Help from The Help

I arose this morning blessed to see that the movie "The Help" has made it from the big screen in theaters to the small screen in our homes.  I completely adored the movie when I was able to finally see it the first time in a movie theater at Mainstreet Disney in Orlando, Florida.  (My first effort to see the movie in Tuscaloosa, Alabama was tainted with horrific memories from that evening.) 

As I watched the movie for the 2nd and a half time this morning, my mind couldn't help but think how eerily familiar the hatred and evil doings of white folks to black folks in the 1960s are to the activities of certain folks today with the coming of a black man ascending to the presidential oval office in the "White" House. (hmmmmmm)  I can't help but wonder, in honor and with respect to the late Rodney King, why can't we all just get along!?

It is so disheartening how cruel, conniving, conspiring, and crazy we can be towards each other simply because our skin colors come in all shades.  I watched the evilness of Ms. Hillie against Ms. Minnie, Yule Mae and Aibeleen just because they were the "colored help."  But then, I noticed that she would turn on "her own" (like Skeeter and Mrs. Celia Foote) if they were a threat to her own well-being while keeping "in control" allies such as Ms. Elizabeth.  Things haven't changed much in both races.

The sad thing about black people in some regions of our country is that we have adopted the "Ms. Hillie mode of mingling and maneuvering."  We make strong attempts to "control" our own, and when they can't be controlled by us, we turn on them and sell them out for our own personal and self-gain.  If we're not careful, we will end up victims of tasting one of Ms. Minnie's special chocolate pies made with "the terrible awful" mixed in it and be stuck with the struggle of how not to let it be known that we did, even though there is published anonymous documentation suggesting that we did. 

The early 1960s were a heartless, hard and terrible time in our country and I hurt just to think about and notice alot of the similarities greeting us again in the 2010s; 50 years later!!  What shall we do?  Where shall we go?  What do we say?  I suggest the following:

1. Trust!  The true tool for triumph in the 1960s civil rights movement was the ability to constantly and consistently trust in the Lord!!  God is able to do all things and make all things right.  And when we can't figure out what to do in our situations or with our situations, when things don't make sense to us, trust God that He knows all and will see us through it all!

2. Talk!  For some reason whenever I/we speak of these types of issues, some "people of color" would rather nothing be said at all.  But I believe, in our talking we can be educated; educated concerning the opinions and feelings of others and educated concerning the self-worth of ourselves.  There is great truth to Aibeleen's creed to the small children she raised!  Don't worry about the bad English or grammar, just receive the message and keep telling yourselves:  "We is kind. We is smart!  We is important!"

3. Turn!  The "turning" here is twofold and Biblical.  The Bible teaches us to "turn the other cheek" and "turn from our wicked ways."  Both lessons teach us we have to learn how to fix ourselves in order to be able to stand within the face of wickedness and wicked, ignorant people.  The term "turn" isn't a suggestion just to walk away (although that may be feasible at times), but "turn" is telling us to turn into what we should be and what we should do so that we can be influential in causing positive "turns" to occur within our communities and our country.

(wow... this almost sounds like a sermon... hmmmm.... if only I had a text ;-) )

Imprisoned by Facebook!

This past Monday I had a very unfortunate thing happen to me.  Something happened within my Facebook account that had me sending out bogus messages to quite a few of my online friends about some picture on some website that I knew nothing about nor did I send.  Frankly, this kind of stuff on the internet really runs my pressure up and gets me extremely hot!  And I get that way when I see these kind of happenings to other people... so imagine what I felt when I saw it happen to me.

I decided in my rage, almost instantly, to be done with Facebook.  I expressed my fury and disappointment on my status and responded to as many of my fellow victims within this conspiracy as I could.  After an hour or so of all that, I deactivated my account.

Since then, I've had so many contacts and conversations with people as to why I wasn't on Facebook anymore.  I had a dinner date that was made on Facebook this week and the parties I were to meet with wanted to change the engagement but couldn't because the only way we kept in touch was on Facebook.  I have other engagements that have been requested of me (since Monday) that have been hard for people to get complete because they don't seek to find access to me by any other means other than Facebook. 

