Monthly Archives: June 2020

The game plan is transparent, tired and old.

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Hey Trump your game plan is transparent,
tired and old.

You say Law and Order
You mean People of Color
are out of control but I’ll
put them back in their place.

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You say Protect our History & culture
You mean people of color want to
stop glorifying men  who fought
to maintain slavery.
Not on my watch.

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You say you didn’t hear them yell white power.
You mean of course I heard them say
white power. I was just confirming
to my base where I stand on the issue.

But you better look again.
Your base Is shrinking.
The Coalition of the Righteous is growing.

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We’re tired of you trying to divide us
based on ethnicity and skin color.

We’re not going to stop saying
BLACK LIVES MATTER

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We’re not going to stop demanding
meaningful police reform that roots out bad cops and ends police brutality.

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We’re not going anywhere but
come November you are.
Out of the White House because
we’re not going to give you
four more years to spread
your division and hate.

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You know what being a true Christian is?

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Do you know what being a true Christian is? It is never having to announce to the world you are Christian. Many who called themselves Christians feel the need to announce to everyone that they are Christians.

But are they?

Maybe they thought they think they are, but their actions and deeds speak louder than their words. It shows all who are willing to see who they truly are, and it is not a Christian.

A true Christian shows through their actions and deeds that they walk in the steps of the Lord Jesus Christ, that they love their fellow man, that they do not hoard material things at the expense of their fellow man when they are going through a tough time.

With true Christians, no one ever has to ask if they walk the path that Jesus has laid out because it is evident. With those who only speak the words, people have to ask because they cannot see it. No one sees faith when a little rain fell in their lives. No one sees them willingly help their fellow man in need but instead see them turn away.

So how do we deal with those who only speak of knowing the Lord but fail to walk the path the Lord would want them to. I would say we do nothing as we cannot impose true faith on someone, true faith cannot be found in everyone, and it not for us to judge them as it is written in Romans 14:1–13:

14 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master1 that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since she gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess2 to God.” 12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Do Not Cause Another to Stumble 13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

So let us go forward as true Christians walking the path as shining examples to others of what the Lord would want us all to be. For it is through our actions, not words, that we show others the true way to spirituality, and in our actions, others may follow.

White Power? It’s 2020 right and the President is promoting white power

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My political views are no secret, but this is not political this is deeply personal.
The President of the United States of America just proudly posted a video of Trump supporters screaming White Power.
Again, the President of the United States of America just proudly posted a video of Trump supporters screaming White Power.
My United States of America!
Despite being marginalized, terrorized, and killed simply because of their skin color, the country, my ancestors have defended in war. Without their contributions, this country would not be nearly what it is today.
This should convince every person, and I mean every single person of color, to register and vote for Biden as well as any member of the GOP who enable him. It’s now it’s at the point if you’re not a person of color and you tell me you support him or remain silent on the issue, I have to assume you, too, are racist.
Too many people of color have suffered.
Too many people of color have been unjustly treated.
Too many people of color have been terrorized and KILLED by people screaming those same words!
SILENCE IS NOT AN OPTION!

So Pence was half right

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Do you know what being a true Christian is? It is never having to announce to the world you are Christian. Many who called themselves Christians feel the need to announce to everyone that they are Christians.

But are they?

Maybe they thought they think they are, but their actions and deeds speak louder than their words. It shows all who are willing to see who they truly are, and it is not a Christian.

A true Christian shows through their actions and deeds that they walk in the steps of the Lord Jesus Christ, that they love their fellow man, that they do not hoard material things at the expense of their fellow man when they are going through a tough time.

With true Christians, no one ever has to ask if they walk the path that Jesus has laid out because it is evident. With those who only speak the words, people have to ask because they cannot see it. No one sees faith when a little rain fell in their lives. No one sees them willingly help their fellow man in need but instead see them turn away.

So how do we deal with those who only speak of knowing the Lord but fail to walk the path the Lord would want them to. I would say we do nothing as we cannot impose true faith on someone, true faith cannot be found in everyone, and it not for us to judge them as it is written in Romans 14:1–13:

14 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master1 that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since she gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess2 to God.” 12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Do Not Cause Another to Stumble 13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

So let us go forward as true Christians walking the path as shining examples to others of what the Lord would want us all to be. Through our actions, not words, we show others the true way to spirituality. In our actions, others may follow. At today’s press conference on the Coronavirus, Vice President Pence painted an unrealistic rosy picture and, seemingly eschewing science, which he has been prone to do, never recommended that we wear masks. He did, however, say several times that we should pray. Now let’s be clear we should wear masks, we should practice social distancing, we should avoid large gatherings, and we should do all those things because it has proven to be the best way to slow the spread of the virus and make no mistake the Lord does expect that we will take care of ourselves. That we will treat ourselves with love and consideration. Because as it is written in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

So Pence was half right.

We must do what is medically prudent to protect ourselves. However, it would be wrong to openly dismiss or mock his calling for us to pray as a nation. After all, prayer is a potent tool, and if we have faith in HIM, the Lord is our most powerful ally. 1 John 5:14-15 states:

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

We know that it is precisely in times like this that Satan will try to shake the faith of even the strongest. He will ask them to look to the heavens and ask the Lord, why have you forsaken us. But it also precisely at these times that we must lean on our faith, open our hearts and remember that we are children of the Lord, and even if we do not understand why some things are taking place, know this, HE still walks with us, still breathes life into us each day. HE does so because HE loves us and will never turn away from us. The Bible tells us this in many verses, including Deuteronomy 31:8:

8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

And Isaiah 41:10:

10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

When I have doubt when my body is weakened from illness and fear creeps into my mind, it is at those times that I call on my faith to strengthen me and guide me back to my spiritual journey. I empty my mind, close my eyes and talk to the Lord. I tell HIM that I believe in HIM, his son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, and it is with this faith that I cast aside my fears and replace them with the belief that it is at HIS hand that I shall be healed. But I am also acutely aware that prayer for prayer’s sake is not enough. I must remember that my prayers can only work to revive my mind, body, and soul with the Lord, and I can only be with the Lord if I genuinely have faith in HIM.

