JOY AND FAITH, WHERE IT IS?

Cue A Testimony by Rodnie Bryant...one of my Dad’s favorite songs. I can see him nodding his head now.
The saints in 2012 are some spoiled individuals. I say that because we ask God for stuff and when he does it we are so ungrateful. I’ve been in services where one testified about receiving the Holy Ghost, and the reaction was basically no reaction. One would expect a church to erupt in praise in celebration, yet the church had a la di da attitude. I don’t know this for sure, so don’t quote me on this, but I’m willing to bet that’s why your blessing hasn’t come yet. You’re so la di da with your expectation and your celebration of other’s miracles. I bet if we start to praise God like we truly expect a miracle, they would come. Tell me I’m wrong. I know there’s some famous catchphrase coming for 2013 but how about right now we truly get the spirit of expectations and stop all this hating and doubting.
I wrote a blog over 3 years ago entitled No Joy, No Strength, No Faith No Strength.  Over the years I feel the church has lost it’s joy and faith. I believe the Bible says that without Faith it’s impossible to please God. So, maybe if we start pleasing God with our faith, then we’ll see our prayers answered. By the way, whether you know it or not, whether you believe or not, God is answering prayers right now. I know for a fact He is. Why? Cause I’m still here. I haven’t lost my mind. Somebody is praying for me. And I’ve seen folks with cancer get healed. God is working miracles. You just got to believe. One thing I can’t stand is a dead church service. I’m telling you, if folks would come in the church with expectancy, and joy...we would have some good church every Sunday. The problem is we put all the pressure on the Praise and Worship leader, the MC of the service, or the speaker of the hour. Dang y’all know how to put some pressure on folks. Praise and Worship leaders aren’t supposed to pump and prime you. Other than my blood pressure, that’s probably what’s making me tired all the time. Moving on.
Faith without works is dead. Walk in it. Believe it. Work the faith. Other people can’t work your faith for you. We can work it with you but not for you. Declare it. Praise Him for it. It always could be worse so stop living like it is worse. You’re not dead. Inhale and exhale. Let everything that hath breath Praise ye the Lord.
Let me tell you something about me. I love hearing people be proud of me. I love when people cheer me on. Imagine if we made God proud of us. I know we’re waiting to hear Well Done thy good and faithful servant, but imagine if God talked about us and said, “Well Done,” before we went to Heaven. Wow. I don’t know about you, but that’s awesome to me.
Hope you got something out of this. Hope you share it with your folks. Don’t be a scared to leave a comment on the blog. I don’t bite. Anymore….long time ago. Let it go.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson aka Big Dusty
@Big_Dusty on Twitter and Instagram
Facebook.com/bigdusty

WE GOT TO LOVE PEOPLE IN AND STOP HATING PEOPLE OUT

Cue Work On Me by Tonex now known as B. Slade. It’s been a long time, shouldn’t have left you without a dope blog to read and linger on…what? OOOOOOOHHHHH, here it goes!

One of the phrases I used to use a lot is “don’t judge me.” Don’t judge. God’s grace and mercy is the reason I’m still here today. After I’ve messed up time and time again, I’m still able to type these blogs up or lead Praise and Worship at church or stuff like that. It’s like thank God, He is God and not any of us. Ironic I picked B. Slade to write this blog because the church has turned their back on this man because he came out e closet some time ago. Besides praying for this brother, and trying to cast out demons, we as a whole called him every homophobic name in the book and razzed this man for his sin being exposed. It could’ve been any of us. Most of us got secrets that nobody knows about it, and what if we got exposed? It’s  because of God’s grace and mercy that it wasn’t us. We could’ve got exposed and what if we got byrated as bad as Anthony Williams did? I’m openly admitting that I’m praying for you B. Slade, not writing this blog to open up old wounds. I’m writing this blog to judge anybody, because I don’t want my dirt getting exposed and giving folks the open door to openly ridicule me and call me anything but a child of God knowing that they have secrets of they’re own. One of the things my dad used to say to me is, “One shouldn’t throw rocks in a glass house.”  Meaning that if you know you got secrets, don’t bash anyone else when their dirty secrets get exposed.

 Like when Tye Tribbett and Da Truth had the situation some time ago. Google or Bing it if you don’t know. God has forgiven Tye and Truth, why can’t we? Probably still folks out there calling Truth and Tribbett adulterers, and everything else. I know I can’t watch a Donnie McClurkin video on YouTube without somebody calling him gay. Even though, I believe that he’s been delivered. But Donnie had a couple of instances that he went strongly, some would say too strong, against homosexuality. People still bash Donnie for being a homophobe, and being a “closeted homo.” I don’t get it. Why do we as “saints” always want to play God and judge folks for their past mistakes. I mean we weigh it on them so heavy, that they leave the church. We hate people out the church, when the Bible says with Love and Kindness have I drawn them. We’re supposed to love people in but we’re too busy hating people out. Some clips I watch on YouTube all the time, is Steve Harvey on TBN. I cry just about everytime and my little sister teases me for it all the time. Steve’s gratitude for God is inspiring. Then Steve talks about how people in the church are so evil when one tries to go to them to help. We sing that song, or used to sing to that song, “To be like Jesus, oh how I long to be like Him.” Yet we’re so unlike Jesus when somebody tells us what’s going on in their life we expose it and spread it. Stop hating people out the church. Hating people not just out of curch but hating people out of life in general.

I don’t smile much. I always look mean. People tell me that all the time. People have told my sister this all the time. If I’m really tired or if I don’t want to be somewhere, trust me, you’ll know. I admit, I don’t walk around with a smile on my face all the time. Probably explain my lack of real friends, phone calls, instagram facebook and twitter feedback, and other things. Can’t draw people with a negative attitude and/or negative appearance. I will openly admit here on my blog that positive people are annoying to me. I admit that I want to trip people that are always happy just to see a different emotion. But as much as those always happy positive people annoy me, I do believe those are the people with backstories that you wouldn’t believe. So the Lord is working on me with all that. I guess what I’m trying to say in this to stop hating people out and start loving people in.

Don’t let the fact that you hate your surroundings, dictate the way you treat people are the way you present yourself. I heard Todd Hall say one time that if you praise God in the place where you hate, He will show up in your surrounds and fix it. So I go in to my job with a praise. Issac Carree has a song out talking about Praise God in the middle of it. Praise God in the middle of it, why? Because as was preached at my church, Sunday, the After while is coming soon. Most of us are so close to that breakthrough, so close to finishing the race, we just got to hold on.  Old song says, Hold on, change is coming, hold on don’t worry about a thing. Hold on, you can make it, Hold on, everything’s going to be all right. Time to start believing what we’re singing about. God has been telling us for a while that we’re going to make it. Time to believe it.

Stay  Saved,

Daniel Richerson aka Big Dusty
@Big_Dusty on Twitter and Instagram
Facebook.com/bigdusty

Thoughts at 4:30 in the morning...

Cue Turning Around For Me by Vashawn Mitchell.

Just thinking about some things and talking to God as well. I have people on my mind all the time. I have certain people that I’ve come to love on my mind all the time. I started wondering about as much as I think about them, am I even on their brain? Like as much as I’m thinking about them, do they ever have a thought about me? Do they even love me as much as I love them? Do we love God as much as He loves us? Do we think about God as much as God thinks of us? Think about it. God always has us on his mind, why? For one, we’re still here. His grace and mercy proves that he’s think about us. But do we think about him? Is God even on our brain?

Why is it that when I pour out my heart it’s not well received? Why is it when I tell that certain female how I feel about her, it seems like I get pitied like I’m a middle schooler trying to go after a college student? Times like these, I thank God that He’s not like man. You pour out your heart to God, and He actually listens. He actually cares about what you think. Thank God He responds when you pour out your heart to Him.

I wasn’t even going to do this blog because I had nothing. Nobody asked me to do a blog so I figured why continue to do them? But Steve Harvey said something one time, “A gift is something you do well with the least amount of effort.” Blogging is something that I felt like I was good at. Letting thoughts flow from my head to my hands to the computer has really never been difficult for me to do. Now I have learned what thoughts to put down and what thoughts just to leave in the brain. But it’s like I was letting this thing that I can do die because nobody wanted to see it utilized. How many people have let gifts and talents die because of the initial response? Most people are not going to like what you do. Judging by the responses to my blogs, I can assume that most of the folks I’m connected to through social media don’t like my stuff, but that shouldn’t stop me from doing what I’m good at, know what I mean? The more I do these the better I can get at them. If I stop doing them, I can’t become better. I just become worse. I love playing the drums, but my time of playing the set, I don’t do much. But just about every time I get on a set, I get better. One of the major things that hinder me on the set is doubting myself. Every time I doubt myself on the set, I play like that little boy that plays after church and gets told to get off. Doubted my skills on the blogging, hence no blogs in weeks. Doubt is a hindrance. It hinders you from doing what you know you can do. Don’t let doubt take over. Have confidence in what you know you can do, and just do it. Now, please know what you’re good at. Don’t be like these folks on American Idol and other shows like that and go on and say, “I know I can sing. I know I can sang,” and end up sounding so bad that you’d rather listen to static on radio. That’s why I said KNOW what you’re good at. Have confidence but also have common sense.

