Letters by Robert Campbell

Stretch out your Hands!

Dear Friend,

Yesterday morning I received a revelation in regards to Moses' relationship with God. God's favorite words to speak to Moses were "Stretch out your hands..." Every miraculous act Moses was every apart of required him stretching out his hands.

When the Lord first came to Moses: (Exodus 4:2-5)

Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?"
      "A staff," he replied.

 ³ The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground."
      Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. ⁴ Then the LORD said to him, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. ⁵ "This," said the LORD, "is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you."

I feel this is where we have our disconnect with the Lord. The Lord is saying, "What is that in your hand?"

First of all, God already knows what is in our hand so he is not asking this so that he may gain more information. He is saying this so that we may draw our attention to that which is in our hand. We do not find these things in our hands just by accident. They are there for a reason and God is wanting to put them to work.

Many of us have allowed the things in our hands to become our idol and the focus of our life. It's like a guitar in a musicians hand, a scapple in a doctors, or a ball in an athletes. These items are given not to consume our lives and be the primary focus but to be the very tools in which God, our father and creator, will use through us to show his great power.

The Lord asked Moses to throw it on the ground. Release the very thing you hold dear to your life and the thing that you hide behind and that you find comfort in. The Lord had Moses do this not because the thing he was holding was bad, but without God's touch it is lacking the power to have any impact. When Moses released the Rod, God transformed it and made it something more. And then he asked Moses to pick it up and told him that it would be used to show that the Lord had appeared to him and given him a purpose.

Like I stated earlier,the Lord is asking, "What is that in your hand?" Whatever it is God has placed it there and is asking you to submit it to Him so that it will become exactly what is should be in your hands. These are the acts of living out a meaningful life

1) Recognizing what is in our hand

2) Throwing it down in front of the Lord

3) Picking it up after the Lord has transformed it

4) Stretch out your hands!

I hope this revelation impacts your life and I will write more on this topic soon!

'Til next time...

Love,

Robert

Homeless

Dear Friends,

I came across this homeless man and just when I thought he was going to ask me for a helping hand he shares with me a piece of his mind.

"I'm am short on words but my thoughts are many.
My dreams seem cold and somewhat heavy.
Can God save me from this spiral down?
The darkest hour my heart has found.
No one knows the pain I feel.
Is this the path that leads to hell?
Redemption I fear is a thought of the past.
I have reached the last grain in my hourglass.
Shall I jump this ship and end it all
and save myself from the agony of trying to hold on?
What left is there to live for
when life has thrown you its greatest storm?
I am short on words but one comes to mind.
I wonder if He will hear my cry?"

Everyone is looking for CHANGE, some the kind that jingle, but all the kind that SAVES!

Love,
Robert

I Don't Like You

Dear Friend,

When they ask me why I liked you I will tell them I didn't. I will tell them I was constantly annoyed with you and disliked some of your tendencies. I will tell them you never listened to a word I said and was constantly trying to be deeper than you really were.

But I will also let them know that I loved you. That you were truly someone seeking the heart of God and I was always impressed how God's Holy Spirit moved through you even when you didn't know it.

See friend, we are different and life and our relationship is not about becoming alike, but about embracing our differences and recognizing the God that lives in both of us and that is what ultimately connects us.

I don't really like you now. Why is that so hard to believe and accept? Why is our society so caught up on being liked? Why do we think life revolves around us and the world is our playground? At what point do we realize that life has been given to us because of an ultimate sacrifice of love. Jesus gave his life not because he liked the style of life we lived and the manner in which we spoke of him and others, but because of something deeper.

Jesus, in an act of obedience to our Father, gave his life, not because it felt good and he wanted to be liked but because he loved our Father. In the process of being crucified Jesus said to our Father, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do!" He recognized that we were all God's children and even if we didn't know it, God wanted us to live life to the fullest.

Jesus' followers didn't even like him. They accepted him as the Messiah but didn't care much for his methods and I'm sure were constantly complaining. But Jesus stilled loved them and they loved him as well. What was it that they loved so much that even with there dislikes they continued to follow him and Jesus kept them around?

OUR FATHER!

He is Love! And no one can love unless they know Him.

