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Pastor Bolden breaks down (the tithe) tithing and giving.

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A video that blessed me when I first saw it, and I believe that it will bless you too:

Phones... A CTJ classic joint

This piece was written in July of 2006. Anyone who has ever done any kind of customer service will recognize the scenario... phones.. phone rings shards of broken glass hit my ears. try to be polite she is yelling, ...oh no... want to say 'Go away',  instead say "How may I help you?" with a smile. What did you say your name was? want to say 'You weren't listening because your behind was screaming.' say "Cyril, C-Y-R-I-L" "PHIL? ok PHIL... You people need to..." teeth clench... I close my eyes and begin to fade, the cruise ship docks and I am in Bermuda, going to my cousin's house near the beach. Just as I relax, I hear her, like a growling dog. but my peace is restored. I am nice and polite.  I give her the 15 second answer to her 10 second question (surrounded by 5 minutes of griping). "Thanks Phil, you've been a great help." I wipe the blood from my ears... phone rings sha

True Love: A Sermon by pastor.ctj

'True Love' Preached June 24th 2012  at Norwalk United Methodist Church Norwalk, CT ____________________________________ It is common in the Study of the Bible, to always ask these questions when you read a passage: Who is talking, Who are they talking to? What is the writer’s purpose? What I find today however, is that too few of us make a study of the Bible, and are happy instead to draw from the opinions and feelings of others. The disastrous prosperity Gospel is but one example… But the scripture makes it clear that we are to study… Paul’s admonition to Timothy immediately comes to mind as does YHWH’s order to Joshua. And the scripture also tells us what it is for… At the End of the 20th Chapter of John’s Gospel he tells us why He wrote his. He says John 20:30-31 (HCSB) Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, th

On the death of a ministry (and the birth of another)

Note to you dear reader: This piece was originally written in  September of 2007, but I did not post it then, for fear of offending, and more importantly, the rawness of my own emotion and sadness... Since then, time has passed, wounds have healed, and relationships have been irreparably changed. It is time to post it... I attended a funeral this past Saturday. Funny thing though, the corpse didn’t know it was dead, at least not all of it. The last thing to die was its mouth, and it kept saying things like: “It’s not over, this is just a transition” . &  “This is a happy occasion” But it was not so. It is dead , and by the time of the funeral, it was rotting. People wept. Some came up to give tribute to the dead thing. Some testified as to how during its life the dead thing was such a blessing. One in particular moved me to tears as she described, weeping, the great change in her life. Even then 'the mouth' tried to silence her. The excuse given was that ‘we didn’

Laurence Fishburne up in this piece...

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WAAAAAKKKEE UUUUUPPPP!!!!!! Y'all Christians aren't paying attention to what's coming... Tonight's first night of the DNC: After repeated references to abortion (DNC) and gay marriage throughout the night, the FLOTUS, Mrs. Obama, ended her speech with  a flurry of words that included these: 'If a young preacher could lift us up to the mountain top with his righteous dream, and if proud Americans can be who they are, and  Boldly stand at the altar with who they love...'  Slip of the tongue? Or shot across the bow signalling the next level of the assault? WAAAAAKKKEE UUUUUPPPP!!!!!!

Little Johnny read his Bible, and questioned the Book of Mormon...

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Little Johnny read his Bible, and questioned the Book of Mormon...

The Clubdate Singer Speaks: Chapter 2

Disclaimer: The following story is an actual event, as all of the vignettes in the 'Clubdate Singer Speaks' series are. For 8 years, I was a member of one of the top Orchestras in the nation. Though it was an enjoyable time, it was also at times, quite painful. I took to writing initially to assuage my distress, and this is one of those times when the pen (or keyboard) proved to be a healing tool. I have considered publishing this series, and would appreciate your thoughts...   “Mandingo” - 2002 I’m sure that’s what’s on her mind as she watches me. Or perhaps Jungle fever… I listen to the words that I sing, somehow detached…  “I feel a change, something moves, I scream your name, look what you got me doing…  Darling I, can’t get enough of your love babe…” Damn that Barry White! As I sing about his orgasm, my harem grows...  There are four of them now, standing in a half circle in front of me, swaying to the rhythm, leering at me. My congas ar

