I believe one of the greatest individual challenges we face is understanding our "Divine Purpose" for our living. So many times we think in terms of careers or aspirations of greatness in sports, entertainment or business, but we give very little time pondering and asking God what is our Divine Purpose.
I contend that the reason some people suffer depression, boredom and loss of desire for living a exuberant life is because they either don't know their Divine Purpose or have drifted away from it. Comprehending and moving within your Divine Purpose is the greatest asset in your life and it helps in understanding and makes sense of the perplexities and complications that seem to overwhelm us at times. It's the people who understand their Divine Purpose who push through daily obstacles and the power that propels them is the confidence (Faith) in God's ability to land them safely into their Divine Purpose. Without that confidence depression, doubt and failure is quick to overwhelm us.
The Apostle Paul, a highly intelligent, scholarly man from a powerful family made so much impact in the early Christian church because he was very aware of his Divine Purpose. He was able to overcome much adversity such as being stoned, beaten, jailed and abused by other church folk. He kept it moving because he was looking to land on Divine Purpose.
Dr. Martin Luther King, understood his divine purpose as well as numerous other civil rights fighters who endure much pain, abuse, loss of job and family for their commitment to their Divine Purpose. But look at the results today. We have our first African American President and have had many other minorities in the highest offices of our courts, military and corporations. All of this occurred because people of understood and walked in their Divine Purpose and stayed at it.
So as you consider your life and what it means. Take time to think deeply about your footprint, your shadow all of which are simple metaphors for what is your Divine Purpose. Step out on Faith and begin to walk in it.
Peace!!
Keeping the fire for a bold and courageous life burning.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
Why is Faith So Important?
This morning I was captivated by this scripture:
New International Version (©1984)
Hebrews 11:6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
I know that this is a very short statement but it carries so much weight for the Christian. As I spent time thinking through scripture I thought about all the moves and decisions I made on my own without consulting the Lord. Those moves and decisions made sense to me but over the long haul I found that they were flawed. You see I only was able tot see what I saw at the time the move or decision was made. I couldn't see up the road. By not consulting with God, the maker of the heavens and the earth, I took a very powerful tool away from my decision making experience. Furthermore, I devalued God because I didn't acknowledge his power or that he even existed as it related to this decision.
Last night I watched a very powerful man, Arnold Schwarzenegger, talk briefly about his life on CNN. Life for him started in stark poverty in a land that had been decimated by World War II. He build himself up with exercise and weight training to become the most highly decorated and prized body builder in the world. He moved into acting and made millions. Later he pursued a political career and reached one the highest positions in Government, the Governor of California. I realized while watching Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that what he had within himself was not enough. Despite being Mr. World Olympian Body Builder, A top Hollywood Actor, Married to a very beautiful woman from an iconic and very wealthy family and all of that was not enough to get him through some tough spots in his life. During the interview, I saw a weakened man, remorseful, honest about his human flaws but yet still ready to press on with life. My only hope is that he doesn't try to do it in his own strength because he will have the same results. Failure.
But when we put things in the hands of God even though there will be tragedy, failures and the ever present human flaws, we seem to land in a better place, we come out so much stronger and wiser and we have the assurance that all things work together for the good.
So in every decision we make, we should make it by faith in God. We should have confidence that we can do it but not confidence that we can do it without God; because the bible says:
New International Version (©1984)
Hebrews 11:6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
I know that this is a very short statement but it carries so much weight for the Christian. As I spent time thinking through scripture I thought about all the moves and decisions I made on my own without consulting the Lord. Those moves and decisions made sense to me but over the long haul I found that they were flawed. You see I only was able tot see what I saw at the time the move or decision was made. I couldn't see up the road. By not consulting with God, the maker of the heavens and the earth, I took a very powerful tool away from my decision making experience. Furthermore, I devalued God because I didn't acknowledge his power or that he even existed as it related to this decision.