I am able to say I love you, because I know Him and am in relationship with Him. And when I look at you I see Him and his flawless work. And I am somewhat frustrated when I look at you and see you abusing and destroying one of his masterpieces, much how I get frustrated with myself when I do the same thing.

I'm sorry that it bothers you that I don't like you, but know that I will always love you, because you, like me, are seeking our Father.

As we get further in this journey of discovering who we are in Christ, we will notice that our differences aren't so bad but they reflect another side of Him. And even in our many differences there's a true likeness and it is found in the love of our Father and for that we will always be connected.

Don't fall victim of wanting to be liked because it is a false reality. This is why Jesus said love thy brother as thy self. If we were the same this would be easy, but Jesus knew we wouldn't like each other and so He said look beyond, look within, Find Me! within yourself and within others.

Love,
   Robert

Just Be You!

Dear Friends,

You ever wonder how some products become more successful than others? It's like seeing something as simple as a piece of plastic become something so useful and beneficial to everyday life that you say to yourself, "Why didn't I think of that?"

These type of products and the launch of such careers can't be premeditated. You can't strategically produce something of that nature and expect it to withstand the test of time or even a full year for that matter.

For example, let's take the woman who created what is known as the Isabelt . Isabelt? It's virtually an invisible belt that takes the place of a regular belt but doesn't create a buldge and is designed to prevent your pants from dropping in the back and showing, well, I think you know. When you see the product you think to yourself, "This is it?" But very fashion or tech-forward and it kind of just looks like a bra strap. But a product of this nature was designed from experience. Experience of having to constantly worry and adjust pants when out in public. These women recognized a problem that they had and noticed others with the same issue and from their created what we know as the Isabelt.

Another successful product story that came about somewhat by a coincident is the Jesus Is My Homeboy! T-shirt. This shirt was not created to be a trend or to make some religious statement but from a real life experience. A man by the name, Van Zan was attacked by a group of young gang members and just as one of the boys was about to shoot him, Van said, "Jesus is my homeboy and he is your homeboy too!" It touched the boy so much that he and the rest of his crew let Van Zan go unhurt. 

But that's not even the best part of the story. Go to the website- Jesus Is My Homeboy 

I say all of this friend to inform you to not set out to make the hottest product on the market. Don't even try to be the best at what you do. Just be you! Learn from the situations that life present you with and make the best of them. Don't conform to what the world says is the norm. Defy odds by being something the world has never seen. YOU! 

Success comes when we spiritually recognize, mentally accept and physically pursue the desires of our heart. This is the style of life that we are all called to live. I challenge you to learn from others but be yourself!

Love,
    Robert

Relationships

Dear Friends,

I am writing this note to lay out the fundamental principles of building relationships on any level.

A relationship with a friend, spouse, and God is all the same when you lay it out in its basic form. What I mean is- for a relationship to ever reach its maximum potential it must be experienced in a intimate environment as well as a community environment.

Let's start with friendship. Have you ever been out with a friend, in Nashville that would mean have you ever been to a writer's night or a music showcase and met someone through your friend? And then after that encounter you only ever saw them again if it was through the mutual friend. This  is a premature relationship. Yes, you do know this person to a certain degree, but you only know this person within the environment of having a mutual friend. There's still parts to this individual that you have not experienced and will not experience unless you both are put in an environment where there is no mutual friend and it is just the two of you. Now, I understand there are moments when the mutual friend walks away and the two individuals are left to communicate amongst one another but the connecting factor has already done their job by this point. This works the same way in regards to having a friend that you only experience in a one-on-one environment. There are parts to their personality that you haven't experienced because you haven't seen them around other people that they are comfortable with.

This is the same basic principle for when a man and a woman are courting. Yes, I said it! Courting! You will never fully know who she is until you see her around her friends and your friends. This is the same for the men, ladies. This is vital because it is very easy for the person of the opposite sex to put their best foot forward when courting but how they treat their guy friends and males treat their lady friends gives you a more in depth perspective of who they really are.

And again this is no different when it comes to a relationship with God. We must be willing to communicate with him behind closed doors and in the privacy of our own walls as well as within the community and body of people we find ourselves surrounded by.