Sometimes you think about a person and that person doesn’t even know your first name. If you’re like me and care about people that don’t seem to really care about you, I say keep on caring. Don’t let their attitude affect yours. Family Matters, remember that show? Steve Urkel cared about Laura, but Laura didn’t care about Steve for the most part. Of course later on in the series, Steve and Laura ended up together, but the point I’m trying to make is Steve didn’t let Laura’s attitude affect his. Keep on caring. Keep on thinking about people and praying for them. If you let them know that you’re thinking about them and they brush you off, keep on doing what you’re doing. I’ve had that happened to me time and time, but they’re still on my mind, and I’m still praying for them. Keep on keeping on because they’re on your mind for a reason.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson
Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @Big_Dusty
Facebook.com/bigdusty

WHEN NO ONE PATS YOU ON THE BACK, WHAT NEXT?

Cue Make Me New by Mali Music. This song has ministered to me in such a way…not even playing. It’s like I’m tripping a lot, but God I’m just asking you to make me new. Wash my heart, Wash my hands. I want to worship You. Check it out if you haven’t heard it...BLOG!

What do you do when no one gives you a pat on a back? What do you do when no one says, “You did good” or “I enjoyed you.” What do you do when no one gives you any congrats whatsoever? It’s easy to say, “I’m doing this for the Lord” because we’ve been trained to say that. “To God be the glory.” “Pray for me.” You know the stuff they train you to say. While at the same time you’re looking for that one indication that what you did was good. You’re looking for somebody to love what you did. What do you do if none of that comes? Do you quit doing what you do? Do you just quit, period?

I think it starts with the mind. Your mind has to be in the right place. You got to love yourself. You got to know what and who you’re doing it for. Whatever that it is. When it comes to your job, you know, you may not be perfect, but look at it this way, you haven’t been fired. So stop being down on yourself. Continue to do what you do, and if you need to do better, your managers should help you. If you feel you need to do better, do it. I was talking to a young buck today about second chances. I was telling him God gives you chance after chance to get saved and get your soul right. Once you’re dead, your chances are through. Now back to your job. Day after day you’re not fired, that’s another chance to do better. It’s a sad thing when you know what to do, but you stick to what’s been “working.” Just because you haven’t been caught yet doesn’t make it right.

When it comes to church, you have to know that you’re doing what you’re doing for God and nobody else. Not for the pastor. Not for the mother of the church. Not for the minister of music. Only what you do for Christ will last, right? You want to hear God say well done, right? So why not just worry that God gets the glory? That’s what it’s all about. As long as God gets the glory. That’s why they tell you to say, “To God be the Glory” or “Pray for me” when somebody gives you that pat on the back, to stay humble. Maybe the reason you don’t get that much pats on the back from people is because God doesn’t want you to get a big head. Nothing worse in the church than a guy who’s full of himself. Keep your head up. As long as what you did gave God the glory and it wasn’t for a show, then it’s all good. If you did it for a reaction, then you need to check yourself. Bottom line.

Don’t get me wrong though, it’s awesome to know that someone enjoyed what you did. If someone was touched through what you did. I do believe that some of it has to do with the love that we have for ourselves. Some of us just don’t love ourselves like we should. I’m not talking about weight or anything like that. I’m a firm believer that you can have extra weight on you and not hate yourself. I’m talking about the believing in yourself kind of love. If you don’t believe in yourself, how do you expect others to? If you don’t love yourself, how do you expect others to? Your life does not depend on your posse because if that was the case, I’d been dead. I have no posse, but that’s a different blog. Anyway, I think it also comes with do unto others as you want others to do unto you. You want to be loved, you got to love. You want to people to talk to you; you have to talk to people. You reap what you sow. Sow love, you’ll reap love. Sow congrats, you’ll reap congrats. Sow feedback, you’ll reap feedback.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson
@Big_Dusty on Twitter and Instagram
Facebook.com/bigdusty

HE CAN, HANDLE IT!

Ok I was going to post the lyrics to It's Been Awhile by Staind because you know it has been some weeks since I've done this and you know I figured it would fit...THEN I googled the lyrics....yeah, not even close to the situation here. Moving on...Cue--actually, right now I'm watching Think Like A Man. It's a great movie. Kevin Hart is who you would want him to be in this movie, Kevin Hart.

So just a little update, I'm finally doing some job searching after months of saying, "I hate this job," and doing nothing about it. Now here's the hard part, the heck am I searching for? Short term goals? What would I be willing to do? Where am I willing to go? Good questions. Very good questions....don't judge me, ok? All this just doesn't happen in an instant. Process people. Not the process you put in the hair, but the process that is also called steps. Taking steps. Steps...are what...I...am taking.

Now, another thing I've been thinking about. Personal stuff. Like when things don't go the way we want them to, whether it's a job or a relationship, do we really believe God knows what he's doing? Do we really believe that God has the best for us? That's what I'm learning. I've been in love, or thought I was in love with a couple of women in my lifetime, and nothing. Most of my former classmates, married and doing the dang thing. Being 25 now, I figured my life would be so much further ahead than it actually is. You know what? Maybe it should be. The reason I'm not there yet, is not God's fault. It's my fault. In a race, it's important to stay in your lane. Some of our problems is, we get try to take detours. We put in our own road blocks. We see other people thriving and we become spirtual rubber neckers slowing down our own personal traffic or walk. So back to the woman thing for just a sec. Maybe the one I think is the one, may be the one---for someone else. You know? Giving God control, literally means giving God control. I remember watching Steve Harvey on TBN one night and he was talking about a particular situation that happened in his life and then he said, "This was the first time I ever just let God handle it." Old song by Kirk Franklin says, "It really doesn't matter what you're going through. Just call on Jesus, He'll work it out for you. His yoke his easy, and his burden's light. Just give it to Jesus, He'll make it all right. He can handle it!" Just sayin...to you and to me. Let go. Let God.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson aka Big Dusty
@Big_Dusty on Twitter and Instagram
Facebook.com/bigdusty

RUNNING FOR OR FROM?

Cue Jesus At The Center by Israel and New Breed. Let’s do this! Let’s do this!

“I’ve been running for Jesus a long time, and I’m not tired yet.” Y’all ever heard that song. It’s not a song that will be on my iPod at ever, but it’s a song that plays on the radio a lot. Probably one of those good clichés to say in church to get a reaction. Anyway, I got to thinking. While some of us are running for Jesus, a lot of us are running from Jesus. Running from what we are called to do in the Kingdom. Running from what we are chosen to do in the Kingdom. Why do people run? Fear. Fear of losing friends. Fear of family members not believing in you. Fear of how you’re going to even start walking in the calling that God has for you. Believe me, I understand…

I believe that there comes a time where we have to make a decision. Are we going to keep hiding or are we going to finally embrace? How long will we ignore the signs? How many times does God have to keep changing the way he’s telling us what to do? He’s basically telling us the same thing every time, but it’s just changing the presentation. Some of us already got what God desires for us, but we continue run because of fear of the unknown. Believe me, I understand…

For the past few weeks, I’ve been asking God to rejuvenate my life. To recharge my battery. To create new in my life. Why? Because I felt like my life was moving slow as ever. Nothing was happening. Life felt like nothing but routines. I wasn’t living. I was just following a routine. I was sick of the routine. I was asking God to do something that will spark my life. I was asking God to send someone to spark my life. You know? I was just so sick of the same of stuff, I felt like God please! Change the routine! Maybe I was bored because I was running from something. Bored at my mind because I was ignoring instruction. Maybe?

I just feel like God is saying to me and maybe to someone out there reading this to stop running. Stop running from what God has for you. Stop running from your calling. Especially if you know what you’re called to do. You think those dreams and visions you’re having are just visions and dreams? You think it’s an accident that you can do what you can do? Old song we used to sing says, “Yes to your will. Yes to your way. Lord I’ll serve you for the rest of my days.” Personally, I make that proclamation. Anybody else? My way is not working. I don’t know about y’all. My way is not working at all. Bored. Stuck. Not moving. Running from—it’s not working.

I’m 25 years old. I’m an adult now. No use to be 25 years old with a child-like mindset. Time to grow up. Put away childish things. When you get people being able to tell that you’re a child of God through a phone call? Time to stop running. God, I say yes to your will. Yes to your way. Lord I’ll serve you for the rest of my days.

