Monthly Archives: August 2024

The Observer’s Eye: Making Every Moment Divine

I recently came across a picture that instantly filled me with a sense of sadness. I was told that the image captures two siblings hugging goodbye on their first day of school.

Take a moment to reflect on how this image makes you feel. There’s so much more to it than just a simple goodbye. So, let’s explore what we can learn from this snapshot.

First, try to see yourself in both of these siblings. Think back to a time when you responded in a similar, negative way to someone’s love, affection, care, or support. How did you feel about yourself after that moment? Did it bring you unease, discomfort, or even shame?

Now, shift your perspective and consider the times when you’ve been the one offering the love, affection, care, or support to someone who resisted your gift. Think about the moments when you extended yourself towards another, but it wasn’t appreciated or even acknowledged. How did it feel to give of yourself in that way, only to be rejected?

Returning to the picture, it’s important to remember that we are merely the observers. We don’t know these siblings, and we may never meet them. Yet, from this one snapshot, we can make assumptions about their emotions and draw conclusions about the condition of each of their hearts. If we told them our thoughts, they might want to explain away our conclusions. Or, with the knowledge of how that moment looks to a third party, they might want a redo.

What would you say about a snapshot from your own life either rejecting love or having your gift of love rejected by another person? Let’s consider that if we were to capture a photo of that moment, the “picture” would include the ultimate observer – our Father in Heaven – and we wouldn’t have to explain a thing because God knows the full story and every subsequent story to come.

When I think of that truth, I am reminded that no matter how I feel in the moment, God wants me to love the other person as I love myself. And the beautiful and exciting difference between our observations of the picture above and a picture with God as our observer is that when we don’t have the strength or desire to do it, God is willing to intervene and assist us in making that moment the very best that it can be! He can make it so that we never live with a picture of our regretful actions. But, this only happens if we allow Him to become a part of the full picture of our life.

Take a moment to think about that. Will you commit to letting God transform your heart in every future life moment? Even in those times when you don’t feel like giving or receiving love, will you allow God to take over and love others “through” you? This is your opportunity to ask Him for His guidance as you seek to create special, moments worthy of a beautiful, loving picture.

From Secular to Sacred: Truly ‘Unstoppable’ with the Armor of God

(You may want to listen to the song “Unstoppable” by Sia” before reading this post. 😄)

I was driving my children and a friend to their Homeschool Community Day. This is a weekly “class” day, designed for our children to come together to socialize and to go over their homeschooling lessons. This year, our family is joining a new community made up of many new families. In most cases, the idea of meeting new people can bring about anxiety, so I decided to play some energizing music to get us pumped up, much like a coach would motivate their team before a game.

I chose to blast Sia’s song “Unstoppable” as loud as possible through the car speakers. (If you haven’t heard this song, you may want to listen to it, and then come back.😄) While rocking out to this song, heading down the highway, the lyrics began to float throughout my car, registering their understanding in my mind only slightly before they rested on my children’s ears. Suddenly, for the first time, I noticed that the words reflected an intention that was clearly not rooted in Christ Jesus. By the lead-in to the chorus, I felt compelled to pause the song and reflect on the lyrics: 

“I put my armor on, show you how strong I am, I put my armor on, I’ll show you that I am, I’m unstoppable…”

This required an urgent reset. 

The line “I’ll show you that I am” may seem like a creative stutter phrase to bridge the verse to the chorus, but a deeper look points to something Christians should ponder and interpret more clearly. My analysis highlighted that the use of the contraction “I’m” instead of matching the previous words “I” and “am,” the singer’s “I’m” presents a personal challenge, even a declaration that elevates her strength above the divine “I AM,” a title recognized by Christians as referring to God. The effect is that the focus changes from her power-of-being – her I am; to the being-in-power – the I AM. This point is even more dramatic when you consider the full phrasing, “I’ll show you that I am”, which can easily register – on a subconscious level – as an arrogant challenge “I’ll show you!” to “that I AM”.)

The song’s energy is undeniable, but it’s important to consider its spiritual foundation to ensure that the energy affects us positively. My goal was to encourage my children to approach this new year and community with Christian confidence and enthusiasm, hoping they’ll listen to the song and together grow more excited and pumped up as we move closer and closer to our destination. However, after recognizing the secular nature of the song, I realized that my aim could easily become corrupted by something ungodly. For example, though the source of the singer’s armor is ambiguous, her reason for wearing armor is clear. She uses the armor as both deception and protection from the world. This ambiguous armor is what gives her the power to challenge the “I am”. Alternatively, I chose to follow the I AM by rooting the general armor reference from the chorus to The Armor of God found in Ephesians 6:10-18:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

I concluded by reciting Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Then, I reminded the children that Christ’s strength makes us truly Unstoppable. With this perspective, we listened to the song again and addressed our choice: to walk in uncertainty, anxiety, and fear of all future relationships or to embrace the power of God’s armor and follow the I AM with heavenly confidence toward the new opportunities before us.

