It is written in 1st John, "greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world." Mary Mary had a song called "God In Me." Side note: should we really be surprised that I Luh God was released then? Just saying...Anyway, what I can't understand is why is it that in church we hear more about how bad the world is than how great God is? I thought we go to church to hear about the Gospel, but mostly we hear about how jacked up the world is. If somebody from the world comes into your church, the last thing they want to hear on a constant is how bad they are. 99% of the time they already know how bad they are, they want to know how to get out.
Whenever I hear, "You know in the world today, blah blah blah..." I roll my eyes. Don't get me wrong, I know we don't live in the most civilized society, but my thing is the "world" has been jacked up for years. I mean if the "world" today is so bad, then the world yesterday had to have it's problems as well, right? Today's generation learned it from somewhere, didn't they? Even if you blame the media of the day, the seeds had to planted by someone of yester-year, right? I always go back to what my dad told me, "You can't throw rocks from a glass house."
Let's go with that then, the world today is jacked up, but does that give you an excuse to be jacked up? I thought we were supposed to be "salt and light in the world?" I thought we were supposed to come out from among them and be ye separated? Talking about the world without offering a solution seems pretty "worldly" to me. That's like a math teacher teaching you that there's a math problem on the board, but has spent no time showing you how to solve it, but all the teacher has told you is that, there is a problem on the board. If you don't know how to solve a problem, then the problem will still be a problem that will grow into a major problem that will drive you crazy until you can get it solved.
Jesus is the problem solver. If we don't introduce Jesus to this world, the problems will never go away. We talk and talk about how bad the world is today, but if we never introduce Jesus to a dying world, then what have we don't to solve the problem? We talk and talk, but we got to do. I believe it's written that we need to be doers of the world and not hearers only.
You hear it all the time that, "Everybody is a Christian now." And we just accept it. We let it continue. We talk about it in our Sunday Schools and expect things to change. If we continue to treat this life as just another religion, that's how the world is going to see it. I was taught that this is a relationship not a religion. Can't we really be mad at the world making fun of the church, when we give them material? Maybe if the church will start showing more Jesus and less trying to keep the seats full...
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
I DON'T REALLY CARE IF THEY LABEL ME A JESUS FREAK
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." Romans 1:16-17
As I type this, a few days ago, I commented a status on FaceBook that was condemning "Jesus Freaks" by saying they all happy about going to church on Sunday then going back to the regular "B.S." by Tuesday. And I commented the status saying that some go back right after the benediction. At the time I thought nothing of it. Then I started thinking about it. I started to feel some discomfort about the whole thing. Then an old song came to mind that I first heard in Elementary School when this kid did it for a talent show thing we had to do in music class. The song was called Jesus Freak by dc Talk. Before that, I didn't know a gospel song that didn't have a choir or an organ in it. I heard that song and I was amazed at the sound of the music was putting out a message like Jesus Freak.
As I got older I liked the song more and more. And there's a part of the song that says, "People say I'm strange. Does that make me a stranger that my best friend was born in a manger." So why are we ashamed to be "Jesus Freaks." Atheist are unashamed. Gay and Lesbians are unashamed. Some celebrities are unashamed of how they live. Yet, you find some believers ashamed of their lifestyle. When most of us were "out in the world," as it is said in church, we were unashamed. Some of us made it known. We didn't have social media growing up yet people knew what y'all were about. Now with social media people REALLY know what you're about.
"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 yet 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
Stop worrying about what people think. It's funny how the world today is all about anti bullying yet the world tries to bully you into a "politically correct" way of thinking. Saying you have to accept everybody the way they are...except if you profess Jesus Christ. Interesting isn't it? Even with all that being said, be ashamed. David said it like this, "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?" I believe that's another verse that says, "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Lord will lift up a standard."
Stay saved. Stay Unashamed,
Daniel Richerson
As I type this, a few days ago, I commented a status on FaceBook that was condemning "Jesus Freaks" by saying they all happy about going to church on Sunday then going back to the regular "B.S." by Tuesday. And I commented the status saying that some go back right after the benediction. At the time I thought nothing of it. Then I started thinking about it. I started to feel some discomfort about the whole thing. Then an old song came to mind that I first heard in Elementary School when this kid did it for a talent show thing we had to do in music class. The song was called Jesus Freak by dc Talk. Before that, I didn't know a gospel song that didn't have a choir or an organ in it. I heard that song and I was amazed at the sound of the music was putting out a message like Jesus Freak.
As I got older I liked the song more and more. And there's a part of the song that says, "People say I'm strange. Does that make me a stranger that my best friend was born in a manger." So why are we ashamed to be "Jesus Freaks." Atheist are unashamed. Gay and Lesbians are unashamed. Some celebrities are unashamed of how they live. Yet, you find some believers ashamed of their lifestyle. When most of us were "out in the world," as it is said in church, we were unashamed. Some of us made it known. We didn't have social media growing up yet people knew what y'all were about. Now with social media people REALLY know what you're about.
"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 yet 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
Stop worrying about what people think. It's funny how the world today is all about anti bullying yet the world tries to bully you into a "politically correct" way of thinking. Saying you have to accept everybody the way they are...except if you profess Jesus Christ. Interesting isn't it? Even with all that being said, be ashamed. David said it like this, "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?" I believe that's another verse that says, "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Lord will lift up a standard."
Stay saved. Stay Unashamed,
Daniel Richerson
Thursday, July 30, 2015
LOVING KINDNESS DRAWS, THAT MUST MEAN HATE AND MEANNESS TURNS AWAY
"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." Jeremiah 31:3
Jesus drew us with lovingkindness. There's an old song that the church sang when I was growing up, "Thy lovingkindness is better than life. My lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee. I will lift up my hands unto thy name" Based off Psalms 63:3-4. I've been thinking on this for the past couple of weeks. How important loving kindness is. Why is loving kindness important? Well I think we all can say there's a lot of fake kindness going on in the world today. I like to call it sometimes PC kindness. Ellen at the end of her talk show says, "Be kind to one another." If one would truly take heed to that alone. Be kind to one another. There's a "golden rule" if you will that says, "Who ever has the gold makes the rules." Also there's another one that says, "Treat someone how you want to be treated."
You reap what you sow. That's not only biblical, that's life. You sow an apple seed, you get an apple tree. You saw an orange seed, you get an orange tree. You sow loving kindness, you should get loving kindness. But we learned from the Charleston 9 situation that you can treat one with loving kindness and still get a bitter treatment in return. Now do you let that stop you from being kind to people? No. I've always said that you don't treat people how you were treated. You treat them how you want to be treated.
When I worked customer service at a call center we were taught to be kind no matter what. No matter how the customer treats you, you still treat them with respect. I never really got cussed out but I got fussed out many times and I had put the phone on mute many a call in order to keep my job, if you catch my drift. Amen praise God. Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." And allow me to say the softest answer you could give sometimes is saying nothing. Old saying says, "If you got nothing nice to say--"
So if lovingkindness draws, then hatred and meanness must turn people away. Be careful of the attitude and look on your face because that may be why you have nobody around you. Oh me. My pastor says, if you can't say amen say oh me. That's where some of these debates miss with me. You can't draw people to your argument by calling people out their name. Name calling doesn't draw anybody, but if you talk in a calm tone and eloquently present your thoughts, you still may not draw anything, but you'll definitely be more respected that way. It takes respect to get respect. That's where the "God hates Fags" people miss the mark. First of all, God so loved the world, and if God hated anybody, why would there be grace and mercy? Second of all, name calling never ends up in a positive situation.
He who has friends must show himself friendly. Again, oh me. But nevertheless...
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Jesus drew us with lovingkindness. There's an old song that the church sang when I was growing up, "Thy lovingkindness is better than life. My lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee. I will lift up my hands unto thy name" Based off Psalms 63:3-4. I've been thinking on this for the past couple of weeks. How important loving kindness is. Why is loving kindness important? Well I think we all can say there's a lot of fake kindness going on in the world today. I like to call it sometimes PC kindness. Ellen at the end of her talk show says, "Be kind to one another." If one would truly take heed to that alone. Be kind to one another. There's a "golden rule" if you will that says, "Who ever has the gold makes the rules." Also there's another one that says, "Treat someone how you want to be treated."
You reap what you sow. That's not only biblical, that's life. You sow an apple seed, you get an apple tree. You saw an orange seed, you get an orange tree. You sow loving kindness, you should get loving kindness. But we learned from the Charleston 9 situation that you can treat one with loving kindness and still get a bitter treatment in return. Now do you let that stop you from being kind to people? No. I've always said that you don't treat people how you were treated. You treat them how you want to be treated.
When I worked customer service at a call center we were taught to be kind no matter what. No matter how the customer treats you, you still treat them with respect. I never really got cussed out but I got fussed out many times and I had put the phone on mute many a call in order to keep my job, if you catch my drift. Amen praise God. Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." And allow me to say the softest answer you could give sometimes is saying nothing. Old saying says, "If you got nothing nice to say--"
So if lovingkindness draws, then hatred and meanness must turn people away. Be careful of the attitude and look on your face because that may be why you have nobody around you. Oh me. My pastor says, if you can't say amen say oh me. That's where some of these debates miss with me. You can't draw people to your argument by calling people out their name. Name calling doesn't draw anybody, but if you talk in a calm tone and eloquently present your thoughts, you still may not draw anything, but you'll definitely be more respected that way. It takes respect to get respect. That's where the "God hates Fags" people miss the mark. First of all, God so loved the world, and if God hated anybody, why would there be grace and mercy? Second of all, name calling never ends up in a positive situation.
He who has friends must show himself friendly. Again, oh me. But nevertheless...
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Thursday, July 16, 2015
TEMPORARY THRILLS ARE JUST THAT TEMPORARY
Before I go on, and I know this guy is like Ice Cube in the fact he somehow turned into the N**ga you love to hate as far as Gospel music, but one of Tye Tribbett classics is song called Everything. I have it on repeat right now. For some strange reason Tye Tribbett and Bishop TD Jakes have turned into easy targets for the religious in the church as far as hating. May not be where you all are at, but I hear it all the time. I guess they are not traditional, and of course tradition is all what Jesus was about, right? Or it may be the fact that Tye got caught and they didn't. Moving on...
Thrill seekers. We seek stuff that will thrill our flesh. Like you hear bungee jumpers and sky divers talk about the thrill they get when they do what they do. But after the thrill is gone, what's next? Like these marriages that come together for the sex part but forgetting that marriage requires relationship. The sex is a thrill but the relationship requires actual work. For some reason, the word "work" has become like profanity. It's not just the young generation which gets accused of being lazy. Some of the older generation is just as or even more lazy than...
A lot of people seek the thrill but don't seek the consequences of the thrill. Consequences? Yes. Now I'm not saying that you shouldn't seek the thrill or enjoyment of certain things. If you're a bungee jumper or a sky diver, do your thing. I'm not mad at you, but as for me, that's not a thrill I'm seeking to have in my life.
Some want the prize of work, but don't do the process of work. Some want to eat and not work. It is written, "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." Like some want to make to heaven but don't want to travel the road to get to heaven. Taking the road to hell will not get you to heaven. Taking the road to NY will not get you to California. If you want to get to a specific destination, you have to take a specific route. Not to say there won't be detours on the way, but you still have to head a certain direction to get to that specific destination.
Thrill is defined as a sudden feeling of excitement and pleasure. A temporary fix if you will. Like why some get high looking for that temporary fix. It's like cell phones. Some of us always wants the newest phone, even when your current phone works fine. You just want that temporary excitement or thrill of having the newest gadget on the market, that will only end up getting replaced.
All these thrills we seek is all well and good for the temporary, but there's still a void looking to be filled. A hole in the soul if you will. Only Jesus can feel that void. Only Jesus can feel that hole in the soul.
Bottom line, the thrill our flesh seeks are temporary thrills. But why not seek for an everlasting thrill? Why not seek for a thrill that will give you a feeling that you'll never get past? Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but Jesus never fails. Have you tried Jesus?
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Thrill seekers. We seek stuff that will thrill our flesh. Like you hear bungee jumpers and sky divers talk about the thrill they get when they do what they do. But after the thrill is gone, what's next? Like these marriages that come together for the sex part but forgetting that marriage requires relationship. The sex is a thrill but the relationship requires actual work. For some reason, the word "work" has become like profanity. It's not just the young generation which gets accused of being lazy. Some of the older generation is just as or even more lazy than...
A lot of people seek the thrill but don't seek the consequences of the thrill. Consequences? Yes. Now I'm not saying that you shouldn't seek the thrill or enjoyment of certain things. If you're a bungee jumper or a sky diver, do your thing. I'm not mad at you, but as for me, that's not a thrill I'm seeking to have in my life.
Some want the prize of work, but don't do the process of work. Some want to eat and not work. It is written, "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." Like some want to make to heaven but don't want to travel the road to get to heaven. Taking the road to hell will not get you to heaven. Taking the road to NY will not get you to California. If you want to get to a specific destination, you have to take a specific route. Not to say there won't be detours on the way, but you still have to head a certain direction to get to that specific destination.
Thrill is defined as a sudden feeling of excitement and pleasure. A temporary fix if you will. Like why some get high looking for that temporary fix. It's like cell phones. Some of us always wants the newest phone, even when your current phone works fine. You just want that temporary excitement or thrill of having the newest gadget on the market, that will only end up getting replaced.
All these thrills we seek is all well and good for the temporary, but there's still a void looking to be filled. A hole in the soul if you will. Only Jesus can feel that void. Only Jesus can feel that hole in the soul.
Bottom line, the thrill our flesh seeks are temporary thrills. But why not seek for an everlasting thrill? Why not seek for a thrill that will give you a feeling that you'll never get past? Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but Jesus never fails. Have you tried Jesus?
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
NEVER THOUGHT I'D KNOW GOD LIKE THIS
June 11, 2015 marked 4 years since my mom picked me up from the hotel to take me to Greenwood, SC. The night before that my Dad and I slept in a bed for the first time in 3 days. More than that if we're talking comfortable bed. First time taking a shower in days. First time taking a good shower in probably weeks. Just coming off sleeping in a van in parking lots and spending the day at the park. Dad took Ginger, our dog at the time, to the human society. I really don't know what happened to her after that, but I like to think that she found a good home. I hate to think the worse. I wasn't the best owner when it came to Ginger...
Back to that day of June 11, 2011. Mom picked me up and I had some of my clothes in a garbage bag. I was badly in need of a haircut. And I got one. No charge at that.
A lot has changed since 2011. I've been in the hospital twice for high blood pressure. I got a full time job and got fired after a year and 4 months. Had a few temp jobs. Finally got my drivers license. I became one of the sound men at church. I started teaching Bible Study on Wednesday Nights. To the same most of the same folk my Dad was the pastor over. Never thought that would happened. I remember when Bishop Johnson would ask me, "You're going to be preacher like your dad?" I would quickly shut that down. I really should've known better than that. My mom and Dad both teachers in their own right, and now here I am. My current pastor would ask me, "Daniel, are you ready to teach?" My eyes would get wide and I would say, "No sir." The seeds were watered.
Now negative, I'm staying under my mom's apartment at 28 wasn't a life goal I had in life. Neither was going to the E.R. Never thought I'd still be single and not ever have a date. I'm learning more and more that God's timing is not our timing. Never thought I'd have an EBT card at 28. Never wanted that to happen. Never thought I'd be starting the day off taking 6 pills for my blood pressure, weak heart, and one kidney. Never thought I'd be on a low sodium diet. But God is still faithful.
