Da Word... 172!

Goooood Morning all!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!  And what a fine morning it is!  Blue sky, beautiful sun, it is great!  I've been up since 720ish enjoying the awakening of the morning through the windows of my room.  Quite nice quite nice.  Oh, the surgery went well too.  I'm currently in recoop mode with this continuous motion machine bending my knee for me.  I hope you all are having an excellent day and that your are enjoying it with your families, tru!   Aight, on to... da Word!

checkit:

An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

- Luke 22:43

Aw yeah. Did you catch that? Heh, maybe a lil' background will help.  In verse 43, my man J is prayin' to the father saying if Pops be willing, please take this cup, but His will be done.   Yup, this is that fateful night when my man J gets arrested and goes through the worst treatment ever, including the horrible means of execution known as crucifixion.  The stuff was just about to hit the fan.  Imagine you were J at that very moment.  You know what's about to take place, how much pain you're about to go through, how much betrayal you're about to face (especially from Peter!)... wouldn't you be feeling a little anxious?  Oh yeah.  Wouldn't you hope that there might be another way?  Uh huh.  no doubt.

So J is in this garden.  He's praying.  He's sweating.  He's nervous.  He's scared.  Two things happened.  One, he said let the Father's will be done.  The second, an angel was sent to strengthen him.  My bruthaz and sistaz,  we may come across a path someday that will be tremendously difficult.  And in our minds, we may not want to walk that path.  But deep down we will know that it is the path Pops would like us to take.  Why?  For numerous reasons we may not be ready to even understand or capable to understand.  But rest assured potnas!  Pops will never leave or forsake ya!  NO WAY NO HOW!   If we roll with Pops, and put our trust in him, he will carry us through.  And, no matter the struggle, he will send one or two to strengthen you and to encourage you.

The take away?  Let's engage Pops in the highest levels and accomplish things far greater than we could ever simply by rolling with Pops.  And know that he will strengthen you to take you all the way. 

Aiight potans, gotta bounce and make some calls!  PeACE!

G-bless,

   - patrick

Da Word... 171!

Good Morning!

What's uuuuuup!  It's the friday before Christmas potnas!!!! YEAH!  I'm sure a lot of you are taking the day off, heh heh.  Safe travels for of you who will be gong places and Merry Christmas!  Things here are going well.  This week's been a lil' hectic (hence my lateness!!! heh).  I'll be getting ACL reconstuctive surgery today on my right knee at abouuuut... 12:30.  SO, if ya wanna drop a couple prayas for a brutha, feel free. (my florida peeps, that means i won't be comin').  Aight, on to... da Word!

checkit:

Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

- Proverbs 27:4

BAM!!!!!  Yooooo, when I read that I was like, "TRUUUUU!"   This ain't no lie.  And it hits you right there when you read it.  Heck yeah anger is cruel.  Think back to the times when you were angry... what kind of thoughts coursed through your head?  Oh oh, if we can play them on a screen, peeps might think you were straight evil.  Oh, the things you wanted to do to the object of your angry... maaaaaaaan. 

But that ain't squat compared to FURY!  OH SNAP!  Yo, when we are furious.... boyyyyyyy, peeps better clear the room.  I mean with a quickness potnas.  By the time we are furious, we've got so much emotion invested into the situation that it becomes hard to think, and instead we just act.  And the thoughts rampaging through our minds are all pretty twisted.  In fact, if we could see those thoughts on a screen, peeps might call ya demonic.  But WAIT....... how about jealousy?

Jealousy is like that calm, cold, and eerie state that scares the pants off of everybody.  Why?  Well, you're not angry.  Nor are you furious.  As a matter of fact, it seems that you are devoid of emotion.  In other words, you've come to a state where you are at ease with the things you want to do to this person, this object of your jealousy.  And that means you are capable of anything... without remorse.  Whoa. Sometimes jealousy is also emotion fused too.  Yo jealousy drives people to the most heinous of things.  Jealousy will tear you and whoever is around you apart.... to pieces.  Jealousy is a straight cancer that if not headed off will eat you and everyone you love alive.  Not to mention all the innocent bystanders.  My friends, who can stand before jealousy?  That's like the point where fire goes from a nice orange to white hot.... focused and deadly.

Let's not be jealous of one another, it's too dangerous.  Especially during this holiday season, let's remember that it's not about presents, or who gets what, and all that jazz.  No, it's about my man J da Christ, the ultimate gift to mankind being bestowed upon us. 

G-bless,

   - patrick