Same...

Nothing to do with a bawdy anecdote which is best left for my autobiography/tell all -s-.

It could be called a tale of two revs.

There is a real life pastor who led a church in what became a black neighborhood.

There is a fictional pastor in a predominantly rural black area.

Not the same?  A similar mission?  Let's talk attitude.

H the real rev prided himself on his liberal viewpoint.  He claimed participating in the March on Washington and was a follower of Dr. King.  Yet, his church suffered from dwindling numbers, while there were many folks all around.

It reminded me of a dying tree in our old backyard.  Death slowly wended its way up til there was a thin scraggly branch wilting.  Then, no green no life.  The tree was cut down.

So it was in this changing hood.  

There was no attempt to reach out.  The opportunity presented itself for new life.

Some said it was a matter of culture.  Well, you don't know til you try.

I lived nearby.  I got to know several people.  Yet no bridge was built.

Was it hypocrisy?  Laziness?  

I saw what could be called 'all show and no blow'.  Just a lot of head shaking, the routine of caring only for parishioners.  

I left only because my methods were not H's standards.  I dealt in courage and they in fear and manipulation.  Products not people.

The fictional rev, J, was huddled with his people in an island of security that maintained their existence.

They eschewed outward things.  Lack of worldly goods left them keeping to themselves.  Outsiders were suspect.

Was it racial?  Fear of change?  Stagnation.  

The only perceptible similarity seemed to be a self righteousness that ultimately glossed over fear.

Of change one way or the other?  

Of fear.  

Same...

Angels And Vamps

 Some believe in angels.  They serve Light and aid humans.

Oppositely fallen angels serve darkness and seek human destruction.

Among the darksiders, there are stories worldwide of vampires.

Think what you want, the stories are everywhere.  Explain any way you want.  But remember this: History becomes legend and legend becomes myth.  Also, if there are demons and fallen angels and disciples of evil, well who knows.......

I'm reminded in movies and TV angels appearing as humans.

The running comment is/was humans don't know how painful it is/was for the angels to be in human form.

A mystery.  Consider being pure spirit and assuming physical being.  No matter the reason we might be able to remotely understand their pain.

Now, vampires and there might be several kinds, are consigned to darkness and addiction, craving for blood.  They are slaves who serve themselves.

They are stuck between life and death.  A far different creature than angels.

Angels serve God.

Two different kinds of pain.

James

 Ronald Reagan once said James Bond was a good role model for young Americans.

I agree.

Oh oh.  Government killer with lotsa vices.  Aha!

Look closely.

James is a white knight who fights evil.

Ian Fleming says he gave him few virtues save for patriotism and courage.

He battles those who seek to destroy Freedom and turn the world into a globe of tyranny.

As for vices, your private life is your business.

Do you job.

As for gov, his best missions were mostly off the grid.

Always responsible and he could be rough.

Most knights were/are.

His fight goes on and on and on.

So does ours.

Rubber

 Meets the road.

Truth, action, motivation-road trip!

Obvious, not preachy.  

Rubber wears out and fresh replacement to the same goal.

Do we learn most on the way?

The end goal is not the end.

Bounce.

Red Rover

 I remember Phys Ed in grade school.  Exercise, fresh air etc.

I preferred individual efforts.  Team stuff meh.  

So Red Rover was one of those exercises of one against the crowd.  Look up the history.

2 teams, usually north and south interestingly, form.  The cry is given 'Red Rover Red Rover, send-right over.

The called run and attempt to break the chain of arms and hands, til none are left.

Kinda like dodge ball, where someone literally dodges getting hit by an opponent as teams increase.

Or tag where one tries to avoid being touched/tagged and either out or forming groups/gangs tagging.

Is this like life?  Conditioning along with testing?

Well, teams can be important for goals, but we must be able to resist and work alone.

Send Freedom right over!

Adoptive

 There is much conversation regarding family of blood and family of choice.  I've talked about it on the blog.

Bloodlines continue to be a topic of interest.

Bloodlines exist for all actually, for weal or woe.  They have significance, but equal amounts of a certain family/clan can mean different things.  Life and free will play a significant part.

In psychology, we have the socalled 'debate' of nature or nurture.  Actually I see it as both.

Some are born a certain way, but just as often others are 'made' or fashioned a certain way.  

Say you adopt a child then bear one or vice versa.  They are family.  Only the warped lord one over the other.  So they are raised, once again for weal or woe.

As for weal or woe, I suggest delving into that and learn what is what for those of us who are Light or dark.

Choice.  Free will.  We each deal with these every day.

I learned about content of character from my Dad.  We happen to be blood related.

Also, I have learned many positive qualities from friends and their families and so many acquaintances.

It was a start and there is no boundary for such things.

Truth, Light and all good things await us.

I learned to fight spiritual evil from my brother from another mother.

It never stops.

Counsel...

 Advice.  

Problems are seldom whisked away poof.  They get worked through.

Some have been placed in position to counsel troubled folks.  A privilege.  A responsibility.

Some advised cops and pastors as well as many others.  It just so happens connections gravitated to those jobs.

In college, I confided with the head of the Sociology department about my association with cops.  I almost became one.  Also, I was a student minister.

He suggested I explore becoming not just a chaplain but a therapist for the police department.

This became part of my training.

I unofficially did counsel several cops.  It was of course confidential and since I wasn't hired, it was off the record.

There is a terrible stress involved.  On the streets one sees the downside of people.  It wears and affects all of life.

I was fortunate to help several folks.

The same can be said as a student minister.  I was indeed on the streets and ministered in the twilight world.  There was obvious evidence of the war between good and evil and thank God I shared Light.

Also, since my student status allowed me to counsel some of the pastors also confided in me and I was able to bring Light and healing to those entrusted to do so as leaders.

I served several churches and helped parishioners as well.

These are unsung efforts and except for this, my experiences counseling remain only in my memory.

Soli Deo Gloria!