POTATOES ARE BACK ON THE MENU

HOW DO LIKE YOU YOUR POTATOES?

    Within the United States government there is now a division that attempts to abolish diversity, the same diversity that has been the statue of strength for the land of the free and the home of the brave. The superior white arm of power has been raised from the trenches where it lay dormant for a few years; it was only waiting on an opportunity for resurgence. Americans are once again asking to be served a large order of white potatoes, seasoned with white salt, and covered with pure white gravy. This has been America’s favorite dish from Jamestown to the genocide of Native Americans. 

   Americans demand the white potatoes to be grown in white fields, cultivated by slave labor, and served in white kitchens by colored maids who added a dash of black pepper every now and then. White potatoes continued to be served on American tables during the Jim Crow days and with the gerrymandering of the potato fields to guarantee that no others species of potatoes could ever exist.

   Now the oligarchy of the white arm of power is shaking a fist at America, saying we might have slipped up once and allowed our potatoes to be served with a heavy seasoning of salt and pepper covered with an off-color, mixed dish of white gravy, but never again.

   America’s white potato will never be served to a female in the White House backed by black pepper and with a different recipe for brown gravy. The American white potato cannot be served by the side of a rainbow-colored salad bowl filled with black-eyed peas, brown lima beans, yellow grains of corn, and pink tomatoes.

    Walk carefully my friend, avoid stepping on the weeds and tiptoe gently through the garden of white tulips.  

RESPECT GIVEN

 RESPECT GIVEN IS RESPECT GAINED 

     Disrespect for America is much deeper than one football player refusing to stand for the National Anthem. It has shocked the world to see the disrespect given to a respectable family-of-color when President Obama was elected to occupy the White House.  Americans have shown the world just how deep the roots of hatred are embedded within American society.

   Colin Kaepernick may be forced to stand for the National Anthem, but he cannot be forced to respect a society that has, for over two hundred years, disrespected people of color. Force is a method used by dictators around the world as a tool to secure power.  Respect is not gained by force and the use of force will do nothing to solve the problem of the racial divide that is within American society.

    If Americans want respect, Americans must give respect. Throughout the history of the United States African Americans have faced unspeakable forms of discrimination. Americans have yet to accept the fact that forcing humans into slavery created long-term problems that are far from being solved.  People of color are still being mistreated by law enforcement officials who carelessly use deadly force as a method to attain social order. And today American prisons are filled with working-class individuals who are victims of an unjust judicial system.

    Every day the world sees an America that is moving away from the land of the free and the home of the brave. To even consider the idea that in the land of the free an individual can be forced to conform to a public formality of respect is to show just how close America has moved in the direction of a dictatorship. The fact is: most great Americans were nonconformists.  Nonconformity produces the actions that later turn into the characteristics of greatness.

   From the beginning of American history an attempt has been made to force gays to conform to the heterosexual lifestyle. There are hundreds of examples of LGBT citizens being bullied by members of a so-called straight society in which little or no punishment was given to the abusers.  LGBT individuals continue to be victimized by name calling, denied job promotions, refused housing, and locked out of religious organizations. Gay and lesbian citizens have endured verbal and physical abuse, nevertheless the gay lifestyle has flourished from the closet to the public square. Presently, the talents of the gay communities have been recognized around the world.  

   Instead of a public uproar over the act of standing to show respect, the real concern should be the evidence of disrespect for African and Latin Americans, LGBT citizens, and other minorities living in the United States.  In America there are enough examples of disrespect to go around. The capitalistic economic system has become known as the system of disrespect. There is disrespect for the American workers by employers refusing to pay a living wage.  There is disrespect for the veterans of war who are denied adequate health benefits. There is disrespect for the honest taxpayer in the series of the tax loopholes given to the rich. There is disrespect shown to women who do not receive equal pay for equal work. Therefore, many rich Americans should not stand for the National Anthem, but should be down on their knees begging forgiveness for the harm they have caused other humans.  

THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL

THE HANDWRITING IS ON THE WALL

A political script is being written on the wall and the majority of Americans are reading it.

It wasn’t conservatives who fought the battle that brought down the Great Wall of Jericho.

It wasn’t a conservative who said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”

It wasn’t a conservative who rebuked the church leaders and developed new inclusive policies for the Christian Church.

