SCRIPTURE



         11 - 08 - 00


      Konban wa otomodati,

      How's it going? I hope yall aren't stressin over the politics.
Stressin to the point where it's driving you crazy that is. Granted it is a
mess though. I wonder why there is such confusion. Ah well, in any case,
tomorrow is our last day of school for this week. But it doesnt end till
after our 6.002 exam that starts at 7:30pm. It's gonna be killer. But hey, i
guess that means we gotta be ruthless to eh? Shonuff. Aight, on to Scripture.

      Today, I read Luke 4:1-13. This is about the temptation of Jesus Christ.
A lil background for ya. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, and then
went off fasting for 40 days before he began his ministry. During this time,
he was tempted by the Devil. The temptations that are written in the Bible
are 3:

      3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to
      become bread."

      6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor,
      for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
      7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours."

      Before going on to the third temptation, let's take a look at these two
first. In the first one, the evil one simple wants Jesus to perform a
miracle. Turn the stone into bread. What's wrong with that? Well, recall
Jesus is fasting for 40 days, that means no food. Why would Jesus then change
stone to bread. For to change stone to bread would be to eat the bread. Since
Jesus is not eating there is no reason to perform such a miracle. How does
Jesus reply?
Like so:

      4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"

And that was that. Jesus spoke, used the word, and that was the bottom line.
He didn't go into some huge debate with the evil one. The evil one would only
try to twist the words and find some devious way by which to trick Jesus. So,
Jesus didn't waste time. In essence, what he did was put his hand up and said
"Poof be gone." In other words, he didnt toy around with the temptation, he
put it in its place, beneath him, and away from him.

     For the second temptation, Satan is offering Jesus the kingdoms of the
world. ALL the KINGDOMS of the world and their authority. Now for man, that
is something huh. You would be King of the world, world domination. But
Jesus knows of something greater. Compared to the father, the world's
authority is but dust. Check his response:

      8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve
      him only.'"

BAAAAAAAM. He did it again! He said, "PSHHt, man be gone, i ain't got time
to chat with the likes of you" He does not even for a second toy with the
temptation. He dismisses it immediately. If the temptation is gone, can it
bother you anymore? And again, Jesus uses the Word. He's wielding the sword
quite efficiently no? shonuuuuff.

On to the final temptation:

      9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point
      of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself
      down from here. 10 For it is written: "'He will command his angels
      concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in
      their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'""

Sneaky guy huh? Conniving and intelligent. The best deceivers aren't stupid,
they must know their prey and act accordingly. Satan knows his prey, and
hence is playing his cards accordingly. So he is probably thinking, "Jesus has
been dismissing me with the Word, so why don't I use the Word to bait him hee
hee hee ...." So he goes and uses the Word!!! What is Jesus to say now? The
Word does say this, and Jesus cannot refute it. But there lies the loop whole
in Satan's plan. Observe Jesus' response:

      12 Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Bling bling, every time the devil try to win, bling bling, it never seems to
happen all the way, bling bling, he's got no chance forever, bling bling.
YOOOO, Jesus did it again!!! He said,

"BAAAAAAAAAAAM! Pleazzzzzz. Pathetic."

Although Satan used the tried to use the Word to bait Jesus, Jesus used the
word to dismiss the temptation. Yes, angels would be on call to protect BUT
though shalt not test.... When God says he is gonna do somethin, He's gonna
do somethin. His yes means yes and no means no. Da Man, is hardcore. Hence
there is no need to test Him. He is not going to lie, He cannot lie. It's
His very character. So, Jesus used the sword again. Satan thought he could
wield the sword, but failed miserably. So what does this mean for you and me?
Well, lets review, first Jesus used the Word to dismiss temptation. Second
Jesus dismissed it immediately, he didnt toy around with it for a second.
Third, though the sword was trying to be used against him, Jesus saw a flaw in
the way the enemy tried to wield the sword. So for us, it's simple. Use your
sword. There is soooo much truth in the Word. A while ago I shared with you a
verse that spoke about the impact of the Word in Teaching, Training, Rebuking,
Learning, Growing, etc etc etc. That sword, my friends, is mighty powerful.
Secondly, let us not for a second toy with temptation. Once it rears
ugliness, dismiss it immediately. Dont let it stick around causing decay and
a horrid horrid stench (its like leaving a dirty pair of socks full of filth
in your room for weeks and weeks and.... you get my picture). Dismiss it even
as it shows up. Third, realize that temptation can come in all forms. The
one tempting you is smart and will utilize anything he can to his advantage,
even things personal to you. He can even use the Word yo!!! But you must be
wise and rely on God to refute such things that may seem right. The Holy
Spirit is there to guide you, use him.

     Aight, its that time again. Gotta learn some japanese right quick for that
quiz tomorrow, then study for 6.002 the rest of the night. Peace.

