An Easterbaby Thanksgiving

Happy 2 days after Thanksgiving Blog Readers! I hope that you had a great turkey day and did not overdue it. Of course, I hope as you were chowing down with family and/or friends, you took a moment to reflect on the many things you had to be grateful for. But keep in mind, true thanksgiving should occur more than once per year. At least I am certain that you are blessed more than once per year. Case and point, if you are able to read this blog, it means you can see and read, so there, you have 2 things to be thankful for and it's not Thanksgiving.

For me, I try to always give thanks for my more obvious blessings. But from time to time, I like to reflect on the things that some folks may take for granted. When I first started to blog, you may remember, I gave you a list of things I was thankful for such as caffeine and cellphone alarm clocks. Well, I wrote that blog in November 2005 and since then, I have quite a few more very key things that I am truly grateful for. Perhaps this list may seem odd but you may just see a few things that you can relate to and understand where I am coming from:

8 - TV LAND. Yes I am thankful to the television powers that be for TV LAND. I mean with regular television being garbage, I look forward to be able to turn to TV LAND for some good quality tv. Now some of yall may just think I'm getting old (which may or may not be true) but how can you not love classic tv? There aren't any shows on now that are quite as entertaining as Good Times, Sanford and Son, or Andy Griffith. And now they are showing I Love Lucy! (Vita-meat-a-vegamin). And I don't stop at the comedies, oh noooooo. I have a new found interest in stuff like Bonanza and Gunsmoke. Just last Sunday, I was late for Sunday School trying to see how Marshall Dillon was going to get out of his predicatment. It was serious!!!

7 - Mini cans of spray. Have you seen these? You know when you are in the checkout line at Wal-Mart, and they have all these items right there along with the candy and the tabloid magazines...there amongst the mini packs of tissue and the lint brushes are little cans of spray. Oust was my spray of choice but now they have little Lysols. So why is this a good thing? Well, have you ever been in a public restroom that smelled good? I didn't think so. Well now you can freshen it up. And sometimes, if you are the offender and not the offendee, you can freshen up behind yourself and avoid the funny looks. You feel me? Oh don't act like you have never offended anybody in the public restroom...

6 - The Suze Orman Show. Now I may have misled you by giving the impression only good tv comes on TV LAND. But I will say that on CNBC, I have found a new friend in Suze Orman. Talk about good money matter advice. She tells it to you straight and makes lots of sense. Now don't get me wrong, I don't have all this money lying around that I need to manage but if I ever have any, I won't squander it, thanks to Suze. I like the part of the show where she tells people what they can and cannot afford to buy based on their income, expenses, etc. Now what I learn from this segment is, (1) People are willing to spend money on some ridculous things they can't afford, and (2) No savings, credit card debt, and car leasing are three things that Suze hates. You will be DENIED!

5 - Amazon.com. Yes I have learned to love this website. At the click of a button, I can make a purchase with no checkout lines, no hassles, and no pesky sales clerks. Oh sure, Amazon has been around a long time. But sometimes it takes a minute for one to actually appreciate something. I was little skeptical about the whole online shopping idea. But being who I am, low on patience and time, I have seen the beauty of this phenomenon. Now it hasn't replaced my beloved Wal-Mart yet...there is still the thrill of seeing if I can go in Wal-Mart with a shopping list and only come out with what I had wrote down. Hasn't worked yet but the future is bright. Anyway, thank you Amazon for an alternative.

4 - MP3 players. Do you have one? You may have an IPOD but hey MP3s work the same and cost less. I love this little thing. If you are still carrying around a portable CD player or worst yet a portable cassette player, I invite you to join the age of convenience. I can download like 3 billion songs of my choosing and listen to them from a device no bigger than a business card. On the plane, it's great. At the gym, love it! (yes I go to the gym!) Waiting anywhere, keeps me occupied. It's so small and inconspicuous. If you don't have one, tell someone that is what you must have for Christmas...they are getting cheaper.

3 - Fantasy Football. Some of yall who know me very well know 2 things about me (1) I love football and (2) my dream job would be owning a football team. Yeah owning, meaning I'd be very rich or at least married rich. Well, since I am not rich and haven't married rich (yet!), I don't think I'll be owning a team anytime soon. However, I don't know who this person is but I am so thankful for the creator of Fantasy Football. Why? Cause it is the closest I can get to owning a team as a financially challenged individual. Right now, I have 3 teams in 3 leagues in which my teams are all named...guess? THE EASTERBABY EXPRESS aka "The Train Bringin' the Pain!" Cute, right? Now, my most favorite league is the one I started called the Ladies Fantasy Football League (LFFL). Yes there are women who love football and know more about the game than just who looks the best in the tights. And I have them in my league. Twelve teams managed by some of the best female minds in football. But this league isn't for sissies cause we (mostly me) talk alot of trash. But it's all in fun and makes life a lot more interesting when you spend most of your time in the books.