This is how we experience the many facades of who God is as well as who others are. With us all being created in His image we all hold a part of Him that when you bring us all together make a body. This is why we must also be willing to build with others the same way we build with God, because by building with one another we are ultimately building what God intended for us to build, His Kingdom.

Now I understand we can't get to know everyone on an intimate level, but with those that we find ourselves surrounded by on a daily basis or a frequent basis we must be willing to build strong connections. If not than the relationship is premature and doesn't really have much of a chance to go anywhere.

For some of us this is a challenge because of our personal battle of how we would like people to see us versus who we really are. That is an obstacle that some of us must overcome before we can build a relationship with anyone. But then there is also the obstacle of opposite sex friendships and the sexual tension that comes with that as well as same sex friendships which can become awkward and uncomfortable for some because of the nature of what it may look like to others.

I'm not saying any of this is easy but that doesn't mean there aren't any basic principles. The biggest key here, like in any situation, is COMMUNICATION.

I say all this to say, that all of our relationships are connected but to fully understand them we must engage in them both intimately and publicly- from friends to our spouse and to God. There are no exemptions.

Love,
   Robert

The Lifestyle

Dear Friend,

I find this moment to be a joyous occasion. To have the opportunity to share with you a philosophy that I think is the foundation in which we are to live. Now granted we can live however we see fit and I'm not questioning that, but even so there's a common denominator or common denominators that link us all together.

The YMCA has a slogan, "Spirit, Mind, Body." This is to represent the fact that the YMCA looks to build individuals with this as the primary focus. Now, to my understanding no man or woman can deny that they are made up of a spirit, a mind and a body.

With this is mind, Life is fulfilled when we Spiritually recognize, Mentally accept, and Physically pursue the desires of our heart.

My goal for 2009 is to elaborate on this philosophy of how no man or woman can ultimately fulfill their purpose in life without pursuing their desires with this complete understanding.

This philosophy can be used in any life situation and is absolutely fail proof. I'm willing to test it! I am calling this project:

OneStyleFitsAll

Over the coming days, weeks and months I would like to break this down and asked that you would join me. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Love,
   Robert

Love (Trusting God)

Dear Friend,

As I stated when I wrote about Desires, in order to pursue the desires of your heart you must trust God. But even so, no man or woman can trust God and pursue the desires of their heart unless they have decided to Love others and as the bible says, “Love thy brother as thyself.”

The primary key to trusting God is Love. No desire can be pursued and ultimately fulfilled without a clear understanding of this.

As we celebrate Christmas in a couple of days, let us remember what we are celebrating. We are celebrating a man, the Lord, the King of Kings for his ultimate sacrifice and for his amazing words of life and encouragement. Christmas is a celebration of a man born of a woman who went on to die so that we may have life.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. This is my command: Love each other.” -Jesus (John 15:16-17)

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” -Jesus (John 15:11-13)

“ 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.” -Jesus (Mark 12:30-31)

It is so important that we learn how to love, not only in this season, but as we continue forward in our journey of life. We all are seeking things in our life that we feel are important and that we feel are the desires of our heart, but if we do so without a clear understanding of love than we truly are not headed anywhere.

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.... Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even “sinners” love those who love them... But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons and daughters of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” -Jesus (Luke 6:27-36)

This is my challenge to you as you go into the new season of your life. Many of us are looking for God to do great things in our life and we continue to pray and many of us probably feel as if God is not hearing our prayer. But I tell you today, that God hears our cry and knows the desires of our heart. It is us that must learn to love our brothers and sisters as we love ourselves and be willing to sacrifice it all for our friends as Jesus laid it all down for us. It is through this act of sacrifice and obedience that we are able to see the desires of our heart come to life. Trust God! "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. -Isaiah 55:8-9

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus!

Love,
Robert

Desires

Dear Friend,

Pursue the desires of your heart and not the desires of your mind, for your heart holds truth and your mind caters to the desires of your flesh. And like dust in the wind, your mind will have you pursueing life based on the patterns of the world only to find that you are "IN" today and "OUT" the next. (read Romans 12:2)

Psalm 37:1-9 says,
1 Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;

2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.

