[00:00:01]
HAVE A DREAM[Wesley United 2023]
THAT ONE DAY ON THE RED HILLS OF GEORGIA, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TO THE MOUNTAINTOP, ALL WE SAY TO AMERICA IS, BE TRUE TO WHAT YOU SAID ON PAPER.LET FREEDOM RING FROM STONE MOUNTAIN OF GEORGIA.
I JUST WANT DO GOD'S WILL WE WELCOME YOU AND WELCOME HOME TO WESLEY.
NOW THOSE WHO ARE ABLE, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME IN THE CALL TO WORSHIP AND REMAIN STANDING FOR OUR CONGREGATIONAL HYMN, WE SHALL OVERCOME.
THE LORD SAYS, I AM THE GOD OF YOUR ANCESTORS.
I HAVE INDEED SEEN THE MISERY OF MY PEOPLE.
I HAVE VERY CRYING NOW BECAUSE OF THEIR OPPRESSORS.
SO I HAVE COME DOWN TO RESCUE THEM AND TO BRING THEM TO THE GRACIOUS PLAN.
OH LORD ALMIGHTY, WE LOOK TO ZION, TO YOUR PROMISE OF RESTORATION.
AND SHALOM, EMPOWER US TO HELP BRING ABOUT YOUR KINGDOM HERE AND NOW.
[00:05:43]
THANK YOU.AT THIS TIME, WE ARE GOING TO LIFT UP CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WE ARE GOING TO PRAY FOR THEM.
THERE ARE CERTAIN REPRESENTATIVES THAT WE ASK TO COME AND, UH, WE, I'M GOING TO CALL THEIR NAMES.
YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THE REPRESENTATIONS THERE, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
YOU'LL SEE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK, STARTING WITH THE EDUCATION, UH, PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, UH, THOSE WHO RE UH, WE INVITED THEM TO COME AND, AND I'M GONNA CALL YOUR NAME AND AS I CALL YOUR NAME, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO COME FORWARD.
THESE ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EDUCATIONAL WORLD.
MELISSA DRAKE, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF MCKINLEY HIGH SCHOOL, DR.
PAMELA JONES, BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
CRYSTAL HILL, DIRECTOR OF SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY MUSEUM OF THE ARTS.
IF YOU'RE HERE, PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.
AND IF I'VE MISSED ANYONE, IT'S JUST BECAUSE WE JUST GETTING YOU RS V P, AMEN.
UH, UH, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, OH, THE SUPERINTENDENTS HERE.
UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT MAJOR WILLIE STEWART JR.
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, MR. EDGAR CAGE, DIRECTOR OF TOGETHER BATON ROUGE, MIKE MCC, CALLAHAN STATE PRESIDENT NAACP ANDRE HARMON, PRESIDENT AND MICHAEL VICTORIAN, PRESIDENT-ELECT A HUNDRED BLACK MEN OF AMERICA.
WE HAVE VARIOUS FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES AND WE HAVE A LOT OF 'EM HERE.
AND I AM GOING TO ASK THAT YOU SEND ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM YOUR GRADUATE CHAPTER AND ONE REPRESENTATIVE IF THEY ARE AVAILABLE FROM AN UNDERGRADUATE CHAPTER IF THEY ARE HERE.
SO WHEN I CALL THESE FANTASTIC FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES, SEND UP ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE GRADUATE CHAPTER AND ONE REPRESENTATIVE IF THEY'RE HERE FROM THE UNDERGRADUATE, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, KAPPA ALPHA SCI FRATERNITY, OMEGA SCI-FI FRATERNITY, DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY, ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, SIGMA GAMMA RO SORORITY, AND IOTA PHI THETA FRATERNITY.
AND THOSE WHO ARE, THESE ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE VARIOUS FIELDS OF ENDEAVOR.
IF YOU'RE HERE AND YOU ARE A BUSINESS OWNER, JUST STAND WHERE YOU ARE.
IF YOU'RE HERE AND YOU REPRESENT THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS, PLEASE STAND WHERE YOU ARE.
IF YOU ARE A CLERGY OR A MINISTER OF ANY FAITH, PLEASE JUST STAND WHERE YOU ARE.
IF EVERYONE WOULD LET US BOW OUR HEAD AT THIS TIME AND PRAY OVER ALL OF THESE REPRESENTATIVES OF DIFFERENT FIELDS OF ENDEAVOR DURING THIS PRAYER MOMENT, OH GOD, WE COME TO YOU RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU ARE GOD AND WE'RE NOT.
[00:10:01]
WE ASK, OH GOD, THAT YOU BLESS EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATIVE HERE TODAY.BLESS THEIR WORK, OH GOD, AS THEY OPERATE IN COMMUNITIES OF GOD, FOR THOSE THAT MAY HAVE NO VOICE AS THEY EDUCATE OUR YOUTH, FOR GOD, AS THEY SERVE ARE COMMUNITIES, AS THEY PROVIDE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND JOBS AS THEY TAKE CARE OF THE CITY.
AND PERHAPS THE SHUT IN, SHUT OUT AND THE SHUT UP.
OH GOD, WE ASK RIGHT NOW THAT YOU BE WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE YES SIRS.
AND ALLOW ALL OF US AND ALL OF THEM TO KNOW THAT IT IS IN YOU, NOT IN OUR POSITIONS, NOT IN OUR INTELLIGENCE, NOT IN OUR SKILLS, NOT IN OUR RESUME, BUT IT IS IN YOU THAT WE LIVE, WE BREATHE AND WE HAVE OUR BEING.
WE LIFT THEM UP, OH GOD, FOR INDEED THEY, THEY BEAR BURDENS THAT NO ONE CAN SEE.
AND WE PRAY RIGHT NOW THAT AS THEY LEAVE AND AS WE END THIS FAIR MOMENT THAT YOU GO WITH IT, GOD, WE WANT TO BE AFRICAN IN THE REAL SENSE OF THE WORD.
WHEN YOUR AFRICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS SAID, IF YOU PRAY, YOU GOTTA PUT FEET TO YOUR PRAYER.
SO LET THEM BE THE FEET TO OUR PRAYERS TODAY, RIGHT NOW, NOT LATER, BUT RIGHT NOW.
OH GOD, WE LAY 'EM AT YOUR FEET AND THEN WE DON'T TIPTOE GOD.
ASK THAT YOU GIVE THEM WHAT THEY CANNOT GIVE THEMSELVES.
GIVE THEM WISDOM, GIVE THEM JOY, GIVE THEM LOVE, GIVE THEM PATIENCE, PERSEVERANCE, COURAGE AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU GIVE US RICH THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR.
IT'S IN JESUS' NAME THAT WE PRAY THIS PRAYER.
IT'S IN JESUS NAME THAT WE SAY WITH A SMILE.
YOU MAY RECEIVED CUT OFF FROM HOME AND HERITAGE CUT DOWN TO BUILD SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROSPERITY.
LORD, WE COME, COME FROM AND US TOGETHER SO ALONE LORD.
LORD, WE COME CUT OFF BY A WORLD THAT EXPECTS MORE MISERY AND MORE MONEY.
