Over the last few months I have asked God to begin to speak to me in the same way he spoke to the Old Testament saints like Moses...

Did you know that God has given us a commandment to love? It is an often overlooked commandment. Love is not an emotion it is a decision and a choice. Choose to love.

---

Over the last few months I have asked God to begin to speak to me in the same way he spoke to the Old Testament saints like Moses, Samuel, Elijah, David, Isaiah and Daniel. He has begun to do just that. And he shows me things in dreams, revelation and he also uses real life experiences to speak to me in sometimes unusual ways. One recent example that he took from my life was his way of showing me how he wants the church to show love towards other people. What is unique about this example is that he used a stray cat to illustrate how he wants the church to show this love.

 

I love cats. I just think they are the most unique animals. I have a full bred Egyptian Mau cat that is so cool. Her name is Yanni and she is a cat that I don't let outside at anytime. She spends most of her time right next to me when I'm in the house working in my office. She sits next to me during my prayer and quiet time in the morning. She is so funny and keeps me laughing. We are good friends. But I also feed some stray cats that wander through the alley behind my house. I leave food in my backyard for them to eat. There is one stray cat that visits my backyard many times during the day. I've named her Calico because of her patchwork markings. She is not afraid of me and will walk right up to me to beg for food. I even put a flea collar on her to keep her from being irritated by the little buggers. I plan to bring her in the house one day after getting her checked out by a vet first. I won't let her in the house yet because I used to pet her with my hand but had to stop because she gave some type of virus to Yanni a few moths ago and made her sick. The virus got on my hands and petting Yanni afterwards caused her to get the virus. Yanni got over it though.

 

One day about two months ago one of the ugliest cats I have ever seen in my life started showing up in the backyard. This was one pathetic looking cat. He was missing hair on one side of his body and tail. He was dirty and the hair he did have was matted in places in clumps. I could tell he was starving because he was so skinny. I did not like the looks of this cat and just wanted him to go away. One day he came running into the yard and walked up to within three feet of me and just began to meow with a voice you could barely hear. His meow was just a whisper. He had lost his voice. But he kept on meowing as he begged me to feed him. The look on his face was one of utter desperation. It was as if he was saying please feed me, PLEASE feed me! But I wouldn't feed him. I didn't want to feed him. I just turned my back on him and went in the house. I didn't want anything to do with him. I didn't want to take the chance of him spreading any diseases or viruses to either of the other two cats. So in the house I went.

 

The next day I began wondering what happened to that cat. Over the next week and a half I started feeling very guilty about not feeding him. The Holy Spirit began speaking to me, asking me, "David, why didn't you feed that cat?" That cat's face kept coming back to my mind with him desperately begging me to feed him. I couldn't believe that the Spirit of the Lord was dealing with me about a cat in such a way. The thoughts just would not leave me. I kept seeing his face and its expression and hearing his weakened voice as he begged for food. Finally I relented and repented and told the Lord that if he comes back I would be sure to feed him. I could not take the guilt anymore so I made him that promise. So I kept an eye out for him. I wondered and hoped that he had not starved to death. About a week later he showed up in the backyard and I ran in the house got some food and fed him. I have been feeding him ever since. Looking at him now he doesn't even look like the same cat. His hair has begun to fill in and his tail has started to fill in and look normal. I even plan on getting him a flea collar. But I was really so relieved to see him again.

 

About a week ago I was in Morning Prayer and the Spirit of the Lord began to speak to me.  He called me. He said, "David!" I answered, "Yes Lord?" He asked, "You know the way you wanted to treat that cat?" I said, "Yes Lord?" He said "It is the way my church treats people." I got very quiet. I thought about the time that Christ told Peter, "Feed my sheep." I considered how Peter must have felt. I thanked the Lord for showing me in the way he did. I was finally able to show some love in spite of the disagreeable appearance of this cat and my judgmental attitude. We should love the unlovable who are the hardest to show compassion to even though they may not meet with our self-righteous preconceived notions. Can you love the drug addict, drug pusher, thug, prostitute and homeless person? Are we stuck in the comfort of the walls of our church buildings? We should all be showing the Agape love of God. Love is the greatest of all commandments and gifts. It is an unconditional love as you already know. This cat did not meet my standards of what a cat should look and act like. We judge the same way with people. I rejected that cat for it. I learned a lot from my ignorance. What are you doing to show the love of God?  

