One can never fully prepare themselves for pain and anguish. There are times when we attempt to mentally brace ourselves for a tragedy that we see in the near distance, but there are no adequate words to describe the exact pain that one encounters once a crisis has actually occurred. It is natural to become numb to all of the other pleasantries of life and succumb to the hurt that has developed within once a tragedy has been experienced.

Some of the most pressing questions that we vocalize during a tragedy is “Where was God” and “Why would God allow this to happen?” It is difficult to comprehend an infinite God, full of compassion and love, allowing innocent school children to be victims of a tornado, or marathon participants to meet an early grave due to evil, terroristic acts. It is perplexing to our level of intellect that a destructive soul would be allowed to carry out such heinous acts that are contrary to God’s love for humanity.

In the wake of tragedies, we often feel alone and hopeless. The truth of the matter is that God still speaks to us. It’s not as easy to tune into the voice of God during a time of hurting, because we tend to lean on emotions and feelings, but there is a still, small voice that is being vocalized.

After the bombings that occurred at the Boston Marathon on April 15, there was a vast outpouring of love and support from many Americans nationwide. Through monetary funds and other resources, people expressed their concern and compassion for those who suffered tremendous loss. Their acts of love and kindness are the language of God. Even in the aftermath of a tragedy, God’s voice is amplified.

Tragedies, while often viewed as anguish and grief, can produce beauty. My grandmother died the day before my 7th birthday. As you can imagine, I went from expecting a birthday party with rambunctious-like neighborhood children to being confined to a state of mourning. It was fifty-four days after her death that I found myself at my church preparing myself to be baptized and filled with God’s Holy Spirit. I asked God about the timing and why it happened following a tragic event. He told me I was close to the creation, but not the Creator. The removal of a precious loved one was not intended to make me weak, but to experience God in a deeper and more intimate way.

I am convinced that God feels our pain and sorrow when we experience loss. Because God’s love for humanity caused him to sacrifice his own life, He is familiar with our sufferings.  It is important that even in a loss, we can grow to know God. With the comfort he provides in the midst of pain and the peace that surpasses our understanding, it permits us to trust Him.

The human vocabulary is simply not suffice to comfort those who have recently experienced a tragedy, but God’s language is. Through His grace, you will hear Him whispering sweet words of comfort. Through His mercy, you will feel Him uplifting you.

Everyone deals with tragedies in various ways. For some, the sting of death lasts for what seems like an eternity, but through it all, God speaks through acts of love. His biggest question, in the midst of a raging sea, is “Do you trust me?”

It is that time of year again for the National Day of Prayer. It’s a time where orange juice and biscuits will be the highlight of prayer breakfasts. Pastors and ministers will speak words of faith. The President will invoke words of encouragement and hope. Many individuals will gather at various prayer events in their cities and pray for their families, country and fellow man.

These events are certainly a synopsis of our religious culture. It serves as a reminder of how important these traditions are in Christendom and the need to commemorate them.

But there is something deeper missing in all these festivities. There is a bigger longing than a few scriptures quoted, a couple of choruses and melodies harmonized together, and an inspirational theme. There is a genuine lack of a prayerful lifestyle in America.

Prayer cannot simply be condensed into a holiday. It is not something that can be dusted off a shelf once a year and expected to perform at its highest magnitude. Prayer must simply be a lifestyle. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonians to “Pray without ceasing.” It is something that should be a consistent factor in our lives. Prayer is communication between man and God, and there should always be an active interaction between the Creator and his creation.

I am not desensitized by the traditional events surrounding the National Day of Prayer. The spiritual unity that is witnessed during this day is beneficial and definitely needed. However, this lone event does not account for a personal relationship with God and an active prayer life. Philippians 4:6 states: ” Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.” Regardless if there is a national event, prayer breakfast or a host of religious officials around us, we must seek the Lord in prayer in all things.

There is a common and typical tradition of reaching out to God in times of crises and tribulations. This is not effective use of prayer. While God is truly certain to hear us in our times of desperate need, he is also worthy of prayer and praise when times are going well. Our prayer life should not be based on the ups and downs of the economy, our marital status,  or our job outlook.  It should be effective and active regardless of what surrounds us.

Prayer can change and alter any situation. When God sees an adamant desire by one to communicate with him, he feels compelled to intervene on our behalf. It is the power of prayer that makes an alcoholic feel an eradication for his desire of drunkenness. It is the power of prayer that can take a wounded heart of a depressed soul and set it free. The power of prayer faces no limits or boundaries. It is not bound by natural obstacles or setbacks.

