Thursday, March 13, 2008

Response and Agreement

Ephesians 6:5- "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ..."

I agree with the brother who spoke on racism. This verse of the Bible is very troubling. It is saying that you, the reader and believer, should fear your earthly master. No, it is God you should fear when it is all said and done. Paul wrote this verse. He is saying that Christ is God and that you should fear your slavemasters like you should fear God. So, is Paul saying that God is a slavemaster and they, the earthly slavemasters, are God? Those who believe that the Bible is the inerrant word of God do have a problem convincing me that this is rational. God is the one and only who should be feared. All of humankind, slaves or slavemasters, should fear God and submit to Him. God, Allah is All-Merciful, All-Wise.

Churches are segregated today in America. That is still true today. Many churches today want to change that and invite everybody regardless to come and worship on Sunday, but the reality of all of this is nothing but talk. They invite and then they don't. All talk, no action. That is my soapbox for today.

Wonderful video!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Racism

YouTuber VoyageIslam reveals the hypocrisy.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Confession from an Oklahoma Sooner Fan

A statement made by a Sooner fan written on the back of a T-shirt:

"Sooner born and Sooner bred. When I die, I'll be Sooner dead."

How about this one they can use.

"Born Sooner and Bred Sooner. I hope when I die, I die Sooner."

What geniuses!

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Mount Magazine

This week, there was a snow storm. There was a great deal of snow on the ground. Then, it melted real fast because the temperature was above freezing and sky was clear. It became sunny. Yesterday, I paid a visit to Mount Magazine. While all of the snow was gone in the valley, Mount Magazine and the higher elevations nearby still has snow. It was pretty. It almost gave it a sense of me being some place else. It was almost like I was in Colorado, but I wasn't. This is in Arkansas. The snow made this place more like I was far away from home, or seem like I was. But, I wasn't. I was only 50 miles away from home. It was a nice drive for one day through Paris, then to the mountain, then down to Havana, and back through Booneville, Greenwood, and back home in Fort Smith.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Tony Lee Hayes

This is a cousin of mine who passed away on February 28. He was true believer of God and I know he is in heaven now. While on earth, he was mentally handicapped. Now, he is perfected. He was a friendly, loving guy who would hug your neck and he was never judgmental of anybody and never cared what people may say about him. The funeral was today at the church his family now attends, the Ninth Street Baptist Church. It was a beautiful ceremony. I remember the last time I saw him. It was at Aunt Adeline's birthday, more like a family reunion among relatives I know from the mother's side of the family. He was excited like a child would be and happy to be there with people he loves. During the time, he was 52 years old. He was in good health physically, but mentally he was getting worse. He was able some years ago to take care of himself. But, later on, something was happening to him. His parents, my uncle and my aunt, had to find someone to take care of him. They agreed to take him away from home to live at a ranch in Jay, Oklahoma. After they agreed to do that, I knew something was up. They wanted him to be happy and where he was happiest was to live at a ranch where there are livestock. I imagine that's the case, but I also imagine he missed his loved ones back home. Time went on until my father received a phone call from my uncle that Tony passed away. He died from pneumonia. Before this happened, I had a feeling of what was going to become of Tony.

The eulogy made by his nephew, Adam, was beautiful. He was like a playmate to Adam when Adam was a child. I remember when he was like a child to his siblings until his siblings got older. I remember he hated the rock music that was blaring out of Rick's stereo when his family were all living in southern California. He cared about them and prayed for them, prayed that they would get away from evil. Adam's story of Tony pretty much summed up what Tony was all about. Nobody else stood up to give their reflections. Adam knew him better. I only remember him from my past further on down. My uncle was very proud of his grandson, Adam, for standing up to say a few words. The pastor conducting this ceremony was A.J. Parish, pastor of the Ninth Street Baptist Church. He was a former county coroner of Sebastian County. It is nice that I have relatives who attend this church. This is a traditional, African-American church, but more importantly, it is a God-believing church and the presence of God is there. His immediate family will miss Tony and I will miss him, too. May God Bless his family.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Did Jesus Claim Divinity?

Did Jesus (AS) Claim Divinity? Dr. Zakir Naik believes he didn't, using these verses from John 10 in the Bible. But, you be the judge of that.

John 10: 22-42 (KJV)

"And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch (colonnade). Then came the Jews round about him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shown you from my Father, for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good we stone thee not; but for blasphemy that thou, being a man makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken; Saay ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works; that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

Therefore they sought again to take him; but he escaped out of their hand, And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. And many resorted unto him and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. And many believed on him there."

Jesus and God (Allah) are one in purpose and in perpetuity.