Reflections
Personal Photo update
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Saturday, July 20, 2013
This is my introduction to my official reentry into the blogsphere.
Hello, I'm:
Michael A. Lewis
Michael A. Lewis is a native and resident of Houston, Texas. He is also the proprietor of
Indigo Books Publishing ©
an imprint created to directly address the underrepresentation of African American writers across various literary genres. IBP also allows authors to retain creative control and artistic integrity of their works.
He previously worked as a Human Resources Representative for a major U.S. Bank prior to his first release in 2006 and subsequently committed himself to his literary career full time. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and is currently completing a second Master’s degree in Social Sciences.
He is the author of the following novels:
(First Printing, 2006) (Second Printing 2012)
E X P O S E D
(First Printing, 2009) (Second Printing 2012)
Get Somebody
New
(New Release – September 18, 2012)
What You Won’t Do For Love and EXPOSED.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Choose the Faith That Works For You(Not the one guilted, told, or scared into choosing)
I don't understand how someone can declare they adhere to a particular religion, yet not even know the tenets of the religion they claim to practice. At the very least, they should know what the main text of the religion says.
Thats why I say taught faith is not real faith. Basically people regurgitate what's been oft repeated to them and learn to say what they think they are supposed to say. They don't really feel it in their heart. Also, you can tell a person what you think they should believe all day long but until they have their own experience, and come to their OWN conclusion they are just going through the motions to appease you.
As such, this is why people have to choose the faith that is right for them. Muslim, Christian, J witness, etc. The point is that they lead lives that contribute to the continuous improvement of self, community, and the world at large. If a person finds that motivation in, say, Islam, then that is the religion for them. I would much rather someone practice Islam and be a positive, generous, loving person because of those beliefs, than for someone to be a Christian, misinterpret scripture(b/c of corrupt teaching) and go on a killing spree in the name of Jesus. I am sure God would much rather that as well.
I guess my perspective is a bit unique. The bible says God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son and whosoever shall believe in him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.
It doesn't say for God so loved only christians. Jesus was God's sacrifice to the WORLD and the sins of MANKIND.Therefore, Christians do not have a monopoly on Jesus, nor on salvation.
Now, I will take Islam as an example b/c I am a little more familiar with it. (Comparative Analysis)
The basic tenets of Islam are the same as Christianity. Islam is like Christianity, a Monotheistic religion. Allah and God are the same. We both worship the same God. So it's not like it's a pagan religion with a different Idol, it's the same God. Now where as Muslims acknowledge Jesus as a prophet and not necessarily the literal Biological son of God, Christians believe he is the biological son of God. Okay let's break that down.
Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet. That is true, he was a prophet - no contradiction.
Muslims believe the message that Jesus taught, I have never heard any muslims say we shouldn't love our neightbor, do good deeds, be an upstanding honest person. again, not in contradiction.
In truth we are ALL God's children so whether Jesus was literally God's son or not is irrelevant. Muslims and Christians both believe the message Jesus taught, they both believe Jesus existed, they both believe Jesus was a prophet. To me that amounts to Muslims and Christians alike, believing in Jesus.
Whether Jesus was or wasn't the biological son of God is irrelevant becasue of these reasons.
1. We are trying to apply HUMAN characteristics to God, and we can't do that. In order to understand the point of the son/father phenom, we must think deeper and take it out of Human context. Jesus is not the BIOLOGICAL son of God because God is NOT a BIOLOGICAL Being. Biological Characteristics apply to our HUMANITY. God isn't bound by the rules of Bilology because God is the ARCHITECT of Biology.
2. i guarantee Jesus had 46- 23 sets of chromosomes just like all humans. He also had DNA from Mary and Joseph as all humans have the DNA of their physical parents.
3. We know God did not impregnate Mary the same way we human's do.
4. Jesus never claimed to be God. Jesus also always refered to God as his father. We all refer to God as our father because God is indeed our spiritual father. So Jesus WAS the Son of God.
5. The focus on Jesus' origin, is a diversion tactic instituted by the evil force in the world to get our attention AWAY from the MESSAGE of Jesus. Believeing whether or not Jesus was a physical son of God is Not what gets one salvation. Believing and living by what he TAUGHT is what will get us salvation.
6. Jesus was the spiritual son of God. That CANNOT be disputed. a "SON" is not limited to the physical definition. Is a spiritual SON, not a Son? Is a Spiritual son any less of a son? I argue that a spiritual son is MORE important.
