King Family Sacrifices

During this passage through time there are milestones, mountains, and valleys that everyone will encounter. I would be hard press to think of a family with more adversity than the King Family.

Most people know the amazing stories about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. They know about his most famous speech, his legendary marches and the principals by which he lived his life. What most people do not know is what happened to his family. There are stories about the numerous tragedies endured by the Kennedy family, but after reading this, you might know that the King family could give them a run for their money as it relates to heartbreak.

Alberta King, Dr. King’s mother, was shot and killed in 1974 while playing the organ at her church. The shooting was allegedly done by a 23-year old black man by the name of Marcus Wayne Chenault. Chenault didn’t give any reason for the shooting, except to say that “all Christians are my enemies.” Martin’s father, who was his greatest inspiration long before he learned from the teachings of Gandhi, lived a long life, dying at the age of 84.

Shortly after Dr. King’s death in 1968, Martin’s brother Alfred became co-pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where his father and brother preached. In July of 1969, just a few days before his 39th birthday, Alfred was found dead in a swimming pool. The case was ruled as an accidental drowning, but many speculate something more sinister might have happened. According to his father, he was a good swimmer.

The sacrifice of the King family is indicative of the tremendous sacrifice made by those who have fought for the freedom of African Americans over the last 400 years. From the first runaway slave to today, the battle continues and it usually has a price.

Teach this lesson to your children. Tell them in the oral tradition of our ancestors and our march to freedom because our struggle is without question the greatest story ever told. Remind them that they stand on the shoulders of giants and they have a responsibility to continue the difficult journey as was done for them. And that’s my Thought Provoking Perspective…

For Woman Only!!!

Last year I wrote this article but for the benefit of Women’s History Month I share it with you again – just for the ladies! I came from a time when there was a woman named “Big Mama” and not the clown character in the Martin Lawrence movie. She was the matriarch of the black family.

I won’t try to teach or tell anyone how to be a woman but I do have a perspective from a man’s point of view. Just like a woman cannot make a boy a man – I won’t try to tell you how to be a woman. However, I am suggesting for the sake of your daughters that you try to recall the lessons taught by Big Mama. For those who read my writing, you know, I like to use examples in order to make a point.

I once gave a speech and took out a $20.00 bill and to the audience I asked, "Who would like to have this $20 bill?" Hands started going up. Nearly everyone! Then I said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." I crumpled up the $20 dollar bill and asked, "Who still wants it now...?" Still nearly all hands were raised. Ok, great! "What if I do this?" I dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with the bottom of my shoe. Then I picked it up the now crumpled dirty bill. "Who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions you make with regard to how you appear. The moral of this exercise was a very valuable lesson. The way you appear causes people (men) to want “IT”, but like the money it does not mean they want “You”. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by who you are and that comes from your presentation.

I have another profound message Muhammad Ali's once gave to his daughters. An incident transpired when Muhammad Ali’s daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were quite revealing.

Here is the story as told by one of his daughters:

“When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father’s suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day.

My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to.

Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell.

Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You’ve got to work hard to get to them.”
He looked at me with serious eyes. “Your body is sacred. You’re far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.”

I was thinking about what to say in my first blog post of the new year and this was just.  It is not my intent to offend anyone, but you see what I see and if you knew Big Mama – you know better. I believe, if Black America is to redeem it greater glory – ladies it starts with you. And that’s my Thought Provoking Perspective…

Knowledge is the gift that keeps on giving.

http://johntwills.com

Legacy – A New Season 

AMAZON

Just a Season

A Tool Of Power

It is certainly no secret that Black People are the most religious people on the planet. They just love the “Word”! I know you are thinking, what is this guy saying or maybe you say its blasphemy. There should be no doubt that there is a distinct difference between religion and spirituality. I’ll talk about spirituality another time. I don’t mean to make anyone angry, which happens when I write about this subject. Nonetheless, I’ll say it, Black People out Pope the Pope!

