Enough is Enough When You Say It Is – Transcript

Enough is Enough When You Say It Is!
Hello ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to Spilling the Tea with Dr. D. My name is Daintee Jones-Clark, and I’d like to shed some light on some scripture about a woman named Tamar. Let’s spill some tea!
Father God who lives within me and every woman who invites you to do so, encourage and empower us to believe the truth of your word. Amen!
A beautiful woman asked me, how does one know when enough is enough? She is experiencing pain in her personal life and wants it to come to an end. I rebuke the spirit that is bringing that pain to her, right now in the name of Jesus, and here is the word that hopefully will set her free.
I enjoy watching a show called Greenleaf which has a character named Grace Greenleaf. Grace is a pastor of her parents’ church and has a righteous anger. In a particular episode, she leads a support group for survivors of domestic abuse that are called Sisters of Tamar. Before this episode, I had only known Tamar to be a fallen woman, so I went to the Bible to take another look.
Tamar had been abused, and her behavior showed it. After revisiting the text, it is no wonder that she chose the strategy of sleeping with her father-in-law in order to bear a child. As a youth, I saw this text as black and white and one-dimensional with Tamar being a wicked woman who lured a righteous king into her bed, and yet, today, I see much evidence of a domestic abuse survivor. Let’s visit the text. Read Genesis, chapter 38, from verses 6 to 29.
Here’s a summary of the text. A father, Judah, tells his oldest son, Er to marry a woman named Tamar. Er was wicked, so God killed him. Tamar is widowed with no children. Judah tells his second son, Onan, to marry Tamar and to give her a child. Onan has sex several times with Tamar, but spills his seed outside of her. God kills Onan for doing this.
The text doesn’t state how Er was wicked; however, it clearly states that Onan’s wickedness was using Tamar’s body without giving her the benefit of having a child. Having a male child was important for a woman’s financial well-being because her son could inherit wealth from her father and the child’s father. He could use his wealth to provide for her. She could not inherit by herself.
Since rape is defined as forcing another person to have sexual intercourse with the offender against will, one can argue that Tamar was raped since she knew Onan had no intention of giving her a child, nor did he show kindness or love towards her. Can you imagine what Tamar’s mind was like after enduring this treatment over and over? She had been physically abused, financial abused, and emotionally abused via humiliation of not fulfilling her familial expectations. After dealing with this abusive behavior, she was told to go into mourning and return to her parents’ house until Judah’s youngest son, Shelah, was old enough to marry her. Tamar did as he’d asked her and waited, only to find that Judah never intended to arrange another marriage for her as was their custom. By the time Tamar dressed as a prostitute and slept with Judah, one can see that she had possibly suffered a nervous breakdown because of suffering abuse. According to Bridges of Recovery, a domestic abuse website, some symptoms of a breakdown are diminished self-care, depression, and obsessive thoughts. Tamar shows mental diminished self-care and signs of depression by choosing a strategy that was inappropriate. She appears to be obsessed with the idea of bearing a child for Judah’s family.
Enough is enough! Tamar was tired of the abuse and negligence. She wanted the pain to end, so she devised a plan. Have you ever come up with a plan? That’s what she did, but she didn’t pray first to ask God what plan to use. Instead, she trusted her fragmented mind, a mind that had been bruised by foul treatment. She made the right decision to bring the chaos to an end, but the made the wrong decision about the means of doing it.
Are you a sister of Tamar? Have you been used and abused by someone so much that your thoughts are jumbled, and you are exhausted? Is this you? If so, I offer Jesus and his words of comfort to you. His words say that you are the head and not the tail (Deuteronomy 28:13). His words say that you are the crown that sits upon your husband’s head (Proverbs 12:4). His words say you are part of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). His words say weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). Speak these words over yourself.
I say these words to the woman whose husband didn’t just cheat on her with a mistress, but also has two wives at the same time. I say these words to the woman whose boyfriend beats her if she doesn’t take drugs with him. I say these words to the wife who makes plenty of money but her husband won’t help her to pay any bills, so she is living from paycheck to paycheck while he buys things for his other woman since his pocket is full from not paying any bills. I say these words to women who dress or act like prostitutes because someone shows them attention but doesn’t value their minds or purpose at all. I speak these words to all women who are sisters of Tamar. Enough is enough when you say it is!
Thank you for joining me for our first edition of ‘Spilling the Tea with Dr. D.” This presentation is from The House that Dignity Built Ministries, and if you wish to receive assistance with creating an online ministry, we can be reached at 832-862-6765 or dignityindirection@gmail.com. Our ministry is covered by Dr. Harold and First Lady LaShell Gentry of Majestic Christian Center in Pearland, TX, and they welcome the opportunity to cover other online ministries that need a physical location for operation. I pray that this message has edified the body of Christ and drawn more believers to God’s kingdom because they see the truth of His word. Amen!

