THINK WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL MIND
By Dadisi Mwende Netifnet Marvin Leroy AlstonAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2011 Dadisi Mwende Netifnet aka Marvin Leroy Alston
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4670-7117-8 Chapter One
HOW IT ALL HAPPENED
As a proud member of the Shrine of the Black Madonna of the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church for over 33 years, I reflect on my many awesome Church experiences. My thoughts go back to Atlanta, Georgia where I joined the Church in 1978.
In May of 1984 Cardinal Sondai Nyerere, former CEO of the Southern Region, recommended that I become a Ritual Leader for Black Theology and Bible Class. Mwalimu Jabari (Gilbert Henry), the Church Worship Service Director, told me the good news after the decision was made in a Church meeting. I felt a great honor had been bestowed upon me. With one week to get together a prayer, I realized I had to rethink my perception of God.
Growing up in Charleston, South Carolina, influenced by depictions of God in my childhood Church, I believed that God was an old, gray-headed white man in the sky with a great big black book checking you into Heaven or kicking you down to hell.
That worldview of God eventually became too minute for me. As an adult, I began to think more definitively about the Creator. The theology of the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church believes God to be "Cosmic Energy and Creative Intelligence out of which all things are created and in which we live, move and have our being". God is a force that man cannot fully understand. With this in mind, I began to think more clearly and precisely about the God to whom I pray and what it is I ask from him.
For the sake of communication, I say "Him" because God is known by many names and "Him" is one of the many references to this magnificent deity.
My big day arrived and I was one of the first persons in Bible class. Mwalimu Jabari was present and discussed with me the procedures of being a Ritual Leader. The Ritual Leader welcomes the congregation, gives the prayer of Invocation, introduces the Bible Class Instructor and gives the Benediction. It is also the Ritual Leader's responsibility to invoke the presence of God's power.
Moments later Bishop Lindiwe Nyerere, the Bible Class Instructor, came in, embraced me with sisterly love and together we took a seat in the Pulpit.
Being my first time speaking at any public gathering, I felt myself getting very nervous as I watched members and visitors come into the room and be directed to their seats by the ushers. Mwalimu Jabari gave me a head cue to move to the podium and welcome the congregation. I smiled as I looked out from the podium and saw many of my Church friends all of whom were smiling back at me.
I welcomed everyone and asked that they stand for the reciting of the Church Creed, and Prayer of Invocation. I prayed from my heart that Sunday morning, then Bishop Lindewe delivered a very enlightening lesson after which I gave the Prayer of Benediction.
The support I received from members in the form of handshakes, hugs and encouraging words touched me deeply and I felt truly blessed for the experience. More fulfilling was receiving word that Cardinal Sondai, who was unable to attend Bible Class, was delighted by my success.
Because I was preoccupied with what to pray about the following Sunday, it was difficult for me to concentrate on my classes at Atlanta Area Technical School where I studied printing and graphic arts. At Mwalimu Jabari's recommendation, I began writing my prayers ahead of time. What an excellent recommendation. My confidence grew as Mwalimu Jabari critiqued my prayers; and speaking publicly brought me electrifying joy. For the next two (2) two years I was Bible Class Ritual Leader and I had but one regret, that I did not keep any of my written prayers. Every week I wrote a new prayer and threw the previous one away.
Upon graduating from Atlanta Area Technical School in 1986 as a printer, I requested a transfer to the Church's National Headquarters in Detroit, Michigan where I became an Assistant to Mwalimu Diallo in the Printing Department. As a result of this experience, I am constantly aware of God's presence and find myself keeping personal notes on how I continue to experience this awesome power. Over the years these experiences have increased my meditations and caused me to seek a spiritual tune-up.
These processes have proven to be the most energetic and meaningful way for me to seek God. Each of us must discover our own inner divinity.
In this Book I have expressed some of my insights about this omnipotent God that we serve. It is my hope that you receive as much joy in reading this as I did in capturing my thoughts for this presentation.
Poet Dadisi
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."
Matthew 22:37
INVOCATION Dear God,
Your son sees visions and in those visions there is sorrow and pain. Just to look at this planet and the suffering of so many people. God what am I to do? The struggle for life and breath is a struggle too. Then there is oppression and exploitation hovering about my head. It even goes with me into my poverty stricken bed. In spite of it all, God, give me words to say and work to do because deep down in my heart, I feel I'm one of the chosen few.
Amen
PUT IT IN GOD'S HANDS
"Dadisi, if you pray for something, don't worry about it. If you worry about it, don't pray for it at all".
Words from my roommate
Mother Defina, age 78.
September 12, 2006
6:00 p.m.
NO ONE
No one has ever seen God ... But I wish ...
THE RULE
The love of God is no game. Play by the rules.
THE KEY
Beware of God.
MY DEAR CHILD
God is not a man or woman. I pray that this you will come to understand.
TO ACHIEVE
Protect your right to know God.
BE READY
God, I'm gonna be ready for whatever today brings ...
Whatever the day brings,
I'm gonna be ready!!!
DON'T EVEN TRY
You can't compare God to anyone or anything.
LIFE CYCLE
Sometimes I feel so blue ...
I forget that God continues to make me anew.
ALLEGIANCE
I pledge allegiance to you God, for you are the strength of my life.
JOB
My job is to serve God, not for God to serve me.
I love my job.
ROYALITY
Spirit of the living God, you are royalty.
