for limited containment. Completely break the female horse until she becomes very gentle, where as you or anybody can ride her in her comfort. Breed the mare and the stud until you have the desired offspring. Then you can turn the stud to freedom until you need him again. Train the female horse where by she will eat out of your hand, and she will in turn train the infant horse to eat out of your hand also. When it comes to breaking the uncivilized NIGGER, use the same process, but vary the degree and step up the pressure, so as to do a complete reversal of the mind. Take the meanest and most restless NIGGER, strip him of his clothes in front of the remaining male NIGGERS, the female, and the NIGGER infant, tar and feather him, tie each leg to a different horse faced in opposite directions, set him a fire and beat both horses to pull him apart in front of the remaining NIGGER. The next step is to take a bull whip and beat the remaining NIGGER male to the point of death, in front of the female and the infant. Don't kill him, but PUT THE FEAR OF GOD IN HIM, for he can be useful for future breeding.
THE BREAKING PROCESS OF THE AFRICAN WOMAN 
Take the female and run a series of tests on her to see if she will submit to your desires willingly. Test her in every way, because she is the most important factor for good economics. If she shows any sign of resistance in submitting completely to your will, do not hesitate to use the bull whip on her to extract that last bit of BITCH out of her. Take care not to kill her, for in doing so, you spoil good economics. When in complete submission, she will train her off springs in the early years to submit to labor when they become of age. Understanding is the best thing. Therefore, we shall go deeper into this area of the subject matter concerning what we have produced here in this breaking process of the female NIGGER. We have reversed the relationship in her natural uncivilized state she would have a strong dependency on the uncivilized NIGGER male, and she would have a limited protective tendency toward her independent male offspring and would raise male off springs to be dependent like her. Nature had provided for this type of balance. We reversed nature by burning and pulling a civilized NIGGER apart and bull whipping the other to the point of death, all in her presence. By her being left alone, unprotected, with the MALE IMAGE DESTROYED, the ordeal caused her to move from her psychological dependent state to a frozen independent state. In this frozen psychological state of independence, she will raise her MALE and female offspring in reversed roles. For FEAR of the young males life she will psychologically train him to be MENTALLY WEAK and DEPENDENT, but PHYSICALLY STRONG. Because she has become psychologically independent, she will train her FEMALE off springs to be psychological independent. What have you got? You've got the NIGGER WOMAN OUT FRONT AND THE NIGGER MAN BEHIND AND SCARED. This is a perfect situation of sound sleep and economic. Before the breaking process, we had to be alertly on guard at all times. Now we can sleep soundly, for out of frozen fear his woman stands guard for us. He cannot get past her early slave molding process. He is a good tool, now ready to be tied to the horse at a tender age. By the time a n-word boy reaches the age of sixteen, he is soundly broken in and ready for a long life of sound and efficient work and the reproduction of a unit of good labor force. Continually through the breaking of uncivilized savage NIGGER, by throwing the NIGGER female savage into a frozen psychological state of independence, by killing of the protective male image, and by creating a submissive dependent mind of the NIGGER male slave, we have created an orbiting cycle that turns on its own axis forever, unless a phenomenon occurs and re-shifts the position of the male and female slaves. We show what we mean by example. Take the case of the two economic slave units and examine them close
THE NEGRO MARRIAGE UNIT 
We breed two NIGGER males with two n-word females. Then we take the NIGGER male away from them and keep them moving and working. Say one NIGGER female bears a NIGGER female and the other bears a NIGGER male. Both NIGGER females being without influence of the NIGGER male image, frozen with a independent psychology, will raise their offspring into reverse positions. The one with the female offspring will teach her to be like herself, independent and negotiable (we negotiate with her, through her, by her, negotiates her at will). The one with the NIGGER male offspring, she being frozen subconscious fear for his life, will raise him to be mentally dependent and weak, but physically strong, in other words, body over mind. Now in a few years when these two offspring's become fertile for early reproduction we will mate and breed them and continue the cycle. That is good, sound, and long range comprehensive planning.                           
WARNING: POSSIBLE  INTERLOPING NEGATIVES
