Why I Go to Church

The title of this blog says exactly what I'll be talking about right now. I was moved to write this after I read "The Dilemma of the Unchurched Believer". I feel that this was a good blog because it expresses the writer's true feelings no matter what anyone else thinks.

My first reason for going to church as a kid was because my parents made me. Most Sundays, I didn't want to go and I would try to find any excuse not to go which would include lying about being sick, injured, or even losing clothes(yeah, it was that bad). But as a kid, I could only look forward to the time I was a grown up and I wouldn't have to go to church anymore.

Once I graduated high school and left home for college, my dad died. That event, plus oddly enough, reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X, I began to seriously doubt the presence and existence of God. That doubt grew to denial which led me to living on my own earthly beliefs.

A number of things renewed my belief and my faith in God. For starters, I have lived through a major car accident, I've lived through sickness, and there have been many situations in my life that I had no control over yet I made it through. While some might say doctors healed me, or I had luck on my side, I know enough to be able to say that there is no book or no person that can teach someone else how to perform miracles of healing. I can also say that luck has nothing to do with the trials I've made it through because if luck truly existed, everyone would have a rabbit's foot right now. So my renewed faith in God brought me back to church. It was incredulous to me that I actually wanted to go.

But that's not the end of it because at one time(this is around 2002), I stopped going to church. My church became divided over a preacher and I couldn't stand it. I got fed up with all of these people who claimed they loved God fussing and fighting like they do on VH1 reality shows. So I figured that I could still get my praise on with God at my house by watching the t.v. ministers. This kind of life didn't work for me for 2 reasons. First, I began to see that the less time I spent being around people who were working to be more God-like and the more time I spent being around people who didn't care about religion, the less attention I gave God. Second, I came to accept and understand that going to church was meant for me to get closer to God by learning about Him through His word, and not so I can get closer to another person.

There is no man alive that determines my success or my failure, and there is no man alive that determines my salvation or my damnation. I've learned that that is why I go to church to, "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling." (Psalms 2:11) The journey I made to give my life to God is far from done, but it is my journey. I can't tell you who to serve, and neither can anyone else. But I will gladly tell you what He's done for me.

It's highly acceptable to brag on others

I like talking about myself. That may sound like an amazing revelation, but even I have to admit that sometimes, I enjoy spending time in self-amazement at all my "glory". In spite of this, I am constantly made aware of something even more powerful and something more worthwhile... flaunting the gifts, abilities, and successes of others.

Am I crazy for this...not in the least bit. Because not only have I found that my friends have told more people about what I've done than I could ever do alone, but I also find it more fun to talk about someone other than myself. How else do we find out about the singer with the amazing voice that no one else has heard of? Do you personally always have the best relationship advice or do you get words of wisdom from someone who's been in a happy relationship for years on end?

We are a world that thrives on information and the only way that information is learned is when you pass it on. I've made amazing friends, acquaintances, contacts, and whatever else you want to call them, but the greatest thrill in knowing them is making sure others know about them too.

My 2010 NFL predictions

Disclaimer: I am as shocked as you are about some of my predictions, but I stand behind them...unless players start getting hurt(I'm looking at you Mr. Schaub & Mr. Sanders).

AFC North

Baltimore - 14-2(div. winners)
Cincinnati - 11-5(wild card winner)
Pittsburgh - 9-7
Cleveland - 0-16(a little of a shocker)

AFC South

Indianapolis - 12-4(div. winners)
Tennessee - 10-6(wild card winner)
Houston - 9-7
Jacksonville - 2-14

AFC East

New England - 12-4(div. winners)
New York - 7-9(so much for buying a SB)
Miami - 7-9
Buffalo - 3-13

AFC West

San Diego - 13-3(div. winners)
Denver - 8-8
Oakland - 8-8
Kansas City - 4-12

NFC North

Green Bay - 12-4(div. winners)
Minnesota - 8-8(don't shoot the messenger)
Chicago - 8-8
Detroit - 7-9(BIG time improvement)

NFC South

New Orleans - 12-4(div. winners)
Atlanta - 12-4(wild card winner)
Carolina - 6-10
Tampa Bay - 3-13

NFC East

Dallas - 13-3(div. winners)
New York - 10-6(wild card winner)
Philadelphia - 8-8
Washington - 6-10

NFC West

San Francisco - 9-7(div. winners)
Arizona Cardinals - 5-11
Seattle Seahawks - 4-12
St. Louis - 3-13

AFC championship game

Baltimore vs. San Diego - Baltimore wins

NFC championship game

Dallas vs. Green Bay - Dallas wins

Super Bowl 45

Dallas vs. Baltimore(YEAH!)

