Up/Lion King: It is Finished, and Now It's Time to Go

²¹And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.
 ²²Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise. IKings 11:21:22

So Hadad had learned that his tormentor or terrorist King David had passed, and immediately made a choice to move back home.   I am certain the reason why Hadad was with Pharaoh was not just because of that's where he felt safest, but also it had become normal for him.  After all Pharaoh favored him being there.  Like Hadad, I was faced with a choice when confronted by my own anger and angst that I had against my own father back in November 2011, and upon realizing this was not only unhealthy but not God's will for me to stay there, I decided to move on.  So I called him, and there began a new day, a new relationship, a new found respect, love and affection for the man named Raymond E. Washington, Sr.  

In the movie up, I don't think it was a coincidence that Carl was holding a balloon at his beloved Ellie's funeral that when he let that go....it would automatically ascend up.   And therefore you see the irony is that if we could just let go of our hurts, habits, and hang-ups we too, might follow the path of the balloon.  My dad was a teacher, a father, a friend, a mentor and a community leader to name a few, and despite that our relationship didn't improve til months ago, I praise God for that.   See my dad had had a child out of wedlock well before I was born, and purposed his heart to move where that child, my half-sister Deondra lived and attempt to develop and establish a relationship.   How honorable is that?  Think about it, he could've lived the last 14+ years of his life in denial of her existence but faced the reality of possible rejection and difficulties head on. 

Today I did my level best to do as God commands us, " To honor thy father......." when there was a time that I personally despised him.  I've come to see the man that laid today in that casket as me....I too am a teacher (of sorts), I too am friend/father, a community leader, and a mentor to some.   So even though I too have been hurt, which resulted in some ridiculous hang-ups, and led to some terrible habits....like Simba laying next to his dead father, Mufasa he had to decide to get up...and move forward, to assume the new normal.  The new position of leadership awaiting him.    I have had to do that in more ways than I cared to in the last 2 months, and I do so with the heart of Christ in me, to continue to leave a legacy that is worth following that I pray leads everyone to the will of the father.

My encouragement and challenge to all of you, is call, email, or go see that person that has hurt you, it at all possible.  Forgive them, yes forgive them and ask for their forgiveness.  Forgiveness that you disregarded them.....that you thought ill or evil of them, knowing that the same God that created you, created them.   He loves them just as much as He does you....so that when the time has come for you to Move Forward, beyond their timely passing, you do so without the weight of guilt or grief....and you are fetted with God's grace.   Humble Thyself and Watch Your Mouth!  LGLP

UP: If You Don't Humble Yourself, He Can't Exalt You

So humble yourselves,  under the mighty power of God and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.  1Peter 5:6-7

It's amazingly automatic that when we receive news that challenges us, we drop our heads and hearts into despair.   In the movie Up when the couple learns she cannot conceive you see both of their heads are bowed in despair.   I know when I received the news of my dad's passing while driving I needed to park, and too like in an eerie automatic sort of response my head too dropped.   It's the one time that physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually that we HAVE TO ADMIT WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL.  Which believe it or not is most of the battle of our lives. 

We are constantly attempting to gain something that was never ours to have; control. Adam while given dominion....was not given a joystick or magic wand to control the animals nor nature.   Now don't get me wrong there are a few things you actually do control.....like your attitude, and also like your ........attitude......and then don't forget your attitude, and........GET IT?  Now in a humorous way we may control our bowels (after much training as a kid) but if you live long enough.....you know longer control those either....lol.   But seriously.....we were meant to be humble, to realize our dependence on our Heavenly Father.   See it is when your head and heart are humbled before the GOD that He has a reason to come alongside you and encourage you that with Him, you can go on. 

I believe if we started our day in humility before the creator of the day, that in Him, we'd find the strength it takes to make it through the day, and not just make it through but Live Abundantly because we realize that He cares for us.   So lift UP your eyes to the hills from where you helps comes from, for your help comes from the LORD.    I pray your encouragement to know WHO is REALLY in CONTROL and that you give that fight UP...and enjoy being cared for so you can focus on just loving God and loving people!  Be Blessed!  LGLP

Up: The Brevity of Life

- yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.  What is your life?  For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  James 4:14

In the opening scene to the Award Winning Pixar production Up you see a young boy and girl play together, grow together, and soon the boy, now an old man has had to wrestle with his best friend dying.

