Ex-gangbanger tries to rescue members from gangs
International Herald Tribune – France
AP LOS ANGELES: Far from his son and surrounded in jail by gang members with no future, Alex Sanchez decided to change his life. At 23 and serving his third …
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From Thugexposed.com Rayford Johnson discusses the dangerous pitfalls that many students are falling victim to and wisdom to avoid them. Our guests are Julian & Justin Love, African American Honor Students at a black historic southern college.
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A yo fam! Yeah, itz time to drop back into da krush groove of Divine Time–our serializd western (or Near Eastern lol ) we spinnin herre at Heaven 4 a G. We takin a deep peep at Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, God-in-tha-Flesh, an how He engages wit katz on they level, madd feelin where they at, anthen flippin da script of their livez 480 degreez for the dopest, far beyond what they can imagine. Yo, tha drama we trakin iz found in Tha Word—in the New Testament book of John, chapter 11. continued
We pick up after Jesus has jus spit to one of His homegurlz, Martha, a Scriptural shotty blast to tha heart:
I am the resurrection and the life
He who believes in Me, will live even though he dies,
and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.
Do you believe this?
Yo, Martha had jus lost her only bruh, Lazarus, to a terminal illness, dat Jesus coulda cured–if he had only been on da scene. We learned dat Jesus hung wit his disciple clique two dayz after hearin dat ol Laz werent doin so hot, an az a result Lazarus dies.
Nonetheless, even bumpin madd grief an loss, Martha ups an replies to Jesus:
Yes, Lord, I have always believed that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.
Mang! Martha bringz it! Yo, an it aint jus cuz she got all them gold sticky starz in synagogue skool. We already peeped dat itz God Himself dat drops this kinda Celestial science on katz thru His Spirit, an He opens they heart to spiritual Truth an Reality. So, itz clear dat Martha is startin to feel Jesus along tha Trajectory He wantz her, too, an datz all good. Well see latah, dat she needs to go some further along tha path of Faith, but she be already waaaaay beyond where her friends an neighbors are feelin about Who Jesus be an what He be about.
So, Martha leaves Jesus an returns to her sister Mary. By this time, they crib iz madd bustin wit friends, relatives, comforters an mourners of all kith an kin, so Martha pullz Mary aside an drops tha 411:
The Teacher is here and wants to see you.
Yo, when Mary heard dat, she ghosted faster / than Caspar to find Jesus. lol. Tha Bible can be wonderfully concise; an spitz it like it iz:
So Mary immediately went to Him.
Nuff said.
Now, lets rewind back to Episode III, when word first reached Martha dat Jesus had (finally) arrived in they hood. U recall dat Mary stayed behind, an we surmised dat mebbe she wuz too grief-stricken to go wit Martha, or…dat mebbe she wuz nursin som beef wit Jesus for not coming in time to heal Lazarus, etc. Well its safe to conclude now dat only Martha had got tha 411 of Jesus arrival at that moment. Cuz when Mary learned from Martha dat Jesus wuz therre, she gone.
But, I aint quite ready to release the Mary-havin-som-beef-wit-Jesus idea yet, cuz…
When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell down at his feet and said:
Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
Yo, lets hit tha repeat button an bump up tha volume on a few key notez:
…if YOU had been HERE, my brother would NOT have DIED.
Woah.
If yall think dat catchin major beef is a 20/21st Century hip hop or urban phenom, peep again. Yo, Mary seemz to drive by Jesus wit an emotional AK, blastin him full force wit the throbbing essence of her bottomless anguish, pain and loss. It appears dat Mary not only lays her broken, grief-exhausted body at Jesus feet, but the entire blame an responsibility for this nightmare scenario, az well.
How understandable.
How human.
Yo, an who readin dis spillage hasnt felt tha verry same way wit God, at one time or another? Yo letz take Marys statement to Jesus an edit it sum:
If YOU (God) had_______________, my(or I…)__________________.
How many timez can U fill in thoz blanks, fam? How many times have you already? How many times would…or…will you…? Is ya own relationship wit God like Marys–deep, intimate, up close an personal, so dat U feel comfortable enuf spit to Him exactly how U feel about dis drama or dat…? Dat, fam, is a tyght question worth marinatina minute on.
Really, I dont feel like carryin this beef theory too far. I dont believe Mary punitively assaulted Jesus when she spit her trak. Yeah, she prolly collapsed to some degree frum grief-strickeness, but Im more so cuz she was in the Presence of the One Person who could authentically, genuinely, Really cop the totality of the drama she be gointhru, an do something about it. I believe Marys fallin at Jesus feet was most of all, a collapse of ill Relief. Jesus was there to help her now, to bear this paralyzing, soul-crushing burden. And, He is there now, too…today…to help us manage, an see us thru ours.