I think of myself as a person well versed in time. When I say time, I mean history and there is also a distinct difference between “History and His-Story”. So I will begin with something that Machiavelli explained repeatedly that made a lot of sense. He said, “Religion is man-made, and that the value of religion lies in its contribution to social order and the rules of morality must be dispensed if security required it.” This is a very interesting statement in that he implies that religion is a tool of power.

I know most of you probably only know the name Machiavelli because the late Tupac Shakur often quoted him and he titled his last CD using the name. Let me share just a little background on the man who actually lived and walked the earth. Machiavelli was an Italian historian, politician, diplomat, philosopher, humanist, and writer based in Florence during the Renaissance period. He was credited as being the founder of modern political science; more specifically political ethics.

As a result of his written views a term “Machiavellianism” was coined, which is a widely used negative term to characterize unscrupulous politicians of the sort Machiavelli described in The Prince. The book itself gained enormous notoriety and wide readership because the author seemed to be endorsing behavior often deemed as evil and immoral.

In several writings, The Prince, the Discourses, and in the Life of Castruccio Castrucio, he describes "prophets", as he calls them, like Moses, Romulus, Cyrus the Great, and Theseus as the greatest of new princes. He called them the glorious and brutal founders of the most novel innovations in politics, and men whom Machiavelli assures us have always used a large amount of armed force and murder against their own people. He estimated that these sects last from 1666 to 3000 years each time, which pointed out by Leo Strauss would mean that Christianity became due to start finishing about 150 years after Machiavelli.Machiavelli's concern with Christianity as a sect was that it makes men weak and inactive, delivering politics into the hands of cruel and wicked men without a fight.

While fear of God can be replaced by fear of the prince, if there is a strong enough prince, Machiavelli felt that having a religion is in any case especially essential to keeping a republic in order. For Machiavelli, a truly great prince can never be conventionally religious himself, but he should make his people religious. Machiavelli's judgment that democracies need religion for practical political reasons was widespread among modern proponents of republics until approximately the time of the French Revolution.

When I read this the diabolical King James, who wrote the 28^th version of the Holy Bible came to mind. Because it was used to transform the minds of the lands that England conquered. I believe it was this evil genius that said “the sun never sets on the English empire”. Moreover, it was what the people of Europe did to the minds of the African people transplanted to the lands for the purpose of slavery by erasing their known region forcing this man-made religion upon a people making them a nation of people without a nationality.

Thereby, this idea created a condition of submission to something other than what God planned that continue to erode minds to this very day. And that’s my thought provoking perspective…

What Would Jesus Say?

Over the past week, all the buzz on social media has been about the famed gospel singer and Pastor Marvin Winans, who wouldn’t bless the baby of an unwed mother in front of the congregation of what he professes to be a church. You know they say you can tell when a church has fallen into apostasy.

Before I go further, did Jesus not bless the sick, cripple, crazy, murderous, lame, prostitutes and adulterous. I’ll answer that! It would be a yes. In fact, it is written in all of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John). So the question then becomes who made this guy God? I am going to take the position that the church is a place for a sinner to be redeemed. Isn’t that the whole foundation of the CHRISTIAN principle - salvation?

LAW AND ORDER THEME! 

As you know every good Christian believes they have the power to damn you to hell. I guess the comment of damnation will come my way. So I will start by saying Negro Please! Let me first say “there is a lot of money in the name Jesus and most Christians I know use the word God to impress rather than practice their faith. My spiritual belief is that one finds God in your heart and heaven in your soul.

There are historical facts to consider when it comes to the literal interpretation of Christianity or for that matter the Bible. First, there was no word "GOD" in any African language before the appearance of Europeans! Second, not one single word was written about Jesus while he walked the earth. Last point here: only two writers of the New Testament knew Jesus and they are not sure of that. Let alone, the first book was written about a hundred years after his death and the rest about two hundred years later.

