Dislcaimer: I do tend to add one of these to everything I write in case I ever slow down to pen my satirical and somewhat autobiographical poetry collection. There is some strong language; if you are easily offended, you may delete this post. Otherwise, enjoy some dry humor not unlike a Texas summer. -a.ced.a
hey hey hey
whut it dew
i know i haven't posted anything in a pretty long time (for me)
but a lot has happened since the last time i dropped lines like pledges that quit alpha phi alpha
por ejemplo (for example, for those whose spanish is still limited to the taco bell menu board)
i got married to my best friend chastity.
she's seen me at my best, and unfortunately, at my drunken, sarcastic worst and she loves me no matter what.
y'all betta stand up, shout, say hallelujah or something!
i'm kinda not working - i'm lying, just not the way i used to
one hundred percent grind isn't really a good way to live though it would be cool to have more money than time
only that my wife would never see me.
hence, i'm trying to be a more family oriented, grownup version of myself.
what else?
i discovered that saline county does have a black barber, only that he is white.
from what i've seen, wendell can cut...but graduating from new tyler, he better be able to work miracles with lines, fades, tapers, etc all that stuff i'm too out of touch to understand all those styles
just keep my beard wide and thick, just like the late great gerald levert.
satire is a lot of who i've always been, but i'discovered twitter about three months ago.
funny how quickly i can drop nuggets of candor in one hundred forty characters or fewer.
wait, text messages are one sixty, so why lop off twenty?
and now, the moment we've all been waiting for:
well, ain't no moment.
life is a series of those smaller moments, and as God allows me to stay on this side of life, i'll keep learning
once i stop, i might as well go find me a hole to dig up and die in there.
married life is living and learning on the fly, not so much with my fly *gasp*
i'ma put it like this:
i can't piss on everything or fuck it all because if i pissed on everything, i'd have nowhere to sit or walk,
and obviously fuckin' ain't what it used to be,
it's better.
til then
support your local blue collar workforce and public service employees as we are the backbone of this great nation
change is a comin' in more places than the ashtray or our pockets
love peace and wave cap grease from daddy red dax can
and in the words of the great philosopher sir mixalot
baby's got back.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Merry Christmas
Too full for words. I hope you've enjoyed the day as much as I have. Before I head off to naptime, I want to reiterate that Jesus is the reason for the season.
God bless, I'm out.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
merry christmas (keep the bleeping receipt)
christmas is here, but did we keep the Christ?
hopefully though i think some of you only kept your receipt
of samsung galaxy gear smartwatches, air jordans, and of course, xbox one gaming systems.
if this is what our holiday has become then i want no part of it
because i need Christ in mine - and everyday for the rest of
my life.
the receipt will only last a few days - or until the item is either used or returned to kohls or lacoste or
wherever.
who am i to critique when i want that big green egg from congo fireplace & patio and
twenty-two inch rims (and new window tint) for my thirteen-year-old escape xlt and the outdoor kitchen of
my dreams?
i am a retail whore...and workaholic, as you already know, but i need a moment to remember what it was
like back in those days
without the twenty-four hour wal-mart and walgreens
when dad and mom only gave us what we absolutely needed and booted us off the
nintendo to go to church and say our speeches and then go see granddaddy and grandma.
oh what simpler times.
am i appreciative of it all? you better believe i'm grateful for my blue collar, git-er-done roots!
somewhere i got lost along the way and forgot that christmas is more than the bleeping receipt -
y'all can keep that.
have a merry christmas and remember to keep Christ in your holiday!
hopefully though i think some of you only kept your receipt
of samsung galaxy gear smartwatches, air jordans, and of course, xbox one gaming systems.
if this is what our holiday has become then i want no part of it
because i need Christ in mine - and everyday for the rest of
my life.
the receipt will only last a few days - or until the item is either used or returned to kohls or lacoste or
wherever.
who am i to critique when i want that big green egg from congo fireplace & patio and
twenty-two inch rims (and new window tint) for my thirteen-year-old escape xlt and the outdoor kitchen of
my dreams?
i am a retail whore...and workaholic, as you already know, but i need a moment to remember what it was
like back in those days
without the twenty-four hour wal-mart and walgreens
when dad and mom only gave us what we absolutely needed and booted us off the
nintendo to go to church and say our speeches and then go see granddaddy and grandma.
oh what simpler times.
am i appreciative of it all? you better believe i'm grateful for my blue collar, git-er-done roots!
somewhere i got lost along the way and forgot that christmas is more than the bleeping receipt -
y'all can keep that.
have a merry christmas and remember to keep Christ in your holiday!
Yielding To The Will of God
Yielding To The Will of God, Jeremiah 18:1-6
Pastor Donald Manning, Thomas Chapel BC, Gould, AR
They still yielded to the will of God although they didn't understand. You can work all day long or solely live on faith, we only stay stagnant. By using both faith and works, we get places. We do belong to the Lord. When you yield to temptation, sin gets put into motion; temptation itself is not a sin since we haven't acted upon it.
We get part of the way through our journey and stop not because of tiredness, but from a lack of faith. Keep moving!
On the way to the Potter's house...Jeremiah is told to bounce to the potter's house and tell the people what they need to hear per God. He wasn't equipped to fly solo (John 15:5). Clay isn't worth much - just a heaping of mud, which is dirt in all actuality. The potter was making shapes to profit from, and those which are insufficient are remolded into something else. Transformation isn't an easy deal, as God through Jeremiah speaks. We have to be changed over by renewing of mind and spirit; be more mindful of God than what you used to be. You're being looked at on potential, not what you're trying to become on your own.
V. 5, 6: Then the Lord told me to tell you, People of Israel, I, the Lord, have power over you, just as a potter has power over clay.
Isn't that awesome?
#YieldToGod
Pastor Donald Manning, Thomas Chapel BC, Gould, AR
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
We Are Witnesses
Taken from 1 Thessalonians 2:10-13 in the Contemporary English Version; verses are below.
Lost people will be fooled by his evil deeds. They could be saved, but they will refuse to love the truth and accept it. So God will make sure they are fooled into believing a lie. All of them will be punished, because they would rather do evil than believe the truth.
My friends, the Lord loves you, and it is only natural for us to thank God for you. God chose you to be the first ones to be saved. His Spirit made you holy, and you put your faith in the truth.
Most of you know that I a Miami Heat fan, from the days of Tim Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning, and more so since that epic 2006 playoff run when Dwyane Wade carried the team to its first NBA title. Although LeBron took his talents to South Beach four summers ago, sports fans remember the "We Are Witnesses" t-shirts Nike made during his Cleveland Cavaliers days and the famous pregame ritual which he rubs his hands in powder, claps to make a cloud, and the crowd would go wild. As those Cavs fans were for those seven seasons of triumph and heartbreaks - and thankfully, my Heat for the past four years - we are witnesses to greatness. Just as the media heaps pressure upon him, people in (and out) the church have an expectation of us concerning behaviors, obligations, and commandments. Are we caving to the outside world, or working under a unified message?
Five points come from this message: 1)Realize we are witnesses; 2)Move quickly to teach the ways; 3)Live like your words and actions carry the weight intended; 4)Perform due diligence; and 5) Understand some people are here to hate on you. Don't let them break you.
I. Realize we are witnesses. There are few tasks in Christianity greater than seeing it and being able to tell it, so spread the word. It doesn't sound terribly difficult, yet people tend to keep their mouths shut in fear of what others may think. If they talked about Jesus, why do you think you are untouchable? The responsibility is to stick to the message as closely as possible with deviation. Paul further specifies that our witness is fair, impartial, and such that we live the way we say we do. Simple enough, until we stray.
