Happy Thanksgiving

There’s a show that comes on Lifetime that I enjoy watching, called “7 Days of Sex.” Each episode features two couples who are having issues in their relationship. The aim of the “experiment” is to engage in seven days of sex, in hopes that it helps rekindle the fire that once was, in their marriage. On the last day, they usually have a recommitment ceremony.

Last night while watching the show, I started to think about how often couples allow life to get in the way of their relationship, and instead of trying to work it out they let it go. Then I realized how fortunate I am, to have some strong couples around me. Even if they had some struggling times, they saw the bigger picture and weathered the storm. Maybe they even tried experiments of their own over the years, to keep the home happy.

On this Thanksgiving Day, I send a special shout out to the most amazing, sometimes weird, other times I don’t know how they’ve dealt with each other for so many years, God-fearing couple I know… my parents. Happy 31^st Anniversary!!

As you go through this day, remember to embrace the small stuff and be thankful for all. From my household to yours – HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

TGIF

I'm on my way to work, listening to music and cruising along. As I enter the exit/entrance ramp from one highway to the next, I see this small furry creature dash from behind the bushes and scurry across the road. I quickly tap my brakes, yelling at Mr. Squirrel for not having any respect for his life and crossing without first looking. (I know, that's real passion for a squirrel. But having run over a chipmunk earlier this year for reckless crossing, I get very emotional with them.) Anyhow, he made it safely across and I made it to work. 

Just like this squirrel, I'm sure we all had an experience this week we thought would end badly. Or maybe we just stepped out and had no idea what was waiting for us, but thankfully we made it through. As we get ready to wrap up this work week, let's celebrate with Mr. Squirrel, for making it safely through.

Do You

One day back in September, I was out in Queens volunteering at a church activity. While on a quick break to the bathroom, someone stopped me and said, "You work like I man. Don't you want to have children one day?" Puzzled and shocked by the statement that was thrown at me, I just shrugged my shoulders and responded, "I don't know."

After returning from the bathroom, what the person said started to sink in. I must admit that I was a bit upset by the statement, but more so confused as to how helping equated to "man's work" and would result in me not having children. My purpose at the activity was to help out wherever I was needed. If people were already giving out t-shirts, but there were juice boxes to be unloaded, I went to help unload the juice boxes. This meant that work was getting done, and Iwas happy with my contribution.

My message to you this morning is, "Do You."

Once you are happy with what it is that you are doing, don't worry about others. There will always be individuals who never learned to keep their mouths shut and feel it necessary to verbalize their every thought. Forgive them, their filter is broken. You are your best cheerleader, so don't worry about the haters. Just because you aren't doing something as they think you should, doesn't mean you are doing anything wrong. Do you. After all, you have to deal with your conscience, not them.

Entertaining God's Opponent

In 2 Samuel 11 of the Bible, a story is told about King David. One evening, while his men were at war, David went to the roof of his palace and decided to have a look around. While surveying the area, he saw a woman bathing. David wanted her, so he sent someone to find out who she was. His messenger returned to him, informing David that her name was Bathsheba, the wife of one of his soldiers. In his greed, David sent for Bathsheba and slept with her. She then ended up pregnant. Trying to cover his tracks, David sent for Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, to get him to sleep with his wife. However, David’s plan didn’t work, as Uriah refused to leave his fellow soldiers. David then decided to go one step further and give Uriah a note for one of the head general’s. That note gave the order for Uriah to be put on the front line and killed, which is exactly what happened. Now that Uriah was no longer in the picture, David was able to move Bathsheba into the palace to be with him. “But the thing David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:26).

My message to you this morning is “Entertaining God’s Opponent (EGO)”

David’s first wrong was having an affair. Not wanting to own up to that, he then committed another sin, murder. David saw Bathsheba and wanted her. Even after finding out she was married, he allowed his ego to control and lead him into taking someone who wasn’t his and having an innocent person die. In other words, David entertained God’s opponent, Satan, by allowing him to infiltrate his thoughts will covetousness, lust and deceit.

When we allow our egos to get the best of us, we are giving Satan the upper hand. He is getting the opportunity to use us and create problems in our families, hatred among friends and dismay in workplaces. The ego destroys, because it focuses on self and eliminates the feeling of others. David thought about his carnal needs and disregarded the feelings of Bathsheba and Uriah. He then tried to cover it up, by getting Uriah to sleep with his wife. When that didn’t work, he settled with having Uriah killed, rather than face up to his wrongdoing.

