THE DISCERNMENT FOR HIS Ways, Desires and most of all ‘His Will’ “I have come down from Heaven, not to do My Own Will, but the will of Him who sent me [John 6:38} One of the best places to be on the journey in the path-of-life, after having discovered your purpose, is being squarely focused on the Will of God. Jesus during his early Earthly Sojourn was always conscious of such-as he prayed in surrender to it from the onset of beginning His Journey. His favorite narrative of utterances to the father was, “Not My will, but Yours be done” This is tantamount of being a spiritual thought-leader’s presentation and revelation of His will. The chief goal of God’s Will is for Him to be glorified, in all circumstances. Know that the primary driven purpose, and the focus of life is that God is to be glorified through Jesus Christ. “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory {PS 115:1}: • God’s will is to advance His Kingdom-His real yet unseen rule and reign over all creation • God’s will is for Jesus Christ to be Lord-in every arena. Lordship equates to power and authority, so as you follow Jesus-your life-not just your words, you’re giving Him your full allegiance • Glory, Kingdom, Lordship, are the three components of His overall Will for you. His desire is for you to live a pure, sanctified life. He wants you to rejoice, pray, and be grateful in all circumstances Apostle Paul often spoke of the Opened and Closed doors, that God may place before us, as we travail and often time struggle to make the best informed decisions. These thought processes occurred as Apostle Paul was traveling, and encouraging people-as he was planting churches during the early years A closed door on certain occasion could be God’s confirmation directions of giving the opportunity to open that door to deliver the message of the gospel. Such may lead to the possibility of the closed door becoming a ‘Wider Door’-in the end. The overall leadership outcome to discern here, could be a focus through hard decisions, not just merely the evaluation of physical happenings around you-but seemly to lead you toward difficulty of the closed door. Albeit, sometimes the most difficult, painful, fearful, or even illogical path is the one that ends up being, the closed door, that deserved to be that Open Door. So, how do you know? What you are supposed to do?. or what direction to go, and what you should be looking for?, which door? the opened or the closed one? One answer might be, “Peace in the eye of the storm”. Realizing you’re doing what you know to do to be the Will of God-As your desire is shifted to focus on His glory, then your goal is to participate in His Kingdom. During this instance your impatience cease to be-as you surrender to His Lordship. You now begin to ‘recognize His Voice”. Above all other internal and external opinions, voices... Within yourself; You begin to feel The movement of The Holy Spirit. Which is constantly and continually interceding for you, In accordance with the “Will of God” Such that it shall allow for, and help you to understand, and accept what your physical eye may able to see. At this point you shall know that you are witnessing either an opened door or a closed door. Because, it will not be in contradiction to His Word, and you will be sensing The Loving “Peace of The Lord”- in the Genre of blissful ‘contentment.’ You are now, N-Joying: The sought after inner peace steve braxton, ordained minister of the gospel, storyteller. orator & narrator, Hall of Fame inductee-The Chicago History Museum, freelance writer & contributing blogger for periodical. magazines and global networks of internet blogs/ sbrax57@gmail.com, http://sbrax-on-point.blogspot.com/ linkedin.com/in/steve-braxton-939aa420/

 

Let’s Do The Facts Check First

The first night of the RNC Convention has proclaimed more dishonesty than four nights of the 

DNC Convention. Such claims as:

 

Trump and coronavirus efforts

The RNC video during the convention contrasted Trump as a ‘decisive leader’ on the virus

while suggesting the Democrats and media outlets ‘got it wrong” by downplaying the virus

 

FACTS: This suggestion is inaccurate; Trump himself downplayed the virus into March. Trump

Declared in February 2020 that the virus was a ‘hoax’, and that the number of cases in the US

would go away within a couple of days from 15 to ‘close to zero, and he predicted that the virus

might “disappear’ through a ‘miracle’ or something of that sort in late Feb. He was still saying

that the virus was likened to the flu in March.

 

He further suggested that the virus did not require the country to take more severe measures

The flu requires. He went on to proclaim that the virus was ‘under control’ and that the media

And the Democrats were overhyping the whole situation.

 

China Travel Ban

Natalie Harp, an advisory board member for the Trump Campaign-commended Trump for fighting

For Americans, saying that, if not for him, in January there would have been no China travel

Ban-millions would have died; Donald Jr. said that after the virus came to the US “The President

quickly took action, and shut down travel from China.

