Morning Leaders. “The God of light insists on traveling into dark places; the God of peace continuously involves Himself in the wars of men; the God who is good engages the depth of human evil. To follow Jesus is to enter the unknown, to relinquish security, and to exchange certainty for confidence in Him.” – Erwin Raphael McManus
jesus
Morning Leaders – Greater Love
Morning Leaders. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” (John 15:13; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 John 3:16-18)
Morning Leaders – True Peace
Morning Leaders. “In the midst of a chaotic world, we need Peace.” #JesusIsThePrinceOfPeace
The Biblical Remix – YOLO
The Biblical Remix – YOLO
Luke 15:11-24 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixyolo
My boy Prodigal was going dolo so he rolled up on his pops and demanded his inheritance. Pops actually gave him the money. Within a short time Prodigal bounced from the family crib and went to some far away country.
With nobody around to tell him nuthing, Prodigal was straight wildin’ out. He was was getting drunk every night while partying with a couple of hookers at the local strip joint.
As Prodigal was paying for those bottles, this Drake song was playing in the background:
“You only live once: that’s the motto, YOLO, And we bout it every day, every day, every day, Like we sittin on the bench, we don’t really play…”
Reflection:
Why is YOLO usually used to justify doing things that are risky or stupid? What if YOLO were used as a reference for kids doing amazing things like staying after school to do homework, or doing a science project just for the fun of it, or going to serve senior citizens in a nursing home? Sounds silly doesn’t it.
Interestingly enough the Bible says Prodigal WASTED his money living recklessly. Some of the things we big-up in the hip-hop community and in pop culture the Bible considers a Waste. Yet how many videos do we see promoting this kind of behavior. How many dudes in their 40s and 50s are still up in the club trying to chase honeys half their age? And how many women do we see dressing like “hookers” all up in the club and even at a children’s birthday party (yes, I have seen this!). I think you understand where I am going.
What I do love about Jesus is he teaches us the true application of YOLO with His own words: “What good will it be for you to gain the whole world and lose your soul? For I am the way and the truth and the life and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. And He who hears what I am saying and trusts the One who sent Me has everlasting life. Because I have come that they may have life, and a life better than they have ever dreamed of.”
So if you are only going to live once, live for Jesus. #YOLO
The Biblical Remix – Thirsty
The Biblical Remix – Thirsty
John 4:3-18 – http://bit.ly/IRD75x
Jesus was mad tired from his journey through the country of Samaria. He and his boys stopped off at a hood called Sychar to rest. It was around noontime.
Tired and thirsty Jesus copped a squat by a well. He sent his disciples into town to pick up some food and some Twizzlers.
A Samaritan woman stepped up to the well to draw some water out of it with her bucket. Jesus kindly asked her if she would hook him up with a lil water from the well. She was mad surprised cause in those days Jewish people and Samaritans weren’t cool like that.
Jesus then started breaking down some spiritual truths to her but she wasn’t flowing with him. So he then he got open on her and asked her to go get her husband. She was honest and told him she ain’t have a husband. (Then this is my favorite part.) He then blows up her spot and tells her that she had five husbands already and the dude she is living with at the moment is not even her husband. (Dag! What did she feel like when this stranger just told her about herself?).
As she was reflecting on the truth of what Jesus said of having five divorces, this Stacy Lattisaw song was playing:
“With music softly playing, his lips were gently saying, “Honey I love you”, He held me in desperation, I thought it was a revelation, And then he walked out, I found love on a two way street, and lost it on a lonely highway…”
Reflection:
Break-ups suck! How many of us have experienced the horrible pain that comes with a break-up? You love the person but s/he no longer loves you. Or maybe it is the other way around and they are in love with you but you are not. Or perhaps you are both in love but can’t seem to work it out without emotionally killing each other. Well, I have experienced all three…lol…and the pain did hurt.
I think parts of our heart are so hurt by these breakups we become numb to love or to relationships. Recently I have been engaged in conversations where individuals seem more content on giving up on “love” rather than risking the danger of being hurt in a relationship. Avoidance is safer than engagement for them.
This has caused me to consider my own singleness. Am I avoiding pain? Upon reflection, my answer is no. Am I avoiding foolishness? Most definitely, especially if I see it clearly in front of me. Am I closing myself off to love and a relationship? Sometimes.
The idea of sharing my life with someone is something I take very seriously. Before I make an investment emotionally, physically, and spiritually, I do my research. Patience for me in this area is a virtue. I enjoy the friendship so I can get to know better who the person really is, not just get lost by her smooth presentation. I also want her to see me for who I really am and not get lost in her fantasy idea of me.
I say this because I have witnessed some people who get into relationships because basically they are mad thirsty. They just want to feel a little love and attention, even if the relationship is a train wreck from the get go. Sometimes being touched or touching someone is the only language of love some of us know (or want to know). I have watched how destructive that has been from my past experiences as well as the lives of some people I personally know.
