Insight for Today Part II

“For I will give you and mouth and wisdom, which all of your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.” Luke 21:15

You and I are stronger than we realize. We are wiser, and have more capacity than anyone has ever told us. Some of us will continue to deny this, without even verifying this claim. Why? If you are stronger and wiser than you realize, then your ego may become damaged from the “what if” syndrome; you know what that is: “What if I would have found out about my greater capacity sooner?” Then after you realize this to be true, then you will be faced with an even greater task of stepping out of your status quo comfort zone, and you will have to start destroying some of the Goliaths that have kept you enslaved. Some people prefer slavery because everything is taken care of by the master. Everything is provided for you, or you may live in lack when you operate in mediocrity; even though God has given each one of us the innate ability to grow, to develop and to succeed.

I will use the theoretical example of a football game to further illustrate my point. A football game consists of 11 players from each team (22 players on the field simultaneously). The quarterback always gets the ball to initiate a play. Since the game is always evenly matched (11 players on each team), then in theory, the quarterback or whomever has the ball only has to avoid one person if everyone else is taking care of their assignment. So if the player that has the ball avoids his one opponent, yet doesn’t score a touchdown, then some other player didn’t fulfill his obligation to block his man. Did you catch the analogy? If we miss our assignment from God, then something in the game of life is going to go lacking and/or incomplete. We are God’s mouth, hands and feet in the earth. If we don’t do God’s Will, then who will? You and I must succeed, because God isn’t going to run for the mayoral seat in your city; God isn’t going to drop money out of the sky on people; God isn’t going to start a business in your community; God isn’t going to feed the poor. But He has commissioned us to do these things.

This article is going to be the encouragement that you need to keep going, or to go to the next level in your walk in this earth. The Bible says that David encouraged himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6), but you can use this encouragement as a “pick-me-up” whenever you need it. Below is a compilation of some fabulous insights from a lot of famous people that want you to know how important you are. Actually, you’re unstoppable!!!! But you have to believe that.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most...We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. - Marianne Williamson, American author and lecturer

It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.- Robert F . Kennedy

The power of an aroused public is unbeatable.- Dr. Helen Caldicott

Let no man imagine that he has no influence. Whoever he may be, and wherever he may be placed, the man who thinks becomes a light and a power. - Henry George

The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.-Ferdinand Foch

Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.- Goethe

If you don't like the news, go out and make some news of your own. - Scoop Nisker, radio personality

But the [people], if only they could somehow become conscious of their own strength, would have no need to conspire . . . They need only to rise up and shake themselves like a horse shaking off flies . . .- George Orwell, 1984

You let one ant stand up to us - then they all might stand up. Those puny little ants outnumber us a 100 to one. And if they ever figure that out, there goes our way of life. - Hopper (a grasshopper speaking to fellow grasshoppers in the Disney/Pixar movie A Bug's Life)

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.- Margaret Mead

We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history.
-Sonia Johnson

What this power is, I cannot say. All I know is that it exists...and it becomes available only when you are in that state of mind in which you know exactly what you want...and are fully determined not to quit until you get it.- Alexander Graham Bell

Men habitually use only a small part of the power which they actually possess.
- Williams James

You're in the midst of a war: a battle between the limits of a crowd seeking the surrender of your dreams, and the power of your true vision to create and contribute. It is a fight between those who will tell you what you cannot do, and that part of you that knows -- and has always known -- that we are more than our environment; and that a dream, backed by an unrelenting will to attain it, is truly a reality with an imminent arrival. - Anthony Robbins

Most of us can learn to live in perfect comfort on higher levels of power. Everyone knows that on any given day there are energies slumbering in him which the incitements of that day do not call forth. Compared with what we ought to be, we are only half awake. It is evident that our organism has stored-up reserves of energy that are ordinarily not called upon - deeper and deeper strata of explosible material, ready for use by anyone who probes so deep. The human individual usually lives far within his limits. - William James

The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.- George Bernard Shaw

In these words lies all his power: He chose the path along which he is walking and so has no complaints.- Paulo Coelho

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. Henry David Thoreau

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 (New Living Translation)

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. -Eleanor Roosevelt

We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Constant dripping hollows out a stone. Lucretius

For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,
but the wicked are brought down by calamity. Proverbs 24:16 (New International Version)

Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
Oliver Goldsmith

Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity. Louis Pasteur

The ability to convert ideas to things is the secret to outward success. Henry Ward Beecher

No weapon formed against you shall prosper. Isaiah 54:17

Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions.-Albert Einstein

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].- Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified Bible)

You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. Mark Twain

Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances. Benjamin Franklin

Knowledge of what is possible is the beginning of happiness. George Santayana

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."-- Matthew 19:26

Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us. Thomas Paine

And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 (New International Version)

Try not to become a man of success but a man of value. Albert Einstein

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do. Epictetus

Difficulties strengthen the mind, as well as labor does the body. – Seneca

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.- Proverbs 27:17

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Helen Keller

Ability is sexless. - Christabel Pankhurst

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure...than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.
- Theodore Roosevelt

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
- Mark 11:22-24

We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey. - Stephen Covey

You haven't failed until you quit trying. – Anonymous

You're on the road to success when you realize that failure is only a detour. - Anonymous

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:29-31

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. - Jim Rohn

Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God. - Anonymous

All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas. - George Bernard Shaw

Spiritual Discernment, Common Sense, and Critical Thinking: An Anathema of the 21st Century

Educated men are as much superior to uneducated men as the living are to the dead. –Aristotle, 384-322 B.C.

Whether it’s bicycling, tightrope walking or tires on a car, balance is paramount in functioning smoothly. The same goes for everyday life, because many times some of us are too strong in one area or too weak in others. Well this article is going to help to balance you out, in some respects. The title of the article only suggests three areas: spiritual discernment, common sense and critical thinking. There is certainly more to life than these three things, but when we have a culture of people who: don’t understand that this secular life is more than what the television tells us; can’t count back change at the grocery store without a cash register; can’t find the USA on a globe; don’t know who the Governor of their state is, then we have some serious questions to answer as a society. How can someone live in such a vast world, with all of its beauty and resources available to us, and can’t see the proverbial forest for the trees? Life is wonderful and one must be able to employ some simple principles in this life in order to reap a fruitful and meaningful experience called life. No one is going to give you anything! No one is going to give you all of the answers! You may get some help along the way and get pieces to the puzzle. But you have to be able to use the faculties that God has given you to make your own way. That’s what we do at BG Street: you are taught how to fish, how to think (not what to think), how to learn, how to grow, how to pray, how to seek God for yourself, how to stand firm in the truth, etc. This is your time! Are you ready to grow up? Are you? You might be 60 years old, but we all have room to grow mentally, spiritually, emotional, etc., so let’s get started. Let’s see what is going on in the minds of humanity and see if we can bring the proper equilibrium that will be conducive to a whole and independent life.

