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A New Perspective: A New Year Devotional Message

1/9/2015

The new year has arrived and with it comes the great promise. The doors of possibilities are open, and the air is filled with the excitement of fresh opportunities. The new year offers an opportunity to put away bad habits and childish tendencies that often detour us from our destiny. It offers an opportunity to disconnect from bad influences that hinder our progress. It is an opportunity to renew our commitment to those relinquished resolutions of improvement from the past. Moreover, it is an opportunity to embrace God’s will for our lives as we seek to accomplish His purpose through His power, for His glory.

As believers, our greatest ambition for 2015 should be finding ourselves in the center of God’s will because that is the greatest and safest place to dwell. Many people start the new year with a “to- do list” of goals and resolutions in hand and ask for God to help them to fulfill their will. Allow me to give you a new perspective. Believers should approach the new year asking God what is it He desires for us as well as from us this year and then pray for His grace and power to enable our efforts.

How did you start this new year? Did you start busy with your list of priorities? If you did, don’t be surprised when you’re running on empty in a few weeks. I suggest you start on your knees seeking the Lord and allow Him to order your steps this year. The Bible reminds us, “The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand” (Psalm 37:23 – 24, NLT). When we allow the Lord to order our plan it pleases God and protects us from our human propensities.

Oh yeah, there’s more good news!! You know that list you made for 2015? God is concerned about that list as well. Remember the psalmist said, “He delights in every detail of their lives (Psalm 37:23, NLT). God loves to give His children the desires of their heart as long as those desires are in your best interest. It’s simply a matter of priorities, God’s list first and mine second. The Bible teaches us, “Delight yourself in the Lord and (then) He will give you your heart’s desires” (Psalm 37:4, NLT). Furthermore, Jesus said it this way, “So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern” (Matthew 6:31 – 33, NLT).

Beloved, God knows what’s best for us! We often think we have devised a plan that is full proof, and we have thought through every conceivable issue that may arise. Yet, my friend I remind you that God still sees further than we do; His wisdom is greater than ours, and His plan is rooted in eternity. So this year seek the sovereign Lord of the universe as you plan your year, asking Him for His wisdom in every decision. Ask Him to work through you to keep you from growing weary as you rely on His strength and power. Trust His plan and plan to follow His lead, and you will find yourself at the right destination; in His will, accomplishing His purpose, enjoying His favor!! HAVE A BLESSED NEW YEAR!!!

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Answering the Call for Accountability

12/18/2014

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A Message from “the Man”
Written by: Pastor ODC

Ok cool, Blame me.

Blame me for everything you see.

I understand, it’s easier to blame me than accept accountability.

But can you really blame everything on me?

Am I the one vandalizing your community?

Am I the one calling your women out of their name?

Making babies, leaving them with no paternal influence, single mothers struggling to raise your seed.

Then you drive your fancy cars and ignore her calls, as if your children have no needs.

I’m not the one playing the “Who can make the most babies” game.

I’m not the one creating illegal employment opportunities,

Parading drugs in your communities,

Robbing others of their future possibilities,

Leading a debilitating downward spiral of shame, slothfulness and sorrow

Enjoying my momentary pleasure, ignoring the pain and suffering others will feel tomorrow.

I’m not the one forfeiting my education.

Sleeping through class, wondering through life,

Walking the streets flirting with every temptation and vice.

I’m not one buying my clothes twice my size.

Wearing three pair of pants, sagging to my knees and calling it swag.

I’m not the one too busy to mentor my own,

Leaving them with no guidance or compass of right and wrong.

I’m not the one living above my means.

Drowning in debt, struggling to breathe, burden with stress

Living lavish lifestyles because I have others to impress

I’m not the one spending money outside my community.

Failing to understand that communal wealth gives you leverage throughout society.

But you'd whether give your means to others, watch them get richer as you get poorer.

Stop blaming me!! Can’t you see? You have bigger problems!

It’s your mentality of inferiority….it’s crab syndrome,

It’s you robbing from each other and killing your own!