In order to know God, we must communicate with him. A man doesn’t learn to love his wife by talking to her on a once-a-year basis. He talks to her constantly and builds a relationship with her on a day-to-day basis.

We will never learn to grow in our faith and relationship with God by simply waiting for a National Day of Prayer event to speak with him. Prayer must certainly be a lifestyle. It should be something we yearn to do. Prayer must be a lifestyle.

 ^”If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”– 2 Chronicles 7:14

Make EVERYDAY your National Day of Prayer.

I was a featured guest on “The Brenner Brief” with Sara Marie Brenner of Columbus, OH. I was asked to discuss pro-life causes and the issue of same-sex marriage. If you fast forward t 47:20, you’ll be able to hear my segment. As always, I stood on biblical principles and morality in my discussion.

Black History Month is a time where we reflect upon the contributions of iconic African-Americans such as Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison who were the architects of the abolitionist movement, or Rosa Parks who refused to substitute her dignity and self-respect for blind prejudice, hatred and unjust laws. The rallying cry of “Let Freedom Ring” uttered Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. still echo throughout the chambers of our souls today.

Freedom is the universal gift that benefits every man, woman and child. It is the substantial force that breaks the bondage of oppression and government tyranny. It is the solemn reminder that America is the land where anyone can dream and where dreams can become a reality.

The daunting question we face in 2013 is: “Are we free?” In order to look forward, one must reflect on the accomplishments of the past.

We are forever grateful for the Civil Rights Movement, which highlighted the struggle for justice and equality. We are thankful for how blacks have been granted the right to exercise their vote in free elections. We’ve come far in improving racial harmony, with blacks being promoted to high levels of government: Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice both served as Secretary of State and of course Barack Obama became the first black President of the United States.

There are countless examples of America embracing diversity and providing equal opportunities for all, but yet, there is still a longing desire for freedom.

The parent of a poor black child that lives in an impoverished area of their community deserves the right to have their child attend the school of their choice, without that child’s freedom intertwined with the substandard performance of their educators. The fact that it is 2013 and many continue to advocate for school choice proves that for some, freedom must be put on hold in order to advance the agenda of big government.

I feel obliged to plea for freedom when I see single black mothers become manipulated by the welfare state that is promoted by liberalism. We are not a free society when black males are incarcerated, instead of at home raising their sons and daughters like good role models. As government seeks to take advantage of the absence of the black father, we must recognize that this is social tyranny, not freedom.

I am only a singular voice, but within the realms of my soul is a plea for African-Americans to begin a new history—economic freedom. There must be a rallying cry of an exodus from the plantation of liberal bondage. There must be a realization that government can easily take away what it freely gives, and that jobs, not handouts, are the most sufficient way to move up on the economic ladder.

I am surely thankful for Black History Month, but my heart cringes at the thought of what the future holds for the black community. Change needs to occur right now. Let us remember the words of Harriet Tubman: “I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.”

As the nation commemorates the Martin Luther King, Jr holiday, it is imperative that we reflect and embrace what was present at the core of King’s vision: freedom. 

In his letter from the Birmingham jail on April 16, 1963, King wrote that “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”

I am positive that if the slain Civil Rights leader were with us today, his quest for economic freedom and justice would still be his beckoning call for America.

In his historic “I Have A Dream” speech, delivered near the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, King spoke distinctively on two freedoms: Freedom from racial discrimination and bigotry and freedom from “a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity.”

America has come a long ways toward racial harmony and the removal of prejudice. While there has been tremendous progress, there is little doubt among many that work stills needs to be done.

Currently, MLK’s vision of a freedom from poverty is being undermined by government oppression and generations of families dependent on government assistance.  We live in an America vastly different from the 1960s. Todays America values entitlements and a nanny-state America over entrepreneurship and a capitalistic society. We are being taught by liberal plutocrats that the socialistic philosophy of redistribution of wealth is the most effective way to alleviate the income disparities between the rich and poor. And while history proves otherwise, Americans are seemingly content to ignore such history for now. Instead, we are being fed a mythical notion that equal opportunity equates to equal outcome, and that accumulated wealth through hard work and determination is cancerous and must be cured. 

This is not freedom, this is 21^st century captivity. In order to make MLK’s desire for freedom a reality, we must promote and advocate for ideas which empower the individual. Freedom is giving someone the choice to make sound economic decisions without inhabiting the fear of government stealing their earnings. Freedom is the ability for one to have a job, earn wages, and provide for their families without depending on a social program for permanent stability. When one has a free mind, they’ll unify with John F. Kennedy’s mandate of not asking what America can do for us, but what we can for America.

