What's Your Excuse, Now?: January 2013

Monday, January 28, 2013

15 Ways To Keep A Relationship Working!


Keep God foremost in the relationship and you will have something great going for you!  Yes, I received this as an email but it has a lot of true statements that are very positive.  This represents Real Love, not faking it.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Inauguration and Dr. M. L. King's Day Celebration!




It was a lovely day and time for the Inauguration and the Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Monday, January 21. Dr. King would have been 83 years old had he lived. Yesterday was a beautiful time when most of us dropped our political differences and animosity towards each other and came together for support of our country. I said most of us because there were still shootings and death and negativity taking place. What we saw on the TV, heard or even being there in Washington were about positive and forward progress. The President’s speech was in line with Dr. King’s about freedom, equal rights and treatment. It was apparent to me that the President was mindful and respectful of Dr. King’s day and stayed in line with Dr. King’s commitment to all people. The day was not about him but the country. A large cross-section of America was there to show their excitement and support to prove it!  The Brooklyn Choir, Kelly Clarkson, and Beyonce could sing.

I thought that Myrlie Evers-Williams, the widow of Medgar Evers, a slain civil rights leader from the 60’s, deliver a wonderful, soul-searching presidential invocation.  “I'm so honored to be asked to do this and it's so important that it comes at a time when the nation will look at Medgar and others who died doing that that 50-year period, it's just critically important,” said Ms. Evers-Williams. This comes 50 years after her husband Medgar Evers, an NAACP Mississippi field secretary, was shot and killed in the driveway of their home. It also happens to fall on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, marking two important anniversaries in the fight for civil rights.
I found this article researching and thought that despite the animosity, you still can’t keep a good man down. This article was written by Frederick Douglass, in 1865.

In 1865 upon the White House Grounds: I had for some time looked upon myself as a man, but now in this multitude of the elite of the land, I felt myself a man among men. This comfortable assurance was not of long duration, for on reaching the White House front door, two policemen stationed there took me rudely by the arm and ordered me to stand back, for their directions were to admit no persons of my color. Once in the battle, I did not think it well to submit to repulse. I told the officers I was quite sure there must be some mistake, for no such order could have emanated from President Lincoln; and that if he knew I was at the door he would desire my admission. To put an end to the parley, since we were obstructing the doorway and not easily pushed aside, they assumed an air of politeness and offered to conduct me in. We followed their lead and soon found ourselves walking some planks out of a window, which had been arranged as a temporary passage for the exit of visitors. We halted as soon as we saw the trick, and I said to the officers: “You have deceived me. I shall not go out of this building until I see President Lincoln.” At this moment a gentleman who was passing in recognized me, and I said to him: “Be so kind as to say to Mr. Lincoln that Frederick Douglass is detained by officers at the door.” It was not long before Mrs. Dorsey and I walked into the spacious East Room, amid a scene of elegance. Mr. Lincoln stood in his grand simplicity. Recognizing me, even before I reached him, “Here comes my friend Douglass.” Taking me by the hand, he said, “I am glad to see you. I saw you in the crowd today, listening to my inaugural address; how did you like it?” I said, “Mr. Lincoln, I must not detain you with my opinion, when there are thousands waiting to shake hands with you.” “No, no,” he said, “you must stop a little, Douglass; there is no man in the country whose opinion I value more than yours. I want to know what you think of it.” It came out that the officers at the White House had received no orders from Mr. Lincoln, or from anyone else. They were simply complying with an old custom, the outgrowth of Slavery, as dogs will sometimes rub their necks, long after their collars are removed.
Sir Frederick Douglass

Monday, January 14, 2013

When Will The Intolerance End?


A t-shirt depicting President Obama as a “witch doctor” stealing medicine via his Affordable Care Act, found its way to a South Carolina Tea Party convention.

Is another civil war what these people want?  They don’t want big government but they will take big government’s money and help.  We can be selfish and greedy when it comes to getting something for ourselves.  We forget how we got because someone and/or something helped us to get it.  Why haven’t we heard from the tea party people during the Bush era?  President Obama just doesn’t fit the script.  As Colin Powell admitted that there is a dark vein of intolerance” in the Republican Party.  There are still some members of the GOP that still looks down on minorities.  They can not and will not accept change.  They have a narrow outlook like others in our nation that they can not accept anyone who does not look like them.  And some of these are people in powerful positions that will do anything to keep progress from moving forward.  They will even go to great lengths to destroy this great country we live in.  Fortunately, these groups of people are the minority and the ones that truly care for the future on this country are on the side of right.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

God Is Preparing Something Better For You!!!

I borrowed the below email for its message.  I don't know who wrote it but I feel that it is something that we all can use when going through personal trials.  Give glory to God!  He knows what we need even when we are not sure of what we want!

God Is Doing A Work In You......................There are two things you can count on as you walk with God: tribulation that works for you, and grace that enables you to stand while you're going through it. Have you been praying for patience? Get ready for tribulation; there no other way to get it! Patience only grows in the soil of adversity. The truth is, some of the people you can't stand right now are the very ones who will mature you spiritually and get you to your destiny. God said: "Moab is my washbasin" (Ps 60:8,NIV). Moab was a troublesome next-door neighbor who drove Israel crazy. But such people can also drive us closer to God! So, who's your washbasin? Who brings out the worst in you? Who drives you to your knees? Who stretches your faith? Who develops your character? The problem is, we pray for certain things but God has a process; only as we get to know Him better do we begin to recognize it. Here's how it works: you ask God for strength and He allows you to go through struggles that develop you. You ask him for wisdom and you get to deal with messy situations that have no easy solutions. You ask Him for success and He give you ability to work and wisdom to produce. You ask Him for favor and you get responsibility. (Then you want to run from it.) There's a work going on in you right now! You may not be fully aware of it, but without it you'll never be qualified to handle what God has in mind.




Invisible Driver Prank!



This prank driver video makes you think even though it might be funny to see people's reaction.  What would you do?

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Forever Jones Bio and Webpage


Forever Jones

Here is a short Bio.  Click on the Forever Jones to hear and read more! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!  I used a capital F but they are known by the small f in forever Jones.

With Musical Revival the 7-member, family band known simply as forever JONES continues their mission to declare the spirit of worship, the message of the Gospel, and the essence of family through their artistry. The 11-song album, written entirely by the Jones family and produced by Keith Thomas is filled with the diverse influences of Pop, Gospel, Rock, and Urban, unified by a seamless thread of Worship.

The sonically ambitious project marks the next phase in the evolution of the group, who stepped boldly onto the national stage in 2010 with their critically and commercially acclaimed debut Get Ready. Featuring the #1 hit “He Wants It All,” that album earned a GRAMMY® nomination, while winning a Stellar Award for Best Contemporary Group along with three Dove Award nominations, including the prestigious New Artist of the Year.

You Can Do Anything – Forever Jones!

You Are Welcome Here (Live) – Forever Jones!

Heaven (Live) – Forever Jones!

He Wants It All (Live) – Forever Jones!

Friday, January 4, 2013

Now That The Holidays Are Behind Us, Now What?

I pray that everyone had a blessed and wonderful holidays these past weeks.  We lost some loved ones and gain some new ones.  We cried over our friends and family that will forever miss sharing special occasions with us.  We thought about the mistakes and successes we had and still we are here!  The new year is like fresh snow, we make our own tracks, but this time, let's take them towards God.  In other words, we can do what is right, we can make the right choices, we can include Him in all of our decisions and we can thank Him everyday about the many blessings we take for granted.  We would not be here either celebrating and rejoices or being bitter and angry over our own choices without God's love and mercy.  I pray that you all have a successful season in developing a relationship with the Lord.

Gorillas & Rhinos