LORD, WE COME CUT OFF BY SYSTEMS THAT DELIGHT AND EVIL AND ENDURE RIGHTEOUSNESS, LORD BECOME.
BUT BECAUSE WE SERVE GOD WHO JUDGES PEOPLE LIKE US WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS, GOD WILL SEND A RIGHTEOUS JUDGE LIKE A CHUTE OUT OF A STUMP.
'CAUSE GOD, THE WOLF WILL DRILL THE LAMB LIKE SHOOT OUT OF A STUMP.
LET YOUR SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING RISE UP IN US LIKE A SHOOT OUT OF A STUMP.
WE EXPECT IN UNITED, RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY, EVEN IN A SINFUL WORLD, LIKE A ROOT OUT OF A STOP.
YOU MAY BE SEATED REPRESENTING THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS, OUR VERY OWN MAYOR, PRESIDENT SHARON WESTERN'S ROOM, AND SHE CAN COME UP AT THIS TIME.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE JAY S COUNCILWOMAN, CAROLYN COLEMAN, IF THERE ARE ANY CANDIDATES FOR A PUBLIC OFFICE, PLEASE STAND WHERE YOU ARE.
IF THEY ARE MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION, INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT, PLEASE STAND AT THIS TIME.
IF THERE ARE ANY REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE WHO SERVE SO VALIANTLY, FIGHTING THE FIRES ACROSS OUR WONDERFUL STATE, PLEASE STAND AT THIS TIME.
AND OF COURSE I EXPECT EVERYBODY TO STAND UP OR AT LEAST A REPRESENTATIVE.
BOWED HANDS AND BODY, BEN, BEFORE THY THRONE.
GRACE, WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, THAT TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILIES AND OUR CHILDREN, THAT, THAT PROTECT US, THAT DEFEND US
[00:15:01]
IN THEIR FIELDS OF LEGAL ENDEAVOR.GOD, WE LIFT UP THOSE WHO ARE BATTLING FIRES, DOING THESE HOT TIMES.
THOSE WHO DESIRE TO SECURE OFFICE IN OUR GREAT CITY, IN OUR GREAT STATE, GOD, WE LIFT UP.
WE LIFT THEM UP BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT JUST LIKE WE SAY ALL THE TIME, YOU ARE THEIR SHEPHERD.
THEY SHALL NOT WANT YOU MAKING 'EM LIE DOWN AND GREEN PASTURES YOU, LEAVING THEM BESIDE THE STEEL WATERS.
AND WHEN THEY HAVE TO MAKE BUDGET DECISIONS, WHEN THEY HAVE TO MAKE POLICY DECISIONS, WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY HAVE TO MAYBE REACH THE HEAD OF THEIR ROBE AND HAVE TO STILL FEED THEIR CHILDREN OR LOOK FOR A JOB OR RENDER A JUDGMENT THAT THEY WOULD NOT RENDER, BUT LEGAL PRECEDENCE CALLS IT.
SO WHEN THEY PULL SOMEBODY OVER, WHEN THEY ARREST SOMEBODY, OH GOD, WHATEVER THEIR OFFICE IS REQUIRE, LET 'EM KNOW THAT YOU ARE THEIR SHEPHERD.
[00:20:55]
GOOD MORNING, WE ARE CAUGHT IN AN INESCAPABLE NETWORK OF MUTATION TIED IN A SINGLE GARMENT OF DESTINY.WHATEVER AFFECTS ONE DIRECTLY AFFECTS ALL INDIRECTLY.
THIS WAS JUST A PORTION OF A LETTER THAT DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING WROTE ON APRIL 16TH, 1963.
IT IS MY ESTEEMED PLEASURE TO PRESENT OUR SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD TO FIVE PEOPLE WHO WERE CHOSEN BY COMMITTEE FOR WE BELIEVE THEIR WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY ON THIS 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON WEEKEND.
THE EMBODIMENT OF NOT ONLY WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE DR.
KING'S DREAM A REALITY, BUT ALSO THESE FIVE PE THESE FIVE PEOPLE ARE RECEIVING THIS AWARD BECAUSE THEY IN VARIOUS WAYS HAVE, AND WE HOPE WILL CONTINUE TO BRING ABOUT WHAT THE REVEREND DR.
BEFORE I CALLED OUR FIRST AWARD RECIPIENT UP, I NEED TO ASK THEM THAT ONCE YOU RECEIVE YOUR AWARD, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK PICTURE BEFORE YOU RETURN TO YOUR SEAT AND WE WILL ALL, AND WE WILL CALL UP THE NEXT RECIPIENT.
ALRIGHT, OUR FIRST RECIPIENT, JOSEPH DEL IT WILL, MS. BARBARA WOOD PLEASE COME UP TO ACCEPT THE AWARD, PLEASE.
THE SECOND AWARD GOES TO MR. REGINALD DEVAL.
THE THIRD AWARD GOES TO ONE OF OUR OWN.
MS. BRENDA, GUESS YOU DON'T WANNA TAKE TWO, SHE'S ONE OF MY MEMBERS.
THE THIRD AWARD GOES TO MRS. UH, PATRICIA SMITH ON THIS SOCIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY COMMEMORATION OF THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR FREEDOM AND JOBS.
[00:25:01]
RECIPIENT OF OUR SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD GOES TO THE YOUNGEST OF ALL OUR RECIPIENTS, MR. ANTOINE MITCHELL.AND HE HAS SOME PICTURES ON DISPLAY IN THE BACK SO YOU CAN, UH, SEE WHAT UH, KIND KIND OF ARTISTS HE REALLY IS, WHICH IS GREAT.
AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE ALL OF OUR RECIPIENTS TO PLEASE STAND AND FACE THE CONGREGATION SO THEY CAN HAVE ANOTHER LOOK AT YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE AT THIS TIME BY, UH, BY READING THE SCRIPTURE THAT ALL OF US SHOULD REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO AND MAKE THIS A PART OF OUR DAILY PRAYERS.
IT COMES FROM ROMANS 1221, DON'T LET EVIL CONQUER YOU BUT CONQUER EVIL BY DOING WHAT'S GOOD.
THANK YOU, UH, WITH THE MAYOR.
THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE AND WE ARE REJOICING AND WE'RE GLAD IN IT AS WE HONOR SOCIAL JUSTICE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
RICHARDSON FOR THE INVITATION AND TO MY BROTHERS AND UH, SISTERS AND THE LORD.
AS YOU KNOW, UH, TOMORROW IS THE COMMEMORATION OF 60 YEARS OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON.
LIKE MANY OF YOU, I WAS ABLE TO SEE A GLIMPSE OF WHAT TOOK PLACE 60 YEARS AGO.
ALTHOUGH I WAS BORN, I WAS, UH, NOT AS IN TUNED AT THE MOMENT JUDGE 60 YEARS AGO TO WHAT WAS GOING ON 'CAUSE I WAS A YOUNG CHILD.
BUT NEVERTHELESS, PASTOR, WHAT WENT ON 60 YEARS AGO, CERTAINLY RECORD, UH, RESONATES AND ECHOES IN OUR LIVES TODAY AND DID EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER.