It is freedom which enables a parent to choose where to send their child in order to have the best education available. The fact that poor and minority children are relegated to failing schools simply because of their zip code is undeniably the Civil Rights issue of this current decade.

It is freedom that grants us the right to speak freely and think independently without facing rebuke from others for our beliefs.  I believe MLK would be appalled at the way black conservatives are ostracized for their beliefs. 

It is freedom that allows to defend ourselves from any present harm or potential government tyranny with the right to bear arms, given to us through the second amendment of the Constitution. Slaves were never allowed to defend themselves; free people are. 

It is freedom that vanishes the thought that we are owed something, but that we have the opportunity to accomplish our goals and fulfill our dreams, if we are willing to put in the hard work and go the distance.

At last, we must acknowledge that freedom does not come from an elected official or any government entity. It is given to us by our Creator and born into the heart of every man. 

MLK had a quest for freedom. He envisoned the glorious attributes of freedom when he shared his dream with America: “When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every tenement and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old spiritual, “Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.”

As we commemorate the 84^th birthday of Martin Luther King, we reflect upon the courage and wisdom of the slain civil rights leader. He was undeniably a beacon of hope and a pillar of light in the midst of the dark and evil times in which he lived. He inspired many, including myself to dream and persevere, despite the challenges and obstacles that may easily seem to surmount us.

 While the accomplishments of Dr. King are deserved and many, it intrigues me to ponder the thought of how MLK would view America if he were alive today. As we continue to see the downward spiral in the American economy, class warfare that is being driven by political elites, and an insufferable secular agenda that is constantly promoted by Hollywood, there is definitely a valid reason to want to lose faith in humanity.

 Despite these obstacles, MLK envisioned the bigger picture when he said this: “If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.”

 I like the analogy of being a drum major. A drum major is the leader of a marching band and is responsible for providing commands to the ensemble regarding where to march and what to play.

 In today’s 21^st century, I strive to embrace MLK’s agenda and march towards morality, righteousness, purity and leadership. Today’s culture is so entrenched in sexuality, individualism, greed and selfishness, and it is in desperate need of a voice that will not only impact today’s youth, but the generations to follow.

 As a drum major, perhaps instead of playing the same beat of complacency, indolence, and apathetic living, perhaps I can create a new beat—a beat that strikes to the rhythm of hope and redemption. Hope for a better tomorrow and a brighter future and redemption for past failures and mistakes. It is very easy to highlight the failures of modern day society, but it takes a compassionate heart to advocate redemption and a fresh start to one’s life.

 MLK’s view of faith still echoes amongst us today. He once said “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

 Maybe you’re an individual who has to work two or three jobs to make ends meet. Perhaps you’ve just had the unfortunate experience of losing a job. Maybe you’re a recent college grad who’s had to move home with mom and dad because you couldn’t find a job and there were no monetary resources to meet your needs. Whatever the case may be, I encourage you to step out by faith and let God fight the battles. We do not know all the answers to the mysteries of life, but we can find refuge and strength in almighty God in knowing that he will supply our every need, and that he will not abandon us, even when our faith is feeble.

 The very last quote by MLK that I would like to share with you deals with politics. MLK had a wise approach to this divisive subject He simply stated: “I feel someone must remain in the position of non-alignment, so that he can look objectively at both parties and be the conscience of both—not the servant or master of either.”

 In a time where the political theory and philosophy is causing disarray and deconstruction, we all, myself included, have become saturated with our own ideology, that we have neglected accountability and honesty at times in our debate. It is easy to be passionate about our beliefs and convicted in our principles, but it must never blind us from becoming victimized by deceit and vanity that is displayed on all sides of the political spectrum.

Let us become visionaries of change, not disciples of blind loyalty. I truly believe the political discourse can be solved when we encourage ourselves and our peers to be better, even the ones who claim to be on our side. I believe that MLK would agree with me when I say that being on our Creator’s side protects us from fallacy.

 Thank you Dr. King for reminding us to look at the bigger picture.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell was featured on “Meet The Press.”  Powell, who identifies himself as a Republican, has faced much scrutiny from conservatives for endorsing Obama, not to mention his consistent attention seeking tactics at the expense of the GOP.

Powell was asked by host David Gregory to tell on what basis on which he was a Republican and if he left the GOP or if the GOP left him. While Powell refused to clarify on exactly what makes him a Republican, he did manage to give a short, but weak response in which he described himself as a “moderate.” Powell referred to the GOP as having “an identity problem.” He pointed to immigration, health care, voter ID laws, and the changing demographics (rising numbers of Hispanics, Asian-Americans, blacks) as examples.