Earlier we talked about the non economic good of the horse and the NIGGER in their wild or natural state; we talked out the principle of breaking and tying them together for orderly production. Furthermore, we talked about paying particular attention to the female savage and her offspring for orderly future planning, then more recently we stated that, by reversing the positions of the male and female savages, we created an orbiting cycle that turns on its own axis forever unless a phenomenon occurred and resift and positions of the male and female savages. Our experts warned us about the possibility of this phenomenon occurring, for they say that the mind has a strong drive to correct and re-correct itself over a period of time if I can touch some substantial original historical base, and they advised us that the best way to deal with the phenomenon is to shave off the brute's mental history and create a multiplicity of phenomena of illusions, so that each illusion will twirl in its own orbit, something similar to floating balls in a vacuum. This creation of multiplicity of phenomena of illusions entails the principle of crossbreeding the NIGGER and the horse as we stated above, the purpose of which is to create a diversified division of labor thereby creating different levels of labor and different values of illusion at each connecting level of labor. The results of which is the severance of the points of original beginnings for each sphere illusion. Since we feel that the subject matter may get more complicated as we proceed in laying down our economic plan concerning the purpose, reason and effect of crossbreeding horses and n-word, we shall lay down the following definition terms for future generations. Orbiting cycle means a thing turning in a given path. Axis means upon which or around which a body turns. Phenomenon means something beyond ordinary conception and inspires awe and wonder. Multiplicity means a great number. Means a globe. Cross breeding a horse means taking a horse and breeding it with an ass and you get a dumb backward ass long headed mule that is not reproductive nor productive by itself. Crossbreeding NIGGERS means taking so many drops of good white blood and putting them into as many NIGGER women as possible, varying the drops by the various tone that you want, and then letting them breed with each other until another circle of color appears as you desire. What this means is this; Put the NIGGERS and the horse in a breeding pot, mix some assess and some good white blood and what do you get? You got a multiplicity of colors of ass backward, unusual NIGGERS, running, tied to a backward ass long headed mules, the one productive of itself, the other sterile. (The one constant, the other dying, we keep the NIGGER constant for we may replace the mules for another tool) both mule and NIGGER tied to each other, neither knowing where the other came from and neither productive for itself, nor without each other.
CONTROLLED LANGUAGECrossbreeding completed, for further severance from their original beginning, WE MUST COMPLETELY ANNIHILATE THE MOTHER TONGUE of both the new NIGGER and the new mule and institute a new language that involves the new life's work of both. You know language is a peculiar institution. It leads to the heart of a people. The more a foreigner knows about the language of another country the more he is able to move through all levels of that society. Therefore, if the foreigner is an enemy of the country, to the extent that he knows the body of the language, to that extent is the country vulnerable to attack or invasion of a foreign culture. For example, if you take a slave, if you teach him all about your language, he will know all your secrets, and he is then no more a slave, for you can't fool him any longer, and BEING A FOOL IS ONE OF THE BASIC INGREDIENTS OF ANY INCIDENTS TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE SLAVERY SYSTEM. For example, if you told a slave that he must perform in getting out "our crops" and he knows the language well, he would know that "our crops" didn't mean "our crops" and the slavery system would break down, for he would relate on the basis of what "our crops" really meant. So you have to be careful in setting up the new language for the slaves would soon be in your house, talking to you as "man to man" and that is death to our economic system. In addition, the definitions of words or terms are only a minute part of the process. Values are created and transported by communication through the body of the language. A total society has many interconnected value system. All the values in the society have bridges of language to connect them for orderly working in the society. But for these language bridges, these many value systems would sharply clash and cause internal strife or civil war, the degree of the conflict being determined by the magnitude of the issues or relative opposing strength in whatever form. For example, if you put a slave in a hog pen and train him to live there and incorporate in him to value it as a way of life completely, the biggest problem you would have out of him is that he would worry you about provisions to keep the hog pen clean, or the same hog pen and make a slip and incorporate something in his language where by he comes to value a house more than he does his hog pen, you got a problem. He will soon be in your house.