FACTS: These comments re misleading on two counts, Trump imposed partial restrictions

On travel from China, not a complete ban, and they were announced in January but not

Effective Feb 2^nd. There is no evidence that the travel restrictions on China save millions

of lives

 

Democrats and Guns

Jim Jordan, an Ohio GOP Rep., claimed that Democrats were trying to confiscate US citizens

Guns. “They’re also wanting to take away your guns”, Jordan proclaimed

FACTS: some Democrats have supported mandatory gun confiscation buy-back program

Joe Biden instead supports a volunteer buy-back program. Along with banning the Manu-

facture and sale of assault weapons and highly-capacity magazines. Biden’s plan also includes

mandating that people who own assault weapons either sell their weapons to the federal

Government or properly register them with the authorities.

 

China and Biden

Donald Jr. is pushing the narrative that “Beijing Biden”, is what he calls the Democratic

Nominee for US President, Joe Biden, ‘is so weak on China that the intelligence community

recently assessed that the Chinese Communist Party favors Biden, They know he’ll weaken

us both economically and on a world stage.

FACTS: while Trump Jr. is seemly asserting his own opinion here, his characterization of a

a recent assessment from the US intelligence community is misleading. The US intelligence

the community did not determine that China preferred Biden e would economically or other

wise weaken the US, rather it outlined that China preferred that President Donald Trump

lose the election because he was too “unpredictable”, and because of the many actions he’

has taken against China.

William R. Evanina, Director of the National Counter-Intelligence and Security Center,

reported in Aug 7, statement that updated the election threat landscape heading into

the election of Nov 2020, noted, that “China prefer that President Trump –whom Beijing

sees as unpredictable—does not win reelection”

 

In addition, the statement went on to say, that China has been critical of Trump’s COVID-19

the response, and the closure of China’s Houston Consulate, and the actions on Hong Kong

, tik Tok, the legal status of the South China Sea, and China’s efforts to dominate the 5G

Market. “Evanina’s the report makes no mention of China preferring Biden because he would

Weaken the US Economy

 

Middle Class

Donald Jr., on Monday during his speech at the RNC convention, gave praise to his father

by pushing the idea that the middle class benefited from the POTUS economic policies. “After

eight years of Obama and Biden slow growth”. Don Jr. went on to say that, Trump policies has

been like ‘rocket fuel’ to the economy, and especially the middle class.

FACTS: Actually, the middle-class income grew in the final years of the Obama and Biden admin

And it has staggered under Trump. Median household stayed essentially flat in 2018, at

%63, 200, breaking a three-year steak of increases, according to the most recent Census

Bureau data

 Steve Braxton, Freelance writer & blogger, Bestselling Author of non-fiction books, http://twitter.com/brasr6, http://sbrax-on-point.blogspot.com, linkedin.com/in/steve-braxton-939aa420,http://blog.feedspot.com/money_making_blogs, http://sbrax-on-point.blogspot.com,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DARE NOT: Compromise The Authenticity of Your Values

Dare Not; Compromise the authenticity of your values

The most important aspect of life is to protest and hold closely and dearly the integrity of your character and reputation. And it shall bode well being prudent to let your word be your bond. As you go forth-be insured to accomplish this in deliberate and intentional ways. This to ascertain having the following words expressed by others when speaking about your character and reputation. Those two most important and essential words are:

·        Trust and

·        Respect

Remember, it would be un-thought of; uncouth, and probably even considered un-professional, to ever attempt, or try to demand either. It may turn out to be a situation that would not be received very well, why? Well if you have to ask; you already have your ladder-of-success against the wall of the wrong side of the building

The Best way and the most prudent approach is to “Earn It”-the Trust and Respect

But Know This: you cannot earn it by being:

·      ~  Irresponsible

·       ~ Dis-avowing methods, remedies, and solutions put in place to help another for the sake of all humanity

·      ~  Displaying ruthless, selfish, senseless acts of cavalier tactics, and arrogance-often times exhibiting  behavior patterns, seen by others, as being clueless, or having a do-not-care attitude

We are currently in the throes and the uncertainties of the dastardly pandemic COVID-19. The questions often asked are:

·        Will we ever see normal times again?

·        The thoughts being proclaimed and uttered, is that, what we are now witnessing from some of the powers that be, is not a situation of normalcy-it is far from it

·        The ostensible realization is that these times are the epitome of; not being normal

·        Matter-of-Fact, the general consensus, of the populist is that some of the powers that be, traits behavioral patterns are not responsible, and viewed as being beyond strange.