II. Move quickly to teach the ways. Again, I am using a sports analogy. The Patriot Way means everyone is held accountable and there is a unified front; a controlled message is easier to manage than one in which the organization has to distance itself from one bad apple. A few years ago, New England brought in a very controversial wide receiver because his on-field talents were considered vital toward another Super Bowl title. Sadly, he never understood the playbook and was unceremoniously released at the end of that season as a result of his inability to learn quickly. Like the coach, a team that buys into winning concepts as defined by leadership tends to be more productive. In real life, our parents/grandparents/legal guardians are highly recommended to teach right from wrong in addition to the steps ordered by God. By catching the young while their impressionable minds are still spongy, they are able to walk worthy of the Lord (Colossians 1:10).
III. Live like your words and actions carry the intended weight. It would be hard to believe a pastor who preaches against fornication if every time you see him, he's walking out the cat house smelling like a good time. Ditto for us. While we all are sinners, we need to continuously strive for perfection - and not put ourselves in a compromising positon that can cause confusion. You never know, that little bit of confusion may be enough to drive someone away for good! Therefore, we are witnesses to what is being taught; it is privy to get the message out there and keep it 100. There is enough fiction out there (reality shows, Fox News, most rappers' careers) to throw us off the ball. Keep a laser focus on the task at hand.
IV. Perform due diligence. God has called us into fellowship with Jesus Christ; He didn't intend for us to go it alone. As 1 Corinthians 1:9 states, God is faithful to those who peep game to His instructions. Obviously, studying the Bible is critical toward due diligence; however, not everyone will open a book. Our lifestyle is a better indicator of our witness than standing on the corner of University and Asher street preaching all day only to run off for a nip of Seagrams. A fake life only deters from the actual job we have.
V. Haters gon' hate. Because we are witnesses to God's everlasting word, we are not only expected to abide by the teachings, but also be prepared for the criticisms coming. This is why we study daily and pray for understanding. My booksmarts may not always get the job done since I may lack a sense of worldliness which could lead me to being hurt. Know that the haters gon' hate, and this is a shame. It's coming - there is a season for it - so get ready. Psalm 22:6-8 reminds us that we will be talked about, have our names falsely dragged through the mud, derisively called names like "goody-two shoes" and "straight-arrow". When we come around, all some folks will do is laugh at us, insult us, or even shake their judgmental heads. If Jesus was talked about, what makes us think we are immune? The taunts are part of our witnessing testimonies; if we never dealt with adversity, then how can I tell you to keep fighting through the mess?
As He was crucified to that cross, Jesus endured more pain that most of us can ever imagine although being black in America comes close. He was stripped, beaten to a pulp, his clothes were gambled for, mocked as the King of the Jews, taunted, hit with rocks and stuff, and so forth. Those Jews were witnesses to bad behavior, and surely some did not care until it was too late while others followed the crowds as dumb lemmings. What kind fo witnesses are we today? Do we float with the things in vogue, or are we sticking to our guns?
Not Quite Militant, Far From Bourgeois
F**k the happy Negro.
I'm not him, kissin' the master's boot when he offered a scrap of red meat from his elongated table.
Not anymore.
I know I'm entitled to that porterhouse steak in front of him, after busting my ass for free all these years.
While I'm at it, bring out the finest of wines and put those two baked potatoes over there.
I'm not your black friend, partner!
Today, I'm more like your worst nightmare now that I know how to navigate the system and annihilate you at your own game.
No whispering, stammering, speaking softly, avoiding eye contact today!
Meet your maker motherf**ker! I AM THE HEAD N*GGA IN CHARGE!
Nobody will be able to hear your wails and shrieks,
And when I get through with you, Barbie will be screaming my name as your bed squeaks!
I'm gettin' my forty acres and mule, and if I take that Mercedes too, then all the more merrier!
That is past due, like the bad check your ilk has given us.
"The last shall be first, and the first shall be last!"
How ya like them apples?!!
...meanwhile, on the other side of my mind...
I know better to think like that (aloud); better leave some things in my vivid imagination.
My life is pretty good, I suppose: near-perfect credit, happy wife, kid, house with white picket fence, good neighbors, private schools, and the police can be relied upon to do the right thing.
See? There's an American flag hanging from the flagpole, not one of Africa!
