POWER

I had a nice time today at Woodrow Wilson Plaza. It was wonderful to sing out in the open air. The atmosphere was powerful. A homeless man danced throughout the entire event. A man in a wheelchair lifted his hands and spun in his chair. Government employees left their offices, filled the plaza, and sang along. The weather was great. Not a rain cloud in the sky.


A lady walked up to me after the concert, reintroduced herself and told me that Mother Glass, an elderly woman I met at a local church, had passed away. I remember that Mother Glass was very spry and always impeccably dressed. She walked with her head high and didn't mince words. I'll never forget what she said to me one day when I got an unexpected phone call. She asked me if I had any anointing oil. I told her that I did. She asked, "Well do you use it?" She sensed that I was being bullied, and not putting up much of a fight. She told me to keep the oil in my purse.
"Don't you worry about the devil, and don't you let him run you.", she said. "People get scared when they see me going in my pocketbook, Baby, 'cause they know they gonna be hittin' the floor. They gonna have to send ALL their clothes to the cleaners! You got oil, Baby? Well, use it! Sometimes you gotta have thick skin. If the devil knows he can scare you, he'll be running you the rest of your life. I don't let him run me. HE got to go..."

God rest her soul. I'm glad to have met her. She was warning me of the dangers of not being alert, and not knowing the power that is available to you. I suppose it is nice to get to the place where nothing bothers you, because you're prepared for whatever comes.

The afternoon was passing smoothly, and all of a sudden at 6:04 the power went out. The TV went black not long after "Peter Gunn" ended. The ceiling fan slowed to a stop and my computer quickly let me know that my internet connection was a no-show. Not knowing how long it would be before the power was restored, I went to the kitchen and put the milk and butter in the freezer and put some ice packs near the fruit. Fortunately, the AC had been on. I'm glad that I hadn't been cooking or ironing. I'm glad that the power outage didn't pose any real problem other than I missed an episode of "I Spy". I imagine that somewhere, someone was in the middle of a task that required electricity. There's been a lot of anger toward PEPCO, especially in cases like today where there was no storm, no thunder or lightening, no rain, yet the power failed. PEPCO had just been a topic on the news. Apparently they know their service hasn't been up to par and their national ranking among power companies isn't favorable. The bottom line is, whether their service is poor or outstanding, customers have to depend upon them. That's not reassuring, but now that we know there's a problem, it would be wise to have a contingency plan in place.

You really can be going along, minding your business and without provocation, lose power. It makes sense to be prepared--whether the loss of power is physical or spiritual. It's good to recognize that it's out, and when you do, don't get all frazzled and worried. Don't be gripped by fear. Don't think things are hopeless. Just wait. Occupy the time, know your options, stay alert, stay in control. Know that the source has infinite power and will restore it to you. Just ask.

WEDNESDAY THOUGHTS: THE SAD SIDE OF "KEEPING IT REAL"

I took a walk last week, and on the way back, I was a short distance behind a group of teenagers. 

They frequently stopped, which brought me within ear shot of their conversation. 

One young woman's cursing was so intense, I couldn't take it any more. 

"Baby, Baby", I said. "Stop. Please. Let me talk to you for a minute". 

When she turned around, her clothing, demeanor and words betrayed her beautiful face. 

She said that she was sorry, and called me "Ma'am", which told me that at some point in her life, someone had taught her manners. 

On the sidewalk however, she'd forgotten them all. Every other word was laced in her speech as if it was second nature. 

The harsh way that she spoke to her friends, made me wonder why they were friends at all. 

She was loud, and seemed to want to be heard. 

I didn't know what her reaction would be, but I just wanted her to know that there was another way. 

I wanted her to consider how much value she had. 

I wanted the beauty of her face to match her words.

We all learned the "Sticks and stones" rhyme when we were children. As adults we learn that words do hurt. They have much more power than we like to admit, and reveal so much about what's going on inside us. 

Our hearts are being exposed daily. 

We enjoy freedom of speech, but sometimes that freedom does more personal harm to ourselves than to others. 

The words we use to affect others have a way of returning to our own doorsteps, and indicting our own character.

Every time I log on to twitter or facebook, there are comments that are clearly intended to shock. 

There are others that are a little sad. 

Wow. 

It's like there's no filter, no discretion, no sensitivity.
That thing between the brain and mouth that's supposed to kick in when something ignorant, hurtful, inappropriate or stupid comes to mind, is malfunctioning, and that malfunction carries over to the index finger and causes it to click "send", "enter", "tweet", "share"--without regarding how words will negatively affect others, or cast an ugly light on oneself. 

