Everyday Street Bible

Focus on Being Thankful on Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T07:45:00.000-08:00

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Sometimes people can allow their education to cause them to miss the true value and opportunities offered by a holiday. Many college students and professors love to focus their attention on the brutal treatment of the Native Americans that Thanksgiving brings to the forefront for them, and we should never forget about the inhumane treatment of the Native Americans by White people who came and stole their land. However, we cannot go back in time and change what happened. What we can do is concentrate on being thankful on Thanksgiving. When holidays like Thanksgiving come around and you don’t like their origin for some reason, you have an opportunity to construct the holiday to fit your personal preferences. Make holidays your own.

On Thanksgiving, we can all celebrate the many things that we are thankful for. For those academicians who cannot move past the epistemology of Thanksgiving to see the opportunities and value of the holiday in the postmodern epoch, then this means you’ve been imprisoned by history and need to escape your own self-captivity.

We don’t all have to celebrate Thanksgiving in the same way, but we all can be thankful that we are alive on this day and can be thankful for our many blessings.

To my fellow Christians, let’s show people the Christ in us by doing something for someone who is less fortunate than us by making Thanksgiving a day that they can enjoy. If you see someone homeless, please get him or her something to eat. No one should go hungry on Thanksgiving.

Instead of complaining all of the time about what you don’t have, start thanking God for all of the things you do have. Let God know you’re grateful for the things He has done in your life. Don’t be so selfish that you continue to overlook the things that people have done for you because you cannot seem to stop complaining about what you don’t have. For those who have done special things for you this year and in the past, take a moment on this holiday and let them know how much you appreciate them for what they’ve done for you.

Showing gratitude is vital.

Although we are faced with a challenging economy, God is not going to let those who love Him suffer through this economy alone. He is going to give you exactly what you need to prosper in these difficult economic times because He is greater than our economy. We only need to look to Him to be able to prosper in our current economic times.

It is my hope that everyone will have a great Thanksgiving. Try not to eat too much and share with Everyday Street Bible some of the things you ate on your Thanksgiving menu, and share with Everyday Street Bible the significant moments you will always cherish that this holiday has brought for you. For those of you who are missing a love one on this day who has always made this holiday special, I pray that God will give you the comfort, peace, strength, and love you need to have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Deuces,

Tony

You Cannot Fool God Dummy

2011-11-21T11:33:00.000-08:00

Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? ~Isaiah 29:15

God is able to see everything you do. You may be able to fool many human beings but you’re never able to fool God. Everything you do behind closed doors is not out of the view of God. Why not just be real with yourself and God and truly live for Him the way you profess to live for Him? You can compose messages on Facebook and Twitter each day about your love for God and still not fool God about your love for Him. In all that you do God must get the glory. If you really love God you will be willing to surrender the things in your life that are not like Him. If you really love God you will be willing to do only the things pleasing to Him.

How deep is your love for God really?

Who are you really?

It’s time for you to remove the metaphorical sheets, curtains, blinds, and shades you employ to mask the things in your life that are not like God and replace them with a true commitment to righteousness. You can witness to people and invite them to your church every Sunday, but was what you were doing Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday night in your bed, on the Internet, at the bar, at the club, in your car, on the phone, and etc. pleasing to Him?

What if the metaphorical sheets, curtains, blinds, and shades you use to hide the things that are not like God were removed from your life? What would people learn about you that would change how you’re perceived?

If walls could talk, what would they reveal about you? If your text messages were able to be viewed by the public, what would they communicate about you? If your email accounts were able to be read by the public, what would they communicate about you? If your closed doors were open at times when you’re covering up what you want to hide, what would people learn about you that would alter their views of your public image?

Get real with yourself so that you can get real with God. It’s time to repent now, for God is soon to return and people must be ready for His evaluation of their lives.