I can't imagine living in the ghetto, going from hand to mouth having to rob Peter to pay Paul or...gasp? Selling drugs!
That's what those thugs do, with their jeans sagging and dreadlocked heads.
I hope they grow up and shave. No one's going to give them a job looking like that.
Oh, goodness! Don't the folks down the street know how to use a poop scooper? My lawn is not meant for dogs to do their business and have it left behind for me to step into.
Well, I don't have to hear all of that infernal racket shaking my Pella windows out of their foundation nor see all of those Skittles-colored Chevrolets parked on the grass up and down this cul-de-sac.
Needless to say, life is pretty gosh darned good. If only the newspaper would actually land in my driveway...
...in reality...
As much as I may want to backhand my boss, I do realize that I need this job to pay for our lifestyle.
That sometimes means doing things I don't care for, like shaving my beard, cutting the afro, or perpetuating a tired idea.
Little does he know that my inner Malcolm X is raging daily, and quite intimidating to the average man.
Being affable is not a license to live as if nothing bad has ever happened to me.
My cousin put it best: Being militant doesn't get the bills paid. You have to grow up and know when to use your might.
It's okay to be ethnocentric, just not a supremacist. That's not cool.
I know my daily struggle and am eternally appreciative of it; without it, I wouldn't know what to do through the storms.
So, say it loud!
I'M BLACK AND I'M PROUD!
I'm not him, kissin' the master's boot when he offered a scrap of red meat from his elongated table.
Not anymore.
I know I'm entitled to that porterhouse steak in front of him, after busting my ass for free all these years.
While I'm at it, bring out the finest of wines and put those two baked potatoes over there.
I'm not your black friend, partner!
Today, I'm more like your worst nightmare now that I know how to navigate the system and annihilate you at your own game.
No whispering, stammering, speaking softly, avoiding eye contact today!
Meet your maker motherf**ker! I AM THE HEAD N*GGA IN CHARGE!
Nobody will be able to hear your wails and shrieks,
And when I get through with you, Barbie will be screaming my name as your bed squeaks!
I'm gettin' my forty acres and mule, and if I take that Mercedes too, then all the more merrier!
That is past due, like the bad check your ilk has given us.
"The last shall be first, and the first shall be last!"
How ya like them apples?!!
...meanwhile, on the other side of my mind...
I know better to think like that (aloud); better leave some things in my vivid imagination.
My life is pretty good, I suppose: near-perfect credit, happy wife, kid, house with white picket fence, good neighbors, private schools, and the police can be relied upon to do the right thing.
See? There's an American flag hanging from the flagpole, not one of Africa!
I can't imagine living in the ghetto, going from hand to mouth having to rob Peter to pay Paul or...gasp? Selling drugs!
That's what those thugs do, with their jeans sagging and dreadlocked heads.
I hope they grow up and shave. No one's going to give them a job looking like that.
Oh, goodness! Don't the folks down the street know how to use a poop scooper? My lawn is not meant for dogs to do their business and have it left behind for me to step into.
Well, I don't have to hear all of that infernal racket shaking my Pella windows out of their foundation nor see all of those Skittles-colored Chevrolets parked on the grass up and down this cul-de-sac.
Needless to say, life is pretty gosh darned good. If only the newspaper would actually land in my driveway...
...in reality...
As much as I may want to backhand my boss, I do realize that I need this job to pay for our lifestyle.
That sometimes means doing things I don't care for, like shaving my beard, cutting the afro, or perpetuating a tired idea.
Little does he know that my inner Malcolm X is raging daily, and quite intimidating to the average man.
Being affable is not a license to live as if nothing bad has ever happened to me.
My cousin put it best: Being militant doesn't get the bills paid. You have to grow up and know when to use your might.
It's okay to be ethnocentric, just not a supremacist. That's not cool.
I know my daily struggle and am eternally appreciative of it; without it, I wouldn't know what to do through the storms.
So, say it loud!
I'M BLACK AND I'M PROUD!