Now what is it like to have been the Samaritan woman and have gone through not one, but five different divorces (big time break ups)? Finding rejection in five different marriages could easily shape a woman’s perspective on love and men (Can I get an “Amen”?). Perhaps those experiences explain why she was living with dude number six and not married to him (I’m just saying yo).
With all that being said, I love how Jesus, against social and religious customs, takes the time to meet her at her point of need. He goes into her hood, puts her business out there (in private conversation of course), and offers her a grace the religious folk and secular folk of that time (and even today) would never offer her. That is real love. That is real grace. It affected her so much she became the first person to proclaim to the masses about Jesus being the Messiah.
I pray that whatever situation you have gone through or are going through, that you would call out to Jesus so He can give you a living water that will quench your thirst for love, grace, and acceptance.
The Biblical Remix – Move
The Biblical Remix – Move
John 18:1-11 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixmove
Of all the disciples Peter was the most gully. Jesus and eleven of the disciples were chilling in the spot, the Garden of Gethsemane.
That twelfth disciple, Judas, was a snitch. He cut a deal with the chief priests and Pharisees to sell out Jesus. At the Garden Judas rolled up with soldiers and officers carrying torches and weapons. It was about to go down.
Jesus already knew this. So he stepped to them and asked them who they were looking for. They said “Jesus the Nazarene”. Jesus was like “That’s me”. Bam, with the power of His words they LITERALLY fell to the ground. (Sidenote: Jesus was so real and so divine. A true G.)
The soldiers got back up from the ground mad shook. Jesus asked them again who they were looking for. They said “Jesus the Nazarene”. Jesus was like “Yo, I told you that is me. You can take me but let my crew go”.
At that Peter jumped in with his shank. He cut off the right ear of this dude named Malchus.
While Peter was watching the blood drip from the ear, this Ludacris song was playing in the background:
“Move b****, Get out the way, Get out the way, Get out the way, Move b****…”
Reflection:
In protecting his peoples (especially his rabbi Jesus), Peter stepped into projects mode and pulled out his shank on the coming opposition. He missed the head of Malchus but managed to cut off his right ear. Peter was down for the fight. Unfortunately that was not the kind of fight Jesus wanted Peter to have. The fight Jesus wanted was earlier that day in prayer. Jesus knew how the night was going to go down and he knew prayer was the key to the battle. Unfortunately the disciples kept falling asleep (Matthew 26 – http://bit.ly/A5B2Nn)
This is so us. Sometimes when ish goes down we revert to our old ways and get real gully. Cussing. Cutting. Coming out of our face. We say exactly what is on our minds regardless if it hurts people. How many times have we embarrassed ourselves because we handled a situation in a very untasteful way? But that is not what Jesus role modeled in the Garden. He prayed.
How is your prayer life? Do you even pray?
I am ready to battle in prayer when ish goes down. But how many times could I have prayed before things popped off? Too many times. Honestly I can be real lax with it. This is a struggle I have had. In analyzing it, for some reason I wait to be defensive in prayer when I could have been offensive earlier which might have helped me avoid the unnecessary foolishness to begin with.
I know for some people pulling out the shank is so much easier. It is familiar. It is what we grew up around. My encouragement to you are the words of Jesus Himself, “those who use the sword will die by the sword”. Don’t let your old ways keep you from growing/progressing/living in the new life Jesus offers.
The Biblical Remix – On The Floor
The Biblical Remix – On The Floor
2 Samuel 6:11-22 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixonfloor
Although everywhere in spirit, God literally put His very presence up in this golden box called “The Ark of the Covenant”. God showed His peeps He wanted to be up in the midst of them, even if they didn’t know how to act sometimes.
For like 20 years though this Ark was in the northwest part of town about 9 miles away. The new king, David, was so amped he built a new house so he could have the Ark in the center of town.
After some time David, his army and thousands of peeps went with him to the northwest side of town. From there, they walked, sang, danced, and made animal sacrifices for the 9 mile stretch in order to bring back the Ark to Zion, aka the City of David (Side note: That is so “G” when a city is named after you).
Of course King David was up in the front dancing his butt off. He had no shame in getting his groove on for God.
As King David was showing off his breakdancing skills, this J.Lo song played:
“If you go hard you gotta get on the floor, If you’re a party freak then step on the floor, If you’re an animal then tear up the floor…”
Reflection:
King David knew how to worship God. Without fear he sang/danced/honored God for the great things God had done in his life. And he did that also in public.
Am I that vulnerable? Am I that free? Sometimes.
Certain songs take me to a place where I can find that freedom in singing and honoring God. Actually is a great joy when I’m in that place.