PEARL
God, I know I'm not the only one in your great big ole world. But I believe I, too, am one of your precious pearls.
HERO
God, you are my hero and everything imaginable.
GALAXY
God, your galaxy is so vast and wide not even the best scientists can describe.
ZILLION
There are a zillion and one ways to praise God.
Get your praise on.
A TIME TO LISTEN
God, may the words that come from my heart speak to the souls of humanity.
ASTRONAUTS
God ... Astronauts fly into space far far away, however, none of them have any pictures of where you are.
MIRACLES
God, I believe in you because you work miracles.
Now, why do you believe in me?
STREETS OF GOLD
God, men say your streets are paved with gold. I am waiting to behold these things that are told.
NO SHAME
There's no shame in my game. Only God can take what he has claimed.
PRINCE OF PEACE
I love you Jesus for you are the Prince of peace. Your love is mine to share.
TIME SPENT WITH GOD
God, there is nothing I'd rather do than spend time with you.
STRESS
God, it is midnight and I am lying in my bed, but I cannot rest.
Please release my mind from all stress.
PERFECT PEACE
Be where the people of God are.
MILKY WAY
God is as lovely as a summer day way out there in a distant Milky Way.
ON MY KNEES
All I can do is feel the bliss of the moment.
Experience the hour in each day.
At night I get on my knees and I thank God with a prayer.
SHADES OF COLOR
God you created people many shades of colors. Are we all kin to each other?
HATE
Hatefulness is ungodly.
If you've got hate in your heart tell God you are sorry.
RICH MEN LIE
God, I know you lovingly provide food and medicine abundantly. Why then do rich men tell lies?
PRIESTLYHOOD
God, I heard Holy men say the world is corrupt and full of sin. Nowadays I see on TV some Catholic priests turning themselves in.
TO GOD
To God we pray night and day.
To God we love, believing that God power is not only above!
To God we say, "Bless the food we eat ..."
To God we seek happiness and eternal peace.
To God we smile for we have been blessed to live on this earth a little while.
Amen.
THUNDER
As a little boy growing up, I remember hearing folk say that when it thunders the devil is beating his wife.
Is that true God?
I don't think so ...
GOD IS
God is everything.
God is everywhere.
God is nothing tangible that we can compare.
God simply is.
PYRAMID CLIMBER
God, I thank you for making it possible for me to see and climb the Egyptian pyramids at Giza.
THE WALKER
I walked miles and miles alone.
Only God knows where I have gone.
GOD THE MAGNIFICENT
God made the Sunshine.
God created the rain.
God made many things
that men cannot explain.
INTERCEDING
God, I remember on three occasions in my life when men threatened to shoot and kill me. You interceded and changed their hearts.
Thanks.
WHERE
Where would I be without you God?
Without you God where would I be?
Thank you God.
Where would I be without you?
Without you, where would I be?
HURRICANE KATRINA (August 29, 2006)
Have mercy on me O, God ...
I am only a child caught in the eye of the storm.
HERE AND NOW
Here and now I promise to love you God faithfully.
THE CALL
God is calling.
Come and get God.
NO DOUBT
When I woke up this morning, I had no doubt that God was with me.
No doubt, no doubt.
THE LIGHT OF GOD
After all these years God, I finally see your marvelous light.
I was walking in the wrong direction!!!
HOLY SPIRIT
God, do people get the Holy Spirit in other places besides religious institutions?
SHOW ME
God, show me the way.
You know what's best for me. Show me the way.
Show me.
THE REAL DEAL
God knows how I feel.
Only God knows the real deal.
HOLY ONE
God, even though I have not seen your face I think I have felt you before.
Now I'm seeking knowledge to understand you even more.
TEARS OF JOY
The love of God makes me feel good inside.
Excuse me if you see me cry.
PROCRASTINATION
Don't procrastinate God needs to see you right away.
I AM THANKFUL
Dear God, for all the things I have learned, I give thanks to you.
GIVE THANKS TO THE BLACK MADONNA
Holy Black Madonna, mother of Jesus.
Daughter of God
We thank Joseph and you for the birth of our Lord.
This is one of many pictures of the Black Madonna. There are many Shrines to the Black Madonna located all throughout the world.
THE ARMY
I'm a soldier in the army of the Lord.
I'm pressing on to save some lost souls.
WAR
I believe wars have been going on since the beginning of time.
Why, God, do some nations feel war is holy and divine?
HEAL THE RELATIONSHIP
God, may you bring peace to the Middle East so that all gun fighting and hatred may cease.
CAN YOU DIG IT
Regardless of our religions,
God loves us all.
THAT DAY
If I live to see that day when all people are free, my only words will be:
"Thank you God for using me as an instrument for liberty."
CONSTELLATION
God, you are my shiny star wherever you are.
THY GOODNESS
God is so spiritual, I think about thy spirit all the time.
DON'T ALWAYS
God, I know I don't always follow your plan nor do I always do your will, but please be patient with me.
PENTECOST
God gives us all magical moments.
ENERGETIC
It must be God I'm feeling.
GOD IS MY PROTECTOR
I fear no man who does his fellow man wrong.
God has made me strong.
GOOD PEOPLE
God it is nice to have people in my life who just want to do right.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from THINK WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL MINDby Dadisi Mwende Netifnet Marvin Leroy Alston Copyright © 2011 by Dadisi Mwende Netifnet aka Marvin Leroy Alston. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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