So in these troubling times, take the necessary steps to protect yourself and those around you. But also believe and lean on your faith. Take the Vice President’s advice and pray because the Lord is listening.

A Few Bad Men

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Donald Trump, we live in a world that has walls of racial inequities and injustices, and those walls have to be torn down by groups like ours. Who’s gonna do it for you? You Mitch McConnell? We have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You fight to “Make America Great Again,” and you curse Black Lives Matter. You have the luxury. You have the luxury of not experiencing what we do every day, that Racism, while seemingly invisible to you, is an inherent part of American culture and our existence while grotesque and incomprehensible, to you, is about making America live up to its promise that all people are created equal, about FINALLY MAKING AMERICA GREAT. We have neither the time nor the inclination to explain ourselves to a man who rises and sleeps under the freedoms of white privilege and then questions why we demand equality! We’d rather you just said ‘thank you’ and went on your way. Otherwise, We suggest you wake up and join us in the ever-expanding Coalition of the Righteous and stand for equality. Either way, we don’t give a damn what you think you makes America great.

My Dad he still protects me

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As Father’s Day draws to a close I look back on this picture. I am too young to have any memories of this moment but as I look upon it I feel the love that my father always had for me as he holds me in his arms. Protecting me from danger as he would do until the day he left this earth. Now years after his going home to be with the Lord I can still feel myself being protected by him as if I was still being carried in his arms. I still feel his love and while I miss him every day I have no doubt that whenever the need arises in my life he is there for me spiritually. Guiding me and protecting me.99E85C6E-700F-4984-897D-8F6BF2F5F2AD

A Little Rain Is Not Going To Ruin Our Day

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Reposting in honor of my hero, my dad and one of the fondest memories I have of us.

Saturday morning October 1, 1977 the sky is not blue in fact it’s very very grey and the rain has already started to fall. 11 year old Carl looked out the window sadden, after all today was the day he was supposed to go to the big ballpark in the Bronx to see his favorite team the New York Yankees clinch the American League East. But my dad was not about to let a little rain ruin his son’s day. Let’s go he said and we headed out. We waited for the BX55 to 161st Street in the rain and while we waited and again on the ride my dad assured me that a little rain wasn’t going to ruin our day. We got to the Stadium and the tarp was still on the field. The thought that they would play a game was looking bleaker and bleaker. But then my dad said look at the scoreboard. Suddenly thousands of rain soaked fans were mesmerized by the scoreboard. Baltimore was playing Boston and if Baltimore won the Yankees clinched. It was starting to rain harder and my dad could easily have said we’re going home but he didn’t instead he said look at the dot (indicating which team was batting) it’s been on Baltimore for a while, they must be having a big inning (this is how we did it before smart phones) and when the scoreboard confirmed just that we would smile at each other and high five. Baltimore would eventually win 8-7 and the Yankees were AL East champions. My dad and I sat in the rain bonding over scoreboard updates and celebrating the Yankee winning the division without the Yankees ever taking the field. They eventually played the game, Yanks lost 10-7 to the Tigers, we were long gone by then but it didn’t matter because little 11 year old Carl was as happy as can be. My dad had assured me a little rain wasn’t going to ruin our day and he was right, he made sure of it. That why he was my dad!

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY CHARLES W. COOKE YOU WERE THE BEST!

DAD1

The Song of the Birds

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The last few mornings, I woke up at the ridiculous hour of 5:00 am. Lying in my bed, attempting to drift back off to the peaceful bliss of sleep for a few more hours, I could not help but notice the sound of birds chirping outside my window. I thought to myself, I never hear these birds any other time of the day, but every morning rain or shine as the Sun makes its appearance in the morning sky, these birds begin their song like clockwork. Their song is but one of the many things all around us that despite a worldwide pandemic, racial unrest, and an economy that has seen tens of millions lose their jobs, we take for granted. Their song is a message that despite all the chaos in the world today, the Sun still rises in the east, the Earth still circles the Sun, and the birds still sing. Being single with a pre-existing heart condition, I often find myself physically alone as well as alone in my thoughts these days, and despite being blessed in so many ways that it is hard to quantify, there are times I find myself questioning why. Why have I never been able to find that special someone to spend my life with? Why have I not been blessed with the gift of a child? Why do I have this heart condition? Have I done something so wrong in my life that I’m being punished? I know I have not lived a perfect life. I know I have sinned, but I am only human, and in the grand scheme of things, I have lived a good life, tried to do what is right, and help others where I could. So why? But as I laid there this morning alone in my thoughts, I listened to the bird’s song and realized that despite everything, their song was a blessing, their song told me that the Lord had breathed life into my nostrils so that I may see another day and hear their song. While my life may not have gone according to some abstract blueprint I put together in my mind, I was blessed to wake each morning and hear the song of the birds. A song that, for the first time, I could hear. A song that reminded me of all that I am blessed to have, things that that I sometimes take for granted. A song that reminded me that the Lord is always with me, walking beside me, guiding me, protecting me, and with that thought, I smiled and drifted back to sleep to the song of the birds.