THE HUNGER GAMES: Just a movie or a forewarning?

I’m not sure how many of you have actually watched the movies or just seen the previews but I assure they are really amazing movies. I promise I’m not just saying that because Jennifer Lawrence and I are from the same city. Although, she’s the reason why the movie is as amazing as it is.

Briefly, the first movie is about an older sister Katniss Everdeen who volunteers to take her little sister’s place in what their nation calls “The Hunger Games“. A televised fight to the death in which two teenagers from each of the twelve Districts of Panem are chosen at random to compete. Katniss and her district partner Peeta change the game by deciding to die together, rather than kill the other as the game is suppose to be won.

In the second movie Catching Fire, they are made to portray themselves as a couple when they have to participate in the “Quarter Quell” (an event that occurs every 25th year of the Games and allows the Capitol to introduce a twist). Which the Capitol decides to bring all the previous victors to the arena to compete against each other. The victors come together and fuel the district’s uprisings by destroying the forcefield. In the chaos Peeta and Katniss are separated, Katniss with the rebels from the bombed District 13 and Peeta captured by the capital. Ending with Katniss finding out that her district has now been bombed as well.

In the last movie Mockingjay Part 1, Katniss is enlisted as the Mockingjay (which is her trademark and the symbol of the uprising). She is voice of the people and the leader of the revolution. She sees and hears the story about how the Capitol destroyed her District. As well as, witness how far the Capitol is willing to go in order to disband the rebels. She realizes that the Capitol has brainwashed Peeta through torture and has turned him against her.

I bet now you’re wondering “what’s the forewarning?” Well, there are Capitol enlisted parole officers that are called “Peacekeepers”.  They are police-like officers that enforce the Capitol’s will onto the citizens. They kill those that are a threat to the Capitol and engaged in the uprising. They are the ones that bomb the districts that are going against the grain.

To the “Peacekeepers” are much like the “National Guards” that are called in when citizen being to riot. Gun toting officers that somehow forget that they are citizens when they aren’t armed and are out of uniform. Now, it’s no secret that our Capital is, in many ways, just as corrupt as this fictional Capitol. Agreed, they don’t force us into “Hunger Games” in which we have to kill each other in the confinement of an arena. But they definitely pin us against each within our neighborhoods.

How you ask? While let’s start with racism/segregation between races instead of districts. Then there’s the discrimination within the classes. The rich are well above middle class and middle class is only a notch above the lower class. The poor are pretty much non existent, much like District 13.

Just like the rebels of the Hunger Games uprising, we as citizens are the majority. Yet, we are still stuck where the presidents and corrupt politicians have left us to fend for ourselves or depend on their assistance or accept their injustice and oppression. I wonder, almost everyday, when will people wake up to all the signs around us. And everytime, I get the feeling that once people start paying attention and take their blinders off, it will be to late. But it doesn’t haven’t to be that way.

No, I’m not trying to be Katniss. I’m well aware that the story is fiction but I also know I’m not the only one who reads between the lines. I also know that I’m not the only one who sees that things are only getting more out of hand. Am I suggesting an uprising? Not yet, but I am suggesting that you take your blinders off and realize how much control the government has over your life.

If you want change…Be the Change!

One of my favorite quotes by Gandhi is “BE the CHANGE YOU WISH to SEE in the WORLD!” I personally, took it to heart!

I’m a dreamer! ALWAYS have been and most likely ALWAYS will be. I’m one of the crazies that STILL believe that change is possible!

The devil WILL get inside YOUR head and convince you that YOU’RE a lot of things that YOU’RE NOT! So, YOU have to BE careful with YOUR thoughts!

Like Michael Jackson sung YOU HAVE TO START WITH THE PERSON IN THE MIRROR!

There’s ALWAYS SOMETHING to be Thankful for!

I’m thankful for:

First and foremost, my creator, my FATHER GOD who is the source of all my blessings!

My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who sacrificed HIS blameless life for me, a born sinner.

My FAMILY! Especially those that make up my household, which is: My Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Uncle.

My gifts and talents.

The wisdom I’ve been blessