Happy Memorial Day!

Is There Ever A Justification For Being Re-Baptized?

The CNN Belief Blog will occasionally share the spiritual journeys of others and begins with this one from Jascinth Hall, a 26-year-old wife and mother of three who was baptized - along with 109 others - on Saturday, May 8, at Berean Seventh-day Adventist Church in Atlanta, Georgia....From reading the article I don't believe Ms. Hall understand Scriptural  baptism:

"Re-baptism is a common thing in the church. As a teenager, even as an adult, I’ve made bad decisions. I’ve sinned. I wanted to just give my life completely over to Christ again and say, “Lord I know I’ve made mistakes. But I know that you forgive me for my sins.... I know that you’ll take my life and make it worth something - make it of some value.”

I was raise to believe genuine baptism is needed only one time in a person’s life.... Once a person has been baptized, according to the full complement of scriptural instructions, he or she never has the need to repeat this “new birth” process ( John 3:3-5)...Also after a person has entered the family of Christ through baptism (1 Corinthians 12:13; cf. Galatians 3:26-27), he or she is a part of the church, the household of God (1 Timothy 3:15; cf. Ephesians 2:19-22). The new Christian thus has access to all of the spiritual benefits of the “in Christ” relationship (Ephesians 1:3). As a son or daughter of God, within that sacred environment, the Christian petitions the heavenly Father for his or her personal needs by means of prayer (see Acts 8:22,24; cf. James 5:16), including forgiveness for sins as a child who will err (cf. 1 John 1:8; 2:1).I do believe there's a time to be re- baptized:

If you  were sprinkled.
If you were  baptized as an  infants.
If you were  baptized believing you were already saved and you were not.

Is "2012" The End Of The World?

Are you one of the many  people who believe the world will end in 2012?...According to the Mayan calendar on Dec. 21, 2012 ends great cycle, which was called "The Fifth Sun". The cycle had 5126 years length, and began on  August  13 3113 BC. Some claim that in this year Mayan calendar ends, which could mean the end of the world.... We Americans have always been  entranced by the  end-of-the-world scenarios...Someone email me this question: What's my take on the world ending in 2012? My response:  Don’t dwell on the unknowable - Don’t dwell on the uncontrollable - Don’t dwell on the unfathomable!

John Mark records Jesus, the Christ, in Mark 13:32-33 , telling us: "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no not the Angels which are in Heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. (v. 33) Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is."Did you get it? Not even Jesus, the Christ, knows everything  there is something kept hidden even from Jesus, the Christ, Himself - and, that something is the very thing that some people profess to know - despite the fact that Jesus, the Christ, Himself doesn’t know - "the day or the hour of the end"! Think about this! What if it were  true! What can man do to stop it?
"NOTHING"!!

Insecure People Will Always Criticize Others.

Again I ask this question: Where in the world  did we get the idea that everybody has to like us? It certainly was not from God's word...Jesus said His blessings were reserved for the "persecuted and reviled" As believers  in Christ we should respect the opinions of others, but we should never be ruled by them...If we let it criticism will steal our individuality, rob us of our creativity and stop us from fulfilling our destiny...That's too much power to give to anybody...Insecure people will always criticize others especially if your choices differ from theirs...That's because they're uncomfortable with things that don't conform to their way of thinking...Secure people can handle being the only one doing something...They can allow others the liberty to be different and to make their own choices...That's because they themselves are secure in who God has called them to be...In other words if Venus and Serena would have caved in... And had  listened to the hate and nay- sayers...There's no doubt in my mind  they wouldn't be who they are  to day...Two outstanding respectable black women...It's not what we do occasionally that makes the difference; it's what we do daily.

Banning Tight Jeans!

In West Aceh, Indonesia over  20,000 long skirts have been issued to its female population as part of a new law....Banning Muslim women from  appearing too curvaceous in public....A  former  school teacher and traditional Islamic “healer” is behind the movement....He says he's on a mission to implement perhaps the most severe  form of sharia (Islamic law) ever  seen in Indonesia.