Far too often people become too angry about the true criticism they receive from others, but people need to learn to appreciate true criticism. True criticism can lead you closer to being the person you need to be to please God. Words that may seem harsh from people you perceive to be “hating on you,” “envious of you,” and/or “jealous of you” can be the very words you need to seriously wrestle with to change your life for the better.

At the end of the day, we need to a help to one another. Being a help to one another does not mean supporting one’s ways, words, and actions that are not pleasing to God. We have a clear understanding of what’s pleasing to God by reading the bible daily. You can ameliorate your understanding of righteousness by reading the bible daily. Study the Word of God to enjoy the fullness of His power and spirit.

God wants to be first in your life. Will you let Him?

Deuces,

Tony

Don't Let Mistakes Distract You

2011-09-05T08:09:00.000-07:00

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. ~Philippians 4:13

People do make mistakes and we should not hold those mistakes over their heads forever. Although there are times when people need to be reminded about their errors, especially when they begin to act like they are perfect, people deserve a chance to change and progress without being constantly reminded of their mistakes. God is the only one who is perfect. All human beings make mistakes and many human beings make more mistakes than others. Some people sit around and wait for you to make a mistake so that they can gain gratification from your errors. Many people who are bitter and have low self-esteem feel that the only way to improve the way they feel about themselves is to tear down others. As Christians, we have to understand that the Devil would love nothing more than to distract us with the tactics of these individuals. Don’t let folks move your attention away from what God has for you.

If you make a mistake, learn from it and strive to never make it again. While you may continue to struggle with the same problem for a certain period of time, you will inevitably conquer it with God’s help. Don’t beat yourself up over making mistakes. Making mistakes is a part of what makes you human. The Original Sin was a mistake that allowed all of us to be born from it. Begin to see your mistakes as learning experiences and as opportunities for you to get closer to Jesus. We all need something to struggle with so that we will know that we need Jesus every day. It is time out for seeking Jesus only when you need something. You must learn that you have to seek Him daily.

In all that you do, ask Jesus to help you. Never think that you are beyond asking for help from Jesus. You must remember that all of your talents and skills come from God and without God you are nothing. Therefore, never feel that you can make it alone in this evil world. Having Jesus in your life is necessary. God will also provide you with some earthly help as well. It’s foolish to believe that you don’t need human beings in your life. Many “deep” Christians will assert that all they need is Jesus, but as a person living in the world and not in Heaven, you are going to need another human being in your life for so many reasons that time and space will not permit a listing and explanation of all of them.

Be encouraged today. You don’t have to let the Devil defeat you by constantly letting him play with your mind about mistakes you have made. Remember that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Moreover, all things work together for the good for them who are called according to His purpose and who love Him. Stop having pity parties about your mistakes and live in the fullness of God. When you seek God first, He will provide you with all you need to accomplish the desires of your heart. Nothing is impossible for those who truly believe God.

Deuces,

Tony

Broaden Discourses about Sin

2011-07-15T08:44:00.000-07:00

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. ~ Romans 3:23

Far too often, discourses about sin are too one-dimensional: they are almost always negative. If you really understand sin fully as it is disclosed in the bible, you will recognize that you would not be here today if it was not for sin. Because of the Original Sin committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, it allowed them to be able to produce other human beings, which inevitably led to the human beings who produced you. In no way am I trying to make sin sexy—it’s not! What I’m arguing, however, is there are some meaningful and positive things about sin that are useful.

Sinful acts give us examples of what we should not be doing. Knowing what not to do is very crucial to living a life committed to God. Sin comes to give us understanding about what it is that God wants us not to do. Sin helps to inform us about what is not like God and what it really means to be holy. Many people try to act like they have always been saved. As the aforementioned epigraph illuminates, everyone was born a sinner, and many of those people pretending to be so holy are some of the greatest sinners.

