RIGHTS Without responsibilities/ACTIONS Without consequences

We are a society that now berates people for suggesting that a parent should be allowed to have a 3 year pump the brakes on gender reassignment AND we also balk at having a 7 year old arrested for rape. 

So we’re teaching kids about sexuality and giving them their sexual “rights” pert near as soon as they can speak but if they act out inappropriately sexually, they shouldn’t be held accountable. Which is it? Are you ready for adult decisions when you’re in single digits or not? 

We don’t even believe adults are culpable for their actions. We only believe in rights. It’s a twisted dichotomy. We’re talking about giving the vote to 16 year olds but we can’t expect a full grown black man not to expect that if he shoots through the door of his apartment at the police outside something bad could happen to his girlfriend inside the apartment. (That’s as far as I’ll go for now about the infantilization of black people...for now.)

It was the Rev. Austin Powers who has a word for us about freedom AND responsibility. 

https://youtu.be/15WbASLQLrg

Freedom without responsibility is a dangerous thing. 

Proverbs 14:12

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mario-lopez-faces-backlash-for-comments-on-raising-transgender-children/ https://thecrimereport.org/2021/06/03/should-a-7-year-old-accused-of-rape-be-arrested/#comment-138363

Be Angry And Sin Not And Other Christian Impracticalities

This one is just for the Christians...

I know you find him odious. I'm not a big fan of his either. But this is your duty, just as it is my duty with leaders that I want no part of and believe to be disgraceful and dangerous. 

Pray for President Trump. He is the authority that for whatever reason God saw fit to allow into the White House. So, it your duty to God to pray for him. You don't have to like him or trust him. But you are required by the God who's name you bear to pray for him. Not against him. For him. What God does is not up to you.


Titus 3:1-3
Be Ready for Every Good Work
1Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Final Instructions and Greetings
12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.
15 All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all.

Timothy 2:1-4 ESV / 481 helpful votes
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Romans 13:1 ESV / 353 helpful votes
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.


Jeremiah 29:7
But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

1 Peter 2:17
Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Proverbs 21:1
The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

Titus 3:1-2
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

Daniel 2:20-23
Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter.”

Psalm 22:28
For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.

Job 12:23-25
He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away. He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth and makes them wander in a pathless waste. They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.

Romans 13:1-14
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ...

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LIKE TRUMP. But you need to be sure of this.


Ephesians 4:26-31 English Standard Version (ESV)
26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.


Do what you have to but do it within the confines of scripture. You are not accountable for Trump, you are accountable for you.


2 Timothy 2:7‭, ‬10‭-‬10‭, ‬14‭-‬16‭, ‬19‭-‬21‭, ‬24‭-‬26 ESV

Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity." Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.


Matthew 12:25‭, ‬37 ESV
Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."


Luke 6:27‭-‬33‭, ‬35‭-‬38‭, ‬45‭-‬46
"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?


Romans 12:9‭-‬21
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.


As a citizen do what you feel is right but know that as a Christian you are subject to a higher authority and you accountable first and foremost to God for your own actions. If your actions don't line up with scripture you will not get to say "But Trump"... before God.


Ignore all my words if you want but latch onto the scripture. And you have every right to hold me accountable to the faith I proclaim. And yes, I have wrestled with my own decisions and actions.

This is NOT a defense of Trump. This is a loving reminder of what the Word of your God and mine says.

Did I mention that this is not a defense of Trump? If you call yourself a Christian you have to play by God's rules.  Did I mention this goes for me with leaders I want nothing to do with? Does this apply to every Christian on whatever side of the aisle? Yes, indeed. 

1 John 4:7‭-‬8‭, ‬18‭-‬21

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

John 3:16‭-‬17

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

We don't decide, God does.

Romans 12:19

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."

Romans 5:8 

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Life Worthy of the Gospel

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.

Regardless of anyone or anything...

In closing, I leave you with the words of The Right Reverend Marvin Gaye. "War is not the answer. For only love can conquer hate."

Glamour, schlamour

What is the music industry? As a music industry professional all of my adult life I HAVE NO IDEA! Nobody really knows.  Musicians are often paid at the same rate as we were when I was coming up in LA. We know have an entire generation that doesn't typically pay for music. It's all out there for the taking for the most part.

Live music. As a band leader I have a responsibility to my band to get them paid a decent wage so they can feed their families like I need to feed mine. At the same time I know venues that we partner with have to feed their families as well. Business, all business, is a chancy thing.

The next time you go see a band and there is a cover charge think of the hours and years it took for those musicians to hone their craft. And if it doesn't sound like they ever honed their craft it may well be because venues can't always get people to pay a cover charge.

Maybe it's because what we do is called playing that it is taken for granted and disrespected. Maybe it's because to the non-musician often a feeling can be evoked despite a substandard performance. Who's to say?

But we do work. Lug the gear out of the house, into the car, across town and beyond, out of the car set it up, play the music (that the part you see), tear it down, load it up, lug it back, set it up and practice. We also rehearse. That's when you lug the rig somewhere and work on the music together. Practice is when you learn and work on the music alone.

At the same time, this is a fantastic age to be making music. There are more tools than ever for both the legitimate musician and the creative non-musician... It's a fascinating time. There is much music that is pre-baked for you inside Virtual Instruments. There are backing tracks, sequencers (old school)... I won't get started. My only entry for today in the great backing track debate is this. Sometimes it's a about the venue (performance space, budget). Sometimes it's about personnel or lack thereof. Sometimes it's about literally being able to create the atmosphere or vibe that you'd have to have a whole lot more people, gear and/or time to accomplish. And yes sometimes it's about the fact that some people aren't actually good and shouldn't be on stage. But if Russel Ferrante, Vinnie Colaiuta, Michael Landau and Fred Hammond can use loops and tracks it's a legitimate musical option. (If you're a musician and don't know any of those names YouTube is out there to let you get your mind blown...) And, yes, people should be able to sing on pitch and play their darn instrument first and foremost. But as a band leader, artist and worship leader you can't tell me there is no legitimate place for tracks, loops etc. Well, you can tell me. But I respectfully tell you, you're wrong. I'd rather have all the people and gear all the time...But sometimes people literally can't be there or you can't afford everybody you want/need. And when the set calls for bass, keys and guitar and everyone calls in sick or someone just doesn't show up, it's the leader dealing with it... Ain't unplugged is often better arranged and planned as opposed to thrust upon you an hour before downbeat... Sorry, I got started.

It's a bizarre and amorphous creature and no one knows what it really is and a few have mastered it somehow. But even that top echelon of player, singers, writers, producers, labels, studios are all trying to get their piece of a very elusive and in many ways shrinking pie.

The part you see and hear IS a blast. And I'm not complaining per se. I just thought you might find it interesting. Because it is. And there are few greater joys than THOSE NIGHTS where it all clicks. (I'm also a worship leader so I get to have THOSE MORNINGS when it all clicks and everybody gets and stays connected to God.) But so much happens before those moments. But it's also like with all businesses a matter of survival.

There's so much more to say but I need to go be a band leader...and then a worship leader/small groups pastor and then a husband... (And that's just the things I know about.)


You have no idea what I do for a living. (Unless you do) And I have no idea what you do. I'd LOVE a peek into your world. Ooooo, let's a exchange a day in the life! Thank you, Mike Rowe and Dirty Jobs for reminding me that EVERY JOB is interesting.

Mirrors and what not...

It's been a long time since I've written. October to be almost exact. Welcome to my...whatever this is about to be.

We can often see things in others and confront them much more easily in others than we can in ourselves. This is a type of mirror. A very dear friend is embarking on a journey about mirrors so I'll let them covered that in detail. But the concept of mirrors as this person brought up is pretty revelatory...

Few things are as potentially painful yet healing, brutal yet potentially as constructive as standing emotionally naked in front of the mirror and dealing with what is there. It's ultimately among the healthiest things we can do for each other. Honesty in great depth can be a huge, angry, snarling female Rottweiler, if you get what I'm not saying...

Yet truth be told, it's probably less painful if you can find it and address it before you're called out on it. Better to be the only one in the front of the mirror when your stuff is laid bare... Not fun for anyone, unless one of the parties is a sadist. (Or is in a sadistic or vindictive etc mode.)

Interesting. I am a big fan of King David from the bible. He was known as "a man after God's own heart". Yet he was denied the honor building the temple because God also said to him, "‘You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon,[a] for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’ "

He made some epic, EPIC blunders as a man, as a king, as a father. He was a warrior (which CAN be and usually was good). He was an adulterous murderer. WHICH IS ALWAYS VERY BAD) He was a polygamist (as was the style at the time). But ultimately he always, copped to his evil behavior and got his heart back aligned with God. He was complicated. A very complicated and well documented man. I don't think my life could hold up to such scrutiny, but I hope I have a heart that is after God, ultimately. That's why I exist. To ultimately give glory to God. Please forgive me for when I don't. And as with all of us, when I fail there is grace and forgiveness, if I ask for it AND YET there is a natural consequence. David found that out too, he didn't get off scot free (http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/scot-free.html )... I pray mine are not so dire. But nothing is free. Someone will pay the cost of our actions. Ourselves, others or likely both.

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Racial Cancer, Flu and Food Poisoning : What do you battle hardest?

Take a look at the number of black abortions, black on black murders and blacks killed by the police. For the sake of a very imperfect analogy, look at the numbers of people killed by the cancer, the flu and food poisoning in the US. I will correlate the cancer numbers with abortion, black on black murders with the flu and all lethal force by the police with food poisoning. Numerically, cancer is the biggest threat, followed by the flu and then food poisoning. All the problems need to be dealt with. But it's imperative to go after the most immediate threat first and hardest. 

Abortion is the cancer of the black community.

Black on black murder is the flu. 

Death by police is food poisoning. 

The single largest cause of death of black people in America is abortion.

In announcing the new web page, Right to Life of Michigan said, “More than crime. More than accidents. More than cancer, heart disease and AIDS. Abortion has taken more black American lives than any other cause of death since 1973.”

“Did you know that? Abortion is the leading cause of death in the United States, but for black Americans abortion causes more deaths every year than every other cause of death combined. Now is the time for this fact to be addressed in the media and in the classroom,” it added.

http://www.lifenews.com/2015/06/25/abortion-has-killed-more-black-americans-than-crime-accidents-cancer-or-aids/


In America today, almost as many African-American children are aborted as are born. A black baby is three times more likely to be aborted as a white baby.


Since 1973, abortion has reduced the black population by over 25 percent. Twice as many African-Americans have died from abortion than have died from AIDS, accidents, violent crimes, cancer, and heart disease combined.

80 percent of abortion facilities are located in minority neighborhoods. About 13 percent of American women are black, but they receive over 35 percent of the abortions.

Source: Life Dynamics, Inc.

http://www.blackdignity.org/

Over 86 years, the Ku Klux Klan lynched 3,446 blacks – a figure matched in less than four days if tallying the number of black babies who are aborted.

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/kkk-lynched-3446-blacks-86-years-abortion-claims-many-black-babies-less-four-days

While, of course, there is racism in America, (only the extremely naive could believe otherwise) it is by no means the largest danger to the black American populace. While every single unjustified shooting of a black (or any other) person is horrible, a black man is much more likely to be killed by another black man than a police officer of any color. EVEN IF every single person that was killed by a police officer was black, unarmed, utterly compliant and completely innocent of all wrong doing, the numbers bear out the fact that the number of blacks murdered by blacks would still dwarf the numbers of those killed by the police.

If true, killer cops are rubbing out some 313 innocent, law-abiding blacks annually.

Rise Up October asserts that there are “over 1,000 people a year killed by police.”

Except it’s not true, by a long shot.

University of Toledo criminologist Dr. Richard R. Johnson examined the latest data from the FBI and Centers for Disease Control.

From 2003 through 2012, law-enforcement officers killed an average of 429 people per year in “legal interventions.” These include a relatively small number of innocent people killed by cops and many more who died due to reasonable use of force.

But the biggest problem black men face is that their black lives don’t matter to other black men.

On average, 4,472 black men were killed by other black men annually between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 31, 2012, according to the FBI’s Supplementary Homicide Reports. Using FBI and CDC statistics, Professor Johnson calculates that 112 black men, on average, suffered both justified and unjustified police-involved deaths annually during this period.

This equals 2.5 percent of these 4,472 yearly deaths. For every black man — criminal or innocent — killed by a cop, 40 black men were murdered by other black men. The, at most, 2.5 percent of the problem generates relentless rage. And, yet, it is rude-to-racist to mention 97.5 percent of the problem.


The notion that America’s cops simply are gunning down innocent black people is one of today’s biggest and deadliest lies”.

https://www.allenbwest.com/michele/crime-expert-releases-shocking-new-statistics-about-black-men-killed-by-cops

U.S. police have killed at least 194 black people in 2016, according to a project by The Guardian that tracks police killings in America. Keith Lamar Scott became the latest addition to the list on Tuesday after an officer in Charlotte, North Carolina, shot him dead.


Scott was the 173rd black person to be fatally shot by police in 2016, based on a tally from The Washington Post. (The Guardian’s figures include all deaths resulting directly from encounters with law enforcement, while the Post counts only people who were shot dead by police.)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/black-people-killed-by-police-america_us_577da633e4b0c590f7e7fb17

The year isn’t over yet, and police have already killed at least 800 people — many of whom were unarmed, mentally ill, and people of color.

This number comes from The Guardian’s police killings database, but the Killed by Police database counts 855 people who have died at the hands of police so far this year. The Washington Post reports that 715 people have been shot and killed by cops.


Going by the Guardian’s count, Native Americans and black people are being killed at the highest rates in the United States. 194 Black Americans have been killed by police so far this year, at a rate of 4.86 deaths per million.

https://thinkprogress.org/this-is-how-many-people-police-have-killed-so-far-in-2016-7f1aec6b7098#.bek81hqdr

All are deadly and need to be combated. But the cold hard fact is that abortion will kill off the black population long before the police possibly could. All I care about is the truth. And that is the truth as far as I can see. My black son has already escaped cancer, which leaves the flu and food poisoning. Argue my figures, doubt my logic, deride my lack of black authenticity. But all I care about is truth. And to the degree that I have been able to determine the truth this is what I have concluded.


I honestly feel that the Black Lives Matter movement does more to enable those that would carry the flu than it does to stop food poisoning. How can I possibly believe this, as a black man? Because, instead of encouraging the police to be proactive in is forcing them into retreat and fear. It is instead of showing the police that we are not to be feared any more than other segments of the population it is giving the police more reason for wariness, fear and suspicion. It's put both police officers and the black citizens it purports to want to protect in more danger. Because it gives legitimacy to the theory that the police are out to get you and simultaneously says so don't respect them, don't obey them. This is suicidal. If you truly believe that someone who's job requires them to carry a gun is out to get you, why would you make yourself appear more threatening by disrespecting, disobeying and be aggressive towards them? It doesn't make sense.

I don't want to see another black man to die at the hands of the police. No good person does. So why is it acceptable to set up scenarios where already tense situations are going to be exacerbated? Help me understand where I have gone wrong in my logic. Show me the numbers. Show me the facts.

Once again, as always, I have acknowledged that racism is a thing. A wretched, horrible, detestable thing. Please show me how it is still the most dangerous thing to Black America. I just don't see the math. While racism is abhorrent, the facts, the data, the numbers suggest to me that abortion and black on black crime will kill us long, long before the police will. And the stance of the BLM movement will not help that. It is my sincere belief that until the BLM movement takes the stance that all BLACK lives matter, not just the ones that are taken by the police, it will be impossible for me to believe in the legitimacy of the movement. The numbers just don't work for me.


Racism is real. Even more real is the fact that we are killing ourselves. Unless my grasp of math is much, much worse than I think. Please engage truthfully, respectfully and factually. I am more than willing to be corrected. 

As always, I am not saying racism is not a problem.

Before you react to this read EVERY WORD, please.

First of all, I KNOW RACISM EXISTS.

But is it possible that some some people think that in our culture, where disrespect is already rampant, that the even non-violent yet open and blatant disrespect of the flag is just not a good thing to model, to teach, to present as a standard to reach for? Is it possible that it is looked upon (I think rightfully) as a gateway drug to utter disdain for the country. Can one approve of the non-violent approach and still take issue with the disrespect? I think it's possible. Sometimes two seemingly opposing things can be true simultaneously.

Peaceful protest is great and needed at times.

Encouraging the police as pig slur is not ok.

There is no place for destroying property and harming other citizens and/or police officers.

There is no place for resisting arrest.

Respect and instantaneous cooperation with the police are not 100% guarantees but they are much more likely to give you a safe and favorable outcome.

I know racism is an actually thing.

I've dealt with it on numerous occasions.

On infinitely more occasions I have being treated like I was just Aaron who happens to be black and I have no problem. I said it last week, even the most racially charged, bigot infested, year of my life yielded me lifelong friendships that far outweigh the hideous effects of the prejudice I encountered.

Does that have anything to do with how I and others carried ourselves during that ordeal? Absolutely.

Does THAT excuse bigotry, hatred and injustice? Absolutely not.

Did MLK achieve the progess, the very real progress that has been made, through respectful and non-violent means? Absolutely.

HEAR ME NOW AND HEAR ME WELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I KNOW WHAT IT BIGOTRY AND RACISM ARE!!

I HAVE DEALT WITH THEM IN MY LIFE!!!!

I AM NOT SOME INSANE RACISM DENIER!

So please don't even think of going there.

On the other hand, some things are as diametrically opposed as they seem.

No sane, honest person denies that racism exists unless they are incredibly naive.

PLEASE HEAR ME SAY THIS AND INGRAIN IT IN YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS. Any person that that takes a black life and or any other life unlawfully should be dealt with accordingly. Any law enforcement officer that does so unlawfully should have the full weight of the law come down on them. Any officer than makes a fatal mistake should be dealt with accordingly. But police and/or racial victimization is not the greatest physical danger facing the back community.

http://www.dailywire.com/news/7441/7-statistics-you-need-know-about-black-black-crime-aaron-bandler

" "There were almost 6,000 blacks killed by other blacks in 2015.

By contrast, only 258 blacks were killed by police gunfire that year."

http://www.lifenews.com/2016/06/29/black-pastor-69-times-more-black-people-died-from-abortion-than-homicide/

Black pastor Walter B. Hoye II wants to get on board with the #BlackLivesMatter movement, but it troubles him how the movement ignores the leading cause of death among Black Americans – abortion.

Hoye, president of the Issues4LifeFoundation, said abortions on Black Americans outnumber the homicides of Black Americans by 69 to 1. Yet, little attention is drawn to ending the genocide of abortion in the Black community."

I KNOW WHAT IT BIGOTRY AND RACISM ARE!!

I HAVE DEALT WITH THEM IN MY LIFE!!!!

"He uncovered some shocking data by comparing a 2013 report from the Violence Policy Center, which shows that there were 6,217 Black American homicides that year, and national abortion statistics from 2013 showing that there were 429,000 abortions on Black American women.

According to his breakdown of the numbers:

In other words, for every three Black babies born in America, two will be aborted.

The numbers get worse.

In 2013, there were an estimated 429,000 abortions in Black America.

This equates to …

35,750 abortions per month

8,250 abortions per week

1,175 abortions per day

49 abortions per hour

This amounts to 1 Black abortion every 74 seconds."

None of this is to say that racism has become a thing of the past. This is just to say that to whatever extent there are people, organizations, systems or institutions trying to rid America of the "Negro Problem", we must stop doing their dirty work for them at such an efficient pace.

How can we convince others that black lives matter so much when we can't even convince ourselves?

I KNOW WHAT IT BIGOTRY AND RACISM ARE!!

I HAVE DEALT WITH THEM IN MY LIFE!!!!

I just refuse to be a victim of racism beyond the duration of the actual event. And I absolutely refuse to be party to actions that give however many racists are out there, their sick justification of "See, that's how THEY are."

I love you all. I don't see you as colors. I see you as humans. Some good, some bad. I love you all, even those of you who despise me. We all have choices to make. I choose to love my enemies and (when I remember) pray for those that persecute me.

By the way,

I know there is racism in America I've experienced it. I just refuse to live a life of victimhood.

THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF LOVE IN THIS COUNTRY. It's about time we acknowledged both that there has been great progress, but there is still a very real struggle. But there is more than one struggle. And often the struggle to wrestle with both of these competing realities is abandoned. Because the truth is often messy. It's like life that way.

Last week a older, Christian, conservative white guy literally gave me the shirt off his back. That really happened. No latent hate/pity/white man's guilt/overcompensation. He just thought it suited me better than him.

Racism/ugliness happens and so does harmony/beauty.

Why don't we all make a point to be part of the harmony and beauty today, this weekend, always?

We need, more than ever, to unite in America.

Taking a knee is better than throwing a brick through a window.

Take note what it going on around Colin Kaepernick...

Taking a hand is even better than taking a knee.

 

Best choice: Unity. Defiance against injustice. Was most effective in lasting change.

 

I KNOW THERE IS RACISM HERE.

there is also a lot of love

I HAVE experienced both and one far, far, far more often than the other. That is the one I'm going to continue to live out. Love.

https://michaelhyatt.com/you-get-what-you-expect.html

I treat people well and I EXPECT to be treated well. Equally, harmoniously. And for the very most part of my almost 50 years of being black in America that it what I've gotten in return. Although I readily acknowledge that racism exists I don't expect it on a daily basis. Nor should I.

Letter From A Birmingham Jail:

http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html

Are we still there? (Worse still have we RETURNED there?)

If we are on the road back to those days, why is it so?

We've come so far. Injustice will never end but it has been decreased, significantly. This is a very different country.

Consider this:

Could MLK have imagined a two term black president?

Two black Secretaries of State?

Two black Attorney's General?

Is there a long way to go? Absolutely

But have we come a long way? Absolutely

HARMONY, JUSTICE, LOVE AND BEAUTY EXIST RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA.

I love you all!

God loves you infinitely more, infinitely better and absolutely equally.

.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

It's Not Perfect But It Is Better:

I know that we live in racially charged times. I know that there is racism. I know that there is police brutality. A few months ago, I had an incident that could be interpreted either as a racism or possibly not. (This was NOT with the police. My last involvement with the police was the Placer County Sheriff  last Halloween and they were nothing but courteous and professional.) It's my M.O. to take the high road. I try to neither light a fire where there is no fuel nor throw gasoline on a camp fire. In other words, if there wasn't if it wasn't there I'm not going to bring race into the incident. And if it WAS actually racially motivated I wasn't about to confirm any negative thoughts this person had about black people.

 I have lived in Auburn Ca which is in Placer County and is decidedly conservative as am I for the record. Auburn County . I am obviously black, which you can see at first glance and I am decidedly conservative which you probably wouldn't assume by looking at my skin color. That said, please allow me to relate my experience today.

I was in the grocery store while being black and wearing a Dodger cap in this pretty conservative, Northern California town. And white gentleman, probably 15-20 years my senior, comes up to be and starts talking to be about the changes going on in the Dodger's organization. As an expatriate Angeleno it's always nice to meet a kindred spirit. But not as we continued to talk I found out he was a Giant's fan. I was quite surprised. I mean, that's theoretically two strikes against me from the get go. Yet this guy seeks me out in the middle of the store, not in line, to talk to. He didn't see me as a black man and Dodger fan. He saw me as a man and a baseball fan.

Next stop, the checkout line. A checker sees a line and goes to open his register, inviting the white lady approximately 10 years my senior to follow. I happened to know the checker personally and said "I'm right behind you". She had a full cart and saw my four items and said I could go ahead of her. I told her that wasn't my intent I just wanted to hang out with that checker. She insisted I go ahead. I thanked her then and again as I left. She related to me as a human being that she didn't mind showing a small kindness, even at her slight inconvenience.

This has been my experience from here to the Carolinas and back. (I did notice a huge difference in a six-year gap between visits to Atlanta. From puzzlement ,but not aggression, at seeing my college roommate, his wife and myself walking around town together in 1996, to no reaction walking around with them and my white wife six years later.) *She is my only wife, for you literalists out there.

Again all this is to say I'm know there is a long way to go in regard to race relations in our country. But I have seen far, far more instances of white people relating to me like I was a human being as opposed to acting as though I was a blight on their community or some other racist reaction. I know that is not always the case. I know there are racists out there. (And they come in every color.) But I treat people well and for the very most part that is how I am treated. That includes white police officers even when I have been DWB in my Sentra full of gear at 3:00 AM in South Pasadena, as a young man. Or in the compromising position of looking like I could have been trying to steal a car. It was my car. But the person that called the police was a friend of mine that from their vantage point could only see legs sticking out of my car and thought someone of indeterminable color was trying to steal my car... Or worse still, making out with a white girl in a car as an even younger man... For the record, I have dated girls/women of at least three different ethnicities in my lifetime because color has never mattered just content of character. The only reason I think of or refer to my wife as white is to occasionally make a point or observation. Other than that, she is the love of my life and my greatest good. One of the most beautiful things about my daughter's wedding was the fact that, because of  the ethnic background of both sets of parents, if a stranger had walked in they would've had no way to tell which side was the bride's and which side was the groom's. That was a room full of contented characters. 

We can all celebrate our heritage and that's all good.  Ethnic and other distinctions exist and even matter to a point. If for no other reason than to be able to describe Person A to Person B that hasn't any idea of what Person A looks like. Saying, "Person A is heighted and has mass and width" doesn't really help. But at the end of the day we all bleed red and we're all worthy of a great deal of respect as a human being. (Until and unless we prove otherwise and THEN we should be treated a degree of human decency.) There are really two races. The decent and the indecent. If we treat each decently we are more likely to be treated decently. Even by those who would want to treat us poorly for whatever reason. And when we come across the indecent we should, hard as it is, take the high ground.

I' m not saying it's all good or that things are perfect. But I am saying things are better. And it's up to all of to push things in the right direction. 

I love you all!