Stay saved,

Daniel Richerson aka Big Dusty
@Big_Dusty on Twitter
Facebook.com/bigdusty

WALKING IN THE NEWNESS

Cue Leaderless and Enlisted by Norma Jean. And cue blog!

"I've been delivered. I've been delivered. The hold the devil had on me, he ain't got no more. I've been delivered. I've been delivered. I've been delivered by the hands of the Lord!"

Not only did that song save me from a spanking when I was little, true story, it's also the story of my life. It's one thing to say that I've been delivered, but to know that you're delivered it's something to be joyful about. About a month ago I wrote a blog titled, Time To Know That You're Free.  I wrote that blog still bound. I'm not going to lie. I guess I was just trying to motivate myself to get better, but I didn't want to let go. Let me say this, I wasn't in a struggle. It's not a struggle when you want to do it. You're not struggling with smoking when you're buying cigarettes. You're not struggling with drinking when you're still buying the drinks. You're not struggling with sex--need I go on?

So what's next? For one, I cannot go back. I can't go back to the way I did it before. Which means if I can't watch the same things I used to watch? If I can't stay subscribed to the same YouTube channels? If I can't stay friends with the same people on FaceBook? If I can't follow the same people on Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr? The Bible says, "Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, GNT) So, why can't I go back? Because God has something new for me. Can't expect new in old situations. New way of thinking. Can't think the same way. The Bible says, paraphrasing, that we should not conform to this world's thinking but we got to be transformmed by the renewing of our mind. In other words, we got to change our thinking. "Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God--what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect." (Romans 12:2, GNT)

We got to get past lip service and put some action into it. We keep saying we got to let go and let God. How long is it going to take for us to actually do it? God is waiting. I'm telling you that when you actually let go and let God, that's when deliverence truly comes. That's when freedom actually comes. But it's not going to come until you change your way of thinking. It's not going to come unless you open your heart and let God in to clean you up. When you really learn to praise God outside of the four walls, that's when true deliverence comes in. When you get to the point where you can literally say I don't need an organ, piano, or praise team to get my praise on, I'm telling you, it'll change you.

I'm ready for the new. The old life was not really fun. It was not really satisfying. Can't wait to give back to those who's help mold me to where I'm at right now. Can't wait to travel and meet new people. Can't wait to get out of the oridinary. Can't wait to get my career started. Can't wait to really walk in my calling. Can't wait to connect with that one woman that is just for me. It's a new season for yours truly Big Dusty, D-Rich, Big d...call me what you will. "So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the life above." (Phillippians 3:14, GNT)

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson
@Big_Dusty
Facebook.com/bigdusty

WHAT IS KEEPING YOUR ROOTS ALIVE?

Cue I’m Going On by Commissioned. Thanks for all the continued support.

What happens to plants if the roots die? The whole plant dies right? The most important part of a plant is the roots. The roots keep the plant alive and functioning. Some of us get rooted in the right direction but don’t water the roots. Dreams die because the roots are not watered. We got dreams and aspirations. We get planted and rooted and a stem pokes out of the ground. Here’s the issue. When’s the last time you got an apple from a stem sticking out the ground? We get satisfied that we’ve grown out of the soil but for some strange reason we refuse to grow. Some of it has to do with fear. Some of it has to do with what people say or what you think people say about you. Some of it has to do with your mind set. Some of it is that you are getting watered, but you’re not drinking the water. It’s getting you wet, but it’s not getting inside you.

How many dreams have died because of lack of nutrients? Believe or not, I got a YouTube channel. The channel is basically just sitting there doing nothing for the most part. Why? Because I haven’t posted anything, yet I dream of some day entertaining masses, whether it’s by singing, comedy, or whatever. So with dreams like that, I can‘t even keep a YouTube channel alive to put myself out there showing what I am capable of. Now is it YouTube’s fault that I’m doing nothing with it? No. It’s mainly the soil that is being used to make dreams come true, and I’m using it wanting to make my dreams come true, but don’t want to water it. Don’t want to let it get some sunlight.

Which leads me to another thing. Sunlight is a very very important source for a plant to survive. What’s your source? What’s your source of getting growth? What are you depending on? There’s probably not a choir anywhere that hasn’t sang Total Praise by Richard Smallwood. The song says, “You are the source of my strength. You are the strength of my life.” Really? Then why are our dreams and aspirations dying at a high rate? Why not let God be the source of your strength so your dream can get some growth. Some use the wrong light and wonder why depression sets in. Here’s a theory. Maybe it’s not just the life or dream that’s causing the depression. Maybe it’s what you’re using for nutrients for that dream. God is not the source. Not necessarily saying that it’s the devil either. Maybe it’s that agent. Maybe it’s that friend. Maybe it’s that family member. Maybe it’s that church member. You’re depending on people killing you with junk, where there’s a God that’s ruler of everything with His arms open waiting for you to let Him in. Keep God first is not just a good saying to say when trying to motivate someone. It’s actually a good thing to do believe it or not.

Imagine how much further some of us would be if we really put God first and really pursued our dreams? Probably more happy than we are now. Probably more financially stable to pursue our dreams. I keep hearing that this financial struggle that most of us is going through will soon be over. Please believe that I’m not questioning any one’s Holy Ghost, and I’m a firm believer that a God is about to drop a financial boom on some of us. I just think there’s a step some of us are missing. The Bible says to seek ye first the what? Kingdom of God. And then what? All these things shall be added. Keep God first. Also please believe that I’m not just typing this to try and preach or motivate you. I’m not throwing stones. I’m motivating myself as well. I know I need to do better in certain areas of my life, and as soon as I do better, I believe God will bless me better. I think we’re all fortunate that God loves us so much that He keeps on making ways out of no ways in our lives. We don’t deserve it. You know what you did and are doing. I know what I did and am doing. Yet He keeps on making ways for us. Song writer says, “He keeps on doing great things for me.”

Follow your dreams. Pursue your dreams. Put some water on your dreams. Don’t take a break, because that will stagger the growth of the dream, and at sometimes kill it. Keep going. Keep pursuing. Keep God first. Pray about any and everything. Follow God’s lead. Now, let me say this. Following God’s lead does not mean that you sit and do nothing. You can still follow God’s lead and continue to pursue. We get told to be patient and wait, then with that we do nothing. No. While you’re waiting, water your craft. Practice your craft. Perfect your craft. Perfect your dream.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson
@Big_Dusty
Facebook.com/bigdusty

NEVER LOSE THAT KID IN YOU

Cue Dominion by Jason Nelson. This song has been one of my anthems lately. If you haven’t heard it, y’all got to buy this track. It’s a powerful one….BLOG!

First of all I want to thank all of you that have been reading my blogs over the years. I broke 6000 views here on blogger. Hopefully I will continue to post stuff that will continue to inspire and/or make you smile. Again, thanks to you all.

Trying to think about something to blog about tonight. All I can really think of is growing up and seeing the tables turn. I remember when I was a kid, people would comment on how much I’ve grown just about every time they see me. Now at 25, I find myself doing the same thing. I see kids I’ve seen since they were little, and now all the sudden they’re at my height or taller when a voice deeper than mine. Like what the what? When did this happen? Don’t get me wrong, I still get those, “I remember when...” comments from time to time, but to be the one saying, “I remember when…” just doesn’t feel right.

To be honest with y’all, I don’t feel 25 yet. Almost 2 months in, and I still do not feel like as if I’ve grown up sometimes. I say sometimes because when I see that I have to buy groceries, pay for student loans, plus half of the internet bill, then I realize I’ve grown up a little bit. But at the same time, there are times where I feel like I haven’t grown up at all. Like those times you get that good advice and you’re a kid again sucking the information in like a sponge. Then you get to the point where little kids are saying yes sir to you. Ugh! Please stop! I understand it’s polite and correct to do, but at the same time, it hits me that I am actually an adult.

Then there the times when my sister and I clown around like we’ve done all our lives. I think we’re always going to be like that. My sister and I are probably always going to be like that. I don’t ever want become an adult to my sister. I don’t ever want to get to that point where I’m too grown to do silly stuff around my sister. She will always be my little sister, and I will always be her big brother. God willing if we both make it to be old, we can be like a real version of Madea and Joe. Except hopefully I won’t be staying in her house, know what I’m saying?

We all got to grow up. It’s life, but I say don’t ever lose that inner child. Don’t ever become too good to make a silly fool of yourself in front of your family. Don’t ever be become too grown to laugh around with your siblings, if you have any. Don’t ever become to grown to be your parents’ child. When I see my dad, I’m a kid again. When I see my mom, I’m a kid again. Yes there’ll be times where it will become real and we have to talk like the grown folk that we are, but always leave room for fun and laughter.