AND SO AS WE IN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY ARE HERE AT THIS HISTORIC CHURCH, I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE AS WE TALK ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE JUSTICE OCCURS OVER 143 TIMES IN SCRIPTURES.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE PASSAGES COMES FROM MICAH SIX EIGHT, AND WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU? BUT TO ACT JUSTLY, TO LOVE, MERCY, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD.
AND SO TODAY, AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF FAITH, WE MUST CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, THAT EVERY PERSON IS TREATED EQUITABLY, THAT WE MUST WORK FOR SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES TO BE FAIR FOR ALL, AND THAT WE MUST LOOK OUT FOR THE WEAK AND VULNERABLE.
AND SO PASTOR, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE, I'M HERE TO ALSO PRESENT TO YOU A CERTIFICATE OF COMMEMORATION, WHICH CHRONICLES WHAT TOOK PLACE ON THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON.
AND IT CLOSES WITH THE WORDS OF DR.
WE WILL NOT BE SATISFIED UNTIL JUSTICE ROLLS DOWN LIKE WATERS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE A MIGHTY STREAM.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY.
GOOD MORNING CHRISTIAN FRIENDS AND A SPECIAL GOOD MORNING TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS,
[00:30:01]
FRIENDS, ALL WE ARE HERE AT WESLEY.I WOULD NOT MINCE WORDS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO A SPECIAL SHEET OF THANKS SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WE DIDN'T MEAN TO OVERLOOK ANYONE, OUR AWARDEES, THE FAMILIES, THE FRIENDS, ALL SPECIAL THANKS FOR MAKING THIS DAY AT WESLEY, A HISTORIC ONE AND AN INAUGURAL CELEBRATION FOR US IN THE ANIMALS OF THE HISTORY OF THIS CHURCH.
AND AS REGARDS THEN THE WORK HERE AT WESLEY, WE CALL ATTENTION FIRST TO ALL OF THE PERSONS WHO ARE LISTED AND ARE IN NEED OF SPECIAL CALLS, PRAYERS AND THE LIKE.
AND IF OUR LIST IS INCOMPLETE, WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE PASS ON THAT INFORMATION TO OUR CHURCH OFFICE.
AND FURTHER, AS WE LOOK AMONG THE ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT ARE PRINTED, WE'RE ASKING THEN THAT THE MEMBERS OF WESLEY REGARD HIGHLY THE PROTOCOL THAT WE OBSERVE HERE AT WESLEY.
AND WE HAVE OUR WORK WEEK LISTED FOR YOU.
SO THEN TUESDAY, BE REMINDED THAT WE HAVE OUR HOUR OF PRAYER AT 11:00 AM AND THAT THE PRAYERS WILL BE IN REGARD TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS YEAR 20 23, 20 24.
AND AS WELL, THE SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK IS FROM THE BOOK OF PSALMS, NINTH CHAPTER VERSES ONE AND TWO, THEN NINE AND 10 ON WEDNESDAY.
BIBLE STUDY IN PERSON FACEBOOK, IF YOU WISH, 6:00 PM AT OUR CHURCH HERE AS A SPECIAL PART OF OUR WORK WEEK.
AND ON THURSDAY, THE MALE CHORUS WILL REHEARSE AT ITS USUAL TIME, FIVE 30, THE COMBINED CHOIR REHEARSES AT 6:30 PM ON THURSDAY, ON SATURDAY, WE REMIND OUR MEN THAT THE UNITED METHODIST MEN WILL CONVENE A MEETING AT 8:30 AM AND AS WE MOVE ALONG, WE KNOW THAT A LOT IS IN STORE FOR US IN SEPTEMBER.
SPECIAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING AS GUIDED BY OUR PASTOR AND ALSO THE SPILLING TEA EXPERIENCE THAT WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO.
AND I WOULD NOT BE REVERSED OR VERBOSE TO READ FOR YOU THE LIST OF ALL OF THE PERSONS THAT WE REGARD SO HIGHLY TODAY.
SOME ARE NEW, BUT OTHERS HELPING US BUILD THE BETTER COMMUNITY HERE IN WESLEY.
AND THIS COMMEMORATION DAY IS JUST ON THE MARK FOR THAT.
IT'S A WAY THEN PASTOR, WE THANK YOU FOR INITIATING THE IDEA THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL IN HELPING IMPROVE THE HUMAN CONDITION.
AND I WOULD CLOSE THEN REMINDING THE MEMBERS HERE AT WESLEY THAT WE HAVE SOME PROUD GRADUATES.
WHEN WE HAD GRADUATE SUNDAY, WE REGARDED ALL OF THOSE PERSONS, SEVERAL OF THEM GOING OFF TO COLLEGE, SEVERAL OF THEM FINISHING UP THEIR FIRST FOUR YEARS.
AND I'D JUST LIKE TO OFFER A LITTLE CONTINUATION SO THAT WE CAN GIVE ACCOLADES AGAIN TO ONE OF OUR OWN.
SIR CONNOR NASH SHAMBLIN DID GRADUATE, IF YOU REMEMBER FROM L S U THIS PAST SEMESTER.
BUT I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT HE'S BEEN AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY'S LAW CENTER FOR THREE WEEKS NOW, BEGINNING THE FALL SEMESTER.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FAMILY AND OUR WESLEY FAMILY.
OH, YOU ALL CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.
DIDN'T THEY SOUND FANTASTIC? AMEN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE CHOIR, TO HERITAGE, UH, TO THE DRUMMERS, TO THE MUSICIANS.
DIDN'T OUR LITTLE JUST, JUST HOLD IT DOWN.
SOMEBODY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE WHO MAKE US LOOK GOOD ONLINE AND AND ON TV Y'ALL ON TV, Y'ALL, Y'ALL KNOW THAT, RIGHT? AMEN.
I WANT TO THANK THE USHERS, THANK EVERYONE.
[00:35:01]
THANK YOU TO OUR AWARDEES FOR BEING HERE, TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE GUEST, TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING OUT OF YOUR TIME TO CELEBRATE WITH US TODAY.
WITH THAT SAID, LET US MOVE NOW JUST FOR A FEW MOMENTS TO PART OF THE SCRIPTURE THAT WAS SO BEAUTIFULLY READ BY OUR LITURGIST TODAY FOUND IN THE BOOK OF ISAIAH, THE 43RD CHAPTER IN THE BOOK.
AND I KNOW YOU HEARD IT READ ALREADY, BUT, BUT LET ME JUST FOCUS JUST FOR A FEW MOMENTS ON THREE VERSES OF THAT TEXT, HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, BUT NOW, BUT NOW THUS SAYETH THE LORD, HE WHO CREATED YOU, OH, JACOB, HE WHO FORMED YOU, DO NOT FEAR FOR I HAVE REDEEMED YOU.
WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE WATERS, I'LL BE THERE WITH YOU AND THROUGH THE RIVERS, RIVERS, THEY SHALL NOT OVERWHELM YOU WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE FIRE, YOU SHALL NOT BE BURNED AND THE FLAME SHALL NOT CONSUME YOU.