While most  women in Aceh wear the jilbab, or headscarf, many follow the current Indonesian fashion for tight jeans, even if they are modestly worn under a tunic...Mr Ramli  says there's  a problem with sexy dressing.... We see that rapes take place in big cities where free access is allowed between different sexes.... Here the economy is small and we don't want it to be like that....I always thought  that rape was  about power, not lust....I believe  rape will happen no matter what a woman is wearing....The idea of  policing the streets and examining women  clothing is also scary...Article here!

Listen, Christ, You Did Alright In Your Day, I Reckon— But That Day’s Gone Now.

The Rev.Kenneth Fowlkes of  Kingdom Builders Ministries  says "Humanists are encouraging African Americans to go to hell."And some one else  even suggested that  black women are  better off adopting atheism... Some people are  pointing the finger at the  Black Church as the reason for African American leaving Jesus....All I can say is at one time The Black  Church was one of the few places were we could go to escape the injustices of the world...The act of going to church alone has helped  us maintain any sense of hope as well as dignity...I have always believed that  in most black churches our people  were/are  free to think on their own....But at the  same time were  given that   feeling of  security....I "m talking about the   felling of being free from danger while  in the  arms of Jesus...What I’m trying to say is that I don't get this new movement....I don't no any one who denies the existence of God especially black women....But according to a newPew Forum study  on Religion that seems to be what's going on....Yet the movement is seen by some black leaders like Rev. Fowlker  as more of a threat than an opportunity...What's your thoughts?

Congratulation Class of 2010!

I wanted to take a moment to recognize the class of 2010....My son made a choice  not to graduate from high school...But any time I can wish someone else  child congratulation I will do so...I never got to experience that  excitement of having a graduating son...Any Way The President  message to the class of 2010  reminded me of the challenges these students will face graduating in one of the worst economies....The First Lady  Michelle commencement speech to George Washington was full of inspiration as she congratulated them on completing over 100,000 service hours and examples of how these students have already changed the world. So from The Old Black Church congratulation class of 2010!

It All Starts With The Music!

Is music more to blame  for the separation of Christians on Sunday morning than skin color? Well  according to the author of this blog  it's mostly our music and culture that keep blacks and whites from worshiping together on Sunday morning...I kinda  agree with the essay....My husband is one of those people who don't like mix church...It's not because of skin color but because of contemporary   music....Now that's not the case for me...I grew up singing Southern Gospel as well as Contemporary music...I was part of my  choral music class in high school and we did a little bit of it all...I love The Gaithers, Casting Crowns, Hill song, Jimmy Swagget, Third Day, Jars of Clay etc...

We may believe white folks go to white churches because there are white people there.... I don't think that's the case.... I believe white people go to white churches because there is white music there.... Or, more accurately, there is white culture, or a culture that is familiar and comforting to them, there.... What I am discovering along my way is white folk, in general, can't abide black music.... Oh, sure, they'll invite us over every once and again for a time of "special" music where we perform like circus animals and everybody gets a kick out of the good ol' Gospel hollering.... But after we pack up, they go right back to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir or Jars of Clay or whatever their thing is... The segregation of God's church certainly does not end with music, but it surely begins there.... I get restless and squirrely at white churches not because of the white people so much as the white music.... Music sets the tone and creates the atmosphere of worship. It's been the exceedingly rare church I've visited that played successfully to both sides of the aisle.... Usually the closest we can manage is Joel Osteen, whose Israel Haughton-led praise team sounds like, well, Israel Haughton—white music sung by black people.... I've known precious few blacks who could sing white folks' music with any real authority or vice verse.... We usually get overly soulful renditions of Third Day or anemic and embarrassing stabs at Fred Hammond. More here.

The Myth Of A Christian Nation.