2 - The GARMIN c340. Now you are asking yourself, what is she talking about? I am talking about a GPS device. I bought one of these things a few months ago and it is the coolest thing since well, Fantasy Football. My dad has one (Nellie Sr.) and I was so captivated by it, I had to have one too (Nellie Jr.). Now Nellie is a she and what she does is, tells you how to get to wherever you need to go turn by turn. GOODBYE MAPQUEST! You have been dethroned! However, as much as I love this thing, there are two things about Nellie Jr. I wish could fix...(1) like most females, she gets an attitude if you don't do what she tells you..."Re-cal-cu-lating!" and (2) she doesn't necessarily know the difference between a good area of the city and an area with some challenges. If it is the quickest route, that is the way you are going.

And what is an Easterbaby Thanksgiving without giving a shout out to the ONE who can give priceless gifts like no one else can...

1 - Divine Sense. What is Divine Sense? Glad you asked. In my 2005 November blog I mentioned that I was thankful for "common sense". However, I have come to learn that common sense is just that - common. Meaning it is common to everyone or it should be. How do you get common sense? Well I think you learn it from your environment. If you are around people who do stuff that seems exceptable, you think, "hmmmmm, that's the norm, so I'll go with it." But let's be honest, today's "norm" is not necessarily a good thing, right?. Anyway, how many times have you seen somebody do something strange and you said, "he or she just doesn't have common sense". No doubt, they have learned this pattern of behavior from other strange folks they've been around (except maybe you...cause if you have made that statement about someone then obviously you feel like you have common sense). Okay, so what about Divine Sense? Oh see that's different. You can only get that from the Good Lord. And it is better than common sense because it is God's way of giving you a small portion of His divine insight. And now if I had a choice of having common sense from strange folks like me or divine sense from the Almighty...I think the choice is clear. So what's the difference? Well here's an example:

Common sense says if you are a smoker, don't offend the non-smokers around you with your second hand smoke, go outside and puff away. Divine sense says,

1 Cor. 3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

1 Cor. 6:19 - 20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Now calm down all you smokers...this does not just apply to smoking, there are many things we all do that seem like common sense but truly takes divine sense to overcome because it is bad for us. Think back to what you ate this past Thursday...you see what I mean?

Or how about this example...Common sense says if you have kids, as a parent you should feed them, clothe them, and make sure their needs are met. Divine sense says,

Proverbs 22:6, 15 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Proverbs 19:18 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.

Don't get me wrong, common sense is okay for a while but King Solomon said it best:

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Divine Sense can be summed up by this scripture. I got this also from King Solomon cause he was real smart and had been blessed with Divine Sense:

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Be blessed Blog Readers and don't forget, "Everyday is a day of Thanksgiving!"

*This blog is dedicated to the Ladies of the LFFL! Thanks for putting up with all the verbal abuse and hanging with me these past 3 years.

While I have my own personal and degrading nicknames for all the teams, here is a BIG SHOUT OUT to the LFFL teams: April Showers, The Bec-taculars, Blu Bombers, Bumble Bruisers, Cashville Hitters, Huckabucks, Intrepid Synergism, Purple Reign, Road Warriors, 'SkinSquad, SS MOS (Super Sexy Mother Of Seven)

(Members emeritus: Desperado Divas, Donnica's Champs, and The Get Yo Money Playas)

Scarier than Halloween!!!

My beloved blog readers, I have not forgotten you! Time, however, stands still for no one. So when I realized I haven't written since July, I felt it is time to let you know what is on my mind. BUT here's the deal, so much has been on my mind since July, if I wrote it all, we'd be here for a while. And since we all got things to do, I will do my best to keep it short and sweet. (Hee Hee, we'll see how that goes...)

Well tomorrow is October 31! Happy Halloween to all you who celebrate! See I can say it and I don't even celebrate Halloween whereas, hearing/saying "Merry Christmas" causes some non -Christian folks to suffer a nervous breakdown. It's sad really. I mean, personally I don't find Halloweeners threatening to my lifestyle yet, for some reason, my Christianity is a threat to the others! Wonder why? Hmmmmmmmm! Well, the truth can be scary if you aren't ready for it (or if you can't HANDLE THE TRUTH per Jack Nichalson).

