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Now or Never

by John Fountain III

December 22, 2008

Tragedies and Blessings are connected in ways that are far more complicated than words can explain. But I’m going to try:

       The power to change the direction of one’s life is a “now or never” scenario or what someone I know calls a “now what scenario”. You may think that you can’t control what happens to you, but God gives us basic instructions so that we may prosper and have complete control over the tribulations in our lives. That momentary issue is a test of inner peace and strength and faith. In the middle of any hurricane there is an eye of peace amid the destruction. Our lives are but a series of storms coming and going - they may have different names, but the weather patterns and conditions remain the same. There is peace yet in the middle of your storm. God says, “I am that peace”.

Mark 4:39

 “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”

It’s now or never! Tragedy strikes at the most awkward and unsuspecting times. It is in those times that we lean toward Him. It’s not to say that we won’t feel anything but all along; we are reassured of His unwavering presence in our lives. It’s a “now what scenario”- This unfortunate thing happened, now what? God is in your boat waiting for you to call on Him.

John 10:10

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

How are you to understand the distinctions between the two—life and life more abundantly? God gives us the answer for that too. For every choice there is a consequence or reward, for every right, there is a wrong, and for every night there is a day. Genesis 1:3-4 and 1:14 gives us the best example to distinguish differences.

Genesis 1:3-4 “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.”

Genesis 1:14 “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years”

My father told me “the sum of a good life, is the sum of good decisions, the sum of a bad life is the sum of bad decisions. There is light that goes off when a bad decision is made, whether you pay attention or not. And there is a light that goes off when good decisions are made. There are signs for seasons. The numbers that mark the years are but symbols for periods in our lives. When you look back on the sum of your life, what will the sum of your decisions be? If you are sitting here reading these words, it is now or never. My father gave me everything I will ever need in life, not because he had an earthly father that gave it to him, but because my father knew it was now or never or a now what situation. The absence of something or the presence of something is no excuse for the lack of control. You can overcome in spite of current circumstances. You can prevail. You hold the key to the destiny of your life. My father would impart his wisdom and there were times when I didn’t listen and when I made a bad decision, the light for me, remained in the echoes of past lectures. He would end his lectures with profound quotes and words of wisdom that were and still are the center of essays and lectures I’ll give my son one day. I’ll pass on one now:

By the pool of Bethes’da, lay a cripple man for 38 years, almost 40 years he sat by the pool waiting for an angel to trouble the water so he could walk. At certain times this angel would come down and trouble the water and whoever got in would be healed from whatever disease they had, but Jesus came by one day and saw the man by the side of the pool.

John Chapter 5:6-8  “When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?”

“The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.”

Jesus didn’t ask for excuses, or reasons why he didn’t get in the pool. He simply asked in his current state what do you most desire.  It’s not about where you been or where you are at, but about what you make up in your mind to do next - I’m here, now what? I’ve been to jail, now what? My parents never loved me, now what? I am stuck in a moment that has lasted close to 20 years, now what? Jesus asked, will thou be made whole?

Do you want to be made whole? Do you want to walk right, talk right, live right and see things more clearly than you ever have?  Neighbor; is there something that is keeping you by the pool- crippled, waiting on an answer, and waiting on divine intervention? Jesus didn’t lay hands on that man. He asked a simple question and offered a simple solution: He said rise take up your bed and walk. Pick up that thing that has made it possible for you to stay by the pool, pick up that mother that has allowed you to lean on her for so long, pick it up and walk, pick it up and move on to the next phase in your life. Jesus said that I have come so that you may have life and have it more abundantly, not a life of sorrow; although there will be those times, not a life of poverty although there may be those times, not a life of stress although there may be those times. Have faith in me He says. Have faith in me. Have faith.

I’m going leave you with the words Jesus told the storm at sea. When things get out of hand and you think there is no where to go just remember that God is and has always been in your life just tell that storm. “Peace be still.” And have faith that you can move mountains. Have faith. Be yee transformed by the renewal of the mind, and spirit. Change your mind and the rest will follow.  Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, shall I fear no evil? I don’t know where this road leads but I have faith that I won’t be lead astray. So, I tell you that even in the midst of tragedy, there is peace. Faith comes not by the seeing of the eye, but by the hearing of the word. Have faith.

Jesus said unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

It’s now or never.

