Hoes Everywhere, even in the bible!

I told them to bring their hoes and you wouldn't believe their answer. 

A while back the local anti-poverty program allowed me to use an acre of land to show young men how to till the earth, plant a garden and grow produce. That was something new for a group of city boys accustomed to getting their food in micro-wave packets or from order boards at McDonald's and Burger King. 

On the morning we were to break the ground, my secretary made an early Saturday morning wake up call. The message she gave was, "We are going to till our garden today. Be ready to go at 8 a.m. and bring your hoes with you." To her surprise, after calling about 40 different households, each time she talked to a young man she received responses such as: "She can't come." "She sleep." "She say she can't come with me, but she'll bring me." "I'll tell her, but she ain't coming with me." 

 Not a single boy associated a hoe with a garden tool. Each one associated the word "hoe" with a female. Then it dawned on all of the adults involved that this generation of boys is not agricultural and therefore not familiar with agricultural tools. 

The word "hoe" in their subculture is only associated with women. It doesn't always mean a bad or ungodly woman, but it most definitely refers to a woman in their mind. That's what they hear in their music and see in the music videos. They hear men call women hoes. They even hear some women call themselves hoes. 

 The urban dictionary even has a formal definition for hoe: "1. A skank 2. A woman that is too loose in the booty." Obviously words mean different things in different situations and to different generations. Even the bible uses the word "ho!" 

It's usually a warning about messing with the people of God. Zechariah 2:7-8 says, "Ho, Zion! Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon. For thus says the LORD of hosts, "After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye." 

 There is another ho in the 6th verse. The gardener has a hoe. The hip hop generation has a hoe, and even God has at least of couple of hoes in the book of Zechariah! 

 My, my, my!

Do you remember your worse whipping?

Do you remember your worse whipping? I'll never forget mine.

As a youth I was spanked, paddled, and whipped on many occasions. I was a very mischievous kid, a criminally deviant child, and a rebellious youth. Obviously, I was a chastised many times. I was spanked with a switch, extension cord, shoe and a razor strap. At seven years old when I became involved with a Oakland street gang, I was incarcerated in the Alameda County reform school for boys. In the reform school I was spanked with a paddle.

Back in Monroe I was whipped once with a barber's razor strap for coming in the house after sunset, I was 14. Teachers spanked me often for failing to turn in home work, talking in class and being a real fool. They used radiator fan belts, paddles and gin belts. They never really hurt any of us, but they got our attention.

I was trying my best to go wrong and the good Lord kept putting people in my life who were determined to make me go straight. They lectured me, prayed for me, helped me, and loved me but they also tore out a sizeable portion of my posterior.

In reflection, the chastisement helped me. Today, all of them would be jailed for child abuse.

The Lord does us that way. He loves us, but he has a way of "tightening us up" when we get off the path. He doesn't use an extension cord or a strap but we can tell when he's messing with us and whipping us. He loves us and is trying to get us back in line.

There is a bible verse that says, Hebrews 12:6 "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.."
There is another that says the whippings we get will be good for us in the long run.

Hebrews 12:11 "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."

I didn't like any of my whippings but the bible is true; they yielded a better fruit.

Who wants to be Carlton anyway?

Who wants to be Carlton? We all want to be Fresh Prince!

I watched an episode of The Fresh Prince last night. I recalled a study that was done about that revealed the subtle, negative message black youth are given about achievement and success. The study noted that through many images, many perhaps unintended, youth are prompted to frown on education. The Fresh Prince was a glaring example given.

It appears that Carlton is a highly educated, scholar who speaks foreign languages and is skilled in the arts, economics and other areas. However, rather than being the hero of the series, Carlton is depicted as "Not cool" and a "Nerd." On the other hand, Will Smith is depicted as not too smart,fun loving, popular, street wise and loveable. Despite the fact that he is a dropout and non-achiever, he is the one that kids most want to emulate. The suggestion is clear: Education means Nerd; dropping out and being street wise means being "The Fresh Prince."

That's not the shows intended goal but the results are clear: No black kid admires Carlton but most admire Will Smith. Such shows give the impression that learning, discipline and achivement will turn them into Carlton, a nerd.

What a subtle suggestion! It's powerful.

Our youth should be urged to hang with those who are trying to climb higher and to do God's will, not those who are doing just the opposite.

There are two verses in the bible that speak to this subject. Psalms 1:1-2 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men’s advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God. But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely.

People may laugh at Carlton because he can't dance, but he'll probably end up owning the dance hall and the rap group that provides the music.

Once, twice, three times a lady

What's the definition of a lady these days?

During our bible study last night the subject of Lionel Richie's song "Three times a lady" arose in connection with a bible lesson about Ruth as an example of a young virtuous woman. When adults and youth were asked their definitions of a lady there were striking contrasts: Adults spoke of integrity, chastity and discipline. Youth spoke of tasteful dress, not being ghetto and education as standards. Adults said a lady would not accept gifts from a man; youth quickly said gifts could be accepted if they were not stolen. Youth never associated chastity or integrity as a criterion; they focused more on public appearances.

It soon became obvious that the definition of a lady has changed for this generation. The youth were on the verge of saying that being a lady may be best but ladies are not popular because ladies don't sport visible tattoos, dress sexy, flirt or engage in the fun of gossip. They say being a lady is a downer but it is more respectable.

The Isley Brothers asked the question, "Who's that lady?" and the bible points us to Ruth: A Lady by virtue of her loyalty to her husband, personal integrity and sense of decency in all matters.

Ruth 3:11 says, "... for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman."

Lionel Richie put it this way, "She's once, twice, three times a lady."

Regardless of age a true lady has three characteristics: A sense of responsibility, virtue and decency in all matters.

She's three times a lady.

I went camping in a suit and tie!

I went camping in a suit, tie, and spit shined shoes!

I've been a Boy Scout leader for 43 years and in that time have encountered a chest of memorable occasions, among them are the times when I've had to go to camp a wearing suit and tie. Yesterday was one of those occasions.

Our troop scheduled to leave for camp on Sunday at 1 p.m. however, we had an unusually long worship. After fellowship and handshakes ended it was 11:45 a.m. before I left the church. There was no time to change because there would be 40 scouts waiting at 1 p.m. So, I showed up ready for the journey to the campground in a blue pinstripe suit, monogrammed blue and white shirt, cuff links and spit shined shoes.

My wife had packed changes for me, but that would be later. For the rest of the day I built fires, pitched tents, and cooked a delicious Hamburger Helper meal over the campfire, still wearing my necktie.

I'm sure it looked strange to anyone who may have seen me.

In a larger sense those involved in Christian ministry do many strange things and often undergo many strange experiences to reach out to others. It comes with the territory.

1 Peter 4:12 says, "Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you; as though some strange thing happened to you.' That means we really shouldn't be surprised at anything we have endure, anything we have to do or anyplace we have to go to reach others for Christ.

It may seem strange to others, but we shouldn't feel strange.

I have two more days to go with these youngsters, I won't look strange today.

Yesterday however, I was a sight to see.