Now, this is where the plot thickens; it was the Roman oppressors who fashioned what we now know as Christianity, ordered by the Roman Emperor Constantine in 325 AD, at the Conference of Nasia. It was then left to the Bishops and Catholics to administer God’s law according to the will of the earthly powers. From that time, the good book has had twenty-eight versions with the latest by the diabolical King James, who made it clear that this is his versions of God’s word.

The point here is this: DO NOT take every word literally or it from every fool before you! You know as well as I know that most so-called Christians have never read the Bible and will listen to anyone who stands in the pulpit with a robe and a collar turned backwards. This guy, as well as all others, are human and interpret the good book as they see fit to suit his or her agenda. Let’s begin to open our minds and make better choices as to the worldly people we “worship”.

There are too many crooks, fakes, and dare I say “pimps in the pulpit” and you know who they are: the Catholic priest, the Eddie Wrongs, the Dollar Man, the preachers of LA and others. It is time to put your faith in that what is unseen; instead of the men/women you do see. I don’t think Jesus is going to be happy about these misrepresentations of his teaching.

Lastly, it is interesting when I think about the little boy from Perfecting Church, who was denied a blessing – his name is reported to be Joshua. “You know Jesus’ name was really Joshua”. Joshua is Jesus’ namesake, and Jesus was born to a mother just like this mother. Therefore, for those who chastise the woman instead of the hypocrite. I say to that point, he or she who is without sin cast the first stone.

To be a Christian is simple; it is to live your life in the manner in which Christ lived! And that’s my thought provoking perspective…

WHAT SAY YOU?

Does Race Matter

Since the G-Man got away with murdering Trayvon Martin or should I call it an assassination or the court’s decision regarding the controversial “Stop and Frisk” polices and surely the recent Supreme Court decision that said black voters don’t count begs the question or at least consideration of thought – “Does race matter?”

This is a conversation most Caucasians struggle with, at least openly, whereas most seem afraid to talk about the subject of race and view the topic as “nothing to see here”. They said the same thing in 1963! They know and clearly understand racial inequity is an issue that needs to be addressed but based on a biased they believe is their right to have control and an inherent privilege to be superior the clock is being turned back every day. Then maybe the hands of time, in their mind, never really moved.

The stories based in fact of oppression, racism, segregation and even slavery are very real. Most African Americans have experienced it in one form or another and know it is real. Of course, slavery was not physically visited upon African American people today by law but the tactics used mentally and institutionally is “slavery and by any other name is SLAVERY”.

You cannot view the history of America and not see that race has and still does matter. The obvious differences can be found in neighborhoods, employment, schools, and surely in every aspect of the legal system – causes one to ask why. I read a poll recently that said the Trayvon Martin story differed tremendously along political and racial lines. Many said, the murderer had a right to kill this child (white-conservatives) and others say absolutely not (Black-liberal). Personally, I side with the sane and not insane.

More to the point, there was a time in my life where I saw police trample peaceful protesters on horseback, marchers beaten in the streets, and fire hoses turned on people. During the Civil Rights era African-American citizens, who were called Negro’s at the time, where only asking for and in most cases begging for the basic human right to live. Then a few years prior to that, in the first half of the last half century, black men where lynched by the hundreds for entertainment. Yet, most of white America believed and supported by law these actions as just.

Was this colorblindness that dictated these policies that allowed justice which is blind to permit the wretchedness of racism to exist in the hearts and minds of people? You may realize that whenever the conversation of race comes up; there is the usual quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “we want to judge people not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” If the issue of race was only that simple – the world would be a better place, but it’s not. So let’s talk about it – honestly – and take the necessary steps to correct the wrongs.

The historic March on Washington for jobs and freedom occurred fifty-years ago and another march is planned in commemoration in a few weeks asking for the same thing fifty-years later. African Americans see matters of race from a completely different perspective. When you’ve felt the brunt of this wretched ideal you know it and see it.

