"In those days I saw in Judah people treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys; and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I warned them at that time against selling food... 'What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the sabbath day? Did not your ancestors act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath.'" ~ Nehemiah 13:15-18
Their ancestors did not receive judgment because they sold grapes on Saturday. This is why the way must be made straight, the path must be made clear. This was written by Nehemiah POST-wrath, and the people still did not understand God, they still don't.
They received wrath because things like this made perfect sense to them; these types of things were OK to canonize and present to God:
"Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness so that they lacked nothing; their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. And you gave them kingdoms and peoples, and allotted to them every corner, so they took possession of the land of King Sihon of Heshbon and the land of King Og of Bashan. You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land that you had told their ancestors to enter and possess. So the descendants went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings and the peoples of the land, to do with them as they pleased. And they captured fortress cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses filled with all sorts of goods, hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive orchards, and fruit trees in abundance; so they ate, and were filled and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness." ~ Nehemiah 9:21-25
The Garden of God is for children and only children. The path is guarded by simplicity, the way is founded on decency. To stray is to go the way of death.
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Dream of Black Youth - December 12th
I woke up earlier from this strange dream - I don't have dreams like this. I was walking toward a large wooden bridge that crossed a lake or river. There were black youth all around - everyone was probably 18 years and older, like at a university.
Everyone in the dream was a young black person. As I began to cross the bridge I heard a few people crying. There were some youth standing and talking at the entrance of the bridge as well as some on the bridge. Others were walking.
As I began walking on the bridge, I noticed some black youth swimming in the water and there were floating corpses of black youth. The living were helping the dead bodies get to the other side - I walked in one direction, they were swimming in the other.
There was a constant alarm horn sound in the air, like a sound of mourning. As I approached the exit of the bridge, I saw a large hill leading down to the water. The hill was completely covered in dead bodies of black youth.
There were other living people on top of the hill piling bodies on top so that they'd slide or roll down into the water. In the water there were living people grabbing the bodies to get them across the water. Then I woke up.
This was disturbing. And if it hadn't been so awfully strange, I wouldn't have posted it.
=======================================
Tweet from today (12/12/2019):
I didn't think the dream belonged here [Twitter], so I removed it from my twitter feed and posted it to my website. A dream is just a dream. If not, and if I have additional context, I may add it at a later time. (I am going to look into it and also see if there is any counsel from above.)
=======================================
12/14/2019:
Thinking about the dream. There was no sense of panic or urgency, whatever happened had already happened. The bridge itself was large and sturdy; it reminds me of a boardwalk.
I thought I'd check to see if the landscape/topography of any HBCUs matched the landscape in the dream. I didn't realize how many HBCU's there are (there are over 100+). I started with the 'A's and went to each school's website to see if they had a campus map. If they didn't, I went to Youtube to look at campus tours to see if anyone filmed the school's surrounding areas. This took a long time. But then I had a "duh" moment and began using Google maps. Much faster - but was still repetitive dull work (from Alabama A&M to Xavier). I went through each school and saw no landscape that matched what was in my dream.
So maybe the dream was just a dream - or maybe it has nothing to do with a HBCU. I won't ponder beyond this.
Everyone in the dream was a young black person. As I began to cross the bridge I heard a few people crying. There were some youth standing and talking at the entrance of the bridge as well as some on the bridge. Others were walking.
As I began walking on the bridge, I noticed some black youth swimming in the water and there were floating corpses of black youth. The living were helping the dead bodies get to the other side - I walked in one direction, they were swimming in the other.
There was a constant alarm horn sound in the air, like a sound of mourning. As I approached the exit of the bridge, I saw a large hill leading down to the water. The hill was completely covered in dead bodies of black youth.
There were other living people on top of the hill piling bodies on top so that they'd slide or roll down into the water. In the water there were living people grabbing the bodies to get them across the water. Then I woke up.
This was disturbing. And if it hadn't been so awfully strange, I wouldn't have posted it.
