Praise Paul, Screw Jesus

Well, it's Sunday and I've been mulling as to, "should I write this, should I not?" Well, since we're all entitled to our opinions on any subject matter, I might as well talk about an issue that many people don't think about. For any scholar in the literary field across the world, and for any practicing "minister" (which I think they need to change to servant due to the over-abundance of pimping in the American church system), Paul of Tarsus known as the probably the greatest apostle ever, wrote the majority of the New Testament. This is true. The man wrote a lot of stuff dealing with various issues. Adultery, the true characteristics/qualifications of being a leader (in any field/career in life), money (but discouraged the blasphemous notion of tithing), and the list goes on. Many preachers, especially in the Bible and in overall Christian music love quoting Paul. From Romans, Ephesians, Hebrews (especially 10:26-which by no means is about anyone going to a stupid building faithfully every week to get spoon fed "word of faith" teachings that have nothing to do with reality), Corinthians, Colossians, and Philippians (I picked these because they're the most used). Why do people always talk about the writings of Paul than the writing Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John wrote about every one's "supposed" Lord and Saviour" Jesus the Christ? Why do we hear and see people quote more about Paul than about the Christ himself? Better yet, why do people love to quote the old testament and Paul most of the time than the stories about Jesus and the other writers of the new testament? Hmmmm.... I want you people to think about this and let this lil' dude from Raleigh North Carolina "take you on a voyage." Many people who are "saved" or "go to church" regularly say they love Jesus. You see there lil' statuses on Facebook, Twitter. You see their lil' videos on YouTube giving thanks to God for all their blessings or fan favorite, "I love Jesus" quotes. You see these people in the malls, outside of Walmart (selling plates of course, well that's what they do in Central Texas) "witnessing" to people on "the God they serve." Yeah, they might use John 3 in their little witnessing (hustling) campaigns, but guess who's quoted the most, especially in the "tracks" they give to people? Paul of Tarsus; probably the less used words from the "man of Galilee." Now, here's where the heart of my opinion is expressed. I believe the reason why Paul, the old testament, and other writers are quoted more than the words of Jesus is from people using these words to solidify themselves in the eyes of men. We see with a lot of big named and local preachers. They do this to pimp the people out of knowing what "salvation" is all about. They twist and tangle these writers to control and manipulate the minds of the people; common sense and the use of comprehension be damned. They claim this is the "work of the Holy Spirit" but the last time I read, this supernatural force "opens the eyes of the blind." Yes, people talk about Jesus all the time but nobody really knows the guy. Yes, they quote stories like the Gethsemane, the trip on the lake during a tempest, spooky "revelations" of the last days, sometimes the stories of him feeding thousands of people (mostly to subvert the true principle of the story to solidify the notion of tithes/offerings), and a few other stories. But if you really ask these people about some of the most fundamental things found in "the gospels" that shaped the writings and opinions (oh yes, there are a lot of opinions in Paul's writings although he was "divinely inspired") of Paul, Peter, James, Jude, and John, these people couldn't tell you. The story Jesus told about the widow with the last mite that destroys the notion of tithes and offerings. The multiple chapter escapade found (primarily) in Matthew and Luke destroying Pharisee/Sadducee (church) leadership and "soul pimping." Or what about the teaching He alone is the Good shepherd, not these self pronounced pastors, bishops, and apostles.... What about divorce, the true nature of angels, and my favorite, how the "sinners" of the world like Lil Wayne, Lady Gaga, and Perez Hilton have a 90 to 100% chance of beating 90 to 100% self proclaimed "christians" to heaven? Paul is used as a tool to "pump up" christian ideologies. Jesus is the scapegoat to draw the people into a life filled with delusions, confusion, and lies. To correctly quote Paul, to be damned (condemned for they don't believe in Christ but men), never coming to the knowledge of the real truth (which is a exposition of John 3-how you like me now?). Before I close this blog full of "sacrilege", I'd like to mention another favorite people love to talk about, Matthew 7 and 24. These two are giving us the same principle, "know the truth and it'll set you free" (one also quoted by Mr. Farrakhan) from the current "intellectual black plague" infecting the "spiritually redeemed." As I said before, as Peter said about Paul's writings, people use them to lie to imprison the minds of men because they are "unlearned and unstable" themselves. They are, in principle, continuing the "apostolic and prophetic" left by Paul and the old testament, only using Jesus to make it "a holy work of God" (to all my history buffs, doesn't this remind you of the Catholic Church before, during, and after the dark ages?). In the meanwhile, Jesus isn't getting "the short end of the stick" but in Mr. Vincent K. McMahon's term, "getting screwed." Who else gets it? The people following these "christian movements" of lies. Thank God I'm not about of it. So, this will probably be one of the few times in my blogs I'll quote Paul but only to show Paul's true intent, which many of these people preaching, teaching, dancing, singing, and rapping don't share (of course, in my very own instigating way), knowing God for yourself:

