UNDESERVED FAVOR...aka(Cell Therapy....by Goodie Mob)

"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

At the writing of this blog the united states of america is in a state of lock-down.

The corona virus, aka, COVID -19, has put this country...and countless others into shut-down mode. Practically, everybody, is required to isolate in place. The fear is either of acquiring the virus - which could last approximately 14 days, or of acquiring the virus - and dying from it.

News sources broadcast that certain people are in the "high risk" category of becoming infected with the disease. If you are over 60, and or, have been diagnosed with underlying medical conditions such as chronic lung disease, heart conditions, diabetes, kidney or liver disease you might as well get a shovel and start digging because your fate is practically sealed.

Just recently media news sources released an updated statement declaring that if u are {heaven forbid} an AfricanNAmerikkka, you are automatically raised to an increased probability level for acquiring the deadly disease.

Well, I must be doomed because I meet the criteria for the high risk category.

So, with the thought that I might not be here tomorrow....I decided to write how I feel today. April, 29, 2020 in the midst of a pandemic of unprecedented proportions.

First, and foremost, let me say for the record that I have already been to hell and God delivered me from it.

 So the threat of acquiring a virus pales in comparison to what I have already been subjected to. The enemy had my body bound....possibly serving a 25 years to life federal sentence in addition to the 10 year sentence I walked in the door with.

But God had other plans and steered my body, mind and spirit to soar to a place well beyond my understanding. God, because of his will and purpose, for my life, extended to me " undeserved favor."

So as the world and this country go through these next weeks and months in panic mode God is keeping me in perfect peace because I am conscience of the fact that I have already received mercy instead of justice.

Having said that, let it be known that God doesn't have to do anything else for me......literally.

All that I could possibly require from the Master of the World is that when its my time to transition from human to divine is that its done quickly.

Listen, dying is a part of living, every single solitary person that reads this blog is going to die. And every single solitary person that does not read this blog is still - going to die as well.

Death is inevitable. Its not "if", its not even "when", its "how."  How u die is the mystery.

 So, the question then becomes......who wants to suffer????

Or who wants to spend years and years waiting on death to come while u slowly deteriorate while saddle with disease for which there is no absolute recovery or cure. Further, who wants to submit themselves to "X" amount of surgeries, procedures and medications attempting only to post-pone what is surly going to happen anyway.......no matter what u do.

Death is coming family.  Like it or not.  Postpone it or not. My only desire of the Creator is to be gracious when its my time.....come quickly....and reward me according to what he finds me doing.

Here is a thought:

 The pagan ritual/holiday - Easter - just recently passed.   Scripture states that The Christ hung out on the cross dying for three days and rose on the third day. Actually, it was more like a day and a half, from Friday evening until Sunday morning.

But regardless of the obvious difference in the math, I can die for three days.  If that's what it takes, I can do that.  Actually, if its Gods will that I become infected with the corona virus, I can die for 14 days or less, if that's what it takes.

But what I will not do, I refuse to put myself in-the-grave "worrying" about dying from the virus.

Listen, its only because of Gods grace and mercy that I have come this far. Its way tooooo late in the game to start worrying about "what could happen tomorrow............if tomorrow comes"

God has been good to me and has allowed me to have traveled here and abroad and experience God on so many levels. My Creator has allowed me to have fellowship with a plethora of God sent individuals, of many diverse faiths, religions, nationalities, cultures, hues, and skin tones. I have been witness to the power of God manifesting in the flesh of men/women from my toddler years right up until this present moment.

I have no regrets about this life....other than the regret of being mis-understood by the people that I love more than they will ever know.

Particularly my biological/extended family,  mainly my(9) children, (bearers of the blood line/TG4RG), my (16) grand-children, my (2) great grand-children and my spiritual family, who - up until this very day - never got the benefit of hearing the other side of the story.

Still, family, be assured that, no matter what it looked like..or how it seemed to be...God has never left me alone. Not now...not ever...

Even in my most trying times, and darkest hours, when I was being called everything but a child of God, I know without a shadow of a doubt that God was then...just as he is right now, ordering my every step, and preparing me for this very moment. Whether its in life or death God is getting the service out of me that was planned while I was yet in my mothers womb.

Having said that, let me say this. The spirit of God and truth within me keeps nudging me into the wisdom to know and understand that this pandemic is not what it seems to be or what we are being told that it is.

The truth cry's out from my soul saying that this is actually some sort of biological terrorist warfare being imposed upon america and others by a foreign country/nation..... or maybe even from within.

Time will eventually tell if this plague may or may not have been the direct result of the Israel mistreatment of the Palestinians in the Holy Land in conjunction with and assisted by the american government and its hostile mistreatment of people of color all over the world, and especially its mistreatment of the children of God.....namely AfricansNamerikkka.

Is the current POTUS responsible for the present calamity happening here and abroad? Not at all, but he is a major tool being used by the oligarchy establishment and he represents the mind-set of white supremacy shared by all the current and previous members.

