Common Sense Ain't Common

Stillness in the Storm : TV Side Effects | 12 Little-Known Ways That Television Stifles Spiritual Awakening [and the Mind]

2014-09-13T10:37:00.001-07:00

Stillness in the Storm : TV Side Effects | 12 Little-Known Ways That Television Stifles Spiritual Awakening [and the Mind]

Steal, Kill, or Destroy…

2013-10-17T07:49:00.000-07:00

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Steal: take (another person's property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it.

Kill: 1 to cause the death of (a person, animal, or other living thing.)

2 To put an end to, or cause the failure or defeat of a thing.

Destroy: 1 put an end to the existence of (something) by damaging or attacking it.

2 ruin (someone) emotionally or spiritually

Of all the times that I had read this scripture, the way that I understood what it is ACTUALLY saying, was flawed, as I believe many people have also viewed this passage. It would seem that first, there are different levels of consequence when it comes to the way that satan attempts to approach us. This could not be further from the truth!! No matter the difference in verbiage, the common denominator with all three of these terms is FINALITY.

If one were to try to put these words in order, in terms of (seeming) severity, I imagine kill and destroy might tie for first place, then stealing. In fact, each term was specifically used by Jesus to illustrate an inherent danger, of identical magnitude!

It goes like this. If Satan can steal from you, whether it is your purpose, your destiny, your direction, your fire, your zeal, or your material possessions, he has no need to physically kill you anyway. You’re ALREADY dead to him… you are not affecting the kingdom of darkness. This paints stealing in a much more ominous light… Concerning the other two, they are equally as malignant!

THIS is the end game of our enemy. He wants to eradicate you, or anything in you, or concerning you that will be of threat to his kingdom! Some things can come by way of our physicality (what we see before us), and other things may be of a more proverbial nature. All in all, satan will use any route to try to invalidate what God has placed in you, for His Glory and Greatness.

DO NOT ALLOW satan to win!! He is limited in power, and can only touch you if God says so (Job). Do not be IGNORANT of satan’s devices (2 Corinthians 2:11). When you think he comes one way, he may be trying a multitude of ways to knock you off. Knowing the ways he will attempt to defeat you will give you an instant advantage. Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge!”

Know your enemy, know how is coming at you, and KNOW GOD’s WORD!! YOU WIN!!!

The REAL Danger of Pornography!! FINAL - THE PRAYER!!

2013-09-27T19:01:00.001-07:00

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The REAL Danger of Pornography!!

Part 4 – THE FIX

In Mark 9:29, our Lord Jesus replied to one of His disciples that some spirits can only come out by fasting and prayer. If you truly seek deliverance from the spirits of lust, pornography and sexual abuse, there are some things that need to happen.

First, you MUST rid yourself of every portal through which satan may tempt you. That means any and ALL pornographic pictures, magazines, videos, DVD’s, and any other paraphernalia of a sexual nature must be thrown out, immediately! This act of FAITH is a sign to yourself, and more importantly to GOD, that you are ready to receive HIS best for your life, and ready to change.

One you’ve cleaned house, here is a prayer to pray:

Father, in the matchless and superior name of Jesus, I ask that you forgive my sin in the area of pornography, perversion, and lust. Your Word says in 1^st John 1:9 that “If I confess my sins to you, that You are faithful and just to forgive me, and will clean me from ALL wickedness.”

Father, I believe Your Word, and I believe that you will remove my sin from me, as far as the east is from the west.

I renounce, rebuke, and bind all of the spirits of perversion, lust and pornography that come to kill me, steal from me, and destroy me, in THE NAME OF JESUS!! Satan has no power in my life, and no authority to torment me any longer, from this day forward. I curse these evil, sexually perverse spirits, and send the back to the pit of hell, NOW, IN JESUS name!!

The curse is removed from my life, and I walk in new freedom in You Father, from this day forward. I ask that you cover my mind, body, and spirit with the BLOOD OF JESUS. I close and padlock every spiritual door that has been open, in Jesus name, AMEN.