9 For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

Pursueing the desires of your heart starts by delighting yourself in the Lord.
"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." -Proverbs 19:21
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." -Proverbs 16:9
"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." -Proverbs 16:3
"But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations." -Psalm 33:11

It is very important to trust God! I know this can be a difficult task but the Lord says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. -Jeremiah 29:11

My prayer for you is Psalm 20:4, "May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed."

Love,
Robert

Missing you Love!

Dear Love,

I speak in silence, because sometimes words just aren't enough.
A moment passes like a mother's touch
A woman hurt by a man's failed approach

Love, where have you gone
I miss you so much

I scream hoping you would hear
hoping not to scare you from drawing near
but needing answers of how I got here
lost in what use to be so clear

I write these words with intentions of you reading
knowing that it is you that I need
as I search deep within my very being

I run from the lies of my past
that try to tell me that we will never last
'cause relationships are like food served fast
great for the moment but substance it lacks

I cry for those fooled by the false reality of our society
thinking change lies in democracy or any other political party
save us from ourselves love
and the desires of our fleshly bodies

I speak in silence, so I can hear you more clearly
and listen to the voice that defines me spiritually
asking you to lead me as I travel down the road to destiny

Love, where have you gone
I miss you so much

Love,
    Robert

The Beauty of Love

Dear Friend,

Beauty is I do not know
but the site of her I can't ignore
She wears a smile of porcelain glow
and her hips move with a seductive flow
Her eyes they shimmer in a confident demeanor
as she stares in the distance hoping I would see her
But love I see is something she can't remember
a warm touch in the cold of November
or the gentle whisper of you and me forever
So if I decide not to pursue her
will she loose that which has drawn me to her
Is her confidence based on the amount of onlookers
or the nature of who she is, was and will become
Will she ever experience the beauty of love

Love,
    Robert

Mine for the Making

Dear Friend,

I drifted into a coffee shop
hopefully to find that which I had been looking for
That which I had been looking for I'm not sure
but the mystery draws me deeper than before
Pull out a book hoping to find insight
into a world that sells false realities
of things that really are a reality to us all
but confusion takes us captive
and I know this is a run-on
but this is kind of how we run along
on a journey that leads nowhere
but back to where it all begun
So I look out the window of my corner coffee shop spot
notice a girl that's kinda hot and day dream
about the possibilities of things that are not
Doesn't hurt to dream
all we really need is a King
not a doctor or a Martin Luther
not even a Protestant Revolution
Love is the key to unlock the possibilities
of a king that's a mystery
and a world with a revolving history
So I'll take my place in history
and start right here in the midst
of all these things that are confusing me
and pray to God the he would save me
from making the same mistakes
of those who came before me
The future is mine for the making.

Love,
    Robert

The Door of New Beginnings

Dear Friend,

When a Mind can hold the World
It takes with it both good and bad- old and new
The Possibilities are endless of what one man can do
A dream can take him to a world he never knew
Left daydreaming one can conquer the world
Only to find out they were in the wrong one
Trapped in a maze where hidden doors lead to childish explores
And dead ends have signs that read "Thanks for visiting
I hope to see you once more!"
I'm not looking for friends
I'm looking for meaning
So hopefully this meeting will bring directions to freedom
No one ever said life was easy
And no one ever said love was such a mystery
Wondering through the wilderness searching for the door
I can't afford to be held from a second more
Offering life and love in their truest form
And offering the very things I've been dreaming for
Wake up, Wake up, I must to see
That where I stand is not where I want to be
So I'll sell my belongings in hope of finding
The map that leads to where my past can't find me
The Door of New Beginnings.

Love,
    Robert

Lost & Found

Dear Friend,

I wrote this poem in regards to a girl that I care about and really would like to see live life to the fullest and experience real-genuine-authentic LOVE.