 As much as I hate my job, and I say that openly that I do, if I make a customer or a co-worker laugh or smile, it makes me feel good. It gives me open opportunity to be that kid again making people laugh by just being a kid. I hope to be like Jerry Lewis in a way that I never lose that inner kid. Jerry Lewis is pushing dirt in age, and yet when you see him, he’s that nine year old crazy kid. That’s how I want to be. Even at 25. I want people to see that crazy kid in me that is just wanting to laugh and have fun.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson aka Big Dusty
Follow me on Twitter @Big_Dusty
Facebook.com/bigdusty

TIME TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE FREE

Cue He Reigns by Ricky Dillard. Made a change to the blog. Used to be I’d moderate all comments. Too much work. I’ve lifted that off. Comment one, comment all.  And now…

This past Sunday was life changing. I’ve cried in church before. When I was a little kid, it was an every Sunday thing. The spirit would get high in service and I’d be crying and sometimes screaming. No lie. So needless to say that still happens on occasion. This Sunday was different though. All I was thinking of was the song I’ve sung plenty of times. Grew up hearing my mom singing it. First heard it sung by Donnie McClurkin on an old Carlton Pearson CD, but it never hit me like it did on Sunday.

“Living He loved me. Dying He saved me. Buried He carried my sins far away. Rising He justified freed me forever. One day he’s coming back. Glorious Day.”

Wow. I mean really think about it. Living He loved us. For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten, right? Dying he saved me. What he save me from? Death. The wages of sin is…death. Buried He carried my sins far away. Far away, so why am I struggling with what Jesus already taken care of? Burying my sins, so I don’t have to be buried with them. Rising He justified freed me forever. Whom the son makes free is what? Free indeed. What are habits? What are struggles? What are insecurities? Not only am I free, but I’m free forever. It doesn’t end there. One day he’s coming back. And it will be a glorious day. I mean if that’s not enough to cry out, what is?

So I choose believe that Sunday was an expression of God really freeing me. I wrote a blog some years ago called Off The Chain. The chains are broken now. With that I can’t watch the stuff I used to enjoy for the wrong reasons. I can’t do stuff I used to do while at the same time knowing it was wrong. If I’m free, I got to live free. If I’m delivered, I got to live delivered. I can’t call myself free while still living bound. Some of us have been bound so long that we don’t even know that we’re free. Like Morgan Freeman’s character in Shawshank Redemption. When he finally got out of jail, he was still bound. He asked to go to the bathroom not knowing that he was free to go whenever he had to. Time to know it. Know that you’re free. The chains are broken. Walk in it. Live it.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson aka Big Dusty
Follow me on Twitter @Big_Dusty
Facebook.com/bigdusty

FIGHT YOURSELF!!

Cue We Praise You by The McClurkin Project. My sister dancing to this song is something to see by the way. Absolutely hilarious. To the folks that love the blogs and tell me, y’all the reason I keep this going. With all that being said…

Flesh. Your flesh. Your flesh is trouble. The desires of one human body can be straight disgusting. At times your flesh desires what’s it’s been fed over the years, while at the same time you’re seeking to change your ways. So what do we do? We pray to God to kill our flesh. We pray to God to kill our flesh, then not 2 minutes later, we’re doing what we’re trying to kill. Kind of kills the purpose doesn’t it? Can’t kill the flesh feeding it the filth it desires. It’s like trying to lose weight. You want to lose weight, yet you’re sitting down watching sports with a box of Little Debbie snacks. If you want to change, you got to be willing to do the work, and here’s a news flash: God ain’t going to do the work for you.

That’s one problem we have. When it comes to working, we don’t want to do it. So we pray to God will just take it away, while in the back of our heads, we’re already planning to do what we’re trying to kill. God is willing to help, but we got to do the work. We got to fight. In a sense, we got to fight ourselves. You’ve been stuck in a habit for over ten years, safe to say your flesh is not going to give up so easy. Relapse comes from people who don’t want to fight. We fall. We get step backs. Why? It’s either we don’t want to fight or you figure it’s ok to let your flesh enjoy some junk food every once in a while. So we treat Christian living like a diet. You know on diets, they tell you, it’s ok to have a cheat day. We give ourselves cheat days living this life.

Life is not a food diet people. Life is you’re either all in or not. Luke 16:13 in the Amplified Version says,  “No servant is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (riches, or anything in which you trust and on which you rely).”  You’re either all for God, or you’re not. Then the question comes, what are we all in for? What are we dedicated to? What do we dedicate our lives to? It doesn’t even have to be about Christian living. It can be if you’re trying to lose weight. Or you’re trying to look for a job. Or you’re just trying to chase your dream. Are you dedicated to doing it? Or are you going half way expecting to all come together. That’s not how it works. You got to be willing to fight.

You can’t let you beat you, if you get me. That’s where fasting comes in. Fasting is more than just not eating. It’s decreasing the flesh so you can enhance the spirit man. Am I right or wrong? So why don’t fasting work? Maybe it does work. Maybe we’re not fasting, we’re just not eating. Anybody cannot eat, and I like to call that dieting. Fasting is not a diet, yet some of us treat it as such. Fasting is war against your flesh.

Getting back to killing your flesh. Now when I say that, I’m not saying kill yourself. I’m literally saying, that you let God take over. Dedicate your body to God and not to its desires. Like before I go up to sing in church, I pray for God to kill my flesh, because I want to be used to minister to the people. People may look at me crazy, probably because I’m actually singing something different and not the same old---never mind, either way, the point is, I’m not singing for people. I’m singing for God, and allowing God to use me to minister to the folk. The problem is, we as a people worry about the song to sing and not the song that will minister. We as the congregation worry about what the song is, and not what the song is saying. Killing the flesh is not just for the guy up with the mic. It’s for you too. Your spiritual ears got to be open to hear what God saying. If we don’t allow God to enter in, we hear the word on Sunday and Wednesday, then go back home go in our secret closet not to pray, but to entertain that what we’re trying to kill.

The answer to break the habit is right in front of our face. The answer to chase that dream is right in front of our face. The answer to get that job is right in front of our face. The answer to lose weight is right in front of our face. We got to fight. We got to deny. We got to repent. Some of us apologize, but we don’t repent.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson aka Big Dusty
Follow me on Twitter @Big_Dusty
Facebook.com/bigdusty

DO THE MIAMI HEAT REALLY WANT TO WIN?

Cue Laugh At My Pain by Kevin Hart. Watching that while blogging. I’m going NBA Playoffs on this one…

I’m a Heat fan. I’ve been a Heat fan since I found out Rafer Alston played for them some time ago. Then I found out about Wade. A year later, Shaq joined the team. They win a championship a year after Shaq joins the Heat. All before Lebron made “The Decision.” This for those who call me a bandwagon fan.

As I’m typing this Heat are down 3-2 to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. Why? Well I do have my thoughts. One? Lack of heart and passion. You watch Miami play, and they play like the Celtics are supposed to let them win. When Celtics start competing, Heat don’t know what to do. Here’s the thing. Boston is barely beating the Heat. Heat should be up 3-2. I’m even crazy enough to believe that this series should be over right now, and Heat should be preparing for the Thunder or the Spurs. With lack of passion, lack of heart, lack of defense, Heat find themselves staring down a win or go home situation.

Now, people want to blame the Heat coach, Eric Spoelstra. Is Spoelstra the best coach in the world? No. But even if you had the best coach in the world, how do you coach hard headed “superstars” that don’t listen. Ask Phil Jackson during that last year with the Lakers, and come back when you’re done. All through the game, Eric was telling the team to move the ball. What did we get? Mostly isolation plays which came with mostly bricks. When they moved the ball, that’s when most of the buckets came. Simple.

Rondo, who’s about 3 or 4 feet tall, got his own rebounds. Is that Eric’s fault? He’s not in the game. The coach shouldn’t have to tell you to fight for the ball in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals on Game 5. If you have to be told to play hard and fight for the ball during this stage of the season, you shouldn’t even be on the court.

Heat were playing like they were scared to get hurt on both offense and defense. Taking stupid jump shots, and playing little to no defense at all. It was hard to watch as a Heat fan. Heck it was hard to watch as a basketball fan. It was pathetic. Heat should have won Game 5. Boston took it from them.

As much as I don’t like Rondo, the man is a born leader. He’s going to be a force to be reckoned with in this league for years to come. Heat on the underhand was led on the court at all. Lebron and Wade did no leading whatsoever. Are you kidding me? In the Eastern Conference Finals? Embarrassing. Pathetic.

Again this is being type what after Heat gave Game 5 away to the Celtics so as of right now I don’t know what happened in Game 6 or if there will be a Game 7. What I do know is, Heat need to get that championship strut. Boston has it. OKC has it. Heat? Not so much, which is sad because Wade is a champion.

I’m still a Heat fan don’t get me wrong, but I also keep it real. Heat are not going to be champions until they really want it.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson aka Big Dusty
Follow me on Twitter @Big_Dusty

NO MORE TIME OUTS. TIME TO SAY, "GAME OVER!"

Cue Your Way Is Better by Shawn Bigby…woo woo woo you know it!

Time outs. A time out in sports stops play on the field or court for a limited of time and then you go back and play the same game. So it’s literally taking a breather to strategize on how you’re going to play the game better.

Game over. Game over is a phrase to signal that the end. End meaning that you cannot go back to change what you did in that game.

Some of us have been taking a bunch of time outs on our habitual sins. Taking this time out and that time out. Taking breaks thinking we are delivered, than when the whistle blows, we’re right back in the game. We’re like fish swimming in water. When the bait is thrown out, we bite and then get hooked. For some of us it’s the same bait every time. Falling in the same trap. As I was in prayer I heard it said that, no more time outs. No more breaks. It’s time to say to your habits, game over. Time to say to your habits, I’m not playing this game anymore.

Stop hitting reset. Stop hitting the reset button on the game after the game is over. Once the game is over, stop playing. It’s ok not to take the bait thrown your way. Believe me, the bait is enticing, but is it worth it? Fish bite the bait because it looks good but then end up getting hooked and cooked. I’ve fallen for the same bait for years. Game over. I’m not playing that game anymore. Don’t get me wrong, the bait will look good. So good that you want to take a nibble. Don’t take the nibble. You keep nibbling; you’ll going to want the buffet. Game over.

Proverbs 26:11 says, “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.” Folly is a foolish act, idea, or practice. We’ve been letting the devil make us look like fools for too long. Game over. I said let because the devil only has the power that you give him. Game over.

I got my wakeup call at work when my boss asked me to say a prayer for her when I go to church on Sunday because she can’t go because she’s working. Then my co-worker asked for prayer. That’s when it hit me, I got to say game over to some of the stuff I play with. I can’t play games with the devil then try to pray for folk. Game over.

I got dreams that I’ve been sitting on for too long. Expecting them to come to me instead of going to them. Game over. I got my wakeup call through a comment on youtube. I got to chase the dream. I got to chase for what I want. I can pray and pray to God that God I want this and I want that, as we should. We should pray for the specifics we want, but when God opens the door for you to get it, we don’t get it. It’s time to get it. Get your dreams. Get your career. Get your relationship. Get it! Game over for sitting.

Philippians 3:14 says, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” You can’t press while doing nothing. If you’re going to press, you got to move. The Contemporary English Version of that same verse says, “I run toward the goal, so I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done.” Running requires moving. Pressing requires movement. In order to get it, you got to move.

Game over.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson aka Big Dusty
@Big_Dusty on Twitter
Facebook.com/bigdusty

WHY YOU POINTING ALL THEM FINGERS?

Aaaaaaaaaand cue He Keeps Blessing by Vincent Tharpe and Kenosis! Aaaaaaaaaaaaand on to the blog!

Dusty is taking over. It started in the 7th grade. Now it's even gone to my job. I'm not kidding. My manager is calling me Dusty because there's another Daniel on the team. How awesome is that? What's next? Coffee cups? T-Shirts? Milk Cartons? That's right!! Y'all better get on the bandwagon now. It's going to be good.

Don't let a title put you on a pedestal. We got people using they're titles to point fingers. Ever heard that phrase when  you're pointing at somebody you got three fingers pointing back at you? Pointing fingers does nothing but make you look more guilty. Some of us get up on our own personal pulpit and point and point when...what are we doing? What are we doing to set the example of what not to do? How are we reacting to situations while at the same time we'll telling other people how to react? How are we handling this recession while at the same time we'll telling other people how to react? How are we living when we're telling others how to live? What's done in the dark...

Actions speak louder than words. So if I'm going to tell y'all to keep the faith and don't give up, I can't be putting statuses up on Facebook like, "I don't know how much longer..." Or tweeting something like, "This is getting too much to handle..." If I'm going to tell you to let go and let God, I can't put a facebook statuses, "If God don't do something quick..." Or tweet something like, "There's no way that..." How you react to things on Facebook and Twitter is how people look at you in real life. Mixing trust in God statuses with nobody knows the trouble I see tweets...what are we as your followers and friends supposed to think about you?

Not everybody got to know how you feel. We all going to feel down and out. Feeling that way, doesn't give you the right to spread negativity. You'll be amazed what one little speck of light can do in the midst of darkness. Some of us are so in the dark that any light would probably blind us. I hear the old song that says, "Look where He's brought me from. He's brought me out of darkness into the marvelous light." So how you going to facebook and tweet about God then go right around and tweet in the dark? Kurt Carr said, "Whatever you do, don't let your light go out!" Don't worry about the light bill, Jesus got that under control.

Don't get me wrong. Life is real. Life is rough. Life is raw. I'm know that from personal experience. And I've been guilty of tweeting light and hours later tweeting darkness. Now is the time to pick the side that you're going to be on. Are you going to live to see or are you going to live blind? Are you going to live in the light or are you going to live in the dark? Are you going to live in positivity or negativity? Are you going to live the example or are you going to live pointing your fingers? The choice is yours.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson aka Big Dusty
Follow me on Twitter @Big_Dusty
Facebook.com/bigdusty

TALK YOURSELF THERE

Cue Will You Be There by Michael Jackson. Free Willy? Yes! If you don’t know, look it up youngins! And now…

I posted a status on the book timeline about any ideas that any of my people, that would be you all, wanted to read from me on these blogs, and I was told by one of the peoples that he likes my random thoughts on things. I admit, my thoughts are on the random side. Yes they are. With that being said…

People work so hard on the physical that they forget that there’s a mental part of life as well. Nothing turns me off more than seeing a physically beautiful woman with a mouth that speaks nothing but filth. Cussing. It’s actually a shame or what I like to call it, buzz kill. Think about it, you see that girl that is so beautiful. Beautiful to the point where you get in your mind that, “Hey, I might try.” Then they talk, and all that buzz that was there is not there anymore. Seriously, some “beautiful” people shouldn’t talk. If they talk less, they might be able to keep a relationship for longer than a month. Boyfriend after boyfriend, and can’t stay steady. Even try to go to the other side, and still not satisfied. Listen to yourself, it could be you that’s the problem. You can be beautiful all you want, but if all you do is talk filth, that’s what you’re going to end up with. Filth.

You can yourself in to good and bad situations in your life. You can look good all you want for a job interview, but if you say the wrong thing, that could ax any chance you thought you had to get that job. Think about the movie Pursuit of Happyness. Remember that scene where the main character, Chris, went to that job interview in his regular pants, wife beater shirt, and a jacket? What got him that spot in the training program? His mouth. His speech. His talk. The reason you’re not getting that job is not about your race. The reason that you’re being “held back” is not because of your status in society. Could it possibly be that you’re talking your way out of where you should be?

The Bible states in Proverbs that life and death are in the power of the tongue. Talk like you got some sense. I know you’re from the hood. I know you were raised in the hip hop generation. Heck I was too. There’s a time and place for everything. You’re trying to better your life, start bettering your talk. Start bettering your speech. That may not be the end all be all, but it may be the start that is need.

Side note. Breath mints works wonders. Wonders. Buy them. Use them. Nothing worse talking somebody with breath that smells like dog crap….

Is it possible you can talk your way out of salvation? Can you talk your way into hell? I do know you can talk your way out of your witness. You’re witnessing to be a Christian, and you let out a four letter word because of “frustration.” Well your frustration just killed your witness, sir. Don’t get me wrong, we all get frustrated. May even get frustrated to the point where you want to cuss, but should you cuss? Granted it can be argued that you shouldn’t get that made in the first place, but what happens when you get that mad? It can and does happen. What do you do? Remember who you are would be a start. Remember what you proclaim to be. The same Bible you quote from has something in it that says basically that you can be angry, but don’t sin. Watch your mouth. That “excuse my French” thing is not working any more as an excuse.

Talk your way into a good relationship. Talk your way in that career you’re praying for. Talk your way into the life you deserve. Talk your way up. Stop talking yourself into filth. Stop talking yourself down. Stop talking yourself into relationship after relationship that never work out. How do you talk yourself positive? Well it is said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Get your heart right, then you’re mouth will get right.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson
@Big_Dusty on Twitter
Facebook.com/bigdusty

TIME IS NOW

Cue Dancing Machine by the Jackson 5. Real music right there folks. Follow me on Twitter @Big_Dusty and get at me on Facebook.com/bigdusty…STRAIGHT TO IT!

Lately the big talk around the news has been about gay marriage. Now I’ve done my share of blogging around this issue. Even did a controversial blog on the “f-word” that is used for gay people. I think I went a little too far on that blog but I won’t delete it because it’s already been read for one, and for two, I can’t take it back. It was already typed. It kills me when famous people delete tweets like it wasn’t said. You already tweeted it people, even if you deleted it, you can guarantee somebody read it and already took a picture of the tweet. You can’t take it back. All you can do is apologize for it and move on with your life. I’ve said some things and done some things that I wish that I could take back. I missed out on opportunity after opportunity that I can’t get back. One of my trainers at work said this morning, you can possibly get back money, but you can’t get back time. That’s true. No matter what you do, you can’t get the time you wasted or missed back.