FOR I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, YOUR SAVIOR, THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME? OH GOD, WE COME TO YOU RIGHT NOW TO SAY THANK YOU, BUT ALSO TO ASK THAT YOU CREATE A MIRACLE.
I'VE STUDIED, I'VE, I'VE I'VE PRAYED, I'VE DONE ALL I CAN, BUT ONLY YOU CAN MAKE THE VOICE OF MAN THE SOUND OF HEAVEN AND OH GOD, RIGHT NOW I PRAY THAT MAY THE WORDS IN MY MOUTH MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION OF NOT ONLY MY HEART, BUT EVERY HEART HERE TODAY BE ACCEPTABLE IN THE EYESIGHT.
OH LORD, YOU ARE A ROCK AND OUR REDEEMER, YES.
IT'S IN JESUS' NAME THAT WE PRAY THIS PRAYER.
IT'S IN JESUS' NAME THAT WE SAY WITH A SMILE.
I'M GONNA ASK IF POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO TAKE A LOOK EITHER AT THE PICTURE THAT IS ON YOUR PROGRAM OR IF THEY CAN CAST THE PICTURE OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON ON THE SCREEN.
BUT, BUT JUST MAKE SURE YOU LOOKING AT THE PICTURE AND AS WE LOOK AT THIS PICTURE ON TODAY, THE EVE OF THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR FREEDOM AND JOBS, AS WE REMEMBER DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR'S, I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH AND OTHER SPEECHES THAT HAPPENED DURING THAT DAY.
I WANT YOU TO THINK WITH ME FOR A MOMENT ON THE SERMON TOPIC FOR TODAY.
DOES GOD SPEAK? THIS IS THE QUESTION THAT WE MUST ASK ABOVE ANY OTHER QUESTION IN OUR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE LIVES.
DOES GOD SPEAK SHOULD BE THE FIRST QUESTION WE ASK WHEN WE WAKE UP IN THE MORNING? AND THE LAST QUESTION WE ASK, WHEN WE LAY DOWN AT NIGHT, DOES GOD SPEAK? THIS IS THE QUESTION THAT WE SHOULD ASK AT EVERY NOOK AND
[00:40:01]
CRANNY OF OUR POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND EDUCATIONAL LIVES.AND WE SHOULD ECHO, ESPECIALLY NOW WHEN OUR SKIES SEEM SO DARK, DOES GOD SPEAK? IT SHOULD BE THE FIRST QUESTION WE ASK WHEN WE FAIL TO LOVE OURSELVES AND WHEN WE FAIL TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES, WHEN OUR FAMILIES FALL APART AND OUR COMMUNITIES DON'T ACT LIKE WE THINK COMMUNITIES SHOULD ACT.
DOES GOD SPEAK SHOULD BE THE FIRST QUESTION ON THE LIPS OF THE RICH AND THE POOR, THE EDUCATED AND THE UNEDUCATED, THE DEMOCRATIC AND THE REPUBLICAN, THE GAY AND THE STRAIGHT THE HYMN, THE HER, THE THEY, AND THE IT.
THE QUESTION IS NOT DOES GOD EXIST THAT'S PLAYED.
THE QUESTION IS NOT DOES GOD FAVOR OR DOES GOD BLESS? NO.
BUT DOES GOD SPEAK IS THE PREVAILING QUESTION FOR OUR TIMES? AND HENCE THE FIRST WORDS WE READ IN OUR TEXT FOR TODAY ARE, BUT NOW THUS SAYETH THE LORD.
AND IN ORDER FOR THIS VERSE AND WHAT COMES AFTER IT TO MAKE ANY SENSE OR HAVE ANY IMPACT IN OUR LIVES, WE MUST FIRST GRAPPLE WITH THE QUESTION, DOES GOD SPEAK AND LET US BE HONEST, SHALL WE, LET US BE HONEST TO THIS QUESTION.
DOES GOD SPEAK MANY PEOPLE IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE SAY NO, GOD DOES NOT SPEAK.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT MAY KNOW THE 10 COMMANDMENTS, BUT GOD DOESN'T SPEAK.
SO THEY DISMISS THE 10 COMMANDMENTS AND AND ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS FOLLOW THE 11TH COMMANDMENT.
THESE PEOPLE WHO SAY NO TO THE QUESTION DOES GOD SPEAK, ARE THOSE WHO TAKE SORT OF A GALLUP POLL OF WHAT EVERYONE IS DOING AND CONCLUDE IF EVERYONE IS DOING IT, THEN THEY MUST BE RIGHT.
THESE ARE THOSE WHO WE CALL PRACTICAL ATHEISTS.
THEY ARE NOT THE THEORETICAL ATHEIST THAT WE HEAR ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE SMARTER THAN ME AND, AND THINK THROUGH ALL OF THE ARGUMENTS OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD AND, AND ALL OF THEIR SCIENTIFIC REASON BASED INTELLECTUAL ACUMEN.
AND, AND THEY MAKE THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION THAT THERE IS NO GOD.
THOSE ARE THEORETICAL ATHEISTS.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE PRACTICAL ATHEISTS THAT AFFIRM GOD WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT LIVE THEIR LIVES AS IF HE NEVER EXISTED.
THESE ARE THOSE JESUS WAS TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE SAID IN MATTHEW 15, THESE PEOPLE HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEARTS ARE FAR FROM ME IN VAIN.
DO THEY WORSHIP ME? TEACH IN HUMAN PRECEPTS AS DOCTRINES.
THOSE WHO DON'T BELIEVE GOD SPEAKS DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS MEANT WHEN THEY READ THE WORDS OF THIS TEXT.
HE CREW CREATED YOU, HE WHO FORMED YOU.
IF IF, IF FLOODS CAME LIKE THEY DID RIGHT HERE IN 2016, THE THE NO GOD DOES NOT SPEAK, PEOPLE WON'T BE ABLE TO HEAR THE WORDS WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE WATERS.
I WILL BE WITH YOU NOW THAT THEY CAN'T HEAR THAT.
UH, THEY CAN'T HEAR THROUGH THE RIVERS THAT MAY HAVE RAN DOWN THIS STREET RIGHT HERE.
THEY SHALL NOT OVERWHELM YOU WHEN, WHEN THE WEATHER REACHES A HUNDRED PLUS DEGREES SO HOT, IT FEELS LIKE AN OVEN.
AND EVEN OUR COURAGEOUS FIREFIGHTERS WON'T BE ABLE TO HELP THESE.
GOD DOES NOT SPEAK PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T HEAR WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE FIRE, YOU SHALL NOT BE BURNED.
AND WHEN THEY FEEL THE HEAT HITTING THEIR SKIN, THEY WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHEN THE FLAME
[00:45:01]
COMES, YOU SHALL NOT BE CONSUMED.SINCE GOD DOESN'T SPEAK FOR THESE PEOPLE, WE, THESE PEOPLE LOOK OUT UPON THE TEXTURE OF LIFE WITH ALL OF ITS RIPS, TEARS, TEARS, TRAUMAS, FLOODS AND FIRES AND THINK LIKE THE PHILOSOPHER SCHOPENHAUER, THEY THINK THAT SCHOPENHAUER WAS RIGHT WHEN HE WROTE, LIFE IS AN ENDLESS PAIN WITH A PAINFUL END.