So we have established, Jesus was indeed the son of God. To acknowledge Jesus' existence, believe in the message he taught, and apply what he taught to our lives ....means that you BELIEVE IN HIM!!!!
So what's the fussing and fighting about? I can tell you, Salvation is such an awesome gift and we know it is valuable. Our human nature drives us to want to make salvation exclusive, so we are the only ones with access to it. Much like membership in a country club, or a clique. We want to be unique and the only ones to have something someone else doesn't.
Again I say God is so amazingly simple, we MAKE God complex. All of this is laid out in black and white right in front of our faces but we overanalyze and look straight past it when we don't need to.
Thats why I say taught faith is not real faith. Basically people regurgitate what's been oft repeated to them and learn to say what they think they are supposed to say. They don't really feel it in their heart. Also, you can tell a person what you think they should believe all day long but until they have their own experience, and come to their OWN conclusion they are just going through the motions to appease you.
As such, this is why people have to choose the faith that is right for them. Muslim, Christian, J witness, etc. The point is that they lead lives that contribute to the continuous improvement of self, community, and the world at large. If a person finds that motivation in, say, Islam, then that is the religion for them. I would much rather someone practice Islam and be a positive, generous, loving person because of those beliefs, than for someone to be a Christian, misinterpret scripture(b/c of corrupt teaching) and go on a killing spree in the name of Jesus. I am sure God would much rather that as well.
I guess my perspective is a bit unique. The bible says God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son and whosoever shall believe in him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.
It doesn't say for God so loved only christians. Jesus was God's sacrifice to the WORLD and the sins of MANKIND.Therefore, Christians do not have a monopoly on Jesus, nor on salvation.
Now, I will take Islam as an example b/c I am a little more familiar with it. (Comparative Analysis)
The basic tenets of Islam are the same as Christianity. Islam is like Christianity, a Monotheistic religion. Allah and God are the same. We both worship the same God. So it's not like it's a pagan religion with a different Idol, it's the same God. Now where as Muslims acknowledge Jesus as a prophet and not necessarily the literal Biological son of God, Christians believe he is the biological son of God. Okay let's break that down.
Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet. That is true, he was a prophet - no contradiction.
Muslims believe the message that Jesus taught, I have never heard any muslims say we shouldn't love our neightbor, do good deeds, be an upstanding honest person. again, not in contradiction.
In truth we are ALL God's children so whether Jesus was literally God's son or not is irrelevant. Muslims and Christians both believe the message Jesus taught, they both believe Jesus existed, they both believe Jesus was a prophet. To me that amounts to Muslims and Christians alike, believing in Jesus.
Whether Jesus was or wasn't the biological son of God is irrelevant becasue of these reasons.
1. We are trying to apply HUMAN characteristics to God, and we can't do that. In order to understand the point of the son/father phenom, we must think deeper and take it out of Human context. Jesus is not the BIOLOGICAL son of God because God is NOT a BIOLOGICAL Being. Biological Characteristics apply to our HUMANITY. God isn't bound by the rules of Bilology because God is the ARCHITECT of Biology.
2. i guarantee Jesus had 46- 23 sets of chromosomes just like all humans. He also had DNA from Mary and Joseph as all humans have the DNA of their physical parents.
3. We know God did not impregnate Mary the same way we human's do.
4. Jesus never claimed to be God. Jesus also always refered to God as his father. We all refer to God as our father because God is indeed our spiritual father. So Jesus WAS the Son of God.
5. The focus on Jesus' origin, is a diversion tactic instituted by the evil force in the world to get our attention AWAY from the MESSAGE of Jesus. Believeing whether or not Jesus was a physical son of God is Not what gets one salvation. Believing and living by what he TAUGHT is what will get us salvation.
6. Jesus was the spiritual son of God. That CANNOT be disputed. a "SON" is not limited to the physical definition. Is a spiritual SON, not a Son? Is a Spiritual son any less of a son? I argue that a spiritual son is MORE important.
So we have established, Jesus was indeed the son of God. To acknowledge Jesus' existence, believe in the message he taught, and apply what he taught to our lives ....means that you BELIEVE IN HIM!!!!
So what's the fussing and fighting about? I can tell you, Salvation is such an awesome gift and we know it is valuable. Our human nature drives us to want to make salvation exclusive, so we are the only ones with access to it. Much like membership in a country club, or a clique. We want to be unique and the only ones to have something someone else doesn't.