Is there anything that can be done to avoid this plague that is now crippling the world?

Only God knows. But there is something that we all can do.

Currently, Muslims all around the world are partaking in the Holy Month of Ramadan which started on April 23, 2020 and will end after the sunset meal on May 23, 2020.

Since the world is on lock-down anyway, what a righteous and prudent thing it would be for all of us, from all religions and faiths, who profess to know God, to join in with the Muslims all over the world in fasting and pray.

 Granted, we have already missed the start but we could all join in with the over 1.8 billion Muslim prayer warriors and start to fast and pray on May 1, 2020 to the end of the fast on May 23, 2020, after the sunset meal.

HERE ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE 23 DAY ALL FAITHS FAST & PRAY CHALLENGE: {NOW KNOWN AS THE 40 DAY ALL FAITHS FAST & PRAYER CHALLENGE}

1.  Every morning before sunrise disciples should wash their hands and face, kneel(bow) in prayer, and partake of the pre-fast meal.
  a. after the pre-fast meal nothing is to be consumed into the body and that includes water.
  b. disciples are encouraged to get as much nourishment and drink as much water as possible to sustain yourself... without becoming a gluten.... because no more anything will be consumed until the sun-set meal.

2. Prayer is required and recommend 5 times a day during the challenge.The aim is to be en-sync with the rest of the praying world community. Because of the varied locations of the disciples, world wide, a general time for the 5 daily congregational pray times will be:
 a.  5:30 am - 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm.
 b.  whispering the word "mercy" between congregational pray times is highly recommended.

3.  During the challenge disciples are encouraged to read the entire Bible which can be divided into 23 sections over the 23 days of the challenge. Approximately, 3 books/chapters of the bible should be read each day starting with the book of Genesis ending with Revelations.
  a. the goal is to redirect the heart and mind away from all worldly activities, carnal cravings and behaviors. That's why abstinence from all things such as food, smoking, sex, etc, etc, is a mandate. Self-discipline and self control is imperative.
  b.  provisions should and can be extended for the sake of the elderly, pregnant, breast feeding, menstruation, and disciples with chronic health issues like diabetics who would find it too difficult to endure the challenge at the 100 per cent level for 23 days.

4.  Every evening after the sun sets disciples will wash their hands and face, kneel(bow) in prayer, and partake of the daily post-fast meal, and after the meal,  kneel(bow) in prayer again and thank God for this portion of another day and for giving us the strength to endure the fast and the courage to continue tomorrow....if tomorrow comes.
  a. the goal is not to integrate religion or to make one religion greater than another but to show an all mighty and sovereign God that we all are his children and that we all surrender collectively, - world wide - to YOUR WILL AND TO YOUR WAY.
  b. at the end of THE 23 DAY ALL FAITHS FAST & PRAYER CHALLENGE we are looking for and expecting a major awakening from God proving, what we already know, that the effectual and fervent pray of Gods children changes thing.

  "TRY NOT TO BE DISCOURAGED. GENERALLY, THE FIRST 7 DAYS ARE THE HARDEST"

Marvel not; ye must be born again................

                                                                  TG4RG

                                  Say A Little Prayer For Me.............................Zella Price

                                           "The ORP does not own the rights to any music or video"

                                        CELL THERAPY.................... by GOODIE MOB

KAINT LOSE

                                          .....to LIVE is Christ.......to DIE is gain.......


According to scripture, the Apostle Paul, a devout Hebrew/Israelite, had come to the conclusion that he couldn't lose.

Either in life or death he had the victory.

He was convinced that he was a winner. He professed, for I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate me from the love of God.

Wow!! what a completely divine spirit he possessed to make such a profound statement.

WHY!!!                                                   

Because everybody kaint say that.

In fact, most people kaint say that.

And of the ones that do say it...the majority of them are lying.

You have to be lying because no one REALLY wants to die to prove it.😏 No one wants to even think about dying. No one really wants to leave here. Many of us love this sin sick world toooooo much to leave it. We're having tooooooooo much fun.😈 Um hum keep having it. Play time is going to end soon☻

 So, for the few people who can make that statement and mean it .....it is only because you have had enough experiences in this life with God to know that nothing can compare to being saturated by his indwelling spirit "EXCEPT" being TOTALLY ENGULFED by it...free from the confines of your flesh/body.

Totally Free.

Oblivious to your current situation and conditions.

Anyone who has ever spent any substantial time in solitary confinement knows what I mean.

In solitary you have to learn to live your life in the spirit because you body/physical movements are redistricted to an area that is 10 feet high and 8 feet wide, for 23 three hours a day, everyday, every week, every month, and every year, year after year.

 So you must learn to live from within.... or should I say God has to teach you how to do it. I have witnessed the growth and development of some of the most physically, mentally, and spiritually adorned individuals on the planet, created by God, while warehoused in a 8/10 federal prison cell.

I have also met Satan in solitary.