You can’t use spiritual discernment to figure out math problems. You must learn the proper principles of math and you can figure out any math equation. Similarly, you can’t always use critical thinking and use common sense when dealing with God, because God’s thoughts and ways are not like ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). For example, remember when Peter was commanded to walk on water (Matthew 14:25-30)? Well he was successfully standing and walking on water until he started looking at the natural circumstances. His defying of natural laws is a testament to learning how to strike the balance between spiritual insight and natural knowledge: two paradigms that are beneficial to a successful human life, but only if executed properly.

Spiritual Discernment

This very important element of our existence has to do with a consciousness of something that may not be necessarily obvious to your 5 natural senses: taste, touch, smell, sight, and audio. It has to do more with your spirit (the true essence of who you are) and how you respond to your environment. That is key! A Spirit being created this world (Genesis 1). Don’t you think that his signature is all over it? Well it is, but if you can’t see, hear or discern His handiwork, you will miss some great treats in the journey of life. This is nothing spooky, folks. It’s just an aspect of life that you might not have heard discussed before, but this is as real as the nose on your face. Let’s look at a few examples of spiritual discernment in the Word of God:

Mark 7:16; Matthew 11:15; Matthew 13:9; Luke 8:8; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; Revelation 3:6, 13, 22 He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

(Author’s thought: Jesus is referring to a spiritual keenness that tunes to a frequency that everyone else might not be able to sense [similar to a dog’s sense of hearing, but spiritually-speaking])

2 Kings 6:8-18 is another fine example of spiritual discernment.

(Author’s thought: In this account, God is asked to open the young man’s eyes. His physical eyes were opened and functioning just fine, but the spiritual element needed to be revealed to him. When God intervened, then he saw that the battle was God’s)

1 Samuel 3:1-21 gives us the account of the spiritual discernment of a mentor (Eli) and a child (later to become the Prophet Samuel).

(Author’s thought: Again this is an example of keenness in the Spirit. Eli discerned that God was speaking to the child, and taught the young guy how to listen to God speak and how to commune with Him. This is actually a great lesson to be learned by all of us, that children can know God and fellowship with Him. God created children and He knows how to reach them on their level. We should stop dumbbing down God to the children and walk in these Eli/Samuel-type examples, so that we can teach and raise our children in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4)

Matthew 16:16-17: Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

(Author’s thought: This is a fine example of having knowledge that has never been taught on the earth. Jesus confirmed that no human taught Peter this truth, but the information came straight from Heaven. This is important because it let’s us know that humans don’t know everything. There is information that exists that we don’t know (Deuteronomy 29:29), but God will reveal it.)

1 Corinthians 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

(Author's thought: Discerning of spirits is taught in the New Testament as a gift of the Holy Spirit.)

Practical application in developing your spiritual discernment:

• Be a student of the principles of the Word of God. Find out what God says about matters, see what God thinks about things and train yourself to think likewise. Don’t just try to memorize Scriptures. If you want to memorize Scriptures, that’s fine, but seek to extract the true spiritual essence (revelation of faith) from the Scriptures. What are the Scriptures really saying? How do I apply what the Scriptures are saying in the 21st century?
• Read my article called Listen to and Follow Your Heart and Being Filled With the Holy Spirit you will increase your spiritual keenness and start to gain more spiritual insights.
  

Common Sense

Common sense is actually quite simple to understand. If you have been exposed to life at all, then common sense is common natural understanding of things. For example, if you know that a fire is hot, (because you have felt the heat that it radiates or you’ve seen the effects of it burning something) then surely you would know not to put your hand in a burning fire. This is common sense that even a child knows; it isn’t rocket science. But we have some of our countrymen who don’t practice good common sense, maybe not with fires, per se, but with other things, such as relationships, business deals, desicion making etc. Of the three elements that we are going to discuss in this article, this is the easiest matter to address. Life is actually very simple; it just becomes difficult when we try to shove the proverbial square peg in the round whole. Observation, asking questions and calculating your moves are the key here. Let’s use more common sense, folks. This doesn’t mean that you won’t make mistakes or have trouble; it simply means that you shouldn’t repeat your own mistakes or the mistakes of others. Again, let me further clarify, I am not talking about repeating a habit or addiction either, that’s a flesh issue. Another topic for another time.

Practical application in using common sense:

• Before you act on anything, ask yourself if you truly understand what you’re doing, hearing, or saying, and then ask yourself if it makes sense. If it doesn’t make sense then don’t follow through with the action until it does make sense. If it never makes sense, don't follow through with the action. For example, why would you pay just the minimum payment on your credit card and let the finance company make all of that profit? Pay more on your princple every month if you can, and eliminate that bill quicker.
• Read my article called the Adverbial Perspective. It will give you perspective on questioning your environment so that you don’t act on a whim, emotion, or out of desperation.
• Learn from the experience and mistakes of yourself and/or others.
• Don’t reinvent things, use what exists to innovate and expand an insight, concept or idea.
  
  

Critical Thinking/Deductive Reasoning

Dr. Martin Luther King said:

The function of education, therefore, is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically . . . The complete education gives one not only power of concentration but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate.

William Graham Sumner offers a useful summary of critical thinking:

The critical habit of thought, if usual in society, will pervade all its mores, because it is a way of taking up the problems of life. Men educated in it cannot be stampeded by stump orators ... They are slow to believe. They can hold things as possible or probable in all degrees, without certainty and without pain. They can wait for evidence and weigh evidence, uninfluenced by the emphasis or confidence with which assertions are made on one side or the other.

If A=B and B=C. Does A=C? Well, answer it!!!!!!

Critical thinking seems to be a lost art today. We don’t live in a thinking society, we live in a television society that trains people to respond and react rather than to receive information, anaylze it and act upon it in a positive manner. Critical thinking consists of: mental processes of discernment, analyzing and evaluating. It includes all possible processes of reflecting upon a tangible or intangible item in order to form a solid judgment that unites scientific evidence with common sense. Whereas, deductive reasoning applies general principles to reach specific conclusions. For example:

All apples are fruit.
All fruit grows on trees.
Therefore all apples grow on trees.

Wow, that’s powerful! Nothing can stop you, and you have the capacity to figure out anything with all of the resources available to us. Don’t let unscrupulous people sell you a wooden igloo, ocean front property in Montana, or elevator tickets in a one-story building. You are thinker, and if you weren’t before you read this article, you are getting the tools necessary to go down the right path. Some people aren’t interested in you being able to figure out what this life has to offer you, as you can see from the quote below. But don’t worry, nothing can stop you and as Jesus said in Luke 12:2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

“I don’t want a nation of thinkers, I want a nation of workers.” John D. Rockefeller, Founder of the National Education Association


“Very few really seek knowledge in this world. Mortal or immortal, few really ask. On the contrary, they try to wring from the unknown the answers they have already shaped in their own minds – justification, explanations, forms of consolation without which they can’t go on. To really ask is to open the door to the whirlwind. The answer may annihilate the question and the questioner.” Spoken by the Vampire Marius in Ann Rice’s book The Vampire Lestat Ballantine Books. New York, NY. 1985.

