Another Public Lynching:Bill Cosby

Bill Cosby(78)was arrested yesterday 12/30/15, booked and posted bail yesterday on charges that he took physical advantage of someone in 2004. The person said that she thought of Bill Cosby as her mentor, and that is the reason she followed him around. She was an employee at the college with the Temple basketball women team. According to her, Mr. Cosby made several sexual advances prior to the event she says took place in 2004 in his Pennsylvania home but his advances were rejected by her. After his advances, she went to several engagements with him and dinners and events. In 2005, when charges were bought, the district atty decided there was not enough evidence to charge Mr. Cosby and the charges were dropped. 

In 2006 Andrea Constand was paid by Mr. Cosby as she pursued a civil case and won. No doubt that money has run out and now she has run back to the proverbial well, looking for a much bigger, more wide spread payday. Mr. Cosbys case was sealed after the court case was settled, but was requested by the media and the information in that document, (that was known about by the prosecutors), is now what is being used to re-lynch Mr. Cosby. There have been many other celebrities "Hulk Hogan" is one... that have had their criminal cases sealed and the media has been unsuccessful in getting them unsealed. Unfortunately Mr. Cosby received none of the leverage afforded these others and his business is apparently fair game to those who have chosen to try and further disdain this man to our community. 

The problem with that is how miraculous it is that a case that is over 10 years old can be re-hashed, dressed up and retried, while this past year has brought over one hundred deaths at the hands of local authorities and only seven of those have been prosecuted at all. http://mappingpoliceviolence.org/unarmed/

Mr. Cosby did admit to having a relationship with these women. He said he did wine and dine them and conversed on mutual subjects. He says he did do several favors for them that were of a professional nature. He admitted he did as any man would, and try and take the relationship to another level by getting physical. He explained that there were some women who were not interested in getting anything from him or giving him anything in return. Those women are not up for discussion. 

The women who are up for discussion, however are women who took the time to "be" with Mr. Cosby regardless of his situation. They shared meals with him, took gifts from him, parts in productions from him,money from him and now they wants his lively hood, they want his legacy, his reputation and his dignity. He will be paraded out as years gone by and put on front street for all to see what happens when a black man gets to large-The trial will seek to discredit him at all sides. His family,his friends, his TV shows, his followers,his tenure, his habits. They will all be up for all to see and judge and criticize. The media will camp out at the courtroom, they will do live feeds from the location. The Today show will probably do a remote location in front of the courthouse, and at the end of the day he will be acquitted, and it will be made known they were in fact in a relationship that was spurned by the fact he was a married man and would not leave his wife for her. But the damage will ultimately be done and the sharks will have blood on them as usual. 

With all that is going on, this reporter would caution any rush to judgement by the community. Instead we should take a page from this "watchnight" season and keep your eyes peeled for what else is quickly approaching and coming in our direction. We already know the tricks of the oppressor so now we must wait for the proverbial rabbit to pop out of the hat. #blacklivesmatter

Knowledge Aflame..A True Liberty Motto?

   
    The President of Liberty University Jerry Falwell Jr. sounded like a complete idiot, when he spoke at last week’s convocation. Without permission or discussion of its consequences and or repercussions, the president of the school that is Liberty University, (which is a private, non-profit Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia, United States.) with a residential makeup of 48% male student body said, that it would be justified and a good ideal for them to carry arms, to compete and win the battle against the Muslims.

One of the motto's of liberty University is “knowledge Aflame” because of its ability to make learning strong using its biblical foundations and in its academics One student says..“Liberty’s goal of ‘Training Champions for Christ’ only enhances the education that we are receiving here. In fact, Liberty is perfectly described as ‘not just a great Christian university but a great university that happens to be Christian.' It seems that instead of sticking to the course, the president of the school decided to put himself in front of all that the school stands for. 

The schools foundation is predicated on Christian values, yet his comments were tattered with hate.  He encouraged students to enroll in the university’s gratis certification course and said he was carrying a weapon “in my back pocket right now.” But yet he had NO knowledge of weather it was even legal to show that weapon. He concluded by saying, “Let’s teach them a lesson if they ever show up here.” This to me is the beginning of incitement to riot. As he looked into the audience, he takes the time to prove he was on his own, and this was not Christ centered, by saying “I’ve always felt that if more good people had concealed-carry permits, then we could end those Muslims before they walked in and killed them”. This type of conversation and call to action is the opposite of what is to happen and a sad commentary for many parents who thought they were sending their children to a Christian College. For Christians, the Bible speaks to this. The Apostles James and John warn against religious rhetoric that is unaccompanied by action. Jesus himself reprimanded pious leaders of his day for being people who “preach, but do not practice.” Those who hesitate to critique prayer divorced from action should consider that Jesus did it more than once.

