THE RIGHT KIND OF FOOL

April 1, 2018 is Easter and April Fools’ Day.  Amidst all the puns that intersection brings, there is an underlying message for believers in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.   It’s a message about being: THE RIGHT KIND OF FOOL.

Listen well and leave a comment.

If you can’t get the audio on your device, visit the main podcast page at http://revandersongraves.podomatic.com/

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---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

Click here to support this ministry with a donation.  Or go to andersontgraves.blogspot.com and click on the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, AL 35064

REAL OR FAKE?

Then one who was demon-possessed, blind and mute was brought to Jesus; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.  And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” (Matthew 12: 22-24)

Jesus healed people of incurable illnesses.  He delivered people from spiritual and psychological affliction.  He manifest the pure grace of merciful God.  So naturally they accused him of being a devil-worshipper.

The Pharisees proudly bragged to Jesus that  “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” (John 8:41)

And Jesus replied, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.” (John 8: 44)

The sons of satan accused the Son of God of being an agent of the devil.  It would be funny if it wasn’t so familiar.

Crazy people look at sane people like the sane people are crazy.

Dumb folks ask, “Why you always doin’ stupid stuff like readin’?”

The most gossiping, cheating, fighting, conflict-provoking people on the internet constantly post their complaints about haters startin’ drama.

It’s O.K.  They can’t help it.  They’re so deep in their dysfunction that wrong feels normal to them.  So when you come around living like you’ve got good sense, it makes them un-comfortable.  Your presence and lifestyle makes them feel convicted.  Your existence makes them feel bad, so they call you bad.

They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. (1 Peter 4:4, NIV)

The next time some fool(s) calls you fake because you don’t engage in regular acts of stupid, don’t get upset with them and certainly don’t feel bad about living your life wisely.  Stop and ask yourself, “What do they think ‘real’ looks like?”

You see, if real to them is sin and foolishness then when they call you fake  they’re calling you righteous and wise.

Acknowledge their position. Offer appreciation for their observation.  And continue with your day. Say, “If what you do is real  then thank you for thinking I’m fake,” and walk away.

Nah.  Don’t do that.  That would be provoking.   You don’t have to say anything because anything you say can and will be used against you.

People in the wrong accused Jesus of being wrong, and Jesus, who had the means and right to perfectly justify His actions, faced their accusations with courageous SILENCE.

And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.  Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word.(Matthew 27: 12-14)

Face your insulters.  Don’t fear them.  But also don't let them provoke you into an emotional or unwise response.  Remember that Jesus understands how you feel.  Take courage and calm in the fact that God is on your side.

Jesus said, “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore DO NOT FEAR THEM.” (Matthew 10: 25-26)

Don’t let the fools turn you into one of them.  Don’t get real in their twisted way.  Stay real in Jesus’ real way.

Better to be fake to them and real to God than the other way around.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves
Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

You can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

Part 2: THE SCRIPT-FLIPPING CHURCH

We continue our walk through the early days of Jesus’ public ministry as we review how the Lord organized His disciples into the world-changing movement that was the early church.

In part 2 of what is now a series of messages on the SCRIPT-FLIPPING CHURCH,  Pastor Anderson Graves II follows Jesus through His first preaching circuit.  The Lord’s journey draws our attention to details in the gospels that we often miss and confronts us with some challenging questions about ourselves, our motives, and the reasons why we the church fail to be all that God called us to be.

Listen well.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer, and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church and the executive director of SAYNO (Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization) in Montgomery, Alabama.

Call  334-288-0577
Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

If you enjoy our work, please help support our work in the community. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to:
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116

A WORD TO THE WISE. Proverbs 30: 21, 22. "Rebellion or Revolution"

Proverbs 30: 21     For three things the earth is perturbed.  Yes, for four it cannot bear up:
22     For a servant when he reigns,
A fool when he is filled with food,

Proverbs 30: 21- 22.  Rebellion or Revolution? When you make certain changes in life the shift automatically brings conflict and upheaval because you are challenging the status quo and upsetting the expected order.  Through these situational shifts you become one of “those who turn the world upside down” (Acts 17: 6). 