Anyway, I even sat here and watched "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown". Not b/c of Halloween but b/c it reminded me of a happier, simpler time. Halloween was about dressing up and getting candy but like everything we do, we take simple stuff and turn it into something ugly. Just like Snoopy dressed up as a WWII flying ace and in his mind, he was in WWII fighting. His little dog house was a fighter jet and he was in battle against the Red Baron! But we all know, little Snoopy was just a dog in a red scarf sitting on his doghouse. Laugh at Snoopy all you want, we are no different b/c the stuff we do is way more bizarre than anything in Snoopy's imagination and far scarier than anything associated with Halloween. How so? Glad you asked cause you know I will tell ya...

What could be scarier than Halloween?

For one, animals becoming more important than people! Okay, I am going to say this and I am done. I absolutely think Mike Vick could have found other ventures besides dog fighting to invest his money such as education, heck he could have sent me the money to support my academic pursuits. Is dog abuse wrong? Uh, yeah. But here are my thoughts, has he committed the most horrible crime ever known to man? Uh noooooo! Have you ever seen the movie "Amistad". It only showed a mere glimpse at the horrors and abuse Africans suffered during the slave trade. But Sherry, you went back too far. That isn't happening today. Oh no? Hmmm. Let's ride to Logan County, West VA and ask the 20 something year old woman who was sexually abused, tortured, and beaten. Besides being sexually assaulted, she was stabbed four times in the left leg and cut on her ankles. Both of her eyes were black and blue. Her captors also forced her to eat rat and dog feces and drink from the toilet. The woman also was choked with a cable cord and her hair cut off. And guess what, this happened only a few weeks ago. Did you hear about it? Did it make national news? Where you bombarded with the details of this story? While I bet you can tell me how many dogs Michael Vick killed, did you know this young woman was tortured for about a week, yes a week, by 6 assailants. Now you tell me, where is the outpour of rage on behalf of this young woman like there was for the dogs?

Ok. I better move away from the dogs, cause messing with the dogs will get me in big trouble. After all dogs are quasi-human. So let's talk fish. We have this awful drought in the south. No water for anything! Crops dying, grass dying, rivers and lake drying up! We all know droughts are not a good thing. A drought kills and destroys because water promotes life, right? YES! Life for the fish - the mussels and the sturgeons but for people - fa-get about it! See these fish are endangered so the Army Corps of Engineers drains Lake Lanier in GA of 3 billion gallons of water from the dam to protect the fish. So let me see, it is okay to dry the people out and save the fish which we will eventually go fishing and eat but we won't have any water to wash the fish down, not to mention, without the water, we'll die but the fish will go on. I am a bit confused. Okay the drought isn't that bad yet but you get my point.

What is scarier than Halloween?

Reality Television! Now it is not just the fact Flav-or FLAAAAV got a show or the fact, that a woman who looks like a man in drag, "I Love New York" herself has a show where guys actually want to date her. Ladies, if you haven't found Mr. Right, you are probably are going at it wrong. You have to look like a man dressed like a woman and be extremely ghetto! Being cute, feminine, and intelligient obviously doesn't cut it anymore. Oh but it gets scarier...There is this new show where this chick is trying to find love but the catch is she is choosing among men and women! Obviously being the opposite sex doesn't cut it anymore either. Or how about, this show about the life of the Playboy bunnies who live in Hugh Hefners playboy mansion. And they don't actually do anything exciting or say anything intelligent so why is this a show? I am sure you can figure this out on your own. I have often told my schoolmates that a reality show about getting a PHD would make for great tv. Talk about drama!

What's scarier than Halloween?

George H.allo W.een Bush. Is he not scaier than any ghoul or goblin you have ever seen? No medical insurance for the babies but let's fund the war IRAQ with $136 billion dollars. I am just so over this war. Even the GIs don't even know why they are there nor do they want to be there. Sure the 2 or 3 they interview on the news say "Oh yes, I am behind my Commander and Chief" but I bet they don't speak for all the soldiers. If you know anything about statistics, the sample size does not produce statistically sound evidence to accept the null hypothesis. (Oops, I thought I was in class). So who's left to fight future wars, if we let the kids die?

What's scarier than Halloween?

Taking (or attempting to take) God out of everything. Actually this isn't as scary as it is laughable.

Isaiah 29: 16 You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, "He did not make me"? Can the pot say of the potter, "He knows nothing"?

Exactly who do we think we are? If we really had if going on like we think we do, then why is the world so jacked up? Seems to me that the further we get from God the worse off we become. I mean honestly, everytime we legislate anti-biblical legislature, we create more problems. Don't believe me, watch the news. Whether you are a believer or not, you can't deny it.

But the Potter knows his little broken and backwards pots and if the pots know His Word, all we have done to discredit Him only just proves His Word to be true: Romans 1: 21-31 says:

21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Okay, if that don't scare you, then nothing will! To willfully turn from God and risk becoming every type of evil that would cause Freddie Gruger to run and hide! But this ain't Elm Street, people, and the nightmare is only beginning. Nope this ain't some B-rated horror flick! That's the Word of God! Oh yes my friends, a godless society is the true Halloween. And like the movie GroundHog Day, where Bill Murray lives the same day over and over, if we continue like we are, we will live October 31 over and over until Jesus comes!

Dying for Nothing???

Blog readers, I pray that all is well with you. You know there are times when things are on my mind and I must stop right then and there to write it down or otherwise it may go into the sea of Easterbaby forgetfulness. So what is so pressing that I stopped everything to give you another blog in the same month? Usually this happens when I have some spiritual enlightment that I feel inclined to share with you. As always not everyone will understand or receive this message but hey, that is the way it is sometimes. But I can't let that stop me...


So here's the deal, I am on the internet looking for a particular image on Google images and I came across a picture of Pat Tillman (not the one shown here). I believe we all know who he is but for the rock dwellers, he is the ex-football player for the Phoenix Cardinals turned soldier who was killed over in Iraq and then the military allegedy gave false information surrounding his death. So I saw this image and something made me click on it. It brought me to this blog of an athiest. This didn't surprise me because I had heard recently that Pat Tillman was an atheist. So maybe Pat was this blogger's atheist hero. Anyway, before I lose you, let me say this blog (mine) ain't about atheism per se. Nope, it is more for the monotheist. In the blog, the writer claimed that a statement was made by a military official to Pat's mom..."Pat Tillman died for nothing because he didn't believe in nothing." This statement got the little wheel in my head a'turning...

My first thought was how tragic to live life not believing in nothing, a life without God...Then my thoughts turned to wonder why he didn't believe...Then my thoughts turned to wonder why no one told him about the good news...Then I thought isn't that what the believers of Christ are suppose to be doing...then I thought so what are we as Christians really up to? So that is where I am in my thoughts.

In Matthew 28: 18 - 20 there is what is known as The Great Commission and it says :

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

So if we claim to be followerers of Jesus then shouldn't this be what we are about? Sometimes but not all the time, church gets me frustrated. Now before yall call my pastor, let me 'splain. See I am talking in general, not specifically. Believers gather on Sunday, in our segregated Sunday best and in the confines of the four church walls to worship, praise, and ooze loving kindness towards the Lord and often we send a little love to our church members. In those moments, most feel they are good Christians and believe that time spent in church (on Sunday) excuses them from doing what God asked (i.e. The Great Commission). People get happy, shout, and get saved that day and then sent out into the world. Some of them don't last long cause they don't understand what happened or what their salvation means. For instance, I had a friend get saved for about a week. A week??? Yep, a week. After that she said she couldn't do it. Not sure what it was she thought she had to do...cause salvation is a gift. All she had to do was receive it. Anyway, who was responsible for seeing her through this journey?


Ok, put the phone down. My pastor is too busy to listen to you talk about me and my blog. I am not against church, in fact I love attending church. It is a great place to fellowship with fellow believers and more importantly, get divine instructions from God's Word from His servant. My point is that I just think we sometimes get it wrong. We think we are okay if our prayers and needs are met and answered. All is well in our little world. But what did Jesus say about himself in Luke 4: 18 - 19:


18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

So why have the followers of Jesus changed the mission? Some of the business we are about is so far removed from what Jesus did while he was here. Some churches won't even let you be a member without completing an application. So how do the poor, imprisoned and oppressed fit into the picture at this type of church? But Sherry, we aren't Jesus. You got that right, far from it. But Jesus gave us the power He had so we could do what He did. Act 1:8 says:


8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Now when Jesus sent out the 72 disciples...What? Yeah I said 72. You think there were only 12? Now how do you suppose these other 60 disciples came to be? Here's a thought, they had seen or heard about Jesus, maybe at the big fish fry or maybe in the temple or maybe they witnessed Jesus performing miracles or maybe one of the 12 witnessed to them. Who knows? But what didn't happen is that they sat around waiting for the next Sabbath day to roll around to meet back up with Jesus at the temple. No, Jesus said "Okay yall got to get to work. What you know about me, everyone needs to know. Don't keep it to yourself. Get busy and if they reject you, don't sweat it, keep on moving!" (Sherry's paraphrase). And they were walking yall...Imagine if they had cars to drive. And when they got back they were excited. In fact, the bible uses the term "joy". Luke 10:17 -18

17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." 18 He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

And their joy made Jesus very thankful. Luke 10:21 says...