You’re Free!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From this point on, it is imperative that you protect your eyes, ears, and spirit man. Turning off the television is a great way to garner strength. Reading your bible incessantly will also help to strengthen you spirit, so that you can withstand an attack from satan. You CAN do this... God created you to be able to STAND!

Peace & Love

The REAL Danger of Pornography!! Part 3

2013-09-27T16:08:00.000-07:00

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In part 2, we left off with the understanding that after SEED is deposited into the WOMB, there is fertilization, then CELLULAR MITOSIS…

A brief description of cellular mitosis is the splitting or division of cells, which double incrementally with each split… Let’s juxtapose this in the SPIRIT.

The evil seed, being originated and influenced by demonic intent, is deposited, fertilized, and begins to grow inside the (Spiritual and Natural) womb of the woman. At this point, nature takes off, on a crash course with destiny. Unless a miscarriage takes place, EVENTUALLY THERE WILL BE BIRTH!! Can you imagine what is birthed from the seed of these evil, pornographic demonic spirits?!!!!!

Now, let us rewind for a moment. Before birth, there must be INCUBATION. Incubation is the process by which an embryo (fertilized egg) is nourished inside of woman, aiding in its health and grown. The end game of incubation is so that birth can take place… And here’s a scary thought: The woman is forced to walk around nurturing, and CARRYING the progeny of demonic, lustful, and selfish pornographic spirits…

Would YOU want your Mother, Sister, Wife or YOURSELF to carry around satan’s child, whether spiritually, or naturally?

Part 4 is THE FIX!! Keep reading…

The REAL Danger of Pornography!! Part 2

2013-09-26T08:45:00.000-07:00

-->When we left in Part 1, we learned that what pornography is and does in opposition to God’s ordained relationship interactions. Now here is the next nugget…

The images that our eyes see are emblazoned onto our brains. When we see graphic images of sexual misuse and abuse, they are understandably difficult to erase from the brain. The images are actually scarring your brain!

In motion, a man will generally have some sort of visualization from pornographic images prior to (as the catalyst for sexual involvement) sex, or during sex. What this equates to is the man channeling demonic, perverse energy to stimulate sexual intercourse. Seems harmless enough, right? The answer is NO!!

As the man begins to penetrate the woman, both physically and spiritually (sex IS both physical and spiritual), spiritual seed AND natural seed are being deposited into the womb of the woman. This ominous and perverted seed will then fertilize the waiting egg. What happens next?

Cellular Mitosis….

Stay tuned for part 3!!

The REAL Danger of Pornography!! Part 1

2013-09-25T18:07:00.001-07:00

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I must first preface this word with a little information. To be able to understand and receive what the Spirit is saying, one must comprehend a couple of things.

1. Men are seed carriers, and penetrators. This has both natural and spiritual significance.

2. Women have a unique, and dualistic ability, which is God-given. They were made to be able to receive seed, incubate, and give birth. There are also spiritual and natural ramifications here as well.

Now that we have established that fact, one can begin to understand why pornography is so dangerous, both in the spirit and in the natural. One thing that I have learned is that one of the tricks of satan is to take things that God created, and pervert them as much as possible. After this perversion is implemented, he then tries to pass the perversion off as the real thing. As the natural, right, normal, and Godly thing… this could not be further from the truth.

What pornography does is take the God-given desires for affection and intimate contact, and turn them on their heads. Pornography is no more than a demonic, lustful perversion of God’s gift of love, intimacy, and sex in the MARITAL covenant; and offers a quick, yet deficient substitution.

The NATURAL desires between a HUSBAND and WIFE for that love, affection, and intimate contact, which COME FROM GOD, are replaced with faceless, empty invasions of lust, selfishness, and demonic sexual acts. Instead of one’s SPOUSE being the object of the other’s desire, there is only lust, and selfishness. This can be recognized by “Finish First” syndrome…. But the danger goes DEEPER. Stay tuned for part 2!!

Your Favorite Rapper in NOT Iluminati!!!

2013-09-16T08:09:00.002-07:00

I realize posting has the potential to get me in a spot of trouble, but I have to speak truth, and in that truth, I HAVE NO FEAR.