Friday, November 22, 2013
30 Days of Blessings
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've seen the daily postings of what you guys have been thankful for, so I decided that I'd share my 30 Days of Blessings with you.
1. I'm thankful for my God keeping me here this long.
2. I'm also blessed to have a wife that loves me unconditionally and has put up with my baloney for this long without looking to exit stage left.
3. I am thankful for our home. It may seem like a lot of space for two people, but nonetheless, it's the place we call home - and raise a family - as well as make lifelong memories. Outdoor kitchen is hopefully coming in spring.
4. I am appreciative of my job. At times I may come off as ungrateful and I am certainly not a fan of the night shift, Rineco does a pretty decent job of paying the bills and providing darn good health insurance.
5. I am thankful for my car. Despite my Fusion having more miles on it than the Santa Fe that was totaled in May, it has been extremely reliable and gets better miles per gallon than the SUV.
6. I feel gratitude to all who have come before me to pave the way, and when the future asks for advice. The fact I can pass on wise words is enough in itself.
7. I'm grateful for discernment. Not everything that happens in my life is front-page news, nor should it ever be.
8. I'm thankful for my family (the ones I was born with as well as the ones I married into). Through the disagreements, drama, and all, we still have each other's backs.
9. I'm thankful for being shown the true colors and characters of so many people I once considered friends. Since we don't have marquees on our foreheads detailing the types of people who come around, it is also a great thing knowing what I do know now about some of them.
10. I am thankful for quiet time and knowing what to do with it.
11. I am blessed each time I see and/or talk to you.
12. On a sports note: I'm overjoyed that both of my pro teams (Miami Heat, Boston Red Sox) are world champions again. Imagine what would happen if Henderson State wins the Division II crown in football this season.
13. I'm blessed when the seasons change - and being able to see all four of them.
14. I'm thankful that everything in this house is in full working order and that we didn't start out in an all-out remodeling/replacing war.
15. I'm blessed to have such wonderful friends in my life. You know who you are, so I won't start name-dropping.
16. I'm thankful for a certain sense of wit. Not everything is so serious that a laugh cannot diffuse it unless there is a weapon in front of you.
17. I'm more than blessed that my neighbors aren't rednecks. Being black in Saline County, you don't know how much that means to me.
18. I'm grateful for actually implementing financial wisdom. One day we'll be debt-free, but that is one small step at a time.
19. I'm thankful that my mom taught me how to cook so many years ago. All fast food does is empty my pockets.
20. I'm blessed to be able to share my life's testimony with so many via this blog and anywhere I may go. I hope it is a help more than a hindrance to you.
21. I'm thankful for my dad who has always had my back - and for showing me what it really means to be a man.
22. I'm grateful that my only sibling and I get along as well as we do now. That's what growing up and now living two hours apart can do for you. #weallwegot
23. I am appreciative of the public servants who are doing the right things to make our lives safer and a better place than we found it. I'm talking about firefighters, law enforcement, educators, sanitation workers, and all who work tirelessly through budget cuts and a population so averse to taxes.
24. I'm grateful not to work for Walmart anymore. The company is great for some - I admit I still shop there at times - but I no longer have to perform miracles in the pets department for a 50 cent raise. There are some things the company can do better, but I'm just a customer.
25. I'm thankful for my exes. Without them, I would have never known the gem of a wife I have, and how much of a douche I was to them.
26. I'm blessed to be a part of a progressive church that is "just my size". No one wants to associate themselves with dead, and that includes the house of worship.
27. I'm indebted to all of you in one way, shape, form, or fashion. As no man is an island, I thank you for letting me lean on you.
28. I'm thankful for the Thanksgiving Day spread. I'm sure JC Penney will agree when I have to get another pair of Levi's and a belt after overeating.
29. I am content most of the time, especially on vacation. One day I may get to retire and buy that condo in Ocean Springs so I can fish off the piers all day long.
30. I'm thankful for having been able to travel as much as I have had and knowing that the world encompasses more than the one hundred miles of my birthplace.