Looking and paying attention-from a Civility and Spiritual perspective it may be wise; to focus and fasten on a certain mind-set guise.  One that gives rise and attention to realigning your moral compass to new truth, learn to be calm, patient, and connect to physical and mental well-being to “Be Healthy” in the following ways:

·        Use this ‘Now Time’ to isolate and Hibernate. You may be bored or have some pain. Remember, no gain without pain, and endured suffering to reach the Glory

·        Be resigned to take advantage to enjoy some quiet time, in solidarity

·        Take some time to reflect-seek inner-peace and strive to connect and grasp ‘The Peace of The Lord’-Thus to have the ultimate feeling of contentment

·        Be on the safe side; respect yourself, protect self and be concerned about the safety and protection of others

·        Treat others the way you wish to be treated

This is the path of the journey to walk in the midst of happiness, richness, patience, restoration, and kindness, disavow the lies, seek real new truth. This becomes the rule-ness for new coolness. Know that this is the path to earning the sought after ‘Respect and Trust’

Steve Braxton, life coach, ordained minister, freelance writer & blogger, http://sbrax-on-point.blogspot.com/ http://blog.feedspot.com/money_making_blogs/

Paradigm Shift: A Strident Focus on Meaningful Change

The attitude and process for change become imminent when it lessens situations and circumstances that causes pain and hurt to the innocent. Such changes can be looked upon as being healthy for societal norms, as it brings to the forefront, and creates the atmospheric environment for positive Change, positive Growth, Maturity and Development. As well as, having a focus toward the ideals of Fairness and Justice.

Most of the populist was pleased to see the change action sparked and push forth by “Black Lives Matters’, with the purpose and intent of its action without causing pain, hurting, fatal oppression and/or death to the populist

In the aftermath of the mobilization of “Black Lives Matters” movement in the case of George Floyd’s death. Which served as an outrage and a wake-up call for public out-cry across the nation. This incident of police brutality, where the police officer in Minneapolis held his knee on the neck of George Floyd causing his death was a gruesome act of inhumane treatment.

In spite of that situation, it is wise, prudent, and fair to say, that law enforcement has its place, and is a much needed service in today’s society.

However, a paradigm shift is prevalent; change is imminent, as it relates to training and education for sensitivity and the advent for the practice of Diversity, Inclusion and Equality. The process of training and education can be a decisive approach toward impacting a shift in behavioral patterns in ways, which law enforcement carry out its daily policing duties.

It has been evident in many prior law enforcements cases of apprehension, that certain police officers, has exhibited the action of being, to anxious and overly zealous in their behaviors, to use excessive force, and to draw and shoot their weapon to hurt, harm, and kill people

The learning curve of training, education, and through the implementation of such training exposure, can serve to be a key component to close the chasm of trust and honor between law enforcement and the populist. This along side other constructive dialog and conversation to help build a safer community and a ultimate unified society.

Steve Braxton, Ordained minister, Life coach, Freelance writer & Blogger, Featured at, https://feedspot.com/money_making_blogs/ sbrax57@gmail.com

The Wake-Up Call Leadership Regime of #45-These United States

On November 2016, those of us who went to the polls and cast the popular vote to elect the forty-fifth President of these United States, most were more than a little dismayed at the outcome. Even though the popular vote was for the presumptive Democratic Nominee, Hillary Clinton. However, when the Electoral College voting guidelines were tabulated the news was, not Mrs. Clinton to be elevated, but instead, it was Donald J. Trump who ascended to the nation’s highest office of The Presidency of the United States of America.-a a man whom we the popular voting block clearly viewed as unfit to lead America.

Since much time has elapsed and we have come to know that Donald J. Trumps is exactly what Hillary Clinton warned he would be, do, say and carry-out in his leadership, or lack thereof. The type of leadership being exhibited and portrayed, according to the populist, has been a roller coaster awakening of a nightmare

Trump in his attempt to lead has been a mirror, a warning, and an ultimate catalyst for change, albeit, not necessarily positive change. The model reflected in #45 the abnormal and erratic behavioral pattern reveals all that is wrong with the United States America such as:

·         Injustice, Unfairness and Oppression

·         Bigotry, Hatred, Racism and racial discrimination of black and Brown people

·         Catalysts for the flame of police brutality i.e. George Floyd

·         Broken Social contracts

·         The the undoing of noteworthy policy and procedures put in place, by the former POTUS for the betterment of we the people, such as Environmental, Education and Healthcare issues, components and initiatives

·         The crassness and disrespectful politics put forth in bullying tactics

·         The Cruelty, that is put upon the Economy

Although, I hasten to add, these maneuvers have been a wake-up call that has served, as a jolting shock that a mature democracy needed for action. A case and point was the action and procedures of the Impeachment process put forth by the Congressional House of Representatives, only to be ignored and not taken serious by the United State Senate, much to the displeasure of the populist voting block

In times like these, an enormity of the populist are using the utterance of a timely metaphor, Trump and his supporters are like a virus-a pandemic of sorts, and they have activated  the Democratic antibodies. The situations and circumstances that we see happening in the streets is the body fighting the infection from the disease of the virus.