Last night I watched a very powerful man, Arnold Schwarzenegger, talk briefly about his life on CNN. Life for him started in stark poverty in a land that had been decimated by World War II. He build himself up with exercise and weight training to become the most highly decorated and prized body builder in the world. He moved into acting and made millions. Later he pursued a political career and reached one the highest positions in Government, the Governor of California. I realized while watching Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that what he had within himself was not enough. Despite being Mr. World Olympian Body Builder, A top Hollywood Actor, Married to a very beautiful woman from an iconic and very wealthy family and all of that was not enough to get him through some tough spots in his life. During the interview, I saw a weakened man, remorseful, honest about his human flaws but yet still ready to press on with life. My only hope is that he doesn't try to do it in his own strength because he will have the same results. Failure.
But when we put things in the hands of God even though there will be tragedy, failures and the ever present human flaws, we seem to land in a better place, we come out so much stronger and wiser and we have the assurance that all things work together for the good.
So in every decision we make, we should make it by faith in God. We should have confidence that we can do it but not confidence that we can do it without God; because the bible says:
Philippians 4:13
New King James Version (NKJV)
13 I can do all things through Christ[a] who strengthens me.
Remember, you can do all things. But it is solely through Christ who will provide the strength.
Another key bible verse to remember is:
New International Version (©1984)
But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
So if you are stuck in a financial situation, family issues are pressing in on you or your job is lousy and you feel mistreated and unappreciated. Remember to pray about the situation, take some time to sit still to hear God's voice, then make some Faith moves toward the solution.
May God Bless and Keep you is My Prayer
Monday, October 8, 2012
How to Get More of Anything (Part 1)
In many of our lives there is a need for increase. Some need more financial resources, some more space in which to live, some of us need more love and attention. I believe that the key to getting more of anything is explained in the simple excerpt from a parable from the Bible.
Luke 19:26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.
This parable deals with stewardship and understanding the power of increase.
A few years ago the President of a local bank whom I had a very small business loan with came to me and asked if I would consider purchasing a property that they had in their inventory. It was a repossessed home that one of their borrowers defaulted on. I agreed to purchase the home and they gave me a loan for it. While I had it in my possession, I did some repair work to improve it and later sold it for a small profit and paid off the loan to the bank early.
The banker later returned to me and asked me to buy another one of their properties. This one was a commercial property in a very prestigious part of town and it was only one years old. Another borrower had a business idea that failed and he fled town leaving the bank with the property.
The price of this property was many times more expensive than the first one that the bank offered me and the bank financed it with no money down on my part and they gave me a very low interest rate. In fact they gave me what is called prime interest rate. This is the rate that the banks give to their very best customers. I moved my office into this new business and was now working an owner of a property in the high end real estate section of our town. Soon I was able to convince another land owner who owned property next door to me to sell me 5 acres of raw undeveloped land right behind mine.
In the course of three years after this purchase I was able to raise more than $6 million dollars for a 40 unit multi-family development for senior citizens and one of the grandest properties in the town.
The point is that good stewardship and taking a little and making a lot is so important to getting more and more real-estate and more capital by which to make improvements and to build. I am truly convinced that this principal works and if you do well with what you have, more is sure to come.
This principal works in every situation. If you want more love, cherish and commit to the loves that you have. If you want more children, tend carefully to the ones that you have. If you want more responsibility in ministry or on the job, do the very best you can with what you have and soon you will have more.
Peace!!
Luke 19:26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.
This parable deals with stewardship and understanding the power of increase.
A few years ago the President of a local bank whom I had a very small business loan with came to me and asked if I would consider purchasing a property that they had in their inventory. It was a repossessed home that one of their borrowers defaulted on. I agreed to purchase the home and they gave me a loan for it. While I had it in my possession, I did some repair work to improve it and later sold it for a small profit and paid off the loan to the bank early.
The banker later returned to me and asked me to buy another one of their properties. This one was a commercial property in a very prestigious part of town and it was only one years old. Another borrower had a business idea that failed and he fled town leaving the bank with the property.
The price of this property was many times more expensive than the first one that the bank offered me and the bank financed it with no money down on my part and they gave me a very low interest rate. In fact they gave me what is called prime interest rate. This is the rate that the banks give to their very best customers. I moved my office into this new business and was now working an owner of a property in the high end real estate section of our town. Soon I was able to convince another land owner who owned property next door to me to sell me 5 acres of raw undeveloped land right behind mine.
In the course of three years after this purchase I was able to raise more than $6 million dollars for a 40 unit multi-family development for senior citizens and one of the grandest properties in the town.
