Do we remember how to love?

An artist put a song out about 6 years ago called, How To Love. A lot of stuff has been happening lately. Not just in the "secular" world, but also in the "Christian" community. Someone makes one statement going against what the majority agrees with, then automatically they're buried so deep almost never to rise again. And all that got me to thinking, aren't we supposed to love each other? I guess nothing says I love you like I'm going to bury you alive because I disagree with your opinion. I always go back to this verse. I think I first heard it from Donnie McClurkin one time, I'm not sure, but as soon as I heard it, it stuck with me.

Jeremiah 31:3 "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

An old hymn says, "Thy lovingkindness is better than life. My lips shall praise thee, thus will I bless thee. I will lift up my hands onto thy name." 

The Lord draws us with love, but besides drawing other people with love, we bury them because they're not like us. Dare I say, some of us hate Trump for doing publicly what we do privately. I believe that is called hypocritical. 

My mom recently preached a sermon talking about the church needing a heart transplant. She said some of us have spiritual congestive heart failure. She also said, you can't love God and you don't love people. Citing this verse as a reference, "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" (1 John 4:20)

Needless to say we have a lot of liars walking around here. Not just in the church either. Some of these entertainers as well. Say they love God but hate anybody that disagrees with their logic. Amazing how some people in the church love to drag these entertainers for doing that, while at the same time they do the same thing. Can't have it both ways. Don't get me wrong, the truth is the truth, no matter who's mouth it comes out of, but as my dad always told me, "Don't throw rocks from a glass house." Better yet the Bible said it like this, "So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." (John 8:7)

The truth can hurt. Usually when you're in the wrong, the truth does hurt. I believe that in order to be the church God is calling for in these days, love has to be restored back in our hearts.

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." Luke 6:45

If love is truly in the heart, then that's what's going to come out. Jesus is love, right? So if Jesus is love, and Jesus has your heart, then why are we hating and burying people? What is really the problem?

I hope you got something out of that. I hope it blessed you. I went into this blog thinking it might be my last one. Due to lack of feedback I get on them, I figured what's the use of continuing them? I don't know what's going to happen moving forward. I'll just ask God for guidance on what I should do.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

BE THE CHRISTIAN YOU WANT UNBELIEVERS TO BECOME

"The single greatest cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyles. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." ~ Brennan Manning

There's a phrase that says, "Actions speak louder than words." So naturally so spiritually. I can say I'm a good basketball player all I want, which I'm not this is just an example, but until you see me with a basketball on a court, all I'm doing is running my mouth. There's a lot of us believers running our mouths and that's all we're doing. Not throwing stones either, because I'm guilty of it myself. A lot of us honor God on social media and in church because it's easy. We share posts that say stuff like, "Share this if you believe in God." or "Share this and you'll receive a miracle." With stuff like that, I see why some see Christianity as a fantasy. Someone that's on the fence about their spirituality will share one of those posts and then realize that miracles don't work that way, and that little thing right there can be the period on the sentence of unbelief.

We get mad at problems that we ourselves cause. It's like putting your hand on a hot stove then getting mad at the stove for being hot when we're the ones that turned the stove on. The fire usually doesn't start by itself. Someone has to ignite the flame.

You know they say, be the change you wish to see in the world. Let's put it like this. Be the Christian you want unbelievers to become. Good fathers live like the man they want to see their sons end up being. Good fathers live like the man they want to see their daughter marry one day. Nobody is perfect, but that's no excuse for on purpose imperfection. You can't purposely do something wrong then use the excuse, "Nobody's perfect." 

Being a Christian doesn't make you perfect, but it's you trying every day to be like someone who is. So when someone is not perfect, we shouldn't give them the scarlet letter treatment. Especially when we're supposed to be in the business of winning souls. We can't win souls when we're disowning with those who don't agree politically. We got to realize that even though we're all striving to have the mind of Christ that we are all still individuals. So we can still be saved and not think the same on politics.

If we can't still show the love of Jesus to Christians that we don't agree with, how can we expect to win unbelievers? Some of us, when we see a brother or sister in Christ slip just a little bit, and we forget that all have sinned, and we automatically assume that they never knew Jesus in the first place. I can't speak for others but what I try to do is pray for those who are going through. I've learned in life that prayer changes things that talking about them cannot do. Prayer can do what dragging on social media can't do.