America has prided itself as the first modern nation created for, and

by the people. Supposedly, a nation with no class structure, royalty, and/or

 Hierarchical order. Which was one of the main reason for succeeding from

The royal court of Great Britain. The approach was to give everyone a

chance to achieve the American Dream-where anyone could reach their full

 Potential in life. However, we are now aware that was somewhat of a myth.

We need look no further than the slavery era where human beings were

Treated, not as people, but as property.

The Civil War was fought to abolish slavery-but it failed in the process of the

aftermath to be the more perfect union put forth by the foundering father of

The Constitution. Because immediately after the Civil War was fought  the

Confederacy establish the “Separate but Equal” Jim Crow Laws.

Even today, we are witnessing, not only a cultural and ethnic war but seemly

a class war, especially in the behavior patterns of police brutality when it 

comes to black and brown people. It is time for America to confront its short

comings-as it  relates to systematic racism and racial discrimination, and it

must also acknowledge the reality of the created permanent underclass,

where a society exist that your melanin skin color content, and your zip code

determines the status and the importance of your future.

Depending on how you look at it, fortunately for #45 and unfortunately for

we the people of the popular voters' block, everything that is “wrong in

America is inherent in #45. such as:

·         The Hunger for Power

·         Abnormal Behavior unbecoming of a world leader

·         Complicit with Altright and White Supremacist vile behaviors

·         Cruelty toward those who look and are different than...

·         Gleeful Ignorance and disrespected Antics

·          Obsession with vile, insensitive social media attacks & comments

·         And outright Mendacious  Narcissism

The revulsion of candid unprofessional idiosyncrasies of #45 is causing the

Americans, and just recently, a number of the GOP supporters, to ask the

Questions: How did we get in this mess?, And how do we get out of this,

through what test? The wisdom is when #45 tenure is run and done,

Whether it’s Nov 2020 or four more years. The recovery process shall take

time, an enormity of hard work by dedicated, committed, well-intentioned

Professional people from every corner of American society.

In conclusion, a word about what happens in the streets, whether its

the violent protest, looting, property destruction or just peaceful protesters, it is

a demonstration of:

·         Open progressive for the effects of ways-societies ‘To Improve’

·         Often times fitfully-imperfectly

·         Frustratingly-sometimes tragically

Albeit, in the end, the goal, the objective sought after, the desired outcome

Is that, the imminent results is that we must work, “To Improve”

What to say to #45 The POTUS? Shall we say, Thank You! For the wake

Up call. Thank you for showing us who America really is?. Thank

You for helping we the people to muster enough courage to confront the

Situations of injustice, unfairness, hatred, racism, racial discrimination,

And helping we the people of black and brown for the realization of our

Importance to America.  We can now have the the utterance of the proclamation to

Say like Fannie Lew Hammer said during the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement:

“We are sick and tired of ‘Being Sick and Tired”

THE COURAGE TO CONFRONT SHALL NOW BE -THE PARADIGM SHIFT..

‘TO IMPROVE’    And Yes, With Tenacity and Smart work-We shall be OK.

Steve Braxton, life coach, freelance writer & blogger, featured: https://blog.feedspot.com/money_making_blogs/ sbrax57@gmail.com

THE POTUS RARE CONCILIATORY GESTURE TOWARD JUNETEENTH DAY

After much deliberation of conversation, advice, back and forth conjecture the POTUS announced the day prior of the eve of Juneteenth celebration that he decided to reschedules a campaign rally in Tulsa, Ok. The Juneteenth day that commemorates the freedom and liberation of slavery in the United States that is always celebrated on June 19, every year since 1865

The initial announcement of the rally sparked an uproar of resistant feelings earlier in the week.  Because of Tulsa’s history of being one of the worse incidents of racial violence and the burning down of a black section of Tulsa, known as Black Wall Street. This was 1921 massacre of several hundred African Americans were attacked by a white mob who looted and burned many black businesses and homes in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Ok. The attempt to hold a political rally on that day for the celebration of Juneteenth was viewed as disrespectful, and another affront by the POTUS, who has refused to have a conversation in meaning ways regards systematic racism in this country.