Paul asked a question, "why are you people bickering about who or who not has the truth about God? Don't you idiot see this is causing confusion, envying, strife? Some of you are saying, I'm of Paul or this other guys. Don't see we are just men doing are part, not to have you follow us like we're gods ourselves, but to know God for yourself?" - you look it up yourself and as Jesus said, "see if you really have this eternal life you say you have?

All I'm saying is, read the writings about the accounts of Jesus than move on to Paul and the others. But I warn you, you won't be the same again because your blood will be boiling every time you people speak from a twisted form of "God."

Well my friends, if I haven't made this clear enough, I tried. Plus, I'm only one man, there are millions of people who probably have a better opinion than I do on this. Hell, probably an atheist does...only God knows. Hahaha....

Til next time, Mr. dGWo........

Why The Black Church Is Nothing But A Failure

As you can tell from the title of this post (which I've struggling whether or not to write for months now), it's aggressive. From my own vantage point, personal experiences, and hearing of others' experiences, this is the conclusion I've come up with. Of course, not every predominant black church is a failure. There are those (very) few churches that's doing what God wants them to do, feed and clothe the homeless, take care of the widows and orphans, building up people's self-esteem, giving clear instructions, helping build people's skills for the workforce and in life, addressing social issues that need to be addressed, etc. (you get my point). However, there are many black churches (as well as any perspective predominant racial church) that are doing what God hates and harbors. Collecting tithes and offerings for the sake of building more illustrious buildings, paychecks for false preachers (which tithes and offerings are there to help those who need financial support, food, etc.), holding conferences to appease the egos of self-proclaimed "prophets", weekly emotional preaching, just tooooooo-loud singing (and wasting the flock's offering to buy a new sound system every year, that's if the pastor didn't take your money first to buy that new truck), running around the church like a crazy person in a "water-house", and rolling on the floor after the preacher-man lays hands on you (looking like an idiot), etc. (you know the rest). The majority of the predominant black church is useless, irrelevant, selfish, conniving, and without integrity/honesty, similar to the NAACP (which is nothing more than a cash-cow for its employees). The last time I've seen the predominant black church in motion was watching the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s', 1960s', and 1980s' (just like the NAACP). After the rise of the "charismatic movement" in the 1980s' hit the United States (and maybe even abroad), sensationalism of "speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance", choirs (and choir battles, don't act like you don't remember), conferences, church television programming (BET, TBN, etc.), altar calls, gospel music (but dissed hip-hop due to "the devil's music theory", no wonder you've lost 3 or maybe even 4 generations of potential Christians), eloquent preaching (deep revelations, Greek, Hebrew, etc.), mega-churches, and zillions of local churches sprouted like weeds in the Spring time. This movement really reached its climax in the 1990s and in the early 2000s' but things started to unravel. Eddie Long manipulating and sleeping with teenage boys (to name a few indiscretions he's done). Clarence McClendon sleeping with women like there's no tomorrow and pimping his congregation for money. Juanita Bynum holding conferences and selling t-shirts telling "church addicts" (or institutionalized Christians), "buy my t-shirts and you'll receive a special anointing." Other big name preachers fleecing the flock with the tithes and offerings (Malachi 3 and Proverbs 3 10% theory) mis-quotes/misinterpretations as they buy more jets, build more wealth, while the people can't pay their bills or save up for their children's college fund. Gospel music becomes the clone world with just about every record sounding the same, saying nothing, and garner hits through biting from white Christian artists (but only sing the bridges instead of the verses, wow, and can't write a good song even if Stevie Wonder tried to help them). More mega-churches and pseudo ministries using the words and phrases like "Pentecostal, Apostolic, PAW, AME, COGIC, etc."to bait the fish to the hooks they're playing. Instead of spending time to reach the lost and promote justice/truth in the USA, now prayer/pastoral/department/ministerial meetings are more about making