Henry Berry, speaking in the Virginia House of Delegates in 1832, described the situation as it existed in many parts of the South at the time: "We have, as far as possible, closed every avenue by which light may enter their (the slaves) minds. If we could extinguish the capacity to see the light, our work would be complete; they would then be on a level with the beasts of the field and we should be safe. I am not certain that we would not do it, if we could find out the process and that on the plea of necessity." From 'Brown America, The Story of a New Race' by Edwin R. Embree. 1931 The Viking Press."

***ABOVE EXCERPTS TAKEN FROM: http://www.thetalkingdrum.com/wil.html ***
                           
AND JUST IN CASE THE ABOVE TRIP DOWN THE PSYCHO-RACIAL LANE OF BLACK PEOPLE IS NOT ENOUGH TO DELETE THE "NIGGER" IN YOUR VOCABULARY, TRY THIS:

BLACK FACTS: in celebration of Black History Month, LESSON #1

"Let's take a trip back to Africa, before slavery. The year 1591 AD. This year had an effect on you; the same year Morocco invaded Timbuctu. The city fell & caused the fall of the Songhay Empire - even back then we was Kings with bling - we been fired. But there's more instability to Africa's West Coast. Slave traders came, filled their boats and left toast, and sailed across the Atlantic, where hundreds and millions of slaves died, centuries before the Titanic. Some went to America, others the Caribbean. Now you call me a Yankee and I call you West Indian. We all are African-descended, but most of us are ignorant to the experiments of Willie Lynch. He put the dark skinned slaves against the light skin, let 'em argue about who got 'good hair' and 'right skin'. Put the man against the woman and the young against the old; teach 'em capitalism and show 'em how to sell their soul. IT'S TRUE, THE BIBLE WAS MISUSED IN SLAVERY, BUT THAT SAME BIBLE WAS USED TO SET SLAVES FREE. Harriet Tubman - Christian; Frederick Douglass - Christian; many Blacks who fought in the Civil War were Christian. Let me help you UNDERSTAND RELIGION - THERE WERE CHRISTIANS IN AFRICA WAY BEFORE THE WHITE MAN'S RELIGION! ...

Fast forward 21st century - it's real. Mind your business in these streets - you still get killed. We spiritually blind so we can't see far. WE IDOLIZE SCARFACE AND BLASPHEME GOD. WE GLORIFY KILLING, BLACKS ILLING, CATS SPILLING, AS AMERICA MAKES MILLIONS OFF OF MISERY BLACKS FEELING. PSYCHOLOGICALLY DESTROYING THE PSYCHE OF BLACK CHILDREN - ALL WE GOT LEFT IS A NEXT GENERATION OF BLACK VILLIANS. The Church playing games as Lucifer snatch millions. These televangelists better actors than Matt Dillon. BLACK MEN, STOP ABANDONING WOMEN & BLACK CHILDREN. THERE'S A HOLE IN OUR SOUL ONLY CHRIST CAN FILL THAT LACK FILLING. But, nobody's feeling my song - coz ALL MY BROTHERS REALLY WANT IS MONEY AND A THICK CHICK WITH A THONG, HOUSE AND A CAR, MAD WEED, A SPLIFF AND A BONG, LIVE LIKE A DON, ICE AROUND YOUR WRIST AND YOUR ARM. But then the thieves broke in and they stick up his arm, got your family hostage, 4-50 a month, nodding your head - all it take is a click and you gone. You feeling my song? But too late - your Spirit is gone. So, AFRICAN, WE MUST STOP THIS CRAZINESS, AND STOP BLAMING THE WHITE MAN FOR OUR LAZINESS. BLOODS AND CRIPS GOT BEEF THAT'S MAJOR - SPORTING THE SAME COLOR HANDKERCHIEF AUNT JEMIMA WAS ROCKING WHEN MASTER RAPED HER! ...

BLACK PEOPLE, BLACK PEOPLE! WE GOTTA WAKE UP, WE GOTTA WAKE UP!"

*** I wish I could claim this eloquent, succinct and poignant look at the state of Black America - past, present and future - a bright future if we wake up to the LIGHT! But the FACT is, the above quote is the intellectual copyright of, Renaissance Speaker, Writer, Activist, Poet and Emcee, COREY RED. While this could easily take the form of one of his many motivational and inspirational speeches, this is, in FACT, a rap-song, entitled 'BLACK TEARS'. Believe me when I tell you, reading the lyrics is no-where as hard-hitting as hearing the actual song with it's simple, forceful beats and gut-wrenching 3-tier chorus and sound effects.

During Black History Month I like to take the small window of opportunity to refresh our memories of the State of Black America, the African Motherland and the Black Diaspora. Too often in the toil of our lives we miss the impact and severity of our collective history - not as some dark oppressive doom and gloom slavery and fight for civil rights against the white man story - but the OVERCOMING history of our forefathers that has allowed us the opportunities we have today to accept defeat OR to RISE above it. Yes, there is still a spiritual, physical, mental and emotional struggle that rages itself against the Black populus, but REALITY FACT: Like so many of our forefathers, WE CAN OVERCOME...the key to that victory over racism, over prejudice, over poverty, over dis-ease, over depression, over crime, over drugs, over fatherlessness, over what may come is CHRIST. For, just as many of our forefathers had to remind themselves in the face of the whip, the chains, the battons and the guns, "[WE] can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth [us]." (Phillipians 4:13)

RISE UP, BLACK PEOPLE! TAKE YOUR PLACE AMONG KINGS AND QUEENS!
BLOOD WAS SPILLED THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE AN ABUNDANT  LIFE - THE BLOOD OF OUR FOREFATHERS AND THE BLOOD OF CHRIST!

