JASON COLLINS, BRAVE? YES...COURAGEOUS? HEROIC? UM...

Cue Call On Him by Fred Hammond. This blog should come as a surprise to no one. Might as well just get to it.

So a basketball player for the Washington Wizards, Jason Collins, came out of the closet. He’s getting called brave, courageous, and a hero. I will admit that it was a brave thing to do. Why do I say it’s brave because the world is full with homophobes. Most guys don’t like to the idea of being groped by another guy, even if it’s for joking purposes. NBA is an obviously a male dominated organization. So one could imagine that there would be reservations in making a decision like Jason Collins did. So I do agree with that aspect of it.

Now. Let me get in on this courageous thing. Is it really courageous to do what’s becoming more accepted by society day by day? To me that’s not courageous…that’s more like following to me. I mean sure he’s the first active male athlete to come out the closet, but does he really deserve a cookie for this? To me the courageous part about this whole story is what Chris Broussard did. This man went on a national televised show and gave the best Christian response one could give. Saying that homosexuality is a sin and that it’s an open rebellion against God…that my friends was courageous. Going against what the media and government calls heroic takes courage, and didn’t use one homophobic slur.

I’ve seen a lot of posts comparing Tim Tebow to Jason Collins. Basically because Tebow stands for Jesus Christ and get’s bashed and made fun of for it. Jason Collins comes out the closet, and is probably going to get a national holiday named after him by the Obamas who say they’re Christian. I’m going to let that settle…

Now I’m not going to say that Jason Collins should be kicked out the league for his sexual orientations because what you do in the bed room doesn’t affect your performance on the court. It might affect if you go on the court, Magic Johnson, but---huh? What?

Let me say this, gay, lesbian…that doesn’t affect any skill on the court. Brittney Griner being a lesbian and Jason Collins being gay should not affect if they’re allowed to play ball or not. If you think so, please go on somewhere.

Also I saw a tweet saying that if you are against homosexuality, you are a hypocrite. Um, quick question because I admit I can be ignant at times. How in the—can one be a hypocrite being against homosexuality? Please lets me know in the comment section. Being against homosexuals, the person, is hypocritical, but not the lifestyle itself. People are against the hiphop lifestyle, and by people I mean every COGIC church ever. People are against the rock in roll lifestyle. People are against a criminal’s lifestyle. People are against a pimp’s lifestyle. Again, I want to know how being against homosexuality is hypocritical. Please lets me further know.

Homosexuality does not affect performance outside the bedroom. Don’t get me wrong, I’m one of the folks that say homosexuality is wrong. I’m one of the folks that say homosexuality is a sin. Also I’m one of the folks that has his own issues, or sins, that I struggle with. I heard a preacher say that if you want to be delivered, stop conversating about it. Get away from it. God will give you the strength to deal with it, if you want to be delivered. I heard a preacher say that if you want to be delivered, God can and will deliver. Why is it that when we know we’re wrong, we don’t seek to be delivered? Take it to the Lord, and leave it there. We take it to the Lord but then we take it back with us…yep.

Stay Saved,

Daniel Richerson
http://Facebook.com/bigdusty
http://twitter.com/big_dusty
http://youtube.com/danielakabigd

THE LORD IS REAL TO ME

Cue Amen by Kurt Carr. First time really hearing this track. Just put the ipod on shuffle and this song came on. It’s sad that I forget what’s on my ipod, ain’t it? Welp.

So originally this blog was going to be one of those depressing blogs. One of those blogs where I’m preaching to myself but I act like I’m in the spirit and talking to somebody that may be reading. Yeah. One of those blogs where I act like I’m deep and some of you actually buy it. Ok here’s what happened after a conversation on the phone which most of you know I hate to do. I hate talking on the phone with a passion. A PASSIONATE HATRED for talking on the phone. So after this conversation I was pissed off and down in the dumps. We talking land fill dumps. No lie, it was dangerous. We had to go to Bible Study and thank God my sister drove. Not saying I wouldn’t have done anything but who knows, right? So my little sister saw I was feeling a little down. She asked me if I was alright, and I told her the truth and said I wasn’t. So she drove to church. Which despite of how I was feeling, I ended up teaching Bible Study. Um, what? How? I was obedient and taught Bible study a lesson that I did not study, by the way. That’s the kind of stuff that blows my mind about God. I mean you hear and read in the Bible that he used a donkey and a rooster, but never really…you know? I mean after I acted like a jackass, there I am…again, what?

So after Bible Study, I started feeling a little better. I mean you hear it said that when you walk into the building your mood should change but never really believe—am I the only one? It had to be nothing but God. He’s real.

Why was I down, you ask? Why was I feeling depressed? I could go religious and say the devil was influencing my mind, but I don’t know for sure if that’s the case. I mean ok, God doesn’t bring depression, so I guess by default....but honestly, you don’t hear me saying the devil is influencing the thoughts that I have, because I don’t hear anybody telling me what to think or what to say. Ok, I look at it like this, the Bible says in Proverbs, that death and life lies in the power of the what? Tongue, right? So in essence I was speaking death on the situation I was in. Not going to say what was I thinking on this blog, but this is not the time or the place, but just know it wasn’t necessarily “power positive thinking” if you will. Like some folks, I don’t post everything I’m feeling on FaceBook. BOOM!  Anymore…moving on.

Of course our thoughts and prayers are with the folks affected by the Boston bombing. We are getting closer to the end. If you are saved, definitely stay saved. If you’re on the line of I want to be saved, but I don’t want to give up this or that…time to make your decision. Jesus is soon to come. The Bible says, that God would rather you be hot or cold. If you’re lukewarm, he’ll spit you out. This is not the time to be lukewarm. Get right church and let’s go home.

Stay saved,

Daniel Richerson
Facebook.com/bigdusty
Twitter: @Big_Dusty

DON'T PUT YOUR OPINION ON TRUTH

Cue Rejects by Lecrae. Let me apologize for the time between blogs. Believe me that wasn’t the plan, but either way here I am.

I got to thinking, and I may be wrong, but that’s where y’all can chime in. I’ve blogged on gays and Lesbians. Controversially I might add. And by now I’m sure most of us know about the folks that protest funerals and other stuff saying “God Hates Fags” at the same time claiming to be Christians. So that’s just a backstory before i post my thoughts here. IF God really hated gay folk, then why are they still around? Why does the creator of the world allow the people that practice homosexuality to breathe? See where I’m going? I’m just trying to understand the logic here. If God, master of all things, creator of the Universe, hated a certain group of people, then one would figure God would have took them out, right? Or is it like God makes them suffer through the bullying and Aids as punishment for being gay? Again I’m just trying to understand.

Now here’s what I do believe. I believe the Bible is right. John 3:16. We know it. We quote it. “For God so LOVED the WORLD, that He gave his only begotten Son, that WHOsoever believeth on Him SHALL not perish but have everlasting life.” And if you are Christian, or claim to be a Christian, then the Bible is your manual. It’s what you live by. You can’t live by what you want to live by from the Bible. If you going to believe the Bible, then believe the Bible for what it says. So to say God hates gay folks would make God and his word a lie. I believe it’s written in Numbers that God is not a man that He should lie, neither the Son of man that he should repent. That’s the word. I do believe the practice of homosexuality is a sin. Because it’s written in the Bible that if a man lies with a man as he lays with a woman it is an abomination. I will not say that I’ve read the Bible as whole, but I read nowhere in the word of God that God hates the folks who practice the sins. If you have read that, please let me know book, chapter, and verse.

We got to stop putting on own personal opinions dictate what God thinks. We got to stop letting our own personal opinions dictate what the Bible says. The word of God is truth all by itself. Preach the Word and let the Word do the work. The truth shall make you free. Opinions don’t make anybody free, opinions causes battles. Opinions cause internet wars. It ain’t worth it. I learned that you can win more people if you present the unfiltered truth, and not your own opinion. You want to save this generation? Tell them the truth. Raw. Keep it real, no pun intended due to the title of this blog site. People can see past bull crap. This generation sees past bull crap. You can’t bull crap this generation like you could in the past. Bring the truth. Unfiltered. Raw. Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

Let me end by saying this, I’m glad God doesn’t hate you for your sins. If that was the case, I’d be dead right now. I’m serious. I’m so glad God is a forgiving and merciful God. I’m glad that God does care. And God does love us when the world hates us. I’m glad for God’s grace. I’m glad that if one truly wants to be delivered that they can be. Cast all your cares upon Jesus. He’s truly able so just leave them there. Cast all your cares upon him. Here’s another thing if God truly hated folks for they’re wrong then why in the world did he use Paul and Peter like he did? Please explain that to me? Paul was Saul who was killing Christians. Peter was crazy. God used them majorly. But according to a group of folks that claim to be followers of God, claim God hates folks who practice homosexuality. If God hated them, then Donnie McClurkin would not be where he is right now. He said it himself that he was struggling with the practice of gay. So I’m not out of line when I bring him up. Donnie is profound in the Gospel music industry. Gospel music is, or at least supposed to be, God’s music. So if God hated them, then there’s no way Donnie McClurkin would be where he is right now. Pastoring a church? I thought God hated them. I know the Bible is right, somebody’s wrong.

Stay Saved,

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

WHAT CLOTHES YOU WEARING?