21At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.


So let me see, there is joy in doing God's work, and Jesus is grateful...so much so, He writes our names in heaven. WOW! So I say, why did Pat Tillman die for nothing? Why are so many others like him gonna die the same way? You see death can be overcome. But we gotta tell people. Not just the ones we see at church every Sunday but everybody. Why do you think God tests us? To give us a testimony. And what will a testimony do? Save a life! Yep! Sounds simple, huh? But hey I didn't come up with that. That is the Word! Revelations 12:11 says:


11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

I just know someone is out there going, "so Ms. Sherry, what are you doing? Telling us what we ain't doing..." To that I say, I am not doing nearly as much as God has for me to do. But in my defense, God gives us all certain abilites to do His work. Like the 72, they had two good feet and some pretty durable pairs of sandals, I imagine. As for me, He gave me a PC, a blog, and a way with words; thus I use what I got to get what HE wants. Oh I hear ya...you think this doesn't count as spreading the gospel. Perhaps it is and perhaps it ain't. But believe it or not, not everyone that reads my blog is a Christian.

In closing, the atheist blog had a little motto...it said "Hands that work are better than lips that pray." Hmmmmmmm...now don't get all indignant because even the bible says in James 2:20 - 26:

20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Imagine if we, the Believers with our power from on high, had praying lips AND working hands, what a difference that would make. Perhaps all Pat needed was to have someone share a testimony with him. Of course, he'd probably still be dead 'cause he got shot BUT he may not have died for nothing. That WORD may have lead him to Jesus and he would be living again with Him in glory.

FREEDOM of the MIND

Blog Readers, wow have I missed you all. It seems the time has gotten away from me. I last blogged in April and before I knew it, it was July. So I decided it was time to correspond with my "peoples".

Of course so much has been happening since my last blog that I could probably write for hours about stuff but I don't have that kind of time. So with the time I do have, I just wanted to type about something that I have pondered since my last blog. In honor of Independance Day, I am gonna "free my mind" somewhat.

I want to free my mind of what it means to be in graduate school earning a PHD. A friend of mine (Big shout out to Dr. Michelle) says that P.H.D. stands for "Permanent Head Damage". For all those who know, this statement is very funny and very true. I think people often underestimate the time and energy it takes to go through this process. And I say this because I think folks think I am kidding when I say "I am going to school (on a Sunday afternoon) or "I don't have time to..." It is more than just taking classes...for me, it is like a form of "hazing". Uh-oh, did I say hazing? Yep and it lasts for 4 years as opposed to the few weeks, greek orgs. have their pledgees on line. Oh and yes I did say four years! So for those who keep asking me if I am STILL in school. Yes I am. Some programs can take you as long as 5 years depending on your research. So don't look at me like an "underachiever" or a "career student" when I say I am still in school. That is just the nature of the beast.

So what is research in the PHD program? Research is developing your very OWN problem and solving it. Sounds easy? NOT! Because before you can do this, you have to make sure no one has ever done it before so you are not a copy cat. And you have to make sure when your committee asks, "So how do you think this research has contributed to the body of knowledge?" You will be able to answer with confidence. "THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE"...now that is saying a whole lot right there...that statement alone is enough to cause permanent head damage. So what does it mean to solve your own problem AND contribute to the BODY OF KNOWLEDGE...it means that my research is always on my mind...ALWAYS!

I had the plesasure of attending a conference a couple weeks ago. I learned lots there but I had pangs of guilt b/c I wasn't working on my research. Yes, part of the permanent head damages involves guilt about not spending every waking moment on your work. Not writing or reading something 25 hours a day and 8 days a week and 366 days a year is not an option (at least that is how you feel)...see how messed up I am??? Oh yeah and what exactly is a "holiday"? Me and some collegues went to a 1 day conference for a presentation in VA during the Spring Break and called it a "vacation". Yep, in the PHD program, you take what you can get and are glad about it.

And let me free my mind with something else. Getting a PHD does not change the person, it changes other people and how they treat you. Most of the time if someone asks me what I do, I simply say, " I am in graduate school". Why? Cause the minute I say I am working on my PHD (getting that permanent head damage), folks change. They start talking funny (all proper like) and I am thinking "what is going on?" cause I am still speaking as "southern" as I was before. I probably said I was getting a PHD real country like too...Or folks start trying to prove how smart they are by talking about "educated-type" stuff and I am thinking "So we can't joke no more?". Or they act like we are on Jeopardy and try to "test" my brain. It's like "since you are getting a PHD, you must know this stuff." I guess they want to know (along with my committee) if I can truly contribute to the BODY OF KNOWLEDGE". Some folks will politely end the conversation with me.

People have asked me, "So what do you want to be called?" or "You don't expect me to call you Dr. Springs, do you?" And I am like call me "Sherry". They have me wondering if Sherry has been my name all these years or was I dreaming? Now in the appropriate setting, I am sure I will be addressed as Dr. Springs but the people who usually asks this will not be sitting in my classroom or attending a conference or working at the same institution as myself. So I often wonder why they ask me stuff like that.

And finally, I must free my mind of one more thing. People have asked me about my research. Boy I dread this question...Why? Because I know that if I explain it the way I understand it, in the end, the person who asked will be looking at me like "WHAT?" Which causes me to have to answer more questions. And then the person thinks you are just trying to show how smart you are. But that's not it at all. Most of the time, we are just understanding what we are doing ourselves. Trust me, everyone's contribution to the BODY OF KNOWLEDGE is so different and specialized, it is not uncommon to find no one understands but you. This is a common plight of most PHD students (yeah we talk).

We have joked that a Reality Show could be made about the life of a PHD student. Hey, don't roll your eyes...it would make for some interesting television 'cause we have our share of drama.

Anyway, I am glad I was able to free my mind. Thanks for your attention. And if none of this makes any sense or there are any typos or grammatical errors please understand that I suffer from getting that P.H.D. (permenant head damage). Happy July 4th, Er'body!!!

*This blog is dedicated to all the folks who have that P. (Permanent) H. (Head) D. (Damage) and those still in the trenches with me (especially the "lab rats" of IRC #328 and IRC #222.)

Tribute to the Redbone

I know some of you are wondering where I am going with this blog. Well hang in there with me for a moment and you will see. For those of you unfamiliar with the term "redbone", it is a term which is less than complimentary used to describe beautiful black people of lighter complexion. I am not sure of the origins but I can bet that it probably has origins from slavery. And I will also bet that most derogatory terms we use come from the plantation. Unless you live under a rock, I know you have heard about the Don Imus incident. No, I am not here to re-hash it all but I wouldn't be my opinionated self, if I didn't mention it before I make my point.

First of all, while I don't agree with the derogatory messages in Hip Hop, I do not think Hip Hop music had anything to do with Don Imus's comments. He said what was in his heart and directed to a specific group of women. Also, I wasn't necessarily taken back by the "nappyhead" comment cause well, truth be told alot of us have nappy heads. And that is nothing to be ashamed of. It is what it is. In fact with the emergence of dreads and natural hair styles, African Americans have come to love their hair. But to call those females, "hoes" was way out of line. Nevertheless, we as black folks are up in arms and want Don's head on a platter. He crossed a line and but had he been a black man, would he have been okay with saying this? Not to me. Rude and disrespectful is rude and disrespectful, no matter what color.

So is there a double standard? Some say no, but I say oh heck yeah. In fact, I have been a victim of this double standard most of my life that I have memory. For those of you who may not realize this, but in the African American community, I was born a "redbone". Although, I am sure the doctor told my mother she had a healthy nine pound baby girl of which I am sure she was and still is truly proud. And, get this, she named me Sherry, not "Redbone", after the song "Sherry Baby", that 1960's song. In the African American community, we love giving each other nicknames. I think most of the time, they are usually terms of endearment, however, even as a child as well as an adult, I never found any love when folks (often family members) referred to me as a "redbone" or "high yellow". I mean, we all know where this color stigma began...back on the plantation where the light skinned slaves worked in the house and the darker skinned slaves worked outside which obviously caused some division among the people. And while most of us in 2007 have never been a slave or worked on a plantation, we still treat each other like we are working for "Massa". The irony is that we want the Caucasian community to realize we are not still on the plantation but we continue to behave like we are still living there.

Is the a double standard? Yes. Because should I ever make reference to any African American who is darker than myself in some way that is less than complimentary, I am sure I would be labeled as "thinking I was better than", or "thinking I am white" or some other label. But yet and still, as a black person with the lighter hue, is it okay in 2007 to refer to me as a "redbone"? I don't think so and I am speaking out on behalf of all the light skinned beautiful black people. Racism from other races is not cool and Racism from your own is even less cool.

Now I know what yall are thinking, "Sherry, you ain't never made reference to another black person's color in a derogatory way." Honestly, no I don't recall and if I have God forgive me. I have used color to describe someone but I never thought to make fun of something a person has no control over. Why? Well, it would be silly for me to make fun of light skinned people since I am one. Plus why disrespect my mother who is a beautiful light skinned woman. And why would I make fun of someone who is dark when my father is a beautiful dark skinned man. And why would I, when my family is a beautiful collage of African Americans who have different skin tones. And why would I when I have friends who range from beautifully dark to spectacularly light. No, my friend, color makes no difference to me.

