UPP Creative
17
When she first told the story, I didn’t hear her because of all the noise in the restaurant. There were other conversations going on. But one of my friends decided that she would do 17 things she had never done before in this upcoming year. The more I thought about it, the more I thought I should do it too.
How cool is that to intentionally seek to learn something new.
This journey is turning out to be fun. I am three in and it has been a learning experience. But it has also changed my mindset in some areas. One of the things on my list was attend s Mardi Gras parade.
I got to see parts of Galveston I had never seen. I collected beads. We had good laughs.
This journey helpd me not take things do serious.
It has also given me new ways to see some old things. It has encouraged me and given me new confidence.
So. Why don’t you try it?
Watching Me Ain’t Gonna Save You
I put feet to my faith because I know the God I serve is able. There are dozens of people who stay connected to me but do not share the same ideology. These idiots really think we can agree to disagree about things like injustice, discrimination and murder. (Yes, really)
As I talk to the Lord about this, He told me to tell you this. You can’t be saved by watching. Watching me fight the good fight is not going to save you. And as long as there is breath in my body I will always champion humanity. I will always do the things God has for me to do and they are aligned with His word.
Many of you are on the wrong side of this and you can’t jump ship at the end. The One who judges knows your heart. He can’t just be your Lord sometimes like when you feel safe and secure. You either find your security in Jesus or you don’t. Which begs the question, do you really believe? As we sit in our comfortable homes and watch families being torn apart please know there will be a reckoning. God is just.
Now let me say, I appreciate knowing where you stand. Because when the earth opens up and swallows you, I will not feel bad for you. He is allowing me to see many of the folks who I thought were Christ lovers are not. The love of your possessions and self care is more important than taking God’s message to the poor. No, for your own security you would rather they are ejected from the country. You can talk any kind of game you want, but what you put your feet to is what counts. You are championing hatred, fear and selfish ambition which are fruits of evil and God promises you will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
I have learned NOT to align myself with people who don’t believe what I believe because you start to become like them. I want to be like Jesus and I can see in this country there are very few like Him. But as I learned in BSF, my citizenship is in heaven. Some of you might want to re evaluate and see if that is where your true citizenship is.
Maybe you are following me cause you want to know what to do. It is time to renounce fear. It is time to stop trying to kick people out of country you don’t even own. Everything on this earth is God’s. God brought all of these people here to teach us about Himself and we as a nation are rejecting Him. It has to stop. It is kinda like my Mama used to say. You can stop yourself or I can stop you. You don’t want God to stop you. (IJS)
I Will Not Be Quiet! I Will Not Shut Up!
As long as there are people in the world who oppress others, I will be the champion of the oppressed. I was born in the middle of the 1960’s in the United States during a time when African Americans fought for equal rights. Yet my generation has been labeled soft because we had not had the oppressive experiences our parents lived through. They lived through segregation, lynchings, boycotts and marches. Their memories were scarred with what could happen if they gave up.
But what I love about this new Civil Rights Movement is that it is geared towards all people. This is not just a movement about African Americans. It is about all people from all walks of life having access to the same opportunities. Dr. King said ” We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” (I Have A Dream, Martin Luther King Jr.)
I caution you to be leery of people who tell you not to protest. Ask yourself what is their underlying motivation. Many people have had their sources of revenue messed up by this distress. It is time for these people to decide who they really represent. If God is there source, He will provide for them. If He is not, well.
Certain politicians are very smug and believe they control the people, but are slowly finding out that that is not true. In order to control the people, they have to control their minds and the information they take in. Again, they are fighting an old battle with old means.
What I love about this new movement is that many of our networks were already together thanks to the greed of some business savy folks who thought it would be cool if people connected through social media. A video can go viral without the help of the press or civic officials. Injustice is being captured and played for the world to see. And America is being held accountable for how she responds.
I mean really, a woman who called the police for help, was arrested by the man who came to help. She was going to face charges until someone released his bodycam video showing him beating the hell out of her and her daughters. And millions of views around the world made them drop the charges on the woman and reevaluate the police officer. (I mean city officials knew all this from the beginning, but having millions of viewers looking at you and questioning your decision making process made them change their minds about charges against the woman.)This is the world we live in and we are not shutting up until we get justice for all.
Another thing about this movement is that we share ideas on how to take on this beast call discrimination and prejudice. I love how people all over the world share ideas and pour into one another. I cherished getting Dr. Bernice King’s list on how to manage this. You share ideas in real time and they become movements.
No, do not be quiet! The person we save will probably be one of those folks in the back trying to pretend like this is not really a big deal. When they first started registering Jews in Germany, they probably thought it was no big deal. But we need to let them know they will have to fight for every piece of ground they take.
Resist.
Resist the darkness that wants to shove portions of our society down. Resist the talk that says they are Christians because Jesus did not love like that. Resist your own comfort and peace because someone is going to be discriminated against if YOU give up the fight. Don’t tear things up. Don’t physically hurt people. Resist the message that only certain people should have rights.
“With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.” (I Have A Dream, Martin Luther King Jr.)
Happy New Year
Welcome to 2017. It is going to be a great year. We are starting the new year with a new look. We will incorporate some new stuff into some of our old which will make for a fun year. You can keep up with us here or on Facebook.
Merry Christmas
For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
why i am here?
To do this.
Who Is This Crazy Lady
and why should you listen to anything she says?
I am first, a child of the Most High God. I have many roles in this life, but very few of them define me like being a Jesus follower. I love Jesus. He gifted me with salvation. He has given me many other talents and a life full of adventure. He has created in me the ability to tell stories through several mediums: film, books and photography.
I have stood at the feet of the Great Emancipator in the District of Columbia, stood at the edge of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama and touched the Gates of Time in Oklahoma City, OK. Those are just a few of the places, I have stopped at. Not only has He given me adventure, but a heart for the people I encounter along the way.
I am also a mom, sister, travel companion, coworker, friend, annoying person who always reminds you of what God’s Word says on a subject. I cherish all of the roles (especially the latter.)
In 2016, many of you have gotten to know me by some of those roles and I would like to thank you. It has been a year full of photography, books and film. I appreciate your support.
I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Karen
UPP Creative Media
Christmas Moments
Life is full of great moments and I had one today. Some friends and I were talking about buying Christmas presents for our children and how overwhelming it could be. Then T said “Remember when all you really wanted for Christmas was a bike?”
“Yes!”
Remember when everyone in the neighborhood had to have a bike. And if you didn’t have one, you were riding on the back or sitting on the handlebar. I remember getting my bike for Christmas. (and the hell of having my father try to teach me to ride it.)
But I learned and rode with my friends who had bikes. We would ride fast with the wind in our hair. We would pretend to be bus drivers or race car drivers. There was a hill where I lived so it was always a challenge to get down the hill and still be upright on your bike.
And then T said “Then everyone wanted roller-skates.”
And so did we. This was before helmets, knees pads and etc. I remember my sister and I in our bright new white skates with the cousins skated to the store. When we was almost at the store, this big dog jumped out barking. Baby we was like those Fred Flintstones feet. (Running as fast as we can but going nowhere.) (Although my sister did fall on broken glass and hurt herself) But we made it through.
T reminded us of the Walkman and that Boombox with a record button. You could put your cassette tape in and record yourself singing. Beautiful memories.
My pastor said we should give our kids memories, not more stuff. He was right. I have great memories, as jacked up as some of them are. I wouldn’t trade them. Go make memories.
Happy Thanksgiving
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