Cue He’ll Welcome Me by John P. Kee. Old School…one of the kings of the gospel music industry. And I move on—

So I was watching TBN Praise The Lord, also trying to work on a story that I’m working on. This point of the story the character is starting to feel guilty of all the stuff that’s happening in current situation. So then I started thinking about, this is how random my mind is, started thinking why is it so hard to get people into praise into Praise and Worship. Is it the clothes I’m wearing or not wearing? Is it the fact that I’m not hitting the right notes or I’m not singing the song correctly? I think it’ all comes down to people come in Sunday after Sunday expecting a show. Expecting for us as Praise and Worship leaders to kill ourselves for their enjoyment. A favorite line we as Praise and Worship leaders use is, “I’m not here to pump or prime you…” which is a line that hardly ever works by the way. Pump or primed? Why should we kill ourselves to get you to do what you were created to do anyway? Now if I could dance like a B. Slade or the late Michael Jackson or Sammy Davis, Jr. maybe I could garner a better reaction. But it irks me to no end when a praise and worship leader goes up on the stage and the congregation sits down and crosses arms and legs as if we’re supposed to impress them? Coming to church to be experienced not to experience the God in the church. Stay home with your attitude. Spirits transfer, people. Rather you believe or not. You acting or high and mighty is not only hindering the spirit, but it’s hindering the aints that walk in, also.

So then I come to Ephesians 6:11, “Put on all the armour that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil's evil tricks.” Some of us worry about what we’re going to wear day by day, but what about clothes that important? The armor of God. The Devil is going to steal, kill, and destroy. That’s what he does and that’s what he’s going to do. The problem is we don’t have the right clothes on to stand against his tactics. Which is why we can’t break habits. It’s sad when you come to a church service unarmed. Ephesians 6:12, “For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.” So what the person you usually sit beside talked bad about you or gave you a dirty look. Put on the right clothes.

Recently, I had about a couple of months worth of being the praise and worship leader at church. It was ok. But due to the reaction I got from the people in attendance, I thought I sucked every Sunday. I go up on the pulpit, and you could hear a pin drop. And the eyes looked like they were burning a hole through my soul. That’s how it felt. Trust me, I learned that you don’t do Praise and Worship for the reaction, but a good pat on the back some time is not a bad thing, right? I admit, more than a couple of Sundays, I was off my game, if you will. I was uncomfortable. Why? One, I didn’t do my part. My clothing attire was not correct, and by that I mean spiritual armor. Two, the atmosphere was not right. Sprit of heaviness in the atmosphere makes it tough for the flow of the service. Go to verse 13, ”So put on God's armour now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy's attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground.” Just sayin…

So as of this blog I now have no job. I got fired 1/28/2013. I didn’t have an emotional reaction to it. As a matter of fact my manager took it harder than I did. But that’s beside the point. So now comes job hunting again. Been down this road before. Expecting bigger and better things. Hopefully better money this time around. Definitely asking for prayers in that regard. Basically all I’m saying for this blog, is put on the right clothes. Stop putting all the pressure on the Praise and Worship leader or the Pastor for you to get your praise on. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with Praise. We do our part, God will do His.

Stay Saved,

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

A Glass of Finally

Cue A Glass of Finally by B. Slade. I don’t care what y’all think about him, the man is one of the baddest singers of all time. ALL TIME, that’s what I said.

This blog literally came out of nowhere. It was during altar call at church, 1/27/13, and I was a little miffed at the patience of some folks, but either way, I was standing at my post, and all of the sudden, the song A Glass of Finally hit my head. I liked the song when I first heard, it but then the lyrics started speaking to me in a sense, and giving God a Finally Praise just hit me. Before I go on, I’m not saying B. Slade was going this direction in the least, but it’s the way I’m going with it.

You’ve heard the song, After This by Youthful Praise, talking about the Glory after whatever you’re going through. Ever get that feeling though like after your miracle, like that finally! “It’s been a long time coming, but I’m finally me. It’s been a long time coming, but I’m finally free!” I feel like once we get that break through, of whatever it is, we should just praise God like we’re loose. The problem is we’re bound by what’s not even there. The storm is over; praise God like it’s over. Some of y’all need a glass of Finally to wake you up. You are free.

A song I attempted to sing some Sundays ago goes, “After while, it’ll all be over/After while the sun will shine.” The sun is shining for some of us, and we’re still stuck in the darkness. Walk in the light. Walk in the Word. One of the first Bible verses I’ve ever learned says, “Thy Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” The Word says you’re free. The Word says you’re healed. So, what’s the problem? Vickie Winans says, shake yourself loose. The chains are already unlocked for you to be loose, just walk in it, believe it, and go wild.