Jeremiah 31:3 "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

SOME PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO HELP YOU

Ladies and gentlemen I have a problem. My problem is this new generation of saints or christians. When I was coming up, the truth was the truth. It wasn't judging. It was the truth. The folks that taught me believed what the bible says, the truth shall make you free. But we live in a generation now where you tell the saints what they're doing is wrong and a sin, they get offended and lash back like it's an argument. There was this famous line that was quoted many times after it was heard, "You can't handle the truth."

My mom told me in no certain terms one time that the truth is the truth no matter who says it. Like shacking up before marriage or cussing. Folks get real offended talking about that. Or the big one, homosexuality. No don't talk about homosexuality. Don't talk about shacking or cussing. Don't talk about why we don't celebrate certain days. I think the problem the devil is trying to shut our mouths. He knows he's heading to the lake of fire and he's trying to take any and everybody he can. I understand that the government is corrupt. We've known that for years. But let's not act like the body of Christ has been perfect. I think the same way we give the devil too much credit, I think we give the government too much credit. We got to take responsibility for our own actions at some point and time. Like black folk blaming the white man for everything.

Now I for one don't like to be singled out or judged if you will. One the many lines I quote often is, "Don't judge me." But yet and still, wrong is wrong. The world as well as the church has become such a "politically correct" society. I hate to tell you but the truth hurts. The truth will offend if you're not willing to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind." It is written, "With loving kindness have I drawn thee." There is a difference between condemning and showing loving kindness. I think we as a generation have been condemned so much that we don't know what loving kindness is. We don't know how to take the truth because we take EVERYTHING as condemning or judging if you will. But I got news for you, not everybody is trying to send you to hell. Some people are actually trying to help you. Stop being so sensitive, oh me. I say oh me, cause my pastor says often, "If you can't say amen, say oh me." .

I can't tell you what to do behind closed doors. I can't tell you how to live your life. But I suggest that you read and study the word for yourself so you can grow. A song I learned as a child says, "Read your bible, pray and everyday and you'll grow grow grow." Shout out to Sunshine Learning Center. Anyway, we got to learn how to accept help. We pray to God for help, he sends it, and then we reject it. Something's gotta give.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

MORE THAN LIP SERVICE...

" Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21, Bible, KJV)

Salvation is more than lip service. It's more than saying the right cliches or quotes to get the people to say amen. In professional wrestling they call that a "cheap pop," when the performer gets on the mike and says something cliche to get a reaction the crowd. A lot of people know how to say the right things on Social Media and not live worth a nothing off of Facebook. A lot of people do that the same thing in church, and at the same time judge the people on Social Media.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:1-2, Bible, KJV)

Salvation is an inside job. Can't lived saved with the old mindset. You got to renew your mind. You may have to delete some friends and stop following certain people. And if or when you do stop following people or delete them as friends, no need to make an announcement about it. Just do it. If there's one thing i can't stand it's when people make an announcement about unfollowing somebody. Trust me, the people you unfollow could care less. I've stopped following lots of people on social media and guess what? They've moved on and so have I. Amazing isn't it?

Please don't get it twisted when I type these blogs.

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14, Bible, KJV)

I'm not perfect, and I'm not trying to come off as perfect. To be honest, I've been slipping lately. I'm not trying to be one of those who judge others who are not "saved like me." Believe me, those people work my nerves. That "ain't nobody saved but me" mentality has messed up the body of Christ. How? Cause we're supposed to be leading souls to Christ. So how can we do that when ain't nobody saved but us? We got to renew our mind as a body. We got to humble ourselves. It is written, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14, Bible, KJV)

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

WE CAN'T CHANGE THE PAST

History is important. Without history, there would be no today.  Whether the history is good or bad, it brought us to where we are today. We all got that? Good.

Everything and everybody has an origin. We all have a past whether we're proud of it or not, it has happened and we can't change it. We can't change the fact that we were born into this world. The origin of something doesn't necessarily dictate the outcome. The history of something doesn't necessarily dictate the outcome. I'll use myself as an example. Growing up, I was shy. I barely talked to anybody. When a mic come in front of my face at church to sing, I would cry just about every time. Now, I do youtube videos, podcasts talking a lot. Now, I lead songs at church no longer crying out of fear of people.