THEY AGREE WITH PAUL LAWRENCE DUNBAR, A CRUST OF BREAD IN A CORNER TO SLEEP IN A MINUTE TO SMILE AND AN HOUR TO WEEP IN A PINT OF JOY AND A PECK OF TROUBLE.
AND NEVERTHELESS, BUT THE MOANS COME DOUBLE.
SO, SO, SO NO BROTHERS AND SISTERS, NOT, NOT EVERYONE BELIEVE GOD SPEAKS.
AND IF THEY INVITE YOU TO THEIR PARTY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO.
IF THEY INVITE YOU TO THEIR PARTY POLITELY DECLINE THE INVITATION BECAUSE UNDERSTAND, UNDERSTAND THE MUSIC THAT THEY GONNA PLAY AT THAT PARTY.
IT'S GONNA SOUND LIKE SHAKESPEARE'S MACBETH.
AND YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF HUMMING THE TUNE AND SINGING THE LYRICS THAT LIFE IS A TALE TOLD BY AN IDIOT FULL OF SOUND AND FURY SIGNIFYING NOTHING.
BUT LIKE ALL QUESTIONS IN LIFE, SOME PEOPLE HEAR THE QUESTION AND SOME PEOPLE GIVE ONE ANSWER, AND THEN OTHER PEOPLE GIVE UP ANOTHER ANSWER.
THEREFORE, THERE IS ANOTHER ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.
AND, AND, AND I CAN'T THINK OF IT RIGHT NOW, BUT, BUT THERE'S ANOTHER ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, DOES GOD SPEAK? THERE ARE THOSE WHO APPROACH THIS TEXT AND, AND EVERYTHING IN IT AND, AND, AND THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT FLAVOR.
UNLIKE THE NO PEOPLE, THEY USE THE SPOON OF THEIR HEART AND THE TASTE BUDS OF THEIR INTELLECT.
AND THEY TAKE A SCOOP OF ISAIAH 43 SNOWBALL AND THEY TASTE THE WORDS, BUT NOW, THUS SAY AT THE LORD, HE WHO CREATED YOU, O JACOB, HE WHO FORMED YOU O ISRAEL.
AND THIS FIRST BITE IS SO GOOD THAT THEY COULDN'T EVEN SWALLOW IT GOOD ENOUGH BEFORE THEY TOOK ANOTHER SCHOOL.
AND WHEN THEY TASTED THAT ISAIAH 43 SNOWBALL, AND WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY TASTED IT AND, AND, AND, AND WHEN IT HIT THEIR TONGUE, THE THE RESIDUE OF THE PREVIOUS MEAL OF APATHY, THE PREVIOUS MEAL OF FEAR, THE PREVIOUS MEAL OF GUILT AND SHAME WAS WASHED AWAY BY THE SWEETNESS OF THEM EATING.
DO NOT FEAR FOR I HAVE REDEEMED YOU.
I HAVE CALLED YOU BY NAME, YOU ARE MINE.
SO THERE'S A DIFFERENT ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, DOES GOD SPEAK AND I I'M NOT THE SMARTEST GUY IN THE ROOM.
I'M NOT THE SMARTEST GUY IN THE ROOM.
AND AND SO WHEN I HEARD THIS QUESTION, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I NEEDED HELP GETTING TO THE ANSWER.
AND, AND SOMEBODY TOLD ME, UH, EDUCATORS, YOU KNOW, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE BEST WAY TO GET AT A QUESTION THAT YOU CAN'T GET AT THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE AN ANSWER TO, BUT YOU'RE NOT SURE YOU, YOU NEED TO HAVE A GROUP STUDY.
SO, SO, SO WHEN I, WHEN I WAS ASKED A QUESTION, I, I MUST ADMIT I HAD A DIFFERENT ANSWER, BUT, BUT I WASN'T CONFIDENT IN MY ANSWER.
SO, SO I CONVENED A STUDY GROUP AND I SAID TO THE GROUP, DOES GOD SPEAK? AND THE BOOK OF GENESIS OPENED HER MOUTH AND SAID, IN THE BEGINNING, GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH, AND THE EARTH WAS WITHOUT FORM AND VOID AND DARKNESS WAS UPON THE FACE OF THE DEEP.
AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVED UPON THE FACE OF THE WATERS.
AND GOD SAID, LET THERE BE LIGHT.
AND THERE WAS LIGHT, AND GOD SAW THE LIGHT AND IT WAS GOOD.
AND, AND I TRIED TO STOP GENESIS FROM TALKING BECAUSE I WANTED THE WHOLE GROUP TO PARTICIPATE.
BUT, BUT GENESIS WOULDN'T STOP TALKING.
AND AND SHE SAID, UH, GOD DIVIDED THE LIGHT FROM THE DARKNESS.
AND, AND GOD CALLED THE LIGHT DAY AND THE DARKNESS HE CALLED NIGHT.
WELL, I SAY, OKAY, OKAY, OKAY, YOU'RE ANSWERING THE QUESTION, DOES GOD SPEAK? BUT BUT SHE WOULDN'T STOP.
AND SHE SAID, AND THE EVENING AND THE MORNING, WELL, THE FIRST DAY, AND GOD SAID, LET THERE BE FIRMAMENT IN THE MIDST OF THE WATERS AND LET IT DIVIDE THE WATERS FROM THE WATERS.
AND, AND GOD MADE THE FIRMAMENT.
AND SHE GOT UP AT THE TABLE AND I WAS SHOCKED.
[00:50:01]
SHE SAID, UH, AH, FROM THE WATERS WHICH WERE ABOVE THE FERMENT.AND, AND IT WAS SO, AND THEN SHE GOT HAPPY.
AND, AND HE SAID, GOD CALLED THE FIRMAMENT HEAVEN IN THE EVENING, IN THE MORNING WHERE THE SECOND DAY.
AND I, AND I SAID, OKAY, OKAY, YOU GOT IT, GENESIS, NO, NO, NO.
SHE SAID, AND GOD SAID, LET THE WATERS UNDER THE HEAVEN BE GATHERED TOGETHER INTO ONE PLACE AND LET THE DRY LAND APPEAR.
AND IT WAS SO, AND GOD TAUGHT THE DRY LAND EARTH AND THE GATHERING TOGETHER OF THE WATERS CALLED HE SEIZED.
AND I WAS, I WAS GETTING KIND OF UPSET WITH GENESIS.
I I WAS LIKE, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU MONOPOLIZING THE CONVERSATION.
I I NEED TO HEAR FROM SOME OTHER FOLK.
AND, AND THEN GENESIS, UH, WAS INTERRUPTED BY ADAM AND EVE AND, AND THEY SAID THAT AFTER THE DEVIL JUMPED THEM IN THE GARDEN, THEIR EYES OF THEM WERE OPENED AND, AND THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE NAKED AND THEY SUED THE FIG LEAVES TOGETHER AND MADE THEMSELVES APRONS.