It's ok! I know the truth. I understand your history better than you

Your forefathers struggled mightily under the oppressive brutality of my ancestors

They were stripped of their identity,

Paraded in humility, and counted as three fifths of a man.

From cotton fields, to segregation, and Jim Crow

They struggled and endured so that you would have an opportunity to grow

You don’t understand how great you are, you are a blessed people!!

You are musical genius, blessed with poetic pose.

You are strong, intelligent, and pregnant with creative brilliance

You have an entrepreneur spirit but no entrepreneur mind,

So I steal your ideas and perpetrate them as mine.

I covet your talent and artistic ability

I pay to see you perform on stage and you gain millions

Yet, I get a large percentage of that returned because of your financial ignorance

So look, stop blaming me for every problem you see

Honestly, we know that’s not true!!

If you look in the mirror, your number one enemy is you!

Our national conversation has been centered on the events transpiring in Ferguson and New York as much international attention has been given to the social plight of our country. And while this conversation is needed, we cannot address issues unfolding miles away and ignore the tragedies transpiring in our own neighborhoods and backyards. Furthermore, we cannot have zeal when crimes are committed against us by others and lack the same fervor to address the crimes we commit against one another. There are an array of issues plaguing the African American community that deserve our attention and activism so that we can lift ourselves out of the cultural stereotypical plight to a brighter, more promising future. While there are systemic hurdles that we have to overcome that are designed to slow our progress; they cannot hinder us from reaching our full potential unless we enable them to do so. It’s easy to point the finger at others but the true test of strength is how we respond when the blame finger is pointing at us. We must be honest with ourselves in order to transform our neighborhoods into an oasis of hope in a world of despair. We cannot change what we fail to confront! While the cry for justice must be audible when we are oppressed, the call for accountability must be answered when we. are hurting ourselves. To this end, I wrote the following piece:
Disclaimer: These issues do not exist in every African American community. There are many flourishing, healthy communities that have not been (deeply) infiltrated with these problems. Furthermore, these problems exist beyond the African American community and can be seen throughout society. However, this piece was written to challenge the African American community, particularly black men, to address these problems where they exist under their sphere of influence.

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A Bridge of Progress: Solutions for our Current Social Environment

12/10/2014

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In April 2013, I was blessed with the opportunity to serve as the pastor of the Historic Tabernacle Baptist Church in Selma, Alabama. The unique neo-classical revival styled facility, designed by a black architect in 1922, stands on the corner of Broad and Minter as a national treasure.Yet, the most notable historic structure within Selma is the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The bridge is not known for its exceptional architecture but for being the place where excessive abuse was inflicted upon African Americans on Sunday, March 7, 1965.The events of that day were so horrific and gruesome that it became known as “Bloody Sunday.” Approximately three times a week, I travel to and forth over this hallowed ground and each voyage is mystical, as I reflect on this bridge’s significance in the progress of humanity and civil rights. It is a monumental reminder that progress is a struggle, but through the courageous efforts of the human spirit and the grace of God progress is possible. While many look at the Edmund Pettus Bridge as a “bridge of pain” stained with the blood of martyrs, I see this bridge as a “bridge of progress” birthed out of pain but paved with love and dignity.

There seems to be a gulf between those who feel the hurt of the recent trends in our society and those who attempt to explain the hurt away. This gulf continues to grow wider as each side digs their heels in the sands of contempt and point fingers of blame at the other. Therefore, we must erect a bridge of solutions to the problems that have been diagnosed in our society. Together, we must build a bridge that will mobilize a movement that invites all humankind from all ethnic, economic and social backgrounds to stand for justice. Together, we must build a bridge that advances the gains we have inherited from the foot soldiers of previous generations. Together, we must erect a bridge of progress so that our movement is archived in history for its social message rather than social madness. We must build a bridge paved with respect for all human life and love for all humankind, so that the Creator of our manifold humanity will be glorified above all satanic forces that plague our human existence. There are three pillars to support this bridge that can lead us from the struggle of the moment to the social satisfaction we anticipate in the future.