It wasn’t conservatives who fought for religious freedom within the original thirteen American colonies.

It wasn’t a conservative who wrote, “All men are created equal.”

It wasn’t conservatives who fought for women’s right to vote.

It wasn’t conservatives who fought to end slavery on American soil.

It wasn’t conservatives who passed the Social Security Act of 1935.

It wasn’t conservatives who enacted the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

It wasn’t conservatives who passed the Fourteenth Amendment giving all citizens equal rights under the law.

It wasn’t conservatives who fought to give all children a quality education by integrating public schools.

It wasn’t conservatives who have fought for over two hundred years to gain equal rights for all minorities including LGBT citizens.

It was not conservatives on the Supreme Court that passed the Marriage Equality Act.

It has not been conservatives who have fought to provide free meals for hungry children.

It has not been conservatives who have fought for the rights of women to receive equal pay for equal work.

It has not been conservatives who have fought for increased pay raises for America workers.

It has not been conservatives who have fought to provide universal health care for all Americans.

   Everything that has made America a better place for humans has been accomplished through a progressive agenda.

  If you believe that conservative principles have brought progress to the United States, you need to do one thing. Forget about praying for others, forget about being down on your knees, but stand in front of a mirror and look yourself directly in the eyes and pray for yourself, because your mental capacity is in need of prayer.

   The agenda that is standing in the way of American progress is the political system. All other systems are on go.  Every recent public opinion poll proves that the majority of Americans are ready to move on. Americans have seen the harm caused by discrimination and are now ready for a better day. Americans realize that same-sex marriage has caused absolutely no harm to anyone and now is the time to move forward.  An overwhelming majority of Americans have learned that there are benefits to medical marijuana and Americans are ready for nationwide legalization.

   The conservative Southern Bible Belt will soon be a thing of the past.  Although there are still a few grandmas and grandpas who are trying to teach their grandchildren to hold on to the principals of the Confederate Southland, their grandchildren are rejecting the outdated policies. In a matter of a few years, institutions such as the Southern Baptist Church will disappear if they do not change. They must change leadership or change policies. Today, membership in conservative churches is on a rapid decline. The only Christian organizations gaining members are those taking progressive steps to meet the needs of a modern society.

   It was only a few years ago that the esteemed godfather of the Republican Party spoke the profound words, “Mr. Gorbachev, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL.” Now the leader of the Republican Party has developed a rallying cry, “BUILD THAT WALL.” History has not been kind to the building of walls, and it is difficult to believe that in November the majority of Americans will allow themselves to be confined behind an IRON CURTAIN. In all probability Americans will reject isolationist policies. The globalization process will demand that America continue to be a part of the global society. 

   The majority of Americans are demanding real change. President Obama, through a multitude of difficulties, laid the foundation for major change in America. Bernie Sanders listened to the voices of young Americans and has been instrumental in including many changes in the political party platform. If elected president, it is believed that Hillary Clinton will continue the progress. For every drop of blood that has been shed, for every body part that has been sacrificed, and for every emotion that has been shattered on the battlefield, the hope for a better America is just around the corner.  From the dark shadows of America’s busy streets, from the lowlands of the ghettos, or from the backside of nowhere, a leader will emerge. This leader will be able to use millions of one-dollar donations to lead Americans into the Promised Land.

    God is tired of discrimination being disguised as a righteous robe of dignity. God is tired of the love of his son being turned into hate. Rest assured—the handwriting is on the wall.      

        

    

IT WAS ONLY YESTERDAY

IT WAS ONLY YESTERDAY

   I was born on the backside to nowhere. My house was at the end of the road. The only thing that went past my house was the footpath used by the Indians who lived deeper in the Louisiana swamplands.  I was raised at the end of the trail, but with a little help from my friends, I turned limited opportunities into a series of smiley faces.   

   I knew the woods the same way a city boy knows the streets. For me to get lost in the woods was something never to happen.  I could say to my buddy, “Meet me after school over at Pine Cone Ridge, Cedar Tree Alley, or the old hollow cypress,” and he knew exactly where to go.  

   Deep in the woods behind my house was a swift flowing creek. I knew every log that crossed Indian Creek, and I knew on the other side was a vast territory of endless woods.  A venture to the other side required a gun because Louisiana had a large number of dangerous animals.