The point is that good stewardship and taking a little and making a lot is so important to getting more and more real-estate and more capital by which to make improvements and to build. I am truly convinced that this principal works and if you do well with what you have, more is sure to come.
This principal works in every situation. If you want more love, cherish and commit to the loves that you have. If you want more children, tend carefully to the ones that you have. If you want more responsibility in ministry or on the job, do the very best you can with what you have and soon you will have more.
Peace!!
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Focus On The Other Side
Life provides some some great examples to guide us in our efforts to succeed. Today, I want to share a short story and video that has many examples to show us how to succeed. This is a recent demonstration of an awesome tightrope walk across Niagara Falls. While I watched the video one of the statements that struck me was when the tight rope walker says that in order for him to succeed in this walk he had to focus on the other side.
Hmmmmm..I thought, this man was crossing over the most spectacular water falls in America and Canada at night, in blinding mist, and with winds swirling and he said focusing on the other side. What was it on the other side that he focused on I asked myself. Perhaps it was the warm embrace from his wife and family, the cheering crowd who admired his daring and intestinal fortitude. Maybe it was his own sense of accomplishment that came from completing a task that had been planned for and rehearsed for many years. Whatever it was, it was a strong enough focus to get him across.
It is my belief that we will need to display that same level of focus and intensity in our lives to get us across the many tightrope walks we have before us.
SEE VIDEO
Man walks over Niagara Falls
Your tightrope walk might be the unsatisfied burning desire to start your own business or to raise your family alone without the help of a spouse. It could be to win an elected office or accomplish a noteworthy academic achievement. Whatever it is you must focus on the other side. Find something that "Melts Your Butter" and focus on that.
In my personal journey I have used pictures to help me focus on the other side. I have had many business endeavors and as much as I can remember, I always had an end goal in mind. In one example I would drive by this terrible neighborhood everyday. A well known slumlord was allowing drugs sales, prostitution and other illicit activity to take place there. I saw children pass there everyday on their way to school and sometimes they would go in those houses to buy candy and I knew that was just a marketing ploy to establish a customer base for future drug sales. I made up my mind that my tightrope walk would be to tear down all those houses and bring up new homes with homeowners.
I had to first develop a plan. Get buy in from the community and then go about raising money to make this happen. It took me 2 years to raise $500,000 to tear down 8 houses and build 5 new ones. But I never gave up and I stayed focused on the other side. The other side represented Homeownership for families who were previously living in the projects. It meant a nice, safe, clean community. It represented community pride and inspiration for more work to come up the road.
Did I have the fears of the tightrope walker? Oh, yes. Were there obstacles along the way.. Absolutely..
But I stayed Focused On The Other Side and you can too. Whatever you endeavor to do, please stay Focused On the Other Side. If you do this you will hit your target and land softly and claim your reward.
God Bless.
Hmmmmm..I thought, this man was crossing over the most spectacular water falls in America and Canada at night, in blinding mist, and with winds swirling and he said focusing on the other side. What was it on the other side that he focused on I asked myself. Perhaps it was the warm embrace from his wife and family, the cheering crowd who admired his daring and intestinal fortitude. Maybe it was his own sense of accomplishment that came from completing a task that had been planned for and rehearsed for many years. Whatever it was, it was a strong enough focus to get him across.
It is my belief that we will need to display that same level of focus and intensity in our lives to get us across the many tightrope walks we have before us.
SEE VIDEO
Man walks over Niagara Falls
Your tightrope walk might be the unsatisfied burning desire to start your own business or to raise your family alone without the help of a spouse. It could be to win an elected office or accomplish a noteworthy academic achievement. Whatever it is you must focus on the other side. Find something that "Melts Your Butter" and focus on that.
In my personal journey I have used pictures to help me focus on the other side. I have had many business endeavors and as much as I can remember, I always had an end goal in mind. In one example I would drive by this terrible neighborhood everyday. A well known slumlord was allowing drugs sales, prostitution and other illicit activity to take place there. I saw children pass there everyday on their way to school and sometimes they would go in those houses to buy candy and I knew that was just a marketing ploy to establish a customer base for future drug sales. I made up my mind that my tightrope walk would be to tear down all those houses and bring up new homes with homeowners.