The New Testament recounts many comments Jesus made about violence, and almost all of them seem like an outright contradiction of Falwell’s remarks. In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus blesses peacemakers and commends the merciful. Jesus advised people to love, not kill, their enemies and urged them not to take an eye for an eye, but rather to turn the other cheek. When he hung on a Roman cross, he did not ask his followers to arm themselves. Instead, he prayed: “Father, forgive them.”

One of the most telling stories of Jesus’s view of violence takes place during his arrest prior to crucifixion. The Apostle Peter, acting in self-defense, pulls out a sword and cuts off a Roman soldier’s ear. Jesus heals the man’s ear and scolds Peter: “Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”

I think it’s time for Liberty University to find a new leader, someone who is more in-touch with the Liberty mission rather than his own. Some even believe that Jerry Falwell Sr. (who has passed away) would have been a marvelous leader during times such as these. He would have gathered the school together to bring forth the power of effectual prayers to heal the hurt and pray for a peaceful future with all men.

Cornerstone Of Love

March 2015 has been designated Women’s History Month. This is an opportunity to shed some light on those females who have been instrumental in making something great from nothing, or something greater from something that was not yet. My focus will be on Mrs. Deborah Bennett who is such a woman and first lady of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Richmond Virginia 23234. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the birth of the church and Deborah unbeknownst to her, was an instrumental conduit to this birth. Deborah had a humble beginning and was raised in Greenville, South Carolina during some troubled times. There was racism against black people and Jim Crow was alive and well. Eventually her family moved to New York City in the borough of Queens. Raised like every other little girl, she was loved, protected and cared for by loving parent’s grandparents and a host of relatives. It was in her young life at the age of eight years old when a student from the Bob Jones University witnessed to her as an eight year old child and shared the gospel with her. She was not at all sure exactly what the student meant, but she never forgot the seed that was planted inside her heart that day. As Deborah grew up, she saw a lot in her Queens’s neighborhood. There was always something going on, or something about to go down on a daily basis. New York was hustling and bustling with sounds, people and good and bad times. Debra traveled all over the city of New York like any one would and studied at Brooklyn College, but the difference with her is that she still felt a burden. She distinctly remembers praying for God to raise up the many people she saw daily in her and the adjoining neighborhoods she frequented. She wanted to be able to help everyone become better because they knew Jesus. But she was just one person and started living her life in the meantime. By the 1970’s Deborah was coming into herself and pursuing different interest, and met and married Stanley Bennett in 1972. He was a very handsome man with a structured background (former Marine) and various interest. He was into activism, social consciousness and he had a very lucrative and profitable professional life all mapped out. One thing though never changed and that was Deborah’s burden for her people. She remembers praying that God, in his infinite wisdom would raise up a black man from the men available to speak to and teach the people. This wasn't easy, because it seemed that most men were just fine with doing their own thing. Deborah’s husband was one of those men, as he felt like his job was how he fulfilled his responsibility to his family. Nonetheless, it was as a result of Deborah’s faithful walk with the Lord that God used her testimony to draw her husband Stan Bennett to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, just two months after she herself was saved by Christ. In the years that followed, Deborah’s husband began to bear the burden that his dear wife originally had. He also had a deep seeded love for the Lord and because of this love, God was able to begin a “good” work in him. In 1985, the Bennett household relocated to Jacksonville Florida where her husband attended Trinity Bible College. After those trying college years, where some say Deborah received her PHT (putting hubby through) degree, in 1989 the decision was made by God and giving to now Pastor and Mrs. Bennett to move to Richmond Virginia. It was here that the true legacy of Deborah’s story will live on forever. Without a brick and mortar place to worship in, Deborah surrendered her home and all parts of it to become the birthplace of what is now known as Cornerstone Baptist Church. In 1990 Cornerstone relocated to the chapel of Richmond Christian School and there the church remained for seven years. Seven is the number of completeness and perfection (both physical and spiritual). It derives much of its meaning from being tied directly to God’s creation of all things. According to Jewish tradition, the creation of Adam occurred on October 7th, 3761 B.C. (or the first day of Tishri, which is the seventh month on the Hebrew calendar). The word 'created' is used 7 times describing God’s creative work (Genesis 1:1, 21, 27 three times; 2:3; 2:4). There are 7 days in a week and God's Sabbath is on the 7th day. During this time God added to the church, both day and night. Now…This Church is celebrating its 25th anniversary and Deborah is involved in a host of ministries at 6100 Cornerstone Blvd, the current home of Cornerstone Baptist Church. The church is nestled up on a hill and twelve acres of land surrounds it as it shines as a beacon to the community like Deborah’s favorite artifact the lighthouse. Some of Deborah's ministries include the Choir, Director of our ladies outreach ministry entitled Phoster Club, and Sunday School Teacher to the Nursery Toddlers. Deborah & Pastor Bennett have 3 grown children, Matthew and Pamela, and the youngest, Jonathan, who is now our Youth Pastor. Pastor and Deborah Bennett are the proud grandparents of 11 grandchildren. Deborah's life verse can be found in I Cor. 15:58. Which goes as follows- Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.