Only recently have I learned I could also worship God not just through song and dance, but by being/doing the very thing God designed me for. With drama/photography/videography/counseling/consulting I can flow in worship. Yeah. As Pastor Eli says a bird can’t tell you how it flys. It just flys. Because that is what is was born to do.
So what were you born to do? Whatever that is, do that. Worship God in doing that/those things.
Like King David make sure you go hard and leave it on the floor.
The Biblical Remix – Without You
The Biblical Remix – Without U
John 6:35-69 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixwithoutu
Jesus had just fed 5000 peeps with fish and bread the day before. You know how people are. They came back the next day looking for Him. He blew up their spot by telling them about themselves. How they didn’t care about who He was, they were just hungry and wanted more food. Dag!
Jesus then threw on his professor hat and started schooling everyone on life, on who God was, and also about who Jesus Himself was.
The peoples couldn’t take it all in. Most of them actually bounced.
Then Jesus looked at his main crew of 12 and asked them if they wanted to bounce too. The hoodrat of the crew, Peter, was like ” Yo, you got the words of real life. This is ride or die for us. We know you the one God sent to us.”
In the background this David Guetta/Usher song played:
“I am lost, I am vain, I will never be the same without you, Without you, I won’t run, I won’t fly, I will never make it by without you, Without you…”
Reflection:
A friend of mine shared how this song describes her relationship with God. The connection didn’t dawn on me until she said it.
The truth is I know without God my life would be in shambles. The past fourteen years has been a wonderful adventure of getting to know who God is and also getting to know who I am. Trust me, I have not arrived on either of these two. I am still walking the journey.
However I can say my life is way healthier, more enjoyable and definitely blessed. Like Peter, I have traveled this journey so far that I have come to understand no one or nothing else has the words of life like Jesus.
This Christmas is the reminder God gave mankind the gift of His Son. That Jesus, being all God, also became all man by taking on our human form and by dwelling amongst us. Eventually He would sacrifice His own life by being crucified to save us from our sin.
Do you know Jesus has a daily concern for you? Could you live without that sacrificial love being a part of your daily reality. I can only tell you his love, from my personal experience, surpasses anything the mind can try to understand. Do you really want to live without Him?
The Biblical Remix – Hands In Da Air
The Biblical Remix – Hands In Da Air
Luke 17:11-19 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixhandsindaair
While Jesus was rolling up into a new neighborhood, ten dudes with the infectious skin condition of leprosy were screaming at him from far like Mister Softie done showed up. They yelled for Jesus to show them some mercy.
At that time lepers were rejected by society and were not allowed to be in contact with non-lepers.
Jesus being all smooth just gives them a command to bounce and go to the priests. The priests at that time were the ones who checked you out to see if leprosy was still there or not.
Once the ten dudes obeyed Jesus’ command and started walking towards the priests, Bam, they were cured.
While nine of them ran off in excitement, one of the dudes went up to Jesus screaming and hollering like he won the lotto. This dude was a foreigner (a Samaritan). He couldn’t stop thanking Jesus. He even bowed down on the floor to give thanks.
While he was screaming in thankfulness, this Taio Cruz song was playing in the background:
“I throw my hands up in the air sometimes, Saying AYO! Gotta let go. I wanna celebrate…”
Reflection:
So many times we have been foreigners/outcasts in scenarios. We know the shame/embarrassment of being on the outskirts. Yet God makes it His business to reach those who reside on the margins.
So whether you grew up in a slum, the projects, or a not so affluent community, please be aware God resides there too. The streets are a part of His element.
You know times where it was late and you could have been stabbed, raped, shot, or even jumped. Yet God’s hand of protection was on you.
Let us make sure as the outcasts/misfits that we give God praise and thanks for protecting us and for curing us from a hopeless mindset/worldview. Some of our people still live like rejected lepers socially and mentally.
The Good News is Jesus is still in the business of showing compassion. If you are in need of that today, cry out “Jesus, Master, have mercy on me”
The Biblical Remix – Not A Home
The Biblical Remix – Not A Home
Hosea 3:1 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixnotahome
Gomer was cheating on her husband and living like a hoe. While she was living in some dude’s home, her husband Hosea was in their home by himself.
Before God sent him to reclaim Gomer, Hosea was sitting in his empty crib missing Gomer. As he looked at her favorite chair this Luther Vandross song was playing on his iPod:
“A chair is still a chair, Even when there’s no one sittin’ there, But a chair is not a house, And a house is not a home, When there’s no one there to hold you tight…”
Reflection:
Infidelity and heartbreak really suck. While we are out pleasing ourselves there are other humans who we are injuring. Sometimes we even hurt and damage our children.
Let us use caution in our self-centeredness. Others have to pick up the pieces of brokenness left from our destruction.