A permanent link for this message is https://www.dignityshouse.org/dignitys-house.html

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As Wise as Black Mamba

As Wise as Black Mamba
If you are a Kobe Bryant fan, this message is for you. This message is both a salute and a lesson. Kobe’s actions on and off the basketball court look as if he followed the advice from scriptural verses. He renewed his mindset rather than be conformed; he became as shrewd as a snake, and he focused upon conversions.
Kobe renewed his mindset. Romans 12:2 states, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (NIV). This scripture suggests that changing one’s thoughts helps to transform one to a higher dimension of being. Kobe understood this. Within a CBS interview, he stated, “I had to separate myself. It felt like there were so many things coming at once. It was just becoming very, very confusing. I had to organize things. So I created the ‘Black Mamba” (Bengel). Kobe created an alternative mentality that he called the Mamba mentality. Like the biblical Abraham, Sarah, Peter, and Israel, who all received name changes, Kobe created an alter ego with a new name to remind him of his focus to win. Question: What thoughts do you need to change to transform into your new self? What is a name that would describe your renewed self?
Since Kobe liked to win, he became as shrewd or as wise as a snake. Matthew 10:16 reads, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (NIV). Kobe was known for his footwork, spins, and post skills. He played against the opposing team’s wolves as Black Mamba, the man of shrewd pump-fakes who leapt backwards for his midrange fadeaway jump shot. Kobe was long like a mamba, fast and unpredictable. He had rapid strikes. You even saw his tongue, like a snake tasting the air, when Kobe went in to strike towards the rim of the basket. He could score from anywhere on the court, just as the black mamba lives on land and in trees. He chose the name from the film, Kill Bill. “The length, the snake, the bite, the strike, the temperament…yeah, that’s me. That’s me!” says Kobe in an interview with Kent Babb of the Washington Post. Fans called Kobe an assassin on the court. He lived up to his new name. Question: What new behavior do you utilize to show your wisdom?
Kobe focused upon conversions. His conversions are the court corrected mistakes made by offense players during a missed shot or missed free throw. A coach could yell, “Change!”, and the team would know to regain the ball. In the Bible, Paul, otherwise known as Saul of Tarsus, also experienced a conversion. Acts 9:17-19 shows, “Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength” (NIV). Paul’s conversion was to accept the Holy Spirit instead of the Jewish law. Paul, as an apostle, planted churches and wrote letters to advise, teach and counsel church leaders and members. Kobe seemed to understand the apostle’s life as well because he spread the message of the mamba mentality while he worked with youth, the homeless, and veterans.
Change!
Change your mindset to one of power from the Lord!
Change your name to one that explains God’s plans for your life!
Change your strategy to one of vision, purpose and conversion!
Since Jesus died for you and for me –
Change!
Kobe used scripture in his life; do you?
I’m Dr. Daintee Jones-Clark, Pastor of The House That Dignity Built Ministries. Our ministry is powered by Majestic Christian Center. If you are in search of a church home, consider joining Majestic Christian Center. The number is 281-997-1242. If you desire to open your own online church or ministry, contact us at dignityindirection@gmail.com. Amen and ashe’.

‘Til He Gotta Be Great: Saul’s Fall from Greatness

Dr. Jones-Clark sings, “Why men great ‘til they gotta be great? Don’t text me; tell it straight to my face.”
Houston native singer and Grammy nominee, Lizzo, has a song called Truth Hurts in which she asks, “Why men great ‘til they gotta be great?” In this song, she focuses upon men in general; however, I think this question is one for anyone. Why do humans fall even when they have accepted a great calling and a beautiful faith-based structure to support them? The answer is both simple and complex. Failure could be measured by spiritual, cultural, systemic, political, economic, or even psychological criteria, but simply put—humans fail because they are human.
Let’s take a look at King Saul’s story. This is the Saul from the Old Testament who is different from Saul of Tarsus who became Paul the Apostle of the New Testament. Saul, whose name means “asked for, prayed for”, was the very first king of the Kingdom of Israel and Judah. His reign moved the Israelites from the twelve tribes acting as government to a more centralized one which he led.
Saul was appointed and anointed to kingship by the prophet Samuel who did this in private. Question: What has God appointed and anointed you to be? Have you accepted your assignment? As king, Saul leads a victorious battle over the Ammonites, and Saul decided not to punish those who fought against his becoming king. This was a great moment for him.
While Saul had a great start, he begins to fall. Saul’s greatness wains as he relates to David, his armor bearer who used to play a harp to calm Saul’s nerves. This is David of the David and Goliath story. Saul became jealous of David after David becomes popular because of his victories in battle. The crowd loved David so much the women created and sang the lyrics, “Saul has slain his thousands and David his tens of thousands (1 Samuel 18:7). Doesn’t that sound like today’s music where someone is singing about someone’s greatness? Would you understand Saul’s jealousy? What if the same people who talk to you of their admiration of you suddenly turn to someone else? This is what happened to Saul.
Eventually, Saul died by falling on his sword, thus committing suicide to avoid being captured during a battle against a group called the Philistines. While Saul’s rise was a great one, his fall was sorrowful. Would you understand Saul’s fear of being killed in battle? Was killing himself an appropriate response to that fear? John 10:10 states, “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”. It looks like Saul did not understand that his fear and jealousy were from a dark place, and he forgot to focus upon “power, love, and a sound mind” as mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:7. Saul was great ‘til he had to be great. If you wish to learn more about King Saul, refer to the book of 1 Samuel.
Since humans fail, it is comforting to have Jesus. Humans can count on the perfection that God brings in the power of His trinity self – as Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross freed mankind to be able to start again on a path to greatness in the eyes of God. So Sister Lizzo, men can be great humans and so are you! “I’mma hit you back in a minute”!
This is Dr. Daintee Jones-Clark, pastor of The House that Dignity Built Ministries. If you enjoyed this message, take a moment to subscribe to our YouTube channel. A transcript of this message is at dignityjobs.wordpress.com. Coming soon, check out dignityhall.myicourse.com for online courses to learn more about the kingdom of God and your place within it, and if you are in need of a church home, consider Majestic Christian Center in Pearland, Texas that is led by Bishop Harold Gentry and First Lady LaShell Gentry. Amen and ashe’!

After the march – now what?: Paul’s epistolary persistence model of peace – Transcript

“After the March – Now what?: Paul’s Epistolary Persistence Model of Peace”

Jones-Clark sings
Just for me. Just for me. Jesus came and did it just for me.
Just for me. Just for me. Jesus came and did it just for me.

Welcome to the House that Dignity Built. I’m Dr. Daintee Glover Jones-Clark, and I am so thrilled to have a moment to speak with you for our June 25 message of our 2016-17 series called “The Sum of Peace”. For the month of June, our speakers will be on one accord by speaking and teaching about the power of persistence and peace in our land. The title of today’s message is “After the March – Now what?: Paul’s Epistolary Persistence Model of Peace”. May God add a blessing to this word, and may He use me to encourage, empower, and inspire us to move towards peace in our land. Amen.

Back in September 2016, I spoke and wrote about marching for peace in Houston, Texas because of the unrest in our nation between civilians and peace officers. This historical moment was monumental for me, and hopefully, for others who were a part of this peace movement. The march reminded me of scripture from the book of Acts in chapter two that described the holy spirit coming at Pentecost where tongues of fire came to sit on each person and they were all filled with the holy spirit and began to speak in other tongues. At the peace march, the people were on one accord and understood each other’s different tongues of motivation for marching. Some marched for the general principle of marching while others marched for specific people who had been affected in some way because of violence. Some marched for policy changes while others marched for protective measures. Some chanted one message while others chanted another phrase, and yet they were all filled with a common spirit of obtaining peace in our land. Marching for a cause is a great start; however, what should follow? What should happen to persist in peace? If one examines Apostle Paul’s epistles, one can argue that this scripture suggests a formula for persistence that one carry on with the ministry of peace, remain in the body, and understand God’s idea of divine peace. The pertinent scripture for this message stems from 2 Timothy 4:1-5, Philippians 1:22-26, and Philippians 4:4-7.

Before discussing this persistence formula and delving into the scripture, it is helpful to provide some definitions. What is persistence? It is perseverance and an ongoing attempt to reach a goal. The online dictionary describes it as a firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition. Businesses think of it in terms of remaining afloat. Schools think of as students continuing to matriculate. Couples see it as remaining together as a family unit. For this message, persistence is maintaining a peaceful culture.

Now that this study has defined persistence and its link to peace, one might ask, “Who is Paul”? Paul was originally known as Saul prior to his conversion into Christianity. He was born to Hebrew parents in Jerusalem, and later became a Roman citizen. Before he became a Christian missionary, he was a Pharisee, a member of a strict Jewish sect that stressed their own piety. He went on at least three missionary expeditions. On the first journey, Barnabas was his partner. On the second journey, Silas went with him. For part of the third journey, Luke was his comrade. Because of his missionary work, he was imprisoned in Jerusalem, Caesarea, and in Rome. During his lifetime, he wrote 13 letters or epistles to support new believers in their faith. These epistles are Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.

Persist by carrying on

Paul’s letter, 2 Timothy, explains to God’s people that they should continue to carry on in their ministry of peace. The scripture reads,
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5).

This scripture advises those who believe in the message of peace to continue to preach about it to all who will hear. This preaching is necessary because there will be others who will speak of messages that mislead or mimic the truth. The truth never fades; however, audiences can be fickle, so the truth will appear to go out of style or season to them. Regardless of this type of trending, the preachers of peace will persist in their ministerial duties.

Remain in the body

In addition to carrying on with messages of peace, Paul admonishes believers to remain in the body of Christ. Paul states,
If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting Christ Jesus will abound on account of me. (Philippians 1:22-26)

Being in the living body of Christ is to remain close to other believers of Christ. Paul knows that his work in this kingdom produces a substantial harvest which in Greek is karpos ergou (pronounced ergoo). This harvest is filled with converts for the kingdom who are each on their particular journeys and pathways for God. Some are new and see the word as milk while others are more established within the faith so the word is bread or meat to them (See 1 Corinthians 3:2 1 and Hebrews 5:12). Remaining in the body lifts up the name of Jesus with His love, His hope, and His prayers for His people.

Understanding Divine Peace

Paul’s persistence formula mentions carrying on with the ministry, remaining in the body of Christ, and lastly, understanding God’s divine peace. Philippians 4:4-7 is the scripture that explains His idea of peace. It reads,
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7)
Paul is careful to begin with a commandment to rejoice in the Lord. A relationship with Him is celebratory because of His goodness towards His sheep. Paul reminds followers not to have anxiety because worry does not bring forth a solution. Instead, God’s people are to pray and make formal requests for their needs. These petitions to God bring forth a transcendent sense of peace, and this peace rises above other emotions, such as fear, anger, anxiety, and doubt. This peace is transformative because it constructs a new paradigm for the holder. Man is stronger with this transformative and transcendent peace. This divine peace is healing for his mind and it protects his heart.

So be committed
Be tenacious
Be determined to carry on your ministry of peace.
Be steadfast
Be purposeful
Be patient as you remain in the body of Christ.
Be diligent
Be dedicated
Be persistent in praying for God’s transcendent and divine peace that surpasses all understanding. So there we have it! In order to continue on a path towards persisting in peace, one can refer to Paul’s epistles as a model for peace.

As we come to the end of this message, stay tuned for lecture notes on this coming Tuesday, June 27, at our website http://www.dignityshouse.org. I’m Dr. Daintee Glover Jones-Clark, and this has been a message from the House that Dignity Built. I bid you peace and protection, and I grant a special thanks to Bishop Harold Gentry and First Lady Gentry of the Majestic Christian Center for offering a spiritual covering to this ministry. If you are looking for a church home, they would be happy to have you.

Amen and ashe’.