 I used to regret the things I did in the past. I mean I used to think of my past and little stop walking and try to shake my head to shake the memories away. I’d regret the opportunities I missed out. Regret is nothing but a setback. Move forward. Sorry for my mistakes. Sorry for my mess ups. Today I will strive to do better than I did yesterday. Yesterday I may have messed up, but today I got another chance. Don’t focus on regrets. Focus on the fact that you’re alive another day and it’s another chance. Think about it like this. The wages of sin is death. The payment for the sins you’ve committed or commit is death. Yet, you’re still alive. Chance. Grasp to this chance that you’re getting and take advantage! Run for your dreams. Run for your new reality. Your current reality doesn’t dictate your future reality.

If you’re tired of doing things the same way, if you’re tired of falling in the same trap, falling for the same sin…here’s a thought. Change. Change the way you do things. Change the way you live. You obviously know what to do to fall into the trap, now use this new day to avoid. Today start a new habit of not doing the current habits that you know is wrong.

Couple of days ago, the trainer was asking us if any of us have ever had a significant other or ever had a date. I don’t know for sure, but I must have been the only one in class shaking my head no to the questions. Now the old me would’ve started crying from depression. Crying from being hurt from all the eyes looking at me. But…I know there’s a reason that I’ve been single. There’s a reason I haven’t been on a date. There’s a reason that I’ve never been invited to parties. There’s a reason people never came to the parties I planned. There’s no reason to cry about it. There’s no reason to dwell on it. Today is a new day. New day, new chances. New day, new opportunities. In less than 2 weeks, I’ll be turning 25. What am I doing for my birthday? Maybe something. Maybe nothing. But rather I have a party or not, it’s not going to change the fact that God would have blessed  me to see another year. I know what God has done for me over this past year alone. 24 has been a year of experience. 25 I’m looking for better. New. I’m looking for new. If you want to ride with me, there’s plenty of room. If you don’t want to ride, I’m going to keep moving, don’t hurt yourself jumping out. I love me. If none of y’all love me, I love me. That was the problem. I didn’t love myself. I didn’t find myself worth anything. I thought throwing a party for my birthday would have people like me. I thought inviting people to a barbecue would have people like me. When nobody showed up, when my sister had to invite her friends so people would be there, and all I had planned was to watch movies….I didn’t love me. Look at me now.

I got readers out there that feel the same way. I got some readers out there that have been through. This blog is not so I can preach to myself. This is for all of you that have regret. This is for all of you that have been a screw up. This is for all of you that have been a loner. This is for all of you that felt that nobody cared about you. Learn to love yourself. Learn to like yourself. Find worth in yourself. Don’t look for worth from other people. Don’t get me wrong, when people say they’re proud of me, I smile. It makes me feel good. When I hear people say that God is proud of me. I smile. It makes me feel good. Now I can say, I’m proud of me. I love me. My heart now smiles. I feel good.

Stay Saved,

LOVE YOURSELF...VALUE YOURSELF...

Cue Higher Ground by Stevie Wonder! We going old school with this one baby!!! Follow me on Twitter @Big_Dusty and friend me on Facebook.com/bigdusty (btw, let me know if I should make a fan page…) To the blog!!

You got to love yourself. You got to speak well of yourself. Stop waiting on other people to validate you. Value yourself. You talk bad about yourself on all these social networks. Stop! You are valuable. You are somebody. You degrade yourself, then you expect others to degrade you, and there goes your self esteem. Upgrade yourself. So somebody calls you ugly. People call me ugly all the time. It used to mess me up. Now, not so much. I am who I am. I’m not Michael Ealy. I’m not Will Smith. No. I’m Daniel Richerson. There it is.

If you don’t love yourself, how do you expect someone else to? If you don’t value you, how to you expect to be valued? Be happy with yourself. God made you who you are. I’m fat. I’m not necessarily proud of that, but I don’t beat myself up about it either. Why? For one I can still wear a shirt without the bottom of my gut showing itself to the world, and I can still wear pants over my belly. And two, compared to other folks I see on a daily, I’m not that big. Don’t get me wrong. Valuing yourself, doesn’t mean showing off your goodies to the world. Common sense has to play a factor here. Like if you’re fat, and you know you’re fat, wear clothes that fit. Stop wearing clothes that look like it’s struggling to breath. That’s sad when your clothes look like it’s struggling to stay together. Anyway, basically what I’m saying folks, valuing yourself is not degrading yourself.

Stop calling yourself out of who you are. Stop calling yourself out what God had called you to be. Stop speaking negative over yourself waiting for that one girl or guy to see value in you. If I waited for a girl to validate me that was not family, I wouldn’t have made it this far in life. Speak over yourself what you want others to say about you. I know it doesn’t matter what people say, but when people do say, what would you want them to say? Stop saying you’re alright, when you want somebody to say, you’re fine. Stop saying you’re decent, when you want somebody to say, that’s what I’m talking bout. Stop calling yourself a failure, when you want to be called a winner. Stop calling yourself a nothing, when you want people to call you a child of God.

I heard a pastor say one time, “You got to see it, before you see it if you’re ever going to see it.” I see that I’m successful. I see that I’m healed. I see that I’m handsome. I see that I’m not a generational curse. I see that my dreams coming true. I see that I am loved. Now, that’s I’ve spoken it. What’s next? Live it. Live what you speak. I can speak it all I want, but if I don’t live it, then what am I doing?

Hey, mistakes will be made. Trust me, I still make them. Speed bumps slow you down, but they don’t stop you from making it to your goal. Don’t beat yourself up. See yourself doing better. See yourself moving forward. See yourself going over your speed bumps and getting to your goal. Always remember that God loves you. God loved you when nobody cared at all. If you’re like me, you don’t know why He loves you so much. I’m just keeping it real. When you know you’ve messed up and yet still God makes ways out of no way? That’s heavy stuff. God sees you better. If God sees me better, then I can see myself better.

Stay Saved,

Big Dusty aka Daniel Richerson

My Prom night memories...

Cue Let Me Praise Him by Euclid Gray! Thanks for all the views on the last blog. I’m over 5000 all time! That’s amazing. Keep ‘em coming folks. As always follow me on Twitter @Big_Dusty and friend me on Facebook.com/bigdusty!

So it’s prom season. Looking on FaceBook, high school kids are posting their prom pictures. Hair and Nail Salons are booked solid. Guys are at the barber shop making sure they look tight for the night. Guys are making sure they have their breath mints. Girls are making sure their phones are charged up so they can get pictures that can last a life time!

Let’s take a trip back about 7 years. My prom night. Let’s get this out the way. My mind wasn’t right in high school. I hated school with a passion. I didn’t try in school. I got by. So anything school related was just to get out the house and say I went. Now most people for prom, they buy new suits that haven’t been wore before. Me? I wore a suit that I’ve worn to church dozens of times, and church shoes that were probably worn out. Most people have special cars they go in for prom…limos and such. Me? My dad drove me in a ’98 Toyota Camry. I’m not kidding. You may think, it doesn’t get worse. Well let’s go back before the Camry to the “prom pictures.” You know those pictures you take before you go to prom to show off what you are wearing to the dance. I couldn’t tell you where my prom pictures are now. The picture of the night? I took a picture with my dog at the time, Ginger, with her on a leash. I told y’all my mind set back in school was terrible.

So I got to the place after my dad dropped me off in the ’98 Toyota Camry. I saw all my classmates in their clean suits and clean dresses. I don’t remember exactly, but I can bet that my suit had dog hair all over it. Not only that, but I was dateless. Go figure. Also I was literally by myself…the whole night. The core group I usually hung with? Nowhere to be found. Possibly because one of them dropped out, two of them where not seniors…neither here nor there. I spent most of the night at prom walking around hoping someone would talk to me. Initiating the conversation? Me in high school? HA! No. I do remember looking at the dance floor thinking it was more of an orgy. I was never much of a dancer anyway. I left that stuff to my sister. She’s the dancer. To answer your question, I didn’t have that slow dance at prom. I think I remember I was asked to dance, but don’t quote me on that. Needless to say, I separated myself in high school, and believe me, 7 years later, I regret it. I truly do.

Now you talk to other people from the class of 2005 from Eastside High School, and they’ll probably tell you stories that they’ll never forget. Why? Cause they made the most of it. They knew that this was a moment in time that they would never get back. I figured that if I went that would be good enough. Not knowing that 7 years later, I’d be in my mom’s apartment near to tears thinking about a night that was supposed to be memorable, but I chose to make it a disaster.