Why would it be of value to you to have the cognitive skills of interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, explanation, and self-regulation? Because you can take this approach in every area in your life and come to the right conclusion every time. Everyone that is around you doesn’t have your best interests at heart. They may not want you to succeed, but you DO want to succeed. So put yourself in the best situation possible by scrutinizing the circumstances and situations you encounter. Never take anything for granted, and never believe anything superficially (on the surface). Question, investigate, analyze all of the information that you recieve and make an informed decision 100% of the time!


The approaches to life and living which characterize critical thinking include:

* inquisitiveness with regard to a wide range of issues,
* concern to become and remain well-informed,
* alertness to opportunities to use critical thinking,
* trust in the processes of reasoned inquiry,
* self-confidence in one’s own abilities to reason,
* open-mindedness regarding divergent (uncommon) world views,
* flexibility in considering alternatives and opinions
* understanding of the opinions of other people,
* fair-mindedness in appraising reasoning,
* honesty in facing one’s own biases, prejudices, stereotypes, or egocentric tendencies,
* prudence in suspending, making or altering judgments,
* willingness to reconsider and revise views where honest reflection suggests that change is warranted.

What would someone be like who lacked these dispositions? It might be someone who:

• does not care about much of anything
• is not interested in the facts
• prefers not to think
• mistrusts reasoning as a way of finding things out or solving problems
• holds his/her own reasoning abilities in low esteem
• is close-minded
• inflexible
• insensitive
• cannot understand what others think
• is unfair when it comes to judging the quality of arguments
• denies his or her own biases
• jumps to conclusions or delays too long in making judgments
• never is willing to reconsider an opinion

This is not someone prudent people would want to ask to manage their investments!

A well-cultivated critical thinker:

• raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely;
• gathers and assesses relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret it effectively
  comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and standards;
• thinks open-mindedly within alternative systems of thought, recognizing and assessing, as need be, their assumptions, implications, and practical consequences;
• communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems.
  

{Author’s rhetorical question to the reader: Doesn’t this have a striking resemblance to BG Street articles? This is thought-provoking stuff! I hope that you are paying attention. Folks, critical thinking is based on concepts and principles, not on hard and fast, or step-by-step, procedures. Remember that! You are getting more sound information, so soak it up. If you need to read this article a few more times, please do so.}

“Knowledge of a general problem-solving strategy also improves performance, even among children.” (Bruning, Schraw & Ronning, 1999, p.211)

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different outcome.” --Albert Einstein

“The future now belongs to societies that organize themselves for learning...nations that want high incomes and full employment must develop policies that emphasize the acquisition of knowledge and skills by everyone, not just a select few.” Ray Marshall & Marc Tucker, Thinking For A Living: Education And The Wealth of Nations, Basic Books. New York. 1992.

History shows that assaults on learning, whether by book burning, exile of intellectuals, or regulations aimed at suppressing research and frustrating the pursuit of knowledge, can happen wherever and whenever people are not vigilant defenders of open, objective, and independent questioning. This is based upon the old adage that “knowledge is power.” The powerful elite know this and that’s why they suppress information. They use buzz words to make it seem as though they are trying to protect the public. Don’t buy the lie! The powerful don’t want you to know what they know. They want you to know what they tell you, remember that! Find out what they know!

Practical application in developing your critical thinking and deductive reasoning:

• Do Sudoku puzzles
• Logic puzzles
• Solve Word Problems
• Play Solitaire or Freecell
• Read strong and informative books or listen to good audio with sound information that will challenge your thinking.
• Associate with people who challenge you and question your thoughts.
• Leave the television alone for a while. Although there are some informative documentaries on television, generally we are just tempted to be entertained.
• Try to go to the next level in your thinking, and never stay comfortable on your level. Look for something more challenging.
• Ask questions always. Truth can stand to be questioned, so dissect it and investigate. Be inquisitive!
  
  

There is much more to write about critical thinking, but I am certain that you get the idea of its importance in your life. I really enjoyed writing this article and I hope that you take action in improving your own capacity, as I will. Live well!

Modern Day Slavery: The Battle for the Mind

Thirteenth Amendment (1865): Abolished slavery and grants Congress power to enforce abolition.

When we think of slavery, especially here in America, we generally tend to be reminded of the horrible atrocities of American slave history; generally speaking, the early American settlers buying African slaves from Africans. There are many other ethnic groups who were also enslaved in America and throughout the world: the Irish, the Japanese, the Jews, the Chinese as well as others. Slavery, in and of itself, is a horrible practice because it deprives the enslaved from his/her God–given rights of liberty by force of another. But physical slavery, in America, has been outlawed for over 100 years by the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. However, there is another form of slavery that is legal and very prevalent in our society: Slavery of the Mind.

The 1926 Slavery Convention described slavery as "...the status and/or condition of a person over whom any or all of the powers attaching to the right of ownership are exercised..." So a slave is not a sovereign, free being. The slave has no rights to say no (without the threat of penalty), and has no ability to think and make any decisions apart from the master. Remember that! But please allow me to reiterate……..physical slavery is over in America, but the other form of slavery (Mental Slavery) is used in almost every aspect of society. The necks, hands and feet are no longer bound, but now the chains are now on the brains of men, women and children, regardless of the ethnicity.

Ways people become modern day slaves:

Despotic political leaders make slaves. Military personnel, police officers, and other agents of the law who just follow orders and don’t look to protect, serve and obey the law are slaves. Remember, if you don’t have the ability to think and make your own decision based upon truth and facts (without threat of penalty), then you are a slave. Law enforcement agents should also not use they're badges of authority to lord over people. Peter made reference to that same thing concerning religious leaders over the flock of God (1 Peter 5:3). But the same principle applies for those in authority over subordinates. Here is an example of a police officer slave overstepping his boundaries in authority concerning a salty hamburger. Those few who are set over us authorities for good, have subjected themselves to giving tickets and arresting people for the smallest and most insignificant infractions. Meanwhile, our streets are lined with crack dealers and corruption is prevalent in our government officials at all levels.

The World War II Nazi soldiers who were captured testified during the Nuremberg Trials that they were just doing their job, and just following orders. Well that type of sentiment is totally unacceptable, and they proved themselves to be slaves. No one is to give blind obedience to anyone: not children to parents; citizens to politicians; employees to employers; parishioners to pastors; subordinates to officers. Each individual is ultimately accountable to God, so for a person to act as a robot for another person (in blind obedience) strips the subordinate of his/her individuality and freedom. In essence, YOU ARE A SLAVE!