Look at it this way, there was an old man who was bent over. Someone told him to stand up. The old man had been bent over so long – he said, “I thought I was!” Most minorities today do not wish to wait another fifty-year’s for that promise to be realized. And that’s my Thought Provoking Perspective…

The Ghost Of The Greats

I woke up this morning to the sweet sounds of soul blasting from my radio which inspired and lifted my spirits immensely. Having been awakened to a new day in such a profound way I decided to offer my remembrance to the amazing crooners, songstress’, prolific singer-songwriters and record producers who've transitioned to that wonderful place all of us wish to go. Their amazing talent must make up a most amazing heavenly choir.

I began my day wondering what it must be like as the ghosts of the greats walk around heaven gathering for a concert to sing in that heavenly choir. The harmony must be simply amazing. When these great artist where alive and with us black music – soul music – was awesome. Thankfully, they left us their gifts of sound for us to forever enjoy. 

I’ll just name a few choir member that are walking around haven all day: Whitney Houston, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Ali Ollie Woodson, Marvin Gaye, Billy Preston, James Brown, Etta James, Donny Hathaway, Isaac Hayes, Nic Ashford, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Tammie Terrell, Teena Marie, Levi Stubbs, Barry White, Grover Washington, Johnny Taylor, Bob Marley, Gerald Levert, Ray Charles and Michael Jackson. Although it’s impossible to name them all - BUT WE MISS AND LOVE YOU!

Times were much difficult for black people because of your work. You added hope to our struggle and your souls brought out such creative music albeit from the secular world and the church – we were overjoyed. Today’s black artists do not know what it is to be innovative or create their own music and if they do, they do not have what I know as soul, you hardly feel anything. The new generation started producing their music, often times, in such negative way that affects the black community, because they did not learn from the great artist that came before them or know what it means to be creative.

What I see and hear, for the most part, black music could be at the point of no return. Furthermore, the artists who are now deceased singing in that glorious choir in this place called haven were originals who never imitated to gain fame. These days, you have a lot of imitators and this is one of the main reasons why we have few black artists today that touch our souls.

Moreover or sad is it that the new generation of artists, for the most part, seem to have no knowledge of what soul music means spiritually or simply understand how to just be original. So to the ghosts of the greats – Rest In Peace - you will be remembered for all times. And that’s my Thought Provoking Perspective…

Apocalypse Now

The Bible tells us about the end times when there will appear Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse described in the last book of the New Testament as the Book of Revelations. Most Christians know the story of fear and damnation. The chapter tells of a book in God’s right hand that is sealed with seven seals. Jesus opens the first four of the seven seals, which summons forth four beings that ride out on white, red, black, and pale horses.

The four riders are seen as symbolizing Conquest, War, Famine, and the last rider is death. Yes, this is scary stuff but to most believers it is expected and very real. Could it be upon us now? There are many who have refer to our president as the Anti-Christ, so its reasonable view the obstructionist as purveyors of doom. They are false idols intent upon destroying the middle class and the needy through the policies.

The first horsemen called represents Conquest and we have seen and can confirm that this rider has visited because the rich get richer and the powerful has conquered the least of thee. The second horseman as depicted in a thirteenth-century Apocalypse manuscript is a fiery red one whose rider is given the power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other and to him was given a large sword. [Revelations 6:3-4] This horseman may represent civil war as opposed to the war of conquest that the first horseman is sometimes said to bring.

The third horseman rides a black horse which is generally understood as Famine. The horseman carries a scale, indicating the way that bread would have been weighed during a famine. The indicated price of grain is about ten times normal, with an entire day's wages buying enough wheat for only one person, or enough of the less nutritious barley for three, so that workers would struggle to feed their families much in the way life is today.

The fourth horseman who is the most ominous has a rider who’s named is Death known as the pale rider. These horsemen are to be given power to kill by sword, famine, and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. Unlike the other three, the forth horseman is not described as carrying a weapon although illustrations commonly depict him carrying a scythe - like the Grim Reaper. The verse beginning "they were given power over a fourth of the earth" is generally taken as referring to destruction.

