Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Patience is a Virtue
Ok. So I have decided on a BIG PROJECT I am going to pick up for next year, but I am not going to spill the beans just yet. I have a feeling that next year is going to be really loaded for me, but in a good and exciting way. Hhhmmm, maybe double major in Communications and History and minor in Human Services? Human Services is what ScholarCHIPS is anyhow, right? Maybe pick up being a reporter for the Elon news station? To close out this year, I will write a few pieces for the Pendulum. I am really frustrated, because my phone is not working. I need to buy a new one, but Wells Fargo is being so slow in transferring money! Ggeeshh, what's their problem?! lol Also, as a writer I am having a hard time tracking my impact, because I do not get much feedback if any anymore. The next step is increasing my audience, which can be even harder. I have emailed magazines and orgs, but no responses. I'm currently applying for grants for ScholarCHIPS. We are moving our website from a host site to THE REAL DEAL! Progress in any situation definitely calls for a ton of patience...whether it be having a broken cell phone or planning an event to expanding your audience.
I will be just fine though. I dont know if I already told you or not, but this summer I have an internship with PBS! You probably watched PBS cartoons and documentaries growing up and didn't even know it...Sesame Street, Arthur, In Between the Lions, Reading Rainbow...and documentaries like Eyes on the Prize. PBS is the biggest broadcasting station in the US! Im excited. I pray that the floodgates of opportunity will pour open this summer. I certainly need it. I feel like Tyler Perry. So many people and places continuously rejected him and ignored him FOR YEARS, but he never ever ever gave up and look @ him now...whether you love or hate his work, you know who he is don't you? You've heard his name, haven't you? now let me set the record straight...my hunting for opportunities is in no way a pursuit of self-promotion. I simply want to do what I love and touch/transform the lives of people in which I know, through Christ, I have the capacity to do. I want to do things that I love and provide a better, amazing future for my children and family. I do not want to live average. Have a regular 9-5, or even be a multi-micro business person with 50 different titles. I want to do one big thing and do it awesome and do it like no one else! I want to serve unreached, unserved communities. And bring people out of low self-esteem, suicidal mindsets....
The passion burns so bad it almost kills me. I just know that in whatever way my breakthrough comes, it will come from God and God alone. I want to take my grandma on cruises whenever I want and own timeshares on beach fronts and bank accounts on islands just like the other rich folks riding around here. I want to give big tithe checks to my church and travel on mission trips and have a fabulous wedding. I know it will come in time. I have too high of expectations for my life, from my awesome God, and for my children! Patience is truly a virtue, I have yet to fully grasp.
PS: I have taken to listening to SMOOTH JAZZ on PANDORA. I LOVE IT! Smooth Jazz really clams my spirit and makes me feel like I'm Flying. lol it helps me to sort my thoughts and be positive. It always reminds me of those late night car rides on the highway when it's raining, with my eyes closed in the back seat listening to that smmmmmmooooottthhh jjjaaazzzz! oh yeah!
I will be just fine though. I dont know if I already told you or not, but this summer I have an internship with PBS! You probably watched PBS cartoons and documentaries growing up and didn't even know it...Sesame Street, Arthur, In Between the Lions, Reading Rainbow...and documentaries like Eyes on the Prize. PBS is the biggest broadcasting station in the US! Im excited. I pray that the floodgates of opportunity will pour open this summer. I certainly need it. I feel like Tyler Perry. So many people and places continuously rejected him and ignored him FOR YEARS, but he never ever ever gave up and look @ him now...whether you love or hate his work, you know who he is don't you? You've heard his name, haven't you? now let me set the record straight...my hunting for opportunities is in no way a pursuit of self-promotion. I simply want to do what I love and touch/transform the lives of people in which I know, through Christ, I have the capacity to do. I want to do things that I love and provide a better, amazing future for my children and family. I do not want to live average. Have a regular 9-5, or even be a multi-micro business person with 50 different titles. I want to do one big thing and do it awesome and do it like no one else! I want to serve unreached, unserved communities. And bring people out of low self-esteem, suicidal mindsets....
