Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Asking for A friend: How can I follow Christ if I don’t like Christians?

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
1 Peter 2:1‭-‬12 NIV

Back to the Basics

New Birth is always into a family.
New birth is exciting, but maturity in Christ is the goal.
God’s plan is for the world to experience him in and through us.
Holiness is a powerful witness

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:6 NIV

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
1 Peter 3:15

Memory Verse

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 NIV

https://john.bible/john-1-14

Bottom line

Resistance is expected; let Christ not our character be the stumbling block.

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advocacy, Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Today is global accessibility awareness day. This is a day of recognizing the things and people that are allies to the people in the disability community.

Thank you to the following people:

Thank you to Feinstein’s at Vitello’s for creating accessibility by adding the chair lift to your place. I truly feel like family when I attend shows at your place.

Thank you also to the federal bar in North Hollywood. I love attending shows upstairs, and I love how easy the access is for a wheelchair and walker user like me.

Thank you also to theatre 68, who gave me a front-row seat to see my friend Renee Marino in a production of Danny and the deep blue sea. Thank you also to Renee Marino for letting me take a Walker-free photo with her on two occasions.

Thank you also to John Lloyd Young, who was the first person to take a walker-free photo with me back in August of 2015.

Last but not least, thank you to my family at Eagle Rock Baptist Church for not giving up on me or leaving me out of things when my movement became a little bit more difficult.

The things I think need to change:

The first thing that needs to be changed is the restaurants that use the accessible bathroom stall or the walkway to the bathroom for high chair storage space. Companies need to require their employees to go through a training called the other side of the chair. A training in which wheelchairs, walkers, and other assistive equipment is used to give people the experience of those who use that equipment daily.

Another improvement that needs to be made is accessibility in entertainment. The only way that crip face casting will become a thing of the past is if theatres and movie and tv filming locations become accessible.

The definition of Cripface casting is- casting someone in the role of a disabled person when the actor has no life experience as a person with a disability.

Society still has a lot to learn, but I do believe that things have the potential to get better.

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Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Facing Failure with unshakable Faith

The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered. So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him. Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!” When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!”
Acts. 12:6‭-‬14 NLT

1. We need an unshakeable community

2. The people in your community need to be people who practice sacrificial love

3. Speaks words of encouragement

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Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Asking for a friend: Why didn’t God answer my prayer?

Reasons we may not see Answers to prayer:

1. Maybe the request is Wrong

James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came up to him. “Teacher, we have something we want you to do for us.” “What is it? I’ll see what I can do.” “Arrange it,” they said, “so that we will be awarded the highest places of honor in your glory—one of us at your right, the other at your left.”
Mark 10:35‭-‬37 MSG

When it came close to the time for his Ascension, he gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem. He sent messengers on ahead. They came to a Samaritan village to make arrangements for his hospitality. But when the Samaritans learned that his destination was Jerusalem, they refused hospitality. When the disciples James and John learned of it, they said, “Master, do you want us to call a bolt of lightning down out of the sky and incinerate them?”
Luke 9:51‭-‬54 MSG

2. Maybe the timing is wrong

Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.
2 Peter 3:8‭-‬9 MSG

3. Maybe there’s something wrong with me.

The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God’s grace, you’re equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don’t run aground.
1 Peter 3:7 MSG

Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.
Isaiah 59:1‭-‬2 NLT

4. Maybe Nothing is wrong

Memory Verse

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8‭-‬9 NLT

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Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Asking For a friend: Does God care what I wear?

So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ. And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That’s a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It’s because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn’t long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it’s all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk. Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ. So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Colossians 3:1-14

What Does God want me to wear?

Compassion
Kindness
Humility
Gentleness, aka quiet strength
Even temper
Contentment with second place
Forgiveness
Love

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Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Just Sayin’ Sticks and Stones

Just Sayin’ is a sermon series that my church taught five years ago. I felt the desire to reteach this on my podcast because it was one of my favorite series.

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences
Proverbs 18:21

Filters for speaking

1. Contemplate before you communicate

Even fools are thought wise when they are silent. With their mouths shut they seem intelligent
Proverbs 17:28

2. Speak truthfully

There are six things the Lord hates— no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.
Proverbs 6:16‭-‬19 NLT

3. Speak tastefully

Everything you say must be true, but not everything true must be said

People that have a tongue problem actually have a heart problem.

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Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Asking for a friend: Aren’t all religions the same

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 NIV
Memory Verses

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
John 14:1‭-‬7 NIV

Myth 1

The world is getting more secular; this is not true more and more people are looking for hope.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18‭-‬20 NIV

1. As followers of Jesus, we are all cross-cultural missionaries now.

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
1 Peter 3:15 NIV

2. Our manner and our method must match our message

Myth 2

All religions are valid.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
John 11:25 NIV

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Hebrews 1:3 NIV

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:9‭-‬10 NIV

Christianity is exclusive on how you get in but inclusive on who gets in.

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Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Asking for a friend: How can God allow Evil and suffering in the world

We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! 1
Corinthians 13:12 MSG

What we know about Evil:

1. God is Not the author of evil

God looked over all he had made and saw that it was very good
Genesis 1:31

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone. For everyone sinned
Romans 5:12

2. Though suffering isn’t good, God uses it to accomplish good.

Sometimes God uses sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek eternal life
2 Corinthians 7:10

We also rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character hope
Romans 5:3

3. Suffering will cease an evil will be judged

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 NIV

4. Our suffering will pale in comparison to what God has in store for his followers

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18 NIV

5. We have a choice for bitter or for better

Memory Verses

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NIV

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalms 34:18 NIV

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalms 34:18 NIV

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Faith, Dance, Books, advocacy

Asking For A Friend:What difference does Easter Make?

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:3‭-‬6 NIV

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
1 Corinthians 15:14‭, ‬17 NIV

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:20 NIV

Because Jesus has Risen, I can have…

1. Forgiveness for the past

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 3:23 NIV

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 NIV

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Romans 4:25 NIV

2. Power for the future

Memory Verses

and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
Ephesians 1:19‭-‬20 NIV

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 NIV

3. Hope for the Future

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NIV

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
John 17:3 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:3 NIV

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Crosswords: The word of trust

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:44‭-‬46 NIV

“In that day,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight. I will turn your religious festivals into mourning and all your singing into weeping. I will make all of you wear sackcloth and shave your heads. I will make that time like mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day.
Amos 8:9‭-‬10 NIV

That day will be a day of wrath— a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness—
Zephaniah 1:15 NIV

Memory Verse

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

What is so Good about Friday

1. God’s love was the catalyst for the cross

2. God’s longing to be with his beloved compelled him to remove any barriers.

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Luke 3:21‭-‬22 NIV

The Bottom Line: The message of the cross is one we have been commissioned to share

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:18‭-‬20 NIV

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