 

I'm getting a lot of email from friends telling me how great Obama is and why I should vote for him. Should I really?

---

Should African American's Vote for Obama?

I like this guy. I think he would make a great president. One thing stands in the way of me voting for him. It's Barack Obama's stand on abortion.

Obama's Stand on Abortion

• Expand access to contraception; reduce unintended pregnancy. (Feb 2008)
• Rated 100% by NARAL on pro-choice votes in 2005, 2006 & 2007. (Jan 2008)
• Voted against banning partial birth abortion. (Oct 2007)
• Stem cells hold promise to cure 70 major diseases. (Aug 2007)
• Trust women to make own decisions on partial-birth abortion. (Apr 2007)
• Extend presumption of good faith to abortion protesters. (Oct 2006)
• Constitution is a living document; no strict constructionism. (Oct 2006)
• Pass the Stem Cell Research Bill. (Jun 2004)
• Protect a woman's right to choose. (May 2004)
• Supports Roe v. Wade. (Jul 1998)
• Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
• Voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
• Voted YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
• Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance. (Dec 2006)

Obama Explores Abortion Issue

Obama's response to a question during his NEW HAMPTON, Iowa trip. A questioner, whom Senator Barack Obama called upon during a campaign stop in a city park, identified himself as a resident of Denver. But he said he was attending a family reunion here. Read the entire answer.

• How does abortion affect the African American community? Get the facts.
• What can we do? Click here to visit the Center for Moral Clarity.
• Margaret Sanger the founder of Planned Parethood knew what the effect of abortion would have on certain races and groups of people. More…
• 25% of the African American community has been exterminated since 1973.

______________________________________________

Electronic Deal of the Day: http://www.cbdcdesign.com/products.htm

Does being a Christian mean I'm a dolt?

---

Ann Coulter - Donny Deutsch Jews Perfected the Big Idea

Ann Coulter, while being interview by Donny Deutsch on his show The Big Idea (Watch a clip of the show in the video bar to the right of the page.) made a statement that she believes that Christians are perfected Jews. She added that if Donny were to become a Christian he would be perfected. What a concept! Donny took offense and shot back at Ann by telling her he thinks she is far too educated to believe something like that. What Donny did was expose himself as a person who does not think too much of Christians. Ann is not alone in this belief. Billions of Christians world-wide are taught the same thing and believe it as well.

I agree with Ann Coulter. And the reason she made her comment is because she “is” educated. The statement she made is based on Christian scripture and is a basic tenet of Christian belief. I believe it too. Here is the scripture her belief is based on.

Romans 9:30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it (Perfection). 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the “stumbling stone.” 33 As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 10:1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

In the underlined portion of Scripture above, the stone that caused men to stumble is Jesus Christ. He is the Rock that makes men fall because of unbelief in Him.

It is belief in Jesus Christ that perfects us. What unbelievers don't understand, like the lady in the red dress seen in the video bar on the right of the page, is that the perfection Ann is referring to is in our human spirit only. Our flesh is far from perfect but Ann would have had to preach a sermon in order to get folks to understand her true meaning.

The fact of the matter is that our country has been blessed because we are a Christian country and founded on Judeo-Christian ethics and laws. Read your history. This country was founded on Christian principles and beliefs. Don’t stop at the founding fathers, those signers of the Declaration of Independence. Go back even farther than that. It is not by accident that the United Sates of America is the greatest most powerful country in the history of all mankind. Then get yourself a Bible. Don’t just read it, study it.

Unless we remain a Christian country I believe we are a doomed nation. The one thing humankind has not learned from history is that we do not learn from history. A country that turns away from its Judeo-Christian beliefs will fall. In addition, it’s time people began to realize that being Christian does not mean you’re some country bumpkin that’s too ignorant to even know how to breathe. Donny D. insulted everyone in the Body of Christ. If I were as ignorant as he, “I’d say Donny you are far too educated and sophisticated to be a Jew.” But the fact of the matter is I’m not a hater. And in another part of scripture, the Epistles to be exact, Saint Paul writes that there will be a point when the Jews will come to believe in Jesus Christ and become “perfected.” But maybe I’ll deal with that in another post.

What About Obama?

