FOOLS RUSH … WHERE THE WISE FEAR TO TREAD

                I watched the CEO of Goldman Sachs as he responded to a constant barrage of questions hurled at him by elected representatives… our Senators.   It will be understated to say I was impressed with his deft handling of the deluge of questioning.   Yes!  I admired this Wall Street Titan, this defender of Capitalist Ventures.   Here is a man whose stance embodied the Capitalist edict… Caveat Emptor (Let the Buyer Beware).   As I immersed myself within the all embracing concept of this doctrine, a small voice within heeded me to caution.  It was the voice of my grandfather speaking from beyond his grave.   His message was a simple one, “Fools rush in where wise men fear to tread.”  Overcome with consternation I focused on his words seeking understanding.

                I then asked myself this question, “As a Christian, is caveat emptor a philosophy you can embrace?”  The answer was  an instantaneous: No! Caveat Emptor is unalterable opposed to the Christian edict, “We are our Brother’s Keeper”.

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On Friday, November 21, 2008 I received an award from my church family, Calvary-Roseville United Methodist located in East Orange, New Jersey.  I was humbled by my selection and expressed my gratitude.  Also, I chose that moment to remind the audience of our tasks (from my point of view) as Christians.

Text of Acceptance Address:

Job 14:1-2 reminds us:  "Man that is born of woman is of a few days and full of trouble; He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down, he fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not". 

This passage sobers us to the realization that ... given our brief stint, the light we shine will stand as the legacy of our passage here.

 My light is still dim and sometime flickers.  And so, it is with a profound sense of humility that I receive this award.

I am further humbled by the realization that one can gain more privileges when others judge us ... as opposed to if we had to judge ourselves.

Allow me to take this moment to say that recognizing the efforts of our peers to foster goodwill amongst us... represents the infancy of the task to which we have been commissioned.  That task is to feed his sheep.

In closing, let us pause for a moment to remember our prime directive ... love one another.  From hence we know we are our brother's keeper.  ONE LOVE!

I believe that it cannot be overstated that our heavenly father and our fellowship with him should be our priority.  This thought must be foremost within our minds.  All other entities should share a secondary berth.  Because I am wedded to this idea, I believe that we need to constantly remind ourselves that men and women should be subservient to our God and our laws.  We have elected Barack Obama to be our president.  He is slated to serve us for the next four years.  Let us keep him in our prayers.  Here in the United States and in many countries around the world he is held in high esteem and because of this, I felt compelled to repost one of my prior journal entries. 

Our Limit Was High...Back When We Were Dumb (We Didn't Settle For Less)

Oh Lord Our Help In Ages Past Our Hope For Years To Come

He who settles for less, settles for mediocrity.  Christ showed us God's humility when he taught us to pray.  (God leads by example.) Christ began by saying "our father".  By saying these words, Christ bought us closer to our creator and in this way he established the bond between us.    Our God is approachable.

Words are important because of the symbolism they create.  John 1:1 tells us that in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.  John 1:14 states that the word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten son of the father) full of grace and truth. We avoid addressing fellow humans as lord or master because of the symbolism such words evoke.  We should exercise great caution in how we address and view our earthly partners, advisors or chosen leaders.  We must be ever vigilant that these individuals not share the same proximity nor be elevated beyond that of our Heavenly Father.  Let our doctrines be scripturally based and our lives holy; then we may hold a better perspective on others from whom we seek advice or place in positions of leadership. 

At a critical juncture in the history of this great nation (America) John Hancock wrote, "In circumstances as these, it becomes us, as men and Christians, to reflect that, whilst every prudent measure should be taken to ward off the impending judgment ... all confidence must be withheld from the means we use; and reposed only on that God who rules in the armies of heaven and without whose blessing the best human counsels are but foolishness and all created power vanity."  These passages attempt to shed some light of understanding upon why we must not elevate our earthly partners, advisers, or leaders above that of our creator.

George Washington observed, "It is the happiness of his church that, when the powers of earth and hell combine against it ... that the throne of grace is of the easiest access and its appeal thither is graciously invited by the Father mercies."

At the moment we arrive at this level of conscious thought, we will more aptly embrace our Heavenly Father.  It cannot be overstated that we the people must take all necessary steps to ensure that the persons whom we placed in positions of authority should not be exalted within our minds.  Because, when this happens it allows for mischief making.  Thomas Jefferson observed that very point when he wrote, "In questions of power, then, let not more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the constitution."

 HOLD ON TO GOD'S UNCHANGING HAND.

On Friday, November 21, 2008 I received an award from my church family, Calvary-Roseville United Methodist located in East Orange, New Jersey.  I was humbled by my selection and expressed my gratitude.  Also, I chose that moment to remind the audience of our tasks (from my point of view) as Christians.

Text of Acceptance Address:

Job 14:1-2 reminds us:  “Man that is born of woman is of a few days and full of trouble; He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down, he fleeth also as a shadow and continueth not”. 