   What I experienced as a youngster would astonish the avid woodman of today. I survived the charge of the Louisiana wild boar. I saw a white wolf grab a pig and disappear with the speed of lightening. I watched the diamondback attempt to charm the red squirrel. I saw the old blue buck prance proudly through the forest with the grace of a thoroughbred stallion.  I heard the scream of the black panther and felt the hairs stand up on the back of my neck.         

    My closest neighbors lived about five miles away, but a mile meant nothing to a country boy. They all had large families but none had cars.  The only place we had to go was to school and church, so we created our own entertainment. In the back of the school bus coming home from the junior or senior plays, or returning from basketball games, we engaged in activities that would have surprised the church-goers of our community.  We were determined the city kids would have nothing on us when it came to living an exciting life.

    The woods provided a large playground for the younger generation. The adults had no idea of the wild social activities that went on in the woods. Boys experimented with girls and girls with boys, and occasionally the opposite occurred.

    All the girls knew the shortcut through the woods to take food to ailing Aunt Molly. And boys knew how to confiscate more than food from the girls who made a deliberate pathway through the woods.  Poor old Aunt Molly never realized how much pleasure her sickness brought to the young people of our community.

    A good place to meet friends on any summer day was on the way to the swimming hole. There was an ideal spot in the chilling waters of Indian Creek meant just for swimming. The swimming hole was deep and big enough to accommodate a large number of swimmers. Mixed with water moccasins and large catfish, it was a summer meeting place for teenagers, and if one word could describe it; it would be fun. 

    No one owned a swimsuit and if we did it was not allowed at the Indian Creek swimming hole. Male and female nude bodies were looked upon as the norm and norm was the usual in country living.

    We were a group of friends who probably knew too much about each other. But we were kids and we didn’t care. We were a tight-lipped group, and we kept secrets that have never been revealed not even until this day.

    On Sundays we knew how to put on the invisible robe of righteousness, give a quick wink to our friends, stare the preacher directly in the eyes, and sing the gospel hymns.  At a young age we had experienced hypocrisy, because we had seen the examples set by the adults.        

    We knew the best places to build the Saturday night camp fires, and even though no one had a telephone, we just knew to be there. We experienced the pleasures of a midnight dip in the cold waters of the old swimming hole. And even today, there is a lingering memory of the vision of the moonbeams that danced across the waters from the waves being made by nude, well-defined, suntanned bodies.

    Youthful days seemed to pass slowly but in the reality of time they passed quickly. We were eager to grow up and experience the bright lights of the big cities never realizing we were leaving behind the camp fires of paradise. But it happened. We quickly became adults but never dreamed that one day we would be the senior citizens. And as strange as it may seem, we now face the twilight of our lives. The days past quick and the nights are restless. We have a full understanding of the meaning, “Young men will see visions, and old men will dream dreams.” Retirement is made tolerable because we dream about being young, and in our dreams we relive those days of our youth. 

    Today, as I read the obituary of an old-time special friend, something strange happened. I started trembling and dropped the newspaper. Then I heard a roar. It came like a hurricane. It knocked me to the floor.  A vision appeared and suddenly turned into a flashback. I heard the voices and I saw the faces of my young friends.  We were on the school bus ride. We were laughing and talking with a joy so deep we did not recognize it as a source of pleasure.  Then the bus ride turned into a summer day at the swimming hole. The vision was clear. I was standing by the side of my obituary friend, and I reached out and put my arm around him. We were laughing, talking, and having a great time. Our youthful bodies were glistening in the sun. We were young, proud, and happy.  But the vision changed. Suddenly, I was seated on the third row of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.  And this time I was listening to golden voices.

   Cheer up my brother, live in the sunshine,

   We’ll understand it, all by and by. 

    The vision faded and I pulled myself into a standing position. Then in an uncontrolled voice I shouted, “I’m alive!” Still in a confused state, I used the words, “Master, what is it that you would have me do?”

   The answer came, “I command you to live each day with hope.”

  “Hope,” I answered, “Where is an old man’s hope?”

   “It is the hope for a tomorrow.”

   “But wisdom says there are more yesterdays than tomorrows.”