There ya have it, 30 Days of Blessings. I don't want to inundate people with online postings, so here they are at one time.
1. I'm thankful for my God keeping me here this long.
2. I'm also blessed to have a wife that loves me unconditionally and has put up with my baloney for this long without looking to exit stage left.
3. I am thankful for our home. It may seem like a lot of space for two people, but nonetheless, it's the place we call home - and raise a family - as well as make lifelong memories. Outdoor kitchen is hopefully coming in spring.
4. I am appreciative of my job. At times I may come off as ungrateful and I am certainly not a fan of the night shift, Rineco does a pretty decent job of paying the bills and providing darn good health insurance.
5. I am thankful for my car. Despite my Fusion having more miles on it than the Santa Fe that was totaled in May, it has been extremely reliable and gets better miles per gallon than the SUV.
6. I feel gratitude to all who have come before me to pave the way, and when the future asks for advice. The fact I can pass on wise words is enough in itself.
7. I'm grateful for discernment. Not everything that happens in my life is front-page news, nor should it ever be.
8. I'm thankful for my family (the ones I was born with as well as the ones I married into). Through the disagreements, drama, and all, we still have each other's backs.
9. I'm thankful for being shown the true colors and characters of so many people I once considered friends. Since we don't have marquees on our foreheads detailing the types of people who come around, it is also a great thing knowing what I do know now about some of them.
10. I am thankful for quiet time and knowing what to do with it.
11. I am blessed each time I see and/or talk to you.
12. On a sports note: I'm overjoyed that both of my pro teams (Miami Heat, Boston Red Sox) are world champions again. Imagine what would happen if Henderson State wins the Division II crown in football this season.
13. I'm blessed when the seasons change - and being able to see all four of them.
14. I'm thankful that everything in this house is in full working order and that we didn't start out in an all-out remodeling/replacing war.
15. I'm blessed to have such wonderful friends in my life. You know who you are, so I won't start name-dropping.
16. I'm thankful for a certain sense of wit. Not everything is so serious that a laugh cannot diffuse it unless there is a weapon in front of you.
17. I'm more than blessed that my neighbors aren't rednecks. Being black in Saline County, you don't know how much that means to me.
18. I'm grateful for actually implementing financial wisdom. One day we'll be debt-free, but that is one small step at a time.
19. I'm thankful that my mom taught me how to cook so many years ago. All fast food does is empty my pockets.
20. I'm blessed to be able to share my life's testimony with so many via this blog and anywhere I may go. I hope it is a help more than a hindrance to you.
21. I'm thankful for my dad who has always had my back - and for showing me what it really means to be a man.
22. I'm grateful that my only sibling and I get along as well as we do now. That's what growing up and now living two hours apart can do for you. #weallwegot
23. I am appreciative of the public servants who are doing the right things to make our lives safer and a better place than we found it. I'm talking about firefighters, law enforcement, educators, sanitation workers, and all who work tirelessly through budget cuts and a population so averse to taxes.
24. I'm grateful not to work for Walmart anymore. The company is great for some - I admit I still shop there at times - but I no longer have to perform miracles in the pets department for a 50 cent raise. There are some things the company can do better, but I'm just a customer.
25. I'm thankful for my exes. Without them, I would have never known the gem of a wife I have, and how much of a douche I was to them.
26. I'm blessed to be a part of a progressive church that is "just my size". No one wants to associate themselves with dead, and that includes the house of worship.
27. I'm indebted to all of you in one way, shape, form, or fashion. As no man is an island, I thank you for letting me lean on you.
28. I'm thankful for the Thanksgiving Day spread. I'm sure JC Penney will agree when I have to get another pair of Levi's and a belt after overeating.
29. I am content most of the time, especially on vacation. One day I may get to retire and buy that condo in Ocean Springs so I can fish off the piers all day long.
30. I'm thankful for having been able to travel as much as I have had and knowing that the world encompasses more than the one hundred miles of my birthplace.
There ya have it, 30 Days of Blessings. I don't want to inundate people with online postings, so here they are at one time.
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