And that may be a good thing, or not.  It all depends on whether you’re being rebellious or revolutionary.

David’s transition from servant to king was revolutionary.  When David is first introduced in the scriptures, he is little more than a personal servant to his father and 6 older brothers.  After David slew the giant Goliath, he was retained to serve King Saul as armorbearer, personal musician, and eventually an officer in the Israeli army under Saul’s command (2 Samuel 16).

Though called and anointed for the throne, David refused to seek his destiny through rebellious/ sinful means.  When Saul turned against him, instead of lashing out in vengeance, David humbled himself, ran and hid.  He only fought Saul’s forces when he absolutely had to in self-defense.  Repeatedly, David refused to use raw power to harm or to order harm against Saul (1 Samuel 24; 1 Samuel 26). 

This wasn’t the most expedient path to the throne, but David was determined to honor God’s holy Word rather than indulge his personal ambition.

Because David kept his ambition under submission to God’s will and God way of doing things, his ascension to the throne was REVOLUTIONARY, but it was not rebellious.

On the other hand, David’s son Absalom started a civil war and for a time took the throne by force (2 Samuel 15).  He publicly raped his father’s wives and tried to kill his father (2 Samuel 16). Prince Absalom’s coup was the act of an ambitious, angry, and damaged son who foolishly hoped that vengeance and violence would fill the emotional void left by a dad who had  been too busy to deal with his son’s issues.

For a time, Absalom had it all.  He was “filled” (Proverbs 30: 22b) but the means of his ascension were sinful and dishonorable.  His was a REBELLION rather than a godly revolution.

David’s REVOLUTIONARY reign was long and blessed.  Unlike any other government in his day, David’s dynasty extended to an eternal line of kings (2  Samuel 7: 12-16).  That had not happened before. 

Absalom’s REBELLIOUS season of power and prosperity was short, destructive, and cursed.  Absalom sowed seeds of damage and distrust which were still bearing poison fruit into the early days of his little brother Solomon’s kingdom. 

HOW and WHY you fight will determine whether your rise is a blessed revolution or a cursed rebellion.

If you consider your battles, and inquire of the Lord to decide whether or not you fight---- you’re leading a revolution.

If you attack and try to destroy every perceived enemy----you’re in rebellion.

If you refuse to sin in pursuit of your destiny, if you’d rather have to wait than have to violate God’s commands---- you’re a revolutionary.

If you let the end justify using any sinful means necessary to get what you (think you) deserve------ you’re in rebellion (1 Samuel 15: 23).

If you seek the job because it’s where your anointing has lead you (1 John 2: 27)--- it’s revolution, baby.

If you want the title because it appeals to your ambition---- that’s rebellion.

When you press for greatness,  you are going to upset some people and some institutions.  You are going to have to fight.  You and others will be hurt in the battle that ensue.  Automatic.  Can’t be avoided.  Somebody’s world is going to get turned upside down.

This is true for a person and for the church.

If you’re going to make a difference then you have to make things different.  That’s controversial.  That’s REVOLUTIONARY.

The only way to completely avoid all conflict is to sit and do nothing, to never pursue our greater callings.  In other words, to avoid conflict you have to DIE.

So, every now and then, a person and a church need to do something that is perfectly aligned with God’s will and is also difference-making, earth-shaking------ REVOLUTIONARY.

But watch how you do it.  Be mindful of why you’re fighting.  Let the Word of God set your rules of engagement. 

Down with rebellion.

But get ready for the revolution!

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

Call  334-288-0577
Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme@blogspotcom.

If you enjoy our work, please help support our work in the community. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116

Proverbs 30: 21, 22. REBELLION OR REVOLUTION?

Proverbs 30: 21     For three things the earth is perturbed.  Yes, for four it cannot bear up:
22     For a servant when he reigns,
A fool when he is filled with food,

Proverbs 30: 21- 22.  Rebellion or Revolution? When you make certain changes in life the shift automatically brings conflict and upheaval because you are challenging the status quo and upsetting the expected order.  Through these situational shifts you become one of “those who turn the world upside down” (Acts 17: 6). 

