Crunch Time
UGST Is Down the Road
Ay, ay, ay! UGST time is quickly approaching. In approximately 4 days, I will be on the road, STL-bound. I’m still finishing up the last book I have to read for my last response paper, all of which are due no later than the first day of class, which is Monday. Crazy. I’m over halfway done, though. I’ll make it. Was Paul imprisoned in Rome or Ephesus when he wrote the letters in captivity? Was Galatians addressed to the inhabitants of Northern or Southern Galatia? Was Paul always single, or was he a widower? Which came first, the chicken or the egg? How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Some things we'll never know the answers to.
School Is Wrapping Up
School is also coming to a rapid end. Today is the last full day, Thursday is a half-day, and Friday is a teacher in-service day. We’re all scrambling to get our grades in, reorganizing, shifting, throwing away, packing up, and rearranging. Fun, fun. One of my new year’s resolutions was to start working out, but frankly, I get enough exercise at work, youknaamean? I’m soooo looking forward to a 2-month break, which, considering my plans (UGST, Minneapolis, seeing family in PA, visiting friends in GA, finally moving out), might not be much of a break, but ah, well. Least we’re still getting paid.
Desperate?
But back to UGST . . . I’m still pondering over what possessed me to want to do it. I know, I talked about the whole “fervent about God, fervent about education” thing, and that still holds true, but sometimes I wonder am I that desperate for a change of scene that I’m willing to take an 8 ½ hour road trip and a graduate-level theology course just to get away? Sheesh, there are easier ways.
And Then . . . the Inevitable
What ever do I mean? Upon telling church people what my plans are for the summer when asked, many of them get that knowing look and gleam in their eye and say something to the effect of, “You might go up there and meet some nice young man and not come back.” (sigh) I guess it’s the fate of every unattached young lady to be subjected to church folk speculation about “meeting someone.” I guess they see my fresh, young face and my bare, ringless fingers and can’t help themselves.
Oh, and the church folk speculation bleeds over into co-worker speculation. I can’t go a day without being assured of the new band director’s attractiveness and energy and intelligence and supposed compatibility with me. You just have to meet him! I haven’t yet, but teacher in-service for the new school year will roll around soon enough, and then I won’t be able to escape it. But I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.
Maiden, I Say Unto Thee—Get Out of the Box!
Back to UGST again. Sometimes I really feel like, “God, what am I doing? Am I outside my mind?” But then the realization slowly flows through me that there comes a time where you just need to get out of the box. (And it may include getting outside your mind.)
Spanish word/phrase of the day: loco (LOH-koh) = crazy
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!
posted by 99 Blogger @ 12:00 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
chantell,
Don't think for one second that any comment that I posted under ms.anonymous was posted to offend you. Those comments were not at all meant to offend you or any other black person. But I myself and many other black christians I know have been offended by "certain" organizational preachers because of our race and our culture.I was just bringing the truth to the light. And if you want a change of scene ,nothing is wrong with that.Sometimes a change of atmosphere can free you mentally,and spiritually.And to all of my white brethren I truly apologize if my comments offended some of you,I'm not a racist,but when I was attending a "certain" organizational church, I was really seeking holiness and I was very proud to be attending a interracial church.I was really appreciating the holiness standards such as; dress,and modesty,but I soon found out that standards doesn't produce love.I was constantly offended from over the pulpit because of my race and culture,not only myself, but other black people also who were attending the church.I then became bitter in my spirit.And Chantell you are a "real" black woman,you represent everything that a black woman should be.I can tell by reading your post that you are a very sweet person.And some comments that I posted under ms.anonymous were posted out of bitterness.But I sincerely apologize if I offended you.
Before I attended a "certain" organizational church I was never offended because of my black race or my black culture. And through me allowing the enemy to offended me,Satan planted a root of bitterness in my spirit. But to all of my christian brethren I want to help you all,because there wasn't anyone to help me.
If you get offended by a preacher because of your race or culture:
1.Don't become bitter.
2.Find a Apostolic church where the love of God truly is.
3.Remain proud of your race and culture.
And I will say this we the black community already have been through enough racial offenses in the world before we got saved,so we surely shouldn't have to allow it to happen once we're born again. Dr.King, Rosa Parks,etc...have already paved the way for us to have it better.So I will never encourage other black christians to make themselves become use to preachers of other races offending us because of our race,and our culture.And I hope that white,Spanish,Asian,etc.. people feel the same way that I do. I love to witness to unsaved people,because I love to see souls get saved,but most of the black people who I invited to come to church with me, wouldn't even come with me once they found out the name of the church that I was attending. They would always say "I've been to that church before, that pastor is prejudiced,he say's very offensive things towards black people." And I will tell you all the truth, that is a very hurtful feeling,especially when I knew in my heart that they were telling the truth. I hope that this post brings soe light to why I posted some of the past comments that I did.
pittsburg-b,
I want to let you know that I appreciate your sincerity and I accept your apology.
As I have mentioned before, I am so sorry you experienced what you did from the prejudice and ignorance of your former pastor. You are right; no one should allow themselves to be subjected to abuse. But I am glad that you recognized that Satan was trying to use that situation to his advantage to allow a root of bitterness to spring up in you. I am so glad you have decided not to let the bitterness lodge and grow into something that would have destroyed you spiritually.
I hope you have found a place where you can worship freely in spirit and in truth, where you feel the love of God, and where you can see the fruit of the Spirit in your fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Blessings,
Chantell
Paul was imprisoned in Rome, when he wrote to the Epesian church,because the epistle to the Ephesian is a prison epistle,which was written during the same time that Paul wrote Colossians, and Phillipians.I believe that Paul was always single because Paul was a young man when he got saved.
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