Oooh! I forgot to talk about the after prom. Yes, I went to the after prom. Why? To said that I went, and that’s the truth. I went to the after prom which was at Frankie’s Fun Park. Again, I really have no memories of what happened at the after prom. Why? Cause I didn’t make the most of it. I let my hatred of school motivate me not to have a good time. Again not thinking that 7 years later, I regret it. Ask some of my classmates? They probably have fun memories. Great memories. Me? I was just there.

People say that they can say that they have no regrets. I’m not at that point yet. I will be, but that point is not now. In my last podcast, I made a declaration that I’m going to stop trying to please people. So I’m on my way to having no regrets. I’m not there yet….definitely not there yet.

Hope y’all enjoyed this read of my memories, or lack thereof. Do you remember your prom night? Was it magical? Did you have fun? My advice for this blog is basically, make the most of life. You never know what memories could’ve been if you don’t make them. If you don’t make the most of life, you’ll regret it and it will affect you. Believe me. I know for myself. I’m friends on FaceBook with my fellow classmates of 2005 people and I have no connection with them at all. Why? Cause I made it that way. It’s that simple. In 3 years, it will be 10 years since I graduated from High School. I plan to make the most of that night. So I won’t have any more regrets.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson aka Big Dusty

THE WORD SAYS IT, DON'T QUESTION IT

Cue Stevie Wonder “Superstition!” I’m ready to go. First of all like always, Follow me on Twitter @Big_Dusty and Facebook me at Facebook.com/bigdusty. Now if you do decide to follow me or friend me, communicate. Just sayin…Also, get at me on my podcast at bigdusty.podomatic.com or search for me on iTunes: bigdusty. One more thing, if you’re a fan of professional wrestling or know anybody that’s a fan, check out my wrestling blog at bigdwrestling.blogspot.com.  If only I could make a living doing this. Blogging, Podcasting…

So this Sunday, first of all, what a day Sunday was. I don’t know about y’all, but we had some old school crazy church at Prayer and Faith Ministries. It was awesome. I love those services where God preaches. You know when the preacher doesn’t even have a chance to open his notes? God is like, don’t worry, I got it this Sunday personally. I remember that happening at times when I was a kid when my Dad was pasturing. It was something to remember. My dad had sense enough to say, “I’m not going try to out preach God.” It kills me when preachers try to out preach God. Ever been in those services where God is just having his way, then the preacher comes up and puts everyone to sleep? I mean literally, the first two rows all get whiplash because of trying to stay awake. Learn your place is all I’m saying. When God takes over, you let go. Simple. Follow order. Like when some church members have a service at the church and the pastor doesn’t find out about it until the day of the service? Oh yeah, I’ve seen it happen first hand. Follow order. Why are some churches in the shape it’s in? No order. 1 Corinthians 14: 40 says, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” It was said Sunday, “The Word says it. Don’t question it.” That’s why I say I’m well when someone asks me how I’m doing even though I’m coughing. Why? The Bible says I’m healed. “The Word says it. Don’t question it.”

Also this past Sunday, my little sister gave her first sermon. Short and to the point and tore it up. My sister and I grew up in the church. Most of our time was here in South Carolina. So my sister being on the pulpit in front of folks that saw us grew up was a huge moment. I got through it fine, but it’s what happened after that that had me crying. My sister went back to her seat, and Supt. McCluney got up for final remarks and the benediction. My sister and I have known Supt. McCluney from childhood. So when he said that he was Godly proud of my sister and me? I lost it. I don’t know why I was bought in the conversation. It was my sister’s moment. Yet, Supt. said that he was proud of me? I was wrecked. Because of guilt? I don’t know. Believe me, I know I’ve come a long way. No job to job. No license to license. And a lot more. Yet, I know I still have a long way to go. Maybe not that long but still a ways none the less. God has been good to me. If it wasn’t for his grace and mercy, I don’t know where would I be. Sounds cliché but I can say that with confidence and honesty. The stuff I’ve done, and yet still can sit here in this chair and type this blog? Wow. I guess it’s the fact that I’ve so down on myself most of life that when someone says I’m doing good, it wrecks me. When someone says, “Daniel, I’m proud of you.” I’m wrecked. Look at me, I’m doing something right. I’m not going to lie, I get lonely. I get to points in my life where if my phone don’t ring or buzz because of notifications, I get lonely. I get the feeling of, “Ok, who’s thinking about me? Am I’m on anybody’s mind?” I look at my statuses and posts and get no response. I get no likes. Yet someone else post something, instant 20 likes and comments. Jealous much? Yes, I’m not going to lie to you. Truth is truth. But those few moments when I get, “Hey, Daniel, you’re doing good.” It does my heart good. I know they say don’t look for pats on the back, and really I’m not. I’m just looking to see that I still exist if you know what I mean.

Well, that’s the blog. Be sure to give your comments, keep it in touch, and share this around with other folks you think that might like it.

Stay Saved,

Big Dusty aka Daniel Richerson

FEEL FORGOTTEN?

Follow me on Twitter: @Big_Dusty and get at me on facebook: Facebook.com/bigdusty. Also I got to plug my latest podcast that I have up. Check it out at bigdusty.podomatic.com. Got all that? Good!

“I am not forgotten…He knows my name” I think we all get to the point where we feel like we’re forgotten. I know I do. Those times where I promote my stuff whether it’s my blogs, my videos, my podcasts, or whatever and get nothing? Yeah, I feel forgotten. When I think about all the good friends I had back in middle and high school and now I barely have any communication with them whatsoever, yeah I feel forgotten. Little things like that get to me. But God…

Just earlier today I was talking to my sister about when you grow in God or just naturally, you tend to lose the friends you thought you have. Then I said half serious half jokingly, “Well I lost my friends a long time ago.” Sometime it feels like that. I will be straight up honest. It wasn’t always like that though. Times in my life I had friends, actual friends that were not on the internet, that cared about my well being. Not that I’m disowning the friends I’ve met on the net, but I’m just saying. Times when I had no money for lunch, I never went hungry. Friends. Times when I wanted to tell a girl I liked her, friends would tell me to just do it. They wanted to see me succeed. Friendship. At one time I actually had a book going around school with a manager and everything. People liked and gave feedback on the stuff I wrote. Interesting concept.

Now that that season of my life is over, I miss it. I’m going to be honest. I miss conversations. I miss laughing at conversations. I miss that face to face contact with folks that actually were interested in what I had to talk about and vice versa. Plus with me being the clown that I am, it’s much easier to feed off someone in person rather than through webcam or computer mics. Getting my license I figured that getting around to meet up with folks would be easier. Yet things are basically the same when I comes to that stuff. Who’s at fault? I am. I admit it. My mindset is not at the place of confidence to think that people would actually want to meet me for lunch or meet up with me and hang out.

It’s really all about mindset. When we feel forgotten we need to realize that God is omnipresent, meaning God is everywhere. Therefore we’re never alone. God doesn’t forget about us. It feels that way though because we’ve forgotten about him. Maybe, it’s just God showing tough love so you can get yourself right. Just like any parent would do for their child. I know when my mom showed tough love on me, it killed me. Yet now, I got a job and my license. Still got a long way to go, but I’m heading in the right direction. Mom didn’t forget about me, she just loved me enough to listen to God and let me go through what I went through because it would make me better, and it did.

Sometimes though people are thinking about you, they just don’t say anything to you. I know I think about folks all the time, I just don’t say anything to them. Most of the time I pray for them. Just keeping it real. Should I try to connect with all the folks I think about? I say if the timing is right, go for it. So when you start to feel lonely, when you start to feel forgotten, remember that the one true and living God has not forgotten you. Remember that there is somebody out there thinking about you and possibly praying for you as well. I pray for all the folks I’m connected with whether in person or online.

Thanks for reading. Share your comments. Share the blog around.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson aka Big Dusty

LET GOD BE GOD

Let’s go head and get it out the way in the beginning. Follow me on Twitter @Big_Dusty. Get at me on Facebook.com/BigDusty. Alright?

I want to grow. I want to grow mentally as well as spiritually. To be honest with you though, lately I feel that I’ve been on hold. I’m not being stupid and putting the blame on God, but I feel like somehow or another I’ve put myself on hold. I see God moving in my family and amongst my friends, yet when the camera zooms in on me, it’s like I’m walking slowly backwards while everyone else is moving past me going 100 mph. If you look at my face, I’m smiling thinking I’m moving forward blind to the fact that everything around me is going on in the name of the Lord, and I’m going backwards and sinking at the same time. Song writer says, “I was sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful shore. Very deeply stained within sinking to rise no more. But the master of the sea heard my despairing cry, and from the waters he lifted me. Now safe am I.” That’s from one of my favorite hymns, Love Lifted Me. Search for it on youtube. My suggestion is a BeBe Winans and Donnie McClurkin version that was done like back in ’93. Anyway, let’s get to the part where it says, “…the master of the sea heard my despairing cry..” What is despairing? Looking it up in the dictionary, it simply means to be without hope or hopeless. So the writer here was at the point of no hope. He had nowhere to go, so he cried out to God. I would go on to say that he was crying out to anything or anybody that was willing to help. When you’re hopeless, you’re desperate for just about anything. If you’ve ever been desperate for anything, you know that you sometimes get to the point where you’ll take help from just about anything or anyone. Why? Because You’re past the point of what Kurt Carr said, “I almost let go.” You did let go, and once you do let go, you lose focus. Once you’re lose focus, you get to the point of desperation. That’s where the danger comes in.