On Facebook the other day, I noticed that someone posted this  question..."Should America  be considered a Christian nation"? That question got me to thinking why can't  Christianity be the predominant religion in America?....Why do other countries refer to themselves by their religion? Example: The Jewish state of Israel....The Muslim country of Saudi Arabia, of Iran, or Iraq...The Hindu nation of India.


I'm in  no way saying a belief in a Christian America mean that others can't believe in  their choice...It just means  that the underlying foundations of our country were said to be  built on Christian principles...So why can't Christianity be the predominant religion in America? Especially  if  Christian culture and teachings are a heavy influence  in America...Then why can't America be noted  as a Christian nation?


  District Supt. Harvey Burnett has an eye opening essay on his blog  discussing this.

Miss USA You Can't Be Muslin and Christian At The Same Time... Impossible!

Rima Fakih, 24, of Dearborn, Michigan, was crowned Miss USA on Saturday night....According to Ms. Fakih her family celebrates both the Christian and Muslim faiths...Which I just don't believe is  possible!Now one could be a Christian and respect a Muslim’s faith without embracing it....One could be a Muslim and respect a Christian’s faith without embracing it....But the theological terms of the two  faith are contradictory I would say...I just  don't believe one could be a Christian and a Muslim at the same time...You're either with or against one of the faith...You can't embrace both at the same time.

 That said, I cannot embrace  Jesus and Muhammad at the same time... I cannot receive Jesus Christ as God’s only begotten son and the only Lord and Savior AND heap the highest honors on Muhammad  at the same time.... If I accept the truth of Jesus being the only way to God and the only name under heaven by which one can be saved from sin, then I cannot ascribe the same saving powers to Muhammad ....If  I am a Christian I  cannot accept the way of Islam as being  a true way to God and salvation....So, I just don’t get  how her  family can celebrates both “faiths” at once...Question:What do you think? I am I missing something?

The Watchtower The Most Circulated or The Most Read?

There's new information out that "The Watchtower" magazine  is the most circulated magazine to date...Some are saying it's the most read magazine I don't know about that....It seems that every month,  nearly 40 million copies of The Watchtower are printed in more than 180 languages and sent to 236 countries....You don't have to have a subscriptions and you won’t find it on any newsstands, but it’s still hard to miss.... Thanks to the efforts of Witnesses like the couple in the article...The Watchtower is the most widely distributed magazine in the world, with a circulation of more than 25 million.... Last year, the world’s 7.3 million-strong Jehovah’s Witnesses spent 1.5 trillion hours knocking on doors and “street Witnessing” — stopping folks in parks and on streets — to preach the “good news” with a copy of The Watchtower.... Its closest competitors are AARP The Magazine (circulation 24.3 million) and Better Homes and Gardens (7.6 million).... It doesn’t hurt that The Watchtower has been free since 1990, with the option of a small donation....But according to the  latest Pew study at http://religions.pewforum.org/reports, the Watchtower has the highest turnover of any religion. Question: Have you every donate toThe Watchtower Society?

Lying Children!

There's new research out....which have found that the ability to tell lies  at the age of two... is a sure  sign of a fast developing brain and it  means....A child will mostly  likely  have a  successful life....Research also  found that the more believable  the lie, the more quick witted they will be in later years and the better their ability to think on their feet....I always believed   we should encourage children to be honest at all times and not lie.... Even if lying is good for the brain, do we really want to encourage it? Should we really be suggesting to children that lying  is okay, there's no need to be honest all the time?

Can The Moral Authority To Teach / Preach Be Lost?

To answer that question I believe yes....In order to be effected you got to be respected....It seems that Ted Haggard and  wife Gayle have once again started a church....Please let me make this statement: Its okay to start over with God!...And I do  believe God meets us where we're at after confessing and  repenting .....But I don't believe you can fall from a position of leadership get up then start again from that same position of leadership...It will cost you something!The Bible explains what it takes to be a trustworthy leader in a church.... Maybe the opening of the new church represents the latest step in a revival of sorts I don't know........But why would  Ted want to  start over in a leadership role? I would honestly have a problem sitting under Teds teaching right now... In my opinion you can not receive from someone you don't respect...I believe Ted  can work in the church in a limited position but leadership....No way!...If you remember Ted was forced out of his position at New Life Church after a very public scandal in which he admitted to soliciting oral sex and buying crystal meths from a male prostitute. 
What do you think: Can you the moral authority to teach or preach be lost?