Mary prolly wuz feelin some anger, cuz its naturally part of how peeps process grief, an anger iz usually one o tha early stages of grieving. Yo, she had jus lost her brother–four days before–so the heartbreaking pain of loss wuz still very fresh in her life. But, more realistically, Im feelin Mary wuz at least 50/50 acknowledging Jesus Power an commitment to her. I believe she knew–witout a doubt–dat had Jesus been on da scene, He would have instantly healed her brother, who wuz now molderin an decayin in a dank, dark, cavernous tomb. Im feelinMary also had no doubtz, whatsoever about Jesus limitless Love an Compassion for her an Martha in they sitchiashun.
An therres no need to doubt His Love an Compassion fo us in ours.
Mang! We at Episode VIII already! In dat jawn we gonna deep peep exactly what Gods response is to Mary (and Martha) constructive feedback. That will help us peep how He responds to us, when we Real wit Him.
Peace in 2004. Im out.
ONE
sun
John 3:30
This is a great documentary charting the life of a former gang leader who is now involved in music. Brazil is a place where the police are attacked by gang with automatics and the police retaliate by throwing hand grenades into know gang hangouts. The story is a transformation from desperation to hope.
Check it out.
Here’s a further clip discussing the violence and how music was used to change the landscape, 3 minutes in and you get to hear Afro Reggae just letting loose.
It’s a great movie if you can get hold of it
Yo, last episode Jesus spits to Martha some words that rival His earlier spillage: “I am the resurrection and the life” for madd amazement:
“He who believes in Me, will live even though he dies,
and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”
I get krunk erry time I read those words, ‘cause they clearly state what Jesus freely does for anyone that trusts Him to save them from the penalty and power of Sin (Sin bein’ the anti-God attitude and disposition all men are born wit). He will save them Eternally, so they can ill chill wit Him forever an’ madd rep Him here on earth.
But, Jesus concludes his remarks to Martha, with a question which cascades over the centuries–a question Jesus still asks each and erry person who checks Him out:
“Do you believe this?
Woah. That is the question, isn’t it? That is the very question of Life itself. And, it brings up other related questions, too:
“Do you believe Jesus was a “real” person, an historical figure?”
“Do you believe Jesus was just another “important” religious figure like Buddha or Mohammed?
“Do you believe Jesus was the Son of God or Messiah—God’s appointed Savior?
and so on. Yo, we saw in Episodes IV an’ V what Jesus believes about Himself. But, fam, do you believe it…?”
If asked sincerely, these questions,and any like ‘em, are fair questions. Jesus is the first one to give peeps space to thoroughly investigate and marinate on His claims about Who He is and what He can do. Yo, In another book of the Bible by His bwoy Matthew, Jesus asks his disciples: “Who do men say that I…am?” The answers Jesus got sound remarkably similar in character to those we might hear today: “Some say John the Baptist (contemporary religious reformer), some Elijah, and others Jeremiah (earlier religious leaders) or one of the prophets (spokesmen for God).”
Then–like He did wit Martha–Jesus asks His homebwyoz: “But, who do you say that I am?” An’one o’ His tightest homiez, Peter, spits:
“You are the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the living God.”
Then Jesus responded wit somethin’deep: “Blessed are you…for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
Hmm…
Aiight, so what did Martha reply, when Jesus spit to her: “Do you believe this?” Yo, check it:
“Yes, Lord. I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
Mang! Two different books of the Bible: Matthew and John; two different peeps: Peter and Martha; essentially the same question–and essentially the same answer. Yo, an’ Peter an’ Martha did not live in tha same hood, they did not grow up together or hang wit each other. They–independently– and under radically different circumstances, came to the same mind-numbing, soul-shocking conclusion:
“…You are the Christ, the Son of God…”
So, fam, whatchu thinkin’? What are you feelin’about Jesus? Are you feelin’ He only a historical figure? Yo, are you past dat point to feelin’ He one of the “great religious leaders” in history? Well, datz true, str8 up. But, are you feelin’ somethin’ a lil deeper? Iz somethin’—or Someone—speakin’ to ya heart an’ mind, in a still, small Voice dat ecko’z another Reality? Are you feelin’dat Jesus really is God’s Son—God in tha flesh. Dat He truly be the Messiah–God the Savior (hopefully, God my Savior)? Then, Jesus replies to you, jus like He did to Peter an’ Martha:
“…flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
God…has spoken…to you.
Next week: Episode VII. I’m out. Peace.