It's been blamed on a mishandled philosophy called "Keeping It Real". 

The true culprits are "Lack of Wisdom", "No Discernment", and the brilliant notion that "Hurt people, hurt people". 

"This is just me! That's just the way I am!", is the arrogant, often bragged excuse that's made. Unfortunately it is soon followed by the realization that people are keeping their distance, not returning calls, choosing or hiring alternatives, declining invitations, ignoring e-mails...hiding and deleting. Reading the Book of James might help...or a muzzle.

Don't let "doing you" do you in. 

Don't let "Keeping it real" keep you avoided.

You kinda have to wonder when your turn is coming. Listening to someone just spouting off indiscriminately; shooting barbs every time they speak, makes you wonder when your turn is coming. It's not hard to see through it all to the pain. 

Maybe that's the time to pray--when you stop being appalled long enough to consider that at one time, they weren't so mean, critical and harsh. 

What's real, is that people who never had a platform before, have one now, and are teetering and diving head first off of it, as a result of their own words.

YOUR FRIENDS AREN'T ALWAYS MY FRIENDS

I got some news today that made me very angry, but I could have scripted it myself. I saw it coming, yet, "I told you so" stayed in my head. Funny how you won't defend yourself, but you're quick to go to bat for someone else. I was more angry because I had made my concerns about a person's rather strange, intrusive behavior known, and they were largely laughed off and ignored. Today, because he was not shown boundaries when he should have been, he, of course, crossed them. It left a young woman frightened, her mother furious, and him scrambling for an explanation that would hold water.

I just had a few questions. What was an almost 65 year old, married man doing contacting a young lady at her university? How did he get her phone number? What did he want? Why didn't he think his actions were highly inappropriate considering he was neither her friend nor family, but a friend OF a family member of hers? 
I'd witnessed bizarre behavior before, so I was not surprised as I listened to the excuses he had given. I WAS surprised when his actions were defended and excused away as "thoughtful" by the one person who had the authority to shut it down. Some cockamamie story about his "always checking up on college kids from church" was given. The young lady doesn't even attend his church! Why didn't he phone her mother if he was so concerned? I didn't buy any of it. I advised the mother to block his number from her daughter's phone. At least that way, she wouldn't have to get any more rambling text messages and voice mails from someone with whom she was not even remotely close.

The creepy guy's story satisfied the family member, and the student and her mother were accused of overreacting--which made the mother question the loyalty of the family member--her own father--who, it was discovered, gave his granddaughter's phone number to the guy without her permission.

One of the things children need is to know that they are safe. They need to know that they will be heard. They need to know that their parents have their backs, and no one will be able to wedge themselves where they don't belong. No real friend will attempt to negatively impact your family. No real friend will repeatedly cause dissension. No friend will harass your family.

Some people are just too familiar. Some people go too far, and it's hard to complain when you're the one who gave them the ticket to ride, and they begin to visit themselves on your extended family in the creepiest ways. Some people really do believe they have rights and privileges in your life by virtue of their relationship with someone in your family. That's fine if that's what YOU want. When it isn't, there's a huge problem that may end with someone getting their feelings hurt---or a restraining order delivered to their door.
Often people labor under the misapprehension that friendship with your parent automatically means friendship with YOU, and access to you and your children. It can begin when you're a child and follow you into adulthood. They don't seem to know that familiarity STILL breeds contempt. "I thought we were family" is often uttered as an excuse for extreme nosiness, and the unwelcome taking of liberties.

Be a little more cognizant of the rights, privileges, and courtesies you extend, the information you share, and the access you grant. These things can't be spread out all willy nilly-- especially if you have children. When people come into your home and act as if they have the same rights and privileges as your children, seeds of a bigger problem may be sown. 
"Make yourself at home" isn't something you can say to everyone. They'll rummage through your refrigerator, dirty hands and all, while your shocked children look on. No one should be allowed to do ANYTHING in your home that you have forbidden your children to do. Never place your children on the defensive against your friends while you languish in the middle.