So I bring up the subject of the origin and history of things because I saw a tweet talking about Easter being a Pagan holiday, and people using that as a reason not to celebrate Easter. Christians use Easter to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb. I've even seen posts some time ago talking about Christmas starting off as a Pagan holiday, and as everybody knows, Christians use Christmas to celebrate the birth of Jesus. You know what I say? So what? So what it started off as a Pagan holiday. So what the Catholics tried to tie both ends against the middle to keep safe. Does it hurt anything using December 25 to celebrate the birth of Jesus? Does it hurt anything that this time of the year is used to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus? No. So why make a big deal of it? Yes, I agree it's important to know the history, but there's no need to dwell on history.

If we dwelt on history, none of you Christians and Religious folks would have anything to do with me. After second grade, I hardly ever applied myself in school. In middle school, I would skip school because I missed the bus. In middle and high school, I was a master at cheating on test and quizzes. Did I pay for it? I'm still paying for it. But what I'm saying is, history happened. All that happened. The consequences from those actions have and are continuing to take it's toll. One of my many faults is that I often spend time worrying about the choices I made as if I can change what I did and didn't do. What I should be doing is making choices now that I will affect my future. My past is not good. It's wicked. Just this morning I repented to God of a bad habit that I've had since middle school. So now, I turn around from the decisions I made before and press on towards the future. My past is over. What I did was wicked and wrong, but that was then and this is now. I got to worry about now to make my future more great.

Get what I'm saying? We all got a history and a past. Some of you have a way more corrupted and wicked past than I do, but life still went on didn't it? Despite of your past, some of y'all have become very successful. Some have gotten saved and are now preaching the Gospel. Some have gotten saved and are now singing the Gospel. I mean let's look at Paul from the Bible. He started off killing Christians, right? Who knew that he was going to become a major prophet for God? Paul? The one that used to be Saul and was killing off Christians? Don't dwell on your past. Work on your now to make your future better. That goes for me too. I'm definitely preaching or "blogging" to myself with this one.

Thanks for reading. I hope you got something out of it. I hope you share with your friends, family, enemies, and everybody you're connected to. Be sure to follow me on here. If you don't have an account to this site, you can use your twitter to follow me. Speaking of Twitter, my Twitter and Facebook is on your right. You can also get at me on Podomatic, DailyBooth, and YouTube. Share your comments below, and God willing, I'll be back next week.

Stay Saved,

Daniel aka Big Dusty

P.S. If you want to email me, get at me at EastsideAfro@aol.com

WHY DOES IT FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY'S WATCHING ME?

Before I go on with this blog. Are y'all enjoying these blogs? I certainly enjoy writing them, but I hope you enjoy reading them. If you in fact do enjoy reading these, please spread them around to your peers and enemies. Anyway, let's go. Booya!

Now let me say now, that this blog is for me as much as it is for any of you. I'm not perfect. I have made mistakes recently. So please don't get the idea that I'm Mr. Perfect because believe me, my name is Daniel, not Curt Hennig.

People are watching you rather you know it or not. I don't mean with spy cameras, security cameras, or anything like that. I just believe that we all, one way or another, are being studied. People are paying attention how you react to things, how you confront situations, and even how you live. That's why it's important that you watch what you say, pay attention to how you live, and all that because someone is always watching.

This especially goes for Christians. I truly feel for the baby Christians out there who have to see Christianity turned into a Religion, when it's about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It's like a kid who watches the parents act any kind of way, and then at the same time the parents tries to instruct the child to do the opposite. That's how it is in the church. It's preached over the pulpit to love everyone. It's preached over the pulpit not to lie. It's preached over the pulpit not to gossip. While it's being preached, it's not being practice. Ever heard the term, practice what you preach? So what are those that are young in the faith supposed think when they see the so called "seasoned" saints lying on one another, gossiping about each other, hating each other, and at the same time, are trying to teach you what is right.