I SAID, I'M SO GLAD YOU DIDN'T WEAR THAT TO THE TABLE
AND THEY HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LORD WALK IN, IN THE GARDEN OF THE COOL OF THE DAY, AND ADAM AND HIS WIFE, UH, THEY SAID THAT THEY HID THEMSELVES IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD AMONGST THE TREES OF THE GARDEN.
AND, AND ACCORDING TO THEM, NOW, I DON'T KNOW, BUT, BUT ACCORDING TO THEM, THE LORD GOD CALLED UNTO ABRA ADAM AND, AND SAID UNTO HIM, WHERE ARE YOU? AND TO WHICH ACCORDING TO ADAM, HE, HE RESPONDED, I HEARD THE VOICE, UH, IN THE, I HEARD THE VOICE IN THE GARDEN, AND I WAS AFRAID BECAUSE I WAS NAKED AND I HID MYSELF TO WHICH ACCORDING TO EVE, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE MEN GOTTA BE QUIET AND THE WOMEN START SPEAKING AND, AND ACCORDING TO EVE, UH, GOD REPLIED, WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE NAKED? HAVE YOU EATEN THE TREE THAT I TOLD YOU NOT TO EAT? YOU KNOW? AND I STARTED THINKING MY MIND, YOU KNOW, I GOT A D H D IN, AND SOMETIMES MY, MY MIND GOES AWAY FROM THE QUESTION I STARTED AND I STARTED THINKING, HMM, SOMETIMES WE ARE SO ENAMORED WITH THE FACT THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS GOD.
BUT SOMETIMES WHEN I HEARD ADAM AND EVE SAY, IT KIND OF REMINDED ME ANOTHER, UH, PORTION OF A CONVERSATION THAT ALL OF US HAVE.
YOU AIN'T THE ONLY ONE TO ASK QUESTIONS, WAIT AND BE QUIET.
'CAUSE AFTER A WHILE, YOU'LL BE LIKE ADAM AND EVE AND GOD'S GONNA QUESTION YOU.
BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, I TOOK MY MEDICINE AND MY A D D CAME BACK TO THE TABLE AND, AND, AND, AND I HEARD CAIN SAY TO THEM AFTER HE KILLED HIS BROTHER ABEL, BECAUSE OF JEALOUSY.
HE, HE SAID, THE LORD SAID TO ME, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? I, AND, AND THE LORD SAID HE LISTENED TO HIS, MY BROTHER'S BLOOD CRYING TO ME FROM THE GROUND.
AND THEN EZEKIEL SAID, THIS IS TOO BORING.
AND, AND, AND, AND THEN HE TOLD US TO GET UP AND, AND WE ALL WENT UP.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, EZEKIEL'S A PROPHET AND WE GOTTA DO WHAT PROPHET SAY.
THEN EZEKIEL TOLD US TO GET UP AND HE TOOK US TO AN EMPTY VALLEY AND SAID THAT SOME TIME AGO, THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS UPON ME AND CARRIED ME OUT IN THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD AND SET ME DOWN IN THE MIDST OF THE VALLEY, WHICH WAS FULL OF NOT MOIST BONES, BUT DRY BONES AND CAUSE ME TO PASS BY THEM.
ROUNDABOUT AND BEHOLD, THERE WERE VERY MANY IN THE OPEN VALLEY AND LOW, THEY WERE VERY DRY.
AND HE SAID UNTO ME, GOD SAID UNTO ME, SON OF MAN, CAN THESE BONES LIVE? AND YOU KNOW, HE FELT LIKE ME.
I LORD, YOU KNOW, THUS SAYS THE LORD.
HE SAID UNTO THESE BONES, THAT MEANS THAT HE WAS TELLING ME THAT HIS EGO NOT ONLY SPEAKS TO THE LIE, HE SPEAKS TO THE DEAD.
HE SAID, UH, THESE BONES CAN LIVE.
BEHOLD, I WILL CAUSE BREATH TO ENTER INTO YOU AND YE SHALL LIVE AND I WILL LACE NEWS UPON YOU AND WILL BRING A FLESH UPON YOU AND COVER YOU WITH SKIN AND PUT BREATH IN YOU.
AND YE SHALL LIVE AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AND THE LORD.
THEN I HEARD JOHN AND JOHN, HE SAID, I,
[00:55:01]
I DON'T KNOW IF GOD SPEAKS, BUT I KNOW THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELLED AMONG US.AND THEN PAUL ADDED TO THE CONVERSATION.
WE WERE BACK AT THE TABLE AT THAT TIME, AND HE ADDED TO THE CONVERSATION AND SAID, THE LORD SAID TO ME WHEN I WAS STRUGGLING WITH MY INFIRMITIES, I PRAYED TO THE LORD.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I PRAYED THREE TIMES? TAKE THIS FROM ME.
IS ANYBODY HERE SOUGHT THE LORD SO MANY TIMES THAT HE WANTED, YOU WANT THEM TO TAKE SOMETHING FROM YOU? AND GUESS WHAT? MANY OF US WANT THE LORD TO SAY YES ALL THE TIME.
BUT PAUL IN THIS CONVERSATION SAID, NO.
I ASKED HIM THREE TIMES AND GOD SAID NO.
BUT THEN GOD SPOKE AND HE SAID THAT MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THIEF OF MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT THROUGH YOUR WEAKNESS.
I WAS TIRED OF PAUL AT THAT TIME, AND I WANTED TO CALL NOT A APOSTLE OR NOT, OR A A CHURCH PLANT.
I, I I INVITED THE CENTURION, A SOLDIER, SOMEONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO FIGHT, SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT WEAPONS, SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT VIOLENCE AND WAR.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE CENTURION SAID? WELL, UH, HE TALKED ABOUT A SERVANT THAT HE HAD WAS SICK, UH, AND, AND, AND HE WENT TO THE LORD AND HE SAID, DON'T COME TO MY HOUSE.
WE GOT SOME FOLK HERE TODAY THAT DON'T WANT GOD TO COME TO THEIR HOUSE.
AND, AND, AND THAT'S NOT A BAD THING.
HE SAID, I, I, I DON'T COME TO MY HOUSE.
I'M NOT WORTHY FOR YOU TO COME TO MY HOUSE.
BUT HE SAID, IF YOU BUT SPEAK THE WORDS, AMEN.
IF YOU BUT SPEAK THE WORDS, MY SERVANT WILL BE HEALED.
AND AND THE LORD SAID, GO THY WAY.
AND THOU HAS BELIEVED AND SO IT BE DONE.
THAT SELF SAYING, OUR AFTER HEARING ALL THIS TO THE QUESTION, DOES GOD SPEAK MY, MY ANSWER HAD TO BE YES.
AND THEN AS THE TEXT SAID, GOD IS SPEAKING.
KING WAS TRULY A GREAT SPEAKER.
AND I'M INSPIRED WHEN I HEAR HIS WORDS, LET ME SAY 'EM FOR YOU IN A SENSE WE HAVE COME, NO, LET ME DO IT LIKE HIM.
IN A SENSE,
WHEN THE ARCHITECTS OF OUR REPUBLIC WROTE THE MAGNIFICENT WORDS OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THEY WERE SIGNING A PROMISSORY NOTE, NOT A NOTE TO WHICH EVERY AMERICAN WAS TO FALL AIR.