Familiar spirits WISH they were family, and would like nothing better than to destroy the harmony in yours. Don't enable them--and don't infuriate your children by forcing people upon them, or relaxing rules for others that your children couldn't break any day of the week.
Mind those who will throw YOUR own children under the bus in order to have a relationship or business association with you. 
Be more discerning what you share with people concerning your children. People need not know EVERYTHING that's going on in your home. 
Parents, your children shouldn't be confronted with their personal business every time they encounter your friends. If you want your children to trust and confide in you, respect the things they tell you, and keep your mouth shut. Don't be the reason your children are humiliated. Don't be the reason they clam up and shut down. Don't use them as fodder for your conversations with people they may not like or trust.
Some people will work diligently, right under your nose, to create and maintain confusion and division in your family. That slick, manipulative devil is a liar whose scheme is to convince you that he is either innocent and harmless, or doesn't exist at all. Watch those grown people who delight in picking on your children or discussing their flaws. If you can't be your child's cheerleader, keep your mouth shut.

Friends are great. Spawns of satan are not. When people are poised to wreak havoc in your family, doggone it, SAY SOMETHING to them. DO something. NIP IT! Recognize that their agenda isn't a healthy one. Stand up for your family. If you don't have any boundaries around yourself, at least respect your family and protect them from people who they TELL you make them uncomfortable.
Don't give your adult child's phone numbers or address to your friends, or ANYONE without their permission. Don't put your children into situations where they may have to defend themselves against the behavior of your friends. When your children tell you something, listen. Your friends may be friends to YOU, but they are virtual nightmares to your children. Pay attention. Don't be so hard pressed to keep a friend or business associate that you alienate your own children, or cause them to question YOUR judgment. 
Don't allow familiar spirits to wreck your home.

SUNDAY THOUGHTS: "ECHOES" TO THE RESCUE---NOISE, EAST OF THE RIVER

I didn't realize there were tears in my eyes. 

I thought, "No. Not again. Not today". 

The sound was so unbearable. 

I was all prepared to spend a quiet Sunday afternoon at home, then, the noise broke through the walls like a crazed monster.

I love good music. 

I love bass and drums--when they're being skillfully played by someone I choose to hear. 

However, when they're coming from somewhere else, all over-amplified, muffled and dull, it's like being hit repeatedly over the head with a gigantic hammer. 

The windows were shaking. 

The floor was vibrating. 

It's like heavy construction is going on in, and outside of your home that you didn't authorize. 

There was no way to escape it, except to put in ear plugs,  don headphones, or leave the neighborhood. Closing the windows didn't even help.

I was not leaving home. 

I'd just arrived back from church. 

I was all prepared to enjoy a good meal, and maybe a movie. 

I thought, "I have a right to be at home. 

I have a right to enjoy a reasonable amount of tranquility." 

My rights were being abused, because someone else was exercising their right to make noise. 

To them, however, it was music. 

No. I don't want to join the noisemakers. 

I want the noise to stop. 

What I want, regarding the noise, means nothing today, and I'm resigned to just wait it out. 

I can still want peace, though. 

I was hoping it would suddenly rain...a lot. 

Perhaps I should have stopped thinking about it, and just prayed.

It's official. 

I hate noise. 

Why live in the city, you ask? 

I'm wondering that myself, right now...lol

 

This isn't a city problem, though. Its a cultural one. Would I be so bothered if it were a different genre of music? 

Probably not. 

If it was smooth jazz seeping through every crack in the walls, I'd be okay. 

If there was another Walter Hawkins tribute concert going on, I'd be just fine. 

I'd even settle for everything Earth Wind and Fire, Stevie, The Emotions, Chaka, and Frankie Beverly ever recorded.  

I'd settle for light rock. 

I'd settle for an accordion player, a baby banging on pots and pans with a wooden spoon, Tiny Tim and Miss Vickie--ANYTHING-- over this. 

This blasting offering of craziness, sounds like somebody missed too many days at school, and is driving me bananas. 

I'm sorry. 

There's just something ignorant about some forms of music that, as much as I have tried to appreciate it, something won't let me. 

It seems to come from the lowest level of human sensibilities, and revels in being unproductive, unintelligible, shocking and profane. 

It's like pollution. It intends to do harm. 

I see very little creativity. 

I don't understand it, and don't want to. 

It's like rebellion without the intelligence to justify it. No sense in making myself sick about it. 

It'll be over soon...hopefully.

Noise isn't an emergency, but I'm sure there's a noise ordinance in the city. 

Surely this racket has exceeded whatever decibels constitutes a nuisance. 

If ever a law was to be enforced, today would be a prime opportunity. 

I wouldn't dare make light of situations where people lose it, but I can kinda see how, and why some people go postal. 

When those tasked to help don't, won't, or trivialize a problem, people take matters into their own hands--and sometimes with disastrous results. 

This noise is ridiculous, and horribly unfair, considering the number of residences in the surrounding area. 

