Encouragement

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DAILY/EVENING REFLECTIONS

20 Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded
to plant a vineyard. 21 When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father's nakedness and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father's nakedness. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father's nakedness. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said,

"Cursed be Canaan!
The lowest of slaves
will he be to his brothers."-Genesis 9 NIV

As a black female, I have pondered the claim that the bible has racist overtones. I love the Lord, and in His dealings with me, I never percieved that He felt I was ill regarded due to my race.

So what gives?

Well, it was pointed out that Ham or his descendants, were cursed with “dark skin” as a result of his sin of laughing at his father's nakedness. This claim thereby became the justification for enslaving darker skinned individuals.

This to me is an example of how bible scripture is twisted for evil purposes.

I have searched scripture after scripture for a passage that states that Ham or the Canaanites were dark skinned or “cursed” with dark skin. I never found it, and in fact, this supposition is so hotly contested, and unclear, that the Nation of Islam has turned it around and said that the Canaanites were white and all the other tribes of Israel were black.

It would seem that if Ham or his descendants were black, this would be unequivocally without a shadow of a doubt stated so that all generations would be aware of this curse. As it stands, it is unclear as to what Ham looked like or what his skin tone, or his descendants skin tone, was or currently is.

Besides, Ham wasn’t cursed because he was a color-he was cursed for not covering his father’s nakedness.

Now, without dispute we can say that some of the twelve tribes of Israel were dark in skin tone as in keeping with the Middle-Eastern and African characteristics, so I doubt any of them looked European, despite what Italian, Greek and Roman artists have depicted on frescoes. I think the Israelites more than likely closely resembled the Israelis and Palestinians of today.

As I have pointed out, the Ten Commandments never stated or claimed one race superior over another. Passages where Israel decried the intermarriage of other cultures had to do more with God not wanting His people to bow to Idols and forget Him, than about color.

11 Judah has broken faith. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the LORD loves, by marrying the daughter of a foreign god. Malachai 2:11 NIV

He didn’t say that Israel was at fault for marrying a dark skinned girl-as a matter of fact, Moses, Abraham and Solomon married Nubian women, a jet black race from the Isralean tribes. All twelve tribes had a diverse range of tones and facial and racial characteristics. Distinctions weren’t made in regards to how a person appeared on the outside, but rather to their “religious practices.” Even Solomon, the wisest man on the planet, was turned away by the false idols of his wives. God knew that such a thing could occur and thusly warned people against mingling with cultures who could turn their hearts away from him.

“But,” some ask, “isn’t it racist to suggest that the Jewish Nation were the chosen of God?”

Not at all when looked at in the context of science.

Yes, I say science.

I regard God as the greatest scientist in existence. As knowledgeable as man is, he cannot make a man from thin air-rather he needs to genetic material that God created to make another human being. God needs no such assistance. God, as a Scientist, decided to choose a people and be their God, and the rest of the world became the control group. What criteria was used to determine the choice? Who knows, it could have been a sophisticated process or an ennie meenie minnie moe game, suffice it to say He was at some point, going to gather all nations under Him, and He did.

This point is moot. He chose Israel.

At the appointed time, Christ came and God spread his love to the entire world.

Now, Jesus first came to the house of Israel because He wanted the religious leaders of the day to give up their segregationist policies, and spread the message of redemption to the Gentiles. When they did not, he left it up to his disciples and the Christian faith has since spread to world wide acceptance and practice.

Those who see racism in the bible are “adding” to the word of God, for their own purposes. Those who ask to be guided by the Spirit of Truth, will know what the bible truly says and will be blessed and freed by the knowledge that God loves all of us, and has no partiality in regards to race, sex, creed or color.--ARN under the instruction of THS

EVENING REFLECTIONS-Great loving men!

Tonight, I want us to think about the wonderful men who have influenced us positively in our lives-this is for my brothers in the faith, who don’t get enough due recognition!

"The true republic: men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less."
-- Franklin P. Adams (1881-1960)

"When a man you like switches from what he said a year ago, or 4 years ago, he is a broad-minded person who has courage enough to change his mind with changing conditions. When a man you don't like does it, he is a liar who has broken his promises."
-- Franklin P. Adams (1881-1960)

"No man means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous."
-- Henry Brooks Adams (1838-1918)

"I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day."
-- William Adams

Set your expectations high; find men and women whose integrity and values you respect; get their agreement on a course of action; and give them your ultimate trust."
-- John Fellows Akers (b. 1934)

"There is no such thing as a 'self-made' man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success." -- George Burton Adams (1851-1925)

Funny Bone Yard
Hospital Stay

A man was brought to Mercy Hospital, and went in for coronary surgery.

The operation went well, and as the groggy man regained consciousness, he was reassured by a Sister of Mercy waiting by his bed.

"Mr. Smith, you're going to be just fine," the nun said while patting his hand. "We do have to know, however, how you intend to pay for your stay here. Are you covered by insurance?"

"No, I'm not," the man whispered hoarsely.

"Can you pay in cash?"

"I'm afraid I can't, Sister."

"Do you have any close relatives, then?"

"Just my sister in New Mexico," replied, "but she's a spinster nun."

"Nuns are not spinsters, Mr. Smith," the nun replied. "They are married to God."

"Okay," the man said with a smile, "then bill my brother-in-law."

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