Song writer said, "Who would've thought I know You [God] this way?" I will admit that resistance is not my strong suit, but I am still here by the Grace of God. I'm also learning how to be myself. Like really not be ashamed of Daniel Richerson. I am who I am. I'm crazy. I'm learning I have a choice to be weird or mopey. I choose to be my weird self more than my mad mopey self. I tell my family all the time in responds to "You seem chipper today."I say, "It's better than the other mood right?"
God is not through with me yet.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Back to that day of June 11, 2011. Mom picked me up and I had some of my clothes in a garbage bag. I was badly in need of a haircut. And I got one. No charge at that.
A lot has changed since 2011. I've been in the hospital twice for high blood pressure. I got a full time job and got fired after a year and 4 months. Had a few temp jobs. Finally got my drivers license. I became one of the sound men at church. I started teaching Bible Study on Wednesday Nights. To the same most of the same folk my Dad was the pastor over. Never thought that would happened. I remember when Bishop Johnson would ask me, "You're going to be preacher like your dad?" I would quickly shut that down. I really should've known better than that. My mom and Dad both teachers in their own right, and now here I am. My current pastor would ask me, "Daniel, are you ready to teach?" My eyes would get wide and I would say, "No sir." The seeds were watered.
Now negative, I'm staying under my mom's apartment at 28 wasn't a life goal I had in life. Neither was going to the E.R. Never thought I'd still be single and not ever have a date. I'm learning more and more that God's timing is not our timing. Never thought I'd have an EBT card at 28. Never wanted that to happen. Never thought I'd be starting the day off taking 6 pills for my blood pressure, weak heart, and one kidney. Never thought I'd be on a low sodium diet. But God is still faithful.
Song writer said, "Who would've thought I know You [God] this way?" I will admit that resistance is not my strong suit, but I am still here by the Grace of God. I'm also learning how to be myself. Like really not be ashamed of Daniel Richerson. I am who I am. I'm crazy. I'm learning I have a choice to be weird or mopey. I choose to be my weird self more than my mad mopey self. I tell my family all the time in responds to "You seem chipper today."I say, "It's better than the other mood right?"
God is not through with me yet.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Tuesday, June 02, 2015
RIGHT IS RIGHT...AND WRONG IS WRONG
We live in a confused society. We as a whole seem to think that one sin is bigger than other sins. I was raised to believe that sin is sin. Wrong is wrong. Right is right. If you're wrong you're wrong. If you're right you're right. Truth is truth. So forth and so on. I watch this satire news show on Comedy Central The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I don't agree with everything Jon Stewart says on this show, but he does make strong points in my opinion. On a recent show he interviewed presidential hopeful Rand Paul. During that interview he made the point that if you see people you don't ask them what sin they committed, but some how when it comes to homosexuality, they automatically get questioned. Honestly, when the subject of homosexuality comes up on The Daily Show, it's always on the side of the LGBT, and I usually change the channel. But, I watched this interview on a rerun that came on in the morning and I thought what he said it was a valid point. And it really struck me that we as a Christian or "Kingdom Minded" society has made the lifestyle of the LGBT the major cause of the world's issue. Because they compare it to Sodom and Gomorrah.
Now here's my belief on that and I may have blogged about it before, but here we go. If you really read up in the Bible about that, yes homosexuality was involved in the story line, but remember God said, if he could find 50 righteous, he'd spare the city. Could not find 50, could not find 45, 40, 30, 20, or 10. Maybe America has been spared all this time because He found...
Back to the point, sin is sin. Not one sin is bigger than the other. Liars get served all the time without being questioned. Liars preach in our churches without any conviction, but let a homosexual lead a song or play the piano, all of the sudden, now the church is in trouble. Sin is sin. It is written that all of us have sinned and fallen short. We got praise and worship leaders, Sunday school teachers, and other leaders in the church have done crazy things that God consider sins, and they come back week after week like nothing is wrong. But when it comes to homosexuality, they are automatically condemn to hell because homosexuality is the worse sin of all the times.
John 3:17-18 says, " For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Jesus didn't come to condemn, but for some particular reason, some of us feel we have the God given right to condemn folk. Word? Quick question. What makes you better than Jesus? The only begotten son of God? Sin is sin. Wrong is wrong. Yes, but we have no right to condemn anyone. The bible says that those who do not believe are already condemned, what more can you do?
John 14:6 says, 'Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"'
So Jesus is the door. Stop blocking the door for people who are trying to get through. I recently saw an interview that really bothered me. Secular rapper Tech N9ne did an interview with Rapzilla stating he wanted to work with Christian Rapper Da Truth but Truth's people blocked it. Tech then went on to say that he needed help with certain things, and wanted to talk to Truth about it, but it didn't happen. People are begging our help, and we are so close minded, that we can't see past a lifestyle we don't agree with. We have no heaven or hell to put ANY body in. If someone asks for help, we should try our best to help, or lead them to who or what can help them. We're supposed to lead people TO Jesus not AWAY.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Now here's my belief on that and I may have blogged about it before, but here we go. If you really read up in the Bible about that, yes homosexuality was involved in the story line, but remember God said, if he could find 50 righteous, he'd spare the city. Could not find 50, could not find 45, 40, 30, 20, or 10. Maybe America has been spared all this time because He found...
Back to the point, sin is sin. Not one sin is bigger than the other. Liars get served all the time without being questioned. Liars preach in our churches without any conviction, but let a homosexual lead a song or play the piano, all of the sudden, now the church is in trouble. Sin is sin. It is written that all of us have sinned and fallen short. We got praise and worship leaders, Sunday school teachers, and other leaders in the church have done crazy things that God consider sins, and they come back week after week like nothing is wrong. But when it comes to homosexuality, they are automatically condemn to hell because homosexuality is the worse sin of all the times.
John 3:17-18 says, " For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Jesus didn't come to condemn, but for some particular reason, some of us feel we have the God given right to condemn folk. Word? Quick question. What makes you better than Jesus? The only begotten son of God? Sin is sin. Wrong is wrong. Yes, but we have no right to condemn anyone. The bible says that those who do not believe are already condemned, what more can you do?
John 14:6 says, 'Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"'
So Jesus is the door. Stop blocking the door for people who are trying to get through. I recently saw an interview that really bothered me. Secular rapper Tech N9ne did an interview with Rapzilla stating he wanted to work with Christian Rapper Da Truth but Truth's people blocked it. Tech then went on to say that he needed help with certain things, and wanted to talk to Truth about it, but it didn't happen. People are begging our help, and we are so close minded, that we can't see past a lifestyle we don't agree with. We have no heaven or hell to put ANY body in. If someone asks for help, we should try our best to help, or lead them to who or what can help them. We're supposed to lead people TO Jesus not AWAY.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Sunday, May 24, 2015
EVERYDAY IS A MIRACLE
I've heard it said that everyday you give a gift. When you open your eyes, it's a gift. I was at the barber shop waiting to get my haircut and there was a conversation going on and it was talking about high blood pressure. Go figure that I happen to have high blood pressure issues, right? Anyway, I was sitting there and they were talking about high blood pressure and then something was said that really stuck. It was mentioned that this lady died of a sudden massive heart attack, and after further research it was found that she had not took her medicine in months.
Why did it stick hard with me? I already documented that I spent my Christmas of 2014 in the hospital. Before that I had not took my blood pressure pills in months. Through God's grace I didn't have a heart attack, but it easily could've been me. My blood pressure had 3 digits with a 2 in front of it. It was very very high. If I remember right, the lady in the Urgent Care said it was high enough for stroke.
So now when I wake up every day, I'm very grateful. Cause it's another night I didn't have a heart attack or anything like that. I make it a priority to take my medicine everyday when I'm supposed to. This past May 22, I turned 28. It's a miracle that I made it to 28. Song writer put it like this, "It's really no goodness of my own, but it's by the grace of God that I've been kept all this time and I still have the mind to go on."