The beauty in these scenes are true to life.  If you really give yourself to developing relationships with the millions of people on this planet you truly experience the JOY of living.  So much so that when one life is plucked away, a part of you leaves with them.

So how will you you live your life today?  Will you go to work and keep your head down, do your work, have your lunch alone, and then go home?  Never having truly lived as Christ would've among them?  Sharing joys and concern?  Laughing with, praying with, playing with and struggling with others toward a common goal?  Who will you have mentored?   If you ever watched the movie UP you can't help but have your heart tugged at for the elderly man's lost....but the movie from that point heads up!   The ultimate direction of our attitude and efforts should be UPward bound.

May you give UP your anger and angst toward others that He maybe glorified.  May you live in such a way that you UPlift others.  May your serve in such away that you UPlift & Glorify the Father.  May you live in such away that when you cease to exist on this side that the only place you can go is UP!  LGLP

Smurfs: La La La La La La...La La La La Lah (Together We Are Unstoppable)

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him: male and female he created them. Genesis1:27

You know I bleong to a church that desires to (and are intentional about these desires) create an atmosphere where people of all backgrounds & cultures would come together to worship God.   The Smurfs actually represent the community that God would desire to be on earth.  Where the only thing that differentiates each of us are our giftedness, but we recognize and appreciate every person for their value to the community at large.

In Smurf world, everyone is the same color; blue. In the real world their is a huge spectrum of skin colors and ignorance has made us to focus on that, and not on valuing each other as creations of the same God.  This blog is not about trying to make you color blind or ignorant of the beauty of our shades, but rather more aware that like the Smurfs we all have incredible value to the community, and we need to focus on that gift, our very lives with experience and skills that we all bring to the community.

Also pictured is Gargamel and his hench of a cat, Azriel and their purpose much like Satan and his imps to divide us, recognize this is true in every aspect of life.   He wants to divide you from your kids, your spouse, your neighbors, your co-workers, from all people....so that ultimately you find yourself all alone so he can then do his greatest work!   Submit to God, resist the Devil...............LGLP!

The Lion King Pt. 5: Hakuna Matata

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,  casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

So Simba had reached the point that he had ran from his hurts, and responsibilities and found himself in the desert.  It is in the desert where we discover our poverty.  Where it's not about what we can do, or what we can manufacture...but rather we are at the mercy of God.   The people of Israel left the comforts of being slaves (yes I said comforts) where they were mistreated but their day and mistreatment was predictable.  So they became comfortable in their situations.  Much like we do...but when you're fired/terminated from that job you turn to .............  See God wanted you to keep things in proper perspective.    When we focus on our abilities, our accomplishments we become disillusioned to whose really in control.   We focus on the (re)source instead of the source.

Simba while in the desert was discovered by a Timon' and Pumba who were accustomed to the deserts of life, and quickly assimilated this young scared cub into a new way of looking, and living which ultimately led to Simba refocusing his life and purpose.  They eventually led this young cub from the desert into an oasis where he was nurtured to being inspired.    Today's scripture with the song Hakuna Matata encourages you to stop worrying, but be happy or rather be filled with the Joy of Jesus that puts things in proper perspective.   That you don't control people......  You can't really control your hurts, your habits and hang-ups....for if you could you probably wouldn't have them.   But what you can do....is cast them all.....release them......to the throne of Jesus knowing that His crucifixion was solely for this purpose so that you can live a life devoted to glorifying Him.  