Fake Christians!

Would you become a  fake   just to get along with others? It seems  that's  what a family in Texas have done.... It seems that this lady  and her family faked being Christians.... because they didn’t want to face the rejection by people in the community....If we will fake our  beliefs what else are we willing to fake?What message does “faking it” send to the kids? That they need to do whatever it takes to be accepted? It’s sad, that we feel the need to lie about who we are just to get along:

We are agnostics living deep in the heart of Texas and our family fakes Christianity for social reasons....It’s not so much for the sake of my husband or myself but for our young children....We found by experience that if we were truthful about not being regular church attenders, the play dates suddenly ended.... Thus started the faking of the religious funk.

It seemed silly but it’s all very serious business down here...We don’t go to church or teach or children one belief is “right” over another...We expose them to every kind of belief and trust that they will one day settle in to their very own spirituality. However, for the sake of friends and neighbors, we pretend we are Christians. We try not to lie but rather not to disclose unnecessary information. As the children are getting older, this isn’t so easy for them and an outing is probably eminent.
We are not the only ones. We have found a few other fakers out there.

What do you think?

Preachers Who Don't Believe In Jesus!

 It seems that some of  the 21st century pastors and  teachers don't  believe Jesus got up, some don't believe Jesus  can make a-way out of no-way nor do they believe He's a healer either...In other words they don't believe what they preach in the pulpits... That's according to a recent study out of Tufts University....This study  paints a less-than-attractive picture of the church.

One pastor, a Methodist, said he no longer believes that God exists, but his church members do not know that he is an atheist. Most of them, he said, don't even believe Jesus literally rose from the dead or literally was born of a virgin.

Another pastor, from the United Church of Christ, said he didn't even believe in the doctrinal content of the Christian faith at the beginning of his ministry, but he continues to preach as if he believes because it's the way of life he knows.

A Presbyterian pastor in the study said he remains in ministry largely for financial reasons and acknowledged that if he were to make known that he rejects most tenets of the Christian faith he would obliterate his "ability to earn a living this way."

A Church of Christ pastor explained how he continues to lead his church despite losing all theological confidence. "Here's how I'm handling my job on Sunday mornings: I see it as play acting. I see myself as taking on the role of a believer in a worship service, and performing," the pastor said. He describes himself as an atheistic agnostic and said he still needs the ministerial job and no longer believes hypocrisy is wrong.

A Southern Baptist pastor included in the study said he was attracted to Christianity as a religion of love and now has become an atheist. If someone would offer him $200,000, he said, he'd leave the ministry right away.

Every real  pastor or teacher should agonize over the reality that there  members in the congregations who might  lack a genuine faith in Jesus Christ....But for the man of God to not believe in Christ is just wrong.
The ministers that participated in this study didn’t harbor evil intents but were instead swept along by the winds of convenience and comfort, and often reassured by unbiblical teachings. In some cases the minister’s denominational affiliation made it easier to play fast and loose with the tenets of an orthodox faith, most importantly the necessity of trusting in Christ as Lord and Savior.

If a pastor or preacher  is an unbeliever or has doubts about his belief in God and His Word he should not be in the pulpit.
Question: Does  it matter if your pastor or teacher  is a believer or not?

Happy Mother Day!

God bless every mother in the world  on this special day....Especially our beautiful Black Grandmothers,  Mothers, Aunts, Sisters, Nieces and Girlfriends.

When God Discipline His Children!