THIS NOT NOTE WAS A PROMISE THAT ALL MEN, YES, BLACK MEN AS WELL AS WHITE MEN WOULD BE GUARANTEED THE UNALIENABLE RIGHTS OF LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUITS OF HAPPINESS.
IT IS OBVIOUS TODAY, AMERICA LUI, I MEAN AMERICA HAS DEFAULTED ON THIS PROMISSORY NOTE IN SO FAR AS HER CITIZENS OF COLOR ARE CONCERNED.
INSTEAD OF HONORING THIS SACRED OBLIGATION, AMERICA HAS GIVEN THE NEGRO PEOPLE A BAD CHECK, A CHECK WHICH HAS COME BACK MARKED INSUFFICIENT FUND.
BUT WE REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THE BANK OF JUSTICE IS BANKRUPT.
WE REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE INSUFFICIENT FUNDS IN THE GREAT BULKS OF OPPORTUNITY OF THIS NATION.
SO WE HAVE COME TO CAST THIS CHECK AND A CHECK THAT WILL GIVE US UPON DEMAND, THE RICHES OF FREEDOM AND THE SECURITY OF JUSTICE.
WE HAVE ALSO COME TO THIS HOLLOWED SPOT CALLED WEST, I MEAN CALLED, CALLED LOUISIANA.
I MEAN THIS HOLLOWED SPOT TO LET THEM KNOW OF THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW.
BUT NO MATTER HOW INSPIRED KING'S WORDS ARE, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT KING BELIEVED LIKE WE BELIEVE THAT GOD SPEAKS.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE PICTURE OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON AND RECALL THAT THEY STOOD ON THE STEPS OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL.
AND ALTHOUGH I'M INSPIRED BY KING'S WORDS, UH, I'M ALSO WAS INSPIRED BY LINCOLN'S WORDS OF HIS GETTYSBURG ADDRESS ETCHED IN STONE AT THE MEMORIAL, WHICH BEARS HIS NAME FOR SCORE.
[01:00:01]
YEARS AGO, OUR FOREFATHERS BROUGHT FORTH ON THIS CONTINENT, A NEW NATION CONCEIVED IN LIBERTY AND DEDICATED TO THE PROPOSITION THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.AND, AND IT GOES ON DOWN THE LINE.
AND HE SAID, IN A LARGER SENSE, WE CANNOT DEDICATE, WE CANNOT CONSECRATE, WE CANNOT HOLLOW THIS GROUND.
THE BRAVE MEN LIVING AND DEAD WHO STRUGGLED HERE HAVE CONSECRATED.
ITS FAR ABOVE OUR POOR POWER TO ADD OR DETRACT THE WORLD.
WILL LITTLE NOTE NOR LONGER REMEMBER WHAT WE SAY HERE, BUT IT CAN NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY DID.
HERE IT IS FOR US, THE LIVING RATHER TO BE DEDICATED HERE TO THE UNFINISHED WORK WHICH THEY WHO FOUGHT HERE HAVE THE SO NOBLY ADVANCED.
IT IS RATHER FOR US TO BE HERE DEDICATED TO THE GREAT TASK REMAINING BEFORE US, THAT FROM THESE HONORED DEAD, WE TAKE INCREASED DEVOTION TO THE CAUSE FOR WHICH THEY GAVE THE LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION THAT WE HERE HIGHLY RESOLVED.
THAT THESE DEAD SHALL NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN.
THAT THIS NATION UNDER GOD SHALL HAVE A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM.
AND THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE SHALL NOT SOON PERISH FROM THE EARTH.
BUT NO MATTER HOW THESE WORDS TOUCH US, I'M MORE INFORMED BY LEINS WORDS ON PRAYER WHEN HE SAID, I HAVE BEEN DRIVEN MANY TIMES UPON MY KNEES BY THE OVERWHELMING CONVICTION THAT I HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
MY OWN WISDOM THAT OF ALL ABOUT ME SEEMED INSUFFICIENT FOR THAT DAY BECAUSE THEREBY I CAN CONCLUDE THAT LINCOLN LIKE KING KNEW LIKE ALL OF US HERE SHOULD KNOW THAT GOD SPEAKS.
SO TODAY WE HAVE COME HERE TO THIS HOLLOWED SPOT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, DOES GOD SPEAK? AND WITH THE RESOUNDING YES, REPEAT AFTER ME.
BECAUSE HE SPEAKS NOW BECAUSE HE CALLS US BECAUSE HE KNOWS US BY NAME.
WE ARE NOT FREE TO DO WHAT WE WANT.
WE HAVE TO BE FREE TO DO WHAT HE DESIRES BECAUSE GOD SPEAKS, GOD SPEAKS.
AND BECAUSE HE SPEAKS, HE CALLS AND WE LIKE THOSE WHO WERE AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL 60 YEARS AGO, MUST HEAR GOD'S CALL TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.
AND LET ME BE A LITTLE INTELLECTUAL.
LET ME ADD THAT THE WORD CHRISTIANS USE FOR GOD'S CALL COMES FROM THE GREEK WORD FOR BEAUTY, CALLOUS.
SO THEREFORE, WHEN GOD SPEAKS, AND GOD CALLS US WHENEVER WE ARE LIVING IN OUR CALLING, THAT IS THE ONLY WAY AS FAR AS CHRISTIANS ARE CONCERNED, THAT WE LIVE BEAUTIFUL LIVES.
AND WHENEVER WE ARE NOT LIVING IN OUR CALLING THAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO, WE ARE NOT CONTRIBUTING TO THE BEAUTY THAT IS US.
THE BEAUTY THAT IS WE, THE BEAUTY THAT IS BATON ROUGE.
AND ANYONE THAT DOES NOT FOLLOW GOD'S CALLING IN THEIR LIFE INDIVIDUALLY OR COLLECTIVELY IS NOT WRAPPED UP, TIED UP IN THE BEAUTY OF GOD.
SO BECAUSE GOD SPEAKS, I SAY TO YOU TODAY, HERE IS CALL AND MAKE THIS CITY NOT ONLY BATON ROUGE, BUT BATON ROUGE ARE BEAUTIFUL.
AND JUST IN CASE YOU WONDER WHAT GOD IS SAYING TO US AS HE SPEAKS, JUST IN CASE YOU NEED TO HEAR WHAT GOD IS SAYING.
NOW, WHAT HE'S SAYING NOW IS WHAT HE HAS ALWAYS SAID IS ALWAYS HE'S BEEN SAYING IT.
AND HE WILL CONTINUE TO SAY, WHEN JESUS SAW THE CROWDS, HE WENT UP TO THE MOUNTAIN AND AFTER HE SAT DOWN, HIS DISCIPLES CAME TO HIM AND HE BEGAN TO SPEAK AND TAUGHT THEM SAYING, BLESSED ARE THE PORN SPIRIT FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN, FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED.
BLESSED ARE THE MEEK FOR THEY WILL INHERIT THE EARTH.
WHAT IS HE SAYING? BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEY WILL BE FILLED.
WELL, WHAT ELSE IS GOD SAYING? BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL FOR THEY SHALL RECEIVE MERCY.