If you haven't heard the Corey Red song, "Black Tears" you can check it out by downloading it from a FREE MIXTAPE here: http://www.coast2coastmixtapes.com/mixtapes/mixtapedetail.aspx/dj-i-rock-jesus-corey-red-illest-rhymez-u-neva-heard
If you are not familiar with Corey Red's music, I invite you to take a listen at a few of his releases:
1. Make It Happen - FREE ALBUM DOWNLOAD - http://coreyred.bandcamp.com/ 
2. Crashin Da Party - http://www.thebus-shop.com/shop.cfm?prod=382
3. Resistance iz Futile - Corey Red & Precise: Resistance iz Futile- Corey Red & Precise - on amazon.com
4. Illest Rhymez U Neva Heard - FREE - http://www.coast2coastmixtapes.com/mixtapes/mixtapedetail.aspx/dj-i-rock-jesus-corey-red-illest-rhymez-u-neva-heard
5. I am Legend (album) & I'm Still Here (single) - FREE - http://coreyred.bandcamp.com/album/i-am-legend-2008


***To keep up with up-to-the-minute news on Corey Red, follow him on:***
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CoreyRed
also on:
Facebook: MUSIC PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/CoreyRedMusic
Tumblr: http://coreyred.tumblr.com/
Bandcamp: http://coreyred.bandcamp.com/ (FREE ALBUM DOWNLOAD "Make It Happen")
Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/coreyred
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/therealcoreyred

If you would like to show support and help spread the word about the upcoming albums, you can add a Twibbon to your Twitter or Facebook profile: http://twibbon.com/join/CoreyRed-NEW-ALBUMS

Black History Month Lesson #1:
SUPPORT MUSIC THAT UPLIFTS THE BLACK COMMUNITY, NOT TEARS IT DOWN!

RANDOM FACTS - Death NEVER dies

Bear with me on this one…it’s a doozy for a second…

The human brain and psyche are complex self-regulating systems (CG.Jung). They are a macroscopic collection of microscopic subsystems, an intricate machine, of sorts. Consider complex systems as being composed of millions of tiny subsystems, for example, the cells in our body, the molecules in an object, and the citizens of a country. While it is highly likely that both the brain and psyche possess global properties, such as memory and consciousness each subsystem is able to act randomly while the overall system is in equilibrium, and remains relatively predictable (Mainzer, 1994).
  
‘Chaos theory’ studies the behavior of dynamical systems. One of the findings of Chaos Theory is that complex systems that seem to be in equilibrium are not really at equilibrium. Tiny variations present within the macrocosm can send the system into chaos at any time. Complex systems, and especially living systems, like the brain and psyche, require more than conditions of equilibrium to maintain self-organization or growth (Cohen & Stewart, 1994; Gleick, 1987; Kellert, 1993; Prigogine & Stengers, 1984).

One finding of Chaos Theory is ‘Bifurcation Theory’. Bifurcation being a crisis point in the life of a system, in which the future of that system becomes uncertain. It is like a fork in the time sequence of a system, in which a system can take two possible paths, one or both leading to chaos. All dynamic systems go through bifurcations, most of which are irreversible (Cohen & Stewart, 1994; Gleick, 1987; Kellert, 1993; Peitgen, Jürgens & Saupe, 1992; Prigogine & Stengers, 1984).

Entropy is a measure of chaos (Nicolis & Prigogine, 1989). The second law of thermodynamics suggests that there that can be no perpetual motion machine as all systems wear down, energy is lost and cannot be totally recovered by a system. We can also consider entropy to be a measure of internal randomness, or molecular chaos. As entropy increases, chaos increases (Angrist & Hepler, 1967; Atkins, 1984).

All too much science for your brain? Well, the FACT is these theories began to make a little sense to me after listening to this song:

The heart-beat of a drum and the singers’ call to a Soldier somehow, through the complex machinations of my brain and psyche, became an energy input. The result: emotional crisis by the friction it brought to my psyche, as memory and consciousness came together to remind me that one day, in the late summer, of 1997, by a random act, previously inconceivable by me, the level of entrophy increased within another subsystem of my body – my womb, and a son, my son, died. The memory of his death is made stronger still by the FACT that he died by my own hands. I have lived these many years with the appearance of equilibrium, while, within the microcosm of my systems, the loss of energy from terminating the pregnancy of my son, was increasing the entrophy within to produce what seemed an 'irreversible' state of grief.

FACT: Ending the life of a human fetus is a death that never dies, because those who commit this act go on living that death perpetually in the memory and consciousness (and subconscious) of the brain and psyche. Following the abortion, my life was truly a season of bifurcation for me. I was suicidal, depressed and plain tired of struggle after struggle, only compacted by the death of my beloved grandmother...Realizing, I needed more than the equilibrium of coming to a place of 'emotional rest' about what I had done to my son, I chose one of the forks in the road of life, and I came to Christ and continued to grow towards a greater equity of Spirit --- Irreversibility Theory be damned! Christ takes the sting out of death:

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

But though I have received the forgiveness of God, REALITY FACT: my brain and psyche, as evidenced from the trigger from the song above, still work together to remind me, of the murder I committed upon another Soul. The difference, now, in the law and science of my brain and psyche - knowing who Christ is has allowed me not to be moved so extremely that all subsystems within me shut down. I remember my son, yes, with regret and grief, but I remember the death of Christ that brings a resurrection LIFE. Through Christ I defy the second law of thermodynamics - my psyche is a "perpetual motion machine". My energy for life shall not be depleted while Christ remains integrated into all subsystems of my being. May my son's death never die, but live forevermore in me, as a memorial of his LIFE, and the LIFE I found through Christ because of his death...for I shall not be moved by past sins. R.I.P ‘iShaaka Zulu’.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:13-16).