On total lock down your choices are limited. You either become a god or you become a devil. You become a devil in (1) of (2) ways. (1)you become a devil because you literally go crazy{you become dangerous to yourself and start eating your own flesh}...... or (2)you  lose your righteous mind{the ability to love over hate}

          So, in order to survive and flourish you must TRUST GOD COMPLETELY!!!

You must trust God enough to know that if you're truly connected to God you will still be connected WITHOUT YOUR FLESH or without being able to see your reflection in the mirror.😅

This is too deep ain't it?😁

Let me give you an example. I had/have a younger brother...ten years my junior.

 The daunting young man in the middle holding my oldest daughter on his shoulders is my beloved brother Mark.

These other three charismatic characters, starting from the left is my youngest brother, my oldest son, and my oldest nephew. Like ALL my siblings - ( 3 three brothers and 1 sister) one day Mark had been touched, regenerated, and rejuvenated by the spirit of God while attending services at my fathers house of pray.(rsmbc)

 To be honest though, I'm not sure that Mark even needed to be, born again, or reconnected to the current of Gods Spirit - because his spirit never drifted far away from the upward path anyway. Mark was always, without trying, demonstrating what "#BeLikeChrist" was about. If there was a picture of a real friend, a brother, a confident, a son, an uncle, a cousin, or a nephew, in the dictionary, it would be a picture of Mark. He was just that all around, unpretentious, good guy. I didn't say that he was a saint...but he was as real and genuine as a person as you can get.

 Mark died when he was just 28 years young.😇

He transitioned from human and divine to just divine on October 31, 1993(#trickrtreat).

We knew Mark was sick........................ but we weren't expected him to leave us. Not like that.

Officially, they say Mark died because of complications associated with the disease Lupus.

We knew and understood as much as we could about what was going with him and the treatments and the side-effects of the medications.

We knew Mark was tired........................but we didn't know that in his weakness he was gaining strength in the inner-man.

His quality of life had been dramatically altered because of his physical conditioned. But what we didn't know was that Mark had evolved to a place where he made a conscience decision to live or die.

He decided to trust God completely. Mark totally stopped taking all medications and treatment for his multiple conditions and yet - kept going on - handling his daily affairs as usual until he couldn't any more.

Then one day he crawled into bed and never got up.

After he was gone we found a plethora of his medications under his bed. He just slept away......from earth to glory. It was his choice...his decision. And God was in the midst of it all because he had us - his family - in a daze. We left him alone in his room....we thought he was just tired and sleeping....HE WAS.

Oh sure, he could have stayed for the benefit of his family and others who wanted to continue to drain from his spirit. But it wouldn't have been the same. Those of us that professed to love him so much should of been stepping up our own evolution and evolving to the place where he was in his daily spiritual walk instead of being sorrowful basically because he was gone and we couldn't ride him anymore.😼

Instead of being thankful that he lived 'and died' on his on terms. Some of us who felt cheated let their mourning turn into bitterness towards those of us who were in mourning too.

But Mark lived his life to the fullest and for him to be confined to a life (which wasn't a life but an existence) of prescription drugs, medications, treatments and UNABLE to soar like he had always done WAS NOT the life for him.

Its not the life for me either.

Don't get it twisted I'm not trying to die but I'm not going to be kicking the hospitals and doctors door down trying to stay here either.

I've lived long enough to know that "the quality of life is more important than the quantity of days". You've got to grow into that spirit for yourself.....just like the Apostle Paul did.  He knew and I know that I kaint lose. In life or death. I know that I have the victory because I am connected to God like white on rice.😎

 And I'm not going to let anything separate me from that connection: not money, land, houses, cars, children, grand-children, great-grand children, wives/husbands, occupations, titles, degrees, men/women(including those that don't know what they are), church(including church business), drugs, the IRS, alcohol, religions(including religious names😼) pensions, prisons, licenses, afflictions, politics, mothers/fathers, surgeries(including having no surgeries), diseases, businesses,  poisons, war(including rumors of war) politics or stray bullets.

 I'm not going out of here stressing about none of that.

I refuse to be stressing out on things present nor on things to come.  And things present or bad enough but what is coming, will surly, take you out if you are not totally connected to, and caught up in, the spiritual current of life in God.

Listen up people.✍

As we embark into 2020 the current POTUS, Donald Trump, stands poised to be re-elected for four more years. These coming years will dismantle America as we now know it.
This profound truth has made former POTUS, Barack Obama, change his retirement plans.

 After Trumps initial upset victory as president and his re-election bid Obama has chosen a different profession: He has become an agent for social change by way of social media and he has amassed a cornucopia of high level officials, including advocates for conscience intelligence, and cyber security, that now have occupations in technology, media, and news organizations such as Netflix,  Google, Facebook, PBS broadcasting, and other media outlets.

Their goal is to connect with conscience minded individuals to thwart a movement by a repressive, totalitarian, authoritarian government that, at this point,  rules amerikkka and much of the world. The next four plus years will be dismal for this country and especially for africansNamerikkka. The sad truth is that this country will have to endure a time of intense suffering due to our own rebellion against God.