As I wrote this piece I could not help but compare this story of the end times to what I see in our politics, particularly from the obstructionists. The ideology of states’ rights and the injustice of stand your ground laws enacted by the right-wing, who call themselves conservatives, take us back to days of the Citizens Council’s of old. Like the Horsemen of the Apocalypse their purpose is to bring Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death. And that’s my Thought Provoking Perspective…

The King of Kings

For two-thousand years the story of a life and death has altered the world’s perception of life and death. The story of a Jewish carpenter from an ancient city, betrayed by a friend, and executed by the state for being the King of Kings. The man, Jesus the Christ, whose story is the most compelling and well-known story ever told. In fact, it has come to be known as the “Greatest Story Ever Told” by so many and not one word written by the man himself.

My questions for the faithful; How is it that you can or claim to love God who you cannot see, yet you cannot love the man who you can see and not transfer the teachings of Christ to the living human being? Why are so many wars fought in the name of God, when it is surely not his design to kill, maim, and visit devastation upon the souls of man?

It is said, “We walk by faith, not by sight” and that “faith is believing true that which is unseen”. We believe in spite of the many versions rewritten by conquers and false images created to depict the Holy deity as a white European man painted by Michael Angelo. When history tells us there was no word GOD in any African language before the coming of Europeans!

I will tell you that there were only two peoples living in that region of the world during the time of Christ. One would have been Roman and the other would have been African in a place known as Palestine, not Israel. In fact that was the first lie of Christianity that Jesus was not black and the second was that the foundation of the story was recorded thousands of years before this man’s birth.

It is believed that he raised the dead, walked on water, fed the poor, and healed the sick. All of which was written by others after his death much in the same way man created this place called “Hell”. This brings me back to religion that resembles nothing like what Jesus taught while he walked among us. Many tend to wrap themselves in the clichés of the “Word” and take every word literally while they give to the greedy and not the needy.

Let’s be clear religion is a business used as a mental tool of man. Jesus said he will return and if he were to visit your church – you would not let him in? If I offend anyone – sorry – but being a Christian is more than posting cute religious pictures with bible verses on your Facebook wall and Instagram!

My Grandfather told me, when I asked as a young boy; what would happen when we get to heaven. He told me Christians will get three surprises when they reach heaven. (1) They will be surprised who they see when they get there. (2) They will be surprised who they don’t see when they get there and (3) they will be surprised if the make it there themselves.

All Jesus asked of us was to “Give Each Other LOVE!” And that is my Thought Provoking Perspective…

Do We Live Or Die?

I have written thousands of articles and a few books with the intent to empower minds with the hopes of enlightening the consciousness of mankind. For those who follow my words you know that I firmly believe education is the single most important ingredient necessary to neutralize those forces that breed poverty and despair.

It was the Englishman Francis Beacon who is credited with being the first to record the phase “knowledge is power”. I am probably not as intelligent as he but I say “knowing what to do with that knowledge is powerful.

I recently had what you might call an epiphany. I was being interview by a wonderful host Carla Armstrong on her radio show, “Designing Your Life with Carla”, for a segment called “For Women Only”. As the conversation progressed, we talked about Big Mamma, the community, the children, and African American issues.

Then this Angel dropped the bomb on me! She asked, “what happened to us and John what can we do to make it right”. If I recall I responded with an answer, something like, it was televisions fault. While in my mind I was feeling the power of the question, which really gave me a chill.

I will answer the first question, which is sure to be a Cosby moment for many. What happened was us? After the scam called integration, we began to believe we were accepted as equal citizens of these United States. For many African Americans they forgot about another black man, the least of thee, like white flight, ran from our communities. We allowed anyone to come into our community, setup shops, we stopped supporting our own business, and let our dollars, some say is nearly a trillion annually, go elsewhere. But the biggest problem was we STOPPED PARENTING!

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chair Marcia Fudge reported that “the unemployment rate is double for blacks than for whites, we've lost more homes to foreclosure than whites and we've lost more wealth than whites”. To any reasonable person this is not equal!

Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Dubois told us how to build our community. Marcus Garvey told us how to be self-sufficient and to take care of our own needs. Elijah Muhammad taught us how to carry ourselves with dignity and respect. Dr. King gave us faith and Brother Malcolm told us to do it by “Any Means Necessary!

With that said, I have been troubled, as I am sure many of you as well, struggle with Carla’s second question, which was what do we do. We are the most religious people on earth, we marched, prayed, and waited on Jesus to come to our rescue since we were dragged onto to these shores in the summer of 1619. I hope you feel my passion here, as tears flow, and it hurts to say this but the problem rests with the person you look at each day in the mirror.

People we are still in slavery, mentally, slaves to our debt, in slaved within the jails and prisons systems. But this is what Ray Charles can see – through death and imprisonment we are becoming extinct! Add to that black women have forgotten and in many cases have no desire for black men. The reality is this: if there are no black men to procreate - we all die!

Maybe the answer to Carla’s second question is to be the people we were created to be and when you look in the mirror each day; ask yourself what have you done? You have a choice to live or die and to continue the species. If not now “when”? If not “YOU” than who?

And that’s my Thought Provoking Perspective…

http://johntwills.com

FaceBook @ John T. Wills

Like my FaceBook Page

Twitter @ John T. Wills

The Council of Nicea

I was talking to a good Christian woman the other day who was, I guess, trying to, as they do, convert me to HER GOD. For whatever reason, she thought she was the only person who believes in the Almighty. The conversation started because she was preaching verses from the King James Bible  along with other falsehoods concerning Christianity. Being that I love history and know it, she made a huge mistake!

The discussion got heated, from her point of view, when I told her that King James was the King of England. He who lived around 1600 and commissioned to have his version of the Bible written that she reads. King James was a diabolical ruler, homosexual, and killed his mother. Then I ask her if she knew of the conference held in Nicea. This staunchly religious woman knew nothing of either, yet she preached the “Word”. So I thought I would give her the history of Christianity, which by the way is very different from faith.

So I started with the Council of Nicea that took place more than three hundred years after Jesus lived in 325 A.D. This historic meeting, by order of the Roman Emperor Caesar Flavius Constantine, defined or decided Christianity as we know it.  Nicea was located in Asia Minor, east of Constantinople. At the Council of Nicea, Emperor Constantine presided over a group of church bishops and leaders with the purpose of defining the true God for all Christians and eliminating all the confusion, controversy, and contention within Christ’s church.

The Council of Nicea affirmed the deity of Jesus Christ, painted by a European around the same time, and removed his blackness from the consciousness of the faith. There is no need to debate Jesus’ completion because at that point in time there were only two people in the region - Romans and Jews. It is a fact that black people was the original Jew. At that conference Constantine established an official definition of the Trinity - the deity of The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit under one Godhead, in three co-equal and co-eternal Persons.

Constantine, and its debatable,  was a converted Christian, called for a council meeting to be held in Nicea with the bishops of the Christian church to resolve escalating quarrels and controversy mounting to a bitter degree of disunity among the church leadership concerning theological issues. The failing Roman Empire, now under Constantine’s rule, could not withstand the division caused by years of hard-fought, “out of hand” arguing over doctrinal differences. He saw it not only as a threat to Christianity but as a threat to his rule.

Therefore, at the Council of Nicea, Constantine demanded that the Christians settle their internal disagreements and become Christ-like agents who could bring new life into a troubled, beaten-down empire. Constantine felt “called” to use his authority to help bring about the unity, peace, and love, all for which Christ stands. He and the bishops had reason to worry about the future survival of Christianity within the Roman world empire, let alone the survival of his world empire. The Council of Nicea, led by Emperor Constantine, was the meeting to settle differences, to become like-minded, all to the glory of Christ.

The main theological issue and focus had always been about Christ or so His-Story tells us. Since the end of the Apostolic Age and beginning of the Church Age, saints began questioning, debating, fighting, and separating over the question, “Who is the Christ?” Is He more divine than human or more human than divine? Was Jesus created / made or begotten? Being the Son of God, is He co-equal and co-eternal with Father God, or less and lower in status than the Father? Is the Father the One and only True God, or are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit the One true God? “True God of True God,” “One Being, Three Persons”, a tri-unity called “Trinity”? Jesus said, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).

Once the Nicea Council meeting was underway Constantine demanded that the 300 bishops make a decision by majority vote defining who Jesus Christ is. Constantine commanded them to create a “creed” doctrine that all of Christianity would follow and obey. A doctrine that would be called the “Nicene Creed,” upheld by the Church and enforced by the Emperor. The bishops voted to make the full deity of Christ the accepted position for the church. The Council of Nicea voted to make the Trinity the official doctrine of the church. However, the Council of Nicea did not invent these doctrines. Rather, it only recognized what the Bible taught, and systematized the doctrines.

The New Testament taught that Jesus the Messiah should be worshiped and trusted, which was/is to say He is co-equally God and man. The New Testament forbids the worship of angels (Colossians 2:18;Revelation 22:8,9) but commands worship of Jesus. The Apostle Paul tells us that “in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9;1:19). Paul declares Jesus as Lord and the One to whom a person must pray for salvation just as one calls on Jehovah, Yahweh (Joel 2:32;Romans 10:9-13). “Jesus is God overall” (Romans 9:5), and our God and Savior (Titus 2:13). Faith in Jesus’ Deity is basic to Paul’s testimony and theology.

John’s Gospel declares Jesus the be the Divine eternal Logos, agent of creation and source of life and light (John 1:1-5,9); the "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6); an advocate with heavenly Father (1 John 2:1-2); sovereign (Revelation 1:5); the Rider on a white horse (Revelation 19:11-16); and the totality of the Son of God from the beginning to the end (Revelation 22:13). The author of Hebrews reveals the full deity of Jesus through His perfection as the most high priest, Melchizedek (Hebrews 1; Hebrews 7:1-3), and the full humanity (Hebrews 2). The Divine-human Savior is the Christian's object of faith, hope, and love.

The Council of Nicea affirmed the Apostles' teaching of who Christ is - the One true God in Deity and Trinity with the Father and the Holy Spirit. When I shared this fact, my devoted Christian friend admitted she was not aware of this or that this is why the Catholic Church, the same church that sanctioned slavery, was to be the authority of the Word.

At the end of our conversation, I reminded my friend that King James’ twenty-eight version of the Bible in many ways took a page out of history using the good book to solidify his reign. My point is simple: three-hundred year after Jesus lived Constantine gave us a version and sixteen-hundred years later King James did it again.

Believe whatever you wish but if you preach - know what it is you are preaching. God means power and power is knowledge! And that’s my Thought Provoking Perspective…

http://johntwills.com

FaceBook @ John T. Wills

Like my FaceBook Page

Twitter @ John T. Wills

Designing Your Life with Carla: “For Women Only”

You are cordially invited to tune in to Designing Your Life with Carla, Friday April 12 at 4:00 pm (est) as Carla Armstrong interviews John T. Wills; author, speaker, former professor, teacher, publisher, blogger, a contributor to newspapers and online magazines.

He is the Executive Producer of the most dynamic and exciting literary radio show on the Internet airwaves; “The Book Tree Radio Show” designed to promote literacy, showcase authors, writers, wordsmiths, poets and other relevant content to empower the minds of a broad base community.

John will be sharing thoughts For Women Only and discussing his new book, "Legacy - A New Season". It is the sequel and the continuation of "Just a Season" and a stand-alone story rich in history on a subject rarely explained to children of this generation concerning the African American struggle.

From his Publicist: John is currently scheduling speaking engagements, book signing. He is available for all media contacts, interviews and opportunities as a contributing writer.

Praise for Just a Season

CONTACT INFORMATION

http://johntwills.com
FaceBook @ John T. Wills

Like my FaceBook Page

Twitter @ John T. Wills

Blog: Thought Provoking Perspectives

Email: johntwills@ymail.com

Tune in online: 
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/designingyourlife

Call in to speak with John or Carla at (347) 215-9751.