What about a mother trying to put a baby to bed, a student studying, a tired employee who has to get up early tomorrow morning, and elderly person trying to watch TV, a family trying to have a conversation over dinner, or a shell-shocked soldier? 

What would a 911 operator say? 

"Ma'am are you serious?", 

"Ma'am that's not an emergency", or 

"Ma'am go somewhere and sit down!" 

This is frustrating. 

It's too hot to put a blanket over my head. 

This is the enemy. Plain and simple. 

Pastor Battle preached all about loving like Jesus loved. I came home feeling so happy, and all ready to implement everything he said. 

What if I decided to confront the noisemakers? 

I know there would be no love in sight. I wouldn't have been the loving individual, seeking someone to bless. I would have been the deranged looking, angry person trying to find out who's responsible for breaking into my home with their crappy excuse for music.

I'm all for people enjoying themselves, and music often is a factor in the enjoyment. Music can be intrusive and abusive sometimes, too. 

This is like an assault. 

I didn't know that I wasn't in the mood, until the noise began. 

I didn't want to hear the noise, but it was being forced upon me. I couldn't turn it down, or turn it off. It was invading my space like a fast moving blob, and I hated it. 

My head and heart were hurting. 

I just wanted peace. 

The booming just went on and on--

--and it's still going on. It's 8:06 PM. Now some screaming individual has found a microphone, and the noise has gotten louder.

You hate to poop on anyone's party, but when they're dumping nuclear waste on yours, what are your options? 

It's not the jurisdiction of the U.S Park Police to monitor noise in this particular park. 

It's the job of the Metropolitan Police Department. Maybe, because it's South East DC, everyone thinks we are ALL thrilled to hear noise at all times of day and night. 

If it's not noisy music, it's fireworks exploding-- well before, and well after the Fourth of July; it's groups of kids on vehicles that should require a dune or a trail, not a city street. 

In a city with a gun control problem, you would think that anything that can be confused with gunfire would be banned. 

Does "residential neighborhood" mean something different East of the River? 

Can't people in SE, and the sliver of SW that is Bellevue, appreciate a quiet Sunday afternoon, too? Would this activity be going on anywhere else in the city where so many people reside? 

Are there no options?

It occurred to me that I should probably live in the country...on a farm...near a babbling brook...down a lane. 

I love peace. 

I suppose you don't realize how much you love a thing until it's disturbed--or gone. 

I concede that I'm getting older. 

I detest unnecessary noise. 

Did I say that already? 

See? I said I'm getting older. 

Ignorant, inharmonious sounding noise masquerading as music is the worst. 

Today it was a distraction that robbed me of at least 4 hours. 

I had options. 

The option I chose, unfortunately was to be bothered by it, as if there was no way out. 

I was suddenly tense, and feeling defeated by something I couldn't beat.

I thought back to the day that I stopped at a gas station, and a young man drove in shortly after I began pumping gas. I could hear the music coming from his speakers long before he parked. 

When he did, he turned the music up even louder, got out of his car and went to pay for his gas. 

Did he think he was doing all of us a service by leaving his music on? 

Did he ask the rest of us if we wanted to hear what he was enjoying? 

Did we all have to be cursed out under the guise of entertainment at the gas station? 

I don't know...

And another thing-- is a red traffic light now the universal signal to let everyone within a 2 mile radius sample what's in your CD changer?

 

The last thing I want to be is crotchety. It just seems, sometimes, that manners, decency, decorum and consideration have been lost....sometimes, thank God.

I needed to refocus. This morning Craig Oliver talked about going in circles, and the need to upgrade. On the way to church we listened and laughed with Garrison Keillor and his "A Prairie Home Companion" team. 

I wasn't liking the way the day was ending, so I went back to the way it began. 

I wanted my hopeful, good mood back. 

I searched online and found an NPR station in Birmingham. 

While I was looking for a little peace and quiet in Lake Wobegone, like Inga Swearingen singing "Lazy Afternoon", I stumbled across a show called "Echoes" hosted by John Diliberto. 

I'm listening to it now. 

The stress I was feeling from the noise has subsided somewhat. 

I decided to refocus my attention. I'm not going anywhere, but I'm not going to spend the evening lamenting over something I can do little about. 

Yes. I'm still impacted by what feels and sounds like a wrecking ball pounding on the walls, but the music I'm choosing to hear is beautiful, serene and excellent. It's uplifting and pleasant. It's artistic and lovely. 
It's making me smile...: )
You can listen, too at http://echoes.org/

Oh my. It's 8:45. I think it stopped. 

Thank you, Jesus.