Let us not allow self to stand in the way of our relationships. When we remove personal agendas from the table, all who sit will have their needs fulfilled. All David wanted, was to have sex. In the end he ended up with blood on his hands, a wife and someone calling him daddy… Remember that, the next time you want to push an idea through that focuses on yourself. 

Allergic to Mondays?

Are you allergic to Mondays?

Here's a remedy:

1 oz of productivity
1 oz of vision
2 oz of thankfulness
3 cups of happy thoughts

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and stir. This batch will be good for 7 days. Make a new batch every Monday and you'll be able to make it through the week.

Rejoice In The Lord

There is a youth group in my church organization called the Pathfinder Club. It is similar to the Boys and Girls Scout, except it is co-ed and adds a spiritual context to its program. In the higher ranking of the Pathfinder Club are the Master Guides. These individuals serve as staff members (directors, instructors and the like) to the younger Pathfinders. For the past 3 years I have been privileged to teach and instruct one of those Master Guide courses, and today is their Investiture or Graduation Service.

These individuals have worked hard throughout the year. Attending seminars, going camping in tents and completing a Wilderness Camping experience with only a sleeping bag and tarp (no showers, bathrooms or electricity for 48 hours). They have completed their coursework and have passed their final exam. I am happy for them and those who completed the class under other instructors. I hope they honor this role they are taking on, and truly work with the young people of the church and in the community, to become better people for themselves and others.

As these graduates rejoice today, let us congratulate them. May you also rejoice in the fact that you have accomplished many goals in your own lives. Those which you have yet to complete, remain faithful knowing that God will grant you the desires of your heart.

Bon Sabbat. Shabbat Shalom. Happy Sabbath. Feliz Sabado.

TGIF

It's the time of the week. Hoping your week had more ups than downs and the negatives have been turned around. Shake a leg and let down your hair, have some fun like you just don't care.

Remember to take time for yourself and those you love.

Continued blessings always.

A Few Good People

The other evening I listened to a friend of mine speak on the topic, “A Few Good Men.” He dealt with the need for (physically, mentally and spiritually) strong men, to lead in the homes, community and church. The importance of them pulling themselves up by the bootstraps, so that women don’t have to carry the entire burden. While I found his talk to the relevant to today’s time, where having a man in the home seems to be a rare commodity, I thought about taking it a step further. What about a Few Good People?

Individuals who stand for something, so as not to fall for anything. Men and women who understand the demise of minorities and have taken up the challenge to help restore order to broken societies. Teachers, social workers and those working in corporate America, who understand the importance of being a positive role model and take time to help another. A few good people, who are willing to move outside of their comfort zone and help victims of a disaster, whether they suffered through Hurricane Sandy or Typhoon Haiyan. These individuals open businesses in their communities and hire local help; they participate in street fairs and donate to local causes. A few good people, who volunteer at soup kitchens and donate suits for others to be able to go on interviews.

The world needs a few good people. Are you one?

Until Passion Supersedes

The story is told of a young man who sat in his college class and wrote about an idea he had. He wanted to start a company that could get a package from NY to FL in one day and from NY to Canada in two days. Doubtful of the possibility of this actually happening, his teacher marked all over this young man’s assignment in red ink, discouraging his idea and calling him foolish for thinking any such thing could happen.

Determined to see his idea come to fruition, this same young man dropped out of college, borrowed $100 from a friend and started the American Messenger Company. The young man’s name was James E. Casey and the year was 1907. Today that company is known around the world as the United Parcel Service (UPS).

My message to you this morning is, “Until Passion Supersedes.”

Until passion supersedes doubt, there will be a possibility of failure. Not because it can’t be done, but because you are allowing the negativity of others to infiltrate your desire and wishes. The reason it is your dream, is because you believe it is a possibility. You can’t count on outsiders to see your dream if their eyes never close and wander from present reality. Take control of what you believe in and work towards it. No matter how big or small your idea is, if it makes you happy give it a try. I guarantee it will make someone else happy as well.

Until passion supersedes, your dreams will remain just that…a dream.

Veterans Day

They are my friends from church, my friends from high school and the family members of friends. They are your children, siblings, cousins and other relatives. They are you.

They respond to sounds that go bump in the night. They respond first and think later, as thinking first could endanger our lives. They live in deserts, on ships and other places we will never know. They miss births and birthday parties, weddings and funerals. They miss out on "life" while protecting our lives.

They are strong, always prepared, the few and the proud, doing the impossible everyday and a global force of good. They are our veterans.

