Sitting in my car

Who does that? Who just sits in their car staring at space, no thing I have that's actually mine, as much of an expensive headache it can be...its sometimes the only privacy I get that I can control. I go out there get inside sit down and just recline and stare up into the sky, sometimes I watch the sunset, sometimes I people watch, or I may go down to the water and stare out at the water. Its my momentary solace. I think, I pray, I cry, I laugh, but mostly I pray and think, sometimes I write, like now. Just clearing my head....

Watch yo mouth!

Okay, maybe it's just me.... But I am really big on the manner in which people talk to me. Now, Lord knows He has brought me a LOOOOOOOONG way...and those of you who have known me long enough know this to be true! But every now and then I get flashbacks...brought on by ignorant people.

So at work, I am currently cross-training, learning a lot of new things. Now, I'm a pretty quick study, I learn fast and I ask questions when I don't understand etc. the problem I am having is with people who know you are training, who know this is not your usual position, but decide they want to be impatient or that they want to talk to you out the side of their mouth, like they don't have any sense.

If you know me, you also know that I have a very slick tongue and I don't have a problem standing up for myself and I am not a respecter of persons' I'm an equal opportunity smart *mouth* with that being said... I'm at work trying my best to learn this job and be effiecient and meet the needs of the people in a timely fashion etc.... I'm curteous, polite, patient etc... I try really hard to maintain even after the first couple of people aggrovate me, and as time goes on I am fairly certain now that (in my paranoid mind) that these crazies are out to provoke me... I almost lost the victory over my mouth by getting into a war of wits with a coworker...a manager at that. But I had to regroup because it was going to far.

I'm saying all this to say that even I, with my 'bad self', had to learn at some point to not be so quick to speak or outwit or snap back at others. These people who were talking to me crazy don't know me, they don't know what my background is, or what i'm capable of. They don't know what it would take to set me off and have me go postal on the whole place. And none of us really know about the next person or what they are going through. Do we really know or consider how the next set of words out of our mouths can be all it takes to set that person over the edge!

For most of us, its not that serious, we may be having a bad day, things are not great at home, bills do, baby need shoes, PMS whatever....so at most if someone crosses us, they will get an ultimate tongue lashing, with the works. For others like myself, they will get ignored or looked at like they are stupid or the 'consider this a warning' look. HOWEVER...there are those who are a lot more unstable than the rest of us. Who take it to the next level when crossed, for example, coming up to the job or the church with guns or bombs and such....all because you took their stapler off the desk....

So before you decide to unleash your wrath or be rude to the next guy/gal just consider your options first, chose your words and your tone carefully, try some patience, it goes a long way....and hey even a smile, it can turn that persons day around. Just a thought!

Exposed

So, I recently made my blog public, I mean it has always been 'public' but I was blogging kind of annoymously, no one who knows me knew I had a blog, just the strangers out in blog-land. I prefered it that way for a while because I enjoyed the freedom of it, being able to be 100%, not that I am not always genuine. But, I could share whatever I wanted and really put myself out there...the good, the bad, the ugly, without fear or inhibition you know? Besides, this was more therapy for me than anything else.

However, I realize that I can still be candid and share myself, my life, my world, with those who know me...or think they do (smile). I can't live in fear of what others think of me, thats never really been my style, so why start now right? I just don't want to offend or hurt anyone through sharing my honest thoughts, feelings, and opinions. And if it happens to be you, the person who will eventually take something I've shared or wrote about personally, then I apologize ahead of time....not for how I feel, but for whatever negative impact it had on you.

I know I posted a disclaimer before, (if you have not read it, please do before you get your panties in a bunch over anything expressed in my blog). The main point(s) of the disclaimer are just to say that yes I am a Christian, yes I am even a "Minister", and NO I don't do everything right, NO I don't have life all figured out, YES I do still bump my head and fall on my butt....A LOT. I make some dumb choices...(I won't call them mistakes, because are choices are very rarely if ever accidental....) I get discouraged, I get tired, I have a long way to go...salvation, our spiritual walk etc it is all a process and we won't get it all right over night. I make no excuses for myself. I take responsibility for ME. I'm just grateful and I thank God for Christ who sees us not where we are but where we will be, where He is taking us...the end result. I'm glad He mets us where we are and yet still bids us to come higher in Him.