=======================================
Tweet from today (12/12/2019):
I didn't think the dream belonged here [Twitter], so I removed it from my twitter feed and posted it to my website. A dream is just a dream. If not, and if I have additional context, I may add it at a later time. (I am going to look into it and also see if there is any counsel from above.)
=======================================
12/14/2019:
Thinking about the dream. There was no sense of panic or urgency, whatever happened had already happened. The bridge itself was large and sturdy; it reminds me of a boardwalk.
I thought I'd check to see if the landscape/topography of any HBCUs matched the landscape in the dream. I didn't realize how many HBCU's there are (there are over 100+). I started with the 'A's and went to each school's website to see if they had a campus map. If they didn't, I went to Youtube to look at campus tours to see if anyone filmed the school's surrounding areas. This took a long time. But then I had a "duh" moment and began using Google maps. Much faster - but was still repetitive dull work (from Alabama A&M to Xavier). I went through each school and saw no landscape that matched what was in my dream.
So maybe the dream was just a dream - or maybe it has nothing to do with a HBCU. I won't ponder beyond this.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Tweets - December 3rd - Wanting Patience
The second I woke up this morning I was in thoughts. I'm thinking that when God gives me the key and the authority to unlock, I'll go to black gay folk, back to where I began. I imagine it's where I'd be most comfortable.
I chuckled this morning thinking about the world being patient with God. It's hard to imagine. Waiting for God was not something I immediately overcame, but it is required. (I'm looking forward, and not downward to what has been standard of this world.)
I wrote the following poem in March 2006 because, it seems, I was hungry and I felt that God was feeding me teaspoons of food and taking too long to do everything (though I could perceive that God wanted patience).
I approached my Mother naked,
Shivering I cried to Her.
I shouted, “I am cold and the serpent is laughing at me”.
I then asked Her for clothing to keep me warm.
But the serpent threw garments of skin at me feet.
She approached me with a fierce eye,
She said to me, “In Me you were warm.”
“When I bore you, you were in complete comfort.”
“When you were with Me, you lacked nothing.”
I said to Her, “What does that matter now?”
“I ask you for things, and I don’t receive them.”
“I try to figure you out, but you won’t let me.”
“I desire understanding, but you demand patience.”
I said to Her, “I complain because I am naked.”
She said to me, “Who told you that you were naked?”
So I turned and stretched out my hand and pointed to the serpent,
The serpent that gave fruit that bore 6 billion people,
Fruit that bore 5,000 people,
And fruit that bore 10 people.
She said to me, “That fruit won’t satisfy your hunger.”
“That serpent is too dumb to determine the clothed from the naked.”
“Why ask me for things, I know what you want and need.”
“If you want to figure Me out, then answer this:
“Why would I give My child two toys that are the same?”
She said to me, “Understand that a patient person is ruled by no one.”
I said to Her, “Mother, I think I understand now.”
She said to Me, “Realize who you are and where you come from.”
Then I danced on the clothes the serpent threw at me.
I kicked dirt in his eye.
With final words, She spoke to me,
“When you fully realize that I made you as I want you, you will have your rest.”
I chuckled this morning thinking about the world being patient with God. It's hard to imagine. Waiting for God was not something I immediately overcame, but it is required. (I'm looking forward, and not downward to what has been standard of this world.)
I wrote the following poem in March 2006 because, it seems, I was hungry and I felt that God was feeding me teaspoons of food and taking too long to do everything (though I could perceive that God wanted patience).
I approached my Mother naked,
Shivering I cried to Her.
I shouted, “I am cold and the serpent is laughing at me”.
I then asked Her for clothing to keep me warm.
But the serpent threw garments of skin at me feet.
She approached me with a fierce eye,
She said to me, “In Me you were warm.”
“When I bore you, you were in complete comfort.”
“When you were with Me, you lacked nothing.”
I said to Her, “What does that matter now?”
“I ask you for things, and I don’t receive them.”
“I try to figure you out, but you won’t let me.”
“I desire understanding, but you demand patience.”
I said to Her, “I complain because I am naked.”
She said to me, “Who told you that you were naked?”