Don't get me wrong, I am not taking anything from those of you with dark skin who have suffered the same racism from your own people. But I can only speak to the situation I know. However, what I am really saying is that it is ALL wrong no matter what color you are and how you have been treated. And we all know, two wrongs, don't make a right.

So if my skin color bothers you, you must take that up with the One responsible for it. You see in the womb, God said he knew me. He made me in his image and according to Psalm 139:13 -14:

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

I am in no position to dispute the Almighty about his choice to use the light brown crayon on my body. So in that respect, I will proudly accept His choice. And I am so glad His concern is for my soul and not based on my skin color. In order to rid our community of this plague that has followed us off the plantation, be proud of who you are and learn to respect others for who they are.

Peace and blessings to everyone, especially my blog readers (black, white, brown, purple, green...) but most of all, this blog goes out to the "REDBONES!"

Why the name "Easterbaby"???

Blog Readers, where has the time gone? I haven't blogged since the first of the year. But I have a valid reason for neglecting you, I promise. School has been keeping me very busy and while I have had soooooooooo many things on my mind, I just have not had the time to write it down. I even started a blog but I deleted it because, well, that moment passed and I have somethng different on my mind. Like what? You ask...Well, based on my pen name, "Easterbaby", you can just imagine what is on my mind. My birthday? Nope. Guess again. Shocked ya didn't I? Okay, yes my birthday is Wedneday, April 11 BUT that is not the reason for my blog. C'mon...EASTER-baby...That's right, today is Easter Sunday or as some like to call it, RESURRECTION DAY!

As I am sure some of you have contemplated on long drives home or as you go throughout your day, why does she call herself the Easterbaby? Most would probably say, DUH, cause she was born on a Easter Sunday. While this is true, I only consider a small part of the real blessing of being able to say I was born on the day in which we recognize the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. For some who don't know why we celebrate Easter let me 'splain...or better yet let the bible 'splain...

John 3:16:
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Matthew 28:1 - 9
1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Now I know some of you are thinking, but they said they found Jesus's bones and his wife and his son...Yeah, that is what they said. That is "man's" report. Funny how man is trying so hard to prove this and prove that about Jesus, about God. Don't be surprised by this because as Jesus walked the earth he had a hard time proving he was who he said he was to the people who walked, talked, ate with him. You know, his homies. Even Thomas said, I won't believe he has risen unless I see the nails marks. But what did Jesus tell Thomas (emphasis mine in bold):

John 20:26 - 29
26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
28Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
29Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Well, I have not had the priviledge of putting my hands in the side of the risen Savior but there ain't no stopping my belief. But those men on tv said...I hear ya but let me tell you what those men on tv don't know.

They don't know about the pinched nerve I had which caused me so much pain, the docs told me I needed an operation I couldn't afford. However, one day I prayed in the name of Jesus about this situation and I haven't experienced this pain since...can we all say "no operation!" What they don't know is that the X-rays and MRIs showed I had torn ligaments in my knee so I went under the knife but the night before my pastor prayed for me in the name of Jesus...and when they went into my knee, the ligaments were in place.

What they don't know is that while unemployed my car broke down and I was able to buy a brand new car. All because I called on the name of Jesus. What they don't know is that when I was feeling persecuted and ready to fight my own battles, I called on Jesus and he said be still, I got this. And he fixed my situation so I was able to put my enemies under my feet. What they don't know that when times got tough for me financially, it was by the name of Jesus that I still have somewhere to sleep, food to eat, clothes to wear, and bills paid. You see what they don't know is when I was depressed for months, I called on Jesus to change the situation I was dealing with and he said Hold on, I got this. And he moved like he said he would.

What they don't know is back in February while I was taking my preliminary exam, I was physically sick, mentally tired, and emotionally miserable and ready to give up. That was a Monday morning. I called on some of my praying friends who know what it means to call on Jesus and they prayed me through. I had a renewed energy by Monday afternoon. What they don't know is I have seen prayers answered on a daily basis, not just for me, but for others who know there is power in the name in Jesus, not the bones of Jesus, but the name of Jesus. He is alive and interceding for me to my Father. I don't know about you but I choose to be on the side of the ONE who has the power, not men, who have no power, who will die, and who will have to stand before the same Jesus and PRAISE HIM!

Revelations 5:12 - 13
12In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!"

So why the name "Easterbaby" because I am recognizing the resurrection everyday of my life. And when you think about me and this name, this is what I want you to remember not just that Sherry was born on Easter.

