Money Talks

There are many Bible passages that have been misquoted over and over again and one Bible misquote I have heard often is: "The love of money is evil." We may say we see the damage the love of money has manifested in the lives of celebrities and everyday people we come into contact with in our lives. But, I still would like to clear up the misquote and set the record straight. "The love of money is the ROOT of ALL evil" 1 Timothy 6:10.

With the addition of the word 'root' and 'all' our perception of money should change and we should guard ourselves from the pitfalls that the love of money brings. Many people are in an uproar, not because they are dirt poor, but because they have decreased a level or two in their economic soundness. Anyone who tries to convince you that poverty is fun would probably benefit from some sort of professional counseling. But, when we allow our financial state to determine our amount of joy in life as a whole, then we must look at what defines our happiness.

While thinking about money and the way we depend upon it and use it, I wondered was there a difference in the way women used money and the way men used money. And the answer is a resounding yes. I found there are 5 top ways each sex use their money (after taking care of the basic necessities that are common to both sexes such as rent and food) and found the differences a little eye opening.

MEN: Men don’t spend, they invest. Men don’t want something, they need it. Theirs is a future-money orientation. Men are trained to fix and provide, so they view money as a means to capture and accumulate things to add more value.

Men will spend their money on investments, entertainment, women/online dating/love, hobbies and sports, and betting and gambling.

WOMEN: Women are trained to nurture and seek acceptance and so view money as a means to create a lifestyle. Women spend on things that enhance day-to-day living. Theirs is a now-money orientation. Women are the collectors of stuff and are taught that what they need to get through life is approval. They have to look good, act good and be good.

An average woman will spend 8.5 years of her life shopping. So you guessed it, shopping tops the list of how and where women spend their money. Next we have beauty, health and fitness, love/online dating, and funishings.

There you have it. Each of the sexes have distinct spending habits to which the marketing masses can target each of the sexes in specific ways. Our purchases are the fruit that are springing forth from the branches of a root. Remember the LOVE of money is the ROOT evidenced and so I ask does our purchases serve as an indicator of our EVIL? For the man would it be the deep need for more and more money and for the woman would it be the purchase of unending beauty?

With more and more money men become more and more powerful actually buying people's opinion and loyalty; obtaining the perfect trophy wife and trading her in when she no longer fits the bill. Men even become workaholics to the neglect of wife and children. Notice gambling creeps into the bootom of the list; a force of distruction.

With more money women spend countless thousands for the perfect nose, smile, breast, butt, tummy and the list goes on and on what a woman is willing to do to her body surgically to obtain the idea of youthful beauty. When a woman will inject a poison into her face in an effort not to have wrinkles; then you know just how important beauty is to her. Not only is she interested in being beautiful, she is interested in being surrounded in beauty. I have never ceased to be amazed at a group of women telling each other how many men they are dating and which bill the man is paying freeing up money to get her hair and nails done.

Well, I have not escaped that statistic of 8.5 years of shopping. I have a love of shoes and I have contributed to the millions the make-up industry pulls in yearly. We often want to be equal to men in all things. Do we want the men's top 5 to be ours? Do we want to trade an obsession for beauty with an obsession for status?

As a group (women) we are saying alot when we are not even giving a clear voice to a subject. Our spending habits speak for us and I do not know if we are purposefully driving what our voice is saying. As I said, businesses and services follow our spending trends and cater to those statistical needs. Our spending power influences society. Our use of money actually speaks volumes about our heart. We ask everyone to see us as a serious player in the world, but someone who is so focused on looks and overall appearances may not feel capable or worthy if she doesn't look just so. Is the fruit of our root beauty alone?

   

A Mother's Worth

With Mother's Day just around the corner, my thoughts began to turn to all of the things I do and have done for my children and family in general as a mother. I see all of the fuzzy feelings and tender hearted commercials trying to tell children what would be the perfect gift for mom. But is there an appropriate gift to give the one who gives their all.

I thought about Jesus and how he laid his life down for humanity so they could have a shot at eternal life. The giving of self so fully for others - others you have never met, yet was willing to die for. Moms are not up there with Jesus, but there is no other example of giving their all, including their life for someone they love, as a mother.