References
Jones-Clark, D. (Sept. 2016). And we march: A prayer formation for peace. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w0irMD1GmA
Holy Bible

www.dignityshouse.org

www.dignityclasses.weebly.com

 

Don’t stot none: won’t be none – Transcript

“Don’t stot none; won’t be none: A manifestation of peace via participation”
Jones sings…
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God almighty
Early in the morning our songs shall rise to thee
Holy, holy, holy
Merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed trinity
Welcome to the House that Dignity Built. I’m Dr. Daintee Glover Jones, and I am theologically thrilled to have a moment to speak with you for our May 7 message of our 2016-17 series called “The Sum of Peace”. For the month of May, our speakers will be on one accord by speaking and teaching about the power of participation and peace in our land. The title of today’s message is “Don’t stot none; won’t be none: A manifestation of peace via participation”. May God add a blessing to this word, and may He use me to encourage, empower, and inspire us towards peace in our land. Amen.
Some consider the phrase – Don’t start none; won’t be none – to be an African American proverb that suggests that people prevent calamity by not partaking in inappropriate behavior; however, this phrase can be used in another way. Consider using it to suggest that one should start something good with others in order to reap a bounty for all who are participating. Within today’s message, I am replacing the word start with the word stot (spelled s-t-o-t). The definition of the word ‘stot’ is to leap or bound in the air with straightened legs as do certain antelope and deer. Because this movement appears to be a silly response to danger, an urban definition of the word is to lack wisdom. While stotting may look silly, it is actually strategic. When animals stot, they show their superlative strength. This movement could convince a predator to look for another opponent or prey that is not as strong, so that the kill can be swifter. The strongest deer could possibly outrun its predator. Antelope can run about 43-55 miles per hour, while lions can run around 50 miles per hour. Also, antelope proactively stot to be able to see a predator before it gets too close to the herd. Stotting can help them to jump over an obstruction.
Perhaps one might ask what the significance of stotting is when one is thinking about the topic of participation and peace. This message offers a two-fold response to this. The first approach is pertinent to participation and peace is because one can use an acronym from the word stot in order to create a strategic and participatory-based plan of action towards peace. The second strand of this message shows specific scripture on the topic of stotting.
First, consider the creation of this acronym for STOT. The S is for specificity. The T is for target. The O stands for objective. The final T represents team. Specificity, especially specific prayer has power. This is the reason that Jesus prayed in this manner, “Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11). He did not simply ask that God provide, he specifically asked for what humans need. They need both physical and spiritual sustenance. If one is specific when praying, one is preparing to be able to see signs and wonders from God as He answers the specific prayer. Because of this dynamic, one can have a specific testimony because one prayed a specific prayer.
The second element of the STOT acronym is about accurate targeting. Who or what is the predator? Since believers know who the enemy is and that the enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10), one must be accurate in targeting the enemy. One must be accurate like the biblical Benjamin who could “sling a stone at a hair and not miss” (Judges 20:16).
The third element of the STOT acronym concerns a team’s objectives. An objective is smaller than a goal, and is also a target. Goals are broad while objectives are precise and measurable. A believer’s overall goal is to work in God’s kingdom while fulfilling objectives along the way. These objectives are linked to strategical tactics for battle and for success. God gives His people learning objectives. Objectives can state what will be learned, what activities will help with the learning, what types of assessments will be used, and create accountability for learners (Mager, 1997). Here is an example that God gave to show a major goal and then smaller measurable objectives. Genesis 1:1 states that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”. This was a goal. Here is an objective that is linked to that goal. Genesis 1:26 reads, “Let Us make man in Our image”. Then, God measured His objective, and in Genesis 1:31 “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good”.
The last letter of the STOT acronym is T for team. Antelope naturally participate in teams by travelling in herds, and they use running and stotting as a group defense mechanism against their predators, the lion, cheetah, hyena, and crocodile. Ecclesiastes 4:9 states “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor”. This is evidence that teams bring more than the individual can in terms of productivity and provision.
So stot with power from the Lord as is mentioned in 2 Samuel 22:30 that reads, “For by You I can run upon a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall”.
Stot for healing as in Isaiah 35:6 that states, “Then the lame will leap like a deer…”.
Stot for joy for Luke 6:23 states that we are to “be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets”.
Stot for the only King of kings so that we don’t end up like the false prophets who worshipped the wrong god, Baal, and “leaped about the altar which they made” in 1 Kings 18:26. Their god did not bring fire, but Elijah’s god, our god, did.
Stot because Jesus knew you in the womb, just as seen in Luke 1:44 that asserts, “For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy”.
Stot like the Maasai warriors in Kenya do as they perform their coming-of-age ceremonies that prove their strength, maturity, joy, and teamwork.
Stot for peace.
Stot because the Lord of lords has died for our sins and sent His comforter to guide us until we see Him again.
As we come to the end of this message, stay tuned for lecture notes on this coming Tuesday, May 9, at our website http://www.dignityshouse.org. I’m Dr. Daintee Glover Jones, and this has been a message from the House that Dignity Built Ministry. I bid you peace and protection, and I grant a special thanks to Bishop Harold Gentry and First Lady Gentry of the Majestic Christian Center for offering a spiritual covering to this ministry. If you are looking for a church home, they would be happy to have you.
Amen and ashe’.

www.dignityshouse.org

www.dignityclasses.weebly.com
References
Holy Bible
Mager, R. F.(1997). Preparing instructional objectives: A critical tool in the development of effective instruction. GA: Center for Effective Performance.