      God bless,

      - patrick




         11 - 09 - 00


      Hey,

      Howdy doody? Chillin? It's becoming increasingly difficult to chill up
here. It'll pass though, shonuff. Today is thursday but we have no class
tomorrow, friday, thus.... HOOOOME FREEEEE!!!! ...at least for a little while.
But seriously though, I haven't heard from some of you in a while, how's it
going? Hit me up with a re..ply know what im sayiin. Aight, on to scripture:

      Matthew 18:21-22

      21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I
      forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
      22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven
      times."

Some days you are chillin with your posse right? And a couple times one of
'em will really start to irritate you. And then, to make it worse, he/she
does you wrong. What do you do? Well, two options, forgive or retaliate.
Retaliation can make ya feel good, yeaaaaaah. But it may also end a
friendship, put serious dents in a relationship, or worse. Forgiving, when
its from the heart, allows you to forget about the incident and not dwell on
it as well as make the offender think more about the incident. Hence both
parties benifit and both are uplifted. A better way to go eh? Jesus explains
this through a parable. Its about a master and a servant. The master is
coming to collect, the servant is in debt. So the master says to sell the
servant, his wife, and belongings so that the debt can be repaid. But the
servat begs for forgiveness... Forgivaness please ... And the master shows
mercy and and canceled the debt. So now the servant is all happy go lucky,
and he sees another servant. What does he do? "BAAAM, yo!!! Yeah you!! Don't
you owe me some money? Yeah you do, give it up!!! OOH so you dont have it
huh? You want mercy? Pleaaase, (choking him at this point). I'm having you
sent to prison!!!" Yeah, some guy huh. He was just showed mercy, and now he
has the chance to show mercy but he does not. In fact he goes completely
opposite of mercy and goes so far as to have this other servant thrown in
jail!! What is up wit DAT!!! Well, what goes around comes around. Other
servants saw this act and told the master. The master called the servant in.

      32 "...'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours
      because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your
      fellow servant just as I had on you?"

So the master had him put in jail until he should pay back all he owed. Here
lies again the golden rule, "Treat others as you would like to be treated"
or, in other words, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself". If someone
forgives you from the heart, you too should forgive. Mercy was shown to you,
also show mercy then. Jesus used the number 77 as some ridiculously large
number to show that we should always forgive, just as God forgives us. But
forgiving should be real, not just words. From the heart. Don't deceive
yourself and your friend, be honest, and forgive. Man its so awesome cuz then
you don't dwell on the incident. It doesn't fester and boil within you to
this diabolical rage that explodes and destroys. It goes, and peace remains.

      Aight peeps, gots ta go. Check yall later... and im waitin for that 411 ;D

      God bless,

      - patrick




         11 - 13 - 00

     
      Otomodati.... konniti wa!!!

      Wassup wassup, wassup wassup wassup? chillin over here, chillin
chillin. Today is a pretty nice day. Well, there's no sun and lots of clouds
but its cool. People are in jackets in such, but I'm in "sweatpants" and a
short-sleeve shirt. All the leaves are many colors: red, light brown, medium
brown, scarlet, pinkish, orange. It's pretty kool. In any case, this week is
kinda out of wack, problem sets are due on days they are not usually due,
other things keep gettin changed around, and more. But it doesn't phase me,
cuz I'm chillin and takin it as it comes. aight, on to S C R I P T U R E....
     
      Kyoo, I read Matthew 23. Jesus is speaking to the crowds and his
disciples. I tell you what, I wouldn't want to be a Pharisee during this
speech. Here, Jesus unveils the nature of the Pharisees and urges his
listeners not to do as the Pharisees do, but to be REAL.

      5 "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their
      phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the
      place of honor at the banquets and the most important seats in the
      synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men
      call them 'Rabbi'"

ooo ooo, that's got ta hurt.... especially because it was true. But to be
told what you already know, man. That's to the heart yo. So what exactly is
Jesus saying about the character of the Pharisees? Basically that they were
full of themselves. They "PUFFED" themselves up. They like to be lifted
above the rabble, they like to be seen as "Holier than thou", and they basked
in it. Tell me somethin, do you truly like someone who acts superior to you
all the time, and they flaunt it in you face? And what if they are superior
to you in some areas, and you know this to be true, does it still make it feel
right when he she makes it known themselves and bask in it? Now let me ask
you this, how do you feel about someone affirms you, who does not exude that
"holier than thou" demeanor? who puts himself on the level with everyone so
that all are equal? How do you feel around such an individual, and how do you
feel about that individual? Chickittycheck it out:

      11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts
      himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

WOW, how true does that ring? I mean, think about those you admire, those who
you respect, and those whom you wish to emulate. Are they humble or
self-exalting? Think about Jesus, he served the people. He healed them, lead
them, taught them, feed them. He wore regular clothes, maybe less than
regular. He gave to the poor. Everything he did was for the people so that
they may come to know the truth and have Life. And not just have life, but
have it more abundantly. So Jesus continued to talk to the people, urging
them to humble themselves. In doing so, they will be exalted in the eyes of
God and the eyes of men. Jesus goes on with another awesome awesome analogy,
check this:

      26 "Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then
      the outside also will be clean."