I hope that Love finds you well
Or at least better than I did
Trapped in a world that sales love in the form of pills
Granted your not addicted
But your girlfriend is
You say you just love to party
But Don't see the harm it's doing to your body
Looks like you're the life of the party
Every man wants your body
You say you never slept with anybody
Saving yourself for who you marry
The men you meet are shallow and all claim to be somebody
But you don't want to be real
To afraid of what may be revealed
You say your smart and that I should just live and let live
But how can I sit back and watch a friend
Loose her identity to a false reality
I get it your young and just want to party
But what happens when this environment affects your personality
When do you escape the world you've grown to love
And find a world of abundant Love
When does the music stop
And you face your heart
To find that it's fallen apart
And you've lost the very thing that has loved you from the start

Love,
    Robert

BEING A HERO- PART II

LOVE

Let me restate my last thought on Love- In order to fulfill an ACT(ion) of love, one must be in love, in order to be in love, you have to be in relationship with LOVE. Acting in the name of love, is doing just what is stated "ACTING" and putting the label "LOVE" on it.

What does it mean to be "In Love?"

Now most when they hear the phrase "In Love" they think of a man and a woman being together, or in this day and time, a man and a man or woman and woman. You hear it all the time- "Look at those two, they are so in love!" But what is really meant by this phrase? I'm willing to bet that if a mother and daughter walked by holding hands, one wouldn't say, "Look at those two, they are so in love!" They would probably make the comment if any comment at all, "Look at that mother and her child, the must really love each other." What is the difference of these situations that allows one to be "In Love" and the other to just be a loving action.

The way I see it, the mother-daughter combo are "In Love" but their connection "In Love" is mother and daughter. Due to the fact they have already discovered their connection with one another "In Love" everything from this point on is an ACT(ion) of love.

Men and women who are in relationship with one another are searching for their connection "In Love" and when they are truly "In Love" exploring the possibilities, I believe it is very evident. Now many, especially in this day and age, ACT in the name of love. This is what happens when a person does not get to know love but acts in the way they perceive love to be. Some do this consciously and others not knowing they don't know love and are not in relation with love.

What does it mean to be "In relation with Love?"

Many treat LOVE as a noun but in verb- action word environments. To be "In Love" means that love has to take up space, and for it to take up space means that it must have matter. "In Love" means we can touch it and that it's more than a feeling or an emotion. To be "In Love" with someone, means you both must be in the presence of Love and discovering why you are there together.

The first definition in the American Heritage Dictionary for Love is:
A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.

LOVE is never about YOU! LOVE is about others and a sense of underlying oneness.

If Love is not about me than can I find Love within me? Can I Love on my own without any selfish motives? What makes a person dive in front of a complete stranger to prevent them from being shot? I'm sure they're not just hanging out waiting for the opportunity to be a Hero. And I'm sure in a pressure situation like the one described, no one has time to think, this is my chance to be a Hero. So what came over that person to make them do such a Heroic act without even thinking of the safety of their own life?

Love is at work around us all the time and if we are open to Love, it will work through us. Love isn't about us but if we lay our lives down for Love than Love will find us and give us purpose within it's primary purpose of keeping Love and Life evolving.

LOVE is the source of everything. Nothing functions without LOVE.

DO YOU KNOW LOVE?

TO BE CONTINUED...

BEING A HERO

Dear Friend,

In the American Heritage Dictionary HERO is defined as:
   1. In mythology and legend, a man, often of divine ancestry, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and favored by the gods.
   2. A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life: soldiers and nurses who were heroes in an unpopular war.
   3. A person noted for special achievement in a particular field: the heroes of medicine. See Synonyms at celebrity.
   4. The principal male character in a novel, poem, or dramatic presentation.
   5. Chiefly New York City See submarine. See Regional Note at submarine.

With the new Batman Movie opening this past weekend, it got me thinking- "Batman is my favorite comic superhero!" There's something about a normal man who decides to take on the injustices of his city and make it a better place that just inspires me. The only odd thing is the fact that he decides to dress up like a Bat, but at least there is meaning behind the costume.

The idea of Batman that inspires and motivates me the most is that he didn't wait for some supernatural activity to take place, like a freak accident or a miracle, and he wasn't from another planet. He was a normal person like you and me. As a matter of fact, what drove Bruce Wayne to become Batman was pain and lose. Now this act of Heroism didn't happen over night. Bruce Wayne
didn't lose his parents and then go "Enough is enough, I'm Batman!" No, he had to deal with his lose and really find himself as an individual without the help of the people he trusted and loved the most- his parents.

