Valuing Our Inner-city Residents

I haven't blogged in a while, but tonight I just felt I should.  I logged into my account and saw a friend's blog about some folks bleaching their skin in a country in South America.

In inner-city Jamaica, skin bleaching is quite common also.  But, I have come to realize that the problem is not wanting to be lighter, but wanting to be more accepted.  Many people grow up feeling unloved and unwanted.  I have heard stories where the darker child stays home and does housework, while the lighter child goes to school as the parent believes the child who is more brown has the greater chance of succeeding.

People want to succeed, so they do what they feel is necessary to make this happen. It seems the lighter the skin, the brighter the future.  They also want to be accepted and many have said when they are "brown" they are more sought after.  Therefore, they also bleach to please others.

Our society gives us a lower self esteem.  Lighter skin models sell the most products and they seem to have better lives.  Many feel lesser because they are darker.  Missing the truth that they are fearfully and wonderfully made.

I want to help to change minds and consequently change lives.  Marcus Garvey implored people of African descent to "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery."  However, many are still trapped by self-deprecating thoughts that lead to self destructive behavior.  Many children have been told that they are "worthless" and "good for nothing" by their parents and teachers.  They grow up believing this and often don't even realize how gifted they are and that they are created for a special purpose.

I got an idea to show the positive side of the inner-city community where I am a missionary in a documentary TV series.  I knew it had to be God's idea.  The residents need to recognize that they are His treasures - diamonds in the rough. They are special with talents and gifts unique to them. They should have a chance to shine, and that is what Parade Gardens:Diamond in the Rough will allow them to do.

Plus, others in Jamaica need to understand that the folks from our inner-city communities are special.  Inner-city communities are the pulse of Jamaican culture.  People come from throughout the world to experience this culture.   We cannot deny the impact of these neighborhoods on our society.  We need to encourage the residents of these communities to use their talents, to build themselves, their community and their nation.  It is time for us to stop denying their value because they of where they come from.  And, where they live is NOT JUST A GHETTO.  

Gold St. in Parade Gardens, Kingston, Jamaica

Please visit our crowdfunding page, if you would like to get more information, or you would to support this effort.

Would you still follow Jesus if you knew what He really looked like?

For many centuries a number of artists and now filmmakers have portrayed what they think Jesus would look like.  Oftentimes, they have been influenced by their culture and own experiences as they depict Jesus.  In Michelangelo's painting, The Last Judgement on the wall of the Sistine Chapel,  Christ is an under dressed redhead with a thick muscular body and no facial hair.  Really different from, Christ Falling on the Way to Calvary painted by Raphael.  This Christ is a thin brunette with a close cut beard and fully clothed, even though Raphael may have thought less was best for a similar looking Messiah in Resurrection of Christ.  Raphael's Christs have features that are more like Christ in Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper.  While, child prodigy, Akaine, has a short brown haired Prince of Peace with green eyes. Some scientists believe this portrait is accurate as they say it matches the face on the Shroud of Turin.

The many faces of Jesus on Google

But, what does the Bible say that Jesus looks like?  Isaiah wrote centuries before Jesus' birth that He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. Isaiah 53:2  That means no matter how much I wish He did, Jesus just doesn't look like The Passion of The Christ's Jim Caviezel, and He sure doesn't have the features of Diogo Morgado in Son of God, who some have called the "hot Jesus."  Sorry to burst your bubble folks, but Jesus was not a "hotty" according to Isaiah.  Although, you may say Mary Magdalene swooned at His feet, but it wasn't for His appearance on the outside, instead she was moved by who Jesus is and the power within.

Since we are on the subject of feet.  Let's just stay there for a while and work our way up. John in Revelations describes the Son of God's feet as "burnished bronze."  Jesus will have dark feet when He comes back.  But how were His feet when He came the first time?  He must have had dirty dusty feet.  People didn't go for a pedi back then, even though they trod treacherous trying trails in sandals.  So, hard sore feet were the order of the day.  But Paul and Isaiah pointed out, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"  Consequently, no matter how dusty they were, Jesus' feet were beautiful.