money, keeping ministries held within 4 walls, getting more anointing to bolster on Sunday, and to create ways to become better than the next church. Hell, look at the men in the African American community, we love God but hate church because there's no truth! Look at the break down of the black family, more single mothers, single women outweigh the number of men in the black church. Why is that? Unless the men are willing to turn into a religious bigot, they shun religion and stay away from church. Why is that? Why is that the youth hate church just as much if not more than the men do? Sunday and Wednesday (for some of you, everyday of the week, and why do you do this) services are nothing more than 4-6 or more hours of emotionalisms, judgment of those gossiping about, worship songs (that fuel a "supernatural high" but God isn't there at all), and false doctrines by narcissistic leaders saying whatever to keep "their people" in line. But where's the change in the black communities? Let's see here, places like Newark, B-more, Watts, Cincinnati, N.O., Killeen (which by the way has about 2 billion churches), and Chicago (the Vietnam of America). These places have high unemployment rates, murder rates, drug charges, domestic violence, high school dropouts, and gang activity (just look it up for your research, I could be wrong). My question is, where is the black church? Why aren't the majority of predominant black churches shutting down their "country club" meetings (like Tonex said) on Wednesdays and Sundays to feed the homeless, work with other ministries in their cities to mentor kids failing in schools, or advocating against sexual molestation? Why are predominant black churches be-friending those who are struggling with homosexuality, drugs, gang activity, beating on their kids/spouses, but spend more time judging them? Why are predominant black churches defaming people who are openly expressing concerns about their operations that are to many business analysts/professors, unethical and obviously morally wrong (in whatever spectrum you can think of)? Why are predominant black churches more concerned about themselves, their mission, their vision, their ministries, than the people they are suppose to reach with love then truth? I'll tell you why....as Jesus said, "their real father is the devil and the truth's not in them." Me, I'm no longer affiliated with the black church and as a former elder, co-conspirator, and enabler of this "wicked entertainment" called black church (and some of you white, etc. churches, too, I haven't forgotten you), I can say with full confidence. If God was in your churches, you would be making a difference, "showing compassion and pulling people out of various fires" they don't see. You'd be using your air time on BET and Oxygen to show what Christians were informed to do in the world instead of singing for a contract (that's worse than one will get the secular industry), and showing lavish lifestyles of pimps. But you are nothing but a weak, powerless, hypocritical, charismatic, delusional, greedy, selfish, manipulative, predatory, ungodly, "illuminati-like", new world order-like system that Christ hates to the uttermost (as well myself and the rest of the world that knows about you). Just as the NAACP, you are worthless and as Christ said, "when salt has lost its seasoning, its' good for nothing, and men walk all over it." Ya heard?! Some of you may ask, "David, why don't you do something about?" Well, my friends, I am, it's called #1. in the Scientific Method, "Identify The Problem." Without identifying the problem, there is no way to create a solution. Another solution, it's time to go back and really look at Jesus' life, stop with all the 3rd heaven revelational bull---- and get the principles, which the "secular world" is more successful in doing than the predominant church (except pimpin' of course, haha). It's time for humility. Time for truth. Most importantly, sit your "righteous-selves" down and learn the incredible gifts of reason, mindfulness, and common sense (hello, somebody). If I've ruffled your feathers, good. If I've came off angry, good. If I've pissed you off, that's great (that's what us Williams-Overtons-Royals do, baby!). Well, I think I'm done now. I hope these words hits just one person and when the truth hits one, the truth will spread and snatch people out of the "fantasy world" that exists in the predominant black church. To the black church, you're nothing but an epic failure. In the military, we used to say a "SNA-U." Look at the world around you, look at the local community you're supposed to reach but not reaching at all,  and look at what's happening within your own churches (rape, financial impropriety, lies, affairs, etc.). It's the truth. It's time to admit it.