And that may be a good thing, or not.  It all depends on whether you’re being rebellious or revolutionary.

David’s transition from servant to king was revolutionary.  When David is first introduced in the scriptures, he is little more than a personal servant to his father and 6 older brothers.  After David slew the giant Goliath, he was retained to serve King Saul as armorbearer, personal musician, and eventually an officer in the Israeli army under Saul’s command (2 Samuel 16).

Though called and anointed for the throne, David refused to seek his destiny through rebellious/ sinful means.  When Saul turned against him, instead of lashing out in vengeance, David humbled himself, ran and hid.  He only fought Saul’s forces when he absolutely had to in self-defense.  Repeatedly, David refused to use raw power to harm or to order harm against Saul (1 Samuel 24; 1 Samuel 26). 

This wasn’t the most expedient path to the throne, but David was determined to honor God’s holy Word rather than indulge his personal ambition.

Because David kept his ambition under submission to God’s will and God way of doing things, his ascension to the throne was REVOLUTIONARY, but it was not rebellious.

On the other hand, David’s son Absalom started a civil war and for a time took the throne by force (2 Samuel 15).  He publicly raped his father’s wives and tried to kill his father (2 Samuel 16). Prince Absalom’s coup was the act of an ambitious, angry, and damaged son who foolishly hoped that vengeance and violence would fill the emotional void left by a dad who had  been too busy to deal with his son’s issues.

For a time, Absalom had it all.  He was “filled” (Proverbs 30: 22b) but the means of his ascension were sinful and dishonorable.  His was a REBELLION rather than a godly revolution.

David’s REVOLUTIONARY reign was long and blessed.  Unlike any other government in his day, David’s dynasty extended to an eternal line of kings (2  Samuel 7: 12-16).  That had not happened before. 

Absalom’s REBELLIOUS season of power and prosperity was short, destructive, and cursed.  Absalom sowed seeds of damage and distrust which were still bearing poison fruit into the early days of his little brother Solomon’s kingdom. 

HOW and WHY you fight will determine whether your rise is a blessed revolution or a cursed rebellion.

If you consider your battles, and inquire of the Lord to decide whether or not you fight---- you’re leading a revolution.

If you attack and try to destroy every perceived enemy----you’re in rebellion.

If you refuse to sin in pursuit of your destiny, if you’d rather have to wait than have to violate God’s commands---- you’re a revolutionary.

If you let the end justify using any sinful means necessary to get what you (think you) deserve------ you’re in rebellion (1 Samuel 15: 23).

If you seek the job because it’s where your anointing has lead you (1 John 2: 27)--- it’s revolution, baby.

If you want the title because it appeals to your ambition---- that’s rebellion.

When you press for greatness,  you are going to upset some people and some institutions.  You are going to have to fight.  You and others will be hurt in the battle that ensue.  Automatic.  Can’t be avoided.  Somebody’s world is going to get turned upside down.

This is true for a person and for the church.

If you’re going to make a difference then you have to make things different.  That’s controversial.  That’s REVOLUTIONARY.

The only way to completely avoid all conflict is to sit and do nothing, to never pursue our greater callings.  In other words, to avoid conflict you have to DIE.

So, every now and then, a person and a church need to do something that is perfectly aligned with God’s will and is also difference-making, earth-shaking------ REVOLUTIONARY.

But watch how you do it.  Be mindful of why you’re fighting.  Let the Word of God set your rules of engagement. 

Down with rebellion.

But get ready for the revolution!

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com

Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

You can help support this ministry with a donation to Miles Chapel CME Church.

You can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 

Miles Chapel CME Church

P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

A WORD TO THE WISE. Proverbs 29: 20

Proverbs 29: 20     Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 29: 20.  At some point, someone is going to confront you and ask for your reaction to something that you know little or nothing about.  The demand may be from a reporter shoving a microphone in your face, or a pushy bystander holding a camera-phone, or a peer with hand on hip saying, “Well, So-and-so said that they heard that you said......”

However the query comes, your interrogator will demand that you give an immediate answer.

The Bible calls it a hasty answer, and reflects upon the mentality of those people develop the  habit of giving hasty answers.  Proverbs 29:20 calls such people worse-than-stupid.