Everyday is a miracle because it's written in the bible that the wages of sin is death. Some of us have done some stuff that we will never tell anybody. Some real diabolical things, but because of God's grace and mercy we're still here. We thank God for new seasons, but why not thank God for a new day that you made it to? I'm not going to say everybody, but for Daniel Richerson, everyday is a journey. Everyday I have a choice to make. I don't make the right choice every time. I don't live pure and holy every second of the day, but I'm trying to make the right choice.
Old song says, "I am a promise. I am a possibility. I am a Promise with a capital P. I am a great big bundle of potentiality. And I'm learning to hear God's voice and I am trying to make the right choice. And I'm a promise to be anything God wants me to be."
I'm learning to live by this creed. Like the song says, "I say to my soul, soul take courage. The Lord will make a way somehow." Sometimes you really have to encourage yourself. It's not just a good slogan or a good quote. Put some action on it.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Monday, May 11, 2015
I GOT A SMALL WITTLE PROBLEMO
Why do we as a people, I mean us a human beings, not talking race or ethnic groups, but why do we as a people believe he say she say more than we believe visual evidence? Back in the 90s there was a gentlemen named Rodney King. Y'all may have heard of him. But this guy was beaten on camera. I repeat "on camera" and all the officers got was a slap on the wrist. To old for ya? Ok let's go to the Garner situation that happened in NY. Again, on camera, caught choked out by the camera. Wasn't really a punishment for it, and America goes on it's "merry" way.
Let me mention Bill Cosby. It's my blog, I'll believe I'll mention his name again, Bill Cosby. Bill Cosby, third time, has been accused by over 40 women of being raped and drugged. No visual evidence. Just based on he said and she said. And just about everybody, expect for a few of us, believe Cosby did it. Cosby is guilty according to "public opinion." I remember another guy, Jesus, that was guilty according to the public. I'm certainly not comparing the two, but it's amazing how he said she said can put a tarnish on somebody's life. I have read that Cosby was in trouble for the same stuff in 2004 and nothing came of it. But about decade later and comedian working a comedy club, said on stage that Cosby was a raper. And the video that was recorded got posted and spread, and then the accusers came out of hiding. Apparently what Hannibal Burris, the comedian, said, sparked a memory of "hurt" and they came out.
We all know what has been said by now, and if you don't you can google it. Because of all this un proven accusations, Cosby has been called out his name. Based of he said she said. Nothing yet proven. Now one asks, how can over 40 women be lying? I say, easy. They're lips are moving, no pun intended to Meghan Trainor. Or, for the love of money. I hear ya tho. "Daniel, it's over 40 women, he obviously did it." Word? Obviously? May not be obvious to everyone cause the old man is still working.
"How can money be made from this?" Books and Lifetime.
Now, those who know me, know I'm a big fan of Eddie Murphy. Some time ago, Eddie did a movie called Holy Man. Not a lot of people liked it, but I personally loved the movie. Anyway, Eddie played a character named G. G was a spiritual guy i guess you can say. He was on his pilgrimage and ran into this guy, Ricky, who worked for this home shopping network. Long story short, Ricky puts G on TV and sales sky rocket. G because a national phenomenon of spreading a positive message. Meanwhile another guy, Scott, is not understanding this popularity. So his motive is to take G down in any way. Spoiler alert, Scott, finds a family that G "abandoned" only to find out the woman was paid to accuse G. As soon as the accusations came out, the media lost all respect for G. Until the woman said she was lying, G was painted as the bad guy.
I compare Cosby to G because Cosby was a positive figure in the black community. Not all the black community, because Cosby told black people to act like they have common sense, he was painted as a old man who has no idea what's happening. So with the accusations, those same haters had more ammo.
I'm not trying to turn your thoughts on the Cosby situation one way or another, but what I am saying is don't believe the rumors of everything you hear. Check the motives. In church we often hear and say, "Try the spirit, by the spirit." Basically what I'm saying. And if you disagree with me, I don't hate you. I know that's a popular way to do things now, but I'm not that guy..
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Let me mention Bill Cosby. It's my blog, I'll believe I'll mention his name again, Bill Cosby. Bill Cosby, third time, has been accused by over 40 women of being raped and drugged. No visual evidence. Just based on he said and she said. And just about everybody, expect for a few of us, believe Cosby did it. Cosby is guilty according to "public opinion." I remember another guy, Jesus, that was guilty according to the public. I'm certainly not comparing the two, but it's amazing how he said she said can put a tarnish on somebody's life. I have read that Cosby was in trouble for the same stuff in 2004 and nothing came of it. But about decade later and comedian working a comedy club, said on stage that Cosby was a raper. And the video that was recorded got posted and spread, and then the accusers came out of hiding. Apparently what Hannibal Burris, the comedian, said, sparked a memory of "hurt" and they came out.
We all know what has been said by now, and if you don't you can google it. Because of all this un proven accusations, Cosby has been called out his name. Based of he said she said. Nothing yet proven. Now one asks, how can over 40 women be lying? I say, easy. They're lips are moving, no pun intended to Meghan Trainor. Or, for the love of money. I hear ya tho. "Daniel, it's over 40 women, he obviously did it." Word? Obviously? May not be obvious to everyone cause the old man is still working.
"How can money be made from this?" Books and Lifetime.
Now, those who know me, know I'm a big fan of Eddie Murphy. Some time ago, Eddie did a movie called Holy Man. Not a lot of people liked it, but I personally loved the movie. Anyway, Eddie played a character named G. G was a spiritual guy i guess you can say. He was on his pilgrimage and ran into this guy, Ricky, who worked for this home shopping network. Long story short, Ricky puts G on TV and sales sky rocket. G because a national phenomenon of spreading a positive message. Meanwhile another guy, Scott, is not understanding this popularity. So his motive is to take G down in any way. Spoiler alert, Scott, finds a family that G "abandoned" only to find out the woman was paid to accuse G. As soon as the accusations came out, the media lost all respect for G. Until the woman said she was lying, G was painted as the bad guy.
I compare Cosby to G because Cosby was a positive figure in the black community. Not all the black community, because Cosby told black people to act like they have common sense, he was painted as a old man who has no idea what's happening. So with the accusations, those same haters had more ammo.
I'm not trying to turn your thoughts on the Cosby situation one way or another, but what I am saying is don't believe the rumors of everything you hear. Check the motives. In church we often hear and say, "Try the spirit, by the spirit." Basically what I'm saying. And if you disagree with me, I don't hate you. I know that's a popular way to do things now, but I'm not that guy..
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Thursday, April 23, 2015
AN EXAMPLE, GOOD OR BAD, IS BEING SET BY YOU
You really can't be mad if the next generation follows your example. Good or bad, what you do is being watched and learned by the next generation. Even when you think you're getting away with it, you're being watched by the next generation. You know that saying, "Actions speak louder than words?" Best believe your actions are being watched also. From the day you're out the womb to the rest of your life, you watching the next generation. We never stop learning. I'm almost 28 and I'm still learning watching the next generation. Good and bad.
That's why you always gotta be careful of what you do and say. Because somebody's watching. That's why you always hear this excuse, "Hey, I didn't know anybody was here or watching." Can't always pass the blame on the media. Music gets blamed for stuff that it has nothing to do with. Don't get me wrong, music is influential, but you can't just put all the blame on the music that's not your style for what's wrong with a particular generation. That's where the next generation gets it from of not taking the blame for stuff because they see our generation and older generations passing the blame for stuff that we clearly brought on ourselves.
I hear all the time that this generation, "don't care about anything or anyone." Well I ask, do you show that you care or do you give the shoulder shrug and eye roll if they want to show you something they find interesting. How many times has a kid came to you and say, "Hey look at this!" and you groan and roll your eyes? And you have the audacity the unmitigated gall to pass the blame on the media for the fact that the kids don't care when you show that you don't care?