So I turned and stretched out my hand and pointed to the serpent,
The serpent that gave fruit that bore 6 billion people,
Fruit that bore 5,000 people,
And fruit that bore 10 people.
She said to me, “That fruit won’t satisfy your hunger.”
“That serpent is too dumb to determine the clothed from the naked.”
“Why ask me for things, I know what you want and need.”
“If you want to figure Me out, then answer this:
“Why would I give My child two toys that are the same?”
She said to me, “Understand that a patient person is ruled by no one.”
I said to Her, “Mother, I think I understand now.”
She said to Me, “Realize who you are and where you come from.”
Then I danced on the clothes the serpent threw at me.
I kicked dirt in his eye.
With final words, She spoke to me,
“When you fully realize that I made you as I want you, you will have your rest.”
In those days, writing like this was how I coped with all that was happening with me. I couldn't easily express those experiences to myself (and certainly not to others). I hadn't yet seen the messengers or knew of eternal life; I was being introduced to Life and the Living God.
The liberty and mercy that God gives me is the liberty and mercy that God requires from me. The patience that God has given me is the patience that God requires of me. Treating others in the ways I want others to treat me is a lesson learned by watching God interact with me.
I did not choose my life, it was chosen for me. Though I am at liberty, I can't help but walk after God. I would have it no other way. God is making me into a mirror, and God is my Light. I do not long for the goodness of God; this I have never had to wait for.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Tweets - November 27th - Pursuit of truth
I make for a poor philosopher, so I don't even try. There are 3 things within me that guide me: be honest with myself (about my feelings, my actions, about what I see in the world, etc.); treat others in the ways I'd want them to treat me; and walk by faith. These are mutually inclusive, and not exclusive - one does not supersede any other. These are my worth, they are the only gold I own.
So when I find myself stirring up my feelings because of some debatable issue, after some time, I take a step back and understand that I don't see clearly and I don't have all the information; if I did see clearly and have all the information, there would be nothing to debate. I could present my case, and the data (which includes its context) would speak for itself. If my case cannot speak for itself, then what exactly am I doing? What value am I truly bringing? I'd be like a wise preacher convincing well-off well-meaning people to drink poisoned kool-aid because of some feeling that we all felt to be honorable and true, which is often enough in this world to justify every horrible thing.
Does this mean that if I am willing to present my case that I certainly have all the information? Of course not. Others may have even more information, and our combined data paints a more clear picture. But our combined information is far more valuable than well-constructed philosophical teachings or years of opinionated arguments, debates, or encouraged guilt trips.
So then, by me taking a step back, and asking myself, "What do I know so far? Am I being fair and is there any miscommunication?", I am allowing myself to be honest with myself and I am treating others in ways I'd want them to treat me. Assuming I'm not dealing with a sociopath, we will now be able to move forward together, or I have to take a step back by myself - either works just fine in our pursuit.
So when I find myself stirring up my feelings because of some debatable issue, after some time, I take a step back and understand that I don't see clearly and I don't have all the information; if I did see clearly and have all the information, there would be nothing to debate. I could present my case, and the data (which includes its context) would speak for itself. If my case cannot speak for itself, then what exactly am I doing? What value am I truly bringing? I'd be like a wise preacher convincing well-off well-meaning people to drink poisoned kool-aid because of some feeling that we all felt to be honorable and true, which is often enough in this world to justify every horrible thing.
Does this mean that if I am willing to present my case that I certainly have all the information? Of course not. Others may have even more information, and our combined data paints a more clear picture. But our combined information is far more valuable than well-constructed philosophical teachings or years of opinionated arguments, debates, or encouraged guilt trips.
So then, by me taking a step back, and asking myself, "What do I know so far? Am I being fair and is there any miscommunication?", I am allowing myself to be honest with myself and I am treating others in ways I'd want them to treat me. Assuming I'm not dealing with a sociopath, we will now be able to move forward together, or I have to take a step back by myself - either works just fine in our pursuit.
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Tweets - November 17th - Paul had understanding
Paul had understanding of God.
"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.'