Disinformation - |disˌinfərˈmā sh ən|

noun

False information that is intended to mislead, esp. propaganda issued by a government organization to a rival power or the media.

I have recently noticed something in our media that that has given me pause, and made me shudder. There is a growing onslaught of people who are assuming and purporting that many of our favorite celebrities, musicians, and actors are involved with the "Illuminati." There has been growing admiration for both the "associated" celebrities, as well as for the Illuminati, much to my chagrin.

I am here to open your eyes!! I am by no means an expert on the subject of the Illuminati, however, I have read many books, and studied many documentaries on the subject. From them, I have learned this:

The real people in the Illuminati are the elite. Who are these elite that I speak of? Well, one way that you can tell who the real elite are is by this precursor: They generally will NEVER allow themselves to be spotlighted in the media. These people that I speak of, remain as hidden as possible. Remember, real power moves in silence, and not just audibly, but in every way the word applies.

Those that are truly in the Illuminati believe that they have little to nothing in common with the general public, and have a severe hatred for the general population. The want to eliminate most of the world's population, including your favorite rapper/actor/celebrity. Herein lies the trick, and the diversion from the truth... By allowing the public to believe that their favorite celebrities are in fact a part of the Illuminati, a sense of harmlessness becomes associated with the Illuminati. We think, "if Jay-Z is in the Illuminati, and he's married to Beyonce´, and such a great father to Blue, then the Illuminati CAN NOT BE BAD."

Unfortunately, this can not be farther from the truth. The only common link between many of these figureheads, and the real power, is satan! These people are satanic, and that is the ONLY common denominator. Please know that these people hate you. If you're poor, not considered royalty, or black, they DEFINITELY don't want you...

They are using the aforementioned.... To desensitize the public to this ominous faction and their nefarious deeds. WAKE UP!

Kandi Burruss Rehearsal - 2010

2013-08-31T07:33:00.001-07:00

Kandi Burruss Rehearsal pt. 2 - 2010

2013-08-31T07:32:00.001-07:00

Be a parent..

2012-02-09T06:25:00.000-08:00

I know that SOMEONE is going to take this the wrong way, so let me preempt your offence with an apology.

Now that that is out of the way, I'll say this. I do not have any children, but I have worked in an educational institution for several years. My view on children has changed, shifted and morphed over these years, but this has remained a constant. The reason that children are children, and they have parents to take care of them is that whilst seeming mature and capable, children are not able to take care of themselves. They are not physically or emotionally ready to make the best decisions for themselves, or remedy themselves. As a parent, it is your job. You must lead, guide, protect, correct, nurture and discipline them, at all costs. And above all else, you must ensure their health and well being.

That being said, here is the crux of this piece: IF YOUR CHILDREN ARE SICK, KEEP THEM HOME!!!
Not keeping them home not only lengthens the amount of time of your child's sickness, it also endangers their classmates and educators. No one wants to get sick if it can be helped, so KEEP YOUR SICK KID AT HOME UNTIL THEY ARE FULLY RECOVERED!!!

And that, is why COMMON SENSE AIN'T COMMON - JO

Don't be afraid!

2012-02-09T06:08:00.000-08:00

As many who know me are already aware, I am a drummer!! I love playing the drums... It makes me happy. I am passionate about music and I feel it has been one of the most consistent things in my life. That being said, I am also a man of God. First and foremost, and because of that, I must always walk in that fact. I minister in song, but I also can minister in whatever other ways that God has called me to at any given moment. We may not be able to see the effect of our obedience, but know that it makes a difference...

I will share this story. I am struggling with working at a job, when I'd much rather be doing my passion full time. I have to remind myself every day that this job is preparing me for my career, which will be tied hand-in-hand with ministry in some form. Every day, I grow a little more and I try to exercise the fruit of the spirit in my interactions. Lately, I've been anointing myself every day, saying a short prayer and hopefully allowing that prayer be effective in my life. One day, one of my students say the oil in my area and asked, "Mr. Oliver, what is that?"