Til next time, "Disco-Disaster" Dave (with the disco ball spinning around my head like a halo)....

The Risk Takers

Today, I wasn't going to do a blog today but my boss was spitting some knowledge on to me today. She said this,
"I love humanity in this world because there is so much diversity among us. We have two types of people I see, the risk takers and the cautious ones. The risk takers are those who push pass their fears and venture out. They are ready for the journey before them and are the trendsetters. The cautious ones are those who don't like situations being out of their control. They are planners and think first before they act."

Usually, I'm always talking about us humans being cautious but today, this blog is about us taking risks. Risk takers are those who take chances to become successful no matter what the cost may be. They ride on the hills of hope and faith, not in themselves or their own abilities, but in the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. They allow the hand of God to pull them to fresh and new dimensions and will give up whatever and whoever to achieve this plateau. Risk takers go down in history as people who change the very course of mankind. There are many risk takers today but very few who are taking risks in the name of Jesus Christ. Even Himself was a risk taker and did all the Father had put in His heart to do. He was determined, motivated, and only had desire to see His Father's will accomplished (John 4:34). However, most of us aren't there yet. We're very reserved and worry about what other people will think of us once we step out on the boat. To become successful in this life, we're going to have to be like Peter and we will fall at times, but Jesus is right there to pick us back up. The beautiful thing about taking risks is that it pulls us out of our comfort zone. We learn not to be satisfied with the condiments of complacency and normalcy. We get tired of the same ole same searching the very heart and mind of God for what's new on His horizon. This is the beautiful thing about the Lord and what separates Him from every one and everything else. He pushes us to go forward and not backwards; to do great exploits that will honor Him as well as accomplish His perfect will in our lives. When we purpose in our hearts to become risk takers, we won't half step but we will give it all we've got. Paul is probably one of the most exhilarating men in world history. No matter what he faced or what challenges came his way, he take risks. When people said he would be chained and even die for what he purposed in his heart to do, he just said bring it on. This is the beautiful thing about being a risk taker. Risk takers go all the way in. They place their lives in God's hands and go for the gold. Even if they don't accomplish what they seek after, they have made the path straight for those after them to walk in the path and do what they couldn't (Moses to Joshua). As risk taker, we have to be wise in every decision we make but we don't let the fear of tomorrow nor the regrets of our past hold us down. Oh no, we've got to keep moving (sorry, I'm an 80's baby!). I hope these words of our good friend Paul stirs something within us to what God has called us to do:

Philippians 3:14:

I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

No turning back my friends, it's time for us to move forward.

Til Next Time, dgwo

References:

2nd Samuel 7:3
John 4:34
Philippians 3:14

You Got To Hear It Before You Can See It

I woke up this morning with the word sound in my head. For the past couple of days, I've heard this word taught, I've read this word in my study time, and then I experienced it again. This morning, I was reading about a time when Israel was going through a bad famine. Ahab, the king of Israel at the time was trying to find a way to get water and other necessities to survive. Three and some change years ago, Elijah had prayed for the rain to cease because of Ahab's evil ways; causing the whole nation to disobey God. Fast forward, Elijah heard a sound and it was the abundance of rain coming to nourish the ground. Then I was reading about Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus about being born again. He told Nicodemus that the Spirit of God is like a wind he hears but can't tell where it comes from; so is everyone born again of the Spirit. My friends, we're living in a time of great dearth throughout the nations of the world. Financial crises, droughts, famines, unemployment, divorces, government shutdowns, and lack of quality education. But in times of great depression, recession, regression, and oppression, around the corner is a blessing. Now, David, how can you say that? To be honest, my friends, I have no clue. Right now, I'm experiencing famines in my life and fight everyday to renew my hope in God. But lately, I've been hearing a sound. This sound has been the voice of God telling me every thing's going to be alright. A lot of us, including myself, are like Thomas. He had to see and feel Jesus to know He had arose from the grave. But God is looking for a people of faith who will believe Him when He speaks. I truly believe that God is speaking expressly (openly) at all times but are we willing to hear and receive His words? In the midst of famines, questions, and doubts, God is always speaking of solutions that will make life more meaningful. Right now, we're not in a comfortable situation; sort of like the 4th quarter in the final 5 minutes of the game and we're down 10 points. But we have to slow down and when we hear that sound, we better stay put and listen. We have to be perfectly positioned to clearly hear the voice of God. We have to be set in place. The reason why Elijah and Nicodemus received what they received is because their ears were open. They let go of the pride and the trends of their times. There are so many trends and movements going on in America and many of us are off course in our lives. The only way we're going to get back on track is hearing the voice of God. So many of you are asking, how do I know it's God's voice? What will it sound like? To our own understanding, we won't understand it. This is why Solomon admonishes us to trust God with our whole heart, lean not to our own understanding, but in all our ways acknowledge and He'll direct our goings (Proverbs 3:5-7). We will know it's God because it'll sound out of line of what we're used to. When Sarah heard she would have a kid in her 90s, she laughed at him. When Jesus told Peter to cast his net on the other side, Peter looked at Him crazy. When Balaam was about to do something crazy, God spoke through a donkey to stop him. His voice is sweet, sort of similar to ours, and speaks nothing but the truth. We'll know it because deep inside, we'll try to ignore us when He's telling us we need to straighten up. Many times, He tell us things are being worked out when our present situation is getting more jacked up. But that's how He works. He set order when the world and the people in it was wilding out during the beginning stages of creation. His voice gives us specific instructions and directions to follow. Once we learn to obey it, dudes and dudettes, we'll on the fast track to success. Like my aunt told me years ago, the more we obey, the more we'll recognize His voice. Before we can see signs of success and pitfalls waiting to bring us down, we've got to hear God's voice. The voice of the other(s) that won't tell us truth we'll set us up for failure every time. Now, I'm saying all this because I'm perfect or reached a level of pure perfection. I'm still learning to get this sound thing myself. But I just wanted to share with everybody what I experienced today. Not a million dollars, not a new job, just  a new understanding of how this thing called life works. So this weekend, find you a good church with good teaching that won't tell you what you want to hear but what you need to hear even if it hurts. If you do belong somewhere but ain't been awhile, and it's a good church, you need to go back there because God is definitely got great things in store for His people. If you belong to a church that doesn't present the truth the way Jesus intends it to be, throw the deuces and allow God to lead you to a place that will teach the truth. To those who may not be in the faith but you've been hearing signs from different people from places and venues, God is calling you for a specific purpose. You'll never know what it is until you allow yourself to hear what He's saying. I know this for myself and keep my mind there so I don't get above myself. Don't listen to these other sounds found in the media and bad company, which calls evil good and good evil. Listen to the voice of God, which makes us wise to what's good and simple to what's evil (Romans 16:19). In the words of a reputed murderer turned expositor:

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." - Romans 10:17


To all of us, understand God is always saying something, we just need to have an ear; open ear. The truth hurts but it heals, saves, delivers, directs, instructs, reassures, and blesses us tremendously. Then we believe what we hear, in due time, we're going to see it. We've got to walk by faith and not by sight.

Til next time, dgwo.

