Monthly Archives: October 2009

Halloween…that’s the DEVIL’S holiday!!!

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the devil

If I had a dollar for the number of times I’ve heard this statement, I’d probably be “ballin-out-of-control!”  Sadly, it’s been many of my peers in ministry who have designated this day as being “the DEVIL’S day!  Doesn’t everyday belong to the Lord?  And, isn’t it He who’s given us the choice/opportunity to do during the day what we believe pleases Him?  Or maybe David (arguably one of the greatest & influential kings of Israel) misspoke when he said, “This is the day the Lord has made.” (Psalm 118:19)

So, how did the devil get his own holiday?  Perhaps a better and more serious question is “why would we give him this one?”  Think about it, the activities surrounding Halloween scream AWESOME!!!

Bobbing for apples.  Handing out candy.  Parents having a BLAST with their children.  That sounds like an “OFF DA HOOK” party to me!

bp block party
At Blueprint Church, we’re using Halloween this year to have our own BLOCK PARTY!  We refuse to allow this one day of the year, when parents & kids alike are out enjoying the evening, be the time we go hide and find something more Christian to do?  For us, the Christian thing to do is to join up with our Regional Groups (in multiple settings) to have fun while building new relationships and connecting with some of the local “trick or treaters!”     This is just one of the ways we’re allowing our words & actions to be congruent:  The gospel changes people and people change the world!

If you’d like more information, feel free to visit our website, or if you’d like additional details regarding our locations go ahead & email one of the bruhz below who lives closest to your area.

•    North Region (Marietta/Perimeter area): Sam Dula (sam@blueprintchurch.org)
•    Northeast Region (Decatur area): Dhati Lewis (dhati@blueprintchurch.org)
•    Central: John Onwuchekwa: (john@blueprintchurch.org)
•    South: Amisho Baraka (amisho@blueprintchurch.org)

Looking forward to seeing you & HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Grunt, grimace…naah, JUST BREATHE!!!

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There’s plenty of ways to respond to bad news.  I think we’ve all been there and were forced to live w/ the regret of responding inappropriately or stand proud for responding the right way!!!

This is one of those times when responding inappropriately LOOKED SO GOOD!!!

My finally doomed G4...well at least the screen is history!!!

My finally doomed G4...well at least the screen is history!!!

The above photo is a picture of my DAMAGED vintage ibook G4 (yeah, it’s old & they were not calling them Macbooks when I got it)!

My eight year old son decided to carry my opened notebook by grabbing the top corners of the screen.  Oh, did I mention it was in the presence of my closest & dearest loved-one who will remain nameless?  Needless to say, it dropped from his little filthy hands landing on the carpet, sources say.

Now, I was informed of the incident three-plus hours afterwards and after I opened the computer to see, once again, the above pic (note to the audience: always provide an explanation immediately after a catastrophe…never let the victim learn they’re a victim on their own)!

In that moment, I wanted to lose it (key words: WANTED TO).  Instead of entertaining any of my “quite often used” options, I sat down on the couch, and started to watch a movie I had DVR’d earlier…just so happens to be one that the aforementioned “nameless” family member and I enjoy watching together!!!

For some reason, with all of the options going on in my head, a question took forefront.  And the question was this: Is it really worth it?  The attitude and silent treatment that I’d normally stink up the house with…sucking my teeth every time Myles comes in the room all because he’s ONCE AGAIN, broken one of my toys.  Is it all worth it?

After the movie started and I got to one of the early & HILARIOUS scenes, I started to reassess the damage.  I paused the movie and felt my blood pressure start to increase again.  Then, as if I was talking to someone else in the room, I told myself (albeit in my Daddy’s voice) BOY, IT’S A COMPUTER!!!  Stop worrying ‘bout this thing & get a grip, NEGRO…because CLEARLY Myles didn’t have a good one!” LOL

I believe that sometimes no response is the godly response.  The Scriptures speak on more than one occasion of not allowing our things to have us.  Jesus spent “all day” talking about how our attitudes should be during his famous Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 & 6).

Right responses are not at all easy ones and in my case too few to be the norm.  The goal is to have the “proper” response ongoing…even if it’s just breathing!!!

Just In Case You Missed It

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North Region Group Social

North Region Group Social

Just in case you missed it, our regional socials were held a couple of weeks ago and considering Atlanta’s weather recently, it was so refreshing to see both the excitement and the turnout from those attending.  In our North region, several of us came together and shared a few of our personal experiences.

Not to put anyone’s business in the streets, but I thought it was rather interesting to hear…

“If had to be an animal, I’d be our dog growing up, who looked a lot like Lassie.”

“The first time I heard about Blueprint Church was through Dhati preaching at a church in North Carolina about a church he was planting in Atlanta!”

“If I could have an endless supply of any food, it would be Captain Crunch cereal!”

“I read about Blueprint Church on a website-forum, attended the service at the end of August & now I’m here.”

“A movie about my life would be called, ‘Out of Balance,’ and the actor playing my life would be Jim Carrey.”

“My superhero growing up was my grandfather…he kept the family together.”

“If I could accomplish one thing in life, I’d travel the world.”

Ok, since the individuals making the above comments will remain nameless, let me just say that this was from ONE of the FOUR regional groups Blueprint Church is launching and if you’d like more information, please check out our website or contact John Onwuchekwa (John@blueprintchurch.org)