When I was coming up, we had bracelets that had the letters W.W.J.D. (What Would Jesus Do). Basically telling us to follow the example of Jesus. I was told to wear this and always look at it and think about that before I did anything. Didn't last long but that was the thinking behind that. Let us not be ignorant to the fact that Jesus is the only example we're following. Those that say they following Jesus has an example to set to. Those that say put God first has an example to set to. Like back in school in math class there was always an example of how to solve a problem. What example are you setting to the problems you face? Think about it, the next generation is watching. Or are you just going to pass the blame again.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Tuesday, April 07, 2015
ELIMINATE THE HATE...NOT FOR WHAT YOU MAY THINK
Warning: If you're a fan of G. Craig Lewis and Ex Ministries, you might as well leave the blog now. You will not agree with this blog. If you preach against rap music, you might as well leave the blog now, because you won't agree with this blog. If you don't believe in delivering the gospel through rap, you might as well leave the blog now because you won't agree with this blog. Ok, you've been warned.
The LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bi-Sexual Transsexual) community uses the term sometimes, "Eliminate the hate" in regards to their rights. I'm going to take a switch with that term. If you've been reading my blogs for some time, you know that I'm a fan of gospel rap. I believe it can be used to spread the gospel. The Gospel is not changing it's just the delivery of the Gospel. I look at it like this. Some preachers you don't like to listen to. Some like Bishop T.D. Jakes, and some like Joel Osteen. Both are preaching the Gospel, but the delivery is different. Some like Rod Parsley, and some like Billy Graham. Both are preaching the Gospel, but the delivery is different.
Now to the point. Some like the Canton Spirituals, and some like Lecrae. Both spreading the gospel but the delivery is different. It's not for everybody. Me advocating Gospel rap is not going to change your opinion on the genre. But if you don't like the genre, don't hate on the individual doing what he do to spread the Gospel. It's not for you. Paul said it like this, "When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law."
For some particular reason, when something comes along that's different, it's wrong. It's satanic. It's the devil. It's a sin. The Bible talks about nothing being new under the sun. Going back in history when TV's first came out, they were considered a sin. When movie theaters came out, a sin. When Jazz was big, it was being preached against, and in some places still being preached against. Why? It's different. We are scared of different. So naturally so spiritual. Naturally, the LGBT sees disagreement as hatred. Spiritually, when you disagree with ones thoughts, or opinion, it turns into a rift or hatred.
We need to stop hating one another over petty little things like disagreements. The Bible talks about we got to love everybody to go to heaven. Stop hating people that are different from you. That's called being prejudiced. Disagreement shouldn't mean hatred. I don't hate my family members because I disagree with them. I don't hate some preachers cause they say things I don't agree with. When disagreement turns into hatred, that's when it comes a time to check yourself. Don't let your misconceived notions on anything, turn into hatred.
One argument on Gospel rap I hear, is that, "Gospel music should lead your to worship not to twerk." My response, twerking is something that was already in you to do. I think if some music leads you to twerk, it's something you got to do some self checking on yourself. Twerking came from the strip club, did it not? If twerking is what you do, don't blame hip-hop, blame the visual the videos give off. Not all hip hop gives the visual of sex sex sex. Don't blame what people of done to hip-hop and put that on everybody. Now again, if you hate gospel rap, what I'm saying is not going to change your outlook on it. I hate quartet music. I don't like it at all. It's not for me. But I respect anybody that spreads the gospel. I'm not in the quartet audience. I'm in the gospel rap audience. Should that mean we hate each other? No.
Let me put this out there, just because it's has the label hip-hop does not mean twerking is involved. Ok? Strip clubs has been out before hip-hop. Music was talking about sex before hip-hop. Hip-hop gets blamed for stuff that was happening before the genre even started. Lest we forget some of our favorite Gospel artists does not have the cleanest record out there. Kirk Franklin, he put his stuff out there so there's no reason for me to bring that up. James Cleveland? I'm not making this stuff up, you can look it up. Donnie McClurkin. Tye Tribbett? My point is, it's not the genre that's the problem. Da Truth said it like this on TBN, "It's nothing wrong with hip-hop culture. It's something wrong with the heart that's corrupt."
And that's really all I have to say about that. All and all, let's stop allowing the devil to make on disagreements lead to hatred. Stop giving the Devil more power than he actually has. You may not be a fan of Gospel rap, I'm the minority in my house hold when it comes to the genre, but I respectfully disagree with them and continue to do my thing. Some of the dislike for it is fair. But I feel it's no different than raising the roof in church or saying, "Ain't no party like a holy ghost party cause a holy ghost party don't stop." I don't see it as we're bringing the world into the church, I see it as an evolution of delivery.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
The LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bi-Sexual Transsexual) community uses the term sometimes, "Eliminate the hate" in regards to their rights. I'm going to take a switch with that term. If you've been reading my blogs for some time, you know that I'm a fan of gospel rap. I believe it can be used to spread the gospel. The Gospel is not changing it's just the delivery of the Gospel. I look at it like this. Some preachers you don't like to listen to. Some like Bishop T.D. Jakes, and some like Joel Osteen. Both are preaching the Gospel, but the delivery is different. Some like Rod Parsley, and some like Billy Graham. Both are preaching the Gospel, but the delivery is different.
Now to the point. Some like the Canton Spirituals, and some like Lecrae. Both spreading the gospel but the delivery is different. It's not for everybody. Me advocating Gospel rap is not going to change your opinion on the genre. But if you don't like the genre, don't hate on the individual doing what he do to spread the Gospel. It's not for you. Paul said it like this, "When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law."
For some particular reason, when something comes along that's different, it's wrong. It's satanic. It's the devil. It's a sin. The Bible talks about nothing being new under the sun. Going back in history when TV's first came out, they were considered a sin. When movie theaters came out, a sin. When Jazz was big, it was being preached against, and in some places still being preached against. Why? It's different. We are scared of different. So naturally so spiritual. Naturally, the LGBT sees disagreement as hatred. Spiritually, when you disagree with ones thoughts, or opinion, it turns into a rift or hatred.
We need to stop hating one another over petty little things like disagreements. The Bible talks about we got to love everybody to go to heaven. Stop hating people that are different from you. That's called being prejudiced. Disagreement shouldn't mean hatred. I don't hate my family members because I disagree with them. I don't hate some preachers cause they say things I don't agree with. When disagreement turns into hatred, that's when it comes a time to check yourself. Don't let your misconceived notions on anything, turn into hatred.
One argument on Gospel rap I hear, is that, "Gospel music should lead your to worship not to twerk." My response, twerking is something that was already in you to do. I think if some music leads you to twerk, it's something you got to do some self checking on yourself. Twerking came from the strip club, did it not? If twerking is what you do, don't blame hip-hop, blame the visual the videos give off. Not all hip hop gives the visual of sex sex sex. Don't blame what people of done to hip-hop and put that on everybody. Now again, if you hate gospel rap, what I'm saying is not going to change your outlook on it. I hate quartet music. I don't like it at all. It's not for me. But I respect anybody that spreads the gospel. I'm not in the quartet audience. I'm in the gospel rap audience. Should that mean we hate each other? No.
Let me put this out there, just because it's has the label hip-hop does not mean twerking is involved. Ok? Strip clubs has been out before hip-hop. Music was talking about sex before hip-hop. Hip-hop gets blamed for stuff that was happening before the genre even started. Lest we forget some of our favorite Gospel artists does not have the cleanest record out there. Kirk Franklin, he put his stuff out there so there's no reason for me to bring that up. James Cleveland? I'm not making this stuff up, you can look it up. Donnie McClurkin. Tye Tribbett? My point is, it's not the genre that's the problem. Da Truth said it like this on TBN, "It's nothing wrong with hip-hop culture. It's something wrong with the heart that's corrupt."