Now, I have never been very overt about my values and generally keep them to myself. My students know me more for being a rock star drummer, than for being a being a "church" guy. I was initially hesitant about explaining the ritual of anointing oneself or another with oil, but after much pressing, I relented. I explained, "this is oil that I put on my head and hands every day. When I put this oil on, I say a prayer to God, asking Him to lead me in the right paths, and to help me to be patient and kind. I also ask Him to let me hear His voice and help me to make the right decisions." The children who I explained this to were fascinated, and one by one began to ask, "Mr Oliver, can you put that stuff on our heads?"

Inside, I leaped with joy and surprise, and I knew that at that moment, I must be obedient. I followed through with the task, and I believe that the effect on the children will be life-long. I hope that it has the same effect as it had on King David.

To this day, every now and then, some child will ask me to put the stuff on their head. They may not understand the significance of this, but I do, and God definitely does. I said all that to say this. I may never be a preacher in a pulpit. I may never whoop and holler, or exegete, but I can walk in love, and be obedient to The Spirit. I can exercise the fruit of the spirit and make a difference in my daily sphere of influence. I must be fearless and I must be different. I am not afraid... Are you?

Kameron_Corvet

2012-02-08T19:31:00.000-08:00

Check out the new EP!!

Watch Your Mouth!!!

2011-09-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

Many of us have grown up and have heard the term in one setting or another..."Watch Your Mouth!!"
Whether it is from a parent, guardian, teacher or some person in authority, we have all been told this at least once. The thing is, generally, we are told this as a warning to not say, or stop saying something disrespectful. The manner in which I pose the warning to you is from a place of destiny, purpose and best-life....

I recently began listening to Donald Lawrence's second project in his "Law of Confession" series titled, "YRM (Your Righteous Mind)". On the CD, there is a excerpt of a sermon that Bishop Tudor Bismark sometime in 2010 titled, The "I Am" Factor. In the full sermon, he goes into teaching about speaking only the positive over your life, given the "boomerang-like" properties of the universe. I have been consumed with this teaching, and have been making a habit of incorporating this in my day-to-day life. Here is what I have to offer...

If you make a habit of ever reading scripture you will find many references to people's ability, or lack thereof, to control the circumstances around them, just by speaking what they desire. The message version of Proverbs 18:21 says "Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose." This verse is extremely poignant in pointing that the things we say are extremely important. They can either bring our dreams and aspirations to life, or they can kill. It is our choice whether we will be life givers or murderers....

Just to reiterate importance, let's look at the Message version of Proverbs 21:23. It reads, "Watch your words and hold your tongue; you'll save yourself a lot of grief." Now, one might be inclined to think that controlling your tongue and words is an easy task, but the Message version of James 3:7-10 points out "This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!"

Now you can see, it is important to watch your words, and there is great news concerning this!! God left us a great example! Romans 4:17 says that "God, who gives life to the dead, speaks those thing that are Not, as though they ARE!!!" Because we are made in His image, we have that same power, to speak life or death into our situations.

I know how difficult it can be, but we all have a choice to make. Will our minds deal only with the temporal world, and treat things only as we see them, or will we realize that the spirit world is real, maybe even more real that what we see everyday, and speak to the universe, commanding what we desire? I choose the latter... I have begun to speak favor over my life, and have I been experiencing it!!
Through the every day rigmarole of work, more work and other responsibilities, I find it extremely to speak life. My natural inclination is say how I feel, say what is on my mind, or say what I see, on an immediate basis. This is my crux. I can either choose to say that I am a failure, that I am poor, or whatever my particular situation looks like at that moment, or I can speak life and create what I want. I Am Rich! I Am Wealthy! I Am Favored! I Am Profitable! I Am Lucrative! I Am in High Demand!!

What will you choose? Watch Your Mouth!!!

Break Out!!!!!! (An Oldie but Goodie!)

2010-04-27T05:44:00.001-07:00

I consider myself to be a good, safe driver, possessing the ability not only to expedite the trip, and do so in a safe manner. I am often faced with the frustration of driving in the fast lane, but getting stuck behind drivers who are in the fast lane and refuse to drive at an appropriate speed.

