Life hurts. It hurts emotionally, financially, physically, and spiritually. In the midst of suffering there is nothing worse than a pithy bumpersticker solution to a life wrecking hardship and what suffering people need is real truth for real life in real pain. To that end, Pastor Mark Driscoll, preaches from Phil. 1:12-18 to show how Paul found Joy in his own suffering, because it served to advance the gospel of Jesus.

Royal Gazette

Early intervention with at-risk youth is key
Royal Gazette
Rising gang and gun violence is terrorising Bermuda. But what makes some prone to getting caught up in it while the others stay clear? In the latest article on causes of violence, Matthew Taylor takes at look at what psychologists have to say

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

Christian living only solution to evil gangs
Northside Sun
Our big denominational churches send missionaries all over the world when we desperately need more Christian workers right here in the USA.

When I moved from New Orleans East there were three youthful gangs in Village d’Lest: The Michoud Boys (older teens and 20s who handled the cocaine traffic), the Rat Pack (high school age teenagers who sold marijuana) and the Crack Kids (grammar school age children who were the delivery system for both older gangs, delivering a bag of drugs on their bicycles to the corner of Michoud and Dwyer Boulevards and taking the cash back to the dealer, never having both drugs and cash in their possession at any time). The NOPD was fully aware of all three.

Real Knowledge – A old Gangstyle article that still hits hard today

Hello to all. I would rather not say my name but i am here to explain the realities of gang life. I have grown up in south los angeles, in my experiences with gangs i have grown to see that your life will be in prison.

Prison i spent 15 years in. in 1980 as i was in juvenile hall, seeing rape, the tall muscular black boy being raped by his own people, urinating on him and making his reputation to a dust fragment. You see the boy who was raped was a crip.

The others who raped him where crips. There is not and never will be a unity among different crips in Los Angeles. Alone in Los Angeles county Crips kill each other more then there rivals, bloods. The white man is ruining our culture, making the black man, us look like fools. They Make us out to be Gang “niggers” killing each other in the Ghettos of america. We are nothing to this white culture. The thing that disgusts me greatly is the fact that i see the white youths trying to be actual gang members, not white but black gang members. it makes me sick.

If you choose to live a lifemy brothers or you choose to live a life of crime, how will that make your mark on earth?
in your community? These people you associate with, you may never see them again in your life, they may die, others will grow out of the wannabe gang life. Prison is not what you think, when you say you don’t care about going, I can’t imagine you won’t mind being raped by five men in one cell, tied in bedsheets and screaming as the guards give you no
help,and then bash your brains in with a prison issue bar of soap, which is like a slab of concrete.

In all of the gang members and crips i have grown up with, they regret any of there life involved with a gang, the originals who started this, they don’t feel proud for you following there steps, they are disgusted, as the sit in solitary confinement.

There is a world out there, forget trying to think dying is romantic, showing your peers you were a gangster, you won’t show anything but stupidity. I have been shot 10 times, i have been beaten by police, put down by society, and i never gave up and that’s why i am here writing to you all. I understand your pain, your wanting to be something feared, to put fear into others hearts, my brothers, there is other ways of life, the culture you lead now of gangs, you will pass one day, you may not think now, i am not telling you not to be in a gang, but i give you words that i was once told. words that i erased out of my mind.
Do you want to spend your life in prison, crying, and in sadness, being chanced of rape and violence, no family whatsoever, or do you want to be powerful do you want to have a family, people to care about you? Remember being a gang member is a commitment to crime, non stop, you are a career criminal and will stay one for life, take this knowledge from one who knows life, and gang.

Think deeply about the words i have told you and have taken my time to give to you.

I’d be careful about going out all alone and especially at night. No one knows better how your gang works than you. When are they most likely to get someone? Then try and avoid that situation.

Now, during this time, you and your family should make plans to move. I know most people say that they cannot afford to move or they do not want to leave their home. But if it is a matter of life and death, money is no object and good memories of home do not compare to dying. In the end you all have to ask yourselves what is most important.

Find a way to get out of the area. Do whatever you have to do to get things together to move. This is the best way to ensure that you are not exposed to direct threats of violence. However, when you move, you MUST not ever make contact with those people again. You should not ever make contact with anyone from that neighborhood again. You must become like a ghost. I’ve seen too many young people leave the gang only to turn around and put them on their myspace page or go back to the neighborhood and hang out.

And wherever you go, don’t even mention your former gang life. Don’t seek out other gang members there and pretend you know nothing about it. If you have tattoos cover them up. Work towards getting them removed or at least covered up with a different tattoo.

You must let that life go completely.

Now I know that may not seem to be a practical thing to do, moving away and all. But hanging around an area where these people know where you live and constantly threaten you and your family is really not an option.

We would like that you keep in touch with us and let us know your situation. Sit down and explain to your family what is going on. Maybe they can even find a relative somewhere where you can go and stay.

Pray for guidance as well and for God to look over you and your family. But use the common sense that God gave you. Don’t sit back and expect God to protect you when you won’t do what you can to get out of the situation. Like praying for God’s protection as you jump off of a cliff, it just won’t work unless you use some sense.

Complex.com

Is the NBA Gang Related? A Complex Investigation
Complex.com
When a media type reports that an NBA player may be gang affiliated, we typically assume that the reporter is just some jealous old white dude whose diaper is bunching up because he hates seeing a young black man making more money than he’ll ever see in his miserable lifetime. Sometimes, though, the journalist has actually seen Gangland on the History Channel and knows what they’re talking about.

my name I will keep to myself, but i am a gang member, one month ago i lost a very important person in my life, he was the cement in our building , he kept us together, he was the one who never turned his back on any one ,  he lived a positive life, he was going places till another one of his homeez took his life, for what , status, power breeds envy n greed, i wish i could turn back the hands of time i would tell him to drop that shit , along with me,do u know how it feels to see ur boy , that u never thought nothing can happen to in a casket, huh, it hurts really bad,thats how i know i aint built for this cause thugs dont cry and i cried like a baby that day. R.I.P to jamar harriot aka boogs aka bloody pokemon. we love u boo, life is so hard out here , people hatin u cause of a color, they dont care what kind of person u r inside, u could b there family n they wouldnt care, the world needs to realize, ignorance brings war. and thanks to us the kkk can rest b cause we r doin the job for them. they laugh at us cause we r so stupid n blind to see , we r killing each other. generations r dying, mothers r crying. for a piece of cloth that cost 99 cents, i will give u a dollar, can u bring my boy back, u cant, so just think b 4 u act , because ur mother might b the next one crying.

You feel strong until you lose somebody so close to your life then you want out but theres no way out but death. So dont live my life because I have already lived it for you and lost so much.’ Joker

More gangster quotes…

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Curriculum (pdf)

Loneliness. We all experience it, sometimes even a crowded room where we are reminded that we are not known, pursued, or loved. To not think about our loneliness we gravitate toward endless hours of mind numbing entertainment such as reality television shows featuring people hanging out with their friends while we sit on our couch alone listening to old Cure songs in the dark. Sound familiar?

Preaching from Philippians 1-11 Pastor Mark Driscoll explains how the rebels guide to joy is to be found amidst loneliness according to the apostle Paul who was sitting alone penning the truth from his cold, lonely, and dark jail cell.