Crosses of Calvary

I have a lot to be thankful for. God has truly blessed me. Again, I can say with my Dad, “God has smiled on me.” The Lord has shown me great favor and mercy down through the years, and not only me, but my entire family, and everyone living today. If you are alive, you have a lot for which to be thankful. I have the blessings of health and strength. Continue Reading…

Black Church

While growing up in a very religious and church-going family, I often heard the phrase “Being Saved.” Now to me and my peers, “Being Saved” was a rather spooky and mystical thing, and only the real holy folk could be such — whatever it was. I was under the impression that anyone who went up and took the chair after the preacher said, “The do-o-o-rs of the church are open,” was saved. And then, if a person got baptized he got a little more saved. And then, if they really got a dose of this “Being Saved” stuff, they would follow a set of rules like not drinking and smoking. These really saved folk would also engage in shouting and/or speaking in some unknown tongue on Sunday mornings. Now if a person was considered a hard case, he would have to be put on the mourner’s bench until he saw a vision or felt some kind of a change. Then, he was considered saved. Continue Reading…