I had to first develop a plan. Get buy in from the community and then go about raising money to make this happen. It took me 2 years to raise $500,000 to tear down 8 houses and build 5 new ones. But I never gave up and I stayed focused on the other side. The other side represented Homeownership for families who were previously living in the projects. It meant a nice, safe, clean community. It represented community pride and inspiration for more work to come up the road.
Did I have the fears of the tightrope walker? Oh, yes. Were there obstacles along the way.. Absolutely..
But I stayed Focused On The Other Side and you can too. Whatever you endeavor to do, please stay Focused On the Other Side. If you do this you will hit your target and land softly and claim your reward.
God Bless.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Fear Made me an Artist.
Fear gripped my heart. Thoughts of failure overwhelmed my mind and everything appeared dark and gloomy. These were some difficult times but if one were to look at me they would not have seen the great mental torment that I wrestled with and the overwhelming pain and sleeplessness that comes with fear. These were what I call the "Dark Nights of the Soul". It is a time when you feel abandoned by God. As if God has not heard anything you are saying and you wonder if you are still connected to the source of power you have proclaimed to be your all in all.
The "Dark Nights of the Soul" causes one to feel all alone, misunderstood and totally useless. As I stayed in this position for many months, I never stopped praying, although my prayers changed in it's intensity and resolve. I never stopped talking to God and asking questions. Then one day God placed it into my heart to change my environment and focus my thoughts on something afresh. It was shortly after that time that I met two wonderful persons who were artist and teachers. They offered me a free trip to Go to New Orleans and I stayed at a wonderful hotel which was way beyond my ability to pay. I was the only Community Development person in a group of seasoned teachers and they were looking for ways in which art would impact education. After a night of hanging out on Bourbon Street and listening to some great jazz music, we walked back to the hotel. I remember telling one of the teachers who worked for the Little Rock School system as a evaluator and had her own art studio about being stuck in a rut with respect to my career. I longed for the freedom to express myself in my work as the artist does. You see the artist has the gift of taking inspiration which is unseen and translates it into something visual, compelling and beautiful.
I am inspired to do so much to uplift and change the appearance of my community, yet I haven't learned how to let this transformative power flow through me to bring about tangible results. We discussed this for a time and she looked at me and said, "Andre, you are an artist and your canvas is the community". At first I chuckled and shrugged off her comments, but I had to respect the fact that this was a highly educated woman who had made a name for herself in the teaching profession and was able to maintain an art studio in her personal time. It occurred to me that she was very serious. She went on to explain to me that an artist in the broad sense was a person who could take something abstract, something invisible and move people to an emotional level to feel and from feeling into action.
This thought was pressed upon me even the more as I walked through New Orleans, a very artsy community, and looked at the impact that art in all its forms had on the culture, learning and commercial aspects of the city. The few days I had spent with my new found teaching friends had changed the way I looked at life and it helped to dissolve the fears I was facing as it related to my career in community development. Fears borne out of lack of resources, lack of ideas and the seemingly lack of concern from the people whom I was attempting to help.
When I returned home the idea of Art exploded inside of me and colors mattered, shapes and forms meant something to me. Architecture, especially modern architecture moved me greatly. I would travel to college campus looking for art in all of its forms. Jazz music became the norm in my listening experiences. And then I took the brush in my hand and produced my first work of art which stands to this day.
A simple hallway which was dull and drab became my canvas. I first painted this wood with an off white covering and then I got a bunch of different paints that were donated by a local paint supplier and just splattered the paint on the wall with no special intent for form. I did all of the walls and even the ceiling and after drying i returned to review what I had done. I was impressed with what I saw. It didn't appear at all that a mad man had gone wild. It shown as man who had things on the inside that needed to be released on the outside in a form that could be seen and appreciated.
Diverse colors shown, some in spots, some in streaks, some in blobs, but they all had meaning of some sort. Not that I could discern that meaning at the moment of the creation, but later, as I would return, I would be able to see that spots meant ideas that were short but had impact. blobs were ideas that would start out small but spread into something larger and larger over time. It would affect a larger space, streaks where narrow and focused ideas that ran for a period of time.
of time.