BAAAAAM, its makes perfect sense. How else to make better the outside than to
clean the inside. See, the Pharisees put on a facade, on the outside they
tried to show they were righteous. But on the inside, it was a whole other
matter. Many people walk around today with this facade. They are not who
they portray. For some reason, they cant be REAL. Be real, Jesus is tellin
them. Clean what is inside, be transformed not conformed. If what is insided
is new, clean, and good, then it will show on the outside and be permanent,
not transitory. Anyone can put on a facade and say they are this way. But if
the inside is not clean, not truly clean and transformed, it will not last but
collapse, "like whitewahsed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on
the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean" (verse 27).

     Who would not be like that? Clean on the outside, but messed up on the
inside? Instead, strive to be pure inside and out, to be REAL, not fake. Be
humble, and love your brothers and sisters, love them as you love yourself, be
humble and you will be exalted in the eyes of God, and the eyes of men.

     Aight, time for me ta boucne. I'm having problems with my laptop at home
thus i am at the student center. And i forgot my sword at home so i had to
use the sword via internet (www.bible.com). Man, gotta be armed at all times.
Some of it is in our heads though, so we be semi-armed no? heh heh, aight,
take care. OHH, don't forget to hit me up with the 411 on how yall are doing.
peace

      God bless,
     
      - patrick




         11 - 14 - 00


      WassuuuuuuUup!!


      How's it going otomodati? Its pretty cool up here, and drizzlin. It
doesnt feel to cold though (although some would beg to differ). Some bad news
today, I got to Japanese class late today. So I missed the 10 minute quiz at
the beginning of class, but I figured i can just take it at the end of class,
like others did when they came late to class. So I'm chillin there, talkin
japanese, wowing the class with my expert skiiillzz (heh heh, jk). And the
end of class comes along, and i ask the sensei for the quiz. She hooks me up,
i take that bad boy, i think i missed one little tiny thing, otherwise that
quiz had no chance against me. I turn it in, and the sensei says thanks.
Then she asks me why was i late. And i said, oh, i overslept lil bit (i've
had about 8-10 hours of sleep in the past 48, i didnt tell her that though).
And then she got the expression on her face, an expression of compassion and
pity. Then she broke the news to me, that the quiz cannot be counted because I
was late for reasons other than academic conflict. Of course i was stood
there shocked and speechless (all kinds of thoughts going through my head).
Meanwhile I can see she is still feelin for me, and she says she can still
grade it to see what i would have gotten, but she would have to talk it over
with the other senseis if it can be counted. Now I thought i knew the policy,
i understood it to be if you missed class, you had no chance to make any of it
up. But if you are late, i thought you could (cuz everyone who had been late
thus far has been takin the quiz at the end of class). So, I don't know
what's to happen, and I wonder if being late also makes you lose your in class
grade as well...... On to Scripture:

      Kyoo, I read Luke 10:38-42

      38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village
      where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister
      called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.
      40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be
      made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister
      has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
      41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, you are worried and upset
      about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen
      what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

soo desu nee. Does this situation bring back memories? Someone special or
important is coming over, and you decide you wanna impress the person. So you
begin to prepare and prepare and prepare on an on, with good intention of
course. I mean come on, this person is importantay and you want to make
him/her feel that way. Meanwhile.... mr or ms important can't wait to see
you, and just you and could really careless how da place looks. He/she hasn't
seen you in a long time and wants to chill with you. Back to the current
situation, you are still preparing and preparing, he/she is going to be here
in 2 hours.... 1 hour.... 30 mins "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH im not finished yet!!! I
still have to ....... AND TAKE A SHOWER!!!!" Frustration sets in, throughout
the whole process it was building up, you're demeanor is no longer normal, you
might have a headache, probably irritated those around you like friends,
family, probably neglected hygiene and health....... in other words, you are a
mess. To make things worse, at eta = 5 mins, he/she calls, "I can't make it.
Such and such came up. I'm so sorry, blah blah blah." Then what? Worked and
slaved and for what? Then you become angry. This is Martha situation.
Except of course, Jesus had indeed come. Though the guest was present, Martha
continued to prepare. Say, for instance, Mary had not been there, Martha
would be preparin still, and stressin, meanwhile Jesus would have been
neglected and left to sit and wait. What is more important? Being with the
guest? or trying to make everything perfect for the guest? It depends on
where you place your value. If you place value on material things, then the
preparing seems more important... shame too. If you place value on the person
him or herself, something real, active and living, the merely being with that
person is more important (and probably more important that person also). PLUS,
you never have all that negative energy build up in you from preparing and
preparing. Mary chose what was more important, and it was only one thing.
Martha was distracted by many things, all of which were petty. Let not petty
things worry you and cause you to become angry, unhappy, grouchy, etc. Sure,
prepare, it's nice to want to do something for someone, but if somthing goes
wrong and ya can't do what you wanted, don't let it phase you, cuz the person
coming will be more interested in you than the inanimate thing being prepared.
In other words, chiiiiiiill.