On this journey of self-discovery, Bruce Wayne gave up what was left of the lifestyle that he had grown accustomed too, to discover a world he was not familiar with. He recognized that he had to understand the mindset of those who had taken the backbone of his existence (his parents) away and live amongst them. Now I'm sure he had many reasons for his behavior and actions, some good and some not so good. But where it lead Bruce was back to the root of all his issues, his FEAR.

In order for Bruce to find his purpose and fulfill his destiny he had to face his ultimate fear of Bats. Isn't is funny how the very thing he feared the most would become the identity that helped him fulfill his purpose?

Bruce Wayne didn't become a Hero for fame and fortune. Fame and Fortune, Bruce didn't need because he already had. In his pain and lose, Bruce found passion that lead to purpose and him ultimately fulfilling his destiny. His fame and fortune could not give him such meaning for life.

And Bruce didn't set out to be a HERO either. Moving in life with Passion puts you in a state of mind to where you are thinking beyond yourself. To desire to be a HERO, in a sense, takes your mind off the very thing that you are passionate about and that will ultimately make you a HERO. But even in this state of mind not all understood and deemed Batman a HERO. But his purpose wasn't to please the world, it was to fight for what he believed in and to protect the people that were placed in his environment.

Being a HERO is an interesting position to be in, but is one that is necessary for the evolution of Love and Life.

Batman as a Superhero represents all of us.

We are all Heroes just trying to make sense of our place in the world and fulfill our purpose. This purpose is fulfilled when we first learn lesson number one- no man or woman can be the HERO until they first understand and get in relationship with LOVE.

To be a HERO requires a clear understanding of LOVE.

No one can fulfill their destiny in life until they have sought love in its purest form. I say "PUREST" because many do things out of what they
call an act of love when in all actuality they are acting in the name of love.

In order to fulfill an ACT(ion) of love, one must be in love, in order to be in love, you have to be in relationship with LOVE. Acting in the name of love, is doing just what is stated "ACTING" and putting the label "LOVE" on it.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Love,

    Robert

RACISM

Dear Friend,

I am not one who likes to dwell on issues of Race, however, I do believe racism still exist and deal with it in some shape, size and form on a daily basis.

I was on cnn.com today just reading about the presidential election and there are so many articles about comments being made in the media about Obama's race. Why are we so caught up on the fact that here in America we categorize Barack Obama as a black man. His mother is white and his dad is black. He is just as much black as he is white. Great! Now can we move on from that?

This just shows how we live in a culture that is so wrapped up in looks and labeling  people based on their presentation. On cnn.com there's an article about some news commentator who I don't really care to know his name or really acknowledge, not because I don't like him, I don't know him, but because this isn't about one man making one comment, called Obama an "OREO," meaning that he was Black on the outside and White on the inside. WHAT?

I manage a boutique called Monkee's in the Hill Center and a lady came in one day, a black lady, and overheard me having a conversation with a friend who also happened to be black. She made a comment to one of my co-workers that we sounded "White." Yes! Color has a sound now. The sad thing is, most of us will hear this and go, "Oh, I know what she means." As if by being Black you have to use a certain vocabulary. How a person speaks has nothing to do with the color of their skin but the environment in which they grew up or live in.

Barack Obama doesn't sound White. He sounds like a man who is wanting you to share a message of HOPE for his country and family. Isn't that the point of a Presidential Candidate? Can we get by the color of his skin and really listen to what the man has to say?

But Barack Obama running for office isn't the biggest issue when it comes to racism in this country.

Imagine being a little black girl in this country and looking through fashion magazines and never seeing anyone that looks like you. I mean most woman today look through fashion magazines and think they are fat because of the images but imagine having that same feeling plus not seeing anyone with the same skin color can really be somewhat painful to a certain degree.

Italia Vogue came out with a Black Issue, in which they highlighted black women throughout the issue and talked about their issues within this business as far as trying to get work. One individual who saw the issue made reference of the many faces of black women they showed in the issue but also made reference to the fact that all but one Ad in the whole magazine featured a black woman.

