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Signs of the Times?

Hello World!

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again – I am no Biblical scholar. I’m just another Christian trying to make it in…But last week’s tsunami and earthquake in Japan combined with the ominous regular updates about those nuclear reactors has got me wondering what is God up to…

From the earthquake in Haiti to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to the unprecedented civil unrest in Arab countries, obviously something must be going on…Now this world has experienced disasters before, and some of them have been of our own making such as World War I and World War II…But that doesn’t mean that all Biblical scholars and intelligent people should not be pondering where are we in the course of world history…Here are some verses to consider…

“The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’  and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.” Matthew 16:1-4

Now in this passage, Jesus is rebuking the religious folk of the day for questioning His divinity when there were all types of signs that He was the Messiah. But I believe He also provides a framework for us to interpret what we see around us. I am notorious for carrying my umbrella with me even if I only see one cloud in the sky. Since I wear my locks in curls, and I don’t know how to maintain my locks, I refuse to be caught in the rain lest my locks lie limp until I see my stylist.  It ain’t gonna happen’!

So if I see a cloud and deduce that rain may be on the way, what in the world am I supposed to think when these last two years have brought so much pain to people here and abroad?  I’m not sure, but I’m glad I’m right with God because tomorrow is not promised…I don’t know why God allows bad things to happen to good people or natural disasters and on and on, but I believe there is no other way to survive in this world and be sane without a relationship with God…

Finally, all of this pontificating about the signs of the times doesn’t mean anything if we cannot help those around us who are suffering….If you would like to donate to Japanese relief efforts in the name of Jesus Christ, please donate to Samaritan’s Purse.

Any thoughts?

P.S. You know I had to post Prince’s song “Sign O The Times.” Man, I love Prince!

P.P.S. With all of this talk about radiation, I’m glad I decided last week to stop using microwaves to heat my food…

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What To Do When Your Friends Get Married…

Hello World!

One of my fave brides and her bridesmaids...Their friendship didn't change too much after Carrie got married...but this is fiction so...

It’s Hump Day! Yay! I cannot believe I have become one of those pathetic old fogies that lives for the weekends. Remember back in college when every day had the potential to be a weekend?..those days are so gone…oh well…

Speaking of college, I pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated in Spring 1995! (Oo-oop Sorors!) I remember my roommate and one of my best guy friends at the time worried that I would change after I crossed (became a Delta). I assured them that I was once a geek and would always be a geek – even it I did secretly hope that I would be a better-dressed geek at the least. After I crossed, I was still cool with everyone – but I must confess that I did change. I traded in my thick braids for a short Halle Berry haircut, and I switched my glasses for contacts. And my wardrobe became more fly as well.  So my secret wish did come true with the help of my more fashionable sorors. But to my surprise, I changed on the inside as well. I did not shun my roommate or my best guy friend, but I did gain a whole new circle of friends – my line sisters and other sorors. As a result, I had to  divide my time between more friends which did not leave as much time as I once had for my roommate and best guy friend. (My guy friend accused me of walking around campus randomly chanting, “I love my DST!” LOL) I didn’t mean anything by it. It just happened…

So that was a long intro into today’s topic. In the last five years or so, friend after friend, guys and girls, are getting married…and I’m happy for all of them. But I must confess that I do feel a sense of loss. I called one of my newly married friends about a month ago, and she still hasn’t called me back yet. Instead of a call, a week or so ago, I received a thank you card which was actually a photograph montage of her and her new hubby from the wedding. So I guess it’s like that now, huh?

One of my friends just stopping hanging cold turkey many months before her and her new hubby got hitched. Another one of my newly married friends has moved away. She didn’t move away because she got married, but I cannot help but think she was more open to the idea of moving away because she has a new best friend that will go with her anywhere. I asked that same friend what she was going to do one weekend day, and she replied that her and her hubby were going to be in pajamas all day and just watch TV. Gag me with a spoon! (Just kidding!) One of my newly married friends is still pretty much the same. She still likes to kick it and hang and even talk on the phone, but she is the minority. Do I sound like I’m bitter? I’m not. And thankfully, I have a boyfriend or manfriend or whatever you call a guy you are dating after you are 35 who I get to get all booed up with too…but it’s still kind of weird to see all of this happen around me…So I have a few questions for you married folks, but sometimes I just don’t know how to act with y’all anymore.