I must admit there are some terrible mothers out there. It isn't an easy job. but, even with their imperfections; their children love them deeply. So, for me to say 'there are some terrible moms' would be too flippant, judgemental, and down right horrible. So I separate the less than perfect mom, my category, from criminal moms.

I love listening to the commercials encouraging people to adopt. They target in on the fact that you do not have to be cool, a rocket scientist, or child psychologist to be a loving person willing to adopt a child needing to be loved.

I wanted to take the time to appreciate those who are in this institution of motherhood. Sometimes it is a thankless position of late hours and few seeable benefits. But, upon reflection it turns out to be filled with benefits. Nothing can ever compare to that first whiff of innocence-newness I inhaled the first time I held each of my daughters for the first time; that was priceless. All of the funny faces they made at new discoveries. The laughter that tickled my ears at the simplest of things they found to be hillarious and I had long ago took for granted. If I were offered millions for my mother memories, I would turn it down. So to all of the mothers out there; happy mother's day.

So how much is a stay-at-home parent's work really worth? According to Salary.com's 2010 Mother's Day Paycheck for Mom's Job, the time mothers spend performing 10 typical job functions would equate to an annual salary of $117,867 for a stay-at-home mom. Not too shabby eh?

Heather Chrudimsky states that a stay-at-home moms perform many necessary duties, have important responsibilities that serve as the glue in a family/household that keeps it together and running smoothly. Their duties don't run on a 9 to 5 schedule and there is no punch out time. Below is her listing of a mother's duties.

10. Administrative assistant: run errands, answer the phone, pay bills, fill out paperwork, organize and schedule activities,
9. Chef: whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner. Cooking responsibilities are on the shoulders of the stay-at-home - all while taking care of the kids.
8. Tutor/teacher: Time to bring out the math, science, spelling, etc. skills back out. No matter what the age, homework help is a staple in a stay-at-home mom's day.
7. Chauffeur: Whether it's to school, choir, dance, sports practice, dentist, doctor, friend's house, park, grocery store, etc., stay-at-home moms spend just about as much time in their vehicle as a truck driver.
6. Daycare provider: Kiddos are obviously a stay-at-home mom's top priority. Making sure they are busy, safe and engaged is a constant.
5. Referee: Literally and figuratively. Children fight and it is the job of mom to make sure no one is hurt and lessons are learned.
4. Doctor/nurse: Band-aids, ointment and mommy kisses - nothing cures a boo-boo better.
3. Psychiatrist: Whether is it helping little ones understand their growing emotions or healing a first broken heart - mom is always there to offer a shoulder to cry on, and give advice of course.
2. Maid/homemaker: Just call them domestic divas - name the cleaning chore, stay-at-home moms have done it.
1. Family mascot/boss: Regardless of a faimly's makeup, moms are the family centerpiece, keeping the family together, making sure everything runs smoothly and keeping everyone happy.

Seems like mothers might need regular vacation time.

What ever you decide to give your mother for Mother's Day; expensive or not, make sure you smother her with 'thank yous' and 'love yous' because this is music to a mother's ears.

Silence is not always Golden

FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN PRESIDENT.

Seems like the African American community would have a lot to say on this 21st century occurance, but there is a deafening silence.

We heard with loud voices the everyday American; not the academically elite or career government type, make their needs/demands known all the way to the steps of the capitol. This group was so outspoken and united in spirit and cause untill this grassroot group received their own name.

Time marched on from year one to year two of a never seen before presidency. Another group would come forth demanding to be heard on an issue that could destroy family and livelihood. The second large mass chorus of voices were those of the Hispanic community and those standing up for immigration rights. This group was what one may, if they were the risky type, call a sleeper cell.

The Hispanic population simmered for years underneath the radar of politicians. Soon census tabulations would show the increase of births and thus population of this ethnic group in America. I noticed, the increase and the forcasted first largest minority group by 2010 if not earlier pushing blacks to second place. For those not paying any attention, it occurred earlier and not later. Hispanics have made a large footprint in number and now have new political clout. If they spoke united, they could be heard because they now have voting power. Yes, there are some illegal immigrants, but there is still the power of friends of this ever growing group who are sympathetic to their plight as Americans. A majority of Americans will always root for the underdog. I have been that type of person in my daily life.

