Farrakhan and Irony: “Organized Religion is a flop”

Yes, that’s a direct quote from the leader of the Nation of Islam. And yes, he should have said that while looking at himself in the mirror smirking the entire time.

During a recent rededication ceremony at Mosque Maryam (national HQ for the Nation of Islam in Chicago), minister Louis Farrakhan rattled off the following:

“Religion as it is being preached and practiced is a failure” … “Are Muhammad and Jesus enemies,” Farrakhan asked. “Why, then, are we?”

If by “organized religion”, you mean being ridden with guilt if you don’t make service, offer your alms publicly just so others can keep you in check, pray five times daily or else and forget eating ham during the holidays, then by Jove, you are right!

Any of that sound familiar, brother minister? Islam (in this country, not globally) is no more unorganized, ritualistic and perfunctory than Christianity, you dunderhead.

And as for your other thunderous epiphany, I have a few points of interest:

• Jesus and Muhammad aren’t enemies.

True, but one is naturally subservient to the other, guess which one that would be, man who serves a guy who died centuries ago.

• Muhammad was a man created by God with his own ability to reason. When he was 40, he gets bent about Islam, fasts during Ramadan, ventures to a cave and gets a revelation that “God is One.”

Uh yeah, wake up and the smell the 90s. Not the 1990s or 1890s, just the 90s – as in A.D. You see, Christians knew “God is One” way back then. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you figured that out five hundred years later, but there was no need to write your own holy writ and call it something else to placate to the locals.

• So just who were you addressing anyway? Did R.W. Schambach open a tent revival nearby?

Note this from the aforementioned story in the Los Angeles Times:

Besides religious leaders of many faiths, hundreds of other visitors were invited by Nation of Islam members to attend the ceremony. They passed through tight security before entering the mosque but were greeted with friendly smiles by Nation of Islam members.

Get this Wall Watchers. Bet you a dollar these were mostly young folk from the South Side, still impressionable in dogma and know the Nation does a TON of beneficence in the community.

So, this is NOT as inculpable as it seems – Farrakhan is not proselytizing unity for the sake of salvation; he is recruiting new soldiers for the sake of growth!

Any time a preacher extols a “We are the World” message, it’s bound to attract folk. Just ask Joel Osteen how that’s working out.

So, MEMO to all the nubile Muslims: Jesus and Muhammad aren’t enemies. BUT… they aren’t buddies either. One was a man, the other is GOD. One was a servant with a plagiarized message, the other is sovereign KING with edicts from on-high. One is dead, the other is ALIVE.

Farrakhan is right about one thing – organized religion is a flop. My recommendation? Try having a relationship with Jesus. If you don’t believe me, consider the following age-old idioms: “Buddha Damnit,” “Allah bless you,” “For the love of Vishnu,” and who could forget “Oh my Satan!” So, what’s wrong with all of these? GOD IS MISSING! There’s a reason for that, big guy. You figure it out.

Billy Graham: Happy 90th Birthday

November 7.

That day marks a fairly ostentatious birthday will be starting fire alarms everywhere as the esteemed nonagenarian Rev. Billy Graham turns 90.

This gentle giant of Christianity has served the Body of Christ with passion, purpose and persistence for more years than most of you have been saved… scratch that, been ALIVE. He began kicking off his ministry on the radio in 1944 – that’s more than 60 years, folks!

Has his ministry meant anything to you? Has the fact that he has been asked to consult presidents, led revivals to countless of millions, witnessed to billions and there’s no telling how many people are going to heaven as a result of his ministry. This man will have enough jewels in his crown to resemble Mr. T’s paradise on his forehead.

So, what can you get a man who seems to have no need for anything? A birthday greeting from you thanks to this new-fangled Web site the Billy Graham Evangelical Association has created.

So, spend a few seconds to login, think fast and be sincere. What a more fitting gift – “America’s Pastor” hearing from the entire nation. Let the Church say “Amen”… among other things.

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MOVE 2008: Finally, the Jews and Muslims agree on something

You have heard the arguments. You have seen the blather. But now… NOW… there’s proof about the man they call Obama!

Messiah, or not. Antichrist, or not. Whatever side of the Mason-Satan-Dixon line he calls home, Barack Obama is doing something that hasn’t been done since Father Abraham became a Baby Daddy and sent that Bebe Kid Ishmael packing – he has Muslims and Jews agreeing about something.

Shoot, I don’t care what it is. It could be what they want on their pizza, as long they aren’t blowing things up on opposite sides of the Gaza Strip, this is newsworthy. First, the Nation of Islam (despite Obama saying he wants nothing to do with that religion… er, vote) and now this?!