Jesus must have also had some strong legs with all that walking, plus He must have lifted a lot of heavy wood being a carpenter, which would have made him muscular.  His hands would have been calloused from using all those tools at work.  Also, He may have had some meat on His bones to have been without food and water in the desert for 40 days.  

What I haven't been quite able to understand though is how so many artists have made his hair out to be so smooth and long. Since He didn't have all these detangling conditioners, then maybe He used some natural hair products.  But, Jesus was quite busy, so I don't think He would have had time to constantly get His hair done between the healings and the preachings.  His hair must have been battling the elements - wind, dust, rain and the heat.  I wonder if he packed a good comb and brush? If not, He would have some bad hair days with horribly matted dirty hair.  On His return, we can look forward to Him having "hair like wool, as white as snow" as revealed to John.

Coming from the Mediterranean, Jesus may have had dark hair and eyes and an olive complexion.  However, John again described His eyes on His return and He said it is "like fire."

I know that "Cleanliness is next to godliness," is most certainly not in the Bible.   Jesus would never have been godly then, yet we know Him as God.  He would have been dirty a lot, unless He walked with multiple changes of clothes and did laundry often.  Jesus healed with dirt, picked corn, played with kids and had people grabbing His clothing.  He must have sweated a lot with all that walking and may have been smelly as he lacked a good anti-antiperspirant.  

Think about hygiene back when Jesus was on earth.  Toothpaste, floss and regular dentist visits were not the norm.  Cavities and no teeth could very well have been what most people expected to have. 

In Painting a Portrait of Jesus, Bible scholar, D. Moody Smith states, "We are awash in Jesus fiction...the New Testament Gospels contain no reference to Jesus’ appearance, much less a description of him. We don’t know what he looked like."  He missed John's Revelation, but that may be because it refers to the Coming King, rather than when He lived on earth.

Cover of Biblical Archaeology November/December 2010 issue showing the representations of Jesus by two different artists 

Now, with little to go on about Jesus' appearance, would you be willing to follow a Jesus, who may have been smelly and dirty with rotten or broken teeth?  What if He wasn't that attractive, and didn't have the hair, eye or skin color you thought, would you still call Him your God?

 

You can't handle the TRUTH

I have found that the biggest hindrance to sharing God's love with people on the streets is Christians.  Yep, that's right.  The same persons who are to show God's love, are the same ones others feel have an unloving and uncaring attitude.

I have really had to check myself and look at the actions of other Christians to see if this is true.  And, I came to the conclusion that, it is.  Sad, but true.  Introspection can be difficult at times, especially when you look at the hard cold truth that some things about you are not good and definitely not Godly.  And most times, as Jack Nicholson said in A Few Good Men, "You can't handle the truth." 

Why can't we handle the truth? It is ironic, because Jesus said He is the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6).  If we really aren't handling the "truth,"  then we can't really be living in Christ as He is the truth.   And seriously Christians, the way we live reflects just that.  Many of us have been subversive and disingenuous in trying to get our "way", which is not necessarily what Jesus, the way, would have us do. However, we discount that fact, and pick Bible verses, sometimes out of context, to buttress our point.  It may sound good, but may not be of God.

We have made truth relative and not absolute, even though we say we believe in the absolute truth, but it seems only when it is relative to our point. But wait! Absolute can never be relative, so our truths then cause absolute confusion. What's my point?  Exactly!!!

 

This creates another Abbott and Costello type conundrum.  So, we have to figure out who's on first?  Just remember, I'm on third 'cause, "I don't know."

Now, I'm getting lost and need to get back on track.  Which track?  Not sure, because there are so many to get on, and frequently many Christians just "jump on a bandwagon," without even checking in with God or other sound sources to get factual information to clarify if the "bandwagon" is indeed on the track of truth.

