Da Word... 194! NBAMNBAAO

Good MORNING!

Yup, homeboy is writing this in real time!  I catch one every once in a while, heh heh.  Hope your summers are going well thus far!  Yesterday I hit up the Dragon Boat Festival here in Boston and caught the Taiko (Japanese Drum) Performance.  It was ILL!!!!!!  Taiko is da bomb.  Especially the huge Taiko Matsuri I witnessed in Japan, yooooooooo!  Aight, on to... da Word!

checkit:

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

- James (James 1:4)

Awwww yeah!  Back in James, mmhmmm!  Most of chapter one is about bustin' a beat down on the trials and temptations that might try and stage a coup on you.  Matter o' fact, James starts it by saying, "Yo, think it straight ILL son!  Pure JOY potnas!  ...whenever these kats try to pounce." See, bruthaz and sistaz, these "tests" will increase your level with a quickness.  Levelin' up is hot!  But getting there is tough sometimes. And thus perseverance is KEY. 

No matter what the trial, no matter what the test, no matter what the situation, we gots to persevere.  If we do not let perseverance run its course, we are likely to quit and let life have its way with us.  Naw lo!  That ain't how it's meant to be!  Take life by the horns and make it yours! We cannot become complete in our being without persevering.  Think about your role models and great leaders both historical and present.  I bet each one gained such a high position and value in your eye because they each persevered through something. 

Go out into the world then and face life full bore; welcome its trials with a spark in your eye and a smirk that screams, "Bring it on! I know something you don't..... (I've got Pops above on my side)."  Persevere!  And potnas, let this be your mantra:

Not by any means necessary but against all odds.

G-bless,

    - patrick

Da Word... 193! Walk, not just talk!

Yoooo!

Hey hope all is well!  Been a hot minute eh?  heh heh.  Hope your memorial day weekend was off the hook!  And now, we are back on track, tru!  Aight, on to.. da Word. 

checkit:

You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

- James (James 2:24)

Yo James is on FIRE!!!!  Enfuego son!  If you haven't read da book of James, you should definitely peep it.  The book, though short, packs maaaaaaaaaaaaaad punch!  N e who, this tidbit of goodness speaks volumes.  It comes after James points out that old testament badmamajamma Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness by Pops above!  That is SIC yo!  Pops above Himself justified Abraham's faith.  Why?  Cuz Abraham acted in faith.  He did what Pops asked, believing that Pops had everything under control.  Peep da story of Abraham and his son Isaac for the fully skinny. Meanwhile....

Potnas, the point is this... faith without action is like a leader without vision... USELESS!  If your faith is not motivating you towards action, then I would start questioning whether or not that faith is real.  Cuz yo, real faith.... shoooooot, you wouldn't be able to put a cap on that hydrant if you wanted to.  The urge to act would be gushing forth with such force you couldn't help BUT act in reflection of that faith.  Faith is so transforming that your very desires become aligned with those of Pops.  And Pops desires to love all and to demonstrate that love via action.  It follows then that your faith will drive you towards action, and your deeds will thus justify your faith.

Represent Christ!  Walk... and not just talk!

G-bless,

  - patrick