One may ask, what is so revelatory about getting stuck behind slow drivers in the fast lane? My point is this. Driving in the fast lane on the highway and in life have both the risk and the reward. The risks may include getting a ticket from the police, having an accident (if you're not paying attention), getting a flat tire (blowout) or stalling. However, the reward generally is this. You get to where you're going quicker than the people who choose to drive at a slower pace.

To me this metaphor is two-fold. Part one: If you fail to equip yourself with the necessary things to get to your destination you will always have problems on the road of life. You must read your owners manual, pay attention for debris, stalled cars, slow drivers and accidents in the road. You must also have your mirrors set correctly, so you may see and hazards to your rear and on your sides. You must also check your gas gauge, tire pressure, coolant and other fluids, and most importantly, make sure that your battery is operational and connected. In life we must first have a connection to (relationship with) God, which is first and foremost. After that, we must remember to read the Bible (our Life Manual) that God has given to us to guide us through any and every situation. We must not forsake to attend church (our filling station) to be edified, encouraged, built up, taught, and healed. Also, discernment must be used, to keep watch for attacks to come from our enemy.

Part two: For everyone that feels stuck in a slow lane, or behind people that are blocking you from accelerating to the speed that you desire, don't be afraid to break out!! Whether that means you switch lanes to pass them, or you have to flash them over, break out from your current speed… Accelerate to where you know you should be. There are no boundaries to your success on the road. The reward is greater than the risk! Break Out!!!

Relationship Roadmap for the Ladies

2010-01-22T10:27:00.000-08:00

DISCLAIMER: THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ARE BROAD AND MEANT TO SPEAK OF NORMAL, RESPONSIBLE, CONSIDERATE MEN, IN TYPICAL RELATIONSHIPS. ALSO, IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOURSELF AND YOUR PARTNER, BE AWARE OF EACH PERSON'S INDIVIDUAL STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES AND JUDGE EACH SITUATION ACCORDINGLY. FURTHERMORE, I BELIEVE THAT EACH WOMAN HAS THE ABILITY AND RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHOM SHE BECOMES INVOLVED WITH. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A WOMAN SHOULD NEVER ENTER INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH A MAN THAT IN GENUINELY LESS INTELLIGENT THAN SHE. NOTICE I SAID LESS INTELLIGENT, NOT LESS EDUCATED. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. A LESS INTELLIGENT OR UNINTELLIGENT MAN HAS LITTLE OR NO COMMON SENSE AND GENERALLY NO SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY. LESS EDUCATED SIMPLY SPEAKS TO BOOK KNOWLEDGE. I DO NOT CONDONE CHEATING (SEXUAL UNFAITHFULNESS) IN ANY FORM.

In my dealings as a friend, confidant and acquaintance to many fellows, I have noticed many congruent issues that men have in relationships with women. Oddly enough, many guys that I speak with complain of the same three or four complications. There is a book that was published in 1992 that states "Men are From Mars, Women Are from Venus", and while I agree with some of the information, I feel that there are more simple ways to understand and relate to your mate. Secret: MEN ARE SIMPLE!!! It is my goal to illuminate a few of the issues and offer solutions to those issues, so that women are able to better understand their men. The reward for these simple understandings is a much more pliable man... What lady wouldn't love that?!

The majority of men are mainly concerned about a few issues in relationships; They include, but are not limited to SEX, MONEY, DIPLOMACY, CUISINE and DEFERENCE. I'll delve into each topic briefly.

When is comes to SEX, the old adage almost always applies: "Men want a Lady in the Streets and a Freak in the Sheets". Understanding, embracing and embodying that statement will begin to smooth out ANY relationship. It's not a secret, men are visually and sexually driven. What does this mean to the Ladies? If nothing else but the sex is right in a relationship, you can still have a docile and ductile man, who is more prone to conform to your wishes. Since the ways in which a man is stimulated are known, here are some ways to step up your game:

1. Don't be afraid to improve or begin a Lingerie collection. If your man sees it, and it is appealing, he'll be drawn in. This will speak to him that you want to put your best parts forward and you are aware of what he likes and desires. BUILD an INTIMATE BOND

2. Don't be afraid to talk dirty. Men love to hear all the raunchy things that you'd like to do to him, and all of the things that you'd like done to you. This will tell him that you're fearless and comfortable. Also, it will show him that he's not alone in his sexual fantasies. You're more relative. STRENGTHEN the INTIMATE BOND.