Pillar #1 – Assessing Police Training and Tactics

First, I am thankful for the hard work and service that our law enforcement officials render for us on a daily basis. I honor these citizens’ labor to maintain order within our communities, towns, and cities as they risk their lives daily to serve and to protect their fellowman. However, as the death of Eric Garner recorded in Staten Island has shown us, there are times when the practices of some must be questioned and determined as actions unbecoming of a public safety officer. Police are public servants and the public should be able to voice its displeasure with the erroneous actions of a few “bad” cops without it being perceived as an attack against police as a whole.

In order to police the public effectively one must have the trust of the general public. The public must have confidence in one’s competence of skills and integrity of heart. When a public servant has lost the blessing of the public, it hinders his or her ability to perform their duties. The following are a few practical suggestions to ensure that public confidence in all law enforcement officials is maintained:

Cameras

I suggest that all law enforcement officers be required to wear a camera above their name badge when addressing the public. While these cameras may be expensive, they are well worth the investment of tax dollars. These cameras will ensure that the officers’ actions are respectful, reasonable and in line with their department’s code of conduct. Furthermore, we will have the actual unfolding of events in real time, instead of a possibly edited version of an officer’s account.

Cross-cultural training

We are all human with our own preferences and associations. This is a reality of our human existence. We develop communities with those who often think like us, behave like us, and even look like us. Subsequently, when we interact with others outside our developed communities with a lack of knowledge, this cross cultural interaction can be fatal. Police officers are expected to serve the community at large; therefore, one should receive cross cultural-training as a part of their initial training to be a police. This training will make the officer more comfortable as he or she interacts with others because they will have a larger knowledge base of the actions and tendencies of others outside their community.

Pillar #2 – Enlisting the Church’s Involvement

The church is God’s voice in the world. When the church speaks, she does so as an ambassador of the King of Kings. In the midst of social unrest, the church should stand and herald with a loud and clear voice, “Thus says the Lord!” As the world becomes more pluralistic and the standards of right and wrong are shifting in society like a northeast wind, the church must remind society of God’s standard, God’s perspective, and God’s demands. When the church is silent on issues plaguing the world, we are saying two things: (1) God doesn’t care about this and (2) The gospel of Jesus Christ has no bearing on these things. Brothers and sisters, both of these are completely, totally and irrevocably false!!! God does care and the gospel does come to bear on all things pertaining to man. The question is not whether God cares or not. The question is does the church, God’s people, care to share God’s message on these things. The church cannot be so heavenly minded that she fails to be of any earthly good. Martin Luther King said, “Our life begins to end the day we are silent about the things that matter.” Today, I suggest the church begin to lose it relevance when it becomes silent about the things that matter. Robert Smith said, “We don’t socialize the gospel but we gospelize the social.”

Pastors must proclaim the gospel in a way that has direct implications and applications to concerns transpiring in the world today. The sermon must challenge the believer individually and the body collectively. The believer’s perspective should not be shaped from pundits on CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, or any other news network. The believer’s views toward the issues of society should be informed by the word of God through individual personal, private devotions and public proclamation of the gospel through a spirit-filled pastor.

Pillar #3 – Challenging Individual Responsibility

Perhaps you are one asking the age old question, “What can I do?” This is a good question and the answer is, “You can make a difference.” Many times we stand by idle waiting on someone else to voice what we feel as well as, initiate what we are thinking. Yet, I say the world is waiting on your voice. We are searching for your creative, cutting edge ideas. Your community needs your compassionate acts. Someone is longing for your embrace. Some child needs your unconditional love and guidance. Some downcast soul needs your words of encouragement. God has equipped you to be the change we are looking for, calling for, wishing for, and hoping for. You are the voice for justice and equality. You can be the catalyst for change in someone’s life, in your community, as well as in our world! You can do it! You can make a difference! Together we can build this bridge of progress…one day at a time!!

