SCRIP-BITS

Acts 9:16.     For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
 
Oh Friends, as the old people would say, what hasn’t met you, hasn’t passed you. And that’s the truth in spades!
 
Now why am I saying that? Listen to this incident. Yesterday evening, around 7.15 p.m, I was out walking in my neighbourhood. On my way back home, along the busiest thoroughfare in the area, a black SUV – I believe it was a Jeep brand – went barrelling by me in the opposite direction. I merely glanced at it as it went by and saw three young white men riding in it, but paid them no real heed.
 
However, as the vehicle passed by me, one of the occupants shouted out ‘Nigger!’
 
It took a couple seconds for the word to register on my mind, and then realize that they were referring to me, as I was the only person walking along that part of the road. And by the time I realized what had happened and looked back, the vehicle had already sped through the intersection.
 
At first I chuckled to myself, but then the importance of the situation dawned on me. Didn’t these young white fools realize that they were stoking serious fires in their land? And even here in Canada spouting that word to the wrong people could get them killed? Obviously not.
 
It was also the first time that I had ever been called that our loud, though not to my face. And I’m not so naive to think that I haven’t been called that behind my back. That foolish act just proves that racism is still alive and kicking in good ole Canada, although so many take such great pains to prove otherwise.
 
And yuh know what? Over the last few years the racism has gotten and is getting worse, not better. Part of that is simply due to the fact that more dark skinned people are now living in the country, and the white population is running scared because their ilk will soon become a minority here.
 
The whole skin colour thing has always amused and amazed me, for as far I can see it all boils down to basic ignorance and fear. For when you don’t know or understand something, then you tend to get your back up very easily. And you also tend to take in front before in front takes you; meaning trying to make dark skinned people believe that they are inferior just because of the colour of their skin. 
 
And sadly too too many have been brainwashed into thinking such foolishness. And unfortunately, those young white fools still have those negative ideas in their heads, and no doubt will pass them on to their children, as somebody obviously passed it on to them, thus perpetuating the myth.
 
And have you ever realized that when a white person is displeased with a black person, the first word that automatically comes out of their mouths is ‘nigger?’
 
And please don’t tell me no nonsense about the ‘n’ word! Steups! What hogwash! Do you thinks that stops anything? Not on your life, for racial prejudice is alive and kicking very strong in North America. Even saw something earlier on where the Klu Klux Klan was reportedly recruiting members in some part of the U.S.A.
 
Now if the powers that be were truly intent on rooting out racism, their first action would be to ban the Klan, label them terrorists, or rather sadistic murderers and outlaw their racist activities. But no, they’re still going strong.
 
And what really amuses me about white people, despite their supposed dislike for people of darker hues, and their supposed superiority because of their skin colour, they spend billions of dollars every year in the tanning industry to get their skins darker. They even have to pass laws now, banning young people under certain ages from going to the tanning machines and salons that are spreading like the cancer that they are causing.
 
Hn. hn! Everybody LOVES to sport a tan, and they show off too, about who’s got the darker tan. Now how does that convince me that white skin is superior to dark skin eh? It really proves the opposite. And physically speaking that’s the awesome truth, because dark skin can handle all the elements of God’s earth much better than the fair skin can. It also ages much better, without all the wrinkles and blue veins showing up.
 
Anyway Friends, that’s my take on the situation. And believe you me, I’m very, very happy in my skin, the colour and all that it entails! I wouldn’t want it any other way, because I’ve seen from sixty something years of experience that it’s the best of all worlds!
 
Now, turning to our Bit: ‘For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.’
 
Those were words from Jesus to the disciple Ananias in Damascus, after the heavenly light on his way to Damascus to terrify the Christian brethren had blinded Bruh Paul. The Lord was sending Ananias to heal Bruh Paul’s blindness, but Ananias was scared because of Bruh Paul’s reputation as a destroyer of the faith under his given name of Saul.
 
But the Lord told Ananias in no uncertain terms. ‘Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.’ (Acts 9:15)
 
‘And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales (something like scales): and he received sight forthwith (at once), and arose and was baptized.’ (Acts 9:17-18)
 
Oh Friends, yuh see how Jesus can change us in the twinkling of an eye, how we can become a new creation almost instantaneously! Saul, the great destroyer of the faith, eventually became Paul, the great builder of the faith. But little did he know the horrors he would have to undergo to do that.
 
Likewise Friends, all believers have trials and tribulations to undergo on behalf of Jesus. But yuh know we can handle anything that Lucifer and his cohorts can throw at us, because we have several great affirmations and promises to stand on namely: ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’ (Phil.4:13) That means we can stand up to anything because of Christ’s power working in us.
 
And then, ‘In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33b)
 
And don’t ever forget Friends, that great promise of our ever-faithful God. ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.’ (Heb.5:13b)
 
And last but not least Jesus’ promise to the disciples: ‘and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen’ (Matt.28:20b) 
 
Yes my people, we can always count on our God to always be beside us, and when we’re too sick or tired to carry on our earthly journey, then He puts us on His burly, never-weary shoulders and carries us until we are healed and rejuvenated. So please stand strong in the faith.
 
And I have to chuckle here as I consider the affirmations we spoke about yesterday, then the Lord sends that small test with the racist remark, which hopefully I passed with flying colours. Our God truly is amazing! Much LOVE!
 
…through faith in Almighty God…we shall do very well…and that’s a proven fact…