Peace and Culture Restored by the Book – Transcript

Peace and culture restored by the Book: A return from alternative facts and America as a reality TV nation

Welcome to the House that Dignity Built. I’m Dr. Daintee Glover Jones, and I am theologically thrilled to have a moment to speak with you for our April 2 message of our 2016-17 series called “The Sum of Peace”. I want to thank Ms. Kalyn Miles, a local flautist, for playing “Come Thy Fount of Every Blessing” for us at the beginning of this presentation. Thank you for using your gifts for God’s kingdom. For the months of March and April, our speakers will be on one accord by speaking and teaching about the power of policy or cultural change and peace in our land. The title of today’s message is called “Peace and culture restored by the Book: A return from alternative facts and America as a reality TV nation”. May God add a blessing to this word, and may He use me to encourage, empower, and inspire us towards peace. Amen.

America has become a nation that looks like a reality television show that is rife with alternative facts. Why should this bother the people of our country? Consider this. I was sitting at a Starbucks coffee shop working on my laptop when suddenly, I heard two women having a heated discussion. One was a Starbucks barista and the other was a customer. The customer was the loudest as she complained about her perceived slow and incorrect order. She ended her argument by throwing her full cup of coffee at the barista, and then irately marched out of the establishment. That moment reminded me of episodes that I have witnessed from various reality shows that use the throwing of a liquid at someone as a disturbed drop the mic moment. I wondered if both of those women had witnessed the same episodes that I had seen. Enough is enough. A recommendation for peace and culture to be restored to America to eradicate its image as a reality television nation is by consuming the Bible’s teachings of truth versus digesting alternative facts.

Kellyanne Conway, a presidential aide, used the phrase alternative facts to explain differences in political rhetoric. A fact is defined as a thing that is indisputably the case. An alternative is defined as another possibility or option. The root of the word alternative is the word alter which means to make different or to castrate. Believers might choose to be careful of alternative truths because these messages attempt to castrate or dilute the power of God’s word. Instead of altering the truth, one can focus on going to the a-l-t-a-r to hear the truth of the word.

Just like alternative facts, reality television is not based upon truth of character or facts. It is simply unscripted television that was created as a result of a Writers Guild of America strike in 2007-08. According to R.B. Jefferson, an advisor on reality show production, reality shows have the following elements: a) Characters that stand out, b) Conflict within the show, and c) Access for your audience to a world that they wouldn’t normally have access to (2013). Kristyn James, a reality television scholar, asserts that “the show[s’] creators, producers, and editors can alter the truth through editing and with manipulation or instigation” (2016). Manipulation is the act of skillfully or unfairly handling or controlling. Instigation is the act of inciting someone to do something, especially something bad.

Why would the producers choose to manipulate and instigate their messages and watchers? One reason is about product placement and sales. When one watches the conflict of two women fighting in a restaurant or a retail store, some might want to visit that place because it was featured on that television show. Additionally, some of the characters will offer their own products for sale, such as hair supplies, clothing lines, etc. Reality shows are hour long commercials. Since reality television is based upon manipulation and instigation, it is not a positive image to use in order to move our country forward into a state of grace and truth. America is not an hour-long commercial!

What is an alternative to alternative facts and reality television? Seeking the truth is an answer. Truth is sincerity in action, character, and utterance. God prefers truth for us. His elements of truth are linked to being able to see activities, observe behavior, and speak words that are as transparent as possible in communicating what is actually happening.

Truth is linked to peace. How is this so? Jeremiah 33:6 is a pertinent scripture to explain this promise. The word states, “Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth”. Within this scripture, God promises to heal and restore a city. His health and cure is like a bandage over a wound. Peace and truth are the ointment covering the wound of alternative facts and conflict. God wants His people to have a renewed skin to cover this wound to protect the flesh that is beneath it. When God’s people are renewed, they are able to return to His covenant within His word that is written in the Bible, His book. This scripture is the answer from God to Jeremiah after he prayed. Beforehand, in Jeremiah 33:3, God tells him, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know”. He wants us to know the truth of His word. Here are some other scriptures that show us truth in His word.

“Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name”.

“The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever”.

“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!”.

“These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;” (Psalm 86:11, Psalm 119:160, Ephesians 1:13-14, Psalm 43:3, and Zechariah 8:16).

Consider the word of the Bible as original truths with its historical characters that stand out as they deal with conflict and use God’s guidance to persevere. This holy book offers access to anyone who opens the pages. While some of the characters may be manipulative or instigative, God the Father is not this way. Instead, He is the truth and the light. His way shows the sacrificial means that He took to save us, to heal us, to love us, to keep us, to cover us, to provide for us, to shepherd us, to be there with us. Instead of being a fragmented nation, we insist in being whole.
As we come to the end of this message, stay tuned for lecture notes on this coming Tuesday, April 4, at our website http://www.dignityshouse.org. I’m Dr. Daintee Glover Jones, and this has been a message from the House that Dignity Built. I bid you peace and protection.