Let’s get real about sin. When we engage in comprehensive and serious discussions about sin, we can see sin as providing opportunities for us to find ways to prevent it. Additionally, serious discourses about sin allow us to develop innovative ways and strategies for reaching sinners. If we are always approaching sin from such indignant dispositions, then we will only continue to turn people away from accepting Jesus into their hearts. True Christians are to win souls for Christ—not push people away from Christ. When you are walking around like you are so high and mighty, don’t forget that you were once a sinner too, and had it not been for the grace of God you would still be a sinner—so don’t get it twisted.

At many churches, especially at many Black churches, it’s real popular to see who can speak the harshest about sin and sinners. As Christians, we are supposed to dislike sin but not sinners. It seems like many people have a difficult time separating their hate for sin from the people who are committing the sins. In all things that we do, the bible informs us that we should do them with love. The bible lets us know that it is love that saved us and it is that same love that will draw people to Christ.

One of the greatest opportunities for you to expand the discourses about sin is during Sunday School. I encourage you to challenge members of your church during Sunday School about the complexities of sin that are often just overlooked as a result of the desire to appear so holy. You can engage in thorough and intelligent conversations about some of the positive aspects of sin and still be saved—it’s called having intellectual discourses. Let’s be more intelligent in our discourses about sin.

Deuces,

Tony

What is

2011-07-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable? ~ Proverbs 20:6

You can’t take away what already is. When I find myself in the midst of justifying my friendship with the man that graces this blog with me, I am always baffled. Yes, Antonio and I exercise arrogance in our friendship because that is the type of love that we have for each other, but never have we withheld how we feel about the challenges we face, nor have we EVER masked the deeper issues we have with each other with an attack, passive aggressive statements, or public humiliation. We just state how we feel and continuously encourage each other’s endeavors. I adore when people try to steam roll our friendship because it inspires post like these. I have found that our friendship is something that people envy, loathe, and desire all together. Trying to glean an understanding of what is leaves most angry, upset, and confused in trying to understand why we passionately advocate for each other. Our friendship is an intimate association of familiarity and companionship (no we are not, nor have we, or will we ever sleep together).

One of the most important things that I will never force is a friendship. Relationships should be built and sustained naturally and as in any thing that is natural, you will have flaws and imperfections, but when embraced there is a beautiful evolution that can be everlasting like God’s love. The self problems of some individuals can and have spilled over into their personal friendships and a serious amount of self-reflection must occur before the loneliness of having no real, purposeful, loving friendships occur. Sadly, it is a direct reflection of weak minded people and I don’t contribute to things or people that take away from, instead of, adding to positive reinforcement. When my connection with Antonio and other friends rustles the feathers of some so much so that they have to seek the most minute tactics to bother me in some form, it makes me laugh from the inside out. Why? Because they couldn’t be more obvious *laughing*. If something about my character bothers anyone just that bad, they should know to feel free in speaking to me at any time. I will never try to out do others when it comes the core of my friendships with gift giving, titles, attire, career choices, or relationship. How does one pass judgment on a friendship that is powerful and loving, but be completely blind to the fact of the negative energy and hurtful actions that they have bestowed in the friendships that are claimed to be near and dear to their heart…just saying?

Antonio and I don’t have to censor our friendship PERIOD, however, the same cannot be said for others. I am receptive to constructive criticism, but I am disgusted by underlined messages: masking what one wants to say, but never stating it. I take delight knowing that I can affect many by just being truly with no veil, no mask, no co-signer who I am. Don’t be so upset about the closeness, genuineness, and passion of another’s friendship that YOU fail in adding building blocks or completely demolishing your own. Antonio and I will never conform to another’s blueprint of what our friendship is and will continually be: rare, layered, and candid. Our friendship is victorious and we celebrate it every day by just being. Simply because it’s what is. I want to leave you with this status that I borrowed from one of my Facebook friends, (K.A.):

When you know your value, you don't have to beg people to be your friend or mate, to spend time with you or to love you. Be confident in who GOD made you to be. Everybody can't afford the luxury of your friendship.

Who has been afforded the luxury of your friendship? What, if any, backlash have you all received because of how close you are?