But the good news is that this time of suffering for a season will, eventually, bring about an era of extreme joy. A new day is dawning and the only way for those of us desiring to be a part of this "Great Awakening"is to be connected conscientiously and spiritually through mass social media outlets and venues not controlled by the government.

At the writing of this blog spiritual wickedness working for and through its imps is having a dramatic impact on the thinking, behaviors, attitudes, beliefs, purchases and voting preferences of supporters of the current administration. Many people are preparing for civil, as well as, global war.

Its time to #wakeupfam.

The Outkast Revolutionary Party(ORP) can be compared to the old Hebrew Noah, in Africa, building an ark in the middle of the desert where it had never rained. Like Noah, we too have been creating a safe haven of truth, love, and information as, a charitable organization for a new generation.... since 1995. People laughed at Noah.........until it started to rain. Some people laughed at us until the current POTUS was elected....now, like that Gill-Scott Heron song, " its winter in amerikkka",  and nobody is laughing. They told Noah that he should quit and give it up. They told us that too. But it wasn't time for Noah - until it was time. It wasn't time for The ORP either......BUT ITS TIME NOW!!!   
                                                             
                                                                 #ORP2020
 
 All tax-deductible donations can be made on our web page. Thank you for your support.
                                                               
                                                                 #TG4RG                     

                                             "marvel not, ye must be born again"

                                            Winter in America...............Gil Scott-Heron

#YeshuaKhan

..................think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a SWORD........



The word: sword is mentioned 407 times in the Bible and 0 times in the Quran.

How ironic is that?

 Considering all the "terrorist" Islamophobia rhetoric saturating the western world and  especially in america; the word sword is never mentioned in the Muslims holy book. The POTUS has basically, stereotyped and classified all Muslims as dangerous. Yet, "off with their head", a term often used by individuals swinging swords, is never mentioned in their sacred oracles.

 The bible states that the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any "two-edged sword", piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow; and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

With that in mind many bible scholars believe that the sword that the Christ brings when he returns is not an instrument used for a military conflict but a sharp tool used for social division which will sever the closest family ties, bonds, organizations, affiliations, and religions.

This writer believes its going to be both.

Which brings me to the reason for this blog. A recent headline in the Washington Post read: Anger Over Farrakhan Lies Prompts Call for Women's March Leaders to Resign.

First, let me say for the record, that I am not a practicing member of the Islamic religion. My initial introduction to the indwelling spirit of God came when I was a very young man and I was regenerated, infused, and touched by Gods divine power and nature while attending service at my fathers House of Prayer (#rsmbc).   I will never forget that day!!!

However, I did receive a secondary conversion to Islam, when I confessed shahadah and submission, to do the total will of God in front of Muslim witnesses.

At that time I was in federal prison, and the organization of worshipers were called Black Muslims. Eventually, the administration separated(transferred) or segregated(hole), all of the members and the organization re-emerged as The Nation of Islam under the leadership of the Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Because of my outspokenness I was separated(transferred), once again, and ended up at a higher level facility worshiping with, The Moorish Science Temple of America first, but eventually, ended up worshiping with Orthodox Muslims because the Nation of Islam was not available at this particular institution.

God always has a plan because what I thought was a bad thing turned out to be a good thing because it gave me an even greater appreciation for Islam because this group of Orthodox Muslim worshipers was inclusive of several different nationalities, ethnicity, backgrounds and cultures of men all serving the same God in balance in harmony and in unison. It was a beautiful experience.

However, I never got over the impact and influence that Minister Farrakhan had made on my life. What impressed me most, at that time,  was that the minister was teaching that the innate nature of a man is spiritual.

This was the same teachings that my father had instilled in his congregation from 1931-1961. The only difference was that my father taught from experience, demonstration, and a bible and the minister taught from experience, wisdom, and the  Quran. But the message of growth, development, and "re-birth" of the "inner-man" the "spiritual man" was the same profound message.

This universal and unequivocal truth that was being taught during, and shortly, after The Great Depression Era of the 1930's, by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, the Noble Drew Ali, and others was that mankind's original disposition and natural constitution was spiritual.

Garvey Teaching, as it was called, directed our attention to the spiritual connection toward the God of our ancestors.  Embracing our African heritage, culture and beliefs was crucial to our survival and prosperity and that we should not practice the powerless plantation religions that were being ushered upon us in this country.

 In this day and age, with all the information and technology available to us, its not demonstrating a wise choice to follow ANY religious order that doesn't mandate for continued membership that members dedicate themselves to adhering to a healthy life style.

A healthy life style consists of many components but primarily it is focused on adhering to proper diet and eating habits(including fasting), exercise,  immaculate and strategic hygiene practices, and a mind-set that requires mandatory dress code requirements for entrance into the house of prayer. A sacrifice has to be made to appear before the throne of God and "come as u are" - in appearance - is just not acceptable.