I’ve been keeping track of the primaries this year. I’ve watched the debates and the speeches being made by all of the Presidential primary candidates. I’ve been impressed with some of them and not so impressed by others. I like Huckabee, McCain, and Thompson. I don’t dislike Mitt Romney but a Mormon for President? I don’t’ think so. Hillary, bless her sweet soul is doing her best but is now having the time of her life battling to beat an upstart Barack Obama. Obama, who seems to be touching the hearts and minds of some unexpected groups of people, has it seems the wind at his back.

As an African American I am proud that he has comes so far and that so many people have decided that the platform of a Black man can be taken seriously. Obama is educated, well spoken, well spoken of, well informed and very eloquent. However I have a few problems with his platform. But I’ll only write about one of them in this post. It’s his stand on abortion. For this reason alone I can’t vote for him. I wish I could. But I’m not Pro-Choice. I’m Pro-Life. Our government is using our tax dollars to inflict genocide on its own people. Much of that money has been going and will continue to keep going to Planned Parenthood.

There have been 46+ million American babies killed in this country since 1973. Rod Parsley the pastor of World harvest Church in Columbus, Ohio states that the ongoing federal funding of Planned Parenthood is among America’s most egregious national sins — a tragedy of unspeakable proportions. Abortion is a crime against humanity. The fact that we are forced to sponsor it with our tax dollars is unconscionable. Every committed Christian citizen must join in this battle for the sanctity of life in America, calling upon Congress to STOP the funding of Planned Parenthood. Please read the Center for Moral Clarity’s Petition (Click on page 3), and then complete the form to electronically add your name. Let’s stand together ... enough is enough!

There is an online petition available for you to sign if you would like your voice to be heard in regard to the shedding of the blood of the innocent. Click here (Click on Page 3 once on the site) if you would like to sign this petition. I think for those of us that are of African descent it is even more important for us to sign if we really know the facts about the percentage of those aborted who are African American. The latest statistics show that 25% of the African American population has been exterminated since 1973. That is something that must be known. The slaughter has to be stopped.

So to Obama I say I wish you well. To you I ask are you willing to do your part.

“Go Tell It on the Mountain, brings down the house”

Langston Hughes “Black Nativity,” opened this past weekend (December 1- 9, 2007) to a capacity enthusiastic crowd in Yeadon PA, Delaware County.

Evelyn Graves Drama Productions cleverly laid out a spectacular show that enriched the lives of theatre crowds to “wows’ and unstoppable audience member applauses from Baltimore, Maryland to Camden, New Jersey.

“Black Nativity,” has been a successful Christmas Classic since 1961 when it opened on Broadway, in New York later touring Europe. The Philadelphia cast of Evelyn Graves Drama Productions has been engaged in the classic since 1990 when opened at the Philadelphia Academy of Music featuring recording artist Annette Hardeman, Betty Griffin Kelly, Tamika Patton, Dorothy Newton and Dr Vernard Johnson. “Black Nativity,” finds its home at the Evelyn Graves Dinner/Theatre in Yeadon since 1992.

During Saturday’s opening Carroll Kelly of Philadelphia debuted with a smooth sultry melodic Gospel sound in “Joy to the World,” setting the tune for the rest of the musical which placed the audience on the edge of their seat throughout the show. Long time North Philadelphia resident Shirley Kinlaw in her mid fifties hit the stage like a zealous teenager placing the audience in a frenzy with the Classic song of “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” in the middle of the show. Kinlaw brought the house down as dancers flew across stage with choreography combinations that simply wowed the audience. Joyce Abbott of West Philadelphia states “the show is phenomenal.”

Artistic Director/Founder Evelyn Graves gives audiences a complete creative healing experience in the arts. A well-catered meal greets audiences with warm hospitality. Evelyn Graves Drama Productions is a non-profit theatre troupe that strongly promotes the cultural arts with over thirty years of performing traditions and education in the arts in Philadelphia, South Jersey, Delaware, nationally and internationally.

Black Nativity is a re-telling of the classic Nativity story with an entirely black cast. Traditional Christmas carols are sung in gospel style, with a few songs created specifically for the show. Originally written by Langston Hughes, the show was first performed on Broadway on December 11, 1961, and was one of the first plays written by an African-American to do so.