Again I say God is so amazingly simple, we MAKE God complex. All of this is laid out in black and white right in front of our faces but we overanalyze and look straight past it when we don't need to.
Slim Thug Says: Black Women Are Gold Diggers- An Informed Response to Slim Thug and other Self Hating Black Men
For much of our history in America, black women have been maligned, wronged, and given a raw deal. So much so that it has put many of them on the defensive.
The white man regarded them as promiscuous, oversexed animals.
Many black men have publicly criticized and abandoned them.
They had to pick up the slack and be the man and the woman of the black family unit.
Much can be attributed to the effects of slavery. The emasulation of Black men, discrimination against black men in employment opportunities. Institutional racism and it's destruction of morale and implementation of the black inferiority complex.
While these historical facts cannot be disputed, we often forget, Black women were also subjects of this same discrimination. So why is it that they were able to do what was necessary to keep families afloat in the absence of black men? Something doesn't add up. If she could do it, why couldn't he?
This brings me to the present. We know what has happened in history. We know the reason for the disparities between the races. We also live in a time of opportinity where we are able to reap the benefits of the fight our forfathers fought. We can go to college, we can be successful in business, we can even be president. So why is that so many Black men are still abandoning their families and leaving children for black women to raise alone? Why are so many impregnating multiple women and leaving them to struggle in their absence with no assistance?
Most of all, with the knowledge of our history, knowledge of the mistakes made in the past, and knowledge of the legitimate obstacles faced previously---- Why are black men in this day and age coming out publicly criticizing black women in favor of other races of women when they are a main factor causing the issues they complain about?
The Cycle.....
Man and woman have a daughter.... The black father leaves the woman and child behind. The woman has to raise this daughter in his absence. The child has no Man to help her mother and provide an example of a loving relationship. The mother in a need for companionship has one man or a series of men who mistreat her or doesn't show her respect she deserves. The only example her daughter sees of black man/women relationships are dysfunctional.
man and woman have a son. The black father leaves the woman and his son behind. The woman has to raise this son with no male example for this son. He grows up seeing men mistreating/disrespecting his mother. His only example is also dysfunctional....
These two people get together with only dysfunctional relationships as a reference. It doesn't take a genius to know not only will it not work, but they can only mimic the same behavior they saw. He mistreats her, cheats on her, and disrespects her. She shows her dissatisfaction by increased bitterness yet stays with him and allows him to continue. Meanwhile they are reproducing having kids in this dysfunctional relationship until it implodes and destructs. Then the cycle is repeated. We understand this cycle and we have seen it time and time again .... so these particualr black men know quite well WHY the black women they complain about are this way.... and then they try to innocently act as if they don't know why when they have contributed to the problem.
Referring to them as Hoes,Bitches,Jumpoffs, Tricks, and recreational sexual partners.
Taking an irresponsible approach to sex and carelessly reproducing and running on to the next thing shaking its ass.
Showing a general lack of respect for black women in general.
Publicly criticizing them and accepting no accountability for their part in the equation.
Then they look back at the carnage they helped create in the form of emotionally damaged, bitter, cynical black women with esteem issues due to the constant rejection of this particular damaged pool of black men AND the negative media portrayal, innocently as if What's her problem? They look at this monster they created as they walk off into the sunset with Suzie Q as if they had no part in it.
Heaven forbid he has money and has ignorantly believed Suzie loves him for his kind heart and sense of humor. After she has secured her financial future with no regard to his detriment, he then comes back home for the black woman to nurse his wounds because he knows she is there waiting to have his back. Then I'll be damned if as soon as he gets over his bruised ego, he goes RIGHT back out and does the same thing while telling the black woman to kiss his ass. (O.J. Much?)
It is because of this type of recklessness that black women have become emotional and highly reactive to things like the Slim Thug Interview when he irresponsibly and ignorantly alleged that black women were gold diggers.
Black women then deciding to defend their virtue vehemently lash out and dispute this protrayal. Unfortunately it only comes off as validation of the Angry Black Woman syndrome sterotype.
I understand the outrage of many black women, but I think in instances like the Slim Thug interview, black women should take a step back and process the whole situation.
Look at who is talking. A ghetto man, who has been exposed to Ghetto black women. Who proudly calls himself a Thug in celebration as if its a good thing.
Then he uses phrases like "Don't Gotta" in an interview.
Then obliviously calls attention to his own self hatred the more he talks and generalizes Black men AND women.