Children of the Most High God it doesn't make sense to keep living - "haphazardly" - with our lives - knowing that the food and drink we consume into our bodies and the toxic chemicals in the products and materials we put on our bodies is the leading cause of obesity, high blood pressure, cancer, heart and lung disease, diabetes and premature death.

 How can we claim to know God and willingly abuse the temple of God by consuming a - knowingly, detrimental, unhealthy, diet in order to satisfy the craves and desires of our flesh?

How unfortunate that Christianity, the religion that prides itself on having the "perfect example" in Christ, is the only one of the three major religions - (the other two being Judaism and Islam) - that allows its members to eat, dress, worship, and pray any damn way they chose.

I thank God for Minister Farrakhan. He has become one of my greatest mentors. And irregardless to the things that some people might have to say about him - and me for loving him -....God has proven to me that HE sent the Minister.

Here is how I know.

I was released from supervised federal parole to unsupervised parole early.... because of good behavior. Therefore, I was ALLOWED to chauffeur a 55 passenger tour bus to The Million Man March, in Washington D.C., in 1995.

I had 53 black male professionals on my tour bus. One of them, turned out to be the black federal prosecuting attorney(lh), that had so enthusiastically and tirelessly, seen to it that I was convicted, by a jury NOT OF MY PEERS, to ten years in federal prison in 1986.

The moment that he stepped up on my bus, looked me in my face, and DIDN'T RECOGNIZE ME from Fred Sanford, was the moment that I knew that there was not going to be anything regular or normal about this bus trip and adventure.

As I drove through the night, I contemplated in my mind the many ways I could make him disappear from the face of the earth while in route from St. Louis to D.C.

But, luckily for the both of us, none of the ideas Satan ran through my mind manifested from conception to implementation. I Thank God for corralling my mind and ordering my steps. Because what could have happened to that brother, in the midst of that enormous crowd, would have forever been a mystery to anyone concerned about him and his whereabouts.

I had been to D.C., several times, and the despair of the city(black community) always saddened me how it could look so horrifically bad, right under the nose of the White House and the POTUS. If you have never been there, Washington. D.C., has one of the highest populations of homeless individuals in the country. Tourist visiting the city have had to, literally, step over homeless people to get from one venue to the next. Chocolate City, as it was tagged, always made me angry/sad.

 But not this day. This day it looked like heaven on earth.

 Because, upon arrival in D.C., I was made privy and witness to the most amazing out pouring and saturation of Gods holy spirit that I had ever experienced in my life -  in such an enormous area -  with such an enormous amount of men. The spirit of God blanketed us and dwelled among us in a cloud so thick you could actually see and feel the LOVE. God ordained the Minister to blow the trumpet for one million black men to assembly in love, atonement, reconciliation and re-commitment and the clarion call was heard and acted upon by nearly two million black men.

I never will forget that day!!!

Because it became a major turning point in my life.  Just months prior to making the journey to D.C., God had given me approval to do something extraordinary for him. And being present at that anointed location on that holy day and listening to the message from Gods man was all the assurance I needed to know that the vision God had given me was pleasing, acceptable, and in line with His will for my life.

On that day in October 1995 God proclaimed, ordained, and endorsed the Outkast Revolutionary Party (ORP), a charitable organization, for a New Generation. And we still don't know what all it shall be but we do know it will be like Him.......YeshuaKhan!!!

                                                Marvel not; ye must be born again..........

                                                                         TG4RG

                                 'Message From A Black Man"......The Temptations

"I'LL ALWAYS LUV MY MAMA"

               

"Until a man finds himself he will ruin every woman he comes across"

St. Louis, MO -  January 13, 2019..........

I first had access to the Internet or World Wide Web, in 1993. 

I knew then that allowing individuals to connect on-line to the whole world had the capability to transform ordinary people, like myself, into very, very, enlightened individuals. I was born with a passion for learning. And my mother always encouraged and challenged me to strive to obtaining an education that included wisdom, knowledge, and understanding well above and beyond that which  was being offered in conventional schools, colleges, and universities.  The World Wide Web was a dream come true for me. The information highway was like a toy I always wanted. 

The World Wide Web provided unlimited information at my finger tips. 

If there was anything that I had a question about, "ANYTHING" I could find, not only "an" answer, but a "detailed" answer, without ever living the comfort of my living room. 

God was good and life was grand.

Unfortunately, there is a "flip-side" to having unlimited access to the world.  The world, also has, unlimited access TO YOU - !!! 

There is no hiding place out here. Once you make yourself a participant in the game of acquiring and sharing information  - the gloves are off.

The information autobahn has no friends and takes no prisoners. 

So if you are going to be a mover and shaker out here in the fast lane of social media you had better "keep it real" and "come correct" because just as sure as there are millions of people who will admire you for your openness and honesty there are " haters" out here, male and female bytches, who walk around with a "pic and a shovel" waiting for and looking for an opportunity to "dig up" something from your past, that you did or didn't do, to use against you in an attempt to poison the minds and hearts of those that truly love and care about you. 

