Dems Protest Barrett SCOTUS Nomination with Boycott Effort

 Democrats protest Senate Judiciary Committee vote to confirm Judge Amy Barrett to the Supreme Court by expressing their discontent in an organized boycott. In what has by all accounts been a lightening speed effort by Republicans to swiftly ramrod Judge Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination through the Senate where the voting deck is stacked in their favor. They have wasted no time in taking maximum advantage of the opportunity. Little time out or political reprieve was allowed for public grieving over the loss of Supreme Court Justice and cultural icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg. A Supreme Court replacement was announced by Trump  just a few days after RBG’s death and the nomination process begun almost immediately thereafter. It has just been a month since her passing and less than 10 days before the Presidential election. Today Democrats plan a show of force in demonstrating their disapproval of the Republican power grab in an effort to rouse public opinion that could sway the presidential vote and slow down the pace of the nomination process. Though it seems unlikely that will occur considering the momentum they have gained so far in relation to the nearness of the November election. Pray for a miracle. If you have joyful visions of an Obama court in the future.

Movin’ On in God’s Name

 Movin’ On is the #1 song by gospel recording artist Jonathan McReynolds joined by Mali Music and it’s message is conveyed in a combination of upbeat and lighthearted music with old school r&b rhythm mixed in. The song gets you feeling and thinking positively about moving on from any situation in life that you may feel god does not want you to remain in. “I’m closing chapters. I’m turning pages, glory to glory from faith to favor. As you intently listen to the lyrics, Jonathan sings “I know my rear view can’t compare to what God will do with my life. I’m movin’ on”.  It’s about progress, growth, moving forward and celebrating the future. It brought to mind an archived blog post I wrote on forgiveness. Forgiving others is also about moving on, moving forward and not getting stuck in negative energy that harms you more in the long run.  Entitled, “On Forgiveness: the Heart of the Matter featuring India Arie’s cover of the Heart of the Matter a song on forgiveness by Eagles’ band member Don Henley. India also has recorded a duet with Jonathan a few years back. Their song is entitled Whole.

Whole.

 

Maintaining Integrity and Loving Ourselves and Others Through the Storms and Ugly Truths

Topping this podcast episode originally posted on October 8 and recorded on October 6, 2020.

Podcast link:

Maintaining Integrity and Loving Ourselves and Others Through the Storms and Ugly Truths

 Scripture reference is Psalm 27:1.

Rev. Cynthia Wilson selects an essay/article from her archives dated 10.28.15 referencing an episode from BET’s “Being Mary Jane” series and discusses suicide, physical and figurative, how we can sometimes get the wrong information because of a miscommunication I.e., we may not be forthcoming with the real deal or truth about what may really be going on in our lives in order to maintain a false bravado or certain socially acceptable image. Sometimes this will lead to unfortunate outcomes. But sometimes it’s just best to maintain.The inference is if we remain prayerful, faithful to God’s word  and trust in God’s guidance we will ultimately triumph if we maintain and put our trust entirely in god to see us through the storms.

Scripture for today:

Psalm 27:1

The Lord is My Light and my salvation whom Shall I Fear?

Easy Yoke, Light Burden, Trust and Belief

Don't let the chaos, confusion and uncertainty consume and bring you down. It is frequently during trying times that the wheat is separated from the chaff, fallow is distinguished from fertile ground, light outshines the darkness, a flash of clarity is received and truth is revealed. Listen out for the still voice of the infinite creator which guides and raises you above the apparent emotional quicksand and seeming uncrossable rivers. Take action undergirded by prayer, faith, trust and belief.

Gods yoke is easy. His burden is light. Trust and believe you can reach your goal.



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Question: "What does it mean when Jesus says 'my yoke is easy and my burden is light' (Matthew 11:30)?"

Answer: The phrase “my yoke is easy and my burden is light” is part of a larger passage (Matthew 11:28-30), in which Jesus tells all who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest. He isn’t speaking here of physical burdens. Rather, it was the heavy burden of the system of works that the Pharisees laid on the backs of the people that Jesus was offering to relieve. Later on in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus will rebuke the Pharisees for laying heavy burdens on the shoulders of the people (Matthew 23:4).

The “yoke of the Pharisees” is the burdensome yoke of self-righteousness and legalistic law-keeping. It has been said by biblical scholars that the Pharisees had added over 600 regulations regarding what qualified as ‘working’ on the Sabbath. That is a heavy burden! Recall the story of the lawyer who asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment of the Law (Matthew 22:36). You can almost read between the lines of the man’s question – “What law, of all the laws we have, do I absolutely have to keep?”

Jesus was saying that any kind of law-keeping is burdensome and amounts to a “heavy yoke” of oppression because no amount of law-keeping can bridge the gap between our sinfulness and God’s holiness. God says through the mouth of the prophet Isaiah that all of our righteous deeds are like a “polluted garment,” and Paul reiterated to the Romans that “no one will be declared righteous."

What makes Jesus’ yoke easy and his burden light is that in Jesus’ own active obedience (i.e., his perfect fulfillment of the Law of God), He carried the burden that we were meant to carry. His perfect obedience is applied (imputed) to us through faith, just as His righteousness was exchanged for our sin at the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21). Our obedience to Jesus then becomes our “spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1). Furthermore, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit who works in our lives to mold us into the image of Christ, thereby making the yoke of Jesus easy and His burden light. The life lived by faith is a much lighter yoke and a much easier burden to carry than the heavy and burdensome yoke of self-righteousness under which we continually strive to make ourselves acceptable to God through works.

"Restoration Harvest"

Click for Restoration Harvest podcast.