ONE
sun
John 3:30
Take a look at this video. The question that springs to mind Is the USA exporting gang culture through music and movies or are gangs just prevalent in areas of poverty with there’s not much family structure, whatever the geographic location?
Now this isn’t London as a whole it’s just one part of it.
Take a look and leave a comment.
Thug Mentality Exposed will take the reader on a raw and bold journey into the heart of the thug world through the eyes and experiences of a correctional counselor and photojournalist. Trends such as the hyphy, crunk, gangsta, goth and witchcraft movements among others are stealing the identities of ordinary kids and transforming them into hardened thugs through out America and many parts of the globe. These trends base themselves at the core of thug mentality and are ripping apart our society in ways that will forever change the social, moral, and financial foundations we have come to rely upon in our daily lives. Now is the time to educate ourselves on these deadly social issues that can drastically impact our loved ones. With this knowledge, we can begin healing by providing truth and hope to an expected at-risk population from being incarcerated or held bondage by powerful addictions which are leading many to an early grave.
Did you know that “pant saggin” actually started with male prostitutes in the prison system and that the word Thug actually derived from India out of a murderous religious cult? Johnson narrates for us the purpose, behaviors and attitudes of Thug Mentality and why our youth follow these patterns. He appropriates the needed lessons for humanity under the word of God to help sanctify those in need. Johnson, a Peace Officer for over 11 years, provides us with enlightenment for those who seek the counsel of professionals working with these at-risk youth.
i vizited this website and i liked it becuz it waz made i guess to keep people out of
gangz.i wish i could have read some of thoze storyz before i became a surena.
a month after i got put down something really bad
happend to me.all becuz of a stupid gang.itz something no girl should ever have to go
through.so maybe if people can read this story they’ll realize that being in a gang iznt
‘cool’ and it doeznt prove how ‘down’ you are.all my life ive been a little badass.alwayz
getting into fightz, bucking up to anybody.i never really lived with my family much.mostly
with friendz.then they told me they wanted me to get down.and i thought ‘sure why not.’not
much else to do.
one day i waz walking through my hood and i
met this guy.he waz a 210 blood, but we waznt really set trippin.he waz cute and he sayd
if i wanted to kick it with him for a little while.so we went and we got high and then we
started drinking.i dont remember a lot.i remember seeing him put something in my drink and
i remember thinking that i had to go home before i got too drunk.i woke up in a little
room on tha floor with my pantz off.i couldnt move or get up or even open my eyez.i heard
that guy outside with some of friendz talking about how he had some surena passed out in
tha room.
i felt gross.it iz tha worst feeling in tha
world to wake up and realize what i realized.i started freaking out.i got up and found my
pantz and started to walk out, but they grabbed me and started calling me ‘surrata’ and
‘scrapa’.i started running down tha street, it waz dark and i didnt have any shoez on.then
some guy pulled over and sayd my name and that he wanted to help so i got in tha car with
him.
i waz completely in shock, and i waz still
drunk.then i saw that tha guy had taken me back to tha house i had run from.so i jumped
out and i started running.they followed me in tha car, but when i got to my street they
stopped.i waz running down tha street crying and talking gibberish.my cuzinz were outside
and tried to help me up cuz i had fallen and they were asking me what waz wrong and what
happend.but i got up and started running fast.i dont know where i waz going but down tha
street more i saw my other cuzin and she made me get into tha car and she took me to tha
emergency room.that drama happend a few monthz ago.itz a terrible thought to think that im
not tha first girl thatz happend to.or tha last.and all becuz of a gang.
Eastside
Interesting piece on the reality of gangs, God’s grace and God’s mercy…
Divine Time Episode 5
Yo, Epizode IV came to a screechin’ halt wit Jesus spittin’ to poor, grievin’ Martha some o’ tha boldest–or madd craziest–words ever dropped by ANY human bein’ since ill Creation:
“I AM the resurrection and the life.”
Now, we don’t have to be seminary studentz to peep what Jesus iz claimin’ here, fam. He claimin’ to be God Himself in da flesh. He claimin’ dat He be not only da Great Physician, but da Great Resurrector. He claimin’ to be tha Source of Life itself.
Check it: a 30-sumthin’ 1st Century A.D. Jewish carpenter-turned-street preacha frum Nazareth claimin’ to be GOD?! Yo, even one o’ Jesus’ bwoyz, Nathaniel, spit: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” lol
Whatz even deeper is that all this “I Am” talk creates some madd drama—a trilemma—if you will, when we come face to Face with Jesus, an’ what He spits ‘bout Himself. Katz in Jesus day knew exactly what He was claimin’ when he spit “I AM” this or “I AM” that, or better yet: “Before Abraham was, I AM.” That’s because “I AM that I AM” is the sacred personal name that God used to introduce Himself to Moses in the book of Exodus in the Old Testament. God’s personal name essentially means “I Am the Self-Existing One,” and is made up of the Hebrew letters YHWH. This name used to be spelt in English as Jehovah, but today we jus pop in a few vowels and transliterate it as “Yahweh.”