Deuces,

San

Sensitive Mean People

2011-06-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public. ~ Proverbs 26:26

It becomes frustrating when grown people will not act like adults AND when people constantly treat others in a demeaning and negative fashion, but are the most sensitive when those same actions are reciprocated. How do you play victim to those things that you have been on the offending end of!? Recently, on my personal Facebook page I posted the following status:

“The worst thing that you can do to me is throw back into my face what you have done for me or hold over my head what I need you to do for me. All it does is express piss poor character. It DOES NOT stop me from progressing toward taking care of business. This is one reason why I dislike asking people for anything. #OhWell Next...pressing play on my playlist. :-)”

I had a long day and having someone throw into my face on THAT day what I needed, upset me and truly pissed me off. I addressed the issue with that person via phone call and flew to my status to express as is asked “What’s on your mind?” I can’t monitor every single moment of the day what an individual has to say about me. If I am doing well or if I am doing poorly, someone will have something to say. I will NOT, however, be responsible because someone has this nerve racking notion that the status was or is about them. It only proves that those individuals ran out into traffic and were hit by a vehicle. *roof roof*

My discovery and learning experience in dealing with these types of people is that that they are mean spirited, but the most sensitive individuals that you will ever meet. Sometimes it makes me feel bad and hardens my heart because these same folks have no idea of how their personality is reflected towards the people that love them and in public with complete strangers. Here is what I do not like:

The 5 Acts

1. When people make the assumption that my status is about them and fail to pick up a telephone to call me and inquire.

2. When people take to their status in reply to my status, therefore, talking to me and about me in 3^rd person. I don’t do 3^rd person talking about me. You may want to ask close friends that have fallen victim to me addressing this.

3. When people try to play off that everything is kosher and cool between them and I, when in all actuality they really can’t stand me…at all! LMBO!

4. When people get upset and extremely defensive about me sharing their “ugly” truth with them to their face and not behind their back as others have done.

5. When people ATTEMPT to be cheeky with me by being nice/nasty. Newsflash: I speak nice/nasty fluently. *smirking*

The aforementioned 5 Acts are almost as bad a lying to me. I love unconditionally and sometimes people need a kick in the old keister with tough love. What will never happen is stopping me from progressing in what needs to be taken care of. I may have a small delay, but there is always a detour sign somewhere. Hence another one of my recent status updates to Facebook:

“Sometimes the intentional negative actions of others can turn out to not only work in your favor, but end in a greater result than what was expected. God said he would turn the bad meant for you into good. In this instance it was an academic issue that He handled almost immediately. God is awesome and always got my back. #BlessedandFavored”

Listen up and read people. I am a Christian and very much candid in expressing all aspects of my life with no qualms about offending ‘mean spirited, sensitive people’. I pray for them and love them just as He would. *batting eyes* If you find that you are guilty of being mean and vindictive to provoke harm, yet sensitive and against reaping that which you have sown, then read the following for wisdom, practice humility, put that hand mirror up to your face, pray, and drive away the very thing that contributes to your poor character:

Proverbs 26: 23-28

23 – Smooth* words may hide a wicked heart,

just as pretty clay covers a clay pot.

24 – People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,

but they’re deceiving you.

25 – They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.

Their hearts are full of many evils.*

26 – While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,

their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.

27 – If you set a trap for others,

You will get caught in it yourself.

If you roll a boulder down on others,

it will crush you.

28 – A lying tongue hates its victims,

and flattering words can ruin.

What of the 5 acts mentioned above have people committed towards you or you towards them? Do share!

Deuces,

San

Black Megachurch Preachers Offer Unrealistic Approaches to Black Teenage Pregnancy

2011-06-20T09:29:00.001-07:00

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6

While it would be great to simply tell Black teenage girls to not engage in sexual intercourse and they do as they are told, this wishful thinking is only useful for penning fiction. Although Black megachurch preachers offer some resources at their churches to help pregnant teenager girls and to educate teenage girls about avoiding of teenage pregnancy, the dominant message they hear on television and radio from megachurch preachers is that God is going to punish them for fornication. You can preach all you want to about abstinence from the pulpit, but you must have a strong understanding of the postmodern world outside of the confines of the church to truly reach these teenage girls. It’s fine to preach and teach about fornication, but that preaching and teaching must reflect a critical understanding of American popular culture, especially Black popular culture.