While it is absolutely true that the GOP must re-evaluate its approach and methods of messaging to minority communities, the retired general was vague on specific proposals and ideas to help reinvigorate the party. Instead, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs decided to regurgitate the liberal talking points, claiming the GOP shows hostility or resentment towards minorities.

“There’s also a dark vein of intolerance in some parts of the party,” Powell retorted. “What do I mean by that? What I mean by that is they still sort of look down on minorities.”  Has Gen. Powell forgotten the fact that he was nominated as the first African-American Secretary of State by Republican President George W. Bush, who also happened to have the most diverse cabinet in presidential history? Bush’s successor, however, has neglected this attribute.  After Obama’s picks for the Treasury, State, Defense and CIA were announced, the President came under some criticism from pundits and commentators on the left and right bringing to center attention the lack of diversity in his choice cabinet.

I’m intrigued to know if Powell thought it to be intolerant when Sen. Harry Reid claimed Obama lacked “negro dialect” or when Joe Biden said Obama was the first “clean and articulate” African-American.

Powell used an opportunity to take a jab at comments made by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. ”When I see a former governor say that the president is ‘shuckin’ and jivin,’ that’s a racial-era slave term,”he exclaimed. This is an absurd claim by Powell. Palin was simply referring to the president’s inconsistent descriptions of the Benghazi terrorist attacks, and if Powell figured that to be slave-term usage, his uber sensitivity has served as a substitute for facts and rationale debate.

Powell also implied that the GOP was heavily involved in the “birther” movement. As astute and knowledgeable as Mr. Powell is, I was a bit surprised he was unaware of the fact that Phil Berg, an ex-deputy attorney general for Pennsylvania and 2008 Hillary Clinton supporter, filed a lawsuit alleging that Obama was ineligible to be a presidential candidate. On these grounds, would Secretary Powell deem Mr. Berg also hostile to minorities?

By these remarks and inserting himself back into the conversation, is Colin Powell simply attempting to become relevant in the GOP once again? If so I question the strategy.  I mean, who better to speak on behalf of all Republicans but a man who voted for Barack Obama, not once, but twice?

His refusal to highlight the class warfare that’s been elevated in the Obama administration, the higher taxes implemented under Obamacare and the fiscal cliff deal and Obama’s horrible record regarding the economy, makes Powell appear to be a steward of the Democrat party, barring the (R) behind his name.  Where is his mention on the hostile job market and rising unemployment rate in the black communities under the first black president?

He has a stage, and millions of black Americans admire and respect him for good reason.  But, if Powell truly wants to be relevant again, and help the party he claims to be part of, might I suggest that he actively involve himself in transforming the GOP instead of using liberal means to bash it?

Tim Scott’s swearing in ceremony as United States Senator was an historic achievement that was embraced and celebrated by many—except the NAACP. Ben Jealous, president of the organization, made this claim: “We have Republicans who believe in civil rights — unfortunately he is not one of them,” Jealous said. “And unfortunately his party as you know, has really gone after so-called RINOs as they call them, these Republicans who believe in civil rights, again and again.”

Let’s cut to the chase: Scott was ostracized by the NAACP because he’s a black conservative Republican who refuses to subscribe to the myth that all blacks must be loyal to liberals and big government policies.

It’s asinine for Jealous to suggest Scott, who is the product of a dirt poor single mother in South Carolina, isn’t concerned with civil rights. The fact of the matter is that the NAACP, who claims to be nonpartisan, vocalizes opposition against anyone who believes in conservative ideals such as school choice, limited government, lower taxes, and individual liberty.

Here are some recent examples of the NAACP’s bias against conservative Republicans:

Rev. CL Bryant, a FreedomWorks fellow, held a key leadership role within the NAACP, including serving as president of the chapter in Garland, TX in the late 1980s. He noted that after he declined to speak on behalf of the NAACP at a pro-choice rally due to his religious convictions, the organization began to turn sour towards him and that it led to his inevitable departure. He was also relieved of his duties as a pastor due to his opposition to race-card cohorts Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, and after vocalizing his beliefs in the principles of limited government. 

Bryant and Deneen Borelli, Director of Outreach for FreedomWorks, reached out to the NAACP for support after many racial slurs were hurled at them for their outspoken conservative stance. The organization refused to respond or correspond with them in any way.