3. Don't be afraid to try new positions. Pick up a copy of The Pocket Kama Sutra. It will enlighten you on many unconventional positions that will undoubtedly enthrall your mate. STOKE THAT FIRE!!

4. Keep the Sex faucet TURNED ON!!!!!! For some reason, the speculated answer to a fight or disagreement (to women) is to shut the sex down. This is one of the worst mistakes that any woman can make. Not having sex with your man will not bend him to your will. It will alienate you! If he's not getting it from you......... KEEP THE PIPES FLOWING!!

MONEY matters are another point of serious contention in relationships. Money makes the world work. Everyone needs money. Most women won't date a guy that has no money or no means to make money, and most definitely wouldn't stay with a man that has no job or income. This point alone, makes it imperative to men to keep money. Many men also realize that having money will get you into doors that having looks and charm can not. In the relationship dynamic, many men embrace the fact that it is their job to Lead, Guide, and PROVIDE. Taking this seriously, it is essential to save, budget and be conscientious when spending funds. If a woman is more interested in shopping and spending, than helping to ensure the relationship's financial security, there will always be a point of friction. Here is some help.

1. Get on the same page when it comes to financial matters. Be willing to save and spend when the budget permits. If he's trying to save for a nest egg, and you're always trying to go to Louis Vuitton , it puts an unnecessary strain on him. Furthermore, there's no point in having a $2000 bag, and it be empty!!!

2. Try to trust your man's financial decisions. Remember that he is not perfect, but he is, at the end of the day, responsible for your relationships direction. It should be fairly easy to relinquish... Remember this key point: It things go (monetarily) well, you both look great. If they go horribly, the blame is almost automatically placed on the man. Let him fulfill that role, and you trust your man. This will give added confidence in his abilities and provide the mettle to actually make even better decisions.

DIPLOMACY: This one should be short and sweet. Having diplomatic skills involves being able to relate and communicate to all people in diverse and sometimes difficult situations. A man will be more apt to introduce you to his family and friends (thus allowing you to enter his inner sanctum) if he is sure you won't embarrass him, and you will be well received. Here are a few things to master:

1. Be well versed in many things; Current Events, Popular Culture, and relevant literature. This will show that you are urbane and not typical and self-absorbed.

2. Know how to properly carry on a conversation (i.e. Listen....Talk....Listen....Talk). Being loud and interruptive are not attractive characteristics. Be respectful. It speaks volumes about who you truly are and assuredly puts your best foot forward.

3. Be well spoken. NOTHING is more repellent than holding a conversation with a woman who does not know how to properly express herself and who constantly uses slang, and colloquialisms. The more you read, the better your vocabulary should become. Also, think about a thesaurus too.

CUISINE is another hotbed of dissension in relationships. I've heard it said that "The Way to a Man's Heart is through His Stomach" This rings true in my book. One thing that a majority of women seem to be failing at is cooking. MEN LIKE TO EAT!!! We enjoy great food, and delicious provender. 9 times out of 10, your man doesn't want you to be a master chef. He does, however, have a few favorite dishes that he enjoys immensely and would like to have more often than not. Pay attention. See what he always orders at his favorite restaurant. Go a step farther; Ask his mom for some recipes to the things that he loves. This will build a great bond between you and his mom, and also show him that you are aware of his desires and likes, and committed to taking the time to prepare sustenance for him.

Last but not least is DEFERENCE: The dictionary defines Deference as "Submitting humbly to (a person or a person's wishes or qualities)". Being in a relationship is [by default] saying that you actively want and choose to be with a significant other, yet many men find themselves in relationships with women who seem to prefer hanging out with their gal pals. It is one thing take a meal from time to time to catch up with the girls, but when you're spending an equal amount of time with friends as with your mate, serious problems will ensue. Your man knows you have options (everyone does) but he, being in a relationship with you, wants to know that you choose him above all else. He wants to know that you want and choose to be with him; that, what he is to you, trumps anything the girls have to offer. This will help to solidify your bond, and make him defer to you also.