Politicians in a nice suit with a slick public relations team will try to convince you that it snows in Africa during the summer months. When people give credence to these types of people it numbs your mind to reason. You shut of the left side of your brain (logical) and you open the right side of your brain (emotional). This is precisely what excessive television watching will do to you. It is all done subliminally. Folks, universities have RTF (Radio Television and Film) Classes that teach about measuring a flicker rate on the television screen, which has a mesmerizing effect on the viewer. This is insanity!

When you allow yourself to be induced into this state, you are more apt to believe the information they are telling you without critically processing it. These people have a lot of techniques they use to entice you. I see it happen all of the time at press conferences, rallies and speeches. These unsuspecting followers are so enamored with the celebrity figure (politician/celebrity), and the general population forgets that these people are supposed to be serving and/or catering to the people; not vice versa. We, the people, have forgotten that, so people laud, praise and applaud the celebrity. Because intuitively people want to be apart of something meaningful; it makes people feel good and it is like a milestone or some great accomplishment in life to meet a famous person or to be apart of something with them, or to just be in their presence. Well this is a passive and shallow thinking person’s thought process. Unfortunately, most people fall in this category.

Social class envy and jealousy is how it starts. The power structure involves you in the process, hoping that you will accept their game. It’s precisely what some kids do. For example, they pick on a weaker kid, make him/her feel bad and the kid starts to cry. Then they make him/her feel better, and then he/she joins the crowd. It’s psychology! You break the people down and then you build them up; that way they have an emotional connection with you; you made them feel significant and rescued them; you care about there feelings and identified with them. Slave owners did it to the slaves, and gangs do the same thing. It is such a joke! I am just so disappointed in our citizenry for not catching on to this game. But never fear it’s never too late. Here at BG Street, getting sound information, thinking and acting on the information is the name of the game.

Let’s look at a few Bible Scriptures related to your mindset:

Romans 12:1-2: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Philippians 4:7-8: and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Proverbs 23:7: For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

1 Corinthians 2:16: For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

These Scriptures are admonishing us to have God’s mindset (thought process). There must be a very good reason why God makes the explicit distinction. Why is God so concerned about us doing things His way as opposed to the world’s way? There are a few Scriptures that fit perfectly here:

1 John 2:15-17 states “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

James 4:4 says “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

Psalm 1:1 says “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

These Scriptures are not teaching that Christians and Non-Christians cannot be friends. Simply put, they are delineating between the two schools of thought: God’s thoughts and secular thought. It behooves us to heed the instructions of our Father God and adhere to His teachings.

Your religious leaders can make you a slave. Not all religious leaders are bad, but not all leaders have your best interest at heart either. So don’t be a Christian flunkie. This doesn’t mean that being a servant or a helper is being a flunkie. People will run you ragged as soon as they see that you are available for some sort of service. The leaders may do things like publicly acknowledging you, recognizing your “faithfulness to the ministry” before the church. It’s a set up. You might have just wanted to help out one time, but then they want to entrust you with things and hold you accountable for some ministry task, in order to give you a sense of ownership or responsibility. (Side note: Again, there is nothing wrong with helping out, but if you want to commit to something, do it from your heart, and not because you were coerced to do it.) We are all commissioned by Jesus to be servants, like Him. Jesus said in Mark 9:35 "If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all." But when your motives are not from the heart towards God and you want to be seen, appreciated and recognized of men, Jesus says: "For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward" (Matthew 6:5). So be a genuine servant, from the heart serving where and as God has planted you. Don’t let people plant you! Remember that!

Another way that our religious leaders can enslave us is by teaching us without rightly dividing the Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15). (CLICK HERE AND FOLLOW THIS HYPERLINK) There are now examples of churches who are misinterpreting Romans 13 to mean that we have to obey the government (insinuating blind obedience); yet we are only obligated to follow the contextually lawful mandates outlined in the Bible and the US Constitution. The Romans 13 argument is so misinterpreted by many and this puts much of the church in bondage (slavery). In order for us to remain free, we must adhere to the Word (Bible) and the Spirit of Liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Many Christians believe that we must obey those that have the rule over us and submit ourselves to them: for they watch for our souls (Hebrews 13:17). This is Scriptural as long as the authorities are in line with Scripture. Did Moses violate God's principle of submission to authority when he killed the Egyptian taskmaster in defense of his fellow Hebrew? Did Elijah violate God's principle of submission to authority when he openly challenged Ahab and Jezebel? Did Daniel violate God's principle of submission to authority when he disobeyed the king's law to not pray audibly to God? Did the three Hebrew children violate God's principle of submission to authority when they refused to bow to the image of the state? Did John the Baptist violate God's principle of submission to authority when he publicly scolded King Herod for his infidelity? Did Simon Peter and the other Apostles violate God's principle of submission to authority when they refused to stop preaching on the streets of Jerusalem? Did Paul violate God's principle of submission to authority when he refused to obey those authorities who demanded that he abandon his missionary work?

This is the same foolishness that caused the Colonists to break away from England: tyrannical government imposing itself on the lives of free moral agents (human beings). If anyone in authority over you tells you to relinquish your God-given rights, then you need to mark them as a misinformed Christian. Remember, we live in a Constitutional Republic and our elected officials were installed in their positions as leaders based upon the Supreme Law of the Land: US Constitution. So the Bible and the US Constitution are the highest powers we have; not our elected officials. So we are not obligated to follow them (politicians) apart from the Laws of the Land. Don’t support/help/serve/follow anyone outside of the Standard! Remember that! Disobeying righteous laws is righteousness. John Adams said, "We are not exciting rebellion. Opposition, nay, open, avowed resistance by arms against usurpation and lawless violence, is not rebellion by the law of God or the land." Folks, we need to become more versed on history. Look around you! The world that we now have is the same world that we inherited from our parents. Something is wrong. Some people call it a progressive society. I call it “being derailed off of the path of truth.”

In 1773, the Rev. Charles Turner, in expounding upon Romans 13, noted that it was the duty of the clergy, “to interfere where the liberties of the land are assailed, not only for the sake of their own posterity as well as that of others, but because when the civil rights of a country receive a shock, it may justly render the ministers of God deeply thoughtful for the safety of sacred privileges--for religious liberty is so blended with civil, that if one falls it is not to be expected that the other will continue.” All those who championed American independence recognized the immense influence of the clergy, and called upon them to support the cause. But today, the Church (as a whole, but not everyone) has become a spineless and worthless entity. Jesus said in Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

In 1754, John Adams wrote: "It is the duty of the clergy to accommodate their discourses to the times, to preach against such sins as are most prevalent, and recommend such virtues as are most wanted. For example, if exorbitant ambition and venality are predominant, ought they not to warn their hearers against those vices? If public spirit is much wanted, should they not inculcate this great virtue? If the rights and duties of Christian magistrates and subjects are disputed, should they not explain them, show their nature, ends, limitations, and restrictions...?”