I've had several individuals to tell me that what happened to me happens to a lot of people rather often.  My reply to one was "it doesn't happen to my wife; you know why, because she's not on Facebook."  They've told me to just change my password frequently and I wouldn't have to worry about it.  My reply to that was "Facebook is not an essential part of my life.  I CAN DO WITHOUT FACEBOOK."

Well, apparently, I can't do without Facebook.  Today, I reactivated my account to "get back in touch" with all of my connections, personally and professionally.  I have changed my password but honestly, I can't stand this feeling.  I feel so "imprisoned" by this creature called Facebook. 

Please understand, I am a '60s baby.  I grew up in a time when all of this familiar and apparently necessary technology wasn't even thought of.  Computers were to huge to put on our laps or in our hands; they were solely in large warehouse resembling spaces being used for a much bigger reason than personal socializing.  Cell phones were what rich folks had in their limousines.  We called them "car phones."  I traveled back and forth from Tallahassee to Orlando while I was in college without the thought of needing a cell phone.  All I needed was $10-$20 for a tank of gas in a '64 Chevy and a collect call on a "land line phone" before I left to my mother that I was getting on the road (and sometimes I didn't even do that).  So just the thought that I "need" Facebook now is absolutely insulting to me.  But it hurts to admit that evidently I do.

So, I'm stuck in this jail called Facebook, as are some, if not most, of you.  What are we going to do about this??  How can we break out of this jail or get someone or something to come and bail us out??  I have not a clue. 

Retreat and Reality: Find a Way to Connect the Two!

I've had a wonderful past 2 weeks!!

I experienced one day of the Seabreeze Jazz Festival.  This annual event is definitely one of the pluses of living in the Bay County area.  I had tickets for 3 of the 4 days of the fest, but could only make the first day.  I appreciate the little bit of time I got to share in that experience.  Lawn chairs in the park by the beach, listening to jazz music, watching the stars at night is a very tranquil time.

The following day, after my jazz festival opportunity, I was off to Seattle, Washington.  Man, that was a great experience!  I was able to do my job and enjoy the city all at the same time.  The Seattle trip starts with me "stopping by" the Seattle Mariners-Chicago White Sox game as an afterthought to what was originally an item on the weekend agenda that I thought wasn't going to be.  Something brought me to that game anyway.  And, amazingly, I was a witness to the 21st perfect game in Major League Baseball history!!  The Mariners lost the game, but White Sox pitcher Philip Humbar (I think that was his name) pitched a perfect game, and I saw it!  Of all days for me to be completely across the country from where I live, I had to make it on the day a perfect game would be pitched in that city.  Absolutely unreal!!  I am grateful for that experience.

I was able to tour the city of Seattle, experience the cuisine of the area and worship with the Goodwill Church and our friends Bishop & Mrs. Garry L. Tyson.  The whole experience was incredible!  I hate the flight to and from Seattle (because it's so long), but what you get once you arrive (both ways) is well worth it!

I returned to the east coast primed and ready to attend my only son's and eldest child's graduation from the Florida A&M University this past Saturday.  That was truly one of the greatest moments in my 45 and 3/4 years of living.  My son has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice!!  Isn't that just phenomenal??!!  I am so proud of both of my children; they are absolutely the best!  To see my son walk across the stage, shake the university president's hand, and receive a degree cover on the same campus I, his mother, his grandmother and his grandfather all matriculated was simply amazing.  I'm glad the Lord let me live to witness all these great milestones.  Next: marriage and grandchildren :-)

In the midst of all of these wonderful experiences, I have thought very little about all the issues, pain and worries that are presently in my life.  It's good to be able to retreat away from what you're going through, but the fact of the matter remains, just because you retreat for a while, reality will return and set in.  All of it will be waiting on you when you get back from your "trip."  The question is: what then?