The passion burns so bad it almost kills me. I just know that in whatever way my breakthrough comes, it will come from God and God alone. I want to take my grandma on cruises whenever I want and own timeshares on beach fronts and bank accounts on islands just like the other rich folks riding around here. I want to give big tithe checks to my church and travel on mission trips and have a fabulous wedding. I know it will come in time. I have too high of expectations for my life, from my awesome God, and for my children! Patience is truly a virtue, I have yet to fully grasp.
PS: I have taken to listening to SMOOTH JAZZ on PANDORA. I LOVE IT! Smooth Jazz really clams my spirit and makes me feel like I'm Flying. lol it helps me to sort my thoughts and be positive. It always reminds me of those late night car rides on the highway when it's raining, with my eyes closed in the back seat listening to that smmmmmmooooottthhh jjjaaazzzz! oh yeah!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
From Rwanda's Genocide to Homosexuality in the Church: There is Healing Oil
Well, my freshman year is coming to a close. It was a fun run, and a growing experience. Right now, I am enjoying this time in my college life. As you know I only have two classes, and I have a lot more time to read (for my own personal interest), to think, to learn about events and issues outside of my small little bubble of Elon, religion, etc. To add to my time, my phone broke the other day so I do not have the stress of constantly checking my phone, calling, returning calls and/or texts. It's actually a weirdly nice relief. Anyways, I just watched the movie "Once Upon a Time, When We Were Colored." You can imagine what the movie was about (Im about to read the book), but I enjoyed it so much, aside from the fact it had so many great actors in it, because it showed the great hope and joy we found in the Lord and each other back in the day. Though things were tough--hardly any clothes, not much food, not much money, we took great pride in our education, our churches, and our boxer Joe Louis:) It was a celebratory movie!
I also watched a PBS documentary called "Ghosts of Rwanda." It was very informative about the genocide in Rwanda and told the sad, yet apparent truth about how the British and Americans alike evacuated all the whites and wanted nothing to do with it at all. The only White American who stayed in Rwanda after the evacuation was an adventist named Carl Wilkins (who wrote "I'm Not Leaving," which I also plan to read). The UN here in the US refrained from calling it a genocide, because if it called it that, the UN would be required to take action and send peace troops. This definition of genocide and requirement to act anywhere in the world a genocide takes place was a result of the Holocaust. How could it be denied that there was a Holocaust in Rwanda if in only 100 days, 800,000 + innocent Rwandan civilians were slaughtered? American gov's honest reaction to events such as this is, "We will only participate it it is of interest/benefit to the US." A gov. official @ the time said, "We [Americans] do not have friends, we only have interests." This is a crying shame, but apparently, its the name of the game.
I also just finished a book tonight called "The Church's Official Response to the Epidemic of DownLow Living in the Church: Straight Up," by Pastor Michael Stevens who is in fact not far from me @ Elon, pastoring University City Church in Charlotte, NC. It talked about a topic Black churches so often overlook. There are so many black men in the church struggling with their sexuality and Pastor Michael constantly poses the questions "Do we have healing oil for these men?" The answer is YES! But churches have to be willing and open to believing that God can deliver these men back to His original purpose for them. In the beginning God created man and then created a women for the man. Pastor Stevens elaborates on the fact that many now have convinced themselves that homosexuality is a "gene" or strictly a "mind thing," when it is without a doubt a "spiritual/soul thing." The church must not be condemning, but honest about this issue sticking to what the scriptures say and these men must be transparent with themselves as well as the strong, manly, men in leadership in the church about their problems. I know you are wondering...Yasmine, why are you reading this? Why are you concerned? Well, 1) I am faithful, and strong in my Christian faith, 2) Like pastor Stevens, I notice this is a problem that is only manifesting...with many churches recently ordaining gay marriages and even further supporting laws that grant equal rights to these marriages. How can a church possibly ordain an act that is obviously hated and despised by God? It is not His will that these men be condemned, but that they be saved from their twisted mentalities and returned to the original purpose of headship the Lord originally created men for. In relation to me...Lastly, yes I am a Black unmarried Christian female and this trend among men concerns me and a lot of this behavior is actually learned in jail, where my father was for so many years. Perhaps delving into this issue will help me one day transform the lives of confused men (and women) and broken marriages when I step into the ministry God has called me to.