The Clubdate Singer Speaks: Chapter 4

Disclaimer: The following story is an actual event, as all of the vignettes in the 'Clubdate Singer Speaks' series are. For 8 years, I was a member of one of the top Orchestras in the nation. Though it was an enjoyable time, it was also at times, quite painful. I took to writing initially to assuage my distress, and this is one of those times when the pen (or keyboard) proved to be a healing tool. I have considered publishing this series, and would appreciate your thoughts... “Rosa Parks” - Summer 2003 The first time that I was told to use the back door to get into a Clubdate, I was devastated. I kept trying to convince myself that it had nothing to do with my color, and it probably didn’t. BUT, it still made my stomach knot up. Come to think of it, it’s not a color thing, more a class thing. I know because I had to enter Whoopie Goldberg’s house through the side door too. The reality is this, on a Clubdate you see the essence of classism at work, it i

He sang a song upon the cross....

As He hung on the cross, Yahshuah began to sing a song that all of the Jews in attendance knew well… Scripture records that he cried out "Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani… " It is the opening line of Psalm 22. It is a song that years before, He (via the Holy Spirit) had prompted David to write. A prophetic song, in that the things that David describes, would, hundreds of years later, come to pass. He had David write down what would happen to him, to the letter. It is chilling... Pay special attention to verses 1,3,6-8, 11-18, 25-31… Read it and weep (literally) Glory to God… 1 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from my deliverance and from my words of groaning? 2 My God, I cry by day, but You do not answer, by night, yet I have no rest. 3 But You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and You rescued them. 5 They cried to You and were set free; they trusted in You and were not disgraced

Random Sermon Notes I

I thought I'd share some sermon outlines every so often. Here is the first one... VESSELS… 05/25/07 1 John 3:1-3 1 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. 3 And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Matthew 28:19 -20 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 2 Corinthians 4:1-7 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But hav

Confronting my fears using poetry...

Today I met my phobia, Today I saw my fears, For today I saw a brother, With an afro in his ears… At first it prompted wonder But then it caused me tears ‘cause I NEVER want to be a man With an afro in his ears… Not grey and sparce like the others This hair grew black and strong, Not thinning like the top of his head This hair was thick and long… It stood out proudly as he walked A sight for all to see, But while it clearly lifted him It nearly paralyzed me. For I desire not ‘nary a one From my own ears to sprout And as soon as I catch sight of one I’m quick to pull it out Not so this brother, not this man His happiness is clear To have it bushy, black and long That afro in his ears… © CT Jermin 2012

African Americans for Obama: (and the rest of the latest indignities)

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African Americans for Obama: (This makes me So Angry I could spit...) If you criticize TD Jakes, you're an Uncle Tom: NYTN breaks it down... 'Black Calvinist' weighs in...

What exactly does it mean?

Give glory to the  Lord your  God before He brings  darkness , before your feet stumble on the mountains at  dusk . You wait for  light , but He brings darkest  gloom   and makes thick  darkness . But if you will  not   listen , my innermost being will  weep in  secret because of your  pride . My eyes will  overflow with  tears , for the Lord ’s flock   has been taken  captive . - Jeremiah 3:16-17 (HCSB) In the past 2 weeks, I have seen: a)       A 'Prominent Evangelical Pastor’ announce that Mormonism is Christianity. b)       Another 'Prominent Evangelical Pastor’ stand in the pulpit of a major Roman Catholic Cathedral as part of what was billed by the host as a ‘prayer for Christian Unity’. This same pastor having told his congregants that he and a major Mormon apologist and public figure are ‘in communion’ c)       Yet another 'Prominent Evangelical Pastor’ in introducing a Oneness Pentecostal preacher to his church and pulp