Now we are at year three and there are other voices booming across the wide world of the web. This group is the ever come lately group of women. Yes, a mistake was made. Some toes were stepped on; and when those toes are polished and often times in those totally unnecessary 5 inch heels; there should be some screaming or loud discourse going on don't you think?

All of the above groups demonstrating their vocal power before using their voting power have a bone to pick. I am not writing this to say whether it is right or wrong; I'm writing to say HEY there is a silence coming from the black community.

While Obama was running for president, I listened to male Christians try to convince me not to vote for Obama just because he was black and I was black. They said I should not "VOTE EMOTIONALLY." If my eyes did not say it, I finally did. Why do you and how dare you assume that I do not weigh the person running for president by his platform. I have voted several times prior to the first black man on top of the democratic ballot election and if no one cared how I picked my candidate then, why now? I guess in all other elections I was allowed the benefit of doubt trusted on my own to use some kind of reasoning other than the color of their tie to choose who received my vote. Why all of a sudden was I being told to leave emotion at home. Studies show candidates are voted for out of some type of emotion: he will save us, he is the kind of guy you would like to have a beer with, he's just like the everyday person, he fought bravely for our country, etc. Researchers will even tell you, handsome candidates win.

Needless to say, votes were cast, and people other than people sharing his skin color voted and elected Obama president. And now to the not so golden silence.

Where are the voices of pride in the black community? A drug free, never convicted, college educated, married man, loving father, great personality, critical thinker, team player, constitutional law expert is president. This is an example we can point to and tell our children "You can go to college, you can get married and stay married, you can raise your children in your own home, you can retain all of your blackness and still be a viable contributer to your community and nation at large."

The dreams may not be the same, but there is not one thing stopping you from having a dream and moving in the direction of that dream.

We see on a national scale that Obama is having a bumpier ride than most presidents. Some say it is racism some say it is just the discomfort of the economic down turn. But, there have been obstacles for black people and let's face it, that may never change. But, once aagain we see an example of perseverence in President Obama. If he is angered by less than enthusisatic detractors-he marches on still being true to the office he has been appointed to. He has been called names by bullies because that is what bullies do. When the dust settles, they will still be bullies waiting for fresh meat while history books across the world will write about the presidency of Obama. Some wanted the president to get angry to get tough; attributes the balck man have been stereotyped as for centuries. Attributes Obama has demonstrated are a choice not a genetic condition.

This is not about policy or politics. I don't care who you voted for. But not to stand up and cheer that Obama, his wife, and children have finally, visibly shaken the foundation of the stereotype of the 'black person' is worth giving voice to. A politcal commentator said "Obama's presidency is showing us in America and around the world - if this black man is not good enough- than what black man is?" I hope there will be other black people to answer this question. I hope the treatment of this president does not deter the black community from entering other positions of power and status. I hope the BLACK VOICE WILL NOT BE SILENCED.

And as for me, I salute you President Obama for showing our black men that success is not the car you drive, how many women you have, or whether you are shown proper hood respect. Success is mapping out your life, being the best person you can be, working the extra time to go the extra distance, realizing a good woman by your side is an asset and how you treat her is part of your character, and finally realizing what has been true as long as there has been a world: not everyone is going to like/love you, no one is going to make life easy for you, there will be failures and there will be successes, but what is yours, truly yours, no one can take away from you; it will always be part of your make up. This is true no matter your color, race, sex, or political leaning. 

*********A side note********* If you do not believe the first woman president (Hillary Clinton) would not have been disrespected as the first female president, then I need you to keep reading my spin on the world in my past and upcoming blogs. Reminded of the song: It's a Man's World but every man needs a good woman or a girl.

Honour Killings in United States

A Maricopa County Superior Court jury on Tuesday found an Iraqi immigrant guilty of running down his daughter and another woman in a Peoria parking lot in Oct. 2009.