(However, I will not pass on any gifts or birthday wishes that you decide to bestow upon me on the date of my birth! ;)

Happy Resurrection Day!

Do Not Be Deceived!

Happy New Year Blog Readers! I am sorry I didn't make a December blog. But it wasn't cause I didn't have a lot on my mind but the holidays were busy for me. My New Year's was very interesting. I had a stomach virus from 12/30/06 - 1/1/07. So I brought the New Year's in purging. Please don't make me explain further...Anyway, if you have ever had a stomach virus, you know it ain't pretty. Now of course I could complain about it but I choose to view this virus as God's way of cleaning me up for 2007. So now I am ready for the new year with a new mind set and some clean intestines.

So what could possibly be on my mind the 3rd day of a New Year. ALOT! Now I know sometimes I write blogs that make you smile and while I try to see the humor in life...my first blog of the new year isn't about making you smile or feel good. I just want to give you something to consider for 2007. So where am I going today? I am going to start with a this Scripture:

Galations 7:6
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

There are many scriptures in the bible that speak plainly and I think it doesn't get much plainer than this. But for those bible challenged folks here's another translations:

7Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.

This morning, I had the opportunity to hear a WORD and what stuck in my mind was "half-obediance is just as bad as disobediance". Imagine that. You see with God, it is all or nothing. So, you think you are ammune to deception. I would like to say I was ammune but sadly, I am not but I continue to pray to have my eyes open. So what is the deception...

Deception - You might think you are living good but as long as others are suffering...we are all suffering. I think about the poor and think about how we waste so much in this nation. We waste so many things...food, time, resources. We think cause our bills are paid and we can waste money at the buffet, everything is good. "God has blessed me" is what we say (some of us anyway). But guess what, God may be blessing but is He pleased? If you are not sowing into someone's life out of what God has given you, whenever you fall on hard times, don't get upset when others turn away. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Deception - Famous folks will die but that don't mean they are in heaven. First let me say, why do we get shocked when famous folks die? It doesn't matter who you are, the WORD says:

2nd Corithians 5:10 - 10- For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

I watch these funerals and at those speaking all saying, I know this person is in heaven looking down on us...blah blah blah. And this may very well be true, if they knew Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Don't be decieved...if they didn't know Jesus personally, they aren't looking down at nobody from heaven...No matter how famous they were. We gotta go into 2007 without this fantasy world mentality. We all bleed red blood, we all will die and we all must account to God what we did with our time on earth. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Deception - Garbage In and Garbage Out. You can't expect the children to grow up to be decent, productive, moral human beings as long as we feed them garbage. Garbage in music, garbage on tv, garbage on the internet. Nowadays, kids are like little sponges. They soak up everything they see and internalize it until it becomes apart of them. We take for granted that they will eventually figure out right from wrong and turn into perfect little people. Have you taken a careful look at young people today? Have you seen an improvement? Wonder why. We let them fend for themselves without guidance or hope. We have got to invest in one another and that begins with the children. We have got to teach them and not just we want them to know but what God would have them to know. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Deception - America is not going to prosper as long as we live like Babylonians. God bless America...that is the song we sing. My question is "why should He?" What exactly have we done to deserve any blessings from God? We are too afraid to pray at work or say "Merry Christmas!" We are so politically correct...but God is not moved by politcally correctness...He said the "truth is the light". Americans need to stop lying to themselves. Think about how folks are all over the internet trying to see Saddam's hanging. No doubt, rejoicing! First of all, I don't want to see a hanging. Even seeing him with that noose made me think of slavery and all the innocent Africans who died with a noose around their neck cause they didn't want to work for FREE. Second, we should be saddened that this man died without repentance for anything he had done. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Deception - Just because we don't acknowledge God doesn't mean He ain't there. What was really bugging me over the holidays is all this "Happy Holidays" controversy. Every year it is the same thing. People...puhleeze!!! First off, Jesus didn't ask for a birthday party. But since we have chosen to celebrate, let's celebrate Jesus. I bet alot of people hollering about I wanna say Merry Christmas don't even believe in Jesus. Christmas is a holiday in honor of the birth of Jesus so I find it curious that the world loves to celebrate Christmas. I mean if it is about gift giving, find another day and call it "Gift - Giving Day"! Then Santa can come and everything.

But let's be clear, God is always God. You can deny Him, reject Him...take Him off the pledge of alligence, take Him off the money. He is still "I AM". And as long as He is in the hearts of His people, He is there. That is the bottom line. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, BLOG READERS! Thanks for being with me throughout 2006. I hope to have you all with me in 2007. I believe things are gonna be very interesting!