I am going to continue this article in Part 2. But I want everyone to think about the seriousness of the new form a of slavery that exists today. Are you a slave? You might not want your ego to be bruised, so most people will blurt out a resounding NO!!!!!!!! But most of us, if we are honest, are slaves and/or have a slave mentality. This article, this series and my other articles past and future are designed to challenge you, and to make you think. Don't just dismiss the information if you don't agree. Why don't you agree with the information? Do you have relevant and contextual Bible proof to refute any of my points? Do like the Berean disciples and search the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). Don't take my word or anyone's word for anything. Be a student and not a slave. What does the Word say about a particular matter? That is your answer. That is your standard. Remember that!!!!!!!………………………..to be continued in Part 2

How the Media Thinks for You Part 4: Watching the News with an Adverbial Perspective

In English class, we learned that an adverb was the part of speech that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Many times they are words that end in (ly), for example softly, but they always answered the questions: (who? what? where? when? how? why?). For the sake of this article I will call these words, the “Adverbial Perspective” (AP). Have you ever played the game Clue? If you answer these questions (AP) you can solve and explain the mystery of the crime. Questions prompt the issuance of information, and since we don’t want to be reactive and only receive information blindly, we will take a few moments to see how these few questions could possibly change our perception and perspective about many things, as well as how we receive information. Ask these questions (AP) to find out the motive for the News that is being presented, or any presentation for that matter. Most times, the news is just entertaining you with shallow news filler stories. They keep your attention so that the networks can continue to justify charging advertisers exorbitant sums of money, because they have an audience watching their programs. Everything has a motive; don’t be afraid to question things. Question everything: the existence of God, authority, current events, and everything you see. Questioning is a form of learning. People who are offended in genuine questioning have an ulterior motive, so you must make everything transparent through your inquisitive nature. The adverbial perspective (AP) will help us do that.

We are talking about following the News media. But you will be able to take this information and these questioning strategies (AP) into your job, your church, family matters, current events, and you will be able to discern ulterior motives in every situation you face. This is practical and insightful information that can help you to better understand the world in which we live, so that you can make better decisions concerning any situation for you and your family. Remember, I am going to give you principles in the examples, so don’t miss the big picture. Follow the principle (the principle of asking the questions of the AP), and then take the principle and apply it to your world.

Who?

In the great television and book suspense stories (Whodunits), we’re always intrigued with “Who” the guilty party is. Whenever someone is involved in a situation, one of the first questions people ask is, “Who did it?” Answering the “Who” question will let you know who your friend or enemy is. “Who” are the big donors and corporations that financially support political issues, candidates and organizations that are against your beliefs? “Who” are the high priced lawyers and lobbyists that influence the politicians? “Who” are the high level executives that finance and promote negative music and television programming that is against your standards? These are your enemies. If you want to go even deeper than that (spiritually), “Who” influences them? Ask yourself the “Who” question when the news is trying to shove someone down your throat: a celebrity or an athlete who has no credibility is instantly an authority on world issues; political candidates are suddenly qualified to run cities, states and countries because they can raise a lot of money. “Who” are these people? “Who” is behind these people?

What?

This is basically an interrogative word used to find the true nature or identity of something, or the sum of its characteristics. Answer “What” and you will know “What” it is, and “What” happened. “What” is a close connection with “Why,” and it will help to make sense of the thoughts of those involved. “What” are they doing? “What” is the purpose of the media’s silence of the Bush Administration pushing the Security and Prosperity Partnership (S.P.P.), the North America version of the European Union (EU)? “What” is the purpose of it? “What” is the purpose of making a European Union, or a Pan-African Union, or an Asian Union? Ask “What” to find the true nature or identity of a person, place, or thing. Another example you may see in the news is a decrease in crime statistics. Lower crime is better, but a lot of times, the way it is reported is very misleading. Cumulative crime rates of certain types of crimes can truthfully and statistically be lowered by the increase of another crime. Do you understand? If one type of crime (murder or thefts) stays the same or increases slightly, and another type of crime (traffic violations) increases 100 fold, then in the cumulative percentage of crime, thefts and murders seem to be much less. It’s “sleight-of-hand”; don’t fall for this. Ask the question “What.”

Where?

This word determines location. If you answer the “Where” question, it may help to confirm or to refute some of the other questions, like “why” or “how.” I remember the movie a “Few Good Men” with Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise and Demi Moore. In the movie, there were two soldiers that were accused of following an unlawful order from a superior officer. The prosecutor went after one of the accused soldiers and made him (the soldier) confess that he (the soldier) didn’t actually hear the commanding officer give the unlawful order, because he (the soldier) was late arriving. This seemingly minor error in location was part of the reason the two soldiers were found guilty. Details are so important! That soldier wasn’t even “Where” the order was given. So find out the “Where” and make the picture clearer. Also, listen to your children explain how something broke or is missing in the house. If you think they are hiding something, ask them to repeat the story again. Pinpoint the location!

When?

This word determines time. Knowing “When” something happened can help you to develop a timeline. Putting events in chronological order can help one to make sense of a matter. In the movie “Premonition,” with Sandra Bullock and Nia Long, Linda (played by Bullock) created a timeline of events of things she saw. This helped her to decipher all of the things that were going on around her, and she eventually made sense of her situation. If you answer the “When” question, it may help to bring order to the circumstances that face you.

How?

This word leads us to the answer of the manner or the reasoning of the scenario and/or sequence of events. If you answer the “How” question, you will begin to make sense of the situation. The mechanics of the way things were done will become clearer. Have you ever done something or had something happen to you or around you, and you didn’t understand it? Then when you learned about the science of it, you said, “Oh now I understand.” For example, when we were children, we were so amazed that a baby could be in a mommy’s tummy. But once we got older and learned “How” the baby actually got in there, we could better appreciate love, intimacy, conception, child development and birth.

Why?