I plan to continue to read more on this issue and other forms of deception in the church, as well as Black history in America, and African history (on the continent) primarily. There is this book I plan to purchase called "Crooks and Homos in the Pulpit." There is a movie grandma brought to my attention coming out soon called "The UnderShepherd"that addresses such issues. In these last few years, many pastors have been exposed for their hypocritical behavior and homosexual activities specifically. It is long overdue that we began to peel back the layers and discover the root of the issue and cease concealing them. How are we to truly be or claim we are set apart and the light of the world and the salt of the earth and a peculiar people and the seeds of Abraham, if the world is seeing us do these things? I am well aware that events such as genocides even down to the issue of downlow living in the church are all of spiritual warfare. These issues are not of God, but are man-made, manifested from the devil himself. I heard the quote in Sunday school today..."THIS generation of saints, is accountable for THIS generation of souls." I have grown so much since last year in a number of ways. There is no turning back for me...WHAT A BLESSING IT IS TO BE YOUNG, BLACK AND BEAUTIFUL...IN COLLEGE! :)
I also watched a PBS documentary called "Ghosts of Rwanda." It was very informative about the genocide in Rwanda and told the sad, yet apparent truth about how the British and Americans alike evacuated all the whites and wanted nothing to do with it at all. The only White American who stayed in Rwanda after the evacuation was an adventist named Carl Wilkins (who wrote "I'm Not Leaving," which I also plan to read). The UN here in the US refrained from calling it a genocide, because if it called it that, the UN would be required to take action and send peace troops. This definition of genocide and requirement to act anywhere in the world a genocide takes place was a result of the Holocaust. How could it be denied that there was a Holocaust in Rwanda if in only 100 days, 800,000 + innocent Rwandan civilians were slaughtered? American gov's honest reaction to events such as this is, "We will only participate it it is of interest/benefit to the US." A gov. official @ the time said, "We [Americans] do not have friends, we only have interests." This is a crying shame, but apparently, its the name of the game.
I also just finished a book tonight called "The Church's Official Response to the Epidemic of DownLow Living in the Church: Straight Up," by Pastor Michael Stevens who is in fact not far from me @ Elon, pastoring University City Church in Charlotte, NC. It talked about a topic Black churches so often overlook. There are so many black men in the church struggling with their sexuality and Pastor Michael constantly poses the questions "Do we have healing oil for these men?" The answer is YES! But churches have to be willing and open to believing that God can deliver these men back to His original purpose for them. In the beginning God created man and then created a women for the man. Pastor Stevens elaborates on the fact that many now have convinced themselves that homosexuality is a "gene" or strictly a "mind thing," when it is without a doubt a "spiritual/soul thing." The church must not be condemning, but honest about this issue sticking to what the scriptures say and these men must be transparent with themselves as well as the strong, manly, men in leadership in the church about their problems. I know you are wondering...Yasmine, why are you reading this? Why are you concerned? Well, 1) I am faithful, and strong in my Christian faith, 2) Like pastor Stevens, I notice this is a problem that is only manifesting...with many churches recently ordaining gay marriages and even further supporting laws that grant equal rights to these marriages. How can a church possibly ordain an act that is obviously hated and despised by God? It is not His will that these men be condemned, but that they be saved from their twisted mentalities and returned to the original purpose of headship the Lord originally created men for. In relation to me...Lastly, yes I am a Black unmarried Christian female and this trend among men concerns me and a lot of this behavior is actually learned in jail, where my father was for so many years. Perhaps delving into this issue will help me one day transform the lives of confused men (and women) and broken marriages when I step into the ministry God has called me to.