COMMON SENSE: Get to know your man. Learn his fetishes and fantasies, his financial fears, goals and aspirations. Be a diplomat. Understand his sensibilities, and learn his appetite. These are simple ways to improve your personal relations and his perception of you. As you desire for him to be more pliable, you be that too. Don't be unwilling to do something that some other woman would gladly do to take your man away. We all know that the woman-to-man ratio is high. When you find a good man, do what it takes to keep him, and build a wonderful life together.

Love, Peace and COMMON SENSE

A Salute to Corporal....PUNISHMENT!!

2010-01-16T08:58:00.000-08:00

DISCLAIMER: I must warn you before you read this blog entry. It is an extremely sensitive subject and must be taken in the proper context. Please DO NO be offended by the content herein.

I grew up in a large, very church oriented family. I had both parents and 3 brothers & 3 sisters, ALL IN THE SAME HOME! My Great-Grandfather was the Pastor of the church we attended several times a week, and the rest of my family was heavily involved also. Being so deeply rooted in church, you hear many old axioms about the discipline and rearing of children. As a child, I was impervious to many of these sayings, yet I experienced the corollary of these adages.

I was not an especially bad child. I generally adhered to my parents wishes and commands, including their demand for straight A's in school, my share of household chores, civility between my siblings and I, and respect of all persons in authority. These persons included my teachers and pretty much everyone (within reason) that was older than me. I was respectful and obedient. However, on some occasions I flouted my parents' requests. The thing is, I knew what my parents required of me. They painted a very clear picture of what was right and wrong, what was allowed and what was not. Most of the time during these infractions, I knew somewhere in my mind that what I was doing was wrong, but I did not possess the fortitude to comply. In these moments of discretion, Corporal Punishment was what typically ensued.

My father was a large man, but he was predominantly gentle. Notwithstanding, whenever inexorable, he doled out effective and memorable punishment. It is my opinion that when most people think of corporal punishment, the first thing that comes to their minds in abuse. This was not the case. My father never spanked me without first warning me about my transgression. When recapitulated, he sat me down and explained to me what I had done, why it was wrong and why he was punishing me. In my youth, this seemed torturous and unfair, but as an adult I see its desideratum. My father also never had to spank me twice for the same thing.

An old proverb says "Foolishness (imprudence) is bound in the heart of a child...". To me this means that children do not have a completely inherent sense of what is right or correct to do. {If you want to test this theory, give a hungry child a choice between a vegetable (a necessity) and potato chips (a delicacy) and see which they choose.} Because of our nature as humans, it becomes necessary to dispense a form of punishment who's effect will remain foremost in the receivers head. This punishment, when doled out fairly, calmly and correctly, will help children to have a sense of consequence for their actions.

The COMMON SENSE: I'm not saying for you to pull out extension cords and whips, nor am I saying to correct in anger or with malice. I am saying that TIME OUT DOESN'T WORK!!!!!
The level of respect and the sense of consequence in children has diminished drastically since my childhood. Children seem to be more disruptive, more disrespectful, and less polite. There is a direct correlation between the two. I understand now that my father's incorporation of corporal punishment helped me to be the polite, law-abiding, courteous and responsible member of society that I am. Think on this...

Love, Peace and COMMON SENSE

Where's the Love?

2010-01-14T12:52:00.000-08:00

Today is a tragic day for many reasons, but specifically for the music world. It is sad because of the loss of legendary R&B crooner Teddy Pendergrass.

As artists of Pendergrass' caliber age further and begin to pass off the scene, they are being replaced by artists, who seem to be completely unfamiliar with true emotion. The ardor of yesteryear has been replaced with the instantaneous. Instead of love being built and growing over time, and sex being a special and private act, we now fast-forward through getting to know one another and skip right to screwing.