Remember Simba was allowed to stay in the desert, nor in the oasis....he had to leave to return to what He had ran from to be who he was purposed to be all along.    I don't know where you have landed, or where you problems have landed you....but GOD has a purpose for you, and as soon as you learn JESUS finished it (dying for YOUR SINS) and that He desires you to return to Him, and surrender your pursuits of nothingness, to embrace the very reason you were created....to bring GLORY TO HIM.....the sooner you can enjoy Hakuna Matata!  LGLP

The Lion King Pt. 4: Blessed are those who know they have needs

⁴ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (ESV)

 ⁴"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.  Matthew 5:4 MSG

After Mufasa had passed Simba had recognized the loss of his father and how great that loss was.  That the expectancy of the "pride" was that he'd become the King and without having his dad there Simba had some holes to fill.  One of them was the hole in his heart (his life) of moving forward without the presence of his dad, Mufasa to help mentor him in the role/responsibility of being a king.  Then the other hole was physically...they pride needed to be led, and all eyes were on him the heir/successor of the throne.   Yesterday while driving to work, I spent a few moments talking to my mom, and in my thoughts was gripped by tears, because of joy...joy that GOD has done such a work in my life and my dad that after years of anger/bitterness that in November all of that came to a screeching halt.

It was GOD, it was He who brought me to a time and place where I experienced the liberty in forgiving my father, and in doing so...love abounded.   As I pulled into that parking space my tears of joy began to take over and before I knew it....I couldn't stop, and it was at that moment that I needed GOD, I knew there was no way I could take the next steps without His JOY fueling me.   Simba too recognized that the task at hand, the task up ahead he was not ready for and sought counsel and in the movie he looked to the sky and recieved what He was in need of. 

My prayer for you is that you take your hurts (as I did) your habits, and hang ups to God so that He can do a wonderful work in you:  (Ezekial 11:18-20) When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it. ¹⁹ And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, ²⁰ that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God.  And when this is done....Loving GOD and Loving People is what you desire to do..........may this be your goal and prayer today.  LGLP

The Importance of Living With and In Honor

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ²  “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), ³ “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”  Eph. 6:1-3

There is scene in the movie the Lion King where Mufasa has shown Simba all that is to be his someday and he even reminded his young cub of the importance of following his instructions just so that he may live a long and prosperous life.  Albeit whether you and your dad (your mom, whomever) have a great relationship or not, you are responsible for a portion of that.   My dad did what was honorable by sacrificing his life for his family and country (U.S. Army), and what did he get in return?   He returned but I am certain that Vietnam (as it did for many) robbed him a part of who he really was, therefore mentally I believe he returned home and struggled.  But not without a fight, he graduated from college, was a professor at Forest Park Community College and St. Louis University.  But there were certain demons that seemed to have a terrible hold on him.  So he decided to move away to Atlanta.  While there I believe my dad met GOD and as GOD was speaking to him, he too charged me to live in such a way here that despite our relational difficulties over the years that I was responsible for HONORING him, and HONORING HIM with my life.

If you know me, you know I'm not perfect....but I try (not to be) live in such a way that my fathers (bio and heavenly) would be honored to call me there son.  And as of this past Sunday as we had recently talked 2-3x a week in the last 6mos he made it a point to share how proud he was of me and my siblings.  He definitely landed our relational plane with grace& love, and after many years of struggling we finally were connecting like father and son should.

There is a natural order to things and I believe that has been fulfilled. In the movie Simba has decided to dishonor his father by journeying to a forbidden place...and the price is Mufasa sacrificed his life so that Simba could live.   My dad sacrificed his life (and sometimes I believed his soul and sanity) for his family & country so that I may live.    For those of  you that don't or don't want to have a relationship with a parent, child or family member let me remind you of this: Romans 12:17-18 says ¹⁷  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.   Simba regretted not having listened to his dad in that moment. I don't know what regret you maybe living with, but you have a heavenly Father that wants to take that, and use it for fuel to live a life that honors Him and those before you.

My dad has now taken on the rest of the saints, and I am charged to continue to live with honor, and honorably in the sight of all and peaceably as much as possible.   You are too, so please do what's right....make that phone call, bear your heart if you have to, but at the end of the day DO WHAT's RIGHT.  HE REALLY DOES MEAN for you to LOVE Him, and love all people.....for no man knows the day nor the hour when the Son of Man returns.  LGLP