LEARN

Every day there's a lesson played out
And every day there's a victim splayed out on a stage
"I didn't know I thought I could change it"
"I didn't know it would be this way"
"It wasn't like this at first"
"I don't understand why I'm hearing such evil today"

Had you paid attention to someone else's yesterday
Your now would be free of such hurt
It's not experience that teaches best
It's what's already happened to him and her

So learn, just learn
There's nothing new under the sun
Just new players
Who think they're immune to what's been done

The difference between now and then
Is that few knew where, how or when
But now that there's so much to see
We should be wiser you and me

So learn, just learn
Take the wisdom from others and run
Take the grace that will certainly suit your case
Don't repeat the harm that's been done

AFTERNOON THOUGHTS

Everyone can have a good idea, but implementing it without authority or considering who will be responsible in the case of failure is a dangerous mistake.

A person in need of help can go far after receiving insight, discernment, truth. Condemnation however breaks spirits and sends many to a place of apathy and self-doubt.

Are you more concerned with getting the job done, or the tools you're using to do it? Shouldn't they be equally important?

One can borrow the tools of someone else to get a job done, but what happens when they want their tools back because you're not using them correctly or with care? Unless a tool is used it can never be broken. Question is, was it broken while one was in the process of using it correctly or carelessly?

MORNING WISDOM

I woke up this morning and listened to Pastors John and Matthew Hagee, Pastor Craig Oliver and Dr. Mike Murdock. I remember, in school, we would have to read passages, and then write what we gleaned from them. I thought I would just be listening, but was compelled to write as they spoke. I love the way God interjects even when you're not particularly listening to Him. He has a way of arresting the conversation to make sure that you hear exactly what he wants you to hear. I love the way he orders my day.

Don't admire the man who is driving a Mercedes on credit. Admire the guy who's driving a Volkswagon and is debt free...Debt is a disease."
"The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." Proverbs 22:7

"The kingdom of God is ruled by his Word. If there is a kingdom, there is a king, and that king is not you."

Greater is He that is IN you..."It is God's agenda that we follow, not our own." Being about "kingdom" work and ignoring His righteousness identifies you as the kid that's doing your own thing. Adopting part of God's plan and dismissing the rest is foolish. "You can think you're busy building, expanding, working for the kingdom and still lose. Don't lose your cutting edge. Don't have a form of godliness and deny the power. Performing but not producing....exerting energy and effort, but going nowhere, zeal at zero. Flesh can't compete with passion and power. Don't be busy at your task but neglect the tools you're using. Don't be so busy chopping away at the tree but not noticing that the axe head has been separated from the shaft. We can't be faulty in our communion with God. Do we pray? Do we worship privately? Anybody can shout, and cry, and dance when we have an audience to applaud us. Have we forsaken the commandments? Have we fluctuated in our commitment to God? Are we effective any more? Our tools in ministry are borrowed possessions of an owner and the owner is God. God assigns tools to us so that we can be effective and in ministry and in the whole of our lives. We have to be accountable to God. What are we doing with the tools that God gave us?" When I can no longer see my tools because of apathy, laziness, carelessness, stress, or trouble, I need help to find them. There is a danger in complacency. If I am not going to serve--utilize the gifts that God has given, I am merely taking up space. I have to be aware that there is a problem when I am so busy working a task that I don't even realize I am functioning out of the flesh. I cannot be so confident in my natural ability, and so clever in the art of manipulation that I am not aware the the spirit of God is gone. "Even as one is engaged in a needed and noble work, building, expanding and increasing the kingdom, one can lose one's cutting edge. Find someone with divine insight, an authorized source--someone with a spirit of discernment, someone truthful--who will help you. Be encouraged. You never lose your cutting edge unless you've been working. Recognize when and where you lost it. One of the hardest journeys is back to the place where you lost. Did you lose it in an inappropriate relationship? Did you lose it when you took advice from the wrong person? Who were you with? What were you doing? Take heart. The tree you were cutting is still standing. Find it."

"Nobody else can ever take your place, turn my life around through your saving grace...nobody else Holy Spirit does what you do"

There is beauty, safety, protection, productivity in order. Learning is my calling..."

"I won't know what will happen to you until I find out who you trust."

Whatever you are you create. You can only be promoted by someone who gives you instructions. The person you serve controls your future.

"I don't believe him. I'm going to find out what the word of God really says about that".-Mrs.Willie Murdock

You can exhibit polite behavior, obedient service, and speak words of compliance, but have no love, honor, or respect in your heart.

When you hear a lie, anger should rise up in you.