      Aiiiiiight, i've got maaaad homework to do, maaaaad homework, but still
gotta chill. Thus, peace out my bruthaz, peace out my sistaz.

      God bless,

      - patrick




         11 - 20 - 00


     Yo yo yO,

      Wassup wassup, motownphilly is back again. First, I'd like to apologize
for missing 3 days last week. The combination of my laptop messin up and the
week being killer re-organized my timetable not to my likin. Soo here it
goes, Sumimasen otomodati (sorry friends). And for a lil update, thanksgiving
is comin up and its gonna be tiiight, a nice nice NICE break. 4 days baby.
I'll be headin to NY to see my cousins, beat 'em up a lil bit, then a lil
more heh heh heh. Later today, one of the friends i made in Dallas, TX is
coming down from cornell with a friend to visit Boston. On me 6.002 exam, i
got a pretty good grade. But I was thankful for friday night. Got ta chill
with bunch of peeps from BC, BU, Northeastern, NEC, Mass Art, MIT, and one
other school at Chi Alpha citywide meeting. It was a comedy show, pretty
funny. Afterwards, some people went to Maine to witness the meteor shower.
Aight, on to Scripture.

Kyoo, I read many proverbs from the book of Proverbs. For each one, take time
to ponder their meanings. It's deep stuff yo. Chickitty check it out:

      Proverbs 25:11 "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings
      of silver."

      hmmmmmm... interesting...

This next one talks about going to someone's crib....

      Proverbs 25:17 "Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house-- to much of
      you, and he will hate you"

soo desu nee.... ever get sick of seein somebody? Does this ring true? Of
course, it depends on the friend or acquaintance. Some of my friends, i could
go to their crib every couple o' days, or 2 days in a row, let a week go by,
then 2 days in a row, and so forth. But i'm pretty sure if i went everyday 7
days a week for hours on end, we'd probably get sick of seein each other. So
this problem is sharing a lil secret. Seldom set foot in a friend's crib, ie
to avoid gettin sick of each other, don't see each other 24/7. Does this ring
tru for relationships too? Beats me, gotta ask someone whose been in a
relationship, or one where they could spend 24/7 with the other. Or, you could
ask your 'rents,

Dealing with flattery

      Proverbs 28:23 "He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor
      than he who has a flattering tongue."

      Proverbs 29:5 "Whoever flatters his neigbor is spreading a net for
      his own feet."

Flattery.... sometimes it's good, sometimes it's too much, sometimes it's
dangerous. When is it good? When it's truthful no doubt. Makes both parties
feel good. The one who speaks it, speaks it from the heart, and the one who
receives it, is at a loss for words. When is it too much? Well, when the one
who gives it overflatters. ie, everyday, every hour, every second. Then it
just gets annoying, and the one who receives it begins to wonder whether or
not he/she is speaking truthfully. In fact, it might just cause tension to
arise.... When is it dangerous? None other than when the one who speaks it
is stretchin the truth. Yeah, its great to let someone feel good, but if
you're lying... wait my bad... "stretching the truth" to do so, and you
continue too, it sets up the person receiving it for a fall. Probably a big
one. When the truth needs to come out, tell it. Rebuke is often better than
praise if it will help someone to realize something about themselves or the
road they are heading down. There's lots more to this, think on it some.

     Dealing with Love

      Proverbs 24:26 "An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips."
      Proverbs 27:5 "Better is open rebuke than hidden love."

hmmm, the first one could apply to many things. But here is da dilly on love.
I was watching a movie on satuday at noon whose theme also ran along these
lines. Being honest. In the movie, near the end, a line was said, "When you
talk to her, don't be nice, be honest. Because this is not just you, or just
now. But you are dealing with the rest of someone's life, 2 people. Yours
and hers." Granted, it was a lil different situation because it was dealing
with getting married. And it was the day of the marriage. But as u can see,
being honest is so important. The rest of someone's life you could be dealing
with. Or the next several months. What you feel isn't real, best be honest
and not prolong the hurt, or allow for the hurt to be much greater just
because of waiting, or just because you wanted to be nice. This being honest
goes handin hand with "Better is open rebuke than hidden love". If what you
feel is real, but you keep it hidden, maaaan. Soo much could be lost just
because one or the other could not be honest. That's why the proverb is
saying better is open rebuke. Cuz, man, you can take rebuke and it won't cut
so deep into the heart and into the soul. But hidden love, and you find out
that what could have been did not occur because neither could be honest and
throw away fear, man... that's hurt, I know. Better is open rebuke than
hidden love, an honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

      Aight, its dat time. Hit me back with things you thought of after
pondering the proverbs on your own. peace out bruthaz and sistaz.

