Thursday, June 24, 2010

So Glad I'm Saved!

So I was at Pepe's today for dollar tacos. I placed my order and sat down to listen for my number. Just as one woman was walking away from the counter and out the building, my number was called and I stepped up to the counter with my receipt in hand. While I was standing there, the previously mentioned women, walks back in the building talking loud as ever - "Both hard shell" - to the woman behind the counter, and proceeds to stand directly where I'm standing, as though Im not even there. AFTER she'd made contact with me (physically) and realized that I had no intention of moving, she says, "lemme pay ha real quick." Ooooooooo WEE! I'M SO GLAD I'M SAVED!!! Cuz baaaaaaaaby! SMH.

What's your "so glad I'm saved" story?

Friday, June 18, 2010

The Measures of Success

When asked the question, "Who do you admire most?" often times people respond with Moms, and Dads, and Grandparents. However, when asked to identify a person of success, responses are flooded with the likes of Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, and Tiger Woods. Hmmm...do we not admire those who we consider successful? Are those we admire most not considered successful in our eyes? Or is our definition of success merely misconstrued?

Dictionary.com defines success as:
1. the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors.
2. The attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.

Let's take a look at a couple successful people.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an activist and prominent leader in the American civil rights movement. He was also a Baptist preacher who may or may not have made too much money during his years, but is definately an admirable person, and one of much success.

Vincent Van Gogh a Dutch Post-Impressionist artist whose paintings and drawings include some of the world's best known, most popular, and most expensive pieces, was a drunk. He sold his paintings for liquor money. He died a broke drunk, but is admired by artists of all ages, a success in the eyes of many.

How, then, do we determine success? Is it monetary worth? Is it media publicity? Is it the amount a person contributes to society?

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Inevitable Change Occurs. Intentional Growth Recurs.

Greetings to you my faithful readers, fans, stalkers, haters and the like :)

It has been almost a year and a half since my last post, but I think I'm ready to get back at it. Why? Because of change.

In my short time here on earth, I've come to learn that the only constant in life is change. Things will always change - from fashion trends to pop culture, from the economy to education, from societal standards to ecumenical expectations. Change will occur. Pac said it best when he said** “That’s just the way it is, things’ll never be the same” (Changes, 1996). And if you’re fool enough to believe things’ll never change, just keep on living, because “a change gone come” (Sam Cook, 1964).

While change is inevitable, it does not guarantee growth. If you plant a seed, a change will occur. If you water the seed and tend to it, growth will recur. But it is important for us to understand that all growth is not good growth. All growth is not healthy growth. Many of us have seen growth in various areas of life. We’ve seen growth in our weight. We’ve seen growth in our blood sugar levels. We’ve seen growth in our blood pressure. Some of us have seen growth in our egos, growth in our troubles, growth in our debt. And sometimes we mistake swelling for growth - an abnormal enlargement of something beyond normal size, usually causing a distortion in the structure of the effected area. Some growth can be cancerous and can grow uncontrollably, spreading and creating change in other parts of an otherwise healthy organism. Yes, change is inevitable, but growth, healthy growth, is intentional.

The only way to have a steadfast assurance of healthy growth is to lean on that which will never change, that which is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). The only way to be certain that your change will lead to a healthy growth is to lean on Jesus Christ.

Inevitable change will occur, but is your intentional growth recurring?

**Music education: Pac’s 1996 hit “Changes” was sampled from the 1986 hit “The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby and the Range, and E-40 sampled the song before Pac did.