Racism still exist in this country, but can you expect anything different? When you never deal with an issue and just try to sweep it under the rug eventually it will resurface and will be more complicated to deal with. You would think that in 2008 we would be able to look pass the color of someone's skin, but as long as we as a people are not willing to discover the truth about life, love and the pursuit of happiness, we will continue a cycle of dealing with the same issues in a more advanced and complicated culture.

Love,
    Robert

My Starbucks Dream

To my poetry lovers,

Have you ever set at a Starbucks working on something and enjoying a nice cup of coffee when suddenly an attractive girl or guy, depending on your preference, walks in? So now you are distracted from any type of productive work because all you can focus on is the object of your affection. This poem is dedicated to those moments. Enjoy!

SHE SITS, I STARE
SHE WAITS, I WONDER
SHE HOPES, I PRAY
SHE LOOKS, I TURN AWAY
SHE SITS, I STARE
SHE THINKS, I PONDER
SHE WRITES,  I TYPE
SHE SMILES, I LIKE
SHE LEAVES, I FREEZE
MY STARBUCKS DREAM

Love,

Robert
 

EXPECTATIONS

Dear Friend,

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but have we lost our sense of EXPECTANCY?

Somewhere in all the disappointments of our life, we have decided not to EXPECT but to just accept that which is before us. To some of us this may not register, but I'm willing to believe that even that handful of people who feel that way they are not EXPECTING to the point in which they would come out of their comfort zone and even look like a fool to people over.

I'm speaking mainly in regards of our EXPECTATIONS from God.

I can understand the doubt of individuals, for we are human and may not always come through. However, we can't make the mistake of EXPECTING the same behavior from God and what I have found is that even when we are let down by people our first question is "God, why?"

I willing to bet that many of us pray as if it is gambling or if there's a 50/50 chance that what we pray for will come to pass.

I'm reminded of Simon-Peter during the storm- The disciples saw what they thought was a Ghost only for it to be Jesus. Simon-Peter called to Jesus saying, "Jesus, if it is you call me out to you." Jesus calls him and with all the disciples yelling at him not to go, Simon-Peter steps out the boat expecting his Lord to SAVE him. Simon-Peter begins to walk on water until all of a sudden he begins to doubt and sink. He calls out to Jesus "SAVE ME!" and Jesus reaches out his hand, pulls him up and says "Oh, ye of little faith, why did you doubt me?"

Why have we doubted Him? We know the power he possess but yet we still doubt.

God is there with open arms to perfect us and make us whole, to fulfill that longing that sits deep within us, but instead of EXPECTING Him to come through, we try and go at it alone or create "Plan B."

Why in the mist of trouble are we so shocked when God brings us out?

This is what happened to Moses. After he is called to lead the Israelites to the Promise Land, he finds himself backed into a corner by Pharoah's Army and begins to pray "Father what have I done, where are you, what is going on?" and God's response is "Why are you talking to me?" God told him that he would lead the Israelites to the Promise Land and out of the hands of Pharoah. So, why would he think that God brought them out of Egypt only to be killed by Pharoah?

Does the Bible not say "Ask and it will be given, Seek and you shall find, Knock and the door will be open."?

At some point we are going to have to stop asking and begin EXPECTING!

I understand many have let you down- your mother, father, wife, husband, girlfriend, and boyfriend.

Do not put God in the category of those who have let you down, for God's love is unconditional and he will always do what he says he will do.

BELIEVE THAT! Don't make it just some religious saying.

God is waiting for a people that will take Him at His Word.

A people that will expect that what he has said is true and will live accordingly.

I'm am asking you friends to EXPECT a love that is much greater than your heart's imagination. A love that was, is and is to come the greatest love of all.

No man or woman can give you what God is EXPECTING to give you.

All you have to do is EXPECT IT!

Love,

Robert

A LOVE POEM

Dear Friend,

I love to write about LOVE. There is nothing more real and complicated. Here is poem I wrote. I hope you enjoy!