It's happened to me before, undoubtedly, it will happen again. Haters hate.

With that being said let me talk about ME first before someone else does. Which brings me to the quote subtitled in this blog: "until a man finds himself he will ruin every woman he comes into contact with" (translated: ruined to loving and trusting another man)

Recently, I posted a picture of four of my nine children. My first set (son & daughter) by my first wife and my last set (son and daughter) by my current and last wife.

                                                                       

Let me say for the record that the mothers of my children HAVE NEVER BEEN THE PROBLEM in the relationship....the problem has always been me. Seriously!!! Who didn't know that??????

                                                                    

 I thank God because the mothers of my children had/have a born-again, personal relationship, with the real and true, living God.   They had to know God to put up with me.                                     

     

There is no-way, that two people, that both know and love God, can fail in their relationship.....if they desire to please God - and stay together.  I would start out with the desire but it would eventually fade simply because I truly thought I was God's gift to women.  

                                                                              

Surly, sometimes, its just not meant to be. But usually, nine-times-out-of-ten, its the man's fault because he cannot or chooses not to bring his flesh,  his finances,  his habits, or "all of the above" under control, or at least manageable control, as opposed to outtacontrol  to sustain and maintain a committed relationship with a "queen' that has proven to have your back.

                                                                          

I thank God for my current and last wife. I am saddened sometime when I reflect that she came along at a time when God was transitioning my mother to take on a "new life in her new home' and she and my mother never got to have that bond and connection that the other mothers of my children had with my mother. But she has been raised right and is in possession of an "old soul" which makes her, still, know my mother in many ways.                                                    

                                                                                   

 God did/does always know what he is doing. My mother died the year before my wife and I got married. And I honesty believe that if she had not been there for me during that difficult time in my life I am unsure just where I might be today and I'm also unclear as to what state of mind I would be in. 

Most sons claim to love their mother. 

But for me, it is much more than a claim.

 As a child I can recall watching my mother suffer tremendous mental, physical, and spiritual abuse (mostly from good ole' church folks) for being honest about me and who my father is. She wasnt boasting but she wasn't lying either.  Haters - male and female - self-righteous folks, ostracized her because she didn't toss me in a dumpster - at birth - like some thought she should.

                                                                     

Little did the haters know, but my mother came from good, quality stock, and God had his arms of  love and protection securely wrapped around my mother all the days of her life. Until one day she met a man that told her to....."Marvel not; ye must be born again" And for that, I am forever grateful.

                                  Happy Birthday, Mama (Sister Vivian) - January 13th - R.I.P.    

                                                                TG4RG!!!

                                                  

                                                                                    

                                                                       

                                                                                                                                        

HOW CAN I SAY GOOD-BYE TO YESTERDAY?????????

..for I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; WHICH IS FAR BETTER: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you...........

ST.LOUIS, MO......... Some days you feel like u just don't want to be here anymore. Today is one of those days.

 This morning I attended the home going services for Michael N. Bishop (11-29-1954 - 09-01-2018). To those of u reading this blog that didn't know him.........."boy, did you miss out." Mike - the name that only a select few of us could call him - was that guy who always wore a smile. And his smile was contagious - when u saw him smiling u had to smile as well. So when ever and where ever u ran into  Mike it was a good encounter, because it always started on a good note. And it would end on a good note because Mike was not the kind of guy you got mad at, u just could not have a beef with Michael Bishop.

And if anybody had a reason to have a beef with him.....it would be me. You see by the time Mike was 10 years old, he had the passion, ability, skill, and determination to be one of the greatest major league baseball players that ever played the game. Mike could put Ozzie Smith to shame.....4real!!!

 Because he was so good, he got certain props in the -  ruff and tuff -  North St. Louis neighborhood that we grew up in. Having said that.....nearly ever time Mike saw me he would say, "Ike, howcum u don't have no hair on your legs man, ha,ha,ha?" I had no answer. I was clueless. I was nine years old. What did I know about having hair on my legs? Mike had hair on his legs, but I didn't, so it was a standing joke, whenever we would meet. I grew to look forward to those encounters, even though I knew I was going to get "dogged out" by Mike, I knew we would both have a few laughs and keep it moving.

Mike never knew it, but I envied him so much because of his father. His father was the reason he played baseball on such a high level and he was also the reason that Mike developed into the kind, compassionate, family man that he became. Just like today, in those days, there weren't  many of us that had that positive role model in the home.

Having a father, at home, did/and does make a major difference in the life of young black males. Don't let anyone deceive you into believing that a mother can do it all by herself. A mother can raise a decent male human being; she cannot raise a man.

Because of that negative component in my life and that positive component in Mike's life the roads we traveled were, most definitely  headed in different directions. I dropped out of high school, fathered my first child, got married, and was headed for Viet Nam, by my 17th birthday. Mike, on the other hand, graduated from high school and college, coached little league baseball, got married, raised a family, retired with over 30 years at General Electric, and had his own radio show(Old Soul Harmony...KDHX 88.1) for over ten years.