The Prelude To "Just a Season"

A season is a time characterized by a particular circumstance, suitable to an indefinite period of time associated with a divine phenomenon that some call life. One of the first things I learned in this life was that it is a journey. 

During this passage through time I have come to realize that there are milestones, mountains, and valleys that everyone will encounter. Today, I have to face a valley and it’s excruciating. It’s June 28th, a day that I once celebrated as a very special day. Now, it’s filled with sorrow. The reason this day is different from all others is because I have come to the cemetery at Friendly Church. 

Normally it’s hot and humid as summer begins, but not so today. It’s a cool gray day with the sky slightly overcast. I hear the echo of birds chirping from a distance. There is also a mist or a light fog hovering very near the ground that gives the aura of a mystical setting.  This is a place where many of my family members who have passed away rest for eternity.  Some have been resting here for over a hundred years. I have grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, a sister, and many friends here as well. The cemetery is in the most tranquil of places secluded from the rest of the world, very peaceful and beautiful, almost like being near the gateway of heaven.

My heart aches today because I have come here on what would have been my son’s birthday. This is a very hard thing for me to do as the natural order suggests it should be the other way around. Another difficulty is that this is the first time I will see his headstone that was put in place just a few days ago. Although I know what it should look like, it’s going to be hard to actually see it. It will indicate the finality of losing the dearest of all human beings.  It’s hard to imagine what the rest of my life will be like without my precious son.

As I pass Granddaddy’s gravesite, I stop to say hello. After a brief moment, I continue in the direction of my son’s resting place. As I get closer, I begin to receive a rush of emotion to the point that my movements slow as the sight comes into view. I can now see his name clearly and I whisper “God why did you take him?” I become numb as I finally arrive at his gravesite, overwhelmed with this never before known emotion. This is something I never thought I would ever have to do, but here I am!!! 

Suddenly, the sky begins to clear somewhat, as I now feel the sun’s rays from above.  At this very moment, I receive an epiphany upon reading the dates inscribed on the stone.  1981 – 2001. What does this really mean? The beginning and the end, surely, but in the final analysis it is just a tiny little dash that represents the whole life of a person. I fall to my knees realizing the profound impact of that thought causing me to look to the heavens and wonder. If someone, for whatever reason, were to tell the story concealed within my dash.   What might they say? 

Chapter One

The story begins in late November 1951 on a clear sunny Sunday afternoon. It was fairly cool for an autumn day and as it was the custom in the Reid family, everyone had gone to church early to give praise to the Lord. This was a special day for this family. It was a special day because of their anticipation of a new member into the family. So it was a great, great feeling of joy and excitement that filled their home. Ruth and Josie did not attend church this day, because Josie was overdue and expecting to give birth at anytime.

Praise for “Just a Season”

At the end of this epic novel the journey continues with “Legacy – A New Season”…

http://johntwills.com

FaceBook @ John T. Wills

Like my FaceBook Page

Twitter @ John T. Wills

The Certain Ones Online Magazine

I am man who has been blessed with the gift of words or should I say the effective use of words. Therefore, I want to give high praise to my friend Vanessa Richardson of The Certain Ones Online Magazine for sharing the wisdom of the amazing contributors who enrich, enlighten, and empower the minds and consciousness of us all. I am honored to be part of this group of fabulous wordsmiths. 

Meet the prolific authors/talk show hosts and contributors to The Certain Ones Online Magazine. Dr. Darcova Triplett, Jamesina Greene, Adrienna Turner, John T. Wills, Dr. Dolapo Babalola,Lacha' Mitchell-Scott, Shon Hyneman, and Cherese Spand. We are blessed to connect with you.

I invite you to take a moment to visit these talented contributors at their virtual homes, via our website: www.TheCertainOnesMagazine.com. Blessings!

You will be inspired and empowered. And that’s my Thought Provoking Perspective…