• In the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that women, in consultation with their physician, have a constitutionally protected right to have an abortion in the early stages of pregnancy—that is, before viability—free from government interference.In 1992, the Court reaffirmed the right to abortion in Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
• Nearly half of pregnancies among American women are unintended, and four in 10 of these are terminated by abortion. Twenty-two percent of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion.
• In September 2000, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone to be marketed in the United States as an alternative to surgical abortion. In 2008, 59% of abortion providers, or 1,066 facilities, provided one or more early medication abortions.
• Forty percent of pregnancies among white women, 69% among blacks and 54% among Hispanics are unintended. In 2008, 1.21 million abortions were performed.From 1973 through 2008, nearly 50 million legal abortions occurred.
• Each year, two percent of women aged 15-44 have an abortion; half have had at least one previous abortion. At least half of American women will experience an unintended pregnancy by age 45, and, at current rates, about one-third will have had an abortion.

 References:

*Abortion statistics: http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/fb_induced_abortion.html

·         Jung, C. G. (1973). On the nature of the psyche. Hull, R. F. C. (Trans). from Bollingen Series XX. The Collected Works of C.G. Jung. 8. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. First published in 1960.

·         Mainzer, K. (1994). Thinking in complexity: The complex dynamics of matter, mind, and mankind. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.

·         Cohen, J. and Stewart, I. (1994). The collapse of chaos: Discovering simplicity in a complex world. New York: Viking.

·         Gleick, J. (1987). Chaos: Making a new science. New York: Penguin.

·         Kellert, S. H. (1993). In the wake of chaos: Unpredictable order in dynamical systems. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

·         Prigogine, I. and Stengers, I. (1984). Order out of chaos: Man's new dialogue with nature. Toronto: Bantam.

·         Nicolis G. and Prigogine, I. (1989). Exploring complexity: An introduction. New York: W. H. Freeman.

·         Angrist, S. W. and Hepler, L. G. (1967). Order and chaos: Laws of energy and entropy. New York: Basic Books.

·         Atkins, P. W. (1984). The second law. New York: Scientific American.

MIC CHECK 1-2: REALITY FACT - A child's sight shapes his/her desire

Ever since I was a child I have been awe-struck by the beauty of dreadlocks, so unsurprisingly this piece of 3-dimensional art, made with real dreadlocks, by Artist, Patreece Lewis, had me doing head-spins, eye-flips and gave me some heart palpitations. Yeah, I'll admit, I had to pray off some delicious thoughts upon first glance at this fine specimen. LOL! But I'm ok now. Ha!

It was quite funny to me that I had such a strong reaction upon opening up my neatly packaged dreadlocked work of art, which I had received in the mail. The thoughts of 'finally having some dreads' brought on more a sense of joy than actual sexual sensations ...but the sexual reaction was there, nonetheless (TMI, I know, but bear with me while I bring it home...and STOP thinking dem nasty thoughts!).

Now those who know me, know that the little girl in love with dreads grew up to marry a bald head (Oh, I can hear Bob Marley singing this one...). I am also now a grown woman given to extreme tastes when it comes to preferences for my man's hairline, so there's none of that sense that I 'settled' for my Husband's shiny dome (just ta let y'all know). In FACT, my Husband is quite a fine specimen, himself, and what he lacks in dreads, well...we won't go there, since kids might read this... ;-)

Anyhooo...my point...the experience of reacting the way I did reminded me so well of the long-lasting affects of visual stimulation upon a child's mind. It is established FACT that human beings are visual creatures. Our first encounters of the world are totally sensory. And our vision plays a major role, more so than any of our other senses, in receiving data about the world around us, and our own role in that world. Children are imitators. They repeat with action what they see and hear. And not only do they imitate, children also develop their own thought patterns on what they see and experience of the world around them. Their thought patterns help shape their beliefs. Their beliefs determine how they will think, feel, speak and interact with others and their world.