Amen and ashe’.

www.dignityshouse.org

www.dignityclasses.weebly.org

Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Ism?: Peace and Cultural Change in the Making – Transcript

Welcome to the House that Dignity Built. I’m Dr. Daintee Glover Jones, and I am excited to have a moment to speak with you for our March 5th message of our 2016-17 series called “The Sum of Peace”. For the months of March and April, our speakers will be on one accord by speaking and teaching about the power of policy or cultural change and peace in our land. The title of today’s message is called “Is you is or is you ain’t my ism?: Peace and Cultural Change in the Making” May God add a blessing to this word, and may He use me to encourage, empower, and inspire us towards peace. Amen.
The title of this message is a riff on the title of a song called “Is you is or is you ain’t my baby?” The song has been covered by Nat King Cole, Ida James, Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, and Louis Jordan, to name a few. I first heard it from a Tom and Jerry cartoon while it was performed by Ira “Buck” Woods. The singer explains that his loved one is late for their dates and changes her mind on a whim, but is loved. While my message is not about a person who is in love, it is a message of needed change from negative isms to positive ones.
An ism is a distinctive practice, system, or philosophy that is typically a political ideology or an artistic movement. According to the website, The Phrontistery, there are over 200 isms in use within Western and Eastern culture. One is probably already familiar with common isms such as racism, sexism, capitalism, idealism, and consumerism; however, the list is quite comprehensive with other isms, such as holobaptism, ignorantism, modalism, and kenotism.
Our culture has so many isms, but so little time to move through all of them, so this sermon message focuses upon pacifism, the ism of peace. How does the bible portray links between pacifism and policy change, or cultural change? Which biblical leaders accomplished this feat? King David and Queen Esther show examples of leading policy or cultural changes to restore peace to their environments.
Consider David’s story as a youth fighting against a giant by using presence, practice, professing, precision and promise as he changed the culture within his land. David’s people were in a state of suffering because of their battle against the Philistines. 1 Samuel 17:11 states, “On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified”. David’s strategy was strong because he combined his gifts with God’s strength. God’s presence was upon him because the Holy Spirit entered David when the prophet Samuel first poured holy oil on his head to anoint him as a future king. David had practiced battle before with the power of the Lord upon him when he defeated a lion and a bear which are both giants from the animal kingdom. David professed that the battle belonged to God and that God would grant him victory. While Goliath tried to brainwash David with his consistent fearful messages, David focused with precision as he aimed at a vulnerable spot that Goliath had not covered on his head. The fight was worthwhile to David because the victor was promised great wealth, the king’s daughter in marriage, and a tax exemption for his family (1 Samuel 17:25).
Just as King David looked for a victory that would lead towards peace and a cultural change, so did Queen Esther. Esther wanted to reverse a royal edict that all Jewish people in Susa be killed. Her recipe for cultural change included possible perish, using her presence, acting with precision, engaging in practice, and claiming position. When she learned from Mordecai that their enemy Haman wanted to commit Jewish genocide, she commanded that the Jews would fast with and for her for three days and nights so that she would be bold enough to break a law of approaching her husband without permission that had the punishment of death. She proclaims, “When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). When she was in the presence of the king, he spared her life regardless of the law she had broken. He had made the law, so he could change it. She practiced precision by not immediately asking for his help. Instead, she invited him to two banquets before she made a request to save her people. She wanted the ease of making a private request, especially since she knew that his previous wife’s removal from the throne happened after she publicly disagreed with Xerxes. Esther used her position as a beloved wife to save an entire nation of people and to change a royal decree concerning their demise.
What isms are in your life? Have you had a moment where you desired peace and a cultural or policy change? Here’s my testimony about racism and how I used prayer and precision to move towards a pacifist outcome. A few weeks ago, I was in a grocery store in Katy, Texas early one morning. I often frequent this store. One morning as I walked the aisle looking for raw sugar, two people were talking. One was an employee that I recognized who was always so helpful and professional towards me. She was talking to a man who I had never seen. I didn’t want to interrupt their conversation, but the man had the aisle almost completely blocked. I said, “Please, excuse me,” and I bent down so that they could still see each other’s faces as they conversed. As I passed through, the man said, “I see that the coons are out early this morning.” It saddened me for a moment that I was called a term that previously I had only heard used on the movie screen, but I decided to pray for God to have mercy on that man rather than speak to him. I reminded myself of the promise of blessings and curses of God’s covenant in Genesis chapter 12:2-3:
“I will make you into a great nation,
And I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
And you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And whoever curses you I will curse;
And all peoples on earth
Will be blessed through you
I returned to the same store the next morning, and felt that God had heard my prayers that were based upon his word, because not just one, but three people offered me assistance. One of them was another worker that I often saw in the checkout line. That morning, it seemed that they had gone above and beyond their standard customer service. I wondered if Job had felt like this when God gave Him double portion of all that he had lost after suffering, sacrificing, and praying. I saw that the store workers adjusted their customer service procedures to correct the ism that was undesirable.
How did I know what to do? David had done it before me. The giant of racism has a vulnerable spot. Esther had done it before me. She knew that change was necessary for survival. Jesus had done it before me. He taught his people to pray. He noticed their suffering. He died for their sins by offering himself as a sacrifice. He changed the culture, then and now, as he showed what agape love looks like. Today, we still live on the grace that He granted us. As the Prince of Peace, he follows His father, Jehovah Shalom by offering us escape from eternal death. This is the greatest cultural change. This is my ism. Is it yours?
As we come to the end of this message, stay tuned for lecture notes on this coming Tuesday, March 7, at our website http://www.dignityshouse.org. I’m Dr. Daintee Glover Jones, and this has been a message from the House that Dignity Built. I bid you peace and protection.
Amen and ashe’.