And that's really all I have to say about that. All and all, let's stop allowing the devil to make on disagreements lead to hatred. Stop giving the Devil more power than he actually has. You may not be a fan of Gospel rap, I'm the minority in my house hold when it comes to the genre, but I respectfully disagree with them and continue to do my thing. Some of the dislike for it is fair. But I feel it's no different than raising the roof in church or saying, "Ain't no party like a holy ghost party cause a holy ghost party don't stop." I don't see it as we're bringing the world into the church, I see it as an evolution of delivery.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Monday, March 30, 2015
DON'T TURN A MISTAKE INTO A HABIT
I was thinking of going one way with this post but then it would come off as "why couldn't you say that to that person's face" type blog. Been there done that. Don't do blog's off conversations...especially if you feel "some kind of way" about it. I've learned that the hard way. By the way, those blogs are still up.
A mistake is defined as an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong. Everyone make mistakes. If you say you don't, that leads me to a question, you know where liars go? The point is though not to continue to make the mistake. You learn from the mistake and not do it again. Get away from what started the mistake. Stop turning the mistake into a habit. Once it becomes a habit can't really call it a mistake any more, it's just a way of life by that point. The Bible says, in James 4:17, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." In other words, if you know better but continue to do what's wrong, it's a sin. As my sister tells me on a constant, I never listen but she continues to say, "Get your life together, Daniel." Your name may not be Daniel, but you get me?
Don't be one of those, "you know the devil's busy" type people. If the Devil is busy, then get busy getting closer to God, and get busy resisting the Devil. If your excuse is "the devil is busy" that's like saying "the devil made me do it." Flip Wilson is dead, so let that excuse die with him. The Bible says in James, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Now changing the subject completely, I've been seeing all over Instagram, post talking about surrounding your self with the right people. Surround your self with good people. Takes me back to a mens meeting I was at, and my pastor at the time said that everybody needs at least 4 people around him. Using for an example the story of the lame man seeing Jesus from Mark, "And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay." Anyway, it was like post after post on Instagram about surrounding yourself with the right people. I'm thinking I haven't found that group of people yet, but I'm not giving up. I'm not big "it's a sign" type of guy, but I do believe God has ways of telling you something. He used a donkey and a rooster in the bi-ble to get a point across, so...
Guilty by association. Can't surround yourself with just anybody. Can't let everybody in your friends circle, whether we talking online or off line.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
A mistake is defined as an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong. Everyone make mistakes. If you say you don't, that leads me to a question, you know where liars go? The point is though not to continue to make the mistake. You learn from the mistake and not do it again. Get away from what started the mistake. Stop turning the mistake into a habit. Once it becomes a habit can't really call it a mistake any more, it's just a way of life by that point. The Bible says, in James 4:17, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." In other words, if you know better but continue to do what's wrong, it's a sin. As my sister tells me on a constant, I never listen but she continues to say, "Get your life together, Daniel." Your name may not be Daniel, but you get me?
Don't be one of those, "you know the devil's busy" type people. If the Devil is busy, then get busy getting closer to God, and get busy resisting the Devil. If your excuse is "the devil is busy" that's like saying "the devil made me do it." Flip Wilson is dead, so let that excuse die with him. The Bible says in James, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Now changing the subject completely, I've been seeing all over Instagram, post talking about surrounding your self with the right people. Surround your self with good people. Takes me back to a mens meeting I was at, and my pastor at the time said that everybody needs at least 4 people around him. Using for an example the story of the lame man seeing Jesus from Mark, "And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay." Anyway, it was like post after post on Instagram about surrounding yourself with the right people. I'm thinking I haven't found that group of people yet, but I'm not giving up. I'm not big "it's a sign" type of guy, but I do believe God has ways of telling you something. He used a donkey and a rooster in the bi-ble to get a point across, so...
Guilty by association. Can't surround yourself with just anybody. Can't let everybody in your friends circle, whether we talking online or off line.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Thursday, March 05, 2015
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS
Watching a service where Wess Morgan brought the word, I sent out a tweet that said, “the internet is not bad, it's what you do that's bad.” Stop putting the blame on what you’re using to do what you do. It’s not the internet, magazines, or dvds that’s the issue, it’s the heart that’s corrupt that’s the problem. What are you using the internet for? What magazines are you looking at? What DVDs are you buying and watching? What are you choosing to watch on the internet? Who are you letting feed your spirit on social media? It all starts with you. You make the decision.
The devil is doing his job. You’re just not doing yours. It’s written, “Resist the devil, and he will flee.” You don’t resist, he’s not going anywhere. If you know you shouldn’t watch certain shows because it vexes you, makes you feel some type of way or some kind of way, then you take the initiative, make the choice to not watch said show. I’m not going to sit here and say that’s an easy choice to make. It’s like if you exercise something they always say is push your body past the pain. In other words, force your body to do what it doesn’t want to do. Your flesh wants to continue to be in bondage because it’s used to the chains. But if you want to be free, you got to force your body to change. It’s not going happen instantly for most of us. Not saying it can’t happen instantly, because it can, but I wouldn’t go in thinking that it will happen instantly. I’ve heard it said you got to make a habit of not doing the habit.
Now I could use clichés and say, “Jesus breaks every fetter” or “There is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain” but when you don’t use the name of Jesus, then what? Jesus works, don’t get me wrong, but if you’re not willing to use the name, don’t get mad if it feels that nothing is happening. You can hold the remote all you want, but that alone is not going to change the channel. You got to push some buttons and make something happen. Holding the phone is not going to make the phone call for you. You got to make some moves to put that call into action.
Don’t blame the phone if you don’t know how to use it. Don’t blame Jesus, if you don’t know how to call him. Don’t blame the Bible, if you’ve never opened it and read it.
Stay saved,
Daniel Richerson
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
TRUE UNITY IS NEEDED
Unity can be defined the state of being one; oneness. When I think of unity or the state of being one, my mind goes to Colossians 3:15, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called to one body and be ye thankful." or Amos 3:3, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Can't be unity within a bunch of bickering and backbiting amongst each other. That's one of the reasons America is so jacked up. We call ourselves, "United" and yet we're the furthest from it. We in the church like to talk about how messed up America is when the church is not at a perfect state right now itself.
The church is supposed to be an example of unity, but it's the furthest from it. Prove it you say? What's the most segregated day of the week? Sundays. Unity? I know we as people have different thoughts and ways we do things, but why do we let that stop us from unifying? The head and the feet are different but they both serve a purpose on the body, right?
I'm going to use the Church of God In Christ for an example. The break down goes something like this: local church, then district, then jurisdictional, then national. It takes more than one church to make a district. So if the district superintendent wants to have a meeting of the churches and one church shows up it's not really a district meeting is it? Or if the jurisdiction calls for a convention and one district shows up, then it's not really a jurisdictional meeting. It takes more than one finger to make hand. It takes more than one house to make a neighborhood. It takes more than one car to have a collection of cars. It takes more than one team to make up the whole NFL.
Think of a family. If a family only comes together only during the holidays, where is the unity in that? Being blood related makes no unity. You have to spend time together. Get to know each other to create unity. Of course a family reunion is going to be awkward if you only have it once a year. The C.O.G.I.C. has multiple conventions for all the churches in the organization to come and worship together. That creates unity. "Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1)
How can you say you're unified with God when you don't pray. When you don't try to get close to God how is that being unified? Think of getting unified like a relationship, and what's one of the main keys to relationships? Communication. Usually when there's no communication, the relationship falls apart. Where there's unity, there's power. We as believers have to be more unified. I'm not talking denominations, I'm taking believers as a whole. Red and yellow. Black and white. We are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
The church is supposed to be an example of unity, but it's the furthest from it. Prove it you say? What's the most segregated day of the week? Sundays. Unity? I know we as people have different thoughts and ways we do things, but why do we let that stop us from unifying? The head and the feet are different but they both serve a purpose on the body, right?
I'm going to use the Church of God In Christ for an example. The break down goes something like this: local church, then district, then jurisdictional, then national. It takes more than one church to make a district. So if the district superintendent wants to have a meeting of the churches and one church shows up it's not really a district meeting is it? Or if the jurisdiction calls for a convention and one district shows up, then it's not really a jurisdictional meeting. It takes more than one finger to make hand. It takes more than one house to make a neighborhood. It takes more than one car to have a collection of cars. It takes more than one team to make up the whole NFL.