"Ooh Rah."

TGIF

Yes, the weekend is approaching!!

If you are looking forward to a break from work, be thankful - some don't have a job.
If you are looking forward to spending time with family, enjoy it - some don't have a family to bond with.
If you have plans to go out to dinner with friends, keep that date - not everyone has food to eat.
If you have the opportunity to take a weekend trip, go.
If you're spending time cleaning or redecorating your home, do it -- not everyone has a place to call their own.

Every day, every opportunity is a gift. Take advantage of your weekends and all the days that fall in between, as no day, opportunity or interaction is promised.

So cheers to the weekend. Live, love and laugh.

Things Kids Say

I’ve been working with a group of middle schoolers; here are some of the things they say in class. Hope you enjoy it, as much as I did.

-          “I would choose the pregnant girl to help start over the world, cause it’s like a 2 for 1 special with her, since she’s already pregnant.”

-          “I would choose the pregnant girl to start over the world, because she’s young and can have babies like every 8 months for a long time.”

-          “Please excuse my smell in your class. I’m coming from soccer.”

-          “We need to take the nurse to take care of the baby. Who else is going to raise it, the Milky Way?”

-          “I would take the minister for religion and prayer and stuff.”

“We don’t need a minister for religion. We can do that ourselves.”

*Special anniversary shout out to my cousin Owen and his wife, Michelle.

Happy Birthday, shout out my friend Julia.

Being Your Best You

Have you ever watched babies playing together, whether it was a play date or in a daycare center?  While they may interact with each other from time to time, for the most part, they tend to do their own thing. They aren’t troubled by what is going on around them and could care less if someone is watching them or not. Babies are innocent in their interactions – doing what pleases them and makes them laugh. Even when they are playing with each other, after a while you may see one kind of go off on their own. No longer interested in sharing or doing what the other may want from them. They are content with themselves.

Then why is it, as we get older satisfaction shifts from what we like, to what others like for or about us. We wear clothes that society says is in fashion. We eat food that someone told us tastes good and we go to functions that bore us out of our minds. If we aren’t careful, the older we get, the less of our true selves we can find. It is important that we stay connected to our interests, preferences and goals, so that our lives don’t become puppets for an outsider.

I can only be me and you are only capable of being you. The sooner we accept that, the sooner we will stop looking to see who’s watching and start being our best selves.

Every Vote Counts

I remember as a child, going to the polling station and standing in line with my mom, as she waited to vote. Of course, I couldn’t wait to be 18 and old enough to cast my own vote. Having studied in Jamaica for a few years, I never participated in my first election until 2008. But I’ll never forget the pride I felt casting my ballot and believing my vote would make a difference.

However, I must admit that the presidential election was the only important election to me. Only as I’ve gotten older, have I come to understand that all elections are important. Especially the local ones, as the decisions made by local officials impact my life more quickly than the federal ones.

So remember to vote. It is your civic duty. If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain. Many have fought over the years, for this right to be available to various groups. Don’t let their fight go in vain. 

Ready or Not

For many, Monday is not their favorite day, as it means the beginning of another week of work, school and responsibilities. I like to see Mondays as a challenge and opportunity. A chance to try a new idea or tackle an unfinished project. While it may mean the ending of a beautiful weekend spent with family and friends, a busy Monday also means you have the opportunity to look forward to something. Take advantage of those opportunities, as there are many who don't have the privileges you have.

So ready or not, here's Monday. Accept its surprises and rock on!

Be of Good Cheer

A few weeks ago, my cousin was killed in Jamaica. Not because she was reckless or sick, but because someone decided to drive while under the influence of alcohol. This death hit my family very hard, as it was unexpected and tragic. Today, she will be laid to rest.

As you go through this day, I ask that you keep my family in prayer. Also, please remember her 4 children, who will now have to grow up without their mother. In John 16:33, Jesus tells us that in this world we will have tribulation, but we should be of good cheer as He has overcome the world.

May your day be full of joy, peace and cheer.

Happy Sabbath. Bon Sabbat. Feliz Sabado. Shabbat Shalom.

Party Time

My family got a great surprise this week, as one of my cousins “dropped in” from England. I haven’t seen him since 2010, so I was more than ecstatic when I walked in the house and he came around the corner. Knowing that this trip is a short one, we are all trying our best to make the most of his time here. As the weekend approaches us cousins plan on hanging out and making some memories.

After working hard this week, I hope you also get the opportunity to hang out and make some memories. Shake a leg, it’s party time!!