Faleh Hassan Al-Maleki was found guilty of second-degree murder for killing his daughter Noor, 20, and of aggravated assault for injuring her boyfriend's mother, Amal Khalaf, 41. He was also found guilty of two counts of leaving the scene of a fatal or injury accident. He stalked her. Tormented her. Threatened her and finally murdered her for not being Muslim enough. She was too "westernized." So the Muslim misogynist murdered his own daughter in cold blood. He was convicted today of second degree murder.

What exactly does being too 'western' mean? Is it about the way a person dresses or is it about personal independence? After witnessing the attack on unions speciffically those predominantly in the field of women's occupations such as nursing and teaching and not firemen and policemen, there could be a subtle attack on female independence of western women. Also as Planned Parenthood is being defunded, an institution which offers medical care targeted towards women, we must take a look to see if the voices of women are being hushed to a whisper in the United States.

There is no doubt Muslim countries have complete say even ownership of their female counterpart. Young girls are subjected to arranged marriages done by the men of the clan. The clothing women don has to be determined by the men as well as their financial security or lack there of. Women live within the guidelines and boundaries of the religion watched over by the men.

As with Christianity, we know there are tennants listed within the religious manual, i.e. the Bible, that we do not fully agree with, but in faithfulness to the chosen religion, we adhere to. The Muslim religion has the same and have followers who may not love the restrictive guidelines, but none the less follow. But what is to be done when a Muslim decides not to willingly follow the dictates of their national religion?

In the United States, contrary to some teachings of so called patriotic Christians, America was set up as to allow religious freedom without the threat of persecution; and this means more than just for Christianity. Any and all followers of religion are suppose to be free to practice their religion as long as no other laws of the land are broken. Murder is against the law in the United States (I will not bring abortion into this particular discussion. Roe vs Wade was a law instituted for this particular taking of life making abortion legal and protected).

So, the fact remains, the father would have been within his rights to commit an honour killing if it had been done in a nation which allowed such an act to occur. Relocating from his homeland to the United States meant that he would have to abide by the laws of the land in which he resided. Being faithful to the rules of his culture and religion did not allow him to sit back and watch his daughter break long established rules, no matter where he lived. Within his heart, he believed he had to do what he had been taught to be right, regardless of society and what they believed and followed. As I have said before, we choose and make decisions and then we must live with, be rewarded, or suffer the consequences of as he did.

The laws of our land were upheld over religion, separation of church and state at work. For Americans, who could never understand the depth a person is willing to go to uphold antiquated beliefs, justice prevailed.

In a time in our own country where CHANGE is causing extreme growing pains and 'old ways' of the 'old guard' are being held on to in the clutches of a dying generation of power holders, there is little sympathy for those wanting to return to the old America.

The old America longed for by many, also treated women as a entity without a voice or as an object to be owned and kept within guidelines and rules decided by their male counterparts. Just as baffling as it is for us to comprehend a father killing his own daughter for becoming too 'westernized' it is just as baffling to me how anyone, especially a woman could stand and declare they want to return to 'the old America,' a time of crushing oppression for women.

Is Planned Parenthood the Enemy?

In the "Alan Guttmacher Institute" it was reported in 2001-July, 37% of all abortions are performed on Protestant women: 18% of all abortions are done on born again Protestants which constitute 30% of the American adult population. The abortion index by religion during 1994-1995 was found to be: Protestants 0.69%, non-Judeo-Christian religion 0.78%, Catholics 1.01%, Jews 1.08% and persons who do not follow an organized religion 4.02%. this information was prepared by "Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, Storrs, CT, in 1995 from five Gallop polls. 2010 Census Statistics on increase or decrease of birthrates by races have not been released, but there has been a reported increase in the Hispanic population.

The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform has statistics on abortion from information obtained in the late 90's (http://www.abortionno.org/)

UNITED STATES


Number of abortions per year: 1.37 Million (1996)

Number of abortions per day: Approximately 3,700

Who's having abortions (age)?

52% of women obtaining abortions in the U.S. are younger than 25: Women aged 20-24 obtain 32% of all abortions; Teenagers obtain 20% and girls under 15 account for 1.2%.

Who's having abortions (race)?