I plan to continue to read more on this issue and other forms of deception in the church, as well as Black history in America, and African history (on the continent) primarily. There is this book I plan to purchase called "Crooks and Homos in the Pulpit." There is a movie grandma brought to my attention coming out soon called "The UnderShepherd"that addresses such issues. In these last few years, many pastors have been exposed for their hypocritical behavior and homosexual activities specifically. It is long overdue that we began to peel back the layers and discover the root of the issue and cease concealing them. How are we to truly be or claim we are set apart and the light of the world and the salt of the earth and a peculiar people and the seeds of Abraham, if the world is seeing us do these things? I am well aware that events such as genocides even down to the issue of downlow living in the church are all of spiritual warfare. These issues are not of God, but are man-made, manifested from the devil himself. I heard the quote in Sunday school today..."THIS generation of saints, is accountable for THIS generation of souls." I have grown so much since last year in a number of ways. There is no turning back for me...WHAT A BLESSING IT IS TO BE YOUNG, BLACK AND BEAUTIFUL...IN COLLEGE! :)
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
My Next BIG PROJECT? I NEED YOU!
Dear Beautiful/Handsome,
I need your participation this time. No silence. No hiding. lol I am back in school and there are only a couple months before my freshman year is a wrap! However, for the rest of the semester I only have two classes, Global Experience and African History. The other two classes were only half semester courses. This means that I will have a significant amount of time on my hands and I need your help so I can decide how to maximize this baby! I want to use all this spare time to work on something, big and something FUN! I am thinking things along the lines of...writing a play script/movie script, seeking ways to make my Youtube channel more professional, plan out a research project and apply for grant money from Elon for next year to complete it (ie: $ for research to do a documentary on teens with incarcerated parents and maybe make it like a movie/documentary with a few actors? and then submit it to big competitions/movie festivals?), seek out acting roles in NC, write some God-inspired poems (like the real deal), maybe become certified to be a personal fitness trainer @ Elon? SO MANY EXCITING IDEAS...What do you think? Apply for a tv program like Brave New Voices? I know I cannot do everything, but I want to step out of my comfort zone and experiment while I am not working and have a light academic load. Facebook message me, email me, or comment below and tell me your ideas for YAZZIE'S NEXT BIG PROJECT...?
I need your participation this time. No silence. No hiding. lol I am back in school and there are only a couple months before my freshman year is a wrap! However, for the rest of the semester I only have two classes, Global Experience and African History. The other two classes were only half semester courses. This means that I will have a significant amount of time on my hands and I need your help so I can decide how to maximize this baby! I want to use all this spare time to work on something, big and something FUN! I am thinking things along the lines of...writing a play script/movie script, seeking ways to make my Youtube channel more professional, plan out a research project and apply for grant money from Elon for next year to complete it (ie: $ for research to do a documentary on teens with incarcerated parents and maybe make it like a movie/documentary with a few actors? and then submit it to big competitions/movie festivals?), seek out acting roles in NC, write some God-inspired poems (like the real deal), maybe become certified to be a personal fitness trainer @ Elon? SO MANY EXCITING IDEAS...What do you think? Apply for a tv program like Brave New Voices? I know I cannot do everything, but I want to step out of my comfort zone and experiment while I am not working and have a light academic load. Facebook message me, email me, or comment below and tell me your ideas for YAZZIE'S NEXT BIG PROJECT...?
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Jada Pinkett's New Song "Burn" and Lil' Kim Performing Live?
Ok. Jada Pinkett just made a song release called "Burn." She says it's a dedication to her "husband" Will Smith she is supposed to be divorcing; she is singing about how much she loves him. In my opinion, it sounds absolutely horrible. Her daughter Williow Smith sings better. haha Honestly, I am not so sure that singing a song is going to heal a marriage filled with infidelity, but who knows...it worked for Chris brown and Rihanna. Then, I just saw on Facebook Lil' Kim doing a performance for BET'S Rip the Runway. She looks good physically. I haven't seen her do live performances in years. I honestly think she is competing with Nicky Minaj, as she wore the skin tight half see-through body suit, as Minaj always wears. For Lil' Kim's age, physically she looks very good. I am not going to comment on the trashy clothing though. Why can't some female singers take pointers from Adele...she dresses so classy!
