WINDOWS

What’s up everyone, it’s been quite some time now since my last entry and I must say that a lot has happened since then. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to jot it all down in this one blog, but we’ll try to sneak it into future notes as we go along.

Well, the other day my wife during an “around the office cooler talk" was asked for the recipe on surviving a thirty year relationship with the same guy (that’s me lol). She told me this was her answer, “well, I think there has to be a lot of compassion, understanding, patience and forgiveness” and she also added that “it wasn’t always a bed of roses.” If she could read my mind she would have seen that I chuckled because we all know that’s the truth LOL! Yet, I could not help but to agree with her. If you ask me, a healthy relationship must possess these components as a medicine for the bumps and bruises that occur throughout its development. I mean, lets face guys we’re not the easiest of the species (their not that easy either), but we can be very difficult, stubborn and immature about a whole lot of stuff, if you know what I mean.

Nevertheless, after she told me this, I didn’t give it much thought until later when something else came to mind regarding an alternative answer she could've responded with; I thought to myself, “You know, I think the real reason our relationship has really lasted so long is because I became a God fearing man (period).” Prior to this I was a renegade, a wild stallion without loyalty to anyone, with no respect for life (mine) or liberty - I was lost, but soon after God grabbed a hold of me, He instilled within me a true sense of right and wrong, and a greater understanding on the value of life. He taught me how to appreciate my wife and others in general. Well, after this I said to myself, wow, she missed a wonderful opportunity to witness the gospel of Christ to these ladies, but I guess the seeded words like forgiveness and compassion were a stepping stone to a future encounter.

So what’s my point? Simply this, as believers commissioned to spread the gospel we must always be ready and attentive to the opportunity that is prepared for us beforehand.

“And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs." (NLT)



Anthony Adorno

Rolling Down The Mountain Side

Proverbs 19:20 (NIV)
Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.

Why so stubborn sonny?

Why didn’t I listen when told that school was important, cigarettes were bad for my health, and that drugs would fry my brain cells if I dabbled in them? Why was I so hard headed when younger, and even today I still find myself doing things I shouldn’t be doing, even when I know first, second and third hand experience that it’s wrong.

Is there anyone out there that knows what I’m talking about?

As a father of three boys whose ages are twenty-seven, sixteen and eleven, I’m constantly reminding them of my mistakes in the past because I don’t want them to go through the things I had to experience when I was their ages. You see I started fatherhood when I was twenty-two years of age. When I had my first child, I wasn’t ready for this responsibility; as a matter of fact I was a wreck. I was a drop out, on drugs and two steps from prison or the cemetery. When I was told of the pregnancy, sure I was emotional – actually shocked, but deep down inside it meant nothing to me because of the life I was living. Had it not been for the strength of the child’s mother and the support rallied around her by our families, this story may have been a lot different today.

You see responsibility for me didn’t kick in until quite some time later. I was a bull headed young man and simply refused to listen to wise instruction. Not even those who journeyed the path I was on could reach me because I didn't care and my mind was too far lost in what I thought was living. Some say that once you’re on the mountain rolling down there’s no stopping until you hit rock bottom; this may be so for many, but I believe one doesn’t have to necessarily hit the bedrock. You see while I was sliding down there were life lines cast out to me by my family and friends who were trying to rescue me. Unfortunately, in my case, human intervention was no match for the force of my descent. I needed the intervention of somthing much more greater than my friends and family - I needed a faith and a hope that was unfailing and could be depended upon - for me that was Christ. Well, eventually I bumped heads with the bedrock and my only choices then were life or death.

Take if from me, the bottom hurts and it’s a long way down. It doesn’t have to be that way and one doesn’t have to touch the flames to know that it burns. Free your mind from stubbornness, seek and listen to advice and instruction from others who care and really want to help. You’re not alone out there, I want you to know that you are blessed when even in the darkest hour of your life, there is still an opportunity to choose between life and death. What's your story, lets tell others about our encounters with the mountainside.

Anthony Adorno

Man Up

Whether you’re a teen male leaning towards manhood, or a man still growing up, regardless of which, we can all agree that maybe once, or once too many times, someone has or will put us on check, when they utter the words MAN UP!.

