ARCHIVE: 8/7/07 - REAL TALK # 5 – True Religions?

REAL TALK # 5 – True Religions?

”If you... then, Kill Yo Self”
This is the segment where I talk about hot ass messes in the world.

If you were told about the bridge in 1999 that it was unsafe, didn’t fix it, and it collapses in 2007 then… KILL YO SELF!

The bridge patrol need to be slapping themselves in the face over that 1-35 W bridge in Minnesota collapsing in the Mississippi River. The news said they were warned as early as 1999 to fix the bridge or else it wouldn’t be standing long. It fucks me up because I travel over the Memphis Bridge across the Mississippi at least twice a month. I’m willing to bet that bridge hasn’t been looked at in awhile either. I’m looking forward to seeing the upcoming news about the repairs of the other bridges that go across the Mississippi. I feel like the bridge patrol should be charged with negligence after those people died and got hurt. More than likely, as it goes in this world: nothing will happen to them. It’s sad but whoever was in charge of making sure the bridge needed the proper reconstruction needs to resign and give it up to someone who is going to take full responsibility of doing the job right.

REAL TALK
This is the main topic of today’s blog is entitled “True Religions?”

* This whole thing is to let y’all know that you should believe in God first and foremost, before any man or religion. I'm going to be referring to God in this piece alot. I'm not going to be shallow to what other people may believe in. In this blog, I mean what I believe God to be. It just what be too hard to keep saying "God or any other higher power", you dig? Some of you worship many different gods and you can also apply that to this piece if you must. Also, I’m not trying to knock those who believe in religion or hold your pastor at a high standing. I’m just giving you another way to look at it.

Whose religion is right? Pentecostal, Baptists, Catholics, Judaism, Church of Christ, Methodists, Muslims? So, if you’re not Baptist then you’re going to hell, right? I don’t know. Many people feel this way; that if you don’t believe the way they do then you can’t be right. First of all, we need to know that religions are man made. The Bible is also man made but it’s based on the account of what the prophets wrote what they saw during that time so that is more credible. I’ve heard people even say that the prophet who wrote Revelations was sick and diseased and that it’s inaccurate because of that. Is that true? I don’t know. I wouldn’t know because I wasn’t there, you dig? I just know what I was taught by my folks that this is what you read, this is what you believe. Many of us were taught the same way. Many of us don’t look at it any other way because that’s the only way we know. We are too scared to think of it any other way because we don’t want to be looked down amongst our peers and family. I was in those shoes. I went to church with my grandma at a Pentecostal church. My family and friends was Baptist. They weren’t trying to hear the things I was saying. They didn’t believe in the rules that we had. For example, the Pentecostal religion doesn’t believe women should show a lot of their skin or cut their hair. Also, they don’t believe men shouldn’t have long hair and should also have a shaved face. My friends weren’t trying to hear that. They were like, “I can’t wear my braids, what?” I thought they were crazy and thought sure enough, they won’t go to Heaven because this has to be right. I just feel it has to be right. I was young and going along with my grandma. I read a lot of the Bible then, but the people who were teaching me only taught me that way so, of course I’m going to think it’s the only way. For example, reporters tell us all day and every day that New Orleans was flooded out by heavy, nonstop rain so that’s what we believe. The people of New Orleans say the levee was blown up and the water came in on them. Who do we believe, you feel that? We believe the news because they put in our face all day everyday so it’s easier to accept. And of course, we don’t want to think that our government is that corrupt, right? Right. So as I’ve matured, I can make my own mind up for what I believe in. I believe in the Bible so therefore, I feel like everything in it is accurate. I’ve been a Pentecostal and Baptist. I know the two religions read the same teachings (The Holy Bible) but they interpret it totally different. I feel like some people follow certain religions because they don’t want to follow the rules God has laid out for them. They pick and choose what they want to believe and go to the religion that caters to their beliefs. Some people may believe that we don’t have to completely walk in the way of God, as long as we go to church, pray, etc. and some people take it as we must walk a straight and narrow path towards Him, and not sway off at all.

The Bible says we were made in the likeness of Him. Our conscience also known as “the little voice” is Him speaking to us. You know right from wrong because that little voice inside you tells you it’s wrong. My grandmother went to a Pentecostal church all of her life and is as much of a God-fearing woman as I have seen. She doesn’t go to church anymore, but still holds her faith high. Does that mean she won’t go to heaven? Some people say she won’t but I don’t believe that. The Bible does say go to church, give offerings, and pray. It’s clear on that. Some old people can’t go to church. Some people who are handicap can’t go to church, for various reasons. We all can pray. You don’t even have to open your mouth to pray. The Lord knows your thoughts. You can’t fool Him, either. It makes me sick to my stomach the people I see go to church every weekend and praise the Lord so much, and says they want to do right. But they talk and gossip about everyone all during the week, they don’t give to people, they hate on others, they steal, they lie, they cheat, etc. They say they walk in the name of the Lord, but all they are doing is using His name in vain to try to justify what they do. We all make mistakes, and He knows that we are going to make them. We have to try not to do these things. You can’t do them and think its okay just because you go to church, give offerings and pray. God can do all things, but we must also make an effort to try to be better. Preachers are human beings, and we all know that can be as devilish as a sinner, sometimes. So, who do we trust? Who do we put our faith in? Man or God? The preacher and the Bible are man made, we already know this. You must step out on faith and trust God. When you are down to your last dollar, don’t go begging anybody for any money. Put your faith in God, have patience (it’s a virtue), and let Him bless you. He wants you to have nice things and live the life you’re supposed to live, but you must trust Him to provide for you.

This is my conclusion to you all. I say read the Bible, take from it what you can understand, and pray about it. I say go to church, listen to the preacher, take from it what you can, and pray about it. The things that we must do are pray and talk to God because He is the one that knows our hearts and our minds. He knows the way because He is The Way, you feel that? It don’t matter if you go to church every Sunday, if you are doing wrong and not in tune with Him then you might as well be that junkie in the alley with the needle in his arm. You’re lost, either way. I’m not saying not to be involved in religion, because that is your choice to make. But, we all will be judged according to the live we lead, regardless of anything else. Your religion will not save you when it’s time to go. Just because the preacher tells you the way you are living is right doesn’t matter. Listen to that little voice inside you and it will tell you what you need to do. Talk to that little voice inside you and tell Him to lead you in the ways of righteousness Your relationship with God will take you further than what anybody else can tell you about the way you live your life. NOW THAT’S REAL!

Suggestions, Questions, Topics (Real Talk Request)
Ain’t nobody talking to me this week, huh? Get at me!

Entertainment
Movies to go see: “Talk To Me”, this movie starring Don Cheadle is a true story about Petey Green, an ex convict turned radio personality from D.C. whose story is truly rags to riches. He was a real ass nigga and wasn’t going to let the glitz and glam of Hollywood turn him in something else. I think this is the best movie of the summer and encourage everyone to check it out.

Music to listen to: UGK, these niggas is down south legends, man. Bun B and Pimp C, Believe that. Before Jeezy and Rick Ross, they talked about hitting that interstate slangin’ dope. They got the new album coming out August 7th (tomorrow, damn I got to get that!). I fuck with these dudes real tough. You can’t really appreciate them unless you heard them back in the day. So go get “Dirty Money”, “Ridin’ Dirty”, and all that to get the full experience.

Thank you all for reading my blog. I hope that you obtained the knowledge that you were looking for and the entertainment that you have longed for. Take it easy and may God bless you in all of your future endeavors.