When I was 8 years-old I was taking a walk, alone, along the bank of the river that flowed at the rear of my neighborhood. To my surprise I came upon four, or so, dreadlocked men bathing in the river. Not an entirely unusual past-time for my Caribbean home, and not a strange sight to me. In FACT I was very much use to seeing men, women and children at all levels of nakedness bathe in the many waters of my island, and had done the same, quite innocently, as a child of the sun. But somehow the combination of the naked skin of these men, and the way their extremely long dreadlocks hung about them, and cascaded unto their backs as they rose from a dip in the water, aroused my sexuality at that youthful age. Since then, I have held a strong fascination with dreadlocks.

Now, as I said, I married a bald head, so it wasn't like this experience, or my mesmerization with dreads led to an inevitable union with a dread-locked man. In FACT, as I grew older, and matured, so did my 'taste' in men and what I found attractive about men. Yet still, here I was, a grown and married woman, salivating (just a little) on memories of those fine Rastamen whose hair led to the love and appreciation of the beauty of dreadlocks, and my purchase of this piece of art. Amazing the long-lasting power of just one visual experience...

So, why is it, I wonder, we are feeding our children these types of nonsensical visual palette on a continuous basis? What are we trying to get them to see, to think, to believe, to act out?

ARTFUL FACTS

The dictionary defines "Art" as:
(ärt) n.

1. Human effort to imitate, supplement, alter, or counteract the work of nature.

2. a. The conscious production or arrangement of sounds, colors, forms, movements, or other elements in a manner that affects the sense of beauty, specifically the production of the beautiful in a graphic or plastic medium.

b. The study of these activities.

c. The product of these activities; human works of beauty considered as a group.

3. High quality of conception or execution, as found in works of beauty; aesthetic value.

4. A field or category of art, such as music, ballet, or literature.

5. A nonscientific branch of learning; one of the liberal arts.

6. a. A system of principles and methods employed in the performance of a set of activities: the art of building.

b. A trade or craft that applies such a system of principles and methods: the art of the lexicographer.

7. a. Skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation: the art of the baker; the blacksmith's art.

b. Skill arising from the exercise of intuitive faculties: "Self-criticism is an art not many are qualified to practice" (Joyce Carol Oates).

8. a. arts Artful devices, stratagems, and tricks.

b. Artful contrivance; cunning.

9. Printing Illustrative material.

I recently purchased this piece of Art, called "Surrender (John 6:9)" by Artist, Adam Tillman-Young from his "Striving Artist (P)RENT SALE":

and the FACT is none of the above dictionary descriptions sufficiently describes what this photographic print means to me. Sure, at it's base character it can fall under most of the above descriptions...but Art, in FACT, is so entirely subjective and personal in meaning to both Creator and Partaker, so as to mimic COMMUNICATION, in that an entirely new dialogue is created when two minds (Creator & Partaker) share the experience of the 'created' (ie. Art).

Have you heard of the term "This piece of Art 'speaks to me'?". Well, this piece of Art spoke to me quite profoundly. And it spoke a message that, both communicated what the Artist was trying to evoke in my mind, and bounced it off the neurons, cells, minerals and vitamins in my brain, reached down into my Soul and said "Let Go". Similar sort of message as the Artist's intended communication - "Surrender", but an entirely different circumstance and meaning surrounds my understanding, perception, and acceptance of what Adam Tillman-Young communicated to me through this tangible speech, called Art.

"Adam Tillman-Young is a writer, and he shoots like one". Take a peek at the many beautiful, artful conversations you can have with his brilliant mind. He is currently holding a (P)RENT SALE at: 
http://www.hillcityfoto.com/

***THE ABOVE PHOTO IS A REPLICA OF A PRINT UNDER COPYRIGHT PROTECTION. ALL RIGHTS AND OWNERSHIP BELONG TO ADAM TILLMAN-YOUNG.***

PS. Shhhhhh, don't tell my Husband I bought this...It's his Valentine's Day present ;-)

RANDOM FACTS

AmEn!!! Lauryn Hill! #BOOM

Plenty FACTS of life, love, music, and art to absorb in this 2-part speech, courtesy of Lauryn Hill. See how many you can list...ENJOY! #LEARNdat

THIS CHRISTIAN NEEDS A DRINK! Part 3: So did I drink that rum punch yet?

It's been a long time coming - What up Doc? We in here. We ain't new to this thing, Hip-Hop! We been here. Look deep in our eyes - no fear, we been here, we in here, we in here!!!...........LOL! lemme stop singing that Corey Red and Precise song, 'We in Here', in my crazy off-tone before y'all start thinking 'Chick is high off the good stuff!' LOL!....back to the regular scheduled broadcast - and long-awaited answer to the question - "To drinketh, or not to drinketh rum punch?" Ah yes, that was the question...