Regrettably, classic love songs like "Love T.K.O.", "You and I", "Sweet Love" and "All This Love" are being replaced with the likes of "Invented Sex", "Number One (Sex)", "Love in This Club" and "Digital Girl". Not to say that the latter group of songs are not sonically pleasing or even extremely catchy and well written, but there one key element missing; The soulful, sweet and seductive crooning of days gone by. Singers are molesting our ears rather than singing and songwriters seem to be more focused on copulation, than the beauty of building love.

It pains me to think of the state of our music. What love songs will we be singing in the next 20 years? I can not imagine singing the songs that have been popular in the last 10 years, to express my love and admiration to a woman. The COMMON SENSE lies in this: Love is great! One could live without sex, but can you live about love? Love keeps everything in balance and is in fact, The Greatest Power to exist. Therefore, a migration Back To Love is necessary. Nothing would improve the art and life more, than returning to the fervor and lyrical content of artists like Marvin Gaye, Patti LaBelle, Teddy Pendergrass, Luther Vandross and too many others to name. Let's get back to the passion and romance of our musical predecessors, and abandon the wham-bam-thank you ma'am...

Love, Romance and Common Sense

A Rose By Any other Name... is UNEMPLOYED!!!

2010-01-13T18:19:00.000-08:00

In my occupation working with children, I often come across many different names. It seems that over the last 30 years, people have been searching for increasingly unorthodox names for their children. Now, this would seem like forward movement when naming heirs, however, like with anything in life, people get an inch and take miles. Common names like John, Susan, Peter, Amy and Katherine have been replaced by names like Apple, Storm, Cobb, Ash, and more ethnic names like Keisha, LaQuisha, Precious, Shaniqua, DeVante, TyQuan, Jimique and Jurmoney.

This sad epidemic (to me) seems to be a direct reflection of peoples' admiration of our entertainment industry's carte blanche with kid's names, and a desire to go beyond the walls of normalcy when choosing them. Unfortunately, people don't seem to understand that working in the music, television and movie industry puts one in another world when it comes to jobs, working and money. Actor A who makes 10 to 20 million per film will typically have a trust fund set up for their child, so the child may never have to work a normal job, or submit a resume for employment. Musician B, will receive royalties from albums and songs for years to come, so their child may never have to join the general workforce. However, Citizen X who reads all the celebrity gossip rags and is besotted with celebrity goings-on, gives little thought to what they name their child, following suit to the Hollywood trend, thus dwindling chances for future employment for their offspring.

How many CEO's do you know of named Jahmal? How many billionaires or millionaires have names with prefixes like Sha, Qua, Tre, and Ty? There have been numerous studies concerning discrimination in hiring practices when choosing between candidates with traditional vs. non-traditional names. Common sense would tell one to think of these things, and give their child every advantage when it comes to their adult life, even with something as seemingly insignificant as a name. Sadly enough, the trend still continues, and we have masses of people who may be very well qualified, but their given name stops their progress from the start.

I would just like to admonish all my readers, before you start trying to keep it real when naming your child, or try to keep up with the Jonses' over in Hollywood, think of your child filling out a job application in 20 years. Think if the name you're getting ready to give your kid will help them or hinder them. I'm not saying go back to naming every child Tom, Dick, Harry, or Ann, Sarah or Margaret. I'm just asking for a second thought before going with a name that has no meaning, or that was invented in the last 30 years!

Peace, Love and Common Sense!

Just for kicks...

An Introduction

2010-01-12T18:41:00.000-08:00

Hello and Welcome to my new blog, Common Sense Ain't Common. This will be an intriguing journey through my daily, weekly, monthly and yearly experiences in the many roles that I play in life. First and foremost I am a new husband. I am an African American Male. I am an up-and-coming professional musician. I am a Teacher's Assistant in a public school. I am a comedian, an old soul, a lover, a cook and sometimes a sage.

Almost daily, I come across people and issues that generally are lacking one major thing. Common Sense. I have found out that common sense isn't common, so I will do my best to expose and illuminate these issues and help people be better (even myself), all whilst serving up a healthy dose of reality and comic relief. Please enjoy...