A Woman's Journey - From Pain to Purpose
by Eleanor Smith

November 4, 2008 

Part 2 

There were times, while riding the red line el train on the way to work, that I would cry at the spur of the moment and look out of the window hoping that no one would notice my tear-stained face and blood shot eyes.  Even though a condom was used, I struggled with the revelation that I put myself at risk for pregnancy and/or contracted HIV or some other STD. I went out and purchased a home pregnancy test and did enough research to locate a clinic that provided free HIV testing. Both tests came out negative.

I couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that I allowed trash to enter my body, which meant that I was a human garbage can. That’s how I look at it. I (and my feelings) were a joke to him. In 28 years, I never wanted some male to view me as a notch on his belt and a boost to his ego.  Me…this happened to me? How could I have been so stupid? I asked that question millions of times while in a furor. Thoughts of revenge danced across my psyche like no tomorrow. The pain went through me like a ton of bricks would hit someone’s face, and I didn’t know how to shake it. I knew how to pray, but for some reason, I didn’t talk to God about it. I was too ashamed.

Even in the duration of the act, I felt God’s presence. I felt Him telling me to push the boy away. “Push! No baby, don’t do it!” were the words of my Savior.  But I was too far-gone.  I grieved so much that I sought spiritual counseling and began the process of healing and at one point, felt a little better. Then I discovered that the wound was still fresh and real. It was as if someone had cut me with a razor and even though I tried my best to patch up the wound, it kept bleeding because it was that deep.

I did all I could. I wrote a letter. I confronted him face to face, as well as electronically through IM Messenger. He told me that I needed to ‘stop dwelling on the past and you really need some help.’ I spoke to family members, close friends and colleagues who all encouraged me and gave me the support I needed. Every Sunday I would go to church heavy hearted and then it hit me that I am to use this experience to help and encourage other young men & women who have gone through the same thing. What I went through wasn’t in vain. I talked to everyone around me, those who were close to me as well as those who weren’t, except to the one person who mattered the most, God. I began to look at myself more in the mirror. I studied my face-the beauty of my eyes, the shape of my nose, the two deep dimples in my round fleshy cheeks. I noticed my shape, how I was made. The way I wore my hair. How I applied my makeup. My skin complexion. I stood naked in the mirror. I looked at me and told myself how much I still loved Eleanor, and that I will always remember my spirit, my laughter. I had to remind ME of how smart I am. And so I held my head up high and heard God whisper, “I still love you.”

He revealed to me that this would be my ministry. My tool. My stepping-stone. I’ve gained so much wisdom from this ordeal that now I can truly take a long look and evaluate myself. I know what I like, what I can tolerate and what I will not stand for. I know the red flags. I now know the signs of a predator. I know that the devil is busy, and he thought that this would steal, kill and destroy my inner core and light, but it has not. Even through all the pain, I thank God for it simply because had I not gone through this, I would not know how to truly appreciate the brilliance, beauty and intellect of myself, nor the real man that God has yet to bless me with.

Men, the next time you decide to take advantage of a woman who feels and cares for you deeply sit down and seriously ponder this and take my words into consideration: How would you feel if another man did this to your daughter? Your sister? Your mother? A close female friend of yours? An aunt or a cousin? What would you say? What would you do to comfort them? How would you feel if you saw the tears in their eyes as they ask you ‘why would he do this to me?’ Write down how you would respond in a notebook, tear out the page and pin it up on your bedroom wall, bathroom mirror or any place else where it is visible every day. Keep in mind that if you continue with your plan of deceit, it only showcases your own insecurity of yourself and weakness.

 And so, I end with a simple request. If you ever find yourself in this situation, or have already gone through it and the pain seems unbearable, talk to Jesus. Pray and watch how He heals your heart and soothes your nerves all at once. Watch how the load will begin to feel lighter and the need for attention from others won’t make a difference to you anymore. You will only seek the approval of God, the attention of God and the affection of God. Yes, having someone physically hold you feels good. But there’s nothing like the One holding you in His arms and the good news is that it’s actually genuine. He doesn’t have a hidden agenda. He doesn’t have ‘game.’ He doesn’t smile in your face and park in front of your house just to get something from you. His master plan is only to love and cherish the daughter you are, the one that He has fearfully and wonderfully made.

Scripture of the Week 

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

-Luke 2:14