 Mike's father had given him a special gift.

He had exposed Mike to the importance of following his passions, which led to opportunities, which allowed him to tap into the power within.

Mike learned that viable secret about life and living early on. He learned that he had gifts and that his gifts were to be used for the benefit of others which in turn would give him peace within himself. That's why he was always smiling....... he had found his joy and peace within. He was pleasing his creator and he was happy and at peace with the world.

Some people never become aware of the secret to life. The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, ( 3-25-1942 - 08-16-2018), knew the secret to life.

 Aretha's father was the minister at New Betheal Baptist Church where she was taught and encouraged to share the gifts that God had given her with the world. Entertaining was her passion. Sharing her talent was her gift to the world. Sharing brought joy to her soul and pleased her Master.

 Aretha had that inner peace which surpasses all understanding. And even though she had her share of heart-ache and pain -(like starting a family when she was still a child herself )- she never doubted that God was on her side. She went on to become a song writer, actress, pianist, and maybe the greatest female singer that ever lived, as well as being a civil rights, and women's rights activist and humanitarian icon.

Former U.S. Senator and Viet Nam War (POW) John McCain, (08-29-1936 - 08-25-2018, knew the secret to life.

John McCain, was another man who's life touched mine in a substantial way. John McCain, survived not one - but two -plane crashes. He spent 5 1/2 years in a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp, two of those years were in solitary confinement. During that ordeal he attempted to commit suicide.....twice.

For the record, let it be known that I wouldn't wish being a prisoner on anyone, and most definitely not solitary confinement. But if you have never experienced it u have no idea the magnitude of thoughts, including suicide, that go through your mind when u have NO ONE to talk to, see, or touch, but the God that lives within.  When u spend days and nights, and nights and days, week after week, and month after month, in solitary, you have reached the point of no return. When death becomes your victory and u give out and give up, the creator of the world, that made you for a special reason and a special task, takes control and gently guides u into your purpose, and you survive and succeed, against all odds.

I will forever miss those three unique and beautiful souls mentioned above. For me, something will be forever missing. The world will be forever a harder, and colder, and different place without their presence in it.

Even though I know that those that die in the way and will of God can never die. Their flesh is forever gone, but the spirit that their flesh was housing will be here forever. I know that. But still, this place that we call earth is some how - LESS BEAUTIFUL AND LESS PEACEFUL THAN IT WAS - when they were here.

Which brings me to, probably, the greatest lose that I have sustained(so far) this year. My Pastor, the Reverend Vassar Keys (04-18-1929 - 05-18-2018).

I have been in amazement of this man for as long as I can remember. For a while,  he shared the same mean street, in the same neighborhood, as Michael(Mike)Bishop and I, in North St. Louis. For me, he always exemplified, and personified, that he too, had found and was in possession of, the secret to life and living.

I returned from federal prison in 1990. And at the request of my mother(another great soul that I miss dearly) I started to return to the church that my biological father(The Reverend Sherman Glover) had founded in 1931.

 My Pastor, who had known me since my birth, was then on the Board of Deacons. For three straight years he wouldn't talk nor speak to me. I couldn't figure it out. Was it my breath? Was my deodorant not working as it should? Here I was in awe of this man and he wont even speak - let alone - hold a conversation with me.

 I would make it my business to get in his path every chance I got........and all he would say was "Praise Him." That's it, that's all I could get out of him was "Praise Him." I have grown into the knowledge and understanding to realize that  -  that was all I needed to know. He was guiding me and grooming me into the direction I (must) go to understand and utilize the power that I had at my disposal.

He became My Pastor in January 2006.

From 2006-2013(over 7 years) he put me in God's University where I was trained, ordained, and certified an Apostle.

 He assigned to me a designated seat, in an holy place, where he breathed on me, and enlightened me during Sunday school, while he unfolded the mysteries of the gospel, as it had been revealed to him by my father.

I am forever grateful to this man for all that he has done to me and for me. He gave my wife, my youngest son and daughter, and my father-in-law an introduction to the spiritual power that resides with the inner-man and women after regeneration. Then, after re-birth, he started the process of teaching them how to use it. I miss u Pastor Keys. Your presence in this earth, and in our place of worship, is just not the same without u. I have been taught how to carry-on, but still, I miss u. Maybe, one day I will have someone else that I can call My Pastor..........but not now...its too soon.

Right now, I'm still in mourning, and I don't know when I will stop, only God knows that. Hopefully, no one gets it twisted. I still have my joy and I'm at peace, nothing can change that, but just like Michael(Mike) Bishop, and Aretha Franklin, and John McCain, this world, that is not my home, is just a colder, harder, crueler, place without My Pastor in it.

And some days u just feel like u don't want to be here anymore. Today, is one of those days.

Marvel not; ye must be born again.