The endless cycle of news and the endless supply of supposedly-expert testimony-givers creates pressure to post/text/tweet/blog/give an answer as hastily as possible.  Everyone else has something to say, so you also feel compelled to say------ something. 

The problem is that you cannot speak intelligently when you don’t have the intelligence (in the military sense of “information”) to speak from.  Therefore, to answer hastily is always to answer un-intelligently.  Unintelligent=foolish=stupid.  Once you’ve said/tweeted/posted/ blogged something stupid------ it follows you forever.

The same people who pressured you to give a hasty answer will crucify you for giving a stupid answer.

If you don’t believe me, ask the University of North Alabama football player who got kicked off the team for a hasty (and racist) tweet posted when the President’s speech pre-empted a football game.

Ask Ambassador Susan Rice, who missed out on the nomination for Secretary of State because of a hastily prepared interview about an attack at an embassy.

Ask the kid who will get suspended today for a fight that started when he told her that he would kick his butt after she told him that she heard that he was scared of him and she just wanted to know if he was really scared and all she did was tell him what he said.

If you don’t know the necessary facts, the only intelligent answer is, “I don’t know------ yet.”

“Better to be silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” --- Abraham Lincoln

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

Call  334-288-0577
Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves
To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme@blogspotcom.

If you enjoy this blog, please help support our work in the community. Send a donation of any amount by check or money order.
Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Road
Montgomery, AL 36116

A WORD TO THE WISE: Proverbs 29: 11, "Venting"

Proverbs 29: 11     A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise manholds them back.

Proverbs 29: 11.  Sometimes you just need to vent.

Sometimes you don’t need advice or a solution.  Sometimes there’s no solution to advise.  You’re just hurting and you need to vent some of the pain and pressure before you implode.

That’s O.K. 

When Jesus faced the grave of His friend Lazarus, He wept and groaned (John 11).  Eventually, Jesus prayed and changed the situation, but initially Jesus just needed to vent.

It’s O.K. to vent sometimes.

Sometimes, but not all the time.  And not to everybody.

Job vented his anguish to 4 friends and they spent the next 30 something chapters making him feel worse.

Eleven disciples went with Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane, but when the time came for Jesus to pour out His heart about His passion, Jesus only took 3 disciples with Him, and He kept those 3 a stone’s throw away while He vented to His father (Matt. 26:36-39; Mark 14:32-36; Luke 22: 41).

Mary carefully observed young Jesus, how people responded to Him and how He answered people; but Mary didn’t tell everybody everything she saw or was told.  A lot of things she kept to herself and pondered them in her heart.   (Luke 2:19; Luke 2: 51)

Practice thinking before you vent.  Consider whom you’re about to tell and what you’re about to tell them.  Are they likely to help or to make matters worse?  Can you trust everybody in the room with your pain or do you need to pull a few people aside and vent alone?  

Think before you vent the most intimate details of the ongoing argument between you and your husband/ wife/ boss/ parent/ child/ whomever.  Will telling the entire planet by posting your business online help or harm the ultimate goal of solving the problem and healing the relationship?

Emotion can compel you to react immediately, but remember that the root of the word emotion is motion, which refers to movement.  In other words, feeling come and feeling go.   Emotion is temporary, but venting emotion has permanent consequences.

Once you’ve spoken, you can apologize; you can explain.  But, you cannot un-speak what you’ve said.  And your audience cannot un-hear what you’ve told them.

Once that rant or that pic is posted, one share, one copy/paste later and it’s out there---- forever, for the entire planet to relive and repost at will.

It’s O.K., to vent sometimes; but sometimes, probably most of the time, you need to hold back and be thoughtful about how you share your emotions.

Now, don’t share false emotions.  Don’t say you’re happy when you’re really broken-hearted.  Don’t say that you don’t care if they leave when you really want them to stay.  Speak truth or be silent.

Wisdom  means knowing when to do which.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a pastor, writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Call me at 334-288-0577
Email me at atgravestwo2@aol.com
Friend me at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme@blogspotcom.