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that God may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God." ~ 1 Corinthians 1:18-29
Unlike later Christians, Paul believed in and trusted the salvation of Yeshua (Christ) from death; it was his message. Like later Christians, Paul often condemned the humanity of people (for instance, he was very pro-sexual repression, as you know); it was also his message.
Though Paul was a prophet (unlike any other Pharisee ever), God was not going to save someone like him from death as this would have boasted in Paul's bad behavior.
Paul took offense with God's creation - and God created a free on-set live porn studio called "Earth" where everyone was welcome. What Paul left in his wake were churches that would also take offense and become the churches of today; churches that God refuses to help or support.
Endless apologetics, endless debates - a single "Yea" or "Nay" from God would put an end to them all - but no, not ever, not a single word or ounce of support from God. You're on your own; this is even made plain to atheists.
"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.'
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that God may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God." ~ 1 Corinthians 1:18-29
Unlike later Christians, Paul believed in and trusted the salvation of Yeshua (Christ) from death; it was his message. Like later Christians, Paul often condemned the humanity of people (for instance, he was very pro-sexual repression, as you know); it was also his message.
Though Paul was a prophet (unlike any other Pharisee ever), God was not going to save someone like him from death as this would have boasted in Paul's bad behavior.
Paul took offense with God's creation - and God created a free on-set live porn studio called "Earth" where everyone was welcome. What Paul left in his wake were churches that would also take offense and become the churches of today; churches that God refuses to help or support.
Endless apologetics, endless debates - a single "Yea" or "Nay" from God would put an end to them all - but no, not ever, not a single word or ounce of support from God. You're on your own; this is even made plain to atheists.
Monday, November 11, 2019
Tweets - November 11th - Pierced Ahead
When it comes to walking with God, everything is progressive, always progressive; nothing is ever forced or rushed.
This Faith, this life of mine that belongs to God, entrusting my flesh to God, considering "worry" and "doubt" worthless things; this Faith has stirred something up in me these last few weeks.
I went outside to have some dialogue with Christ tonight, and before I could say a word, these 4 spacecrafts flew together across the sky (over Laurel, MD). One after another.
The second was close to the first, the third about twice as far back, and the fourth as equally as far back from the third as the third was from the second. There was a thin light that went through all 4 of them and pierced ahead. I've never seen a formation like it.
Update - 11/12/2019
The peculiarity of the event made me check to see if others near me saw the same event. After a bit of googling and twitter searching, I have doubts that these things were spacecrafts. My searches led me to the StarLink cluster of satellites by SpaceX. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink_(satellite_constellation)
This was the view from LA yesterday, not sure if they traveled eastward - but maybe so (I only saw 4, and the thin light may have been smaller satellite clusters): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqACWozdHsA
I sure hope these things don't clutter up the sky.
What's interesting is that I was there at just the right time to see them. I had never even heard of StarLink before this (today). Yesterday, I knew that I wanted to go outside and speak to God and Christ.
So I looked at the weather app on my phone to see how cold it was going to get, and I noticed that it was going to get cloudy soon. So I got up, put on my slippers and jacket and went outside. I opened my folding chair and sat down, then I saw the 4 satellites.
They flew fast, and if I would have come outside just a minute later, I would have missed them.
This Faith, this life of mine that belongs to God, entrusting my flesh to God, considering "worry" and "doubt" worthless things; this Faith has stirred something up in me these last few weeks.
I went outside to have some dialogue with Christ tonight, and before I could say a word, these 4 spacecrafts flew together across the sky (over Laurel, MD). One after another.
The second was close to the first, the third about twice as far back, and the fourth as equally as far back from the third as the third was from the second. There was a thin light that went through all 4 of them and pierced ahead. I've never seen a formation like it.
Update - 11/12/2019
The peculiarity of the event made me check to see if others near me saw the same event. After a bit of googling and twitter searching, I have doubts that these things were spacecrafts. My searches led me to the StarLink cluster of satellites by SpaceX. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink_(satellite_constellation)
This was the view from LA yesterday, not sure if they traveled eastward - but maybe so (I only saw 4, and the thin light may have been smaller satellite clusters): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqACWozdHsA
I sure hope these things don't clutter up the sky.