I know I got to do better. I’m not a dancer, and never will claim to be. It was this past Sunday Night, 1/20/2013, and I was a little light in my feet.  The anointing was so strong in Zion Tabernacle COGIC. And I didn’t do anything. I just let it pass. That could’ve been my night. That could’ve been my glass of finally. I was worried about what people would do. How people would act. How people will respond. This probably comes from watching church folks act the same way my whole life. When that glass of finally comes, when that breakthrough comes, don’t let it pass by. If you got to jump, jump. If you got to yell, yell. Don’t let the looks of jealous people affect your praise. They don’t know what you’ve been through. You’re finally free. Celebrate. It’s been a long time coming. A real long time coming for some of us, so when you’re finally get made free, why not celebrate? Let loose. Forget the jealous folk. Forget the judgers. Get yours.

Now, I’m not saying the next time I’m light on my feet, I’m going to go crazy, but I’m just saying what we should do. They say praise God when you feel like and when you don’t feel like it. Do we?

Continue to pray for yours truly and I’ll continue to pray for y’all. I pray that you got something out of it. I hope you feel free to share this around to your peoples. And if you got something to say, you’ll comment the blog.

Stay Saved/Get saved,

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

BLOG FOR THE DEPRESSED AND STRESSED

Cue That Ain’t Nothin by Fred Hammond. Double negatives…nothing negative about the song though. BLOG!

Some of us are just waiting for that release that Donald Lawrence talking about. Stressed and worn out because of the job, family, and/or church. Proverbs 16:3, “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” I’ve been saying this for years on podcasts and on these blogs. Let Go and Let God. The holla you feel like doing. That dance you feel in your feet. Let go. That might be your release right there. I don’t know about your church but when I go to church my pastor always tells us to praise like we lost our minds and we give God a clap. And a quiet, “Hallelujah.” Yeah, that’s losing your mind. We are all going through something. So we have no right to judge your praise. I have no right to judge your praise. If I ever truly let go I probably wouldn’t be in half the pickles I put myself in. Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  When you hear folks say Give it to Jesus, it’s more than a good saying. It’s a command to help you get out of that depression and to relieve that stress. I heard Marvin Sapp say one time that Praise is a stress reliever. We continue to give God what we call praise and wonder why we’re still stressed and depressed. Let Go and let God.

1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.” If nobody else cares, God does. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a time where the Saints of the most high God be so stressed out and depressed. What if we tried to cast our care upon Jesus? What if we tried to praise God like we lost our minds? Song says, “Have you tried, Jesus? He’s all right.” You try drugs, late night YouTube videos, alcohol, or whatever else you think lightens up the pressure of the world, yet we put Jesus last. Why? Try Jesus first some time. You may be surprised. He just may work.

Don’t be ashamed to be saved. Don’t be ashamed to be a church boy or church girl. Don’t be ashamed to be a Jesus fan. If you’re like me, you’re around dirty talk all day. And you feel like I can’t live saved around this. I can’t live right around that. I can’t stay saved in this environment. Song says, “Though trials come on every hand, I feel like going on.” Test and trials come to make us, what? Strong. The more you hold on and stay saved, the stronger you become. If Steve Harvey can try the Word of God and have it work for him…what’s your excuse?

I may never make it as a YouTube celebrity. I may never become a bestselling author. I may never record a Grammy worthy single or album. I may never learn how to play a lead guitar or organ. I may never get married. I may never be skinny. I may never be somebody’s love interest. I may never get another comment on these blogs ever again. I may never get another pat on the back. I just know that after all the stuff I’ve done in my life, I’m still here. I just know that God cares for me. I just know that only what I do for Christ will last. I just know that I have a purpose because if there wasn’t a purpose for me, I wouldn’t be here typing this blog. I’ve been depressed and stressed over stuff that doesn’t make any sense. I’m just telling what I know. I’ve been lonely with family around me. I’m a child of God. God is the king of kings and Lord or Lords. God is ruler over everything. He said that He’ll never leave us nor forsake us. So if my dreams never become fulfilled, I got to know I’m living to please God. I’m living for that well done thy good and faithful servant. I’m living to serve.

Don’t get me wrong. I want some of those things listed above to happen in my life, but it’s not the end all be all. I don’t know if I’m right on any of this. I may be wrong. I may be out of my mind. John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation:  but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” That was Jesus talking.  Somebody asked me at work what do I do on my spare time, I told her about the blogs, and she asked me about verses in the Bible about overcoming stress and depression. I didn’t know how to answer, but this gay guy that says some of the dirtiest stuff I’ve ever heard spat out some verses. I guess if God can use a donkey…either way. I guess this blog is just my response to her and to anybody else that may be going through stress and or depression.

Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Twitter and Instagram @Big_Dusty
Facebook.com/bigdusty

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