I believe God  let us  know when we're out of line...He loves us to much to let us continue in error.
Who likes to be discipline or corrected? No one! When people discipline and  corrected us it can be a sign of rejection but...When God correct us it doesn't mean  rejection.... His disapproval of  our actions is not disapproval of  us....In order  to grow spiritually we must understand that sometimes God  will discipline us... During those times we have to  hold firmly to the truth that....Nothing can separate us from the love of God... He loves us! ...There are some  words we can  use  to describe God's (love) discipline of us...Convict and Convince…Reprove and Chasten...During those times it hard to think  that God is treating us as His own children... No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it is painful! But afterward there  a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
Question:  Have there every been a time  in your life where God was disciplining or correcting  you and you were full aware or  congnizant of  it?

I Don't Think Jesus Would Be Please With Miley Cyrus New Project!

Jesus take the wheel!  Miley have abandoned you for that other guy... Miley Cyrus once said "everything  she does  is for (JESUS)...Miley Cyrus told Parade magazine (March 2010) that she is a Christian but not the “old school” type... She doesn’t define her faith by “going to church every Sunday” and she particularly hates “judgmentalism by parents.”
The truth of the matter  sex and controversies  sells....“Can’t be Tamed,”is the first single from her forthcoming album of the same name which contains the following lyrics: “I have to get my way/24 hours a day because I’m hot like that. Every guy everywhere just gives me mad attention like I’m under inspection…because I’m built like that.”Miley Cyrus has emerged as today's No. 2 Google search...Satan love high places!The Devil will  use any one! Even  young people to deceive other young  people into thinking that  they can be right with God while living any kinda way..To me Miley Cyrus represents the type of Christianity promoted by Hollywood... It is a Christianity that “loves Jesus” but refuses to be bound by strict scriptural precepts.... It’s a live pretty much as you please type of Christianity.... In reality, they do not worship the God of the Bible, who is holy and demands holiness.... His grace is great and lovely, purchased at unspeakable price on Calvary, but His grace demands repentance and always leads to obedience.


This generation worships a new god....This  god is cool, loves everybody, is non-judgmental, don't mind sin, won't  send good people to hell, you don't have to repent, and don't like the  traditional Bible church.
There's a lot of chit-chat on the net  about Mileys new  video...Some are asking is the  video overly sexual for a young girl....I mean what do you expect? Remember Miley pole dancing performance  at the  teen choice award? What about  that famous photo shoot she did for Vanity fair?Miley  Cyrus is known for her good-girl image....In many  interviews  Miley has mention her Christian faith...And it's "the main thing" that  helps her stay grounded in Hollywood....Miley has done many interviews were she has spoken of her love for Jesus:

"We love Jesus!" says Cyrus, 15, as she nods her head in agreement.... He died for our sins... That's how awesome he is."Jesus rocks! That's why we do what we do," the Hannah Montana star adds. "She (Mandy) dances for Jesus.... I sing, dance and act for Jesus! ... Now that I think about it, I do everything for Jesus.

The Mega Church!

Can a church building itself be a improper venue for a public  school graduation ceremonies? There seems to be a new battle brewing between The  Mega church and state.... There's  a number  of school districts in the country that are searching for bigger venues at bargain prices to use for  graduation..... It looks like the "Mega Churches" could be the answer....Think about it "Mega Churches" these days aren't really much different from a sports arena or concert hall....According to the article, five Connecticut school districts decided that they would do their commencements in a mega church, and after arguments within the schools, 4 out of 5 opted to change their location...The one school, located in Enfield, who refused to change their location, believed that having their ceremony in the mega church was the best choice.... Not only was the space close to $55,000 cheaper, but the large screens would allow for each parent to see their child..... Sounds to me like a logical, well thought out decision, but according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who threatened action on behalf of those uncomfortable with their children graduating in a church, this brings up an issue between the separation of church and state.Article here!

What do you think? Should a public ceremony be allowed to take place in a private, religious venue?

What's To Casual For Church?