Dr. Daintee G. Jones

Founder of The House that Dignity Built Ministries

www.dignityshouse.org

an initiative of The Dignity in Direction Group

www.dignityclasses.weebly.com

Elijah’s hidden figures, rope-a-dope maneuver, and super bowl ring – Transcript

Elijah’s hidden figures, rope-a-dope maneuver, and super bowl ring
Welcome to the House that Dignity Built. I’m Dr. Daintee Glover Jones, and I consider it an honor and a privilege to have a moment to speak with you for our February 5th message of our 2016-17 series called “The Sum of Peace”. For the months of January and February, our speakers will be on one accord by speaking and teaching about the power of protection and peace in our land. The title of today’s message is called “Elijah’s hidden figures, rope-a-dope maneuver, and super bowl ring”. May God add a blessing to this word, and may He use me to encourage, empower, and inspire towards peace. Amen.
In the 2016 smash hit movie, Hidden Figures, Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monae, and Octavia Spencer portray real life African American women (Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson) who were instrumental in launching the astronaut John Glenn into space. Who are the hidden figures in 1 Kings 18? Are they at all like the characters of Hidden Figures, who excelled in math, engineering, and computer science? No. The hidden figures of 1 Kings 18 are prophets who believed in the Lord during a time when the rulers of the land believed in other gods. Verse 4 reads, “While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water”. Now, Obadiah worked for King Ahab and Jezebel; however, he believed in the Lord, so he saved the lives of the remaining prophets who shared the same belief system. These men were the hidden figures during the time of Elijah.
Not only does this scripture mention hidden figures, it shows that the great boxer, Muhammad Ali, might have learned his style of ‘trash talk’ and rope-a-dope strategy from Prophet Elijah. How can one prove this assertion? Well, Ali is known for stating claims such as, “It’s hard to be humble when you’re as great as I am”, or “If you even dream of beating me you’d better wake up and apologize”. Centuries earlier, Elijah taunted Baal’s prophets by saying, “Shout louder!…Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened” (1 Kings 18:27). Can’t you just imagine the prophet dancing around his opponents as he trash talked about the lack of Baal’s power?
Also, Elijah showed a rope-a-dope strategy when he let the false prophets spend all day shouting to their god and slashing themselves with their swords until they finally made a sacrifice with a bull at evening time (1 Kings 18:28). A rope-a-dope strategy is what Ali used to tire out his opponent as he pretended to be trapped against the ropes. Elijah was by himself without the help of the 100 other prophets who were still in the caves while 450 of the false prophets worked on their sacrifice to their god. Elijah let them take all that day to appeal to Baal, but he quickly showed that them that they were part of a holy rope-a-dope maneuver because he wasn’t at all tired and neither was his god.
In addition to having rope-a-dope skills, Elijah had his own super bowl ring. Let me step back a bit to give some context for this assertion. February 5th is Super bowl 2017, and so many people are excited. The city of Houston is filled with football aficionados. Some have rented out their homes to out-of-towners. Some have paid thousands of dollars for seats that are close enough to touch the players. And then, there are those like me who come to the television set in time to see the Super Bowl half-time performances. I have always been attracted to music. My mother says that when I was a toddler, I would run from my room to the television to hear music from the commercials, and when the commercials ended, I would head back to my room. This year; however, I have been watching more football in order to obtain an understanding of why people love it, and what it could signify for them. When I think of the super bowl game, I can see that the prophet Elijah had his own form of a super bowl ring.
His ring was not like Roger Staubach’s, the Dallas Cowboy’s ring with a blue-‘blinged’ star, or Peyton Manning’s one with a bronco’s profile. His ring was a trench that he dug around the sacrificial altar that held a burning bull. The trench was a ring that was filled with water. Instead of diamonds in his ring, he placed twelve stones from the earth around the altar, one for each of the twelve tribes. His super bowl was a battle of a holy god against a demonic one. Since a bowl is defined as a contest that happens at the end of a season, one can argue that this is a bowl contest because God had just told Elijah that the drought season was coming to an end in verse 1 of 1 Kings 18. This bowl is super because the opponents are supernatural beings.
This was a super bowl of fire. Elijah built an altar of wood and doused it with water three times until the water filled the trench (verse 35). In verse 37, He prayed these words: “Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are god, and that you are turning their hearts back again”. In response to his prayer, “…the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench” (1 Kings 18:38).
Elijah had peace because the Lord had been faithful to him.
Elijah felt protected because the Lord has provided for him.
Elijah was obedient, boastful in the Lord, filled with faith, and prayerful. Don’t these attributes remind you of Jesus? Jesus was obedient to each of His father’s laws. He boasted in the Lord even when being taunted or tested. He ministered about faith as he performed miracles, and reminded people that their faith had healed them. He was so prayerful that He taught his followers how to pray for power, protection, and for peace. He was so merciful when He died for us as a precious sacrificial lamb.
Jones sings,
Now behold the lamb
The precious lamb of God
Born into sin that I may live again
The precious lamb of God
Ooh (repeat) (by Kirk Franklin)
So you see, there’s not much that is new under the sun. The holy book works as a point of origin for many of our cultural aspects of today. The truth of the word stands firm.
As we come to the end of this message, stay tuned for lecture notes on this coming Tuesday, February 7, at our website http://www.dignityshouse.org. I’m Dr. Daintee Glover Jones, and this has been a message from the House that Dignity Built. I bid you peace and protection.
Amen and ashe’.

www.dignityshouse.org

 