While white women obtain 60% of all abortions, their abortion rate is well below that of minority women. Black women are more than 3 times as likely as white women to have an abortion, and Hispanic women are roughly 2 times as likely. ***note from me: if having 60% of abortions that only leaves 40% to be split by other ethnicities and it will not be more in total number only rate appears higher***** The word likely to have an abortion is not the same as 'does' have an abortion.

Who's having abortions (marital status)?

64.4% of all abortions are performed on never-married women; Married women account for 18.4% of all abortions and divorced women obtain 9.4%.

Who's having abortions (religion)?

Women identifying themselves as Protestants obtain 37.4% of all abortions in the U.S.; Catholic women account for 31.3%, Jewish women account for 1.3%, and women with no religious affiliation obtain 23.7% of all abortions. 18% of all abortions are performed on women who identify themselves as "Born-again/Evangelical".

Who's having abortions (income)?

Women with family incomes less than $15,000 obtain 28.7% of all abortions; Women with family incomes between $15,000 and $29,999 obtain 19.5%; Women with family incomes between $30,000 and $59,999 obtain 38.0%; Women with family incomes over $60,000 obtain 13.8%.

Another breakdown of statistics on abortions show which groups are having abortions

Age Group & Race


                     '72       '76        '80       '85        '90       '91       '92        '93         '94
Age 

<=19            32.6     32.1     29.2    26.3      22.4     21.0      20.1     20.0       20.2

20-24           32.5     33.3    35.5     34.7      33.2     34.4      34.5     34.4       33.5

>=25            34.9     34.6    35.3     39.0      44.4     44.6      45.4     45.6       46.3

Race

White           77.0      66.6    69.9     66.6      64.8     63.8      61.5     60.9       60.5

Black           23.0      33.4    30.1     29.8      31.8     32.5      33.9     34.9        34.7

Other                                                 3.5        3.4       3.7        4.6        4.2         4.8

Source: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, January 3, 1997, Vol. 45 / Nos. 51 & 52. Published by Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta.

I put all of these statistics on my blog not to defend having abortions. The biblical stance on abortion would be not to have one, sorry there is no way around this fact of Christianity. I did put this information here to dispell the belief that if you get rid of Planned Parenthood you would do away with people getting rid of unwanted unplanned pregnancies. I have heard people blame Obama for abortion and I think how ridiculous to blame the president. Women choose to have abortions and women are the only one, if finger pointing is to be done, who should be pointed at.

In our democratic society people choose what they want through the process of voting. At one time in our medical history it was considered a moral sin to use corpses for medical students to study the systems of the human body, this criminal activity, so dubbed by the religious institutions went on to save countless lives. Of course abortion does just the opposite, it destroys lives. To decide to institute obstacles in the everyday citizen's life to keep them from sinning against God would take more government intrusion than anyone is willing to submit too.

The argument is; "what about the babies?" and I can understand the heart felt concern about the unborn, but the parent still has this right by law to do what they want to with their unborn child. We sit by daily and know children are being abused sexually and emotionally and say we can not intrude in on the horrible parenting skills we may be witnessing. We choose not to teach parenting skills as part of school curriculum because we may not agree with the parenting skills being taught, but we will step in on a parent's decision when it comes to abortion because that is murder and no longer a private matter.

In life we try to have things both ways and every way. I believe once you have told a person what God condones and does not condone you have done your part. We all make choices that are bad (not on such a level as aborting a fetus) and deal with the consequences and some times we must let others have their consequences of their actions.

Would I be alright if abortion was outlawed? YES. Will that stop abortions? NO. Who will follow women who's desire is not to have an unwanted child? Who will continue to police them? Who polices you to ensure you are making moral decisions in your life?

Continue to speak up for what you believe and what God wants, but remember you are not God. God does not force anyone to choose not to sin.

My greatest surprise, as always, was that there were statistics on religious women having abortions. At one time in American history a family consisted of several children often hitting double digits. Now the average is 2.1 children per household. What happened to the birthrate in the Christian household? While we continue to try and force the non-Christian to adhere to Biblical teachings, the church body needs to work on its own abortion statistics. Living by example- actions instead of just words has always worked. Jesus' earthly ministry proves this everlasting fact

WORKING WOMEN still attacked

On good old facebook a question was asked by a woman: "Should women work outside of the household and do you men; prefer your wife not to work?" Well I had to respond.