When you take a step back you see it's not even worth your time to be upset and furthermore, you really don't care what this person's thoughts are anyway. When he says black women, he's not talking about average black women. He is referring to the hood rats, ghetto divas, and chickenheads he has delt with in his limited social circle.
The white man regarded them as promiscuous, oversexed animals.
Many black men have publicly criticized and abandoned them.
They had to pick up the slack and be the man and the woman of the black family unit.
Much can be attributed to the effects of slavery. The emasulation of Black men, discrimination against black men in employment opportunities. Institutional racism and it's destruction of morale and implementation of the black inferiority complex.
While these historical facts cannot be disputed, we often forget, Black women were also subjects of this same discrimination. So why is it that they were able to do what was necessary to keep families afloat in the absence of black men? Something doesn't add up. If she could do it, why couldn't he?
This brings me to the present. We know what has happened in history. We know the reason for the disparities between the races. We also live in a time of opportinity where we are able to reap the benefits of the fight our forfathers fought. We can go to college, we can be successful in business, we can even be president. So why is that so many Black men are still abandoning their families and leaving children for black women to raise alone? Why are so many impregnating multiple women and leaving them to struggle in their absence with no assistance?
Most of all, with the knowledge of our history, knowledge of the mistakes made in the past, and knowledge of the legitimate obstacles faced previously---- Why are black men in this day and age coming out publicly criticizing black women in favor of other races of women when they are a main factor causing the issues they complain about?
The Cycle.....
Man and woman have a daughter.... The black father leaves the woman and child behind. The woman has to raise this daughter in his absence. The child has no Man to help her mother and provide an example of a loving relationship. The mother in a need for companionship has one man or a series of men who mistreat her or doesn't show her respect she deserves. The only example her daughter sees of black man/women relationships are dysfunctional.
man and woman have a son. The black father leaves the woman and his son behind. The woman has to raise this son with no male example for this son. He grows up seeing men mistreating/disrespecting his mother. His only example is also dysfunctional....
These two people get together with only dysfunctional relationships as a reference. It doesn't take a genius to know not only will it not work, but they can only mimic the same behavior they saw. He mistreats her, cheats on her, and disrespects her. She shows her dissatisfaction by increased bitterness yet stays with him and allows him to continue. Meanwhile they are reproducing having kids in this dysfunctional relationship until it implodes and destructs. Then the cycle is repeated. We understand this cycle and we have seen it time and time again .... so these particualr black men know quite well WHY the black women they complain about are this way.... and then they try to innocently act as if they don't know why when they have contributed to the problem.
Referring to them as Hoes,Bitches,Jumpoffs, Tricks, and recreational sexual partners.
Taking an irresponsible approach to sex and carelessly reproducing and running on to the next thing shaking its ass.
Showing a general lack of respect for black women in general.
Publicly criticizing them and accepting no accountability for their part in the equation.
Then they look back at the carnage they helped create in the form of emotionally damaged, bitter, cynical black women with esteem issues due to the constant rejection of this particular damaged pool of black men AND the negative media portrayal, innocently as if What's her problem? They look at this monster they created as they walk off into the sunset with Suzie Q as if they had no part in it.
Heaven forbid he has money and has ignorantly believed Suzie loves him for his kind heart and sense of humor. After she has secured her financial future with no regard to his detriment, he then comes back home for the black woman to nurse his wounds because he knows she is there waiting to have his back. Then I'll be damned if as soon as he gets over his bruised ego, he goes RIGHT back out and does the same thing while telling the black woman to kiss his ass. (O.J. Much?)
It is because of this type of recklessness that black women have become emotional and highly reactive to things like the Slim Thug Interview when he irresponsibly and ignorantly alleged that black women were gold diggers.
Black women then deciding to defend their virtue vehemently lash out and dispute this protrayal. Unfortunately it only comes off as validation of the Angry Black Woman syndrome sterotype.
I understand the outrage of many black women, but I think in instances like the Slim Thug interview, black women should take a step back and process the whole situation.
Look at who is talking. A ghetto man, who has been exposed to Ghetto black women. Who proudly calls himself a Thug in celebration as if its a good thing.
Then he uses phrases like "Don't Gotta" in an interview.
Then obliviously calls attention to his own self hatred the more he talks and generalizes Black men AND women.
When you take a step back you see it's not even worth your time to be upset and furthermore, you really don't care what this person's thoughts are anyway. When he says black women, he's not talking about average black women. He is referring to the hood rats, ghetto divas, and chickenheads he has delt with in his limited social circle.
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