Lastly, I just did a Youtube video on my favorite things! Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMaozPRMOJo
Lastly, I just did a Youtube video on my favorite things! Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMaozPRMOJo
Friday, March 23, 2012
Trayvon Martin (one of many), Whitney Houston, and Actor Marcus Patrick
I am sure you guys are wondering why I have not touched on the Trayvon Martin case. Well here goes. I learned a couple of things today. I do not have much to say about the Trayvon Martin case...mainly because you already know what I am going to say. It is terribly sad, but honestly this happens all the time. Racist white police officers shoot down innocent black men simply walking down the street all the time. I know a Black lady at my home church who not too long ago had a young cousin or nephew who was shot down by the police and he did absolutely nothing. Trayvon Martin is one of the hundreds who made the tabloids. Unfortunately racism will never stop, and when both power and a weapon are given to someone with the wrong motives and a blindfold of hate, you can be assured that a tragedy is destined to happen. I send my condolences out to his family. You just never know. He was so young.
Here is a link to President Obama commenting on the Trayvon Martin case: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efZNgSEpB1k&feature=share
Since we are on the topic of deaths, the papers released "the reasons behind Whitney Houston's death." They say she had cocaine and water in her system, which led to her demise. I do not believe this whole-heartedly because I strongly believe that the Illuminati did some serious manipulating in this story. On yahoo news some time back, reporters stated that Illuminati members who were also at the awards ceremony that night told authorities to hold her body in the hotel room until after the awards ceremony was over. Oh yes and out of all people some, young pretty boy, R&B singer who had no business dating Whitney, just so happened to find her in the bathtub...? hhhmmm I do not take what the news or papers report for 100% truth anymore, not even 50%. Don't take my word for it, do your own research you may be surprised what you find.
Lastly, something I discovered I did not know, handsome Black actor/body builder/model Marcus Patrick is gay. Apparently this is not a new fact, but I am just finding out. He is called "one of the most beautiful men in the world," born of Jamaican and Irish parents. He did a seriously controversial photo shoot for Playgirl Magazine in 2007 and has played in several movies ("LOVE and Other Four Letter Words") and sitcoms ("Days of Our Lives" and "My Wife and Kids"). He was honored @ what is called the Blatino Oasis back in 2009. It was hosted by MBA player for the RockDogs, Mike Survillion. They say he is the only out gay professional basketball player and narrator of MTV reality show "Shirts and Skins." Is he really the ONLY one? I am not going to comment much, because you already know what I think. So many rich, beautiful men not interested in women...oh, what's a woman to do?! lol, no seriously....???? I cannot judge, I can only wonder......
GAME OVER! haha, No Just Spring Break.
Hey beautiful...hey handsome. How are you? Well I hope! As for me, this morning I feel like a writer...I feel inspired. While my roommates are snoring away and the sun is slowing rising and the birds are chirping their praises...here I am, writing to you. Elon Gospel Choir Tour 2012 is coming to an end now. It was an amazing experience. How can you not have an amazing experience in Orlando, Florida and Cocoa Beach? lol We did a little bit of everything. Aside from the beach, we went shopping at one of the big mall outlets...you know, those elaborate ones they always drop dead in the center of the fancy resorts. I always think it's so funny how things in America are always set up so that you will always buy more and convince yourself you need something, especially because it is 'on sale,' when you really don't. They get me every time. haha. We also went to eat at Chipotle (yyuumm) followed by bowling. That same morning we went to IHOP and the boys and girls split up. I lead the girls' or better yet Women's Bible study. When I was asked, I laughed to myself. I was willing though. God ALWAYS makes me do something when I least expect it or when I do not want to do something. I realize, that those are the times when He can get the most out of you. I believe that God does have a sense of humor, as knowledge, emotion and humor separate humans from every other living thing. We also did community service @ the Salvation Army.
Anyhow, the Lord led me to Ephesians 4 "Unity in the Body." Without unity, we all fall. It is so important in this ministry to be unified. The discussion was fantastic and eye-opening. I will not get too deep into it because I want you to read Ephesians 4 yourself, and tell me what you got out of it! We learn best form each other. (Aside from this, I have to mention, I got a final grade A in my Public Speaking class!) I will never forget that the teacher wrote on my first evaluation that "Good Afternoon" is not an effective attention getter. I was thinking, WHAT? WELL GEESSS! I can't even greet my peers with a good 'ol American Good Afternoon? That was not even a part of my "clincher/hook" as they call it. Lol That class was too funny. It stressed me out in a crazy, funny way. There was another time my professor wrote your visual aid was too busy. I thought, "IT'S A COLLAGE!" That class was too funny guys.