                                                                       TG4RG

POTUS, PHARAOH, OR POO BUTT?.................

And when his family heard of it, they went out to lay hands on him: for they said, "He has lost his mind."

In the beginning stage of the earthy ministry of Yeshua(Jesus) The Christ, those that thought they knew Him, those close to Him, were assured that He had, in fact, gone mad, gone crazy.....flipped out.....lost His mind.

However, in reality, He was just going through a metamorphoses.

A transitioning from human into human and divine. Transitioning into His God Mind.

This transitioning made Him different - made Him a rebel and a revolutionary -  made Him a threat to men.....and a threat to the statuesque.

Most people have a hard time understanding a person that is different.

 For many people it is extremely difficult seeing things from the  prospective of a person that has seen,  done, and lived enough and experienced enough of life to see things differently than the majority may see it.

Intellectuals, as well as most common, ordinary, holy and religious folks need to be reminded {on a regular} that most of the Bible was written from a jail cell and not by people sitting up in the temple, or mosque, or church all day.

                                Christ was sent to work in the streets -  not in a building.

Hebrew scripture indicates that the "stone that the builder rejected(the outcast) became the "plume line" or perfect example of the model required for perfection in Christ.

Gods man, then and now, always seems to many people to be short of a full deck.

You know that someone who{ by perfect people standards} is not in possession of it all.

They either make people extremely uncomfortable or they make people love them so much they would follow them into the wilderness. They have the power to fill-a-room, or empty- a-room. That certain some one with a style, charisma, inner passion and drive so explosive that most people - just don't get it - many kaint get it - then there are those who are jealous and just don't want to get it.

You know God is a specialist. And often, He just breaks the mold on some of  His children and no matter what, they will always march to a different beat than everyone else is marching to. God takes them through and God always brings them out.

Gods man may be "krazy" but he is far from "a fool."

 And in times like these it would behoove us all to be sure that we can discern the difference between the two.

With that being said, let us now turn our attention to the world around us. The current POTUS recently called Haiti and African nations "shithole countries." And at the writing of this blog he is separating Latino families and incarcerating babies at the border.

What a surprise?........Not really.

Because until 1865, under the color of law, this is exactly what white amerikkka did to black people. First upon our arrival, and later at birth, they separated black children from their parents, never to be reunited.

The problem is not just that the POTUS called and treats people of color bad; but his comments suggest that these countries people are all bad.

He went further to say that America should take more people from "countries like Norway." Explicitly singling out predominantly white nations as favorable.

  Global War in the Middle East is imminent while at the same time civil war in the streets of america against oppressed people is on the horizon.

We are experiencing extreme heat, floods, fires, mud slides, hurricanes, snow storms, earthquakes, tsunami, wind storms, tornado's, and bitter cold temperatures like this planet has never seen.

Hatred, jealousy, murder and mayhem is at an all time high in every city in the country and there is not a solution in sight.

When you consider all the madness that is playing out in our neighborhoods, and in our communities, on our jobs, in our churches, in our schools, in our homes and all around us isn't it obvious that God has gotten tired of the disobedience of human beings and has allowed the master of deceit(Satan) to unleash unbridled chaos, sin, and unrighteousness into the earth.

That's why we have Pharaoh in the White House for at least three more years and maybe even longer.

 The Good News is that when God installs and uses a crude and vicious task master and Pharaoh like the current POTUS, He does it for a reason. The reason is so He can bring one forth, like Moses, to led the people out of the darkness of this world into the marvelous light of freedom, justice, equality, and salvation.

Just like we knew that He could and just like we knew that He would, God has promised to send His Holy Spirit manifested in the flesh of a man to retrieve His children and return their hearts and minds back to the Father.

God IS REAL.

 I am at this very moment "over joyed and thankful" beyond measure. Why? Because I know my redeemer lives...He lives in me.        And its always darkest just before the dawn.

Satan is a lie and his imps are poo butts.

According to The Urban Dictionary the definition of a 'poo butt' is: someone who is a wannabee. Someone who believes they are above it all. Someone who has or think they have control of tons of money, influence and power. Normally, they treat most people like dirt, they are snotty, they may live in a ritzy area of town. Typically, they are also very rude.  They have no social or people skills.They are basically haters.                                                                                                                                 
                  (ENTER IN THIS SPACE THE POO BUTT VISUAL OF YOUR CHOICE ):

                                      (the snake brother Bains from Malcolm X Movie)

Children of The Most High God we must learn to surrender to Gods indwelling spirit and then learn to relax and trust Gods timing while at the same time seeking to rise above our present circumstances using the gifts, talents and skills that God has provided for us to use. We already have the victory.

Try God.

Let nothing and nobody become more important than pleasing God.

Let nothing really matter: Because God is in control and its not about us......its about pleasing Him.

Marvel not; yea must be born again.

                                   TG4RG also HBRG 07/04/1887 - 12/18/1961 (131 yrs young)

                                           Nothing Even Matters.................................Lauryn Hill