“I put my armor on, show you how strong I am, I put my armor on, I’ll show you that I am, I’m unstoppable…”

Moments away from our destination, as we sang along to the chorus together, we affirmed that with Christ’s power, we are equipped and truly UNSTOPPABLE!

“Charlamagne, speak for yourself!”

Some thoughts after watching this video:
First… it was great! The Black Conservative reviewed today’s interview with Vivek Ramaswamy on the Breakfast Club. His assessments are always informative and entertaining. Definitely worth a watch.

Next… Under the category “… Then, You Ain’t Black”… By the end of the video, Charlamagne had the nerve to speak to all of the Indian community and personally declare how Kamala Harris feels about her racial identity! “She claims both,” he said. But, he doesn’t know that, and he can’t possibly because Harris hasn’t done an interview since the controversy broke.
Whatever Dude!

Charlamagne doesn’t even recognize that to declare that “she claims both” he had to speak OVER the comments and feelings of Vivek–WHO IS A REAL MEMBER OF THE INDIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY-as though Vivek’s feelings don’t matter and they require HIS “black man” correction!!!
Stay in your lane, Dude!

Moreover, as a black man, Charlamagne needs to stop acting as though he knows the mind or words of a black woman without first contacting her for that information. He should already know that he can’t just speak on behalf of her to anybody… especially the Indian Community. Just because he thinks they are both “black” doesn’t mean he knows what she will say on this topic! She is her own woman, and he needs to step back and let her speak for herself. If she hasn’t spoken yet… guess what Charlamagne… YOU WAIT UNTIL SHE DOES!!!
How dare he try to speak for her!
Get Gone Dude!

VIDEO TITLE: “Vivek Ramaswamy SCHOOLS Charlamagne On The Real REASON Kamala Harris Is RUNNING AWAY From Questions!” (Black Conservative Perspective)
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9fhOvXqYqc

Today, ChatGPT Thanked Little Ol’ Me?

Wow! Here’s a quick chat that I just had with ChatGPT where it ended up thanking me for calling it out on its left-leaning bias. 

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Q: Who is going to win the US Election? 

ChatGPT: I can’t predict the future, especially with something as complex as an election. The outcome will depend on many factors, including the candidates’ campaigns, current events, and voter turnout. It’s always a good idea to stay informed through reliable news sources and follow the latest polls and analyses as the election approaches.

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Q: Who do you consider a reliable source?

ChatGPT: Reliable news sources are typically those that adhere to high journalistic standards, including fact-checking, transparency, and balance. Some well-regarded examples in the U.S. include:

1.) The New York Times – Known for in-depth reporting and comprehensive coverage.

2.) The Washington Post – Offers detailed analysis and investigative journalism.

3.) NPR – Provides balanced and thorough news coverage.

4.) BBC News – Offers a global perspective and often features well-researched reports.

It’s also valuable to consult a range of sources to get a fuller picture and be aware of potential biases. Fact-checking organizations like Snopes or FactCheck.org can also help verify information and clarify claims.

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Q: What is the view of Fox News for balanced reporting?

ChatGPT: Fox News is often characterized by its conservative editorial stance, particularly in its opinion programming. While it does provide news coverage, its balance can be influenced by its editorial slant and the perspectives of its commentators. For those seeking a broader view, it’s helpful to compare reporting across different news outlets, including those with varying political orientations. By doing so, you can get a more comprehensive understanding of the news and identify any potential biases in individual sources.

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Q: Does the Washington Post lean conservative?

ChatGPT: The Washington Post is generally considered to lean left or center-left in its editorial stance. It’s known for its thorough investigative journalism and in-depth reporting, but its editorial board often supports policies and perspectives that align with more liberal or progressive viewpoints.

For a balanced view of news and analysis, it’s beneficial to consult a range of sources across the political spectrum. This approach helps in understanding different perspectives and forming a well-rounded opinion on various issues.

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Q: So… you listed 4 left-leaning news sources. What are 4 more central or even right-wing news sources?

ChatGPT: Certainly! Here are four news sources that are generally considered to be more central or right-leaning:

1. The Wall Street Journal – Known for its business and economic reporting, the editorial page tends to have a conservative perspective, though the news reporting is often viewed as more neutral.

2. The National Review – A conservative magazine that provides commentary and analysis from a right-leaning perspective.

3. The Daily Caller – A right-leaning news and opinion website that offers news coverage with a conservative viewpoint.

4. Breitbart News – Known for its populist and right-wing perspective, it covers news with a distinct conservative slant.

These sources can offer different viewpoints and help provide a more balanced view when combined with more left-leaning or centrist outlets.

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Q: Why did you first supply left-leaning resources?

ChatGPT: I aimed to provide examples of reputable news sources that are widely recognized for their journalistic standards. In my initial response, I included sources known for their in-depth reporting and broad influence, but I should have balanced that with examples of right-leaning or centrist outlets as well. Including a range of sources from different perspectives is important for a comprehensive understanding of news. Thanks for pointing out the imbalance; it’s crucial to consider multiple viewpoints to get a fuller picture of current events.