What's interesting is that I was there at just the right time to see them. I had never even heard of StarLink before this (today). Yesterday, I knew that I wanted to go outside and speak to God and Christ.
So I looked at the weather app on my phone to see how cold it was going to get, and I noticed that it was going to get cloudy soon. So I got up, put on my slippers and jacket and went outside. I opened my folding chair and sat down, then I saw the 4 satellites.
They flew fast, and if I would have come outside just a minute later, I would have missed them.
Old garments and wineskins
Mark 2:21-22 ~ "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results. No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins."
This was Christ's way of explaining how revolutions should proceed, giving his disciples and listeners the information that revolutionaries should have. In summary, "You should not change this system; fixing its holes will only causes further issues. This system must be created anew." This is how revolutionary the Church once was - a very long time ago. This is why the Jews and Romans hung Christ up on a cross, and not because of the weird excuse of him calling himself "God" and the "son of God". The Jews were well aware of what Christ was doing and what he was teaching, and it's why he taught people in parables. If he hadn't, he would have died much sooner than he had.
Fortunately, unlike any other revolutionary, Christ belonged to God and Christ's flesh was God's glory, so there was just no way God was allowing death to keep him.
The author of the gospel of Mark typically wrapped stories around Christ's teachings; Matthew and Luke copied Mark in this regard, but "fixed" the stories. The author(s) of Luke was not a fan of revolutionary Christ (as it seems), and changed things for his own whitewashed agenda: "No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, 'The old is good enough.'" ~ Luke 5:36-39.
This is blatantly insulting.
The Church had changed into something unfamiliar. They had become faithless fearful people, and very prone to judgment (thanks much to the teachings of Paul). They had accepted the new gospel of death, heaven and hell; where salvation is for the dead and not the living; where the understanding and tangible compassion of God is for later and not now. They had become godless while holding on to a few teachings of Christ, not understanding them or him.
========================================================
It's not the only reason he taught people in parables. Going around openly speaking about eternal life, eternal life, eternal life would have gotten him tossed in whatever version of a psych ward they had. So he taught with parables.
This of course makes no sense if "eternal life" is the same as "dying and going to heaven" - which was nothing different, more of the same, just a different God. Eternal life is eternal life - Christ is experiencing it to this day as we speak; he knew exactly what he meant.
This was Christ's way of explaining how revolutions should proceed, giving his disciples and listeners the information that revolutionaries should have. In summary, "You should not change this system; fixing its holes will only causes further issues. This system must be created anew." This is how revolutionary the Church once was - a very long time ago. This is why the Jews and Romans hung Christ up on a cross, and not because of the weird excuse of him calling himself "God" and the "son of God". The Jews were well aware of what Christ was doing and what he was teaching, and it's why he taught people in parables. If he hadn't, he would have died much sooner than he had.
Fortunately, unlike any other revolutionary, Christ belonged to God and Christ's flesh was God's glory, so there was just no way God was allowing death to keep him.
The author of the gospel of Mark typically wrapped stories around Christ's teachings; Matthew and Luke copied Mark in this regard, but "fixed" the stories. The author(s) of Luke was not a fan of revolutionary Christ (as it seems), and changed things for his own whitewashed agenda: "No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, 'The old is good enough.'" ~ Luke 5:36-39.
This is blatantly insulting.
The Church had changed into something unfamiliar. They had become faithless fearful people, and very prone to judgment (thanks much to the teachings of Paul). They had accepted the new gospel of death, heaven and hell; where salvation is for the dead and not the living; where the understanding and tangible compassion of God is for later and not now. They had become godless while holding on to a few teachings of Christ, not understanding them or him.
========================================================
It's not the only reason he taught people in parables. Going around openly speaking about eternal life, eternal life, eternal life would have gotten him tossed in whatever version of a psych ward they had. So he taught with parables.
This of course makes no sense if "eternal life" is the same as "dying and going to heaven" - which was nothing different, more of the same, just a different God. Eternal life is eternal life - Christ is experiencing it to this day as we speak; he knew exactly what he meant.
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