This passage sobers us to the realization that … given our brief stint, the light we shine will stand as the legacy of our passage here.

My light is still dim and sometime flickers.  And so, it is with a profound sense of humility that I receive this award.

I am further humbled by the realization that one can gain more privileges when others judge us … as opposed to if we had to judge ourselves.

Allow me to take this moment to say that recognizing the efforts of our peers to foster goodwill amongst us… represents the infancy of the task to which we have been commissioned.  That task is to feed his sheep.

In closing, let us pause for a moment to remember our prime directive … love one another.  From hence we know we are our brother’s keeper.  ONE LOVE!

 

I believe that it cannot be overstated that our heavenly father and our fellowship with him should be our priority.  This thought must be foremost within our minds.  All other entities should share a secondary berth.  Because I am wedded to this idea, I believe that we need to constantly remind ourselves that men and women should be subservient to our God and our laws.  We have elected Barack Obama to be our president.  He is slated to serve us for the next four years.  Let us keep him in our prayers.  Here in the United States and in many countries around the world he is held in high esteem and because of this, I felt compelled to repost one of my prior journal entries.

Our Limit Was High…Back When We Were Dumb (We Didn’t Settle For Less)

Oh Lord Our Help In Ages Past Our Hope For Years To Come

He who settles for less, settles for mediocrity.  Christ showed us God’s humility when he taught us to pray.  (God leads by example.) Christ began by saying “our father”.  By saying these words, Christ bought us closer to our creator and in this way he established the bond between us.    Our God is approachable.

Words are important because of the symbolism they create.  John 1:1 tells us that in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.  John 1:14 states that the word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten son of the father) full of grace and truth. We avoid addressing fellow humans as lord or master because of the symbolism such words evoke.  We should exercise great caution in how we address and view our earthly partners, advisors or chosen leaders.  We must be ever vigilant that these individuals not share the same proximity nor be elevated beyond that of our Heavenly Father.  Let our doctrines be scripturally based and our lives holy; then we may hold a better perspective on others from whom we seek advice or place in positions of leadership. 

At a critical juncture in the history of this great nation (America) John Hancock wrote, “In circumstances as these, it becomes us, as men and Christians, to reflect that, whilst every prudent measure should be taken to ward off the impending judgment … all confidence must be withheld from the means we use; and reposed only on that God who rules in the armies of heaven and without whose blessing the best human counsels are but foolishness and all created power vanity.”  These passages attempt to shed some light of understanding upon why we must not elevate our earthly partners, advisers, or leaders above that of our creator.

George Washington observed, “It is the happiness of his church that, when the powers of earth and hell combine against it … that the throne of grace is of the easiest access and its appeal thither is graciously invited by the Father mercies.”

At the moment we arrive at this level of conscious thought, we will more aptly embrace our Heavenly Father.  It cannot be overstated that we the people must take all necessary steps to ensure that the persons whom we placed in positions of authority should not be exalted within our minds.  Because, when this happens it allows for mischief making.  Thomas Jefferson observed that very point when he wrote, “In questions of power, then, let not more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the constitution.”

 HOLD ON TO GOD’S UNCHANGING HAND!

I asked life to show me a story and he took me …

In his time machine

Through an age of war and glory

To a place, I’d never seen

This was the beginning

‘Twas an area—so devoid of life

It filled me with foreboding

Believe me, friends, I do not jest

My very senses—felt depressed

With rapid speed I felt myself succumbing

In the clutch of that Scrooge

A helpless victim

Suddenly with, fear I began to realize

That unwittingly—through negative strive, I was contributing to my demise

Wherever fear raises its ugly head … there’s arid soil for everything dead

I fought and fought with strength and might

Just as I though my soul would give

I heard a voice say, “Let there be light”

I knew I had to live

Within those words “let there be light,” I found my reason for living.

            Life provides all possibilities for reform.  This miracle called life sets the stage for all other miracles.

Excerpts from Moving Toward Perfection, pgs. 26-27

During my adolescence years, I met my enemy.  My enemy was me.  The only person I could think about was me. Within my mind, nobody cared for me.  I was self-absorbed and alienated.  During that period, I saw my life’s journey as nothing more than an endeavor towards nothingness.

There were times that I seriously gave thought to ending my life. Several times in my thoughts, I walked through various scenarios: cutting my wrist, drowning or taking sleeping pills.  I can still vividly recall my daily struggles with the demons that resided within me.

As I wrestled with my demons, my Heavenly Father appeared and I recorded the moment.

Life, oh! Life—thou elusive tormentor

Why the pleasure—in watching men die

Was it with idleness—inspired by boredom, you started

this prank …

At first he was amusing—this manikin, his helpless

confusion

“A comical sight to see,” did you then say to yourself?

“I’ll lift the veil a little”

Better still – you gave him a mind...

A little cave in which you buried, “selected treasures

from your storehouse”

With joy and glee you gloat …

At man’s painstaking efforts

To find those hidden riches

Sometimes allowing him a mere glimpse—

A feeling of well-being

Then with cold deliberation—

You slowly replace the veil

Finally! With casual indifference

You send him back to oblivion from whence

He came.