[01:05:01]
WELL, I NEED TO HEAR SOMETHING ELSE FROM GOD.BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS FOR THEY WILL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
WHAT IS GOD SAYING? BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR MY NAMESAKE, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BLESSED OR YOU AND ME WHEN THEY REVILE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU AND UTTER ALL KIND OF EVIL AGAINST YOU FALSELY ON MY ACCOUNT? REJOICE AND BE EXCEEDINGLY GLAD FOR GREAT IS YOUR AWARD IN HEAVEN.
FOR IN THE SAME WAY THEY PERSECUTED THE PROPHETS WHO WERE BEFORE YOU.
WHAT IS GOD SAYING? DO NOT STORE FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES ON EARTH WHERE MOTH AND RUST OFFS CONSUME AND WHERE THIEVES BREAK THROUGH AND STEAL, BUT STORE FOR YOURSELVES TREASURE IN HEAVEN WHEN NEITHER MOTH NOR RUST CONSUMES AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT BREAK THROUGH AND STEAL.
AND HE GOES ON TO SAY, SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IN ALL OF THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.
WHAT IS GOD SAYING? LOVE YOUR ENEMY.
BLESS THEM THAT PERSECUTE YOU.
WHAT IS GOD SAYING? GOD SPEAKS.
WHAT IS GOD SAYING? OH, GOD IS SAYING LET JUSTICE ROLL DOWN LIKE WATERS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE A MIGHTY STREET.
WHAT IS GOD SAYING? DO NOT BE OVERCOME BY EVIL, BUT OVERCOME EVIL.
OH, WHAT IS GOD SAYING? WELL, GOD SPEAKS AND DOES GOD SPEAK? YES, THE ANSWER IS YES.
AND BECAUSE WE KNOW GOD SPEAKS, THERE'S A SONG THAT COMES IN MY HEART AND MY MEMBERS KNOW I CAN'T SING, BUT BECAUSE I KNOW GOD SPEAKS, I GOT A SONG IN MY HEART LIKE A SHIP THAT'S TOSSED AND DRIVEN ON BATTED BY AN COME ON NOW WHEN THE STORMS OF LIFE ARE RAINING AND THE FURY FALLS ON ME.
YES, I WONDER WHAT I HAVE DONE.
YES, THAT MAKES THIS RACE SO HARD TO RUN.
WHAT I SAY TO MY SOUL, THE LORD WILL MAKE THE WAY SOMEHOW.
OH, NOW Y'ALL KNOW I CAN'T SEE.
AS WE COMMEMORATE THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON, DR.
KING'S WORDS STILL RESONATE TODAY.
AND THEY ARE JUST AS RELEVANT TODAY AS THEY WERE 60 YEARS AGO.
KING WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD'VE MADE MORE PROGRESS.
AND WHILE WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS AND WE CANNOT IGNORE THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE MADE ON THE CIVIL RIGHTS FRONT, WE STILL HAVE ISSUES OF EQUITY.
WE STILL HAVE, UH, ISSUES OF RACE.
WE STILL HAVE ISSUES OF THE VULNERABLE AMONG US THAT PERMEATE THE LANDSCAPE AND THE FABRIC OF OUR LIVES TODAY.
SO TO ME THAT MEANS THAT WE STILL HAVE TO PRESS ON, WE STILL HAVE TO WORK HARDER.
WE STILL HAVE TO PERSEVERE TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE BELONGS TO EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SEE THE MANIFESTATION OF THE WORDS OF DR.
KING THAT TOOK PLACE ON THAT HISTORIC DAY OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON.
I AM GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS TODAY.
AND WHAT IT DOES, IT ALLOWS YOU TO KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW AND TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE AND THEN SEE REALLY WHERE WE MUST GO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT JUSTICE.
AND ONE OF THE SCRIPTURES THAT THEY MENTIONED TODAY WAS ABOUT THAT IT FLOWS
[01:10:02]
LIKE WATER.AND THAT IS SO IMPORTANT UNTIL IT HAS.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT 60 YEARS AGO AND IT HAS FLOWN, AND THEN WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WAS IT A FAST FLOW? WAS IT A STEADY FLOW? YES, IT HAS FLOWN, BUT NOT TO THE PACE WHERE WE WOULD HAVE HOPED THAT IT WOULD HAVE FLOWN.
UH, AND SO JUSTICE, JUSTICE AND JUSTICE FOR ALL IS WHAT WE EMBRACE AND WHAT WE NEED AND WHAT WE MUST CONTINUOUSLY WORK ON.
THIS WAS EXCELLENT HERE TODAY, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 60 YEARS.
60 YEARS, AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT MANY OF US GOT 60 MORE.
SO WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE GROWTH FROM WHAT WE'VE HEARD HERE TODAY AND ALSO WHAT DR.
KING BELIEVED IN AND WHEN HE GATHERED ALL THERE IN WASHINGTON, WHAT HIS INTENT WAS, WHAT HIS PURPOSE WAS, AND THEN WE MUCH GET THIS MANTLE AND RUN WITH IT AND GROW UPON THAT, WHICH HAS BEEN DONE WELL.
IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR US TO BE HERE AT WESLEY METHODIST CHURCH.
AND WE, I'M JUST SO HAPPY THAT WE HAVE COME TOGETHER TO SHARE AND, AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE OUR FUTURE IS SECURE IN OUR NATION AND PARTICULARLY HERE IN LOUISIANA.
IT'S A GREAT DAY TO CELEBRATE AND A GREAT DAY TO REMEMBER THE, THE REALITY OF WHAT IS COMING FORTH NOW IN POLITICS AND IN OUR CULTURE.
WE'RE ABOUT RIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT WE VALUE THE TRUTH.
AND TRUTH IS BEING CHALLENGED AND IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO REMIND OUR COMMUNITY THAT TRUTH IS WHAT SETS US FREE.
WELL, I THINK RIGHT NOW, TWO THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
THE PATIENT IS BETTER THAN IT WAS, BUT THE PATIENT STILL NEEDS SOME MEDICINE TO GET BETTER.
NOW, WE'RE NOT WHERE WE WERE IN 1963, BUT THE PATIENT IS STILL IN THE HOSPITAL, STILL ON THE BED.
THEY GOT THEIR EYES OPEN, MAYBE DISCONNECTED THE BREATHING MACHINE, BUT HAVE NOT, UH, BEEN GIVEN PERMISSION TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL.
SO RIGHT NOW, THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
IN OUR DAY AND TIME, IN OUR DAY AND TIME, IT'S ABOUT TAKING WHAT HAPPENED IN 1963 AND ABOVE, ALRIGHT? AND MAKING SURE THAT WE NOT ONLY ENSURE THAT THE PATIENT DOESN'T GET AS SICK, HE AS HE OR SHE WAS, BUT THAT THE PATIENT CONTINUES TO GET BETTER AND BE ABLE TO MAYBE MOVE INTO SOME REHABILITATION, UH, AS OPPOSED TO JUST SITTING ON THE BED OF AFFLICTION.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK, UH, WE NEED TO CONSIDER AND USE AS A METAPHOR SO THAT WE DON'T LOSE HOPE.