The truth is, it's important that Christians do not just react out of emotions.  We need to stop, look and listen before we make a move.  Stop and be still to know without a doubt that God is working in the situation. Then, look at all that is going on from God's perspective, which is through eyes of love. And, listen to other point-of-views and most of all for God's direction, before you go.

http://stleonardsprimarybridgnorth.ethink.org.uk/2012/01/25/stop-look-listen-live/

 

 

We absolutely need to handle this truth and the truth about ourselves.  We cannot truly live or love, if we don't stop, look and listen. 

The Power of Love

"...the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

I met Kalia over a year and a half ago, and I truly believe it is the love of her parents and her extended family that not only makes her survive, but thrive under the circumstances she has had to endure since birth.

Kalia in the hospital

Kalia's first surgery was the very day she was born as she had no anus. The skin on her stomach was cut and her intestines were put on the outside through the incision so that she would be able to pass her feces. However, her battle had only just begun.  At just three days old she had her next surgery. This time it was on her esophagus, which her parents described as being attached to her lungs. When she was swallowing, air and food were going down the same passage.

These conditions would be taxing on an adult, nevertheless, Kalia's afflictions do not end there.  Compounding her situation are issues with her heart and kidney, along with an arm with no radius bone. She also has asthma, and is often admitted to the hospital for wheezing and shortness of breath.  With all these ailments, undoubtedly, she is susceptible to infections.

Kalia and her cousins

It is hard for her young parents to see their little daughter suffering, but they have learned to cope with the many emergency room visits and long hospital stays.  Thankfully, Kalia lives with a loving extended family who are there to help her and her parents lighten their burden. Unfortunately, she and her family live in an inner-city community in Jamaica and they cannot afford all her medical expenses.  

Expecting miracles, Kalia's grandmother often brings her to visiting missionaries and church groups for them to pray for her.  I too believe that amazing things can happen through prayer, but I also understand that we are to be Jesus' hands and feet here on Earth.  We have been positioned to help Kalia in whatever way we can. Learn more about how you can play your part.

Visiting missionaries pray for Kalia as she is being held by her grandmother

Kalia's story has made it to one of the nation's leading newspapers and now many persons are aware of all the challenges she has faced at such a young age and have fallen in love with her.  However, love is an action word, so now we must act and help Kalia have the best life she possibly can.  Love Now...Act Now!!!

Who Da Man? - My Journey into Womanhood (Part 4)

Nearly two years ago I blogged about My Journey into Womanhood.  God was really showing me a lot about myself that Summer and He still is.  My journey into womanhood is still continuing and I am recognizing  that this may take a while.  Yep, I'm a WIP (Woman in process).  I wish God could just do one of His suddenlies right now and make me into the woman He has purposed me to be, but it's just not happening.  I am a bit stubborn, okay, okay... a lot stubborn.  And you know, when the Master Potter recognizes that the clay isn't being putty in His hands, He will pound it back into a mold then reshape it on His wheel.  Ouch!!! This has been a painful experience, but here I am already pounded and still on the wheel in the hands of the Creator.

I have an idea of the design He would like me to be as it is in the Book.  With finesse the Master Potter is fine-tuning me between His fingers to have the feminine heart in 1 Peter 3:4  and the character of the Proverbs 31 woman. I am taking a while. Frankly, I have thought I was done many times, but the Potter knows best.  My concern is that after the wheel, comes the fire.  Undoubtedly, I must be tested to truly know if I am the vessel I was created me to be so God will get the glory.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 

The good thing is that I realize God is working and that I may have a loud mouth, but can still have a quiet and gentle spirit.  I am also learning that I can't go on this journey alone - I have the Bible as my compass and I am doing better at allowing the Holy Spirit to take the drivers seat.  He is good at knowing when to take stops and when to let others come on parts of the journey with us.  If it were me I probably would not have let anyone come with us or I would not have journeyed with them for as long as we have.  But, I am kinda understanding what He is doing.... sometimes - I have things to learn with all those who are with us.

Right now, I feel like I am in a dark place - nowhere near where I feel I should be. However, God has promised me "treasures of darkness" (ref. Isaiah 45:3)  So when this "jar of clay" is ready to be filled, I will have treasures in me to share with others.