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On Ferguson…. Cries for Justice and Order

12/2/2014

13 Comments

Streets are flooding with people; buildings are burning with fire, and the air is thick with hostility. Tension is mounting; civility is subsiding, as the nation of pundits are sitting and watching. This describes the current setting of Ferguson, Missouri when the grand jury’s decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson for the murder of Michael Brown was released under the mysterious veil of the night. While many suspected this to be the outcome of the process, the volatile reaction in the streets of Ferguson has facilitated much social turbulence and unrest. Many throughout the nation are protesting the decision as unfair, immoral, and unjust, and we are left to wrestle again with the demon of racism and systematic injustice.

Thousands have chimed in on the current affairs of our time giving their opinions and perspectives on what this means and by what means we can move beyond this moment. These sentiments have come from across the world from different ethnic groups and classes with some supporting each party and its respective viewpoint. As I watched the world react on television, read others’ opinions on Facebook and Twitter, and even engaged in conversation with friends, I felt it was imperative that I give a pastoral, biblical, and theological perspective on these current events.

I must admit that the past does bear on my perspective. I speak as a son of a people who has suffered much pain from systematic oppression. I acknowledge there are some who may disagree with my insights and fail to understand my viewpoint. They would even suggest that there is no inequity in the administering of laws in this nation. They would rather ignore the truth than face reality. Consequently, I suggest that anyone who doesn’t empathize with the unfolding events in Ferguson has been sheltered by privilege and/or has never felt the chilling effects from the winds of discrimination.

Yet, I am an ambassador of reconciliation, speaking for the King of kings; therefore, I offer these thoughts for your consideration and contemplation. As I pondered and prayed about this situation, I recognized that there were two biblical cries that have been echoed throughout this week. There has been a cry for justice and a cry for order. These are both biblical cries that the body of Christ should support with passion in light of the teachings of scripture.

We should cry for justice as Amos did in Amos 5:24, “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream.” When a life is so devalued that one can be shot down in the middle of the street with his body lying uncovered for hours as if he were 3/5 of a man, we should say, “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream.” When the system protects the impulsive, irrational reactions of those who are charged to protect us from such actions, we should say, “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream.” When we are more sensitive to the loss of property than to the loss of life and those who are pro-life act as if the loss of this life is no reason for strife, we should cry, “Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream!”

Yet, there is another cry, a cry for order. As believers we cannot uphold the destruction of property, unnecessary violence, and other senseless acts. We must cry out for justice without undermining the rule of law. Although one may feel the pain caused by the findings of the grand jury, one must channel their emotions so that his or her actions are constructive, not destructive. The Bible teaches that all things should be done decent and in order. Furthermore, as believers we must heed to the admonishment of the scripture to obey the law and submit to governing authorities. While the pain is real and the anger is understandable, we are reminded to be angry but sin not. Martin Luther King said, “Rioting is the language of the unheard.” While this is true, we must acknowledge that looting, vandalism and violence are wrong and cannot be upheld under any circumstance. The higher ground must always be sought even when you are the offended in the situation.

There is a cry for justice and a cry for order. Both cries are needed in this hour as we navigate the chilling water of injustice and work toward ensuring that the setting unfolding in Ferguson does not become the setting of other cities in our nation. We must work to ensure that another life is not lost and the executor walks away guiltless. We must work to ensure that this moment produces change and awakens others to the fact that injustice anywhere is truly a threat to justice everywhere. We must work to engage in a productive conversation, which will yield the byproduct of progress as the cry of justice is heard and order is maintained.

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Pastor ODC is the Senior Pastor of Tabernacle Church in Selma, AL and a graduate of Beeson Divinity School. He is a biblical scholar/student with social consciousness that challenges society to examine itself in light of the scripture. He also encourages believers to fulfill their divine purpose to the glory of God. His writing is compelling, convicting, and challenging.

A New Perspective: A New Year Devotional Message

Answering the Call for Accountability

A Bridge of Progress: Solutions for our Current Social Environment

On Ferguson…. Cries for Justice and Order

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