It’s not real surprise. Jewish voters typically side with Democrats: in 2000, more than 80 percent had a Gore/Lieberman bumper sticker; in 2004, a paltry 75 percent rocked the Kerry/Philanderer… er, Edwards ticket. And thanks to the story from the Gallup Poll, the “World’s Most Interesting Candidate” [I love those commercials] has seen his numbers rise in only four months!

MEMO to McCainiacs: This is what’s called a “meteoric rise.” In other words, you may begin sweating now. All Johnny Boy needs now is for the Pope and Billy Graham to utter support for Barack, and his world is officially rocked and Obama could be the last clown standing. So, I’ll ask the question the McCain campaign is asking, “What the eff?”

Support for Obama among all registered voters was fairly stable from June through September, but then rose sharply in October – in apparent reaction to the U.S. economic crisis. By contrast, support for Obama among Jewish voters has expanded more gradually, from the low 60% range in June and July to 66% in August, 69% in September, and 74% today.

In other words, there’s the rub.

This election is NOT about the war, NOT about Christian values, NOT about healthcare and the other feng shui topics, but about what’s in front of people’s faces now. When this thing began, everything was on the table because – you know – everything was working so well in the White House at that time. But now, the economy is in the toilet, unemployment is so popular it’s in fashion and so many bailouts, socialism isn’t a feared by-product, it’s a stark reality.

Ah well, may the presidential election continue to be what it’s always been – a vote for the lesser of two evils and pray out loud and in public that God keeps his covenant with his people and our nation. Lord, hear our prayer.

Putting your soul and spirit into cooking

HiScrivener has been called many things, most of which is slightly unsuitable for a blog that extols God. Among the clean monikers is “Five-star Chef-de-Cuisine extraordinaire.” OK, maybe that’s a slight hyperbole but I do love to cook.

That said, “Big Daddy” and church elder Paul Woodard is my hero!

This 6′ 4″ dude pushing over three bills does more than pack out his pants, he packs his Birmingham, Ala. barbecue shack to the rafters every day… except Sundays and Wednesdays.

“People say I could make more money if I was open on Wednesday and Sunday,” Woodard said. “That’s not an option for me. I’m not going to sacrifice my relationship with Christ for a few dollars.”

Who cares, right? Well, to me, this wouldn’t be that big of a deal if Elder “Big Daddy” Woodard ran a Chic-Fil-A in the heart of Dallas. All those people and a proven brand equals profits. His barbecue joint is in Birmingham, Alabama! A major city barely cracking one million, with no major sports team and in a city not really known for economic virtue.

In these economic times, that’s not quite called a fiscally-responsible decision. Again, who cares. This is a man who knows who pays his bills. And it’s not like he’s hurting that much…

The Birmingham News recently pronounced Woodard’s restaurant as the home of the best ribs in the greater Birmingham area. Big Daddy’s won the gold medal for the seven-county area.

Maybe I’m just waxing a bit sentimental and spiritual, but this is inspirational. Brother has this award-winning, slammin’ BBQ and yet, he is determined to give God his due and serve him up a platter of praise (he sings in the choir) before serving the community a platter of those hot ribs of his.

So, Wall Watchers, if you are in “B-Ham” anytime soon, make sure to stop by, look up and give Big Daddy some love, and a couple of dollars for his brisket. Good on ya’ Elder.

Cross Eyed: Bob your heads, Lift yo hands

HiScrivener is an old school music lover. From jazz greats of Ben Webster and Oscar Peterson, R&B icons of Donny Hathaway and Marvin Gaye, true rock legends like Pink Floyd and The Eagles. You get the idea.

However, these are the days of milquetoast, bubblegum pop and cheeseballs taking the stage on American Idol.

Much to my shagrin, I blow the dust off my wax and play ad nauseum. Every once in a while, I enjoy the Nu Soul crooners like John Legend and Anthony Hamilton and rockers like Kid Rock and SRV (R.I.P.) who can sound on their best day like the folklore of the past. Hip Hop is probably the toughest to do that. Common has done that seamlessly in the secular, but who has done that in Christendom?

Gone are the days of D2, SFC, Freedom of Soul, Apocalypse and Gospel Gangstaz. God rest their soul. So, now what? There aren’t many acts that can bridge the chasm between Christianity and commercialism from the inside. Third Day does it brilliantly. Some of the aforementioned wasn’t that successful, but that’s because radio wasn’t ready for them yet. Now, they are.

May I introduce Shai Linne – a group that seems to understand memories are made with Old School riffs and money is made with completely transparent lyrics extoling God’s greatness. Before a few days ago, I have never heard of them, but this got my head bobbin’ and my hands raisin’. Who knows where they will go on CCM radio, but they made it on the Wall.

Forward this on to your peeps and give it your ears. This will keep your heads ringin’. What, what!