  1. Should I assume that you no longer want to hang on the weekends anymore as a general rule? Let a girl know because no one likes rejection…
  2. When is a good time to call you? Are you and your hubby relaxing in bed as of 8 p.m.? Should I not call before 10 a.m. on Saturday mornings because you and your hubby are still in bed? Can I call you late at night if I have a problem and I need to vent?
  3. Do you now prefer your married girlfriends over me now? Do you still want to go on vacays with the girls? Or do you prefer your vacays with your hubby?
  4. Do you have dinner every weeknight with your hubby, or are you still available some weeknights for a quick dinner?
  5. If I leave a voice mail for you, how long will it take you to get back to me?
  6. Can you still go to slumber parties at your girls’ house? One of my friend’s husbands was not so excited about my friend staying out all night for the slumber parties that my girls have periodically…I think he’s over it now once he realized that it’s really harmless i.e. we are really not at the club looking for guys…we are actually just chillin’ in our pajamas at someone’s house…
  7. How long can we kick it at your house? Do we get kicked out by a certain time, or is your husband cool with us kicking it till the break of dawn?
  8. Can you still go to parties with your girls?
  9. Can I still discuss all of my single girl woes with you, or do you now want to only focus on married bliss?
  10. Do you still love me? LOL…

For real dough, it’s not that serious since my life is changing too, but these are questions that have my crossed my mind. So married people tell me what’s up…

Any thoughts?

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Status Update: March 2011

Hello World!!!

I know I’ve been gone a minute, but hopefully, y’all will forgive me…I’ve been crazy busy pursuing my goals for 2011! One of my goals involves me really buckling down this month and April so please, charge it to my schedule and not my heart if my posts are not as exciting or as frequent as I would like them to be. That being said, I will still do my best — so please check me out every Sunday and Wednesday!

As the title of my post suggests, I want to know what’s up with the what’s up? It’s March so by the end of this month, we will have 75 percent of this year left! That sounds crazy when you think of it like that…But how are y’all doing on your goals or resolutions for this year?

One of my goals was to simply eat more vegetables. I know that sounds simple, but for me, it always isn’t…but I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself craving vegetables earlier this week so I had a big salad for dinner on Friday. And it was yummy too:) That doesn’t even sound like me…but it’s true…Another one of my goals is to continue to reduce my monthly bills. I’ve been able to knock down some of the charges on some of my bills, but one of my service providers wasn’t hearing it yesterday…but I’ma pray on it and call back…Hey, a different day, a different customer service rep…you know how it is…I also said I was going to experience more that the A has to offer this year…My city has hosted several awards shows and other world -class events like the Bronner Brothers International Hair Show (which I finally attended last month), and it makes no sense that I’m not in the mix…Also, one of my goals is to send more greeting cards to my friends…With e-mail, e-cards and the like, sending greeting cards through snail mail is a lost art in my opinion…and I love receiving greeting cards in snail mail, and I imagine that others do too…

I’m not sure where I heard this or read this, and I think Catherine Marshall, my favorite author, may have written it. Anyway, I think we should dream so big that only God can help you fulfill that dream. What I mentioned above are only some of the smaller goals I have for 2011, but know that I do have some big goals or dreams on my list as well. And I also know that sometimes it’s best to keep those bigger dreams to yourself as you pursue them so I won’t tell you what other bigger things I’m working on yet — but you will know sometime this year!

But if you have already encountered some sort of stumbling block this year as your pursue your goals or dreams, please listen to this inspirational Yolanda Adams song “Never Give Up.”

Any thoughts?