This word answers the motive question. Sometimes knowing “Why” something happened is just as important as what happened because the “Why” may help to prevent or explain a future occurrence. If you answer the “Why” question, it may help to confirm or to refute some of the other questions, like “what” or “how.” For example, let’s look at the tragedy of 9-11. We can use other examples, but for the sake of this article we’ll deal with two issues. “Why” was the steel from the demolished World Trade Center not allowed to be scrutinized by investigators before it was all quickly shipped overseas? Isn’t a crime scene supposed to be examined thoroughly before any of the contents are allowed to be removed from the scene? People who tamper with a crime scene and the evidence usually get punished severely. Am I being consistent with standard protocol? Am I a conspiracy theorist for asking a question? I’m asking, not accusing. Don’t fall into their trap to label and demonize people who question; that’s one of their tactics to neutralize independent thought. Here’s another 9-11 question: “Why” was there no airplane fuselage, seats, luggage or airplane debris at the Pentagon when they said that an airplane crashed into it? There was none of these items on the lawn and there was none inside of the building. But surveillance cameras that filmed the incident from nearby establishments were seized and never released to the public. Interesting, huh? We were told that it happened and that the plane vaporized from the heat. Isn’t that ridiculous? It sounds like a fairy tale, and we live happily ever after. (I’m digressing again.) I’m only teaching you how to question things and make sense of things. Folks, the official 9-11 story doesn’t even make natural sense. So don’t believe it or anything else these people tell you. Question everything!

I want you to question everything and you should encourage your children, friends, co-workers, fellow parishioners and family members to do the same. Katie Couric, the financial gurus on Wall Street, Barak Obama, George Bush and Hillary Clinton aren’t going to encourage you to question and to challenge them. They go to the closed circuit meetings where they answer scripted, softball questions asked by people who are (sometimes) on their staff. But now you have some short, but powerful principles in action that you can use to better understand situations that you may have previously taken for granted. Practice these principles on your job; ask your boss “Why” the company lost revenues in a certain department? “How” is this new software going to increase productivity? Ask your pastor “Where” does the Bible teach a specific doctrine that he/she espouses? I’m not trying to encourage you to be unruly. Use tact when dealing with people, but don’t be a slave that just follows orders/rules blindly. Even Jesus answered the sincere and genuine questions. Encourage your kids to ask you “Why” you discipline them. Truth always dispels a lie; and right information always dispels ignorance. Remember that! Don’t feel uncomfortable if you don’t understand or know something. Ask questions and get informed. Live well!

The Welfare Mentality

The misnomer of welfare normally brings to mind a negative connotation of some minority mother having babies and getting a check from the government. But welfare isn't a social program, it’s a mentality. “Give me, give me, let me have me” is a little phrase I learned at school in North Carolina, and it was said to people who would so-called “asked for an inch and took a mile.” In other words, you were a beggar. Well, this to some degree, is the essence of “the Welfare Mentality (WM); taking or getting something for nothing. This isn't to be mistaken for a blessing or a gift, because a gift or blessing is given from a voluntary and willing heart, and not the product of compulsion, guilt or manipulation. Some individuals, corporations and governments have a welfare mentality and this is a part of the reason why America is having so many problems today. Corporations get subsidies from taxes through government, and welfare benefits are given, not as a temporary help, but as a lifestyle income. Many times the behavior of the recipients is counter-productive. A lot of people don’t want to hear that, but it is still the truth. There is a way to distribute to people in a way that they can retain self-dignity, get the temporary help that they need, so that they can get back on their feet. The protocol is actually: family, friends, and then private sector charities like the church. Why are things seemingly going against the way they should? Is it because the Democrats are good and the Republicans are bad? It isn't because of the Democrats and the Republicans, most of them are all shills anyway, but it’s this philosophical detour away from truth, foundational principles and common sense that has caused many around the world to mock a once loved country.

The Welfare Mentality (WM) comes in many forms, and here are some (WM) shared by individuals, corporations and governments:

· They have no aspirations to achieve or do better than the status quo.

· They always blame others for their circumstances, instead of being proactive and making personal changes.

· They have little regard for other people, their property or time. Watch out for people who drop food and spill drinks in your car and act like it’s no big deal. These people also call you at all hours of the day and show up at your house like they live there.

· They always try to beat the system and take advantage of people. Look out for people who always want a “hook-up.”

· They always play on the emotions of people who have what they want or what they don’t have. If you’ve ever been out and stopped at a traffic light, you may have seen a person holding a sigh saying “I’m a Vet, feed me. God Bless You” or “Help me go to basketball camp in Jesus' name.” I’m not against helping someone who is on hard times, a lot of us have suffered and gone through lean days. But why do I always have to see God, Jesus or a Scripture associated with a person needing help? I don’t need to be manipulated into charitable giving. A lot of preachers do the same thing. They appeal to your emotions rather than just preaching the Word and letting the Holy Spirit deal with people’s hearts. That’s manipulation and control in both instances, and the anticipated end result is a feeling of guilt, and the eventual payoff. There’s nothing for free in this world folks. There is a time for charity and a time for productive work ethic.

· They always downplay productivity, creativity or innovation. These are what I call “the haters.” Supposedly these are your friends, but you don’t feel that they will support or encourage your dream by the way you see them conducting their own life, or how they bash other people’s creativity.

· They always play the role of the victim. No one owes you anything.

· They always want a handout, but never offer to earn their way. Watch out for people you go out with and they never offer to pay for you. If they treat, it’s when you go to Cici’s Pizza, but you treat when you go to Red Lobster. If that’s the best they can do, that’s fine, but don’t walk around with a new Coach pursue and tell me that you are tired of being broke. These people eat, drink and wear their money.

· They are always being negative when others want to make a positive change away from the WM and they want to remain status quo. A lot of African Americans do this when a person wants to further their education. Some of the others in the group may say that you’re “acting white” or “bougie” if you are articulate and act a bit more professional.

· They are always being kept dependant upon a source that doesn’t care about them, their self-esteem, or their best interests. Women who sleep with men who will take care of some financial needs have a WM. People who have a WM don’t call their own shots. They are always at someone’s beckoning call, while the proverbial carrot on a string is held out in front of them. Many women who behave this way have no concept of independence or self-esteem.

· They are always finding ways to get gratification, but never have anything of their own, i.e., Prodigal Son. We all know someone who doesn’t work or cant hold a job, but they are always dressing nice and looking good, with no place to stay and ½ of a car.

· They get their WM from friends and/or family members with whom they are closest. As the saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.”

· Brown nosing is a form of WM. It provides job security and allows them to suck off of the system, while wasting their time, talents and resources. Cops and other law enforcement officials who don’t know the law, but just follow orders from their superiors in blind obedience, suffer from a form of WM. They say “I’m just doing my job” and that’s a lazy excuse for not being informed and/or enforcing laws that rid our communities of true crimes, not minor infractions. If you are in any form of law enforcement, and you answer “yes” to at least one of the following, then you are definitely suffering from the WM.