And if you thought they were only hostile to individuals who differ in opinion, think again. Benjamin Jealous addressed the issue of voter ID in July 2012 at the NAACP’s Annual Convention in Houston. Unfortunately, he embraced the left’s absurd belief that equates voter ID to voter suppression and an assault on the rights of minorities. He likened the movement of opposition to voter ID laws to the Civil Right Movements in Selma and Birmingham. Mr. Jealous invoked this resemblance to elicit an emotional response during an intense presidential election cycle. What he neglected to inform the oldest civil rights organization in the nation of, is that voter ID prohibits voter fraud, which currently serves as the biggest hindrance to casting a ballot and ensuring fair elections. 

In July of 2010, the NAACP passed a resolution condemning presumed racism from the Tea Party. Hilary Shelton, director of the NAACP’s Washington bureau and senior vice president for advocacy and policy, made the assertion that Tea Party activists spat on Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights activist and friend to Dr. Martin Luther King, and called Rep Emanuel Cleaver the ‘N-word’. As of this date, neither claim has been proven true and no evidence has been presented to back up these claims. Many Tea Party activists have indicated on numerous occasions that racism will not be tolerated and that the movement is focused on making government fiscally responsible and ruled according to the Constitution.

In 2006, NAACP Chairman Julian Bond compared the GOP to Nazis and compared judicial nominees of then President George W. Bush to the Taliban. 

The partisan rhetoric spewed by members of the NAACP proves that they are entrenched in the far left movement, and that they are not as concerned with civil rights and racial equality as much as they are about creating a false narrative that black Americans are victims and continue to live in oppression.

By bringing these examples to light, I am not suggesting that conservatives ignore the NAACP.  It is important to note that the NAACP was founded by the Republican Party and conservatives should challenge the NAACP to provide a message of equality and opportunity, instead of a message of victimization.

The year 2012 was arguably the most transformational year of my life. At the beginning of the year, I was living in North Augusta, SC. I was enjoying life as a political radio show co-host and producer and local TV show co-host.

I was a very popular figure within my community. I had connections with local politicians, businessmen, educators and even ministers.

When I wasn’t in the comfortable abode of a radio/TV station, I was the center of attention at the party scenes. I was admitted into bars and clubs for free, and I mesmerized many individuals with smooth dance moves and a charming pick-up line or two. I even bragged to my closest friend’s that “the party didn’t start until I hit the dance floor.”

Spiritually, I was dry and lost. I had substituted a walk with God for popularity and a secular lifestyle.

I thought I was having the time of my life until one of my party friends got killed in an hit-and-run accident. I hear an audible voice from God telling me that if I remained where I was that I was going to die. I was unaware if this was going to be a spiritual or physical death, but I just knew that I felt like I was beginning to succumb to fear and anxiety.

I called my parents who were residing in Virginia in February to inform them that I was going to move to their location at the end of March.

During my final month in North Augusta, I began the uncomfortable and painful task of bidding adieu to my co-workers, church family and some of my closest friends. There were quite a few of them who didn’t understand the nature of my decision to move and pondered the thought of my possible return.

I tried my best to explain to them that my exodus was to begin a new journey and that I was simply unaware of what the future would bring.

I moved to Virginia the last week of March with a definite fear of the unknown. How would I adapt to my new environment? How will it be living with my parents again? How long would it take for me to rehabilitate spiritually? Will I find employment? Will I be able to trust anyone here?

I immediately began to feel a positive impact when the church my parents attended in Virginia quickly embraced me without holding judgment. Through the weekly small group meetings and Sunday services, I found myself spiritually maturing quicker than I had originally thought.

I could’ve easily entrenched myself in self-pity, condemnation and guilt. Instead, I challenged and encouraged myself to accept God’s forgiveness for past sins and to move forward and fulfill the purpose God has given me.

My newfound faithfulness to God’s kingdom quickly paid off. I found a job within a reasonable time span and me and a good friend from St. Louis launched a successful online radio show at the end of May.

As I write this final blog post for 2012, I can sit here and reflect on God’s mercy and grace. I’m highly confident that 2013 will be a year of transition. I’m expecting my faith to be accelerated. I feel there will be a transition from being a spiritual nomad to being a vessel used by God to perform miracles, signs and wonders. I’m expecting the transition from experiencing the fear of the unknown to fully taking hold of the challenges put before me knowing that God will never abandon me and will help me accomplish every task given to me.

I’m acutely aware that challenges and circumstances will arise in 2013. That’s a given. With the transitioning to a mindset of spiritual authority and dominion, these obstacles will not be a distraction, but a mere stepping stone to the next level of faith.

I’m enthused about what God has in store in 2013. It’ll be a monumental year. One transition has already been made: Instead of hoping for positive results, I’m already claiming that there WILL BE a surge of positivity to come my way.

Be blessed in 2013.