My reply was family based stating that I believe the institution of family has suffered from not having at least one parent at home to rear their children. School, church, babysitter, television, etc., can not and should not instill family values, total academia, and societal laws into the sponge like mind of children.

I said if the married couple agreed, whether it was the husband or wife, at least one person should take on the responsibility for their children's development from birth to age 18.

Another facebook friend replied to me by saying that the WOMAN should be the one at home and not working according to the Bible structure for marriage. She said women should stay in their designated place and the belief of modern Christians that if an agreement is struck it makes things okay (which she said it doesn't). She said she would never consider working unless her husband was ill then she would enter the workplace.

I went back and acknowledged the Bible is the best blueprint for correct living and if it was followed the home would be healed. I pointed out that my answer was for women in general and I was proposing a solution for the crumbled family. I pointed out the fact that the question would be moot if it was meant for Christians because we all know that every Christian is married before having children and the husband would be the head of the household and what ever his income, sufficient or not, they would live within their means joyously. SARCASM ALERT

I myself became a Christian after having a child out of wedlock. Once wed, I did stay at home with my children. But, as Christian wives and mothers, what are we exampling to other Christians and non-Christians? Can we have conversations with non-Christians without placing guidelines we accepted freely (the Bible) on them and yet have solutions for very real problems? Or are we just parrots repeating what we have been told and yet do not follow ourselves?

Back to her saying she would work if her husband was ill and could not. Why does the rules dissappear when the head of the house is not able to perform adequately in providing for his family but not in any other serious circumstance? What if your husband's income could not feed the dozens of children you are commanded to bear (be fruitful and multiply), is it fine to work then? By the way, Christians are only having the number of children they feel comfortable supporting financially and even emotionally which is not biblical either (Read my book "When Will Eve Be Forgiven?" for more detail on this Christian birtrate hypocrisy.

Head of the household means head of the household. If a woman and the children suffer from insufficient income brought in from one working man, then the family should suffer from the husband inability to make any income. An unemployable husband is still head of the household and the woman is still the care giver and overseerer of the home.

Christians seem to change the rules for themselves but have no tolerence for non-Christians changing rules they never agreed to follow. The Bible then, seems to be for the non-Christian and not for the Christian. 

If a non-Christian married man and woman cannot agree that the man should stay home and she should work, leaving her non agreed to biblical role then when a Christian man cannot work, his wife should not abandon her post. Sounds ridiculous doesn't it to let children starve just because of Biblical roles for men and women. Well, it is not. The Christians are not alone and have God to depend on in these types of extreme hardships. It is in these miracle ready circumstances that a greater testimony is given to the world: "When I follow God and His word, He is faithful to supply my needs." How can God demonstrate His great love and care for His followers, who obey His commands and are promised numerous blessings for following his statutes when they step in and handle things themselves out of fleshly fear and concerns? THIS IS NOT SARCASM. the Bible even says Christians are a strange people not doing what the world does, but depending on Him in faith.

Christian women (some) look down on the working woman as long as their husband's have a good job, but their tune changes when finacial difficulties occur and they will take that non-Christian woman's non-biblical job position in a heartbeat.

So, the reason for this post. Be careful of the self righteous stand you take with the world. Teach the Bible, don't change the message, but be mindful of the advice you are giving. We are ALL so far from following the guidelines of the Bible and we need the grace and mercy of God daily. With love, help move others as well as self into the place of maturity God would have us all live in. We can be what God would have us to be with education, support and not condemnation.

We live in a time of greed allowing the family structure to suffer. We live in a time where we pick and choose what part of the Bible we are willing to follow. If we all got it right immediately our world would be a dfferent place. 

From a woman who has been a working mom and a stay at home mom, I have respect for the great intitution of womanhood and motherhood. 

Why Black People Vote For Obama, secret revealed

Black people vote for Obama because of things remembered and the memories are not in the distant past of history. Once, a minister and congregation members lifted up a minority beaten down by government policies and economic inequality. The stories of surviving this existence lingers in the very make up of being black. For some, being black is synonymous with being hopeless; until there was President Obama who lifted our eyes, spirits, our souls to redefining what being black could mean. And then his savage attack by the Right Wing made us remember our bitter brutal history again .