A Jazmine Cashmere is tempting, but a Lena Horne is timeless

A Jazmine Cashmere is tempting, but a Lena Horne is timeless
Being a man, I admit I am addicted to the visual
But there's something about style and grace that's more sensual
A woman's beauty may fade, but her soul is everlasting

Being a man, I admit I am addicted to the visual
But no matter how good she looks, at some point, she has to talk
A woman's beauty may fade, but her soul is everlasting
Some women have sexy parts, but a chosen few exude sexiness

No matter how good she looks, at some point, she has to talk
And the phenomenal women have brains behind that sexy walk
Some women have sexy parts, but a chosen few exude sexiness
The iceberg of your body is stunning, but show me what's underneath

The phenomenal women have brains behind that sexy walk
But there's something about style and grace that's more sensual
The iceberg of your body is stunning, but show me what's underneath
A Jazmine Cashmere is tempting, but a Lena Horne is timeless

Writer's note - If you haven't heard of Jazmine Cashmere or Lena Horne, google them! No, I'm not picking on Jazmine or anyone else because she is sexy. This poem is about going past the outer beauty and finding out what's underneath...the real sexiness is there.

Talented Ink Vs. The Iced Out Kid

YOU ROCKED OUT, YOU ICED OUT

BUT I'M ABOUT TO CUT THE LIGHTS OUT

GAME'S OVER, SCHOOL'S IN SESSION

THIS TEACHER'S BRINGING THE FIRST LESSON

YOU ROLLING ON DUBS WITH A MIND FULL OF NOTHING

BUT IT'S HIGH TIME SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING

YOU LISTEN TO KANYE AND RICK ROSS RHYME

BUT FOR KNOWLEDGE WON'T SPARE A DIME

I SPIT FIRE ON YOU FOR WEARING ICE

LISTEN TO MY WORDS BECAUSE I WON'T SAY THEM TWICE

I USE NOUNS, ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

FOR SORRY SUCKERS GETTING ON MY NERVES

STEADILY SCREAMING OUT "HATERATION"

WHILE YOU'RE DUMBING DOWN AN ENTIRE NATION

I CAN'T TAKE ANYMORE, MY MIND'S OFF VACATION

SO SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP

AS THESE LYRICS I CUT UP

THOSE GUYS HAVE MILLION DOLLAR DEALS

FOR MAKING YOUR DUMBASS BUY GRILLS

OPEN A BOOK, READ, AND THEN LEARN

INSTEAD OF ACTING LIKE YOU HAVE MONEY TO BURN

IGNORANCE ISN'T BLISS

IF MY WORDS YOU MISS

ON THE WRONG THINGS YOU GIVE RELIANCE

SO IT'S ONLY RIGHT I DROP SWEET SCIENCE

I ONLY SAY THESE WORDS BECAUSE I GIVE A DAMN

"AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER..."

"YES I AM!"

Commercial break for...INSTA-BLACK!

What most of you don't realize is that all the funding that is required to run my blog is paid by my sponsor, Blammo Industries. With that being said, it's time for a commercial break. If you want a serious blog, try coming back next time.

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Thank you 9/11 first responders, and screw congressional bureaucrats

There was a moment in my life when I was involved in a car accident that was so severe that my head was split open and I was knocked unconscious. I could not help myself, and if it were not for the grace of God, onlookers, policemen, firemen and emergency medical technicians(first responders) who airlifted me to a hospital, I would have died. For one second, I want you to think about a moment where you, a loved one, or even just someone you know owes their life to the unselfish and ever alert actions of a first responder.

With that thought in your mind, it is beyond my political comprehension that any man or woman, Democrat or Republican could have the nerve to vote no on a bill for health care for 9/11 first responders. Why, in God's name would Republicans vote "no" to this bill? Because, "the bill would pay for itself by closing a tax loophole on foreign companies with U.S. subsidiaries." In other words, multinational corporations that are exempt from U.S. taxes would no longer have that exemption. And, Republicans aren't in agreement with that.

But the health care bill received a majority vote which would have passed it, but Democratic representatives enacted a special voting procedure which required that the bill get at least a 2/3 majority vote in order to be passed. Why? Because the Democrats felt the Republicans might "try to kill the bill with amendments". What kind of message does this send to every American who is a first responder and even Americans who are simply good Samaritans? First responders get paid for their job, but they take the classes and get the necessary training for their jobs by their own choice. So it seems that the men and women of congress are telling them that they made a poor choice in judgment because of congress's unwillingness to help our own even though the first responders are helping us.

But this isn't a rant. This is a request for you to use your political power to help influence your congressmen. Write your representative by going here. Once you get the address, mail your congressman a letter and ask, no demand that they revive the Zadroga act and then to vote yes. If you don't want to mail a letter, call them instead. We were all so happy to "rock the vote", so here's a chance to make more real change for the people who help keep us alive.