Try Jesus – Transcript

Try Jesus by Dr. Franklin Emeka

Dr. Martin Luther King said, “If you don’t like the history you have, then begin the history you want.”
This quote speaks volume because it could be used to address both circular and spiritual aspects of our lives.
From Circular perspective:
• There are “Social Factors” that are beyond our control.” Social factors such as, family, education, Peer-Pressure and race. Things that are often beyond our control.
• While the factors were used to delineate juvenile gangs in dissertation, they are very relevant to many struggles adults face every day.
1. Take for example, family issues & its challenges
• Maybe you were not born into the family you want, but you can begin the family you want.
o Psalm 127:1
 Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.(New King James Version, NKJV)
• We have no control over our ascribed status, but we can ask the Lord to help us build the home we’d like to have. You don’t have to be absent father, even though situations, sometimes become very tasking.
2. Education is another example:
• The need for Education & its access inequalities. My experience in education, both as faculty & administrator, has led me to see it as privilege.
• Dr. Lee Brown, former Houston Police Chief & Mayor once said, “No job could ever fire your education from you.
• Education is a necessary tool to survive in this world.
o Education is often a ticket out of poverty and economic and hardship.
• The Apostle Paul was very educated.
3. Peer pressure
• Its adverse effects the young & older are alike.
• You don’t have to always have to fit in.
4. Race
• Revelation 7:9-10
o 9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (New King James Version, NKJV)
From A Spiritual Perspective:
• Readings from the Bible:
• The book of Matthew in the Bible gives practical & applicable examples of how we should live our lives. For example:
o Matthew 6:24
 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (New King James Version, NKJV)
Matthew 6:33
 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (New King James Version, NKJV)
o Proverbs 3:5-7
 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.[a] 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. (New King James Version, NKJV)
A Closing thought:
• Think of the GPS directions on your phone or car, which infamously says “route recalculating” when you miss your turn. Much like the GPS fixed on getting you to the destination, so too will your life be guided by God if you fix your eyes on God through His son, Jesus Christ. My friend, I have made many mistakes in my life, but focusing on God through Jesus has helped me to avoid making even more mistakes since I was a teenager.
• Give your life to Jesus:
• The Word of God is inexplicable and intriguing to the young and old, alike. The teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ, are so applicable to our lives today. I am sometimes so amazed of how relevant His teachings are that even my younger boys, whom I regularly study the bible with, could relate.
• Maybe you’ve always lived your life the way you want, and that may have led you to troubles. My prayer for you is that you try Jesus. Jesus said:
• Matthew 6:26
o 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (New King James Version, NKJV)
• John 3:16
o 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (New King James Version, NKJV)

This message has a permanent link at www.dignityshouse.org

Direct your path to enjoy your journey!

Dr. Daintee G. Jones

Founder

The House that Dignity Built

An initiative of The Dignity in Direction Group

www.dignityclasses.weebly.com

Say My Name at the Prayer Wall – Transcript

Say My Name at the Prayer Wall
Dr. Jones sings…
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
and the walls came a-tumbling down
Welcome to the House that Dignity Built. I’m Dr. Daintee Glover Jones, and I consider it an honor and a privilege to have a moment to speak with you for our January 8th message of our 2016-17 series called “The Sum of Peace”. For the months of January and February, our speakers will be on one accord by speaking and teaching about the concept of peace and protection. The title of today’s message is called “Say My Name at the Prayer Wall”. May God add a blessing to this word, and may He use me to encourage, empower, and inspire. Also, please God watch over the people who were affected by the tragedy at Fort Lauderdale’s airport. Please bring them peace and protection. Amen.
Walls are built to hold refuse, to control elements and people, to express creativity, and to divide. They are within both residential and community structures. They are resourceful and historical. We know of the Great Wall of China and the Berlin Wall. These walls are fine, but today, I speak of using walls like the Western or Kotel wall which is an ancient limestone wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. This wall has a holy designation because it sits close to a hill called Temple Mount that is located close to an ancient temple that was expanded by Herod the Great. Visitors to the wall pilgrimage to say their prayers at a place that they consider to be a strong site of unity and shared belief.
Do you yet have access to a prayer wall? A prayer wall has multiple purposes. You can find a place within your home that serves as a prayer wall even if you have access to a church. This message is one to prove the power of a prayer wall in one’s life.
Use it to pray just as “Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD” (Isaiah 38:2).
Use it to separate just as Ezekiel built a wall around a temple to “divide between the holy and the profane” (Ezekiel 42:20).
Use your prayer wall to see symbolic signs from God as in Daniel 5:5 where “suddenly the fingers of a man’s hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall”.
Use your prayer wall to protect rest and peace surrounding your family and ministries with prayer as King Asa said to the people of Judah, “Let us build cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” (2 Chronicles 14:7).
In prayer, speak to the walls of your life that might block your blessings. Use prayer if you feel off the wall or if your back is against the wall like King Saul wanted to do to David. Pray for protection if your house is divided by walls of trouble and disdain as promised in Ephesians 2:14. Just as in Psalm 89:40, pray at your wall against undesirable strongholds. The holy word advises us to face the wall and say the names of God for your particular prayer of protection. In Beyonce’s song called “Say my name; Say my name”, her character asks that her name be uttered so that she might be convinced that her loved one is being faithful; we can call God by His names because we know He is faithful and true as it is written in Numbers 23:19.
So say His name.
Jehovah Jireh,
provide our protection.
Jehovah Raah,
keep your sheep close to you.
El Shaddai,
bring your might with you.
Jehovah Rapha,
heal our land, hearts, and minds.
Shammah,
be there.
Jehovah Mekoddishkem,
sanctify our hearts for kingdom work!
Jehovah Shalom,
bring us peace.
We say your names.
We drink in your designations.
We tout your titles.
We understand the power of your names. “For as his name is, so is he” (1 Sam 25:25).
As we come to the end of this message, stay tuned for lecture notes on this coming Monday, January 9, at our website http://www.dignityshouse.org. I’m Dr. Daintee Glover Jones, and this has been a message from the House that Dignity Built. I bid you peace and protection.
Amen and ashe’.
Dr. Jones sings…
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
and the walls came a-tumbling down

Love you in Christ!

Dr. Daintee G. Jones

Founder & Minister

The House that Dignity Built Ministries

www.dignityshouse.org

An initiative of The Dignity in Direction Group

http://dignityclasses.weebly.com