When You Really Matter...

One tends to think of themselves when someone mentions time. To be selfish, and say, "When will he/she make time for me!?" You want alone time, and can't seem to get it. They want to go party, and you just ain't wit' it... That's the theme song for an "opposites attract" couple-especially those with children.

Or for those of you on the dating scene... I'm going out with the guys this weekend, or it's girls night out... Yeah but what about ME!? They always make time for others, but never you. Yeah those words and actions are more likely than not, mood killers and ofttimes relationship destroyers.

The imperfect one has a Baby Girl that always asks for time, and you know... she's worth every second of it. There is a time however, when the demand is too great to fill. You can't raise a child to believe that anyone (no, not even daddy) can drop everything, every time, and attend to every request. It is foolish to raise, teach, make anyone to feel or believe that. How many times have you ever heard a mother from the hood say, "What's wrong with you!? Can't you see grown folks talkin'!?" The mothers in the hood will tell their spouses that, let alone their kids, get outta line she dares you!

Then there is the classic non-hood approach, where you ignore them until they tug your pants leg, use a louder voice, and force you to say, "You're being ignored for a reason."

There are those times when there are interruptions that do not get turned away, however. Therefore, in those occasions (children or peers) you have to be the bigger person, and just walk away. For sanity's sake, and for demonstration of what worth is all about, you just have to SHOW all parties involved that your time and effort are of worth.

The world would be more impressed by a demonstration of our faith than by a description of it! ~ via Zig Ziglar Daily Devo

How many people do you see post about faith in a social network, then turn around and brag about things that not only God has deemed inappropriate, but you as a parent would? Come on you know where this is going...

"I love the Lord, Jesus is so good to me!" in one post, then the next post is a picture of a nude, or might as well be nude woman on his/her page. Yes his/hers... Not to mention what the captions might say. Then there are those of us (Christians) that really show our hypocritical sides and paint a prettier (nastier, more evil) picture with words alone. But we are still Christians right? Imperfect or not we say that we believe... but what do we believe, and for how long?

I have witnessed lots of things via the bigger social networks, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. A young lady that I have had the privilege of coaching, and getting to know over the years posted on her wall for all to see, "Hopefully one day your life will be as cool as you make it appear on Facebook."

The imperfect one will play like the BASF of bloggers and be innovative with her quote... Hopefully one day your life will be as true, complete, and honorable as you ATTEMPT to make it in your stories, and on Facebook.

Do you really love that man/woman, do you really love yourself? Do you? Stop lying to yourself, and know that you can't lie to the One that always makes time for you, never lies to you, never makes excuses, and never breaks any promises. The imperfect one doesn't make promises anymore, and he also knows that there is only One that is capable of upholding such a standard and His name is Jesus.

Lord I don't want to be wrong. I don't want to think or hurt, or think of being hurt, but I know that only You can be that One...

Peace, Blessings, and Joy... that real PB&J

Moving On Up...

The imperfect Christian was reminded that it is Ascension Day, or 39 days after Easter Sunday. Churches and individuals celebrate in different ways. I witnessed the "church crawl", in Mexico City, where people would go to the Cathedral and crawl for hundreds of feet all the way to the altar. Over a hundred meters or more on there knees on concrete. It is a very humbling experience!
To the understanding of the imperfect one, some Lutheran churches organize and worship with a special service where the Paschal (Easter) candle is extinguished and removed after the reading of the gospel on Ascension Day. Communion is not uncommon either. "Do this in remembrance," is written on a ton of AME church communion tables.

Ascension Day can be referenced back as far as circa 68 AD. It is one of the earliest known celebrations or Christian festivals after Christs' crucifixion, and resurrection. Jesus met with His disciples on occasion during the 40 days after His resurrection. It still blows the imperfect Christians mind to read about how the disciples had scattered in fear of their own lives, and Jesus showed up in the upper room where the door was locked! Can you imagine!? Scholars believe according to scripture that on the 40th day Jesus took them to the Mount of Olives, where they stood to bear witness of His ascending into heaven. "And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen." (Luke 24:50-53) NKJV

Ascension Day ends the Easter season and takes place ten days before Pentecost, which in case this year would be on June 12th. So with that said, Happy Day of Ascension, or Day or Hope, and Promise. He has gone to prepare a place for us. Until we meet in that place, and at that appointed time (that only He knows!) blessings to you all. I really want to go to Corcovado, and have my picture taken by the Redeemer statue! Oh yeah and hang out with Ronaldinho! LOL!

Peace, Blessings, and Joy... that real PB&J

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Promises, promises...

The imperfect Christian took this rainbow pic in a district called Swannanowhur. The home town of former UNC standout Brad Daugherty. When the imperfect one sees a rainbow, he thinks of Gods' promise. In the imperfect Christians mind only God is capable of making promises. The imperfect Christians boss once told him that he did not like to, or very seldom made promises. He said I just don't make a promise unless I am 100% certain that it is already done, and delivered, waiting for the recipient. The imperfect Christian is down with him on that one.

The Word says that God is not slack like some men..."The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) NKJV

God promised no more complete floods, but has allowed a high water to occupy a few lands, and a few hearts. But no complete flood. No complete death, but a instead a new beginning. Genesis 8:20 & 21 from the Amplified Version says, "Noah built an altar to the Lord and took of every clean [four-footed] animal and of every clean fowl or bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
21When the Lord smelled the pleasing odor [a scent of satisfaction to His heart], the Lord said to Himself, I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the imagination (the strong desire) of man's heart is evil and wicked from his youth; neither will I ever again smite and destroy every living thing, as I have done."

Genesis 9:15-17 also the Amplified Version says, "I will [earnestly] remember My covenant or solemn pledge which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy and make all flesh corrupt.
16When the bow [rainbow] is in the clouds and I look upon it, I will [earnestly] remember the everlasting covenant or pledge between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
17And God said to Noah, This [rainbow] is the token or sign of the covenant or solemn pledge which I have established between Me and all flesh upon the earth."

The imperfect ones boys love to sing Standing On The Promises, and has to admit the imperfect Christian does too! Shaq may guarantee another NBA title to his franchise, and fans... Favre may promise after this season to never play again... perhaps even MJ will reverse his promise not to play again and we will see him in a Bobcat uni? But one thing is certain, when God tells you something, you better believe it. No promises on my next blog, no promise that there will even be a blog, but I can promise that if there is one, God will have His way whether I am in His will or not, and that you can bank on.