“…the master of the sea heard my despairing cry, and from the waters he lifted me…” What that says to me is when you cry out to God, he will not only save you but he will lift you out of the sin you’re indulged in. That means it doesn’t matter what you’re struggling with, the master of the sea, God, can lift you out of sin no matter how deep. So that tells me also that there’s no sin too deep that God can’t lift you out of. Now here comes the question. Why do we put a limit on what God can do? I said, we because I will admit that I do it. I put a limit on God. All my life growing up I heard the old saints say, “There’s no limit to what God can do.” Yet, here and now, I’m struggling in a rut of habitual sin. Why? It’s not God’s fault. His hand is there to lift me up, but I’m not reaching up. We’re not reaching up. I remember the old saints used to sing, “God’s got a blessing for you. If you want it, reach up and grab it. God’s got a blessing for you.” Seems too simple, right? You’re telling me that all I have to do is reach up to God, and I will blessed? Psshhh, please, right? It can’t be that simple, can it? Why do we put limits on God? Why do we make elementary math hard like calculus? We’ve gotten so educated and technology savvy, that when something as simple as just reaching up to God for help, we can’t comprehend it. When a baby wants to be picked up, what does it do? It reaches up or out to you. Crying out to you until you pick it up. Interesting concept. Crying out to someone bigger than you that can pick you up and make your world seem better. Interesting…

“…the master of the sea heard my despairing cry, and from the waters he lifted me. Now safe am I.” Safety. Protection. Not only safety and protection from the sin, but protection from yourself, right? So here’s what I got to do better with. Here’s what we all got to do better with. We got to let God be God. Again, it seems too simple, but obviously what we’re doing now ain’t working. I know what I ‘m doing now ain’t working for me. I used to lead a song talking about God is…well I got to let him be….God. The video of me leading a song that says, “For the rest of my life, I’m going to praise You.” I listened to that last night, and I had goose bumps. We are not living what we’re singing about. Let’s keep it real. We got to do better. We got to let God  be God. Bottom line. Once we do that, the stress we put on ourselves will be lifted before we know it. I’ll end this with another old song that says, “Take your burdens to the Lord and leave it there.” Simple.

Stay Saved,

 Daniel Richerson aka Big Dusty

CONNECTED BUT NOT CONNECTED

5:10 in the morning. I couldn’t sleep. All I could think of is when. When is that first girlfriend gonna happen? When is that first kiss gonna happen? There’s a song out that says, “I don’t mind waiting.” I don’t sing that song because I’d be lying if I said that. When am I gonna get that phone call, text, tweet, email, or what ever saying that, “Hey, I was thinking about you, just wanted to say hey.” It may seem selfish, but I’m tired of feeling lonely and saying I got Jesus at the same time. I’m tired of hearing that we’re here for each other, I need you to survive, and yet we’re never there for anybody. Not even for ourselves. When people cross our minds, do we pray for that person or do we just say, “Hmm, why am I thinking about him/her?” Somebody comes to my mind, I often try to at least write on their wall on Facebook. Now I’m not stubborn like some people, if you don’t respond, I don’t keep trying to beg for your attention. I don’t beg to get a response from you. When I try to connect, I feel I done my part. Is that wrong?

There’s a song that says, “Somebody prayed for me, had me on their mind, took some time, and prayed for me.” I found myself wondering, who’s mind have I been on. Too much? Maybe, but this is the kind of stuff I think about when I can’t sleep. This is the kind of stuff I think about when I have 274 followers on Twitter and get nothing from nobody most days as far as a mention or reply. This is the kind of stuff I think about when I have 111 subscribers on YouTube, and I can’t even break 20 viewers on my videos. I’m connected to all these people but yet I really have no connection with them. Having 340 “friends” on FaceBook and can barely get a like on a post. That kind of stuff right there…

Connection, but no connection. That’s kind of scary to think about, really. We may be connected to the answer we’re seeking, but since we really have no connection, they’re just there for a count. What if God did us the same way? Ted Winn has a song that says, “I am connected to the kingdom of God.” What if we’re only connected to the kingdom so God could get his count up? Song says, “What if God was one of us?” Well? That would mean only a select few of us would get helped. That would mean only a select few of us would get answers to prayer. The rest of us would get that one answer when our birthday comes.

Again, connected but not connected. You got some celebrities that got a twitter only to say they got one, but we all know that some celebrities use someone else to send out tweets. There’s no real connection with fans. There’s a connection, but no connection. On the other hand, you got some celebrities, that actually tweet they’re on tweets and have a connection with the fans. They respond to all they can. They can’t respond to everybody because let’s face it, that would be impossible. When I get a response or retweet from the athletes and entertainers I follow on Twitter, it lets me know that they really care about connection. I believe God really cares about connection. Matthew 6:25-33 proves that to me, especially the 33^rd verse that says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…” In other words, get connected. When there’s connection, then there’s the rest of the verse that says, “…and all these things shall be added unto you.” What are these things? That’s where 25 through 32 comes in.

I hate being around people but there’s no connection. I especially hate that feeling in church. Oops. Yes, in church. That’s sad really. To be around people everyday, but have no connection with any one? Not one person? I’ll keep it real with ya, I understand that you can’t hang out with everybody, even at church, but if you can’t find at least 3 or 4 people to connect with, maybe you’re the problem. That’s an ouch and amen moment for me at least.

I don’t know maybe I should be stubborn and try to connect more with people even when they don’t connect with me. Maybe I’m wrong, and I’m the problem. Maybe I’m the reason I get no replies, mentions, or anything like that. I’m just tired of being connected but not connected.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson aka Big Dusty

INTERESTING...

So this past Sunday was my first Sunday as the sound man at church. It went well because I really didn’t have to do anything. I’m not going to say I’m the best soundman ever because I’m not. I’m not going to say that I know what I’m doing because I don’t. I feel though the more the weeks go by, the more time I do it, the more I will get better at it. Now, this guy at my job said that exact same thing to me about the job. Here’s the difference. I like being a sound man. I’m interested in being a sound man. I want to learn more about being a sound man. As far as the job goes, as those that know me already know, I don’t like my job. I’m not interested in my line of work. I don’t want to learn more about my job. My job provides check for my bank account. That’s the only reason I go to work Tuesday through Saturday of each week. A check. Sound man? I’m interested. Why? I’m interested in music. Some of y’all know. I like to sing. I like to play the drums. I have dreams. I have goals. Why not learn how to make the music and the psalmist sound good on the speakers? I’m interested in the music in front of the curtain, why not learn how it sounds good behind the curtain, know what I mean?

That’s how I am about things I’m interested in. Like pro wrestling. I’ve been a fan of wrestling most of my life. As a fan of wrestling, I wanted to learn everything I could about the product that I’m a fan of. That’s why I like watching documentaries on wrestlers and wrestling companies. I like watching shows like Tough Enough because that show focusing on training people to become successful in the business that I’m a fan of. I want to know how the performers do what they do. Because I’m interested in it.

I’m interested in entertainment. When DVD’s have behind the scenes footage on the movie, I watch it. Why? Because I’m interested in seeing how the movie was made and how the movie got to where it got to when it got released to what we saw on the DVD. Also if I like an actor or actress I watch documentaries and interviews on them to see how they got to where they are. What’s the story on them? How did they learn their craft? Inside The Actor’s Studio on Bravo is one of my favorite shows because it gets me closer to the person that gets paid to entertain.

Bottom line, when you’re interested in something, you learn more about it. You study it. Especially if you’re interested in getting into a business or craft, you learn all you can about it without going to college. Like movies and stuff. Not only do I watch movies and comedy stand up, but I find myself studying it as I’m watching to see why do they do this or why do they do that. I’ve always been one to learn by watching. I learn by doing. Sitting in class with a pencil and paper, I’m sleep. That’s boring. Put me on the spot, make me do it, let me make mistakes, tell me what I did wrong, and then next time, I get better.

Hope you got something out of this blog. Be sure to share this blog, leave a comment, and follow the blog. Feel free to read all the other blogs you want to. Check out the latest podcast at: http://bigdusty.podomatic.com . Subscribe to me on YouTube. Follow me on Twitter. Friend me on Facebook.

Stay Saved,

Big Dusty aka Daniel Richerson