Author: Bianca A. McCormick-Johnson

In short, I'm a work of ART (Aptitude, Responsibility, & Talent). My goal is to Attract, Retain, and Teach an audience between the ages of 14 to about 50 and beyond the disciplines of life. I've been blessed with the gift of giving knowledge and creating peace within the souls of many who are starving for spiritual satisfaction. I'm no prophet, but I do believe that I am one of God's chosen spiritual leaders and sources of information on how to walk a straight path down a crooked road.

Haters Come with Success

You can’t have success without haters. People like to see you in a tight spot because you’re more relatable when you are. A person who can’t match your success will criticize everything about you. This is common in the black community. I’m sure it is in other communities as well, but I can relate more to my own.

I love the rhythm, resistance, and resilience of my people. We have endured some tough times and overcome many rejections. If I start adding them up, I would surely lose count. But you can’t let rejection change your perception of those who chose to defeat it.

We were all born with a gift or talent. Your failure to properly use yours gives you no right to rain on someone else’s parade. Fellas, if you spent more time shaping your future and less time shining your rims, you could have your own rim shop. Ladies, if you spent less time guessing how she can own that house off of McDonald’s income and more time trying to get out of debt, you too can own a home and a business. However, how people reach their level of success is none of your business.

Black people spend so much money trying to upstage one another, even if it costs them their last. Coach, Gucci, Prada and the like will only keep you in debt, not get you out. Some of you are so self-conscious that you won’t buy the “knock-off” brand because you are afraid of what people might say or think. You’d rather carry around a $300 bag with $30 in it just to give people the impression that you might have money. Then you want to gossip about the girl who bought a $30 bag but might be carrying $270 in it. In the meantime, she is working a full-time job and attending college. When she’s finally able to afford that $300 bag, you will know it because you’ll be the first one to hate.

My brothers and sisters, we must learn to come together to work together. I see so much talent and potential rotting in the possession of some of the most ignorant, blind-sided people. I wish I had the talent of some of these people who are wasting it. We’ve made history with many of our brilliant inventions, and now we make history with our small-minded goals and empty aspirations.

Ladies, you’d rather build a reputation with your looks than your brains. Fellas, you’d rather shine for the moment and cause others to suffer the consequences later. Your loved ones should not have to sell chicken and fish plates to bury you.

Haters, you can learn how to hustle and become great from successful people. Successful people, you can learn how to track your success from haters, for no one does it better.

A Message to My Successful People

If you know who your haters are, you’re only keeping them around to show off. Stop it! Successful people don’t have time for that! If you even acknowledge or entertain your haters, you’re wasting valuable time you cannot get back. Your memes are meaningless, if they don’t make you any money. You’re just as ignorant as they are for entertaining losers. If you can avoid them all together, you should. If you can’t because they are family members, co-workers, and etc, keep it cordial and carry on.

If you don’t know who your haters are, that means you let your success do the talking. They’ll continue to hate on you for sure, but they’ll respect you more.

And remember…
“Make sense of what you do, and make every cent count.”

What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear them.

Submit topic suggestions using the “Contact Me” page.

Photo: Flickr. Four the Haters by Tjololo Photo CC

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Practice What You Preach

Whether you are a pastor, reverend, deacon, or any type of evangelist, this message is for you. I won’t hold you responsible for the disconnected, demonic world we live in, but I will hold you responsible for your actions. You show up on Sundays in your nice church attire, followed by bible study and prayer service during the week. You preach to your congregation about sharing the gospel and ministering to others, and you never fail to mention the significance of sowing seeds. That is all fine and dandy, but how are you leading in your community? If you are only serving from behind the pulpit, I regret to inform you that your work is not done. You’ll never finish mowing the whole lawn by standing in one spot.

There is no way in the world there should be so many lost, unsaved souls when there are churches on virtually every corner in every neighborhood. Do you not understand your role as a Christian or Believer? You preachers today are too comfortable. I remember when churches went out into the neighborhoods to do ministry outreach. Oh, I forgot. That was the Jehovah’s witnesses. If you received a knock on your door at 8am on a Saturday, you knew it wasn’t anybody but the Jehovah’s witnesses. As a matter of fact, they still go out into the community today.

I don’t agree with all their beliefs and practices, but at least they take their religion a step further. Plus, they don’t look for anyone to just show up at their church. They infiltrate the neighborhoods offering prayer and hoping to convert sinners. They even offer a free pamphlet with bible scriptures in it. I know they are not a perfect religion, for none of them are, but I do admire their method for reaching people. I believe every religion can learn something from another, just as republicans can learn something from democrats and vice versa.

Preachers, where were you after all the police shootings? Did you sit and wait for the perpetrators to show up on Sunday? Or did you join with other churches to rally and protest, in a more constructive way, of course? What are you doing outside of the church to introduce people to God? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. fearlessly fought for our freedom.