   “If given the opportunity would you return to the backside of nowhere and do it all over again?”

   “You bet ya!”

   “Then I’ll consider your request tomorrow.”

   “But what if tomorrow never comes?”

   The answer came with a paraphrase from the scriptures.

  “Even though a man liveth, without hope he is dead.”     

"WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS"

WHO ARE THE CHAMPIONS? 

     The song “We Are the Champions” was written by the rock and roll legend Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the British rock band Queen. The song was first released in 1977 and has been heard by millions around the world. Even though Freddie died on November 24, 1991, the world has not heard the last of this great musical talent. He was a flamboyant performer and is remembered as one of the greatest talents the world has ever known.

     Any great piece of music has multiple meanings. Therefore “We Are the Champions” has presented the world with a public debate concerning the meaning of the lyrics.  Some argue that Freddie was strictly referring to his life and the lives of the band members, whereas others believe the meaning goes much deeper. They believe he was referring to all gays as champions.

     There is no doubt he dreamed of the day when the lyrics of all his songs would be understood because he placed messages in the lyrics. Through his lyrics he addressed the struggles of gay individuals around the world. “I’ve had my share of sand kicked in my face, but I’ve come through,” he said. There is not a gay person on the planet earth who has not experienced the disrespect Freddie speaks of in his songs.

    He often spoke of the difficulties presented by living a life on the road rather than settling down to one single love affair. “It’s been no bed of roses, no pleasure cruise,” he said. He chose life on the road because there he could be a greater influence to the world. He knew he had been accepted into the world’s societies because of his exception talents. But he also knew that his acceptance would make it easier for other gays who would follow.

    “We Are the Champions” was recently played by the GOP as Donald Trump made his entrance onto the stage at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. The unauthorized use of the song has caused much controversy.  Since Freddie Mercury was an outspoken advocate for gay-rights, it is unlikely he would have given permission for an anti-gay American political party, particularly one that has done everything within its power to dehumanize LGBT individuals, to use his song.  There is one thing for certain Freddie—did not write this song, or any of his songs, to be used by a group of straight people to glorify themselves.  

    Many suggest that the use of this song at the anti-gay Republican Convention has caused Freddie to “turn over in his grave.” Even if this were literally true, there is a possibility that it may have had a positive affect. It is nothing less than a miracle that this song has been reintroduced to the world by an anti-gay political party. As a result, the world has gained a greater respect for the man—Freddie Mercury—and his lyrics. God does work in mysterious ways. 

  

  

PULPIT COVER-UPS

PULPIT COVER-UPS

 

    For years, rumors have circulated concerning the shenanigans taking place behind the pulpit. No one should take pleasure in repeating rumors, but investigative reports have proven many of the rumors to be true.   Deceptions have arisen within the ranks of gospel preachers. It is impossible to list all of the sexual assaults committed by this group; they have become experts in finding ways to cover up their deviate sexual behaviors.  If Jesus walked on the earth today, he would expose these hypocrites BIG TIME. 

    In general, the Christian ministry has lost much of its creditability.  Ministers have taken a dictatorial attitude on many social issues and have become deeply involved in partisan politics.  They have turned religion into a multimillion-dollar business and continue to ask parishioners for more.  Preachers have used the tax-free status of religion to hide billions from the IRS, and they have developed a lifestyle far above the working class.

    Ministers have overstepped the bounds of the gospel to a Christianized form of brain washing, and the results tell the tale. There is a good reason why membership declined in Southern Baptist churches by over 200,000 in 2015. It wasn’t enough for churches in the South to defend the institution of slavery and use the Bible as the defense, but they have continued to use hatred to discriminate against other minorities.

    Across America, preachers have made death threats to gays. Death threats are against the law, and not only that, they are overt public statements to promote social violence. Yet in a predominately Christian society, church leaders have been allowed to break the law and get away with it. Others who have done the exact same things have ended up in jail.     

    The right thing to do would be for gospel ministers to clean up their own acts of transgressions before making disparaging remarks about others. But there is arrogance among many gospel preachers who have taken the attitude of a dictator that reaches far beyond the bounds of a democratic form of government.

    Unfortunately the church has become a place where people go to find concealment for sins.  Using the good name of Jesus to cover up bad deeds is a practice done in the name of religion all over America.  If Christianity is to continue to thrive as one of the world’s major religions, these facts must be exposed.

   The false teachings of some church leaders have had a negative affect upon church-goers. In the name of religion, Christians have called the President all kinds of derogatory names and used slur words to describe gays and those who participate in the Black Lives Matter movement. But at the end of the day this has done nothing to solve the problem of citizens learning to get along with each other. Learning to live with others is not an impossible task, but it is a rewarding experience.

   To the dismay of many Christians, a new generation has evolved. No longer will minorities be pushed into positions of second- or third-class citizens. African Americans are not going to return to the cotton fields, and gays are not going to return to the closets.

   A few Christian ministers have publicly endorsed the GOP political platform, primarily based on the anti-gay rhetoric. The LGBT movement is the fastest growing social movement in America today.  Gays have been some of the first to publicly expose the cover-up transgressions within the leadership of the Christian church. And some Christian leaders have attempted to make the gay community pay the price. However, the Pope and a few other gospel ministers have come forward and denounced the evils being done against minorities in the name of religion. The surprising fact is that recent public opinion polls prove the majority of Americans agree.

  

SO, LET IT BE

            SO, LET IT BE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN 
                                      HEAVEN

    It is possible an all-knowing, an all-powerful, and an all-seeing God made a mistake in creating man. The creator had a choice.  He could create a preprogrammed robot or he could create a being with the ability to choose.  It is evident God chose the latter.

   In an omnipotent (all-powerful) environment, the existence of evil can be eliminated. Why an all-powerful God allows evil to exist is a question the most intelligent theologians have failed to fully answer. Followers of the Christian faith have for centuries asked why God allows it to rain on the unjust and why God allows evil men to prosper. The most important question is: Why are evil men looked upon as heroes in the eyes of other humans? This unanswered question leads more humans into atheism than any other.  Nevertheless, an omniscient (all-knowing) God has the answer, but it supersedes the knowledge of the human brain.

    Now the all-knowing God admits giving man a choice was a mistake.  The Bible is filled with examples of God’s frustrations with his creation. The Jesus Experience is the ultimate example of God’s displeasure with the behavior of the human race. It is possible God did not realize how far into the pits of evil mankind would descend. Therefore, he sent his own son in an attempt to rectify the mistake. 

    God thought when he blessed America—and allowed the nation to become the example of freedom for the world—he had made the right choice. But from the beginning, the pilgrims brought the seeds of hate to the new world. These seeds multiplied into a series of malicious acts until hatred shaped the character of the nation. Then men created a government in which one race was allowed to murder, rape, and enslave another race, and call it a democracy.  God’s displeasure with man’s choice is now displayed within a confused, unhappy, murderous, generation dominated by fear.

   The motivating force of evil is hate. However, there is nothing in the nature of God that involves hate. And if human interpretations of God’s words involve hate, the human interpretations are wrong. When the followers of the Christian faith participate in mean-spirited behavior they degrade the nature of God. It bewilders intelligent men and God when they witness the capabilities of man to create the forms of evil used in the past and present worlds.  A society, a nation, and the world is in considerable danger when the ways of evil men are accepted as the way to a successful life.

   A disappointed God now sits on the throne. He questions his own judgment. When given a choice, humans made a mess of the art of successful living. When hatred is made to be right and prejudice is glorified, the comfort zone for humans has been destroyed.  Evil has now reached unprecedented levels. Even God has difficulty understanding why sin has become the dominating characteristic of the human race. 

   In the creation experience man was given a choice and humans have predominately chosen evil.  In choosing evil over good, man has brought about his own demise.  Theology confirms God has no choice but to destroy his creation.  God is fed up and will not allow mankind the opportunity for a last minute act of redemption. God will punish evil. 

   Even though God will destroy man, presumptive theology believes he will not destroy the planet. It will take thousands of years, but the planet earth will go through a process of rejuvenation.  When this process is complete, once again God will create man, but this man will be different. The new man will have the common sense to choose good over evil.  Finally, God will be able to look upon his creation with pleasure. His satisfaction will be in seeing that man was given a choice and by his own volition chose good over evil.  With the creation of the perfect being, God’s plan for UTOPIA ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN will finally become a reality.