     God bless,

      - patrick




         11 - 21 - 00


     Wassup wassup!!


      Yo, last day before i leave to go to NY. Man oh man, can't wait for da
break!! Classes seem to be going well. I just have two assignments in one
class two start and finish tonight, and then I'm home free. Gotta do laundry,
and pack, and what not. On a sad note, a super senior here at MIT committed
suicide this past sunday, jumping off her Westgate dorm. I didnt know her
personally, but her family might be a lil devastated. Keep them in your
prayers. Also pray for students to realize that school is not a reason to
throw one's life away. For all its worth, the things worrying people at school
don't really matter all that much. You're still gonna get a job. Just live,
life is an awesome thing. Aight, on to scripture:

      Today, kyoo, i read Mark 6:8-11

      8 These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except
      a staff -- no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals
      but not an extra tunic. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there
      until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you
      or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a
      testimony against them."

Jesus just hooked up is crew with the authority to drive out demons and is
sending out 2 by 2. As such, he gave them those instructions. It seems that
he told them to go with what they were wearing, and that's it. And they did,
that's what's awesome. They had the faith to simply go and know, KNOW, that
God would provide for them. All they had to do was go and spread the word,
and concentrate on that effort. But what I really want to point out is verse
11 where Jesus told them if anyone rejected them to shake the dust off of
their feet when they left. Why would Jesus say that? Doesn't he want all to
hear the good news? Yup, you are right. By the disciples going their, that
person heard the good news. But, he/she rejected it and the disciples. The
disciples could continue to speak to the person, but there's a point where all
the talking in the world won't make anyone budge. This is where the shaking
the dust off of your feet comes in. You can't force anyone into believing the
good news. It is something they must openly acknowledge and believe to be
true from their own heart. In this way, that person is transformed, not
conformed. They willingly changed, not forcefully. And when you willingly
set on a path, you are more certain to remain on that path, than if forced to
against your will. So if ya chitchattin to someone, and its like talking to a
brick wall, and its been like that for awhile, maybe its time to shake the
dust off of your feet. This applies to many things. Say you and your friend
are chillin in your crib. You got some food in the fridge, but its 25 days
old (why would it still be in your fridge, i do not know and do not want to
know, hopefully you just forgot it was there). So your friend is like, "hey
yo, ya got somethin ta eat up in this mug?" And you say, "Shonuff, hit up da
fridge." Your friend opens the fridge door and sees this magnificent,
scrumptious looking piece of food. His mouth is watering and ooooooo. So he's
like," Yo, i'ma have me some o' dis right here aight?" And you take a look
and you say, "noooooooooo, don't eat that man. That's my bacteria growing
project. Been there for 25 days yo. Unless you wanna die, to stick that
junk, in yo mouth." But he's like,"Man stop lyin, look how ripe this looks
man, and if it was here for 25 days, there'd be some green stuff growin on it,
and it would be rankin too!!" And you say, "Dawg (or dawgette), im tellin ya,
it aint good yo." and this goes on and on, and homeboy doesnt want to listen.
Well,its about that time then, shake the dust off of your feet,and let him
have his way. He'll learn soon afterwards. But there's nothing you could do.
He let is heart remain hard. So homeboy eats it, man oh man, he aint never
been so sick in his entire life. 7 days later, after waking up, he says, "man,
you was right dawg. I shouldnt have kept my heart so hard" This was a light
example, just to crack yall up a lil bit. But some things get very serious.
And you want so bad for your friend to hear you cuz you know what lies ahead.
But his or her heart remains hard, and sometimes you gotta shake the dust, and
let him/her go and find out. Hopefully they figure it out before its too
late, or before they find out the hard way (like bra man who ate the 25 day
old piece of food). But what this means for you, is to not hold yourself
guilty if you friend keeps a hard heart. Yeah, you might feel bad, but hey,
it wasn't your fault, you spoke and you spoke and you tried and tried. But
wants you shake the dust, its like washing your hands. The matter is no
longer your problem, and shaking the dust was your testimony that you tried.