Black popular culture is so pervasive and unavoidable that Black preachers cannot simply shout condemnation from the pulpit without responsibly speaking about it and offering serious and practical ways for Black teenage girls to rise above the negative influences and dimensions of it. Black teenage girls are bombarded with sexual images on television. When these young girls watch programming on Music Television (MTV), Black Entertainment Television (BET), and other cable stations, they see how sex and sexual images have become such normative dimensions of American culture and our national public discourse. Black megachurch preachers can try to act like young teenage girls should simply resist sexual temptations by praying and focusing on God, but this is simply unrealistic when they are not comprehensively educated about the sexual images they view on television.

When one considers that many adults are being heavily influenced by the sex and sexual images that they see on television, this should signal to Black megachurch preachers that they need to engage in more thorough analyses of this reality and offer more comprehensive resources for these adults’ children. If many adults are not able to handle the sex and sexual images they view on television, then it’s not difficult to understand that many teenage girls are going to be highly influenced by the sex and sexual images they see on television. It would not hurt megachurch preachers that much to take out a little time from their preaching and teaching about prosperity to help parents to better teach and advise their children about how to deal with many of the vexing sexual images they witness on television. These megachurch preachers have enough money to provide teenage girls with constant resources, assistance, and guidance with dealing with the sexual pressures that are commonplace in the postmodern epoch.

In no way should this piece be perceived as an unfair attack on megachurch preachers. However, it should be viewed as a call to action for them. The bible informs us that those who have much are required to do much. This is the reason why this piece singles out megachurch preachers, although preachers at smaller churches should be doing all they can too to help teenage girls to avoid teenage pregnancy.

It is the hope of this article that you will begin to have serious discourses about this topic in your churches, communities, schools, homes, and etc.

Deuces,

Tony

WELCOME

2011-05-29T13:27:00.000-07:00

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. ~ Psalm 100:4

We, Santresa Glass (San) and Antonio Maurice Daniels (Tony), would like to welcome you to our site, Everyday Street Bible. We are two best friends who founded this site to engage the world in serious discourse about a range of real-life topics, issues, and problems because we know every day isn’t like it is when you’re in church on Sundays. Both of us are deeply committed Christians—don’t ever get us wrong about that reality—but we know how to deal with life challenges and problems when our pastors are not present. One of the fundamental purposes of this site is to offer you an opportunity to interact with us about those everyday issues, challenges, and problems that you want to discuss and/or get some advice about that you don’t just want people to throw scriptures at you and preach to you about just to arrive at a resolution.

Let it be clear from the outset, this is not one of those traditional “bible thumping” sites. This is a site you can enjoy even if you don’t believe in God, considering we are interested in the everyday experience human beings confront.

We disagree almost on everything, so you will certainly be entertained by the passionate disagreements we will have on a number of diverse topics that are critically relevant and meaningful to you, regardless of whether you believe God is the creator of all things and the ruler of the world or if you just think He is a fictional character.

Everyday Street Bible will not shy away from controversy. Therefore, don’t be surprised when you see some things that you never would have thought Christians would be discussing and saying on this site. We want to go ahead and let you know—we’re going to write about all those things your pastors won’t dare communicate with you about in church. Why are we going to do this? Because the conditions you have in church are not the conditions you have when you’re in the streets and in your other environments outside of the church. Therefore, you need to hear some advice and commentary from Christians about what you should do when the saints ain’t around. Ya dig?

Follow our site, our page on Facebook (Everyday Street Bible), and us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/thestreetbible

Deuces,

San &Tony