In some productions by various African American theater companies the show begins with the theater completely darkened. Barefoot singers clad only in white robes and carrying (electric) candles walk in, singing the classic hymn "Go Tell It on the Mountain". The birth of Jesus is one of the most dramatic aspects of the show. The stage, previously lit with orange and blue lights, is bathed in a deep red hue. Mary's contractions are echoed through the use of African drums and percussion. The Three Wise Men are typically played by prominent members of the black community in the neighboring area, and have no singing parts. The show closes with the chorus singing a reprise of "Go Tell It on the Mountain" as they walk out in darkness. A final soliloquy by a young child ends the performance.

The original name for this play was “Wasn’t It a Mighty Day?” Alvin Ailey was a part of the original Broadway cast.

For information and reservations for all performances put on by Evelyn Graves Drama Productions Click here.

The right place the right time the right thing to do...

Just this week Oprah Winfrey was in South Africa to be a part of the opening of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls–South Africa—a private learning and residential environment for grades 7–12 that engenders high standards of academic achievement and service leadership for girls who show outstanding promise despite their social circumstances. It seems there are those of us in the United States who feel Oprah Winfrey needs to be criticized for her generosity to a generation of children in need in South Africa. I say, “right on Oprah.”

The criticism that galls me the most is the criticism heaped upon her by one Linda Stasi a columnist for the New York Post. I listened to an interview on TV where she made some pretty uninformed comments about Oprah’s building of the school and the history of a Western culture that has traditionally ignored the African continent unless there was money to be made.

What Oprah did for South Africa as a human being is commendable. To take it even farther, what Oprah did as an African American in South Africa is even more commendable. Linda Stasi’s opinions and comments are formulated from a shortsighted mindset that is willing to ignore the effect of centuries of slavery, colonial rule and Apartheid in Africa by Europeans. The African slave trade began right after the Age of Discovery and Exploration. The Age of Discovery or Age of Exploration was a period from the early 15th century and continuing into the early 17th century, during which European ships traveled around the world to search for new trading routes and partners to feed burgeoning capitalism in Europe. In essence Europe plundered, robbed and stole resources, people and goods from the continent of Africa. Africa gives and the world takes.

Oprah doesn’t ask for handouts from anyone. Seems to me she’s worked for every red cent she has made. I could care less if she has never given a penny to a charity in America. I do know that she has but that’s not the point. Giving to whom she wants is her prerogative.

There is a symptom here that begs to be examined. It is symptomatic of a culture that teaches the lie that Christopher Columbus discovered America. How could Christopher Columbus discover a country where there were already people? I was taught this lie in school along with millions of other non-thinkers including Linda Stasi. But some of us wake up and begin to think. What Linda Stasi fails to realize is that Oprah’s ancestors were stolen from Africa, along with millions of other African American ancestors. How does one measure the residue of the effect of this atrocious theft hundreds of years latter? Our ancestors were denied, even until very recently in the history of the United States, social or political entitlement. Anyway, we all know the story and how it goes. I don’t want this to be a history lesson. We have a daughter of a stolen people who wants to give back to Africa. So now Oprah wants to give back. I say, “shame on you Linda Stasi.”

People groups who have never experienced the agony of a separate group lack the ability to empathize with the group that has experienced the suffering. In addition if the group that lacks empathy is also of a mindset that claims racial superiority over the other group it only multiplies the lack of understanding.

The most egregious error Linda Stasi made in her statements intended to bash Oprah went like this, “Honest, I understand how you feel about going to Africa and giving back. But in reality, none of our ancestors came here voluntarily.” What nonsense? How much more stupid a statement could someone make? Ms. Stasi claims her grandfather came over here on a ship after he and his dwarf brother sold enough rocks in Italy to buy passage. I don’t care if he came over on a tramp steamer. Her grandfather didn’t come over here in the hold of a ship shackled in chains in conditions so deplorable that many of the Africans in chains died during the middle passage. Our ancestors didn’t come through Ellis Island like yours Ms. Stasi. Many of the Africans who came over during the Middle Passage suffered such deplorable conditions that they committed suicide by jumping over board when they found the chance. How many passengers waiting to arrive on Ellis Island jumped over board Ms. Stasi? Do you even know what the Middle Passage is? Ms. Stasi, you claim to be able to have the ability to give Oprah a course on common sense when you lack it yourself.

Oprah did a wonderful thing and this attempt to make it less than what it really is smacks of racism. I pray more successful African Americans find themselves in a position to give back to the continent that our ancestors were stolen from. The world is a small place. What happens on the other side of the world effects us all. Anyone with common sense will realize this.