Sooooo, the other night I decided, what the hay! I'm going to partake in a little Ethiopian Honey Wine with my, rather smashing, Assa (Tilapia sautéed in awazei sauce - an Ethiopian red pepper sauce). It seemed way too Philistinian to eat such a fine Homeland meal without the national wine. So why not, I thought? I'm a woman who believes in fine dining and embracing cultures, especially those from my motherland.

Now, I did not make my mind up so lightly. Prior to making my dining arrangements for the evening I thought about 1 Timothy 5:23 that mentions taking a little wine for a poorly stomach - so, I concluded that pre-menstrual cramps were a little deserving of medical consideration, especially considering that this time of my feminine life has been the first I have had to suffer such gross atrocity against my abdominal flesh. I thought about Proverbs 31: 6-7 that said one should give wine to folks who are going through - so I considered my pretty stressful emotional circumstances and issues that were weighing quite heavily on my sanity of late. Then I thought about all those Biblical Scripture I had meditated on that warned me of drunkeness and the sin that so easily comes to those inebriated out of their sacred mind (check out Part 2 of this series)- so, I was of resolute mind not to drink more than one glass (that Honey Wine is some serious stuff).

Now, being quite settled in my own comfort and discipline not to lose my religion over one drink, I found myself sitting at the dinner table with a girlfriend who was not so conclusive about her freedom - nor comfort, as a Christian, to drink. So I was left with the dilemna of whether to exercise my freedom at her discomfort or to restrain my freedom to drink. In the few seconds of processing my thoughts, I was led to meditate on this Scripture:

"Everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible - but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if anyone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the 
sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake - the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God - even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved." (1 Cor 10:23-33)

I realized that while I do, in FACT, have the freedom to drink my rum punch and honey wine, for some folks drinking alcohol will encourage them to engage in behaviors that lead to sin, so they are wary to drink. For others, the potential negative image they portray of themselves as a Christian, in public, drinking alcohol, when the secular world abuses it, more than often, poses sufficient fear to keep them from drinking, less they be typecast as a drunkard or hypocritical Christian. Many people also hold the traditional misconception that alcohol is to be avoided by Christians, in totality, and they see Biblical warnings against drunkeness and drinking as commandments against alcoholic consumption, rather than a guide towards moderation and appropriate conduct.

So, I declined my honey wine that evening, not wishing to harm the conscience of my friend. Now, like me, at first, some of y'all are perhaps thinking, 'If drinking alcohol is not a sin, and is permissable, why should I have to choose not to drink because someone else can't handle their drink without falling off the sin cliff, or someone is opposed to drinking out of a misconception that there is a divine law against it?" Well, this is what came to me on those same thoughts:

"Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law(though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), 
so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." (1 Cor 9:19-23)

Now that said, Christians (and non-Christians) need to understand that their limitations are not those of another Believer, and that they should not judge another Believer's walk with God, including their perception 
of what it means for a Christian having an alcoholic drink, based on how they must, as necessity, limit themselves in order to prevent from being ensnared by sinful behavior. Oftentimes folks are just weary of opening themselves up to the things that trapped them in sin before they came to Christ. And that is understandable. You have to know your limits. But we should never seek to impose our limitations on others.  We have laws that dictate the acceptable age of drinking alcohol, driving and, shamefully, even having sex! In the same way, God's laws and admonishments have some applicability to the maturity of the person, so we should not see another person's walk in the same light as our own nor vice versa. There is a fine balance in exercising our freedom in Christ with our duty to sharpen and be mindful of each other, but it is possible to maintain that balance if we see each other beyond the log in our own eye.

So, no, I did not drink 'ah likkle rum punch', or rather, honey wine that night...but yes! This Christian drinks 'ah likkle rum punch', among other alcoholic beverages! In FACT, last night, being in company that was not about to lose their religion, nor judge the Christian world for my one drink, I sipped very happilly on my honey wine, over another helping of fabulous Ethiopian cuisine at DC's Zed's Ethiopian Restaurant, in the great company of my husband.

So Cheers! to your good health in Christ, to those of you mature enough not to go beyond the limit with alcohol. And for those of you Christians (& non-Christians) who now recognize your divine liberty to down 'ah likkle rum punch' and what not, please remember:

"For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God." 1 Peter 2:15-16

In other words - just because you can drink alcohol - don't drink so you can have an excuse to do all those things you know full well you  have no business doing! Having a drink is meant for you to relax and 
unwind from stress, not get drunk, relax morals and untie yourself from the Laws of God. Sip on a little of that drink - but don't turn the lights down, baby! LOL! (Well, unless you are with your husband or wife! Ha! ummmmmmm! ;-)








Oh! and this is for those of you who don't need to be turning off no light, after that drink! LOL!...an 'eye-opener' courtesy of Corey Red - off of the Corey Red and Precise "Resistance iz Futile" album

MUSICAL FACTS: My Thesis: CHRISTIAN Hip-Hop NEED Jesus!