There's an old secular song (I think the O'Jays use to sing) that says "don't let it get you down, girl, don't let it get you down.  I'll be standing right here to bring you back around, girl, I'll bring you back around."  I hear God saying that to all of us who have the blessed privilege to get away for a minute from the heavy burdens we may be bearing.  If God could keep you during retreat, He can keep you during reality.  We just have to check where our mentality is going to be in both instances.  If you can not worry in retreat, don't worry in reality.  God finds a way for us to connect the two and find joy in both.

Holy Week and Resurrection Sunday Pt. 2

What a great, great time we had this week at our church for this year's Holy Week Services!!!  My, oh my, I have fallen into even greater love with my Christ and my God!!!  All the sermons this week by very phenomenal and seasoned men in gospel ministry were life changing!!

Dr. Perkins percolated prophetically.  Bishop McKissick, Sr. was mind-boggling!   Bishop Peyton stirred the coals of the fire in my life concerning the cross!!  And Bishop Morton hit it and quit it with us all in awe. 

The 7 last sayings series, yesterday at noon, was great, as usual.  That service is becoming a "major" meeting in the Bay County area as our church was nearly filled to capacity in the middle of the day on a Friday!  All the preachers did a fine job, but every year there always seems to be a "signature presentation" out of all the presenters.  I believe yesterday's "signature" was the 3rd saying presented by Pastor Lillie Hutchinson of the Wynn Memorial Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ in our city.  It was absolutely unreal how she personified the situation of a mother looking at her son on the cross and in trouble.  My God!!!  Thank you "Mother Pastor!"

Today, I'm trying not to do anything (well, not publically at least).  I'm going to try to put the finishing touches on my two different preaching presentations for tomorrow.  Yes, St. John Disciples, I said two different preaching presentations.  :-)  (For all my all day attendees, you won't get a part of the message at the early session and then a full presentation of the same message at the 2nd session.  Tomorrow we will have 2 full worship services!) 

After putting these finishing touches on it is my plan to wash the cars.  Everytime I say something like that my people will often ask "you wash your own cars?"  Or "you do your own laundry?"  It's like I'm not a real person who lives in the real world like everyone else.  Though, it's funny how that applies in some cases and other cases they expect you to be just as "real" as they are when they want to tell you what to do or control you.  Yes, church folks are a strange breed. 

It is just unreal how we talk to the man (or woman) of God sometimes.  Thinking retrospectively, we had an incident to happen this week that I hope doesn't leave a lasting blemish on our church and my ministry.  In case you don't know, preachers are a rather eccentric group with strange ways and peculiar habits.  One of my mentors, Pastor Harold K. Lester in Chattanooga, Tennessee, says all preachers/pastors are mentally off; we have to be in order to deal with all that we have to deal with from church people and the life of a minister.  So we develop little quirks to try to help us cope. 

For a layperson in the church to tell a seasoned pastor of the church what he is or is not going to do is absolutely uncouth; even if it is seemingly for his own good.  I think one thing we should hold on to is that the preacher/pastor is solely in the hands of God.  And for us to try to take the reigns from God to make him do what we want him to do, good or bad, is an absolutely appalling gesture. 

Wow, the blog just got thought provoking.

Anyway, this whole Orlando Magic drama is wearing me thin.  I'm just about to get on my son's bandwagon and start calling for a complete overhaul of the organization in Orlando.  They're acting like little babies and whimps down there and it doesn't look good.

Also, in the sports world, I was already struggling to continue my Marlin mania because I'm not too fond of this name change deal.  I liked the fact that the Miami team used to represent the entire state of Florida, now it seems that's not what they want; which makes me feel they don't care about support outside of Miami.  (By the way, I'm not a Miami (the city) fan at all and not a fan of all teams Miami; so now you can feel my dilemma.)  And to top off my struggle for fanaticism, these new Miami Marlins come out of the box losing their first 2 games and only scoring one run between the both of them.  This is going to be a rough major league baseball season.  May be time to return back to the Mets or even try the Rays of Tampa Bay.  (But I like Ozzie too! smh)

I'm going to wait a few more days then maybe blog something about people's inquistion and so called "concern" for persons in the body of Christ and what exactly they expect me, us, as pastors to address or handle different scenarios in that arena.  Let me see how many more calls I get before I start in on that.