Think of a family. If a family only comes together only during the holidays, where is the unity in that? Being blood related makes no unity. You have to spend time together. Get to know each other to create unity. Of course a family reunion is going to be awkward if you only have it once a year. The C.O.G.I.C. has multiple conventions for all the churches in the organization to come and worship together. That creates unity. "Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1)
How can you say you're unified with God when you don't pray. When you don't try to get close to God how is that being unified? Think of getting unified like a relationship, and what's one of the main keys to relationships? Communication. Usually when there's no communication, the relationship falls apart. Where there's unity, there's power. We as believers have to be more unified. I'm not talking denominations, I'm taking believers as a whole. Red and yellow. Black and white. We are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Monday, January 19, 2015
TEMPORARY VS EVERLASTING...I CHOOSE EVERLASTING
Temporary: lasting for only a limited period of time; not permanent.
Everlasting: lasting forever or for a very long time
Everlasting: lasting forever or for a very long time
Eddie Murphy has a song called Temporary. Yes the same Eddie Murphy that did Party All The Time. Anyway the chorus goes like this, "Temporary. Everything is only temporary. But God is everlasting." Before you get thought that Eddie is trying to sing Gospel. Nah. It's just an inspirational song. Inspirational and Gospel go hand and hand, but just cause a song is inspiring don't make it gospel.
Let me go back on topic. Some of us that are addicts tend to look for the temporary fix. Whether it's a swig of alcohol, a hit of a joint, or sex, whatever it is, the satisfaction is only temporary. Why? Cause the next day or sometimes minutes later, you're looking for another fix. Why go for the temporary when you can go for everlasting? God's love is everlasting. It lasts forever. To me that's a no brainier. Don't get me wrong, I understand addictions. Some addictions you can't stop cold turkey. James 4:7 says, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." How do you resist? Don't talk about it. Don't watch it. Get away from certain people that are no help to you. You may have to literally run away from it. Certain shows I can't watch. I have to change the channel. Music is usually my get away from a lot of things. A major way is to pray about it. Read the Bible. Fast. Mark 9:29, "And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting."
Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Another word for "filled" is satisfied. We go back to the temporary fixes looking for satisfaction but nine times out of ten we don't find it. If we start to seek ye first the Kingdom of God, we'll find an everlasting satisfaction worth it all. I know there's a saying out that says, "After you try everything else, try Jesus." Why not try Jesus first? Try God first. Don't try religion. Try relationship. Relationship with the try and living God. Temporary fixes vs an Everlasting loving God. Makes sense to me.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Another word for "filled" is satisfied. We go back to the temporary fixes looking for satisfaction but nine times out of ten we don't find it. If we start to seek ye first the Kingdom of God, we'll find an everlasting satisfaction worth it all. I know there's a saying out that says, "After you try everything else, try Jesus." Why not try Jesus first? Try God first. Don't try religion. Try relationship. Relationship with the try and living God. Temporary fixes vs an Everlasting loving God. Makes sense to me.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Saturday, January 03, 2015
CAN'T BE SILENT ANYMORE
October 03, 2013 I posted a blog entitled, THIS BLOG POST SHOULDN'T EVEN EXIST, BUT GOD. Reason why I wrote that blog was to tell a little bit of the story of me going to the hospital that September because of my blood pressure and shortness of breath. I got out of the hospital for what I thought was motivation of a lifestyle change. Changed the way I ate, and all that. Only when it came time to testify that God brought me out of the hospital, I didn't say anything. Of course I blogged it, but life and death lies in the power of the tongue. I wasn't that good in biology, but I do know that my fingers have no tongue. Also what I didn't blog about, the hospital bill got wiped away through some kind of program through the particular hospital I was at. Again, said nothing.
December 25, 2014, over a year later. Back to the E.R. for the same issue. The night before I couldn't sleep a wink. I tried to lay down, but every time I couldn't breathe. I was also coughing my lungs out as well. So went to the E.R., and again, my blood pressure was sky high. How high? I would venture to say higher than Snoop Dogg on a 4/20. Of course got checked in to the hospital, and spent my Christmas in the hospital. During this stay, I found out that my heart was weak, and also that I have one functioning kidney. At age 27, this is unheard of. All the nurses, said, how did this happen? I really didn't have straight answer. But in all honesty, I didn't care about myself. I felt like no one REALLY cared, so I didn't care. Notice, I put the "really" in caps. I heard people say they cared, but in my mind, they were just staying face. I didn't buy it.
"What the devil meant for evil, God turned it around for my good."
The calls to my family, Facebook posts, some Instagram comments, and even a snapchat. I really felt that people cared for my well being. I can't tell y'all how happy I was to finally get out that hospital gown, and finally sleep in my own bed again. I was let out on that next Monday. That Wednesday night, I went to Watch Night at my church, Prayer and Faith Ministries COGIC where the pastor is Pastor Anderson Gray, I got a chance to testify and this time I did it. First words out my mouth, "I know if I didn't do this, I'd get a whuppin'."
Psalms 30:11-12 KJV
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
December 25, 2014, over a year later. Back to the E.R. for the same issue. The night before I couldn't sleep a wink. I tried to lay down, but every time I couldn't breathe. I was also coughing my lungs out as well. So went to the E.R., and again, my blood pressure was sky high. How high? I would venture to say higher than Snoop Dogg on a 4/20. Of course got checked in to the hospital, and spent my Christmas in the hospital. During this stay, I found out that my heart was weak, and also that I have one functioning kidney. At age 27, this is unheard of. All the nurses, said, how did this happen? I really didn't have straight answer. But in all honesty, I didn't care about myself. I felt like no one REALLY cared, so I didn't care. Notice, I put the "really" in caps. I heard people say they cared, but in my mind, they were just staying face. I didn't buy it.
"What the devil meant for evil, God turned it around for my good."
The calls to my family, Facebook posts, some Instagram comments, and even a snapchat. I really felt that people cared for my well being. I can't tell y'all how happy I was to finally get out that hospital gown, and finally sleep in my own bed again. I was let out on that next Monday. That Wednesday night, I went to Watch Night at my church, Prayer and Faith Ministries COGIC where the pastor is Pastor Anderson Gray, I got a chance to testify and this time I did it. First words out my mouth, "I know if I didn't do this, I'd get a whuppin'."
Psalms 30:11-12 KJV
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
Romans 8:28 KJV
Again, I want to say thank you for all the prayers and the thoughts. As I'm typing this my weight is coming down, and my blood pressure is doing well. I've been taking my medicine and sticking to a low sodium food plan. Don't stop praying, the Lord is nigh. Don't stop praying, He'll hear your cry. For the Lord has promised, and His Word is true. Just don't stop praying, He'll answer you.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Tuesday, December 02, 2014
BE YE DOERS OF THE WORD (GIANTS WILL DIE)
1 Samuel 17:26b (GNB) "After all, who is this heathen Philistine to defy the army of the living God?"
Psalms 133:1 (GNB)"How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God's people to live together in harmony!"
U.S.A. United States of America. The country has never really been united unless a terrorist attacks. I remember 9/11 when it seemed that everyone was an American for like a week or two and then after that it was back to normal. What can I compare that to? Our denominations. When is the last time the body of Christ has ever truly united? We can't even unite on what the Bible says. We got the Baptist not liking the Pentecostal folks and vice versa. I hear all the time, "God delivered me from the baptist church." Word?
Homosexuality is not the only giant attacking the church. Don't get me wrong homosexuality needs and must be talked about, but it's not the only thing attacking the church. We got this giant of racism that needs to be dealt with. We got this giant of arrogance that needs to be dealt with. Who are the Davids to slay these giants? Who's willing to stand up these Giants with their rocks and sling shot? If Giants die, who's going to slay them? We can sing and talk about Giants dying and let's slay these giants, but there's got to be some action, right?