      aight peeps, still continue to forgive 77*7 times a day uhh huhh. Peace,
and if i dont writeth you tomorroweth, have an excellent Thanksgiving (and
send some leftovers up my way, heh heh heh)

      God bless,

      - patrick




         11 - 27 - 00


      Yo yo yO,

      Wassup!! I hope everyone had a nice break, a good thanksgiving, some
PHAT turkey, but most of all that yall thanked da one above for we are able to
have. Some people would think a can of spaghettieos for a meal would be
thanksgiving. Aight, school has started up again, so gettin back into the
groove o' things. But looks like we have a couple weeks left, and then exams.
This last weeks, whooooweeee, gonna be trying, but hey "with God i can do all
things." uh huh, shonuff, checkit, on to Scripture:

     Kyoo, I read many things. But finally rested on Galatians 5: 4-6,

      4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from
      Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly
      await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For
      in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.
      The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

The law, what is the law. The law they speak of is that which was given to
Moses waaaay back when. Much of the law is in the Old Testament (the New
Testament is still being written). Before Christ, people tried to live by the
law. But after Christ, he became the gift through which we could speak to God
and be saved. Paul is talking now about those who still are trying to be
justified by the law. I don't know these peeps felt they could be justified
by law, there are sooo many commands and being human, it was inevitable
they'ld break a dozen of em a day (just guestimatin by the way). It also
seems absurd because even Abraham was not justified by the Law, and Abraham
was their forefather. Abraham was justified by Faith. As Paul continues, he
says those who try to be justified from law have self-alienated themselves
from Christ, in other words, they fell away from grace. Grace is a gift, and
it is by grace that we can mess up. We can mess up and ask for forgiveness
because Christ paid the ultimate price. "God made him who had no sin to be sin
for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2
Corinthians 5:21). Thus, my bruthaz and sistaz, the price has been paid, and
by grace of God we can be saved. Hence, as Paul goes on, by faith we can
eagerly await for the righteousness for which we hope. Why? It's a gift,
plain and simple. Paul goes on to talk about circumcision and
uncircumblahblah (don't think about it too much). See, circumcision was part
of the Law, if you were a Jew back then, according to the Law, you were to be
circumcised. But since Jesus came and died and was risen, being circ or uncirc
has no value, instead, it is faith that has value. And what comes up again?
Yup, that word love. Faith expressing itself through love. Love is sooo
powerful, tru luv that is, not the world's perverted definition. So what da
dilly yo? Simple, tryin to justify yourself through the law, man, that will
just drive you crazy. Cuz ya can't do it, ya cant, ya bound to mess up
sometime or another. And to be justified by law, ya can't mess up once, not
even ONCE yo!! But by grace of God, we can be justified through faith. Ya
mess up, ya know ya ain't condemned because of the gift. Ask for forgiveness
and continue in faith expressing itself in love and continue to live in love.

      Aight sistaz and bruthaz, its dat time. Take care and Peace out, give drop
a brutha an email or somethin. latah


      God bless,

      - patrick




         11 - 28 - 00


      Konniti wa watasi no tomodati!!

      Yeahhh, today is tuesday. Not too excitin, but it ain't cold for some
odd reason... Beats me, i don't what the dilly is yo. But anyway, on to
Scripture:

      Kyoo, i read John 17. Here are some key verses:

      15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you
      protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as
      I am not of it. .... 20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also
      for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of
      them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May
      they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

So homeboy, Jesus Christ, is chitchattin wit pops, da Almighty God. He's
prayin. First he's talkin about some cats who are livin in the world, but
somehow are not of the world. He wants pops to protect them from the evil one.
So who is he talkin about? Verse 20 kinda gives you a hint that in the verses
befo' 20, Jesus is praying on behalf of the believers. And what does homeboy
ask? He asks the Father not that he takes them, the believers, out of the
world, but that pops protects them from the evil one. It'd be phat if pops
could just claim da believers now right? I mean, da believers would be outa
here and livin it up wit the Creator, maaaaan that'd be tight. But no, Jesus
didnt ask pops to do this, instead, homeboy axed (yeah, i said axed heh heh)
pops if he could protect them from the evil one. Cuz why? Cuz da believers
are not of this world. INstead, they are of God, and since God is not of this
world, neither are they. Hence the things that hold the world captive cannot
hold the believers captive for the believers are not of the world. And what
is holding the world captive? None other than the evil one and his wicked
ways. Not only that, but basic things like money hold the world captive,
drugs, alcohol, pain killers, TV (oh yeah, tv), FOOD even!! But yo, those
believers, hah hah, they don't have to worry about none o' that, because they
are not of the world so that which holds the world captive has no power of
them!! Are you a believer? If ya are, welcome to the state of chill, you are
in God's hands, and what safer place to be than in the arms of the Creator?
Why else would Jesus pray this prayer, that we not be taken out of the world,
but be protected? Well, there's plenty of folks who havent heard the good
news, many who do not know. Don't you think they may want the state of chill
too? To be free!!! Awesoem huh? So Jesus also prayed this prayer so that
the believers now could share this awesome news to the rest of the world so
that they too can be free. verse 20 confirms this by saying, "My prayer is
not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their
message" Homeboy is forever thinkin about everyone, EVERYONE, for not one does
the Father wish to be lost. So homeboy is prayin for those who don't yet
know, but who will believe through who's message? through the message the
believers bring, the good news which comes from da one above. And to what
end? The ultimate one man, checkit: "that all of them may be one, Father,
just as you are in me and I am in you" To be one yo!! one, no fighting,
bickering, jealousy, and all that crapish, but to be one, united, show love
and not hate, and to be with the Father at the appointed date. Not that one
would be with Pops, but all o' us, as ONE, to be with Pops, and chillin with
Him, the Creator, forever and ever, with no more death, no more pain, just Da
Pops, Jesus, your dawgs, my dawgs, and the dawgs from waaaaaay back, old
testament badmammajammas know what i'm sayin. See, it is the Father's wish
that not one is lost, but all are saved and free from the chains that bind
this world, and to be not of the world, but of God.