Happy Resurrection Sunday to everyone tomorrow.  Let's make sure we don't forget to worship!  You can do so with us at our church at 6:00am (and get breakfast) or 8:45am or 10:00am.  I'm still excited. 

Holy Week and Resurrection Sunday

I have been constant in my labor for Christ and His Church for quite some time now.  Every day looks like it presents more and more to do.  Surprisingly, our state convention in Palm Harbor, Florida a couple weeks ago went rather swiftly.  That was a good thing.  I like it when it seems like that. 

Yesterday was a great kickoff to what may be a long Holy Week Celebration though.  Our 10am service was indicative of what may be in the time passing this week.  We didn't get out of our 2nd service yesterday until around 1pm!!  I know "church folks" will probably say "that preacher preached too long."  But, in all actuality, I kinda let our mass choir, that was doing a marvelous job musically, sing until I think some of them were "wore out."  They were a blessing though; good job to our newly organized and assembled mass choir.  (Can't wait to see what they're going to do Easter Sunday morning.)  With the choir giving a "mini-concert" and the usual elongation that comes with the 1st Sunday Lord's Supper observance, we were there a while yesterday.  But, to me, that's perfectly fine as long as God is being glorified.

Last night, I got up from my unusual Sunday afternoon rest and nap to attend the prayer vigil, that was held across the street from the church building the people I pastor meet, in support of the Trayvon Martin situation.  I have mixed emotions about all this gathering and marching and such.  A great bulk of white America and the governmental powers that be in our country have all but told us, through their actions, that they don't care how much marching and meeting we do, they are still going to do what they want to do.  I just want to know who else can make an arrest and what does it take to make that happen.  All of our staging really doesn't do much if no action follows it.  We need to find someone to go and make the arrest, that's all.

Today starts the 3rd time our church will have "Seasoned Sermons From The Cross" Monday through Thursday during Holy Week annually.  Tonight at 6:30 we will welcome Pastor James C. Perkins from the Motor City, Detroit to kick us off.  I heard this guy preach at last year's Hampton Ministers Conference and was compelled to have him come to us during this season.  I'm so glad he consented to come.  If you read my blog constantly and believe in and support my ministry, you don't want to miss Dr. Perkins tonight or any of the other preachers that will bless us this week.

Monday, Dr. James C. Perkins of Detroit

Tuesday, Bishop Rudolph McKissick, Sr. of Jacksonville

Wednesday, Bishop Reginald K. Peyton of Tallahassee

Thursday, Bishop James H. Morton of Atlanta

All services, Monday through Thursday, start at 6:30pm.

Friday, Good Friday, at noon we will, once again, have The 7 Last Sayings of Jesus From The Cross.  This is promised to be another powerful worship at midday as it has been in previous years.  We'll hear presentations from Lillie Hutchinson, Damien Davis, Justin Omorinola, Terrance Bulger, Mark Wilkerson, and Anthony Andrews. We were supposed to hear again from my son in ministry, Pastor Chester Brown, III, but, of course, we know he won't be able to make it this year.  We are still, yet, praying for him and his speedy and complete recovery.  But we're going to make it work.  It won't be like it would have been had he been able to come, but we're going to make sure God gets His glory, regardless. 

I'll come back later on in the week to reflect on this week's activities and to comment on the plans for Resurrection Weekend; this is getting too long (like yesterday's worship LOL).

Strength for the State of Mind

Just when you thought it was over....

I am so tired.  It seems like I've been going and going and going, non-stop.  Today was just added to a series of long days, busy work and frustrating meetings. 

This morning starts with my usual Sunday rituals of worship and work.  I preached both of the worship services at our church today.  Hebrews 10:19-31 was the theme scripture for the message entitled "This Age of Apostasy."  I labored long and hard to put that one together, and, of course, the stuff you work hard at people doesn't seem to get, respond to nor enjoy.  (If I had just thrown something together for today they'd probably still be shouting. LOL)  Nevertheless, I did my best.