References:

1st Kings 18
John 3:7-8
Habakkuk 3:1-4

Laughter Is Good For The Soul

It's the last day of July, the second hottest month of the year. Thank God it's about over. This was a pretty difficult month but one thing I can say is that last night, I laughed like the jokers used to laugh on Def Comedy Jam (when Martin Lawrence was the host, no offense to Joe Torry). The brothers got together last night to help one of the couples at our church move to their new "mansion." We were bagging on each other the whole night. I was clowning Mr. Rowland because he let his wife Mrs. Rowland pack all the boxes except one I helped him pack. My other friend Mr. Williams was clowning Mr. Rowland for carrying a light box full of tissues like it was heavy. Mr. McCallum was clowning me for how I can't sing when really he's worse than I am (I'm just saying). Mr. Williams was clowning Mrs. Rowland's brother Mr. Baptiste because everyone else was loading the truck while he was stuck in happy land looking at photos he hasn't seen in years. Dude, we clowned on each other for like 3 straight hours. It was a good night. While I was driving home, I was thinking the wonderful gift of laughter. We take this gift of God for granted. Solomon said in Proverbs 17:22 that a merry heart (that includes laughter) is like a good medicine. Laughter relieves stress. It helps us let go the cares and problems of the day. It helps us forget our worries of future events. The tension that's in our bodies is gone and we feel lighter than we did before. My beautiful wife Dionn is always showing me these videos by the Playmakers (http://www.youtube.com/user/thePlaymakers1), Phil Wade (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hFoTamYzuY), and Sweet Brown videos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udS-OcNtSWo). Man, I just cry up a storm because those videos are so funny. Sometimes, I get so frustrated and stressed about certain things in my life, I don't enjoy it. Then, something funny happens and I just laugh. I laugh my little heart. Those tears of pain become tears of joy when I laugh. It's such a good release for the body, soul, and spirit. Research shows that it provides us three benefits (materials from HelpGuide.org):

1.Physical benefits: relaxes muscles, boosts immunity, decreases pain
2. Mental benefits: relieves stress, improves mood, eases anxiety and fear
3. Social benefits: improves relationships, enhances teamwork, helps diffuse conflicts


The spiritual benefits are the following:
1. trusting God in tight situations and believing He will help us in times of need
2. releases the burdens of oppression, frustration, bitterness, and stress
3. helps us appreciate God, friends, family, and even our enemies


I experienced all this last night and of course when I'm chilling at the house with my cupcake, Dionn. Most of us think that God is always serious. Yes, He can be but He has a crazy sense of humor. The next time you're going through something or notice something strange (that's funny of course), you'll see that's an indicator of His great humor. Sarah knew about it when He said she would have a child when she was passed 90 something years old. David wrote about it because he had to laugh so many times when he went through. Shoot, the Bible says God rejoices over His people when their ways please Him (Isaiah 62:5). You want to know what that includes? Laughter. We make God laugh all the time. Like the old saying goes, "you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans." He's probably falling over His throne 24/7 days in the week at us crazy jokers. My friends, preachers, lawyers, doctors, atheists, politicians, law enforcers, kids, parents, husbands, and wives, you better learn how to laugh. It's God's gift to us, a stress relieving, burden lifting experience given to mankind in the midst of his most arduous labor called life. Plus for some of us who are so knowledgeable, educated, and spiritual, we need to learn how to loosen up. Dude, chick, relax. Chill. Take a breather. "Saddown (Madea voice)." Some of us are just too serious. We need to loosen up and enjoy life through the gift of laughter.  Aiight?! Go on YouTube (JackValeFilms my favorite), go to the movies, talk with your friends and family about events of funny moments. Shoot, go to Walmart, you'll always see interesting things and people there that'll make you laugh. You'll feel better and life in general will get better. And this will make God laugh because we've learned to rightly use this wonderful gift.

Til next time, dgwo.

P.S. - To Mr. Carl Rowland - I told you I was going to get you back. :)

Reference:

-Proverbs 17:22
-HelpGuide.org - http://www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm