Whats Going On Tonight

Well, If the Good LORD says the same, I will be at church bringing in the New Year. I have been in the House of God for New Years Eve, since 2002. God has been good to me and I am thankful for His many blessings over my life. I have struggled quite a bit this year. I made some good strides and some bad decisions. Yet, God has seen fit for me to see another year.

A co-worker of mine passed out fliers for a new years eve bash. I told a friend at my job that I would really like to go. He told me, "you never come by". Yet, it is with reason. When you understand that God has blessed you tremendously, you understand that He is worthy to be praised and honored. I love my co-workers but I love my God and His body a lot more.

So, while the champagne is flowing in some places, and the dancefloors packed in others. I will bless God because when i couldnt drink champange or dance He was right there. He is awesome and because of that. I will be in His house on tonight. Whereever you find yourself tonight, take a minute and stop and think on the goodness of God. Think about what He brought you through, mentally, emotionally, physically, financially and even socially. So dont lift your glass tonight, but lift your hands in praise.

Looking Back at '09 for the Last Time

Well, Initially I thought I would put this out friday, but after some thought. I decided not too. I wanted to think about this year and look at the good, the bad, the ugly and the indifferent. Listed below, will be some of the highlights of this year for me personally.

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT THIS YEAR
Surviving.
NEXT GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT
Graduating with my MBA.

FAILURE OF THE YEAR.
No promotion at work.
NEXT FAILURE.
Not Publishing Visions of Heaven on time, which is my 2nd book.

BEST MOVIE I SAW THIS YEAR
Avatar
NEXT TO BEST MOVIE I SAW.
This Is It

WORST MOVIE I SAW THIS YEAR
Drag Me to Hell
NEXT WORST MOVIE I SAW THIS YEAR
Crank 2

BEST EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
Graduation Ceremony at University of Phoenix
NEXT TO BEST EXPERIENCE
Meeting Darlene

WORST NEWS I GOT THIS YEAR
My ex-wife got married.
NEXT TO WORST NEWS
Michael Jackson passing away

MY "MAN, I WISH I HAD DONE THAT DIFFERENT" MOMENT
I didnt save money like I should have really this year.

MY NEXT TO "MAN, I WISH I HAD DONE THAT DIFFERENT" MOMENT
Moving into the townhome im in. I wish I could have stayed where I was in retrospect, it was a dumb move.

BEST SEASON OF THE YEAR FOR ME
Fall
WORST SEASON OF THE YEAR FOR ME
Summer

HARDEST LESSON LEARNED THIS YEAR
Betrayal happens. Get over it.

BEST LESSON LEARNED THIS YEAR
You have a lot to do with your destiny.


'09 was filled with a lot of high points and low points. It was a tough year. 2010 will have its own challenges as well I'm sure. Yet, I am excited. I know 2010 will be a great year. I am praying that it is a year of greater accomplishments and a greater year of service.

I have already stated that I will not post my goals for 2010 because I feel I need to just be about it and not talk it up so much. I will only say, just look for great things from me as well as yourself. Build up the momentum and soar. I will be right there with you to celebrate, minister, encourage and build. LETS DO THIS THING TOGETHER. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Black Single Women

Black women are having a tough time finding suitable mates among the brothers. If you think this going to be one of those blogs where I bash Black woman, you are sadly mistaken. Instead, I have to be realistic and sympathetic to the plight of our women. Many feel they have no choice but to date outside the race. It is what it is. Now, standards are an issue and truthfully it is a real concern. Black women should not settle. However, the question is what does it mean to not settle?

Some Black women find themselves making questionable decisions based upon their past. Those sisters tend to go through dysfunctional relationship, one after the other. These sisters many times are not educated nor possess an attractive job. Just based upon their education, their choices in men are limited. Now, when you deal with a sister who has the all the education and career goals accomplished. What does a brother do to attract that sister? Many Black men do not have the jobs or the education. So, its a question of investment. Will Black men invest in their future to ensure they find a mate; One that isnt always in the clubs, one that is not working at McDonalds, one that isnt stuck in the hood mentally. One that is looking for thug passion from a thug. Basically, Black men share similar problems. We dont want to marry someone who may or might cheat on us or make our lives full of drama.

I asked a good friend of mine how she feels about the pool available to her. I ask if she would date potential. Now this sister is gorgeous. Has a MBA. Corporate job. She's high maintenance to a certain degree. Yet, she is down to earth. We talked today briefly about how she feels about the Black men available to her. She actually said that she felt she had found someone and that she was fortunate. Now, will it lead to marriage, right now the hardware is not to be found on her finger. And, yes she has set a deadline. Which as of this date is rapidly approaching.

So, while it can be said that Black women are being challenged in this area, it can be said that there are successes. Black women maybe dating outside the race, Black women may feel the pool is shrinking. However, Black women are still marrying Black men and want to marry Black men. As long as that is the case, that ray of hope will shine. As Steve Harvey alluded to in the video, many of our gender failed to grasp the real concept of family in this generation. Yet, he said from the outset that there are some good Black men out here and they are. I happen to be one of them.

I am a single father. I am a Black man. I love God. I love Black women. I have a MBA. Yet, I dont have that "corporate job" yet. Despite this economy, I cannot expect nothing to be handed to me. Whether that is a job making a high five or six figures or a even the hand of a sister in marriage. I have to work for it all. I have issues but those issues I struggle with do not have me. And yes, I had to work to get it to be that way. So for single Black men, I say this to you. Be encouraged, work hard, have faith, and pursue excellence. As I like to say from time to time. Love comes around, it finds a way. To my single sisters, I say this to you. Be encouraged, work hard, have faith and yes pursue excellence. We as a people have to think as one. The message to both genders concerning marriage and love should be and is the same. Love comes around, it finds a way.

I just wanna thank you.

Dear SO and SO and SO,

I wanna thank you for all that you do.
Whether you know it or not,
you all make a difference in my life.
Whether your motives are pure or not,
it really doesn't matter.
What matters is that you care enough,
to say something or do something to me.
Some would call you haters,
I call you misunderstood.
I call you misled.
I call you disturbed.
While I could ask you personally,
why such thoughts toward me,
I know you think, that I think,
you love me.
You would be right.
I do love you,
each of you.
I will love you close
and I will love you from afar.
I wish you well.
Whether I call you a friend or an enemy,
it doesn't matter.
I will always love you.

Sincerely Yours.

The object of your ridicule, the object of your jealousy, the object of your affection.

Sending A Blessing

A good person sent this e-mail to me, I thought it was a blessing and I wanted to share it with you.

Psalm 55:22 --- you really need to read this.
"Friends are God's way of taking care of us."

This was written by a Metro Denver Hospice Physician:


I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd., and the car started to choke and splutter and die - I barely managed to coast, cursing, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn't even turn over. Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the "quickie mart" building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a Gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay


When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel.


At that moment, everything came into
focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95.

I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying "don't want my kids to see me crying," so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car. She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, "And you were praying?" That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, "He heard you, and He sent me."


I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling, walked to the next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car, who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little.


She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City . Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent Jan 1, and finally in desperation had finally called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about 5 years. They live in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there.


So she packed up everything she owned in the car. She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.

I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, "So, are you like an angel or something?"


This definitely made me cry. I said, "Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people."

It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle. And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong.


Sometimes the angels fly close enough to you that you can hear the flutter of their wings...

Psalms 55:22 "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."


My instructions were to pick four people that I wanted God to bless, especially for the months left in 2009, and I picked you.

Please pass this to four people you want to be blessed and a copy back to me. I sent it to twenty-five people.
Here is the prayer:


"Father, I ask You to bless my children, grandchildren, friends, relatives and e-mail buddies reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace, In Jesus ' precious name. Amen."


I know I picked more than four -- you can, too.
When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say, " Jesus , could You please get that for me.

Motivation 2010

I have seen too much drama in this year. I cried more this year than anyone I can remember. I saw some success personally, so over all it was a roller coaster ride. One thing is for sure, 2010 is and will be an incredible year. Trials will come, hard decisions will be made. Yet, my family and I will be better for it all. I have a number of goals Im shooting for. I am not even gonna list them. Yet, I will reveal them as I reach them. I dont want to look back at 2010 this time next year and be discouraged. Not 2010. Im not some next level experience. Yall gonna need a jet to catch me. I promise.

I dont know what to think

Have someone ever told you something and you didnt really know whether to believe them or not. Recently, I was told something that led me to not really believe them. This of course was based upon my history with this person. This person even told me that any possible relationship we could have is almost impossible due to an issue of trust. That is an under statement. Trust this point isn't even an issue. Sometimes damage is not repairable. You basically have to rebuild from the bottom up. Risky. Very risky.

Now, personally speaking I have to weigh the cost of taking the risk. On the surface, it just isnt worth it. I love this person, yet this person isnt worth the risk. Why? Basically because i dont know what to think. I know that the history we shared is incredible but this one thing that I cannot ignore. I dont know what to think. My heart has made some questionable decisions in the past. Yet, I feel that making this one is quite the paradox. How can I trust and put my faith in someone who has shown nothing less than betrayal and self motives? Plus, it is my guess that the green grass is found out to be astro turf.

In relationships people are motivated not by the right thing but what they feel. I dont know what to think. Especially about this situation. I want to believe them. I really do. Yet, that would be foolish. And for me. I cannot do foolish. I dont know what to think but it definitely aint foolish. It is what it is. People are a trip.