So, when Jesus’ claims to be the “I AM,” there can be only three reasonable conclusions to come to:
1.Jesus iz ill trippin’. He be madd crazy wack. I mean no sane human goes around seriously claimin’ to be God..
2.Jesus be lyin’ like a cheap rug. Yo, he be sheisty, an’ frontin’ like no katz ever fronted, before or since. He be playin’ peeps throughout history–includin’ us–like a set o’ new dominoes.
3.Jesus be who He claimin’ to be. He be the “I AM” in tha flesh. He be God the Son. He be God’s promised Messiah or Savior. He be Jesus Christ.
But even if Jesus is God’s Son, God’s Messiah, so what? What does that mean? An’ mo important what does it mean to…me…? Well, Jesus actually anticipated that question in his next remarks to Martha:
“He who believes in Me, will live even though he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”
Now what is Jesus getting’ at? I mean, peeps say they “believe in God” an’ they die just like erryone else. An’ how can any kat live, even though He dies?? What kind o’ sanctified nonsense iz dat?!
Yo, if we let Jesus school us, an’ we deep peep what He means by “believe,” we learn dat a person’s very Eternal destiny depends on how that verb “believe” is understood, an’ then how a person responds to this new understanding.
For many peeps, the verb “to believe” means merely that they intellectually agree or assent that someone or something exists. “Yo, I believe in God”—i.e. “I believe God exists” or “I believe in ghosts,” meaning I believe ghosts exist, etc. But, satan and all his demons also believe in God dis way, an’ they tremble. An’ they ain’t gonna be chillin’ wit God in Heaven, fo sho. So, that kind of belief—in and of itself—keeps no one from dying, especially dying Eternally.
Also, when some peeps spit about “believing in God,” they mean He not only exists, but they also dependin’ upon Him to get their backs in this life, to provide for their needs, protect them from wackness, etc. Nuttin’ wrong wit dat. I “believe” in God this way too. But, believing or trusting God to provide for just their earthly needs, doesn’t address their Eternal needs. So believing in God for the things of this life gets no one to Heaven.
Yo, what Jesus is spittin’ to Martha about is a “believe” that goes a critical step further. Not only does it agree and accept that God exists; not only does it trust God for the things of this life; but it trusts God—specifically God the Son, Jesus Christ–to save them Eternally. The “believe” or trust in Jesus that causes dead men to rise and keeps living men from Eternal Death, is the belief that places the soul’s welfare and eternal destiny in Jesus hands. They willingly and confidently trust Jesus to save them from God’s future judgment and Hell. So, instead of trying to be one’s own savior by continually trying to “do good works” to please—or placate—God, a person instead trust’s God’s appointed Savior: Jesus Christ and His Good Work on the Cross—to save them. They repent of sin—the anti-God attitude and resulting actions known to displease God—and they transfer their trust or confidence from themselves to Jesus Christ, and His Death on the Cross as the full and complete payment for all their sin. And He accepts them, pardon’s them, and comes into their lives forever to transform them to be like Himself. He even calls them by His name—Christ Ones—or Christ-ians. Peeps who trust Christ for Eternal Life, offer their lives to Jesus, in gratitude, to do with as He wants. They step down from the “throne” of their lives and let Jesus be their King and Lord. They jump in wit Jesus.
I trust Jesus to save me Eternally, and I first believed in Him to save me one long minute ago. I have a story, too, like erryone else. I have had my share of life drama. An’ I plan to share ‘bout some of it, in future articles an’ posts. But, through it all, and in it all, Jesus never let me down. He was with me in my wackest moments, just like He wuz wit Martha–even thought it wasn’t always easy to feel Him. He always ill claimed me, even when, like Simon Peter I was at times embarrassed to claim Him. But, I’m ill proud to represent Him and be down az one of His homiez. I am humbly and deeply grateful to Jesus for welcoming an ill sinner like me into His clique, wit no strings attached, especially considerin’ dat He underwent the “initiation” in my place, on the Cross. He suffered one of the cruelest deaths man can devise, and worse–the experience of Hell—so I wouldn’t have to. No one has ever Loved me—or will ever Love—me like Jesus. Check it:
“He who believes in Me, will live even though he dies,
and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”
Glory.
Next week: Episode VI. I’m out. Peace.
ONE
sun
John 3:30
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