Where did Adam find LOVE

GOD's Greatest Gift to man

He searches far and wide

And where it lies is within

Pulled from his side

He was made incomplete

And whole at the same time

And as life Journeys on,

Those that are born of  LOVE must now

Find LOVE,

That will withstand the test of time

Oh, LOVE

How close you are

Yet so Hard to Comprehend

Your LOVE is of mass proportion

But my HEART it fits so perfectly within

Oh LOVE, Oh LOVE,

I sing sweet melodies hoping

That YOU would hear

And come and take this pain away

That has last for several years

Oh LOVE, Oh LOVE, Oh LOVE,

How can ONE in their flaws be so perfect

And not be the ONE for me

Must my HEART be drowned in her LOVE forever

Never to breathe again

Oh LOVE, Oh LOVE, Oh LOVE,

Take me by the hand

So that we may Dance again

And show me that YOU LOVE ME

Just the way I AM.

Love,

Robert

Nothing at All

Dear Friend,

I wrote this poem back in January, right before MLK Jr. Day. I hope you enjoy!

They say the writings on the wall
but truth be told
I see nothing at all

Mothers losing sons to war
but we fight not for a cure

Fathers hiding in closets
trying to discover who they are

Daughters in love
with ads from Juicy Couture
while sons manipulate girls
into sexual intercourse

Dr. King said let freedom ring
I guess we forgot what that means
to focused on Britney Spears

All Hail to the Queen?

To blame
who should we face
we made this world
a disgrace

Questions we all have
with answers no one
is willing to trace

The forecast called for sunshine
and rain is all I get

The government got us scared
terrorist they say is the threat

Babies lay crying in Africa
AID they hope to get
while AIDS has taken their fathers
their mothers in search of water

Politicians bidding for office
with changes they promise to all

They say the writings on the wall
but truth be told
I see nothing at all

Love,

Robert

Love, Life and the Pursuit of Truth Pt. I

Dear Friend,

This past week has been interesting. There's kind of been this underlining theme that has found its way into most of my conversations.

This theme of living in the moment and really experiencing the Love of God.

It is so easy to get caught up in finding a purpose in life and wanting to live up to that Title that we forget the most important thing about that purpose of life itself.

LOVE!

God's Love and the Love we share with one another.

Those who have had the privilege of finding spiritual family and truly having a relationship with God, have come to recognize that they have a purpose and destiny and this destiny is given by God, for the bible says "...those he foreknew he predestined..."

Having a purpose and destiny is great for it gives meaning to living but is not the reason for living. Life is about LOVE, feeling it and sharing it, for no purpose and destiny have meaning without a desire to love and be loved.

All of us on our journey of life have this in common.

Those that find themselves wanting to end the journey by committing suicide either physically or spiritually do so out of the emotion of not feeling loved and when you don't feel Love you feel you have no purpose for living or destiny to fulfill.

So, I get it! I get why we get so caught up in what we do and are so passionate about what we want to do, but the crazy thing is is that what we are after isn't some distant triumph, accomplishment or love. The ultimate thing we are after, has always been there and will always be there. When all the people have gone home and the lights are off and the cameras are no longer flashing, all we want to know is that we are loved. This love doesn't come from fame and fortune, but comes from a Father that loves His children and whose love is constant.

He can never love us more than He loves us right now!

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS.

No matter how many mission trips you do or how many prayer meetings you attend, God will never love you more than how much he loves you right now.

These actions are good when done with a genuine understanding that it is an act of sharing God's Love and not to gain more of God's Love.

So don't get mad when things don't seem to be going your way, for God is saying, "But I Love You!" and when you feel as if you have messed up or have done something wrong, God is saying, "But I Still Love You!" and when you feel all alone locked in a world of solitude mentally and physically, God is saying, "I AM Here!" and when your fear has you cornered and you feel you can't get out of your circumstances, God is saying, "Never Fear I AM Here!"

Over the coming weeks I hope to elaborate on this topic more and share my personal experiences and I challenge you to do the same. As you go through your days and moments look for God's love and talk to God. For the bible says, Ask and it shall be given, Seek and you shall find, Knock and the door will be opened. Speak, for you have not because you ask not, Listen, for those who seek the Kingdom of God, He will give you the desires of your heart.

LOVE is relational so in order to experience it you must communicate with it.

GOD IS LOVE!

Love,

Robert