So it's FACT that, on a whole, what has come to be termed as 'secular' Hip Hop is sorely lacking in morals, never-mind Godliness. But I'm sitting back checking out the latest trends in Christian Hip-Hop circles and I'm thinking, eh? Media-aired sexual indiscretions/dysfunction, division in doctrine, division in business and on personal levels, sneaker/apparel obsession, "diss tracks"...I could go on, but you catch my drift? Yup! Christian Hip-Hop NEED Jesus!

I won't even go into the sexual indiscretions & dysfunction that go on behind closed doors - and heck, even openly. We all got dirty laundry. It is a known FACT that adultery and pre-marital sex are as rife in the church as it is in the world, as is homosexuality, pornography addiction, pedophilia, etc.; so the Christian Hip-Hop circle is hardly an area of exception.

As for divisions in doctrine, business relationships and personal relationships - nothing new about humanity there. Human beings, as we are, are subject to division and strife among each other. We disagree on a magnitude of levels, whatever our faith, or lack thereof, and irrespective of the relationships we do or do not have with one another.

I could mess with Christian Hip-Hop folks about the way some boast and obsess over sneakers/apparel (& phones/mobile devices) and the brands they sport, but I'll save that idolism blog for another time, and let y'all check into Lecrae's REHAB hospital, I mean album, on that one for now.

That said, I'm not setting aside discussion on these topics to excuse any of these behaviors. Just because Christians and non-Christians, alike, are subject to the same wrong-doings does not excuse Christians (or anyone else, for that matter) from doing what is right. 

But my focus is with the "diss track" culture that is quickly developing in Christian Hip-Hop, which has absolutely no place as a norm among this genre of music in the same way it is with it's secular Hip-Hop counterpart. The entire 'diss track' sensation is seriously disappointing on the whole - whether secular or Christian. But in the Christian world, we are, by God's Word, held to a higher standard:

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret." Ephesians 5:1-12

For those who have been tuning in to the MC Hammer vs Jay-Z diss drama, with Hammer's latest release of 'Better Run, Run' as a response to Jay's supposed 'diss' of him on Kanye's track - many know, but some don't - what MC Hammer has brought serious media attention to is nothing new in the Christian Hip-Hop genre. The "diss-track" culture running through Christian Hip Hop has history that dates back years, with Artists speaking against secular rappers, most, without naming names. I am not going to make this a 'he said', 'she said' post by calling out Christian Hip Hop Artists who have become reknowned for 'dissing' secular Artists, or of those who make subtle passing references and curt remarks regarding un-named secular Artists. Nor will I name those Christian Emcees who air beef about other Christian Hip Hop Artists on record - both outright and by subtle reference.

While I can get with exposing FACT and truth about the evil that runs rampant through most "secular" hip-hop, and even to pull a fellow Believer up on something that does not stand up to God's Word, it seems the culture of Hip-Hop to battle-rap and insult another Emcee is invading Christian Hip-Hop, and risks us misrepresenting the CULTURE OF CHRIST. While I can commend, maybe, one or two Christian Hip- Hop Emcees for exposing FACT and revealing God's truth in addressing other Emcees - secular and Christian - overall, Christian Hip-Hop Emcees are not trying to expose FACT and the truth of God's Word by releasing 'diss' tracks. Too many are in this to gain rep and attention, or are operating out of ignorance, or both, in an ultimate attempt to 'be Hip-Hop', as some proof to the secular world that they can hold their own.

But take note: Jesus hung with the worst of sinners and spoke the truth of God's Word into their lives without bowing down to how those sinners lived. If He was able to relate without being like them so too can Christian Hip-Hop Emcees relate to the secular Hip-Hop world without bending to their way of thinking and doing; without adopting all of Hip-Hop culture.

Sure, "it is wisdom to meet a man where he is, in order to persuade him to come where you are" (L.A Jackson of The Day Jesus Spoke Hip-Hop)...but empathy does not require that we copycat how the other person thinks, feels or responds in order for them to understand where we come from and receive the truth we are delivering. In any case real recognizes real! People who are lost are not looking for Christian Hip-Hoppers to act like them, or else where is the hope in the things of Christ that we speak to them? If the lost want to exit the way they have been living they are not looking for another thug like them, another ho like them, another pimp like them, another profanity-laden tongue like them, another brand-name sneaker-clad baller like them, another 'diss-lyricist' like them...they want something different from what they have. And the only way we can rep that realness is to rep CHRIST CULTURE, NOT HIP-HOP CULTURE for real.


What Christian Hip-Hop needs is imitators of CHRIST CULTURE, NOT HIP-HOP CULTURE, mi Bredrin!