Sap Running

I’ve watched the sunrise many, many days over the past “several” months and for the most part it has been a welcome sight. It would bring great memories of the day before the laughter, smiles, companionships, conversations, and so much more. It would also bring great expectation of what new and wonderful things the day would offer but today as I layed in the dark watching the same window that I’ve watched for “several” months those thoughts alludes me. ALL I could hear was the Elderly African American community saying “the sap is running.” As a kid I would hear those words often during the fall time of the year. One day my Grandmother was talking and she made reference to “the sap must be running,” I ask her the question that that is on the tip of your tongue what does that mean?

I don’t know if I was really ready for the answer but here it is, it was what the older generation would use when people would die during the fall season of the year. (Sap runs during the fall of the year from the maple trees and it’s a mighty slow process as the maple flowing from the maple tree to describe the slow march of the death angle claiming the lives of people.) I must be honest it scared the you-know-what out of me then. Every time the leves would turn color and began to fall I would leave those days afraid of death but the older I got the less those words had any affect on me. Over the last few years I’ve heard those words echoing through the hall of my memories during the fall season. Since September I’ve experience death physically, relationally and emotionally. So I’ve heard myself not saying but feeling it physically, this Saturday will be the fourth funeral service that I’ve officiated this fall not counting the ones I’ve attended. Relationally, I’ve experienced some death with some associates, some so-called-friends and some people who have had significant place in my life. Emotionally, the deaths are tied to the physical and relational deaths but outside of that has been the death of my trust in people.

THE SAP IS RUNNING!!!!

Help Wanted

You ever needed a SAFE haven? You ever longed for a REAL friendship. What about a CARING and COMPASSIANTE confidant, an UNDERSTANDING ear, or a STRONG shoulder. Simple some one to VALIDATE your feeling, LESSEN your load, BEAR you burden, CARRY your cares, and HANDLE your Hardships. Someone who desires to know you. No hidden agenda, motives, or any other sinister self indulging plan or plot, just someone who when they call your name it sounds different. Someone who contributes to your life rather than subtracts. Someone who looks to see the best in you rather than the worst. Someone to hold you, help you and keep hope alive in you. Someone who walks, watches and works with you. Someone who cares about you, is compassionate toward you and will be concerned about you.

I'm slipping deeper and deeper in this THING and there seems to be no one who can see beyond the smile, beyond the output, beyond the walk, beyond the preaching, teaching and praying. I can sense by now that some reading this has leaped on their religious high-horse and by now is wondering why a preacher, pastor and for that matter a child of God could ever feel this fragile, fractured and fickled. When Jesus approached the garden He was accompanied by his disciples and instructed them to watch with Him. He then took THREE and went a little further and then He himself went a little further. There come a time in everyones life when you need some friends to watch and wait with you. When life hits you the hardest and over and over and over again relentless attack one after another like a heavy weight fighter who is "out on his feet." Knock out but still on his feet trying to regain his balance and composer while the other fighter is bearing in for the knock out punch. One punch after another blood flowing and in the crowd some cheering other appalled waiting and praying for either the ref or the corner guy to stop the fight. How much more can he take, eyes swollen, you can't determined where blood is coming from the cut above the eyes or from his mouth from the beating the other fighter is giving him. Somebody stop the fight! Somebody have mercy! Somebody just throw in the towel. Nobody understands how in the world is this fighter continues taking blow after blow, hit after hit. It is no longer entertainment it is a brutal assault it become hard to watch. Where are those who care? Where are those who have ridden on his coat-tail? Where are those who have ate from his table? Where are those who have benefited the most? Where are those love one, family and friends that have been there in good times enjoying the fruits of his labor?

Jesus takes Peter, James and John to watch with Him only to come back to find them sleep. Sleep on the watch. Sleep on the job. When they should have been at their best. When Jesus needed them the most. They were so self absorbed that they missed their chance to minister to the Minister. They have become so accustomed to being on the receiving end that when they had a chance to give they failed.

Defining Moments

There come a time in every relationship when you hit a defining moment. Its that moment when you come to the fork in the road where a decision has to be made and it defines the rest of the relationship. Proceed with caution because sometime one decision can alter the very future of a marriage relationship, family relationship, friendships "THIS" relationship or "THAT" relationship. I've crossed some of those road with individuals in my life and as painful as it has been I believe that God has purposed these experiences. People are in your life for a reason, season or a lifetime. You see, many times our relationships cloud our intelligence. Emotion and feeling sometime eclipse our view of who people really are. We often want to see in people that which is not in them or that which they have the potintial but refuse to accept.

In recent days I've discovered that there have been people that I have trusted to have a place in my life. Whom I thought we had a mutual love and appreciation for each other. I must admit that I'm very guarded in those whom I allow to get close but even with that you really never know a person until your in the fox hole with them, at a place and season where you need them. That's where relationships are defined or destroyed, stranded or strengthen.