Albeit, since the POTUS retreat, which took several weeks, he has summarily failed to rise to the occasion for addressing any semblance of cultural change in America.  Routinely, he has held several roundtable discussions with certain African Americans leaders in the aftermath of George Floyd's death. Most of the populist is of the opinion that his instincts have been one to ignore the reckoning of the matter of systematic racism in the country

However, on the day after Juneteenth, he decided to return to the campaign trail on that Saturday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It has been leaked and  revealed that key members of his political advisers are very concerned that he will not be able to pull himself up out of the depth of decline he has created. Over the previous few weeks many of the POTUS campaign lieutenants in his administrations are alarmed, due the multiple polls show his popularity dipping into the ’30s against Joe Biden the presumptive Nov 2020, Democratic Presidential nominee

They are all concerned as they focus on and point to the re-election efforts, while expressing and being cognizant of:

·        A bungled response to the deadly pandemic COVID-19

·        A massive crippling U.S. economy

·        The outpouring of protests across America about systematic racism and police violence and inhumane treatment of people o color

·        The enormity of his former top officials and GOP members coming out against

Earlier this month, a senior White House official told The Daily Beast News that the greatest ‘nightmare scenario’ would be that he falls below 40% support in private and public polls. Since he is sinking in the ’30s that same White House the official simply responded, “This is not where any of us wanted to be at the moment in the re-election, but there is still time to make up the difference” We are somewhat hopeful that changes are on the horizon…

Steve Braxton, life coach, Freelance writer & blogger, https://blog.feedspot.com/money_making_blogs/ sbrax57@gmail.com

ANTEBELLUM…? What is it..?

`A word about its Origin and Meaning

The History and Etymology of its origin is Latin (ante bellum)

Defined: existing before the American Civil War-the Antebellum South

In the south it connotes and smacked of the hierarchical order of class, gender, ethnic and cultural differences-also brings out memories and reflections of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

Moreover, the evidence which brings the differences that resembled the making of a class society with the emergence and unfolding of such things as:

·        Limitations and restrictions

·        Denial and prevention of Civil, Equal, and Voters Rights

·        Oppression and suppression

·        Conflicts, challenges and obstacles

·        Deliberate and Intentional roadblocks

·        Racism and the manacles chains of prejudice, hatred, and Discrimination

My discourse and narrative of words and explanation is that; I was born in  The Southern State of Louisiana and lived on an Antebellum Plantation, where I, and my parents and nine other siblings worked in the cotton fields as Sharecroppers...with little or no wages received for the long hot summer days and months working in the cotton fields under abject conditions. The expression often used or expressed during that by-gone era was, “separated but equal’, because of the segregated laws of Jim Crow

Therefore, I shall begin with these words: During the 1950’s and 1960’s-The Laws of Jim Crow was very pervasive across the land. Due to the mandates that the laws upheld and put forth. The phrase and expression that was often proclaimed by the ‘Powers That be, of the Ruling Class’-Thus the Antebellum Plantation owners.  Nothing that was seen exhibited anything remotely close to activities that could be considered “separate but equal”

No matter, which or whatever way, you beheld the on-goings of the movements and the activities, during that by-gone era, there was no evidence of material witnessing portrayed- seen as anything that even resembled a “separate but equal” situational manifestation.

As a matter of fact, the evidence exhibited and portrayed, turn out to be a direct contradiction, to the, profess word, that was supposed to be the utterance and proclamation of ‘the real truth’. In the end, the expression “separate but equal” was nothing more than a fallacy and the furthest thing from ‘the real truth’

As of today, I can attest to the fact, that through the arduous situations of the long-suffering of the Jim Crow Laws, the experiential encounters of the Antebellum Plantation, the deliberate and intentional roadblocks, the diatribe of racism, prejudices, hatred, and discrimination, I am a ‘survivor’, I was resolute to be relentless and tenacious to reach and achieve the level of an ‘overcomer’.

I am confidant to share, that while in despair; through meditation and prayer, I was able to connect to something on the inside, a self-discovery that led me to experience and grasp, growth, and fasten to a feeling-of-freedom.

I am of the realization that every painful event you may encounter in life.

Even though it may seem woefully too painful to bear or even to endure.

However, I hasten to add, Every painful event in and of itself, contains a seed of “Growth, development  and Liberation” that shall allow you to go through the Long-Suffering to Reach the Glory!

In the final analysis, the “test’ take you through the ‘mess’ Gives rise to the Testimony and Message you can share, and Ultimately gets you through the Long-Suffering, so that you can get to the Glory! To Celebrate

GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, LIBERATION & FREEDOM….!

Steve Braxton, life coach, business adviser, featured @ https://blog.feedspot.com/money_making_blogs sbrax57@gmail.com