      Aight my dawgs and dawgettes, i gots ta break out..... If you had any
trouble reading this email because of my laid back approach, you can order
EBONICS on tape, it will teach all you need to know about the world of
EBONICS, how to speak, how to relate, and all that stuff for the keen price
of....
ONE MILLION DOLLARS!!! all rights reserved ebonics enterprises.... aight
aight, im just kiddin, that got away from me there. Aight, gotta go, hit me
back with the 411. Ketch ya later.

      God bless,

      - patrick




         11 - 29 - 00


      Hey hey heY,

      My laptop is back online so I'm again writin up these things in my room
at da house (instead of the student center).. AAAnd i can see what it looks
like outside. It's 3:36pm here and the sun is beginning to set. I can't see
the sun, but i can see the hue on the sparse clouds in the sky. The colors
are so awesome, i lack the words to describe them. Well, today was same old
same old. But today i have to get crackin on the load i have for this and
next week before finals. How are you all doing? Life treating you well? Get
any new toy? I gotta new toy, its the miniture phone that is maaad tight.
It's not a cell, its just the super small phone with a lil head set. So could
call someone up and chit chat but not have to hold a receiver in my hand.
It's mad tight, mad tight. Aight, on to Scripture:

      Kyoo, I read Isaiah 1:23

      23 Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love
      bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of
      the fatherless; the widow's case does not come before them.

Isaiah, one of the old testament badmammajammas, was speakin to the tribe of
Judah. Well well well, Judah had been prosperin quite nicely, economically,
physically, and otherallies. But as they were prospering, they forgot
somethin. They forgot about the widows and the poor. So Pops (BruthaMan
upstairs) spoke to Isaiah. Isaiah was a prophet so when God wanted to speak
to the people, He spoke to them through a prophet (Jesus hadn't died and
ressurected yet so that there curtain in the temple had yet been torn
symbolizing personal relationship with the Father could now be had). And
thus, Isaiah relayed the message you see in verse 23... and then some. This
one caught my attention, especially cuz it reminds me of America. Before we
hit up America, let's look at ourselves. Before we look at ourselves, lets
look at the people of Juday. mad prosperin right, then they forgot. The
rulers began to be companions of thieves. They began loving bribes and
gifts.... material things. In other words they were prospering at the expense
of the less fortunate. So they, in essence, became thieves. Now lets look at
us. We got maaaaad stuff. Like what i said up above about my new toy, its
maad tight. But, even though its mad tight, i can't let that get in the way
of my helping the less fortunate. I gotta remember that there are some who
would be sayin, "man, if i had kernel of corn, that would be maaad tight" So
I gotta remember the brethren around me who do not have and help to build them
up so that both parties benefit, and not one at the expense of another. Also,
in so doing, I won't become a thief like the rulers of judah became. This
goes hand in hand with loving your neighbor as you love yourself, one of the
golden rules. If ya luv your neighbor, will you let them go hungry? go cold?
be without water? be without clothes? naw man, not if love is what you wish
to express, and which also is a characteristic of God. Remember the less
fortunate. Now lets look at America. Man this country is tight right? If we
look outside of it, people are living hard lives, but here, in general people
live comfortable free lives. And, we continue to prosper, and prosper big,
nice economy. But now we gotta look deep within, how are we prospering? Are
we prospering tat the expense of the less fortunate? Are we just stepping on
the widows, fatherless, and poor so that we can be elevated? I dont know how
exactly da US is helpin the less fortunate within, but I do know that we send
mass quantities of food and aid to the less fortunate outside of the US.
Hopefully those in leadership also remember the the less fortunate within, and
do not become as "thieves" cuz man, that would suck. As far as you and I,
let's remember our bruthaz and sistaz who need help, and not just give them
stares but actually do somethin, show the love that Christ had for us.