1. You would take law abiding citizens guns if your superiors ordered you to do so.

2. You harass citizens for seat belt violations while crack dealers are lining the streets.

3. You would frame someone in order to keep your job.

4. You would violate a citizen’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

You are accountable for your actions to enforce the authority of the biblical civil magistrate and the original US Constitution. This mentality of “well he/she told me to do it” came from Adam, Eve and the serpent in the Garden of Eden. After Eve ate the fruit, she gave it to Adam and he ate. Then Eve blamed the serpent and Adam tried to blame Eve for why he ate the fruit. No sir/ma’am, you are accountable for your own actions! You law enforcement agents (police, military, security guards, etc.) don’t have to follow unlawful orders. The Nuremberg trials proved that. The Nazi officers who were caught after World War II tried to use that defense that they were just “following orders.” The military tribunal didn’t accept that as a rational answer and the officers were put to death or imprisoned. Remember folks, you can’t “pass the buck.” Stand on truth, reason and conviction, and act accordingly. If your superiors are ordering you to do stuff that you know is wrong, don’t just “go-along-just-to-get-along.” You should be a person of conviction, God will vindicate you.

Where did America go wrong? A lot of things were done wrong in the history of this country, but a big problem is that many things were always swept under the rug, ignored, festered and became worse. This has been going on for decades. [Author’s side note: let me preface my upcoming remarks by saying that I’m going to say something’s that you may not like, but if you read what I’m saying and think about them in context with the article, you’ll understand my point. Please do not get off-course; I’m on your team, folks. I just want to bring something’s to your attention and raise your consciousness on some issues.] We have a society that’s looking for handouts, whether they are in the form of a free lunch, more funding, job-provided benefits, 401K, retirement, health care, etc. Now I’m not saying that having these things is bad, but follow this logic. The wealthy and the elite only teach you what they want you to know. They don’t teach you what they know because that would give you an upper hand on them. Remember that! These wealthy investors take your weekly or monthly contributions into their fund and they invest it for you in vehicles to which the average person isn’t privy. They probably make 100’s of per cent per annum. But when you look at your statement, it maybe up 10%-20%. The average person is ecstatic, because it’s a lot more than the banking account yields. Well my point is that these aren’t the types of investments that the wealthy use, they have created these investments to use the average person’s money to get more wealth, and they give you a paltry user’s fee, to boot. I just want you to see the game they are playing, that’s all. I’m not suggesting that anyone liquidate their assets and invest it themselves. When you demand something of someone who doesn’t have your best interest at heart, believe me they are going to give you what you ask for, but it will always benefit them more than it benefits you. Remember that! Don't wait for people to do things for you. If you can, do some things yourself.

In government, policies such as FDR’s New Deal and LBJ’s Great Society were big “Socialist” policies that were accepted and grew with popularity in the 20th century because many people were granted entitlements (social programs). As a result of FDR’s New Deal policies, some members of the Socialist Party of America voted for the Democratic Party, in 1936. Now, that should tell you something. Later, many prominent members of the Socialist Party of America, such as: Walter Reuther, Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin, left the party with the view that they had more chance of achieving progressive reform by being active in the Democratic Party. Folks are you listening out there?! The influence of this socialist juggernaut came from Russia, Germany and other despotic leaders in world history, and we see that this has crept into American politics. Oh but don’t worry, the Republican aren’t off the hook either. You can look at the video on my site by Rep. Ron Paul, a speech called “Neo-conned” where he explains that the Neo-conservative movement was birthed from the Trotskyites (more Socialist Russian roots [Leon Trotsky]) What in the world is going on here?! How can Americans embrace the epitome of the welfare mentality by adopting socialist views or having socialists to feel comfortable joining forces with you? That's something to think about if you vote for these people. Folks, I beg you to listen to reason. These people don’t love you. They will take care of your every need if they can get you to pay for it and vote for them. The elite have their money in tax-free foundations and trusts, they don’t pay for all of this stuff; the average person does. They always shift the burden of cost to you. They raise the prices of their products and services and pass the costs onto you. I do the same thing in my profession, if there is a side cost that I need covered, I pass it on to my customer. That’s just the way it works! Stop letting these people tell you that they are here to save you. It isn't about right and left, conservative and liberal; it's about right and wrong.

Hopefully you’re starting to understand what’s going on. It’s too bad that no one gets mad and says anything. Most people are now getting excited about Hillary and Obama, like they are going to save America or something. Every time I see these people, as well as Giuliani, McCain and the rest of these individuals, I’m repulsed. I’m digressing; I apologize. Our government compulsorily takes middle class America’s money through Unconstitutional taxation, similar to that of a socialist nation (in some instances Americans pay over 50% of their income in taxes), and we pay for all of these politicians to have lavish salaries, benefits and junkets. They demand that the American citizens provide the government with an income statement and balance sheet (filing taxes), and if you don’t do so impeccably, they will throw you in jail. But does the government, balance the budget and provide the American people with an impeccable audit of the money they have taken from the American people? No. "Total undocumented accounting adjustments for reported periods for the Department of Defense [and HUD for fiscal 1998-2000] amount to a whopping $3.3 Trillion or $11,700 for every American. The Department of Defense has failed to produce independent audited financial statements since the requirement went into effect in 1995. HUD's Inspector General refused to certify HUD's fiscal 1999 financial statements." Over $3 Trillion and no one was outraged! So what happens when they aren’t forthcoming with their accountability to us? They give us a whitewashed explanation concerning a breakdown in communication or something, and they demand an investigation (that goes nowhere). Then they say that the department was under funded, and they take more tax money from the people to give to the department/agency. If they don’t take it from you on the front-end in taxes, they just sell more bonds to the Federal Reserve, make them print more money and the American people pay it back through taxation, so either way they’ve got you. This is a WM of not being accountable, and you should be outraged! You should all confront these sheep that are waving these Bush, Hillary, and Obama posters and ask them if they know that $3 Trillion of our tax dollars is missing. They probably don't. Sheep just follow, they don't think.

Finally, people need to renew their minds about productivity. Productivity and innovation, via the Industrial Revolution, is what initially elevated American to world economic power. In the 1970’s, the Japanese cars were very inexpensive and not very resourceful cars. Today, Japanese cars dominate many American roads. Why? Because they built upon previous innovations, corrected mistakes, and now they are a perennial producer of the world’s most efficient cars. They didn’t just hang their head and ask the government to subsidize a shortfall. They progressed and built on previous successes, innovated, and voila! As far as continents are concerned today, Europe (a WM continent) is a very unproductive continent compared to Asia. Europe has the 30 hour week, and 5 week vacations, and incredible benefits for its employees. But Europe, as a whole isn’t productive and can’t compete with the innovative and progressive markets of the world, unless they reform their structure. Asian countries work harder, longer and cheaper. To which region are the American corporations outsourcing jobs by the way? They are going to India, China and other Asian countries. When people of any race are coddled and treated like victims, they are instantly crippled and will remain in the dependency stage of their lives, and won’t grow. It’s like a plant that is left in the flower pot in the kitchen, when it should be uprooted and planted outside. Or it can be likened to an air conditioning unit that’s turned on while the window is left open, a waste. But you are not a waste, God has given us all dreams, desires, goals and creativity, and whether or not you use it determines your success. Any dream is attainable, if it wasn’t then God is a tease. Remember, with God all things are possible. If you dream about yourself doing something great, where did the dream come from? You can’t create a dream, you can only recall thoughts. Remember that! It must have come from God because the enemy isn’t going to show you achievement and doing positive things. Renew your mind and see a new way to achieve, grow and build. You can do it, so let’s go!