So what you will find/read here within my blog, is me, my life...the stuff I face, the stuff I struggle with. And bear with me, it is not easy to put myself out here like this. Its never easy being naked and bear....uncovered.

But don't worry its not all serious and deep all the time...LOL a lot of foolishness will be included as well, a lot of randomness...and if there is anything you want to know or want me to write about, ask about etc. just contact me and let me know.

Teen Pregnancy, Hollywood Style

Newsweek- Once taboo, pregnant teenagers are popping up more frequently on TV, in movies and on magazine covers. The problem? This latest pop-culture coverage doesn't show what comes before or after.

(click on the title to see the article) Another interesting article i found while browsing at work today...(what can I say, it was a slow day today!) The article talks about teen pregnancy being glamorized by the media (TV, movies, celebs). The article takes the position that the most important things about teen pregnancy/teen sex are being left out, such as what leads to teen pregnancy and the life of a teen mother.

Personally, I think it is a good medium to open up conversation and dialogue with teens about the subject, instead of continuing to skirt around it in this society. America, parents, churches, teachers, kids and anyone else with the "If we ignore it, it will go away...or...if we don't acknowledge it, its not happening" mindset... its real and its happening, and guess what, its not new, I am a product of teen parents, my parents were 15/16 when I was BORN...which means 14/15 when I was CONCEIVED...
I think T.D. Jakes said it best on some TV program I was watching, of course abstinence is the ideal, its the standard, that is where the bar is set....however, the fact that sex is happening is the reality and it should not be ignored. This rings true esp. in the church. It is our job as Christians to meet people where they are, not to say that you have to condone it or agree with it, but did Christ not meet you where you were? And what would the results have been, where would you be....where would I be, had He not?! Fellow Christians....we are NOT the "sin police" it is not our job to judge, or point fingers at anyone concerning their sin...the Word says that is the job of the Holy Spirit-- He is the convicter, not us. It is our job to teach the truth, to live the truth, to spread the truth...but are we being effective in any of those categories when the message we are spreading is out of condemnation and self righteousness....instead of from a place of love and compassion?
Okay...I got completely off track...but hey, I'll go with it! LOL I could get back on track and write a whole essay about the whole teen pregnancy/sex thing...but I will leave it here for now.
Check out the article, what do you think about it and about the subject in general.

Israeli paper publishes Obama's private prayer

JERUSALEM - An Israeli newspaper's decision to publish a handwritten prayer left by Barack Obama in the cracks of Jerusalem's Western Wall drew criticism Friday as an invasion of his privacy and his relationship with God.

In the note, placed at Judaism's holiest site Thursday, Obama asks God to guide him and guard his family.

"Lord — Protect my family and me. Forgive me my sins, and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will," reads the note published in Maariv.

I found this news article while reading on MSNBC this morning (click on the title to see the article). I think that this act was an extreme violation of Sen. Obama's privacy and His relationship with God. And I'm sure the Lord will deal with the individuals who took part in this. Although it is unfortunate, I found the senator's prayer to be very endearing and seemed so human and sincere. I appreciate the snapshot into the heart of this man, who may very well, be our next leader. It brings a sense of commonality, like, wow...here we have this huge political figure and leader, but wait, his prayers are just like my prayers, his hearts desires are the same as mine... nice!

Black America Study

I found this while browsing online: its called "The Black America Study"

What is the Black America Study?
Black America Today provides a fresh look at more than 30 million African-Americans -
based on the most detailed snapshot ever of African American life. Finding strong group identity around culture and traditions, the study sheds light on and shatters myths about who we are as a community.

Check it out, tell me what you think of the study and its findings....(click on the title to get to the site)