      Aight peeps, peace out. Oh yeah, and by the way.... 411 411 411 411, hit
me up with a 411, an update, or simply a "yo wassup pat!!". Aight, im out.


      God bless,

      - patrick



         11 - 30 - 00


     Konban wa watasi no tomdati!!

      Yup, its evening. Man today has been so packed with stuff i've had to
do! Woke up, went to two classes, had lunch, then went to do community service
at the homeless shelter for 4 hours, then had to meet up with the Chi Alpha
Christian Fellowship Chaplain, then had some late dinner, then finally got to
chill a lil bit and watch the Simpsons (oh yeah, most def), then i went to jiu
jitsu, and now I'm back. Shoooo, and the night is still young my friends.
Aight, on to Scripture:

      Kyoo, I read Acts 23:1-11. Man, Paul was a bad dawg man (bad dawg meaning
hardcore, meaning da man). This passage talks about Paul when he was before
the Sanhedrin. Apparently, some "commander wanted to find out exactly why
Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief
priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble. Then he brought Paul and had him
stand before them" (22:30) The Sanhedrin was like the religious political
thingamijigger. Apparently, according to the passage, the Pharisees and
Sadducees were among their ranks. So anyway, Paul is being questioned, and my
man "looked at the Sanhedrin and said, 'My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty
to God in all good conscience to this day" (23:1). The high priest ordered
that people near Paul strike him on the mouth for speaking. So Paul replies,
"God will stike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me
according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be
struck!" Now Paul didnt know but they guy he just bashed was a high priest,
but look at what Paul does when he finds out:

      4 Those who were standing near Paul said, "You dare to insult God's high
      priest?" 5 Paul replied, "Brothers, I did not realize that he was the
      high priest; for it is written: 'Do not speak evil about the ruler of
      your people.'"

hmmm, interesting, though Paul may have been in the right for what he had
said, he still humbled himself when he found out the person he was speaking to
was one of the "rulers". Why? Cuz the Word says 'Do not speak evil about the
ruler of your people.' See, Paul wasnt one of these so called followers of
Christ who talked the talk but didnt walk the walk. Naw, my man Paul, he was
bonafide real stuff. He spoke, talked the talk, and he walked the walk. He
practiced what he preached. And when he realizes he does something wrong, he
humbles himself and asks forgiveness. Wow, if people nowadays could do that,
so many confrontations could be avoided. And if people practiced what they
preached, man, the confusion that exists now would not be so rampant. How
will one believe what you say, if you go and do the exact opposite? He will
think you a fool, a hypocrite, or , in today's terminology, "full of it".
This is not good, especially because it bears false testimony about the
kingdom of God. Not only talk the talk man, walk the walk as well. And here
some more about my man Paul. Realizing that the Sadducees and Pharisees were
among them, he used there fundamental differences against them. In other
words, he divided and conquered. See, my man was in ultimate chill, he knew
God was with him wherever he went. Even though it seemed he was one man
against the world in that seen, he knew that cuz he had God, the advantage was
his all the way. So Paul simply said, "I stand on trial because of my hope in
the resurrection of the dead." As Jesus had promised, so Paul spoke. At
this, the assembly flipped. "8 (The Sadducees say that there is no
resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees
acknowledge them all)." And so, they were divided amongst themselves, and
there Paul stood, right in the middle, not even flinchin, fully Chill, not
phased at all. All around him was maaaad uproar, screaming, vehement
argument, and "10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid
Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and
take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks." hmmm, a
commander yo, a commander was afraid, but Paul, pshhhh, he was chillin in the
knowledge that God is with him, always. And the next verse confirms it:

      11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage!
      As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in
      Rome."

Man, ya see that? Paul is just doing the will of God. He knows what's up,
and his faith is true. Hence, just as Jesus slept while a huge storm was
rockin the boat he was on (he and his apostles) as if nothing was happening,
so Paul stood, fearless, in the state of chill with full knowledge and faith
in Pops, da Man upstairs. Strive to achieve this faith and rest assured that
God is with you Always.

      Peace out my bruthaz and sistaz.

     God bless,

      - Patrick (the LW)

DATES

11 - 02 - 00
11 - 03 - 00
11 - 06 - 00
11 - 07 - 00
11 - 08 - 00
11 - 09 - 00
11 - 14 - 00
11 - 20 - 00
11 - 21 - 00
11 - 27 - 00
11 - 28 - 00
11 - 29 - 00
11 - 30 - 00


BaCk