Looking back 10 years ago when this hall of art was created I look back now and can define it with more clarity, definition and understanding. Many times over these years when I was faced with daunting challenges, I would just take a chair and sit in the hall. Not thinking per se but just letting the walls speak to me. Letting the inspiration permeate my mind and my heart and trust that the answers would come. Now, I see why I am an artist and the community is my canvas.
I have painted so many pictures and images by constructing new homes and destroying blight and building up new homes for families who extend my art by planting nice beautiful flowers and gardens. My art extends to others the opportunity to create their art and the community is changed as a result. And, isn't that the inspiration that lifts the human condition, relieves the pains and builds up hope?
Peace!
The "Dark Nights of the Soul" causes one to feel all alone, misunderstood and totally useless. As I stayed in this position for many months, I never stopped praying, although my prayers changed in it's intensity and resolve. I never stopped talking to God and asking questions. Then one day God placed it into my heart to change my environment and focus my thoughts on something afresh. It was shortly after that time that I met two wonderful persons who were artist and teachers. They offered me a free trip to Go to New Orleans and I stayed at a wonderful hotel which was way beyond my ability to pay. I was the only Community Development person in a group of seasoned teachers and they were looking for ways in which art would impact education. After a night of hanging out on Bourbon Street and listening to some great jazz music, we walked back to the hotel. I remember telling one of the teachers who worked for the Little Rock School system as a evaluator and had her own art studio about being stuck in a rut with respect to my career. I longed for the freedom to express myself in my work as the artist does. You see the artist has the gift of taking inspiration which is unseen and translates it into something visual, compelling and beautiful.
I am inspired to do so much to uplift and change the appearance of my community, yet I haven't learned how to let this transformative power flow through me to bring about tangible results. We discussed this for a time and she looked at me and said, "Andre, you are an artist and your canvas is the community". At first I chuckled and shrugged off her comments, but I had to respect the fact that this was a highly educated woman who had made a name for herself in the teaching profession and was able to maintain an art studio in her personal time. It occurred to me that she was very serious. She went on to explain to me that an artist in the broad sense was a person who could take something abstract, something invisible and move people to an emotional level to feel and from feeling into action.
This thought was pressed upon me even the more as I walked through New Orleans, a very artsy community, and looked at the impact that art in all its forms had on the culture, learning and commercial aspects of the city. The few days I had spent with my new found teaching friends had changed the way I looked at life and it helped to dissolve the fears I was facing as it related to my career in community development. Fears borne out of lack of resources, lack of ideas and the seemingly lack of concern from the people whom I was attempting to help.
When I returned home the idea of Art exploded inside of me and colors mattered, shapes and forms meant something to me. Architecture, especially modern architecture moved me greatly. I would travel to college campus looking for art in all of its forms. Jazz music became the norm in my listening experiences. And then I took the brush in my hand and produced my first work of art which stands to this day.
A simple hallway which was dull and drab became my canvas. I first painted this wood with an off white covering and then I got a bunch of different paints that were donated by a local paint supplier and just splattered the paint on the wall with no special intent for form. I did all of the walls and even the ceiling and after drying i returned to review what I had done. I was impressed with what I saw. It didn't appear at all that a mad man had gone wild. It shown as man who had things on the inside that needed to be released on the outside in a form that could be seen and appreciated.
Diverse colors shown, some in spots, some in streaks, some in blobs, but they all had meaning of some sort. Not that I could discern that meaning at the moment of the creation, but later, as I would return, I would be able to see that spots meant ideas that were short but had impact. blobs were ideas that would start out small but spread into something larger and larger over time. It would affect a larger space, streaks where narrow and focused ideas that ran for a period of time.
of time.
Looking back 10 years ago when this hall of art was created I look back now and can define it with more clarity, definition and understanding. Many times over these years when I was faced with daunting challenges, I would just take a chair and sit in the hall. Not thinking per se but just letting the walls speak to me. Letting the inspiration permeate my mind and my heart and trust that the answers would come. Now, I see why I am an artist and the community is my canvas.
I have painted so many pictures and images by constructing new homes and destroying blight and building up new homes for families who extend my art by planting nice beautiful flowers and gardens. My art extends to others the opportunity to create their art and the community is changed as a result. And, isn't that the inspiration that lifts the human condition, relieves the pains and builds up hope?
Peace!
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