Hurt Village

The Blind Side is the remarkable true story of a young man named Michael Oher who becomes an All-American football star. Mother addicted, father found dead, a dozen or more siblings separated, his own mother couldn't remember his last name, virtually homeless, bouncing from couch to couch never having a bed of his own until he is spotted on the street by Leigh Anne Tuohy. What starts out as a gesture of kindness becomes much more as Michael becomes part of the Tuohy family despite the differences in their backgrounds. What blows me away is how the story ends with Leigh Anne and Michael sitting on the curb of the laundry mat that he frequent when there was no couch available, she asked him how he made it out of (catch this "Hurt Village" the name of the area Michael is from). He said my mother taught him to close his eyes when bad things happened. Michael makes it out but his friend David dies as a result of not making it out of hurt village.

As I sit in my second dark mostly empty theater through this movie for the third time trying to shake the emotional strain of today. I've asked myself the question how does one get out of Hurt Village? Each and everyday their are people who successfully maneuver the trail of tears while other are detoured by the devastation of depression.

Why did Michael make it and David did not? Why did David drop out of school and life and die in the village and Michael become a first round draft choice. One word "Community!" The Tuohy family gave Michael the support, strength and spirit to overcome hurt village. Over and over again Michael was drawn back to hurt village again and again and again. Hurt village can be conquered with the help of loving, understanding, compassionate, caring and Christ-like people. A person present hurt doesn't have to define their future given the right support system.

Playing Hurt

The last few days have been like a bad recurring dream. Its been like that movie ground hog day, when the guy keeps having to relive the same day over and over again. Every morning he wakes up and goes through the exactly same thing that he did the day before, eats same food, goes same places and meets the same people. Strange how one event can turn your world upside down.

Funny (NOT in a ha, ha, way but in a strange way) how people never look behind the smile. I shared this past Sunday on my weekly radio segment Words To Live By that every athlete learned early on to "play hurt" (definition: A injured player plays through his injury). Playing hurt separated good athletes from great athletes. Many time in ministry the pastor must "play hurt!" He does have the liberty to take time to heal, much like the franchise play on a professional team. The only difference is that the organization and ownership understands how valuable the franchise player is and wouldn't risk him being injured, hurt or possible falling to a career ending collision. One would think that the church, his family, friends and love ones would take a page out of the NBA or NFL owner's manual and protect the franchise player. I know that the church is bigger than one man but I also realize that in many churches people attend week in and week out because of the personality in the pulpit. The families of these men and women are supported well by his/her ability to do what they do. The members of these churches are strengthen fed and encouraged by the words that fall from his/her lips.

Sunday after Sunday I have stood broken, burden and battered. Preaching through heartache, hardship and heart break. Leading worship wounded, worn, weary and weeping. Ministering while morning and missing my Daddy. Nobody knowe! Nobody cares! Nobody concern! Just keep giving what we want.

Still Standing Strong

As I come to the end of a long day I want to remind each of us to be thankful for the church. Today I was bless with the opportunity to share God's Word with two congregations in their Homecoming celebrations: my home church the Fairview Baptist Church (Dr. J A Reed) 100th year celebration and the New Hope Baptist Church (Pastor E J Tyson) 80th celebration the church that birth the church I sever. And I am proud to say that the church is still standing strong. Two churches that have rich histories. In the black experience the church has always been that voice that has given leadership to our communities across this country. I'm honored to be apart of the wonderful legacy of leaders that continue to lift the faith of people and give hope and help to the lives of families. What awesome responsibility. Knowing that God has chosen sinful men and women to empower and change live. Father, thank you for using me and allowing me to do your work. I know there are those who are much more equip and worthy. I sit in amazement as your Holy Spirit flow through me giving me the word to say making clear your love and grace. I surrender my life to your service. While I suffer and struggle through my own experience I have found peace today by simply letting you do what you wish.

Finish Strong

"Finish Strong" is a phrase I picked up in high school sports some 30 some years ago. Being an athlete it was called upon when the game had come to the 4th quarter and victory was in sight. The coach would call a time out gather his player around him and like. General commanding his troops to go into battle the coach would call us to dig down deep and finish strong. Where are you digging? Glad you asked! It was those long evening of practice, coaching sessions, those extra sprints and drills. That at the time you didn't understand but the coach had the experience to know that during a long season his team will have to have some that the opponent did have and that is a pool of strength that the other team didn't not possess.

When days seem duary, nights seem long, valleys seem deep and mountains high...remember to "Finish Strong!" Our God has put in us enough to win. I'm praying that you finish this year out strong and ask that you will do the same for me.

World Aids Day

December is such a special month! Not just because it is the time of year in which we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, but also because December 1 is World AIDS Day. HIV/AIDS is still the greatest crisis of all time, killing millions every year, and leaving millions of orphaned and vulnerable children behind. In the middle of this tragedy, Christians have the opportunity to make the love of our Savior real to anyone infected or affected by HIV and AIDS. One of the ways you can show that you care is by remembering those who have died, pray for those who are currently living with HIV and AIDS, pray for breakthroughs in a possible vaccine for HIV. The simplest way you can help fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic is to know your own HIV status. Most people with HIV have been living with the virus for up to nine years before they know their status. Get informed and stop the HIV/AIDS pandemic.