The church of today  have "loosened up" there  rules and guidelines concerning what's proper dress for church....Now that's  Summer right around the corner.... And you have  many churches doing what's call dress down for the Summer (casual ).

I wondering how casual can the church get?  Now this church generation no  nothing but casual dressing  flip- flops, jeans and t-shirts... I've been in church all my life and grew up in a denomination that had some strict guidelines about dressing both in or out of the church building... I was brought up to not wear  pants to church, no sleeveless tops and that the  legs must be covered and no open toe shoes....I no longer embrace that strict rule of dress for church...But. there's definitely some casual  wear  that I deem in-appropriate and too casual  for the church: Any work-out gear  that may show imprints of the anatomy... It's too tight and body revealing...Any dress or shirt  that show too much  cleavage...Men in shorts!I don't like to see men with shorts on in church....There will be some who will take the casual dress to far.


Because I've   been train  to dress a certain way for the Sunday morning service....Dressing down during the summer is hard for  me  due to that  strict upbringing...Question: What would you consider  to casual dress  for a  Sunday Morning Worship? Is there any Biblical reason  women shouldn't  wear  pants in  church?

Kobe Bryant!

Basketball star Kobe Bryant has a new spread in The  LA Times Magazine and he’s wearing all white everything....I HATE IT!...Let me say this: I am not  attacking Kobe Bryant this post is about the pictures. I believe the photo shoot was ill advices , misguided and in bad taste...Most likely  Kobe Bryant team mates  look at him as a leader....I am  wondering to my self  what his team mates think about this....Do  money limit  our  ability to have a conscience about who and what we  are?…Is the money that important?It  seems the cost of fame for blacks  is their pride and soul....Remember  Labron James being depicted as a gorilla with a white woman, Beyonce saying  its ok that they made her look white... Any time you put a black man in all white and have  him  darken up you're going to have a disaster.

“I Go To Church Just As Much As I Go To The Strip Club”

Wow…whats  going on! Florida rapper T-Pain  announced last month that he too  will release a gospel/Christian album this fall....This is a surprise  not saying that T- Pain can’t sing gospel music...Remember Kanye West won Gospel Song of the Year once  with “Jesus Walks" But to  have a gospel artist who is comparing going to church with going to the strip club might be going a little bit too far...Am thinking what will his message  be?...If not mistaken the "Gospel" is about the good news of Jesus......T-Pain say  he's a deeply spiritual person.... "Dude, I go to church just as much as I go to the strip club". There are going to be allot of confused people( more than there already are) walking around thinking you can hit the  “stip club” and turn around and stroll in to the church on Sunday morning....Don't get me wrong , yes the church is for everyone, whatever state, form, or fashion that a person is in, however…some may get  the concept that you don't have to make a choice...That you can continue doing what you want to do...Just  long as you go to church you're  be “OK”....Am  not saying that T-Pain should  be the example that people follow, but their will be some that will follow his method....The album, which as of now is called “Even Heaven Got A VIP” is due out September 9th.... What do you think?

God Has No Influence In The World.

That's according to Time magazine...For the last couple years Time magazine has  featured  it's  100 Most Influential People  issue.... Well  this years list is causing some in the faith community to scratch  their head an  wonder  "why the  lack of  faith  leaders"?.... In other words there is  not one  preachers listed as a symbol that represents  God... Not even Pope Benedict XVI  and his red shoes didn't make the list...I don't get it!  It  seems to me  if  you are head of a church the size of the Catholic Church and you got over a billion people who  look to you for guidance....Now  that's some kinda of influence in the world....I don't know how   Time determines these things but I am willing to bet most on the list  will be  forgotten by the end of the month...and the Pope will still be guiding  billion of  people .... Do a list like this reflects the  faith voices losing clout — or it’s just oversight on the part of Time editors? Now when I see a list that   Lady gaga  is on all I can say is Come-on!  She kills people in her videos! PLEASE...

Influence: the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others. source