We’ve heard it from our families, our homeboys, and even our female companions. We’ve been told to suck it up, don’t be a punk, move on, do the right thing, etc., etc., etc. If you’re like me, then the worse of these moments has to be when a female tells you to the face that you have to man-up. I don’t know about you, but when it comes from a woman, my pride gets hurt and I shift into defense mode. Let’s face it, these are fighting words, and regardless of who says it, to be told to MAN UP never sits well with us men. It touches a nerve we don’t like having disturbed. It challenges the very core of our manhood, machismo and not to mention this I’m the boss image chip on the shoulder a lot of us carry around.

So why do these two words bend us out of shape? Well, let’s look at a common definition for the expression:

Man up is (Idiomatic) to "be a man about it"; to do the things a good man is traditionally expected to do, such as: taking responsibility for the consequences of one's actions; displaying bravery or toughness in the face of adversity; providing for one's family, etc.

Based on our definition above, we can safely say that there is a system of prescribed conduct or behavior that is expected from us, which identifies us as part of the human species called man. Accordingly, this says we’re supposed to be accountable, dependable and truthful not only to ourselves but to others, and nothing about our physical endowment or prowess.


As I reflect upon the times when confronted with this demand to man-up, it didn’t become clear until later years why I was so resentful. Simply put, I was being told the truth about myself; that I was failing to step up to the plate as a man who is suppose to be acting responsible and trustworthy. It’s like this, when we enter manhood we must understand and accept the fact that we will inherit this thing called responsibility. It’s a no brainer when we’re kids because we are the responsibilities of another; however as men it makes all the difference. You see, whether nurtured or not, responsibility is there waiting to be transferred and developed in us. We can run and hide which many of us have and still do when we recognize its requirements, or we can try to deny or pass it on. Unfortunately for you and me it won’t go away it’s yours, and it’s mine to keep. All of mankind must possess it, and it must have its way.


That’s why the Word of God tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”


Many of us have difficulties in our lives as men, and surely there are a multitude of reasons that explain our individual circumstances and how we respond to them, but as men we are required to make right choices not only for ourselves, but for others around us. Every decision we make should be made with the understanding that it is for the greater good. Sure we’re not perfect and we will make mistakes and bad choices, but as men we exhibit our manhood by accepting the consequences and making every effort to correct and avoid a reoccurrence.


So the next time someone tells you to man-up, take a moment to check yourself before you react and respond, it may be possible that you side stepped a responsibility unknowingly or intentional – keep in mind its only truth knocking at your door.






Anthony Adorno

Trust In God

News flash

A Hebrew has been made overseer to all of Egypt, and "only with respect to the throne will the Pharaoh be greater . . .  “

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." (Genesis 41:39-40)

We all know the story of Joseph and how the jealousy of his brothers led to his enslavement, imprisonment and ultimately the saving of many lives from a famine that struck Egypt and the neighboring land of his own family.

Now I don’t know about you, but to me this is definitely one of the many great accounts of the bible that acquaints us with God’s incredible favor for man. Despite Joseph’s many circumstances, his steadfast trust paved the way for God’s plan. Joseph was quoted as being “discerning and wise” as a result, even in his sufferings; those who lorded over him could clearly perceive that the spirit of God was upon him. Here’s an interesting note for you bloggers, the Bible doesn’t record any bitterness from Joseph during these trying times, only that everything he did prospered. So much were the blessings that ultimately, even the Pharaoh gave him charge over his entire palace and kingdom, and the rest is history.

In this day and age many things have changed in comparison to Joseph's time, but one thing for sure is that conflict and suffering are still around even for the Christian believer. What I wish to especially focus on within this blog is that in every situation, whether as a slave for Potipher or as an inmate in prison, God's grace allowed Joseph to rise above his despair. By keeping his faith and working diligently, God was able to promote him as a keeper of the House. Thus, it is written that whatever his hands touched “the Lord gave him success. . . ” Consequently, he wasn't just entrusted with the management of a household, but also of finances, and a country. The bible indicates that even those who lorded over him shared in the prosperity that Joseph's hands produced. What's the point? Simply this, Joseph was successful because his trust allowed God to work things out for him.

As I further reflect upon Joseph’s sufferings and blessings, I realize that my success, whether in my own home, at my work place or house of worship, can be measured by my level of trust in God. In other words, my trust equals God’s presence and favor, and God’s presence and favor equals prosperity not only for me, but also to those for whom I toil. Can you imagine the exponential growth of prosperity when we are all on the same page?

So how’s your trust factor? Do you think God can assign you to house keeping – I believe he can? All we have to do is "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV)


Anthony Adorno