James 1:22-25 (GNB) "Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice. Whoever listens to the word but does not put it into practice is like a man who looks in a mirror and sees himself as he is. He takes a good look at himself and then goes away and at once forgets what he looks like. But those who look closely into the perfect law that sets people free, who keep on paying attention to it and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice — they will be blessed by God in what they do."
What am I saying? All this talking about the world is coming to an end, and we're about to get out of here is all true, but sitting down saying it over and over isn't changing a thing. Action brings change. People want to know what to do, but if you're not willing to tell them, then what? People are giving up, people are throwing in the towel, and us preaching our denominations isn't going to help. Jesus gave this command that my Pastor recently preached on, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." I didn't read that it was a baptist gospel, or Mormon gospel, or a COGIC gospel. "This gospel" refers to the gospel of Jesus Christ. So if a preacher comes to your church to give the sermon, don't worry about the denomination, worry about if he has Jesus in his heart. Is he or she filled with the spirit.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Psalms 133:1 (GNB)"How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God's people to live together in harmony!"
U.S.A. United States of America. The country has never really been united unless a terrorist attacks. I remember 9/11 when it seemed that everyone was an American for like a week or two and then after that it was back to normal. What can I compare that to? Our denominations. When is the last time the body of Christ has ever truly united? We can't even unite on what the Bible says. We got the Baptist not liking the Pentecostal folks and vice versa. I hear all the time, "God delivered me from the baptist church." Word?
Homosexuality is not the only giant attacking the church. Don't get me wrong homosexuality needs and must be talked about, but it's not the only thing attacking the church. We got this giant of racism that needs to be dealt with. We got this giant of arrogance that needs to be dealt with. Who are the Davids to slay these giants? Who's willing to stand up these Giants with their rocks and sling shot? If Giants die, who's going to slay them? We can sing and talk about Giants dying and let's slay these giants, but there's got to be some action, right?
James 1:22-25 (GNB) "Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead, put it into practice. Whoever listens to the word but does not put it into practice is like a man who looks in a mirror and sees himself as he is. He takes a good look at himself and then goes away and at once forgets what he looks like. But those who look closely into the perfect law that sets people free, who keep on paying attention to it and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice — they will be blessed by God in what they do."
What am I saying? All this talking about the world is coming to an end, and we're about to get out of here is all true, but sitting down saying it over and over isn't changing a thing. Action brings change. People want to know what to do, but if you're not willing to tell them, then what? People are giving up, people are throwing in the towel, and us preaching our denominations isn't going to help. Jesus gave this command that my Pastor recently preached on, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." I didn't read that it was a baptist gospel, or Mormon gospel, or a COGIC gospel. "This gospel" refers to the gospel of Jesus Christ. So if a preacher comes to your church to give the sermon, don't worry about the denomination, worry about if he has Jesus in his heart. Is he or she filled with the spirit.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
I'M TRIPPIN
Revelation 12:11 (GNT) They won the victory over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the truth which they proclaimed; and they were willing to give up their lives and die.
So this was a few weeks ago now, but I was working at Velux. The lunch buzzer rang and we all went to lunch, and I had a little bit of Chinese food that I had from the night before. One of the co-workers, commented on the little bit of food I had. So I responded with, "It's better than nothing." Cause I remembered when I had nothing to eat. Anyway, that led into me telling my story. Living in an extended stay, living in a Kia Sedona parking in parking lots to have some where to rest. Plus a little bit of other stuff. I knew I went through those things, but never talked about it. Never really talked about it to anybody. Not even my family or my spiritual family. I kept that stuff hidden. So after I talked with my co-workers, I felt myself tearing up. "I can't cry at work," I kept telling myself. I didn't want to cry at work because I was that kid that cried at school all the time. I really started thinking about my story, and how I was living then vs now, and realized that I was tripping. I was complaining about this and that, not being like this person or that person. Yet God brought me all that I've been through and I didn't have the courtesy to say thank you. To truly say thank you.
Anyway, and the buzzer rang and lunch was over. Went back to my post, and I was still crying. "Why can't I stop?!?" Co workers asking me what's wrong, I told the truth. Thinking about my life and how I've been trippin'. I mean I couldn't tell them nothing was wrong when they could easily see. I had to tell the truth. I told this one guy a little bit of it and he told me, "To go through what you've been through and to still be standing here working, you're a hell of a man." That helped. Then with the icing on the cake one of my other co-workers looked at me and said, "You're my role model." #waterworks I was crying like Jessie Jackson after Obama got elected the first time.
Why was I crying? Cause I know Daniel Richerson. Needless to say, I've known him my whole life. This guy is no role model. The guy that has an attitude problem. He has self esteem issues. He doesn't like his own face. He think the world is against him. He feels like he does nothing right. This guy has no right to be considered a model let alone a role model. Yet, God some how found a way...
"David was a whore monger, David was an adulterer. He was a horrible husband. He was a horrible father. But somewhere in the text it said David was a man after God's own heart." ~Kirk Franklin
In spite of all that I've done and do do, Jesus keeps on looking out for me. I don't know why He loves me so much, but He keeps on making a way. I'm not the only one that's been trippin' lately, but I can admit it. The fact that people in my life hasn't knocked me out yet is a miracle. I said all this to say don't think low of yourself. God made you for a purpose. I've heard it said, "For I was born with a purpose, placed in the Earth just to give You praise." We all don't have the same story. We all don't have the social security number. We are individually made. Be that individual God made you to be. Don't live to impress anybody. AN-Y-BOD-Y. Live so God can use you any where any time.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Friday, October 31, 2014
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
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
Friday, October 17, 2014
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)
"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)
"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)
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.
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.
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
Thursday, October 09, 2014
JESUS HAS YOUR HEART, THEN YOUR SPEECH SHOULD SHOW IT
"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." (The Bible, KJV, Luke 6:45)
We got everybody claiming to have Jesus in their hearts. If you truly have Jesus in your heart, your actions and speech should show it. That's why I have a problem with the term, "cussing Christian." I understand nobody is perfect. I get that none of us want to be judged by what we get caught doing, but I believe that showing Jesus, actually means showing Jesus. You can't show Jesus by living like the World at the same time. It is written that you can't serve both God and mammon. Choose ye this day.
We got everybody claiming to have Jesus in their hearts. If you truly have Jesus in your heart, your actions and speech should show it. That's why I have a problem with the term, "cussing Christian." I understand nobody is perfect. I get that none of us want to be judged by what we get caught doing, but I believe that showing Jesus, actually means showing Jesus. You can't show Jesus by living like the World at the same time. It is written that you can't serve both God and mammon. Choose ye this day.
If there's one thing I can't stand is that when I hear one talking some of the nastiest things that could come out of a human's mouth and then claim to have Jesus. Now I was taught that I can't question any one's salvation, but come on now. Never have I seen such lack of Jesus in the midst of Christians. Back biting, gossip, fighting, hate, and everything else. Kurt Carr has a song that says, "We got to put Jesus back number one."
Now let me put this out there for anybody that may be reading these for the first time. When I talk about Jesus, I'm not talking about religion. In religion there's no personal relationship. Never once have I heard somebody say, Buddha just told me...or Muhammad just told me...cause dead people can't talk. Jesus is alive and doing well as I heard it said one time. Why put faith in something that's dead when you can be serving and believing in who is alive?
Let me go back to putting Jesus number one. Jesus never fails. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but Jesus never fails. That alone should be reason enough to put and leave Jesus number one. If Jesus is in your heart then speak Jesus. Stop trying to give Jesus a roommate. We want Jesus in our hearts but don't want to stop cussing, stop lusting, or stop anything else that is unholy. I'm not saying we got to be perfect, but we got to stop purposely making the wrong choices. We got to stop blaming the devil over the choices we make. It is written that if we resist the devil then he will flee.
If Jesus is in your heart, then let him have it.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)