Apologetics: Why do you Believe what you Believe?

What is Apologetics? The American Heritage Dictionary says that it is “the branch of theology that is concerned with defending or proving the truth of Christian doctrines, a position or a system.” What do you believe and why do you believe it? What are your convictions? Upon what are your convictions founded? These are a few questions for all people to answer, whether you are a Christian or not. Answering these questions honestly will reveal the innermost core of your being-who you really are, and not the façade that many people portray. These questions are rhetorical; think about them, answer them to yourself, and you may learn a lot about who you are and what has influenced you negatively and positively.

Many of today’s leaders, religious and secular, get trained at very exclusive facilities whose agenda might not be what you think they are presenting. A lot of times politicians and other leaders are masters at sleight-of-hand. They are trained at captivating crowds and holding your attention through mannerisms, voice inflections and the use of “buzz words,” just to name a few things. A lot of political think tanks who may claim to have a liberal or a conservative bias actually has a socialist slant to them. They won’t tell you this because to say the word “socialist,” would immediately register thoughts in people’s minds of Nazi Germany and/or the “Communist Manifesto” by Karl Marx.

We have many societal influences that help to shape why we believe what we believe. Family, peer pressure, cultural influence, gender, geographical location, socio-economic status, position, marital status, and a host of other factors play a part in the decisions we make about our belief system. Nevertheless, we must remember that we are all individuals, with different personalities, experiences, etc. However, universal truths and laws can’t be compromised, i.e., the law of gravity, the earth spinning on its axis, or seedtime and harvest. Some things are just laws of life. But other things like professions, a mate, a healthy diet, and a place to live can be compromised to an extent and we have the ability to choose or reject these things. You believe something, whether you consciously realize it or not. Why is this important? Because “why” we believe something will determine how fervent the zeal for that thing will be; and “what” we believe will determine what we have in life. These are powerful statements! What you believe is who you are. It is the culmination and processing of all of your experiences, and the information that you have received over a period of time, whether it’s good or bad.

Your belief system is your guide, and “why” you believe in your belief system is your thrust or your gas pedal, so to speak. So forget the opinions of men; forget the traditions of men; forget about party affiliations; forget about church membership; forget about impressing the opposite sex; forget about your “so-called friends”; forget about your job; and forget about your family. In reality, God and you know what you are all about; what you don’t know about yourself, He will show you, which leaves you with no other variables to consider. We are accountable to people on this earth, i.e., relationships, jobs and other commitments. But how can you truly commit to someone or something outside of yourself if you don’t know who you are, what you believe and why you believe it? That is powerful, folks! We’ve all heard the saying, “your word is your bond.” Well your word is apart of you, rooted in you. But rooted in what? (Rhetorical question) Who are you? What is important to you? What makes you happy? Sad? Angry? What is your passion? Folks, each one of us need to answer these questions across the board. When you leave this earth, what are people going to remember about you? Sure people are going to misunderstand you, misquote you, and mistreat you. But if the true essence of who you are was to come out, what would it be and how would it affect those around you? Look at the lives of great men and women in world history: Jesus, they killed him and his legacy is stronger 2,000 years after He walked the earth. Time changed because of Him: the calendar went from B.C. to A.D. That’s powerful! Influential leaders, good and bad, have buildings, cities, foundations and organizations named after them, as well as statues made in their honor. They made a lasting impression on their sphere of influence. Whether they were right or wrong, they were persuasive and passionate and there was a conviction about the message they delivered. You might as well stand for the right thing, know it’s right, and go all out to make sure that your message is proclaimed with conviction, power, and authority. What are you believing, saying and proclaiming with your mouth and/or your actions today?

Daniel Goleman, the author of “Emotional Intelligence” (this book is on my recommended reading list on this site), he makes a relevant point pertaining to this article related to “cognitive dissonance.” Cognitive dissonance quite simply is “a condition of conflict or anxiety resulting from inconsistency between one's beliefs and one's actions, such as opposing the slaughter of animals and eating meat.” This dissonance in rap and our youth is that everyone knows that is isn’t right to do and say some of the things that are purported in the rap industry, but people support it because it’s “the in thing to do.” Remember in the second paragraph I mentioned societal influences that shape and mold our belief system? Well, that statement in conjunction with this Dr. Goleman’s quote (below) should help make a demonstrative point: “The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice there is little we can do to change until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds.” ~ Daniel Goleman in Vital Lies, Simple Truths: The Psychology of Self-Deception. In other words, our ignorance or failure to recognize things in our environment puts us in a room with a ceiling. But when we become more open to recognize what exists in our surroundings, we can start to remove that ceiling. People make excuses because they have a mindset to do so, rather than facing the problem and making the change. Rap music has become an excuse to act irresponsibly. There are alternatives though. Check out my recommended list on the site: Cross Movement, Corey Red, Precise, Rock Soul Entertainment are all very positive, gifted and anointed Hip Hop artists.

Folks, I’m challenging you to find out who you are and what you believe, because that will determine what happens to the next generation. What will be passed on to them? Look at some of the young people today. What has been passed on to them? You have to be open to truth and good information, and act upon it. Sometimes the information may not come from your preacher or your trusted source for the passed few years. Open your heart, be sincere, the truth is out there. I can tell you truth all day long. But if your heart isn’t open to receive it, or if you receive information because of who’s delivering it, it won’t be a heart-felt conviction to you. You’ll just absorb it because he/she said it, and not because this is truth and it’s going to help you. You have to know truth is truth in your heart. Do you know the truth? How do you know truth? Is what you believe truth? Have the charlatan politicians and preachers hoodwinked you? How do you know? I run into so many Christians that say concerning Bible truths, “well I think” or “well I believe.” Folks, that’s not good enough. Your thinking or your believing is in vain if it isn’t founded upon truth: Truth of Scripture, truth about how the world works, the truth about money, the truth about politics, the truth about healthcare, etc. Whatever is relevant to your world is the truth that you need to know! Be a student and a follower of truth. Don’t let someone tell you what truth is, that’s their revelation; you need a revelation. Take their information, and test it. Truth will always stand, and a lie is easy to spot, if you have truth. Read my article called “Listen to and Follow your Heart” and “How the Mass Media Thinks for You.” You won’t be led astray if you follow your heart. Now go and do the right thing!