                                                 
The separation of church and state has allowed the church leaders to turn a blind eye to community and most importantly to family needs. When church leaders fail to have opened eyes to the state of human - physical well being of the body of Christ and citizens of a nation, sickness is allowed to creep in. When leaders instill in the body of Christ "I am able to tell you all that you need to know about living a Christian life" and do not offer tools, resources, encouragement, support, education in doing so, disease thrives.

Many black Christians as well as non black Christians live in a state of bondage of the mind. They turn to religion (as every other slave in history) for answers; for freedom. The clergy has always offered Jesus for those in bondage as the one answer and giver of freedom. As a Christian I know Jesus is the answer for the bondage of death caused by sin. The soul can have salvation and a promise of eternity with God. But after freedom one must live as a free person and that has always been difficult for the slave who has only known bondage. The Israelites wanted to return to slavery (Pharaoh) under Moses leadership instead of going on to the journey of the unknown. As a slave they had the certainty of knowing their daily routine and the FREEDOM of someone else determining their life and worth. Today's black person is suffering from POST TRAUMATIC SLAVE DISORDER.

Post traumatic slave disorder reminds blacks in flashbacks how black people were beaten if caught reading (notice how blacks almost recoil, run from education), blacks remember how no matter how hard and long they worked they could never make enough money to buy their own freedom let alone their entire family's freedom. Even if they made money they did not know how to count it or its value (black people do not know how to handle finance, budget, invest), flashbacks to KKK riding by if they gathered together and talked about how to, together as a community, work for better living standards, laws (the only large gathering of blacks today is in the church and they will not talk about bettering themselves), flashbacks to trying to vote when barriers were placed one after another (in the same way now with the voter ID fraud concerns), jobs lost, even lives lost (blacks will not keep up with politics and do not even know candidates or issues to vote for), and finally the heart wrenching flashbacks of families being separated and sold. Children wrenched from mothers, young girls used for breeding, big buck traded from plantation to plantation for hard labor (no feeling of national equality, no voice in America as a tax payer too).

How can there be spiritual freedom when the mind and the essence of a people is still in bondage? Okay, if the church waves the banner of church and state are separate; how can leaders minister to family units that are broken, how can they baptize, marry, and bury people knowing they will never rise above their education level in society? How can leaders tell people to live HOLY but not tell them to live HEALTHY emotionally and physically?

Leaders should know and I know they do, that the black community is suffering. These same suffering people come to church religiously and yet are offered salvation Sunday after Sunday. How many times do they need to be saved? I went to a church that had 6 members. The same 6 people had been going to that church for 30 years and each Sunday the pastor ended service with an alter call and the 6 people went to the alter each Sunday. Needless to say I do not attend that church anymore.

The Black Agenda, the plague of the hearts and minds of the black body of Christ is not a long list or even a hellish over powering demon. It can be summed up in 5 easy titles:
1.     Health Care: black people will wait till they are almost dead before going to the doctor. We practice bad health choices, take it to the alter and go right back to assisting in our own illnesses.
2.     Poor Education: Our children barely graduate. We work hard to teach them their ABC"s and 123's before school and then don't help them with homework throughout the rest of their schooling
3.     Rate of Incarceration: We turn as blind eye to the fact our unemployed children make more purchases than employed people. 15% of blacks use crack yet over 80% are jailed for it. Over 80% of whites use crack and less than 10% are in jail for it. Areas with low graduation rates have highest incarceration rates. But, we do not need statistics to know what are children are doing.
4.     Unemployment: I have never seen a group who actually believes if they hate reading and writing that they are suppose to have a high paying job.
5.     Family Breakdown: 2 or more generations of one family living in one house without a father figure. Young men by the age of 24 with 2 baby mommas. This list can go on and on. If we are failures in our homes, guess what, we are apt to be the same in the community, work place, state, nation, country world. This is a biblical premise when Jesus said start at home and then spread abroad.