I understand that we make mistakes. I understand that we're not perfect. I also understand, however, that I got people unsaved following me on Twitter, friends with me on FaceBook, following me on dailybooth, following me on podomatic, subscribed to me on youtube, following me here on Blogger, and/or subscribed to me on iTunes. So again, I'm not perfect, but I have to do my best to represent Christ in everything I do. The old song says, "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine." The light here is Jesus. Another song says, "Everywhere I go, I take my light so that men might see Christ in me." Another song says, "Whatever you do, don't let your light go out." And another song says, "You maybe the only Jesus they see." I got people looking at me through this internet that may not ever go to church. I wouldn't be surprised if I got people watching me just to see if I will mess up, and no doubt, I will mess up. I'm human.

Let's say I was on the outside looking in. I was not saved. I was not sanctified. None of the above. I hang out with folks that proclaim to be saved, sanctified, Holy Ghost filled. I see them cussing, lying, gossiping, hating folks, and yet still proclaiming the name of Jesus. Or I see them depressed, looking beat up from life with no hope whatsoever. What would I supposed to think? I hear getting saved is the best decision I could ever make, and I see this guy looking worse off than I am now. I thought this God was a loving God, yet I see this guy over here gossiping about someone, or I see this woman over here lying in the church. Why go to church when I get this at home already?

See what I'm saying? It's extremely important to how you live your life. I'm not going to tell you how to live your life, but I will tell you that you need to realize that people are watching you. Rather it's a child or someone striving to be like you. Rather it's someone that cares about you or someone that's just waiting for something to scold you about.

I hope you got something out of this blog. Again this blog is for me also. I have to do better, and I know it. Be sure to leave a comment below. Share with your people anyway you can. Be sure to follow the blog. Twitter and Facebook info is on the right. Get at me also on YouTube, DailyBooth, and Podomatic. And I'll see y'all next Thursday.

Stay Saved,

Daniel aka Big Dusty

I feel for Chile and Haiti, but...

Matthew 24:6-8 says, "You will soon hear about wars and threats of wars, but don't be afraid. these things will have to happen first, but that isn't the end. Nations and kingdoms will go to war against each other. People will starve to death, and in some places there will be earthquakes. But this is just the beginning of troubles." Chile got hit with a massive earthquake. And there's rumors for a tsunami to hit Hawaii. But the Bible says these things will happen before Jesus returns. So as my favorite wrestling faction, D-Generation X, asks all the time, "Are you ready?" Now I'm not going to be foolish and say that Jesus is coming back on this certain date or that certain date, but I will say that He's definitely on his way back. I feel for the people of Haiti and Chile, but the Bible says don't be afraid. I guess what I'm saying is, us believers should be celebrating. Jesus is returning soon! Some of you reading that don't know better are going to bad mouth me and say something like, "Why should we celebrate people's lives being taken away by the weather?" Like I said, I feel for the people affected by it. The reason we're celebrating is because the Bible is right. The Bible is true. We're celebrating because we're, at least those of us that are saved, are going to be soon be caught up to meet him in the air. I pray that this is a wake up call to all the lazy saints. I pray that this is a wake up call for people contemplating salvation. Now one reason that we all should be celebrating is because we're breathing. Psalm 150:6 says, "Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." How can that be said any plainer? You're breathing. You're alive. So...

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson

Random thoughts from a random king

I know my sister won’t be too happy about this. I had 3 cups of coffee. So when I try to go to sleep…WHOO it’s going to be a TIME! Let’s see what’s there to talk about. Twitter is blowing up. I’m up to 16 followers. 16 people that care what I’m doing. I’m just…I’m just so touched. If you happen to have joined the new crack known as Twitter, follow me at twitter.com/bigdusty864. Big Dusty because as most of you know is my nick name and 864 because that’s my area code. Fantabulous ain’t it?

