Troy Davis was funeralized yesterday in Jonesville Baptist Church in Savannah, Ga. According to MSNBC, more than a 1,000 people showed up to honor the life of a man who was executed although there was considerable reasonable doubt that he committed the crime that he was accused of… 

I watched a video of a portion of the funeral in which Dick Gregory, a civil rights activist and comedian, paid his respects to the family while giving a wise and wickedly funny social commentary of the state of black affairs today. As I watched him, I was reminded of the rich religious heritage black people have in this country. We have only gotten over and are getting over because of the Lord! Black people have suffered grave injustices, and we still do. But none can deny that we have made great progress in spite of all that has been done to hold us back! Take a look at this video and tell me what you think.

And if you really want to feel the move of the Spirit, watch Mahalia Jackson sing “How I Got Over.” This video is an absolute treasure and gives us a glimpse of black life in that time period.

This month is evangelism month at my church Central Christian Church so I will be intentional about sharing my faith although I can be a scaredy cat about it sometimes…If you are looking for joy and peace that is not dependent on your circumstances, a purpose for living that goes beyond you and yours and the ability to see miracles taking place all round you, you’ve got to try Jesus!

And finally, in honor of Troy Davis and those who have been affected by his story, I leave this verse…

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”  Matthew 10:28

Any thoughts? 

The post How We Got Over…(The Funeral of Troy Davis) appeared first on After the Altar Call.

Less than a week ago, Troy Davis was put to death, and I know that many hearts are broken…As a Christian who believes in the omnipotence of God, I wonder why God allowed this man, who proclaimed his innocence until his last breath, such a fate…Maybe someday, we will all know why…And maybe, we will never know…Still,

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

And yet, I do know this…we cannot allow our hearts to become bitter and not believe we can be forces be of good, defeating the powers of evil, ignorance and apathy… As it says in the word of God…we must guard our hearts!

Above all else, guard your heart,
   for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23

In spite of Davis’ death, I have seen life spring forth from this tragedy. It is very clear to me now that we must pay attention to the world around us, we are our brother’s and sister’s keepers,we must love others as we love ourselves…

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5

We don’t have to devise grand acts to help those around us. I was amazed that even tweets about Troy Davis drew the attention of the world to this injustice.  And in fact, even a casual trip to the mall can demonstrate that our hearts are in the right place. To that end, Macy’s has created the “Heart of Haiti” initiative to assist Haitians who were left without a way to earn an income following the devastation of the earthquake in January 2010. Funded by the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and in partnership with FairWinds Trading, “Heart of Haiti” is a home decor and jewelry line available at Macy’s that promotes “Trade Not Aid.” 

The collection includes 40 different home decor items and accessories. Products include vases, candle holders, serving trays, picture frames, mirrors, coasters, necklaces, clutch purses and more. Each item is designed by a master Haitian artist and made by hand in Haiti. Below is a beautiful frame that I was given from “Heart of Haiti.” Since I collect frames, I was delighted to receive it! The price is $25.00.

Heart of Haiti Picture Frame, Songbird 4" x 6." Painstakingly cut, hammered and varnished by hand, this meaningful picture frame displays your favorite people and places in the tree of life. Steel from recycled barrels gives each one-of-a-kind piece a rustic beauty perfected by Haiti's master artisans.

To see all of the products and for more information, please go to Macys.com. The “Heart of Haiti” collection has already led to employment of 350 artists in Haiti and has provided some financial benefits for an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people in the country.

 Also a video about “Heart of Haiti” is below.

Any thoughts? 

The post Speaking of hearts… appeared first on After the Altar Call.

Y’all know it’s true, right?…I will say it again. Prayer…Changes…Things! Hallelujah! Thank You Jesus!

Troy Davis knows this is true this morning. Less than two hours before he was scheduled to be executed last night by lethal injection, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay of execution. (I wanted to write a fancy link to this story, but for some reason I can’t. The devil is busy. So read the complete story here. http://www.ajc.com/cherokee/content/metro/stories/2008/09/23/davis_stay_execution.html )

After hearing the news, Davis’ sister and most dilligent supporter, Martina Correia, was quoted as saying,

“I’ve been praying for this moment forever.”

 

How many of y’all know that when you’re going through, “sometimes you have to encourage yourself!” I had planned a more eloquent post this morning, but the Holy Spirit has led me to just post a few Bible verses about prayer to remind me and you of how He works it out.

“Do not be anxious about about ANYTHING, but in EVERYTHING, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the PEACE of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phillipians 4: 6-7

“Is anyone of you in TROUBLE? He should pray…The prayer of a RIGHTEOUS man is  POWERFUL and EFFECTIVE.” James 5: 13-16

“Be joyful always. PRAY CONTINUALLY; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is GOD’S WILL for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Three verses (one for the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) that I hope help you and me today and in the days to come in this time of financial crisis, gas shortages, hurricanes, health concerns, etc.  Real talk for real issues…

And finally, when I’m really going through, I have to pull out my gospel tracks. Below is one of my favorites, “This Too Will Pass” by Rev. James Cleveland and Charles Fold.  I know you will be blessed!

Any thoughts?

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