The GOP has labeled these basic needs as handouts, wellfare, reparations. Not so.
I am not preaching or being holier than thou. I say this to let anyone reading this know, this is not a permanent condition. It can be changed at any moment at your choosing. Conquering our problems begin with knowing them and targeted effort to change them. I just attended the 6th Annual Conference of the Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement and sat next to people who were beat and jailed for the right to vote and to be treated as citizens of America; many died. For their sacrifice I feel it is my duty not to let it be in vain. I want to live up to what people have died for me to have and I hope you do too.

Children are a gift from God. He knew and loved them first and entrusted us with them to give them kingdom instruction and the tools needed to live Holy lives here on earth. Many parents have never been told this fact. Raising children is a part of living righteously. Taking them to church each Sunday does not exempt us from our parental mandate. In the same vein, shepherds are responsible for the WELLNESS of their sheep. I must ask, how can such a religious ethnic group, who devoutly attend church and give an hour to their pastor, be in such a diseased condition?

It is easier to tell people to worship God in a broken condition than to tell them to live in the freedom of God and come out of bondage. It is easier to tell them the devil is busy trying to kill them instead of 'rise up' and take charge of your life and your children's lives. An old adage says "you can lead a horse to water but you can';t make him drink." Maybe that's why God used the sheep as the example of His children because a sheep will only drink if it is led to water.

                                                     
Slaves pretended a lot of things in the presence of their masters. They had to pretend to be dumb for their survival. Now we have to BE educated for our survival. We have to be involved for our survival. We have to love ourselves and our brothers and sisters for our survival.

Big business has an agenda, the gays have an agenda, the Jews have an agenda, the tea party has an agenda, the unions have an agenda, the Evangelicals have an agenda; everyone has an agenda. WHAT IS THE BLACK AGENDA? I hope at least it is education of our youths and ourselves. I hope it is healing the family unit, I hope it is striving for the best and highest paying jobs and political offices, I hope it is good health and a long life, I hope it is our men at home being husbands and fathers and not in the jails. WHO CAN GET MAD ABOUT THIS?

Do a study on the balm of Gilead (Jer. 8:22) Sheep was of great economic value in the Old Testament. There was a disease of the brain the sheep could contract and it could be fatal. There was as cure for this brain disease in a city called Gilead. This balm was a gum/resin like medicine used to cure a variety of diseases. If one sheep was afflicted with the disease the shepherd would walk miles to the one place where the medicine was available, Gilead. The wise shepherd knew if ONE sheep became infected it could spread to the rest of his herd. Songs have been written about the balm in Gilead and how it heals and saves, but I want you to look at the shepherd who knew the value of his flock and how serious the disease of one was to the rest of the flock and to his livelihood and shepherding ability. The shepherd would be looked down upon and shunned by other shepherds for not trying to cure his sheep. They would be angered at the shepherd allowing disease to run rampant in his flock and letting a killer disease get a foot hold in the area possibly endangering the other shepherd's flock. the black community not being allowed to vote is a contagion and the church needs to help it's flock.

                                                              
The problems afflicting the black community is not "just how black people are." The problems of the black community is just what they are PROBLEMS, and as far as I know; problems are meant to be solved. I ask women who have always been present and a strong voice in many of the major movements in and out of the church, to start to sound the trumpet to save the next generation of the black community. Use the last great gathering place of blacks (the church) to instill the black agenda outlined in this blog. Instill a love and sense of necessity for reading and writing, give seminars and classes on parenting becoming a parent and the beauty of marriage and how to know and recognize love, teach how to manage money and what it takes to make a living and the difference between having enough money to survive and enough money to LIVE, show videos of where we have come from and where we are now, stop accepting drug money gifts from family members, be creative, but do something. Do something until you can't.

And do not allow anyone to twist your reason as to why you vote for President Obama - because he has walked in the shoes of the black experience - and there is nothing sinister or devious about this fact. Pray for him and pray for those who persecute him for being black hidden under the guise of political differences and religious concerns. At one point in religious history in America; a Catholic or Mormon would never be allowed to hold the presidential office. Now the 2012 ticket is comprised of a Catholic and Mormon. What power Christianity has to do God's work and the work of the flesh.