What are you fighting for other than to be the most recognized or highest paid preacher? You are telling your congregation what they should be doing, but you’re not doing it. I notice how engaged churches are before they become huge. Why stop now? It is going to take the same time and energy expended to build that church to keep it going, but until you train yourself and your members on how to become active servants, you are nothing more than a building.

Devout Christians and Other Believers

Listen up religious folk. You can’t go around judging every sinner when you commit some of the same sins yourself. Just because you are in church, that does not mean you are of the church. Looks to me as though Satan has infiltrated the church. Some of the same people raising hands on Sundays raise hell Monday through Saturday. Carnal Christians take up space in the pews every Sunday to hear the gospel but don’t apply it. You can tell your neighbor what he or she is doing wrong but can’t seem to see your own faults.

Young people are lost and fearless because the communities lack strong leaders. Discipline starts in the home and used to be reinforced in the neighborhoods. You can tell your daughter not to sleep around, but unless you stop sleeping with the pastor, she won’t find fault with her actions. You can tell your son to never raise his hand to a woman, but unless you stop beating his mother, your message has no weight.

Don’t preach to your girlfriend about dragging for others when you can’t stop talking about how fat Sister Patterson is getting. Don’t preach to your podnuh about taking things from work when you are stealing time. Basically, if you are not qualified to give advice, don’t preach to anyone. Instead, pray for them and yourself more.

To preachers who are extending services beyond the pulpit, continue being a blessing to others! To Christians/Believers extending your practices beyond the pew, continue to let your light shine!

And remember…
“Make sense of what you do, and make every cent count.”

What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear them.

Submit topic suggestions using the “Contact Me” page.

Photo: Flickr. We Have All Sinned! by Keith Davenport CC

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No Justice, No Peace, No Sleep!

My heart is punctured, and my mind is twisted after hearing of the horrific events that took place the week of Independence Day. Myself and so many others are devastated and offended by the hostile actions taken by police. Like many of you, I’m wondering what happens next after the slaying of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, not to mention the mysterious lynching in Atlanta reported as a suicide. So I guess tasers, batons, and mace aren’t sufficient to subdue suspects or criminals anymore? Just as abortion is not a contraceptive method, murder is not a form of punishment.

The disturbing current events have evoked fear and doubt of protection here in the United States. The same citizens who are supposed to serve and protect us are killing us at an alarming rate. I know all cops are not corrupt, just as all black people are not criminals. Thus, we need a resolution, and the use of force is not the answer. At one time, the majority of police officers were able to identify with the community members they served. They were relatable, not retaliatory. They were dependable, not detestable.

Who are these monsters we pay our tax dollars to? Now I’m not oblivious to the fact that there have always been crooked cops, but in my 37 years of living in America, I’ve never heard of so many black people being murdered by cops. Did they apprehend us? Yes! Did they harass us? Yes! Did they beat us? Hell yes! But did they kill us? No! – at least not wrongfully and at such colossal rate.

I am appalled, heartbroken, and shocked at last week’s heinous events. I’m also confused because the modern-day police are starting to mimic the military. I don’t know whether to salute or surrender, respect or resent because who knows who is really hiding behind that blue suit and badge. They are playing cops but day and KKK by night. I never knew having freedom could come at the cost of my life.

My people, men and women, are being murdered for doing things people do every day. To add insult to injury, law enforcers and reporters insist on highlighting the victim’s background or past, as if it justifies the brutal actions taken. Who doesn’t have a past? Most people in this world are not law abiding citizens. Some have never been caught. I know I am not the only one who has changed lanes without using a signal, flew threw a light after it had just turned red, made an illegal turn, failed to fasten my seat belt, or went above the speed limit trying to get somewhere on time. Sometimes, I wasn’t even in a hurry. I was just impatient. Does that sound like you? Let’s not talk about “model citizens” who lie on applications, embezzle funds, commit forgery or fraud, take objects from their jobs without permission, and get away with so many other infractions. I’ve lived long enough to witness that no one’s past is as squeaky clean as his or her criminal records, which can often be altered by knowing the right people.

This mess have gone too far for too long. It is time for people, black, brown and white, to rise up and support something greater than self. We are living in times where people fear the police, and police fear the people. Cops are killing people, and people are killing cops. Either action taken is the beginning of a problem, not the answer to one. Everyone can have a role in this reform. You either play your part or become part of the problem. Just because you are not suffering, that does not mean people in your community aren’t.

Prayers are always needed, but action is required in order to promote change in our neighborhoods. If you are an evangelist, practice what you preach. If you are a parent, teach against racism and rebellion. If you are a teacher, serve as a mentor as well. If you are a nosey neighbor, make sure you report everything you see. If you are a lawyer, don’t accept cases that exonerate a killer or wrongdoer. If you are a civilian, obey the law. If you are a cop, don’t shoot unless you absolutely have to.

And remember…
“Make sense of what you do, and make every cent count.”

What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear them.

Submit topic suggestions using the “Contact Me” page.

Photo. Alton Sterling & Philando Castile

Something captured your interest? Don’t be selfish. Share with your friends!