Keep reaching for a higher level.

"A man's reach must exceed his grasp or what's a heaven for?" We can't afford to be comfortable with the now ness of life. We must continue to press in an attempt to live better and so better. It is frustrating because we will never be perfect in this life but we can always strive for perfection.

No one seems to be content

Everyone wants to be somewhere other than where they are. The poor want a rich lifestyle, the rich want to have street "cred" (credentials). The old is trying to be young and the young is trying to be old. girls are trying to be boys and boys are trying to be girls. This world is upside down. Instead, the Bible teaches that in whatever state we are in we should be content.

Proud Daddy

Today my son, Xavier (Lil Zay) graduates from high school. I don't know what I was thinking bringing him home at 3 weeks old and deciding that he should live with his dad. I knew nothing about taking care of a baby, but when I looked into his eyes I never wanted him to leave me. It has been a rollercoaster ride trying to raise a man-child in the inner-city, in a particularly unconventional situation. The streets wanted him, but I refuse to let allow that. God can and will protect your child from dangers seen and unseen. My parenting has not always been the best and I have made many mistakes, but we made it this far and he is college bound with a full ride scholarship. To God be the glory!!! I am proud of him and acknowledge that the sky is the limit for his future. It is unreal to see his music talent and how the spirit of my mom (she was the diva) fell on me and now him. To all you single fathers who are legitimately doing your absolute best - keep pushing, it will pay off. Shout out to my support system - Lisa Gilbert (auntie-mom), Pops (grandaddy), Jeremy Underwood, & the Holy Trinity United Baptist Church family - we share in this success!

Interpreting the Bible

We must interpret the Bible from the stand point of being on the bottom not being on top. Our ministry must be a bridge for the least, lost, and left out. We must understand their hurts and pains and provide healing, and relief through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Our Power and Authority

The uniform gives the policeman the authority but the gun gives him the power.

Our authority comes through salvation but our power comes through the Holy Ghost.

Who Has The Preacher's Back

The people we help, in many instances, will break our heart because they will not reciprocate the love and appreciation for what we have done for them.  We give relentlessly and it seems that there is no return on our investment.  I know the spiritual mind says that our reward is in heaven, and that is true, but the emotional side of us still has an expectation from them.  Our business is transforming lives.  We attempt (through the Holy Spirit) to bring life to death.  It takes a toll on our body, mind, family, finances and reputation.  There is no remedy to this problem, it's just a reality.

The reality is that many preachers feel alone, and insecure because many don't take the time seriously wonder what the preacher needs and how they struggle just like everyone else.  When everyone expects you to have all the answers and to carry the whole load, it is inevitable to become stressed, frustrated and unhealthy.  Who has the preacher's back?

5 Stages of Destruction

The Five Stages of Destruction as it Relates to America’s War on Drugs: “The House I Live In”

At approximately 1:27:00 into the following amazing documentary, “The House I Live In”, reflecting on the work of Raul Hilberg , Richard Lawrence Miller provides a summary of the step-by-step process of destruction as it relates toAmerica’s War on Drugs (relevant video segment follows the full documentary):

1. Identification – a group of people is identified as the cause of the problems in that society. People begin to perceive their fellow citizens as bad or evil. Their lives become worthless.

2. Ostracism - we learn how to hate these people, how to take their jobs away, how to make it harder for them to survive. People lose their place to live and are often forced into ghettos where they are physically isolated, separated from the rest of society.

3. Confiscation - people lose their rights, they lose civil liberties. The laws change so that it becomes easier for people to be searched and for their property to be confiscated, and once you start taking people’s property away, it makes it easier to start taking people away.

4. Concentration - the State begins to concentrate undesirables into facilities such as prisons and camps. People lose their rights. People can’t vote any more. They can’t have children any more. Often their labor is exploited in a systematic form.

5. Annihilation - this might be indirect, by withholding medical care, by withholding food, or by preventing further births. Or it may be direct, where death is inflicted, where people are deliberately killed.