As I slipped deeper and deeper into depression, the following poem reflected God’s answer to me. Moving Towards Perfection, Pg. 25- 26

He who settles for less, settles for mediocrity.  Christ showed us God’s humility when he taught us to pray.  (God leads by example.) Christ began by saying “our father”.  By saying these words, Christ bought us closer to our creator and in this way he established the bond between us.    Our God is approachable.

Words are important because of the symbolism they create.  John 1:1 tells us that in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.  John 1:14 states that the word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten son of the father) full of grace and truth. We avoid addressing fellow humans as lord or master because of the symbolism such words evoke.  We should exercise great caution in how we address and view our earthly partners, advisors or chosen leaders.  We must be ever vigilant that these individuals not share the same proximity nor be elevated beyond that of our Heavenly Father.  Let our doctrines be scripturally based and our lives holy; then we may hold a better perspective on others from whom we seek advice or place in positions of leadership. 

At the moment we arrive at this level of conscious thought, we will more aptly embrace our Heavenly Father.  It cannot be overstated that we the people must take all necessary steps to ensure that the persons whom we placed in positions of authority should not be exalted within our minds.  Because, when this happens it allows for mischief making.  Thomas Jefferson observed that very point when he wrote, “In questions of power, then, let not more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the constitution.”

At a critical juncture in the history of this great nation (America) John Hancock wrote, “In circumstances as these, it becomes us, as men and Christians, to reflect that, whilst every prudent measure should be taken to ward off the impending judgment … all confidence must be withheld from the means we use; and reposed only on that God who rules in the armies of heaven and without whose blessing the best human counsels are but foolishness and all created power vanity.”  These passages attempt to shed some light of understanding upon why we must not elevate our earthly partners, advisers, or leaders above that of our creator.

George Washington observed, “It is the happiness of his church that, when the powers of earth and hell combine against it … that the throne of grace is of the easiest access and its appeal thither is graciously invited by the Father mercies.”

“You and me, we wanted it all ….
Passion without pain, sunshine without rain”… Frank Sinatra, You and Me

In spite of our best intentions, a relationship can go awry.  Yet, despite how dismaying the reality, we must confront our imperfections.  Within this endeavor, we will discover our weaknesses and must resolve ourselves to seek counsel with our Heavenly Father. Our Heavenly Father will provide answers to many questions that cross our path.  Oftentimes, in our relationship with another, we may harbor a utopian view of impending events.  Because of this mindset, we may reach a state of consciousness which is displeasing to us.  “Inadequate information about a journey may find us wistfully questioning ourselves and casting doubt upon the wisdom of our traveling partner”, Moving Toward Perfection, pg. 31. 

How do we cross this divide? Let us first seek inspiration from the words of St. Paul’s in Galatians 6:10, “as we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith”. 

From here we will move to Philippians 4:10-14, “but I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

 Theo

There is only one Lord, one spirit of God, and one God who is the father of all people, (Ephesians 4). This means that we must let the spirit keep our hearts united, so that we can live at peace with each other. We must also be ever mindful that we dare not seek to elevate our own glory, for it will corrode our thoughts and separate us from the sublime grace of our loving father. Let us remember that Corinthians 5:14-15 tells us: “The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then we are all dead.  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

We, unlike God whose love is unchanging, may find that our love for each other may give us pause during certain periods and will change.  Because we are imperfect beings, we will make mistakes.  Yet, through our mistakes and the ironies we may confront, we may yet find our equilibrium within the knowledge of God’s unchanging love for us.

Let our message for this Father’s Day embrace the words of St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, as stated in Ephesians 6, “children, you belong to the Lord, and you do the right thing when you obey your parents.  Obey your father and your mother and you will have a long life. . . Finally, let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong.  Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks. . .  We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world. . .  Never stop praying, especially for others.  Always pray by the Power of the Spirit.  Stay alert and keep praying for God’s people”.

Theo

Christ brought reality to us by exhorting us to love one another (Luke 10:27).  Hence, with this command we learn that we are our brother’s keeper.

Loving our neighbor gives us a new understanding of God’s real and unconditional love for us, because at its core, love is reciprocal.  The love of our Father encompasses truth and wisdom.  Our Heavenly Father is just; our Heavenly Father is truth; our Heavenly is omnipotent.

Man’s power and knowledge on earth is flawed, shortsighted, and finite.  Often, when man attempts to give his version of what constitutes right or wrong, he does so through a flawed and finite ability to comprehend.  Within this flawed ability, his version of right or wrong often fails to countenance his limited ability to differentiate these two imposters.  This results in his using his earthly powers to dictate his preferences.

Simply stated, there is right; there is wrong; and more importantly, there is the reality of power.  He who controls the levers of power usually provides the answers to the questions of right and wrong.

HOLDON TO GOD’S UNCHANGING HAND!