Our state attorney and his wife worshipped with us this morning.  I'm honored to have elected officials to stop by our church from time to time.  I wish they'd try to do it more often rather than every 4 years or so. 

This afternoon, after a rather strangely eventful interval between services, I headed up to historic DeFuniak Springs, Florida where one of my sons in ministry pastors the Mt. Nebo Baptist Church there.  This was Pastor Terrance Bulger's 5th pastoral anniversary celebration.  There I preached rather impromptu about "The Liberty to Lead and The Privilege to Pastor."  I did my best even though it was my 3rd time preaching for the day. 

This 11th year as pastor of St. John has really shown me some things.  (I've never pastored one church for longer than 9 years prior to coming to Bay County.)  Talk is something else and actions really do speak louder than words.  I don't understand the fickleness of church folk.  They profess a love and devotion for and to you but what they do says so much differently.  I love the Joyous Church that I pastor, but I'm beginning to wonder about the reciprocation.  Just be constant and consistent to your own stuff first.

Last weekend was filled with funerals, weddings and centennial anniversary services that I was privileged to play historical parts in.  Last week was filled with pastoral meetings and responsibilities.  Today's activities had me leaving the house a 7:25am and coming back into the house at 9:30pm.  And tomorrow I'm off to another long week serving as minister of music and late night preacher at the Progressive M&E Baptist Convention of Florida that will be held in Palm Harbor.  Not to mention, I'll be preaching for Dr. Gerald Thomas at his men's conference in Quincy this Friday night after hurrying from the state convention. 

Preachers and pastors are stressing and stroking out all over this country these days.  I ask your prayers for my strength and health as I endeavor to make God happy and proud in my labor and living for Him.

"I'm tired" is more than an expression of bodily sentiment; it's also a state of mind.

God's Grace And Mercy Covers Me!!!!

Time to write.

I'm sitting here waiting to continue my busy life and what will be a very busy weekend.  Tonight I will take those of our church that will go over to another local church to help push their service of revival this week.  A great ministerial mentor of many of us in our country, Rev. Otis Blackshear, will be preaching.  I'm praying for a great message and move of God through the Word tonight.

Tomorrow night starts our Men's Conference.  If everyone comes who has claimed they would be coming, we should have great participation and, prayerfully, a great praise, proclamation and power worship experience!  Again, I'm looking to hear from God supernaturally through Pastor Terence Gray of Orlando and other local pastors of our  area.  This will be Pastor Gray's first time to our pulpit.  I hope it will be unforgetable!

The Men's Conference continues Saturday morning and concludes with a noon worship opportunity.  After a full morning and afternoon Saturday, I'll do my best to come back home and put finishing preparations on Sunday's preaching presentations.  After preaching twice Sunday morning (be prayerful, I've struggled with a cold and haven't had my full voice all week), I will go up to Ft. Walton Beach to board a plane to Dallas so I can attend the National Baptist Convention of America's Winter Board Meeting.  It's been a quite a few months since I've flown, so I'm a little antsy about the experience again. 

I do all this busy ministerial work and preach, serve and represent the congregation the Lord has assigned to me with full knowledge that the devil isn't happy with me.  I have people in our church that have developed hate for me and are presently seeking ill, evil and wrongdoings information about me.  I'm fully aware of it yet not worried about it because I know God has me covered even though there are those who would not care for me to succeed.  I am constantly asked "why don't you do something about them?"  Here is my answer.  God can do more with them than I ever could or would.  I'm just grateful God supercedes anyone or anything.  And when your enemies think they're getting over on you or hating your every move and being, God's unmerited favor and merciful hand covers and protects us through it all.

I hurt, yet I shout.  I struggle, yet I shout.  I don't understand, yet I shout!  I'm broke, yet I shout!  I need a change and a shift, yet I shout!!  I bless those who I know don't give a care about me, and I shout!  (Even in their face, amongst their camp and campers.)  Why?  Because God keeps and covers me through all of this!!!  It could definitely be another way!  But if God let's strife and struggle come our way, He knows we have the strength to deal with it; He's just checking our trust.

(sigh)...... Oh God I Trust You!!