Life with Uncle Rev

In light of everything happening right now- the violence, political tension and unrest, COVID-19, and perhaps 2020 as a whole- what is the bigger picture?

While I can, and will, only speak for myself, it wouldn't surprise me if there are a number of black men asking the following question in light of the recent shooting of Jacob Blake, Am I next? It's a question that I'm asking and currently wrestling with.

Courtesy of an interview from Men's Health magazine with actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, how are you helping others to be heard?

“Strength is really about feeling scared and being okay with that.” - Caleb Spiro ( Men's Health magazine, July/August 2020 issue) How will you exercise strength this week?

What are you in need of remembering or being reminded of?

What do you do with the pain that you experience? Wallow and dwell in it? Ignore or suppress it? Or do you choose to be proactive and respond to it?

How might you show up with God, others, and yourself this week?

Civil Rights leader and Congressman John Lewis once stated the following, " Be bold, brave, and courageous and find a way to get in the way. " What does this statement mean for you right now? How might you be bold and brave to find a way to get in the way?

God invites us to be honest with God's own self. What does this truth mean for you right now? Practice being honest with both God and yourself!

Each of us are a part of the body of Christ. How will you demonstrate your unity with Christ? 

Revisiting his book Following Jesus , Henri Nouwen states the following, " God fully understands us." How does this resonate with you personally? What is it like for you to think and reflect on the fact that God fully understands you? Do you feel a knee-jerk reaction to panic and run? Do you feel afraid or ashamed? Or, are you like me and feel peace of mind and heart?

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy offered encouragement to the church in Thessalonica by reminding them of God's love for them and imitation of Christ. In a likewise manner, it's good for us to be reminded that God loves us- loves YOU- at an unconditional level. It's also good for us to consider the ways in which we imitate Christ- demonstrating unconditional love to others.

While I was listening to the "Kevin Gates Hotline" with rapper Kevin Gates, Gates offered the following advice to a caller regarding their question- The slower you go, the more you progress. What areas in your life do you need to go slower with?

On the road to Emmaus, Cleopas and his companion walked with Christ, all the while not recognizing who he was. Why? Why did they notice who he was solely after the breaking of the bread at a meal? Why did they struggle to see who he was? In the same way, what areas of our lives do we struggle to see Christ? How can we make room for stillness and pay attention to the fact that he's right in front o...

Stillness allows us to be present with both ourselves and God. What place does stillness have in your life? Does it have any place at all? What could you do to create more room for stillness?

In this passage of Nehemiah, the nation of Israel takes the time to “communally confession” their sin and iniquity by earlier generations. They also take the time to remember the faithfulness of God and how God has kept the promises that God made. Like the Israelites in the passage, what is your posture- your attitude- of confession? What are you doing to remember the faithfulness of God?

University of Alabama's football head coach Nick Saban created the concept of "The Process," which (in my words) invites us to work on the small things in order to achieve the bigger picture. What place does "The Process" have in your life? What bigger picture goals and aspirations do you have? What small things can you do to achieve that bigger picture?

How are you using the spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit has given to you? How are you serving those around you?

"Disappointment can often discourage, but it can also motivate." In 2017, Swedish CrossFit Games Athlete, Lukas Högberg, barely missed his opportunity to compete at the CrossFit Games by placing 6th in his region when he needed 5th place or better. The following year, not only did Högberg place 3rd in his region, but he also went on to place 3rd at the CrossFit Games and become the third fittest m...

This is my honest, personal reflection on being a black man in the current times we're living in.

“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” What are you thirsting after? What are you going after?

How are you being present with yourself? What are you doing to pay attention to the thoughts and feelings within your head and heart?

Like Solomon, how much do we want God? How persistent are we in our pursuits of God?

This one's pretty straightforward- Know your self-worth. What value do you give yourself? What do you think of your own self? What level of love do you give yourself?

Moses passes on the torch to his commander Joshua and encourages him to "be strong and bold". Likewise, Moses also reminds both Joshua and the entire nation of Israel that God (Yahweh) is a God of covenant and promise-keeping. (Edit: I meant to say “years,” not “months” when mentioning the Festival of Tabernacle/Booths. My apologies!)