As some of you know I’m a fan of the longest running circus show known as professional wrestling or sports entertainment if you will, and to say that the product is watered down has to be the understatement of the decade. Let’s look at the positives first. WrestleMania is coming up, which is arguably the biggest wrestling/sports entertainment show of the year. I personally think 3 of the matches have potential to be classics: Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker, Jeff Hardy vs. Matt Hardy, and HHH vs. Randy Orton. A lot of people would add in the Money in the Bank Ladder match, and I would too if it wasn’t for the fact that Mark Henry is in the match. I mean seriously, how in the world fat man with 2 bad knees going to climb a ladder? And if he can climb the ladder, how is the ladder going to hold him? I’m just saying. The other matches promoted on the show, the 25 diva battle royal to crown a “Ms. WrestleMania.” TIME FILLER!! Ladies and Gentleman during this match take a quick nap because that’s all it’s good for. Before I get comments about being a sexist, let me say this. Raw and ECW have good Diva talent. SmackDown, ehh, not so much. The only positive about the divas on SmackDown is that they’ve gained Gail Kim. My only thing about that is, who did Gail Kim tick off? Another match at WrestleMania is Chris Jericho vs. Ricky “The Dragon”, Jimmy Snuka, and Roddy Piper. Ok yes it’s cool to see the legends, but do you really expect to see a quality match? I thought so. The other title match is the triple threat match with John Cena, Edge, and Big Show. The match itself, I don’t think will be the worst match in history, but I have to say that the build up to this match has been crapacles. Seriously, why is Vickie “I look like a sick dead dog” Guerrero still around? I almost forgot about the tag-team lumberjack match to unify the tag-team titles. The match has potential, but one has to ask if the Miz is ready for the big stage? I for one don’t even think he’s ready to work for TNA. That’s just me.

Enough about that. So we got a fence for the dog now. Don’t judge me for the transition, just roll with it. It’s taking Ginger a while to get use to it. She still used to somebody being out there with her amongst other things, which I won’t get into. Now if any of y’all seen my dog, Ginger, you’ll know that saying she’s little is another understatement. She’s not Chihuahua little, but she’s more like a German Sheppard that won’t grow. So with a dog that short, intimidating is not a word you’d use to describe her. Which takes me back to a time where this guy came knocked on the front door. Now it’s not nice to judge a book by it’s cover, but you could tell this dude was a Lord of the Rings die hard. Anyway he knocked, and Ginger barked like most dogs would do in that situation. I open the door, Ginger got out. Remember, Ginger is short thang. The guy at the door, tried to protect himself with a clipboard like Ginger was a pit. He said he was scared of dogs. Let me explain something to you. If you’re scared of a thing you can easily pick up and drop kick over a condo, you might as well stay in the house and become a loner. That’s pathetic.

I know this is probably old news, but apparently Snoop Dogg has become a Muslim. I really don’t understand the connection between Islam and Hip-Hop. Now, back in the day, black people join up with Islam for the brotherhood because times were different then. I asked my dad about this and he said that it’s a black thing. I don’t know if that’s accurate because Eminem isn’t black, I don’t think. Maybe I’m color blind. Either way, again, supposedly Snoop is now a Muslim. Snoop with a bow tie. Snoop is going to look like a broom going to prom. Bless his heart. I notice a lot of hip hoppers, when they’re in “trouble” go to Farrakhan for help. Maybe it’s the fact that we as Christians spend our time judging, and don’t spend it helping. Less face it, some Christians are not approachable people. I get that vibe around church people all the time, and it’s a shame. It really is. So in essence if Islam is more open to help, how can I blame Hip-Hop superstars for going to Farrakhan for counseling and help? After thinking about it, I know why some Christians aren’t approachable. The Bible says to let your light so shine, that men might see your good works. Glory the Father which in heaven. The light represents God. Some of us Christians are not letting God shine like he should. The light is dull in other words. Time is too short for us to be letting the light dull. We got to let that light shine. Especially in these last and evil days. I’m saying that because I know my light has been dull. So we all must do better.

Quick thoughts. The “Brady Rule” is living proof that the only way you’re going to see real American football is in your backyard. Having 3 cups of coffee late at night was not smart, I don’t know why I let y’all talk me into it. Y’all should definitely check out Tyler Perry’s “The Marriage Counselor,” which is now on DVD. It’s really really good.

Well that’s all I’m good for. I’m going to try and go to sleep. Y’all continue to prayer for me as I’ll prayer for yous. Share your thoughts to what I talked about. Y’all be good now, ya hear?

~Daniel aka Big d