Let's Have a Little Talk ABOUT Jesus

When I was a child, there was a song the old folks used to sing in church:  

Now let us have a little talk with Jesus

Let us tell Him all about our troubles....

You will find a little talk with Jesus makes it right...

I am now proposing that we have a little talk ABOUT Jesus, but, first let me issue a disclaimer.  I am NOT a Biblical Scholar.  I have done NO in depth studies on Jesus, beyond my normal Bible study,  prayers and meditations. 

With that being said, I can recall hearing that old negro spiritual (written in 1937 by Rev. Cleavant Derricks) sung repeatedly as members of the congregation praised the image of a blue-eyed, blond-haired Jesus hanging on the church wall.  I remember always questioning that "image."  I was even more curious after taking a genetics class in college.  As I recall, the Instructor said the only way a white couple could conceive a black child is if there was a mixing of the races somewhere down the line so, it's conceivable that a great-great grandparent (or great-great-great grandparent) could've interacted with a person of color and it show up in their genetic make-up as time goes on (it was something to that effect).  SO........if that is in fact the case, how it is even possible that Jesus would be a blue-eyed, blond-haired European looking white man?  (The idea that Mary had an immaculate conception is a totally different discussion).

Furthermore, the King James version of the Bible clearly describes Jesus this way:  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; ¹⁵ And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.  (Revelation 1:14)

So let me ask you:  How many white men do you know who have hair like "wool"  That's what we call KINKY in the black community.  And if his feet look like they could have been burned in a furnace---that's clearly a DARKER skin tone.

Now we have many so-called white Christians in an outrage because people like Shaun King are calling for the blond-haired, blue-eyed images of Jesus to be removed. The question is why the anger?  If Jesus is supposed to be Lord and Savior of ALL, what difference does his color make? Why go to the extreme to portray an image that fits what you, as white America, want the World to buy into?  When you discover Jesus was not a blue-eyed, blond-haired European looking male, will you feel you can no longer serve the One who died for your sins?

White america needs a serious wake up call and it starts with having a little talk ABOUT Jesus and the systemic racism that infests their perception of "Christianity."  

The Power of Prayer from a Child's Perspective

The other day my 11-year-old grandson and I were talking about a variety of things and the subject of prayer came up.  I asked him if he thought he would make the Shrine Bowl (a football game where the best players in his age group from NC are selected to compete against the best players from SC).

His response:  "Not really because I knew I was competing against kids all over the state.  I thought I was good but maybe not better than some other players."

I asked him if he prayed about it.  He said he did.  I then asked him if he prayed everyday until he found out if he made the team.  He said, "No, I just prayed once to ask God to let me make the shrine bowl team."

I asked him why he only prayed once.  His response:  "Because that's all it takes.  God heard me the first time."

Now I have to tell you I was totally floored by his response!  They say out of the mouths of babes......

And then what did he do until he got the official word?  He continued to work on his skills. He joined the track team at school (reluctantly) to work on building his running game and endurance, He worked out with a youth football squad under a former coach.  His asked granddad to toss the football with him for arm strength.

I was reminded of this scripture in the Bible from James 2-18:

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

 His response was just what I needed. 

For those of you who do not know I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 1999.  (to read the back story follow this link:  https://babyboomerbev.blogspot.com/2017/10/18-years.html ) After my last physical (October 2017), I was convinced I was on the road to a full recovery, so much to the point that my doctor told me I could stop taking my heart medication.  But recently, I suffered a major relapse when I began experiencing shortness of breath and could barely walk from one room of my house to another.  An echocardiogram revealed my heart has weakened by nearly 50 percent of what it was a year ago. My ejection fraction went from 45 to 25 percent.  (An ejection fraction of 55 percent or higher is considered normal).

After spending three days in bed (and in constant prayer), I thought again about that scripture and it became my motivation to get out of bed and push myself to take action and not allow myself to succumb to the "woe is me" mentality.  Staying in bed and asking God for healing wasn't getting the job done.

What my grandson taught ME is prayer is powerful, but prayer alone and praying the same prayer over and over again won't change a thing until YOU show your faith by your works.

And just so you know, he DID make the Shrine Bowl!

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