The Community of Believers

In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 2 Corinthians 8:2-5

Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 8 appealing for them to give out of their plenty to help supply the need of other believers.  This was in stark contrast to the Macedonians who he described earlier in the chapter as having "rich generosity" in "their extreme poverty."

Wow!!! The Macedonians were even pleading for the "privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people."  Now, this is amazing.  They were going through great difficulties, but did not selfishly give in to self-pity, but rather selflessly gave in a self sacrificial manner.  They didn't complain about giving, but they joyfully shared even more than they could.

This makes me really think if the Church, as a community of believers, is really acting like a community should.  Two definitions of community stand out to me in the Merriam-Webster dictionary.  The first is a "unified body of individuals,"  and the second, "joint ownership or participation."  I believe these two should be what Church looks like, but it is not.

Christ prayed in John 17 that the believers would be one as He and the Father are one. A unified body is dear to His heart. Yet, we have chosen to argue over petty differences, instead of unite in our belief in Christ.

The Macedonians did not only give themselves to firstly the Lord, but they also offered up themselves to Paul and his fellow laborers in Christ. What a fantastic model for the Church to live by! Instead, we are so busy, being busy with our own stuff and hoarding our "riches"  that we don't commit our time, talent and treasures to God and His people.  We grumble about not having enough to tithe, although Christ said to give up everything and follow Him.  We hold on to our possessions, while trying to acquire more of the "unnecessities" to feel happier, even though our brother or sister in Christ knowingly to us suffers dire need.  Ignoring their state, we focus on ourselves and our family, but making sure to go to church religiously and doing ministry vacantly, hoping to buy God's grace.  We have failed to realize The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sake He became poor, so that we through His poverty might become rich. (v. 9)

Jesus was stripped of everything when He went to the cross for us.  Yet, to give someone a little assistance is often deemed as a great inconvenience to us. I am overjoyed that Christ did not see the cross as an inconvenience.

I don't want to miss the second definition, which is "joint ownership or participation." Yikes!!! I know this will make most people squeamish as we think that we have worked hard to acquire all we have and we don't want to give it to a lazy bum.  Wait a minute though, the Bible unequivocally advocates hard work and wisdom.  We don't support slackness, as that is madness.  However, whenever possible, we should try to help those who are working hard, but still aren't making ends meet.  Paul emphasized as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.” (v. 15) IT IS BIBLICAL.

We get so caught up with "our" stuff and keeping up appearances that we become afraid to give,as we consider it loss instead of gain. Gripped by fear, we seem to forget that we are in an upside down kingdom in which giving is receiving.

It is time to do what is right in the eyes of God and the eyes of man by proving our love through the gift of giving, not to buy God's love or man's favor however, but to show God's grace working in us.

Let You Go

My pride wouldn’t let me admit that you, my formidable foe, were hurting me

You did not relent and kept on pounding harshly on my chest

Beaten and battered my anger rose as the sun set

In the darkness, I turned my stony face toward the moon,

Hoping you would not see me cry

I did not want you to think I was weak

So many people told me to let you go

But, you were such a friendly fiend

I became familiar with all your ways

And, you stole my heart

You built a protective fort around us

No one could every break down the thick walls to get to us

Our defenses were up

And we kept up the façade that I was safe

I was never lonely as you kept my company

Speaking to me day and night

The fire you sent through my veins intoxicated me

I was forever yours

Yes, my friends warned me against you

But, before I knew it you were a fixture in my heart

Now, I realize they were right

I became your prisoner

I became your slave

When I struggled to get away you held on so tight

I didn’t want any more of the pain

You hurt me and you made me hurt others

You made me desolate and depressed

Using all your might against me,  you broke my will

I searched for hope and I found it deep beyond my soul

The Spirit within gave me more light than the moon offered in the tortuous darkness of my soul

Then, I realized I had to make a choice to leave you

If not, I would forever be imprisoned by you

My weeping lasted through the night

But, now it is morning

Today, I will stand firm against you, my great enemy

I will see my salvation

The battle was never mine

So, I will give it up and I will let you go

By N. Carara