Ok now back to Gospel Tour...guys, if this week was not a test of my patience, I do not know what was. I love them dearly, but my Black folks are never on time for anything. Not even food apparently. haha. I mean this in a light-hearted way. It's so bad that the leaders have to tell us to be somewhere two hours ahead of the actual time we need to be somewhere so people get there on time! lol My grandma didn't play that! Our thing was, you want people to be respectful of your time and value your time, so be respectful of theirs. This is a career/professional rule of thumb for me. I got close to some amazing and inspirational people. To see God using all of our various talents, strengths, and even weaknesses for a higher purpose greater than ourselves is so inspiring and humbling. Our musicians keep making fun of me and my BBLLLOOOGGG! (One of them, our drummer, who we call Juice lol, I discovered had dreams of possibly being a pro-football player, but God had other plans for him and He's here with us.) I have yet to find out our pianist's story and how he got here. I got to get him to say something other than 'BLOG' first. haha. jk. It was all good and fun...I mean, what can I say? Blogging is what's hot right now on the block of social media! If you can't bet 'em, join 'em, no better yet, reshape 'em.
Well anyways, enough of my tangents, its adios to the care-free, socializing, warm-weather, beaching Spring Break and back to the ultimate reason I'm here in the first place. The only reason I can sustain my theme! lol If you are reading this from email, I posted a few Spring Break pictures to the blog. Check em out! Love you lots. Stay encouraged and lovely, just the way you are:) Til next time, Love Always, YAZZIE
Anyhow, the Lord led me to Ephesians 4 "Unity in the Body." Without unity, we all fall. It is so important in this ministry to be unified. The discussion was fantastic and eye-opening. I will not get too deep into it because I want you to read Ephesians 4 yourself, and tell me what you got out of it! We learn best form each other. (Aside from this, I have to mention, I got a final grade A in my Public Speaking class!) I will never forget that the teacher wrote on my first evaluation that "Good Afternoon" is not an effective attention getter. I was thinking, WHAT? WELL GEESSS! I can't even greet my peers with a good 'ol American Good Afternoon? That was not even a part of my "clincher/hook" as they call it. Lol That class was too funny. It stressed me out in a crazy, funny way. There was another time my professor wrote your visual aid was too busy. I thought, "IT'S A COLLAGE!" That class was too funny guys.
Ok now back to Gospel Tour...guys, if this week was not a test of my patience, I do not know what was. I love them dearly, but my Black folks are never on time for anything. Not even food apparently. haha. I mean this in a light-hearted way. It's so bad that the leaders have to tell us to be somewhere two hours ahead of the actual time we need to be somewhere so people get there on time! lol My grandma didn't play that! Our thing was, you want people to be respectful of your time and value your time, so be respectful of theirs. This is a career/professional rule of thumb for me. I got close to some amazing and inspirational people. To see God using all of our various talents, strengths, and even weaknesses for a higher purpose greater than ourselves is so inspiring and humbling. Our musicians keep making fun of me and my BBLLLOOOGGG! (One of them, our drummer, who we call Juice lol, I discovered had dreams of possibly being a pro-football player, but God had other plans for him and He's here with us.) I have yet to find out our pianist's story and how he got here. I got to get him to say something other than 'BLOG' first. haha. jk. It was all good and fun...I mean, what can I say? Blogging is what's hot right now on the block of social media! If you can't bet 'em, join 'em, no better yet, reshape 'em.
Well anyways, enough of my tangents, its adios to the care-free, socializing, warm-weather, beaching Spring Break and back to the ultimate reason I'm here in the first place. The only reason I can sustain my theme! lol If you are reading this from email, I posted a few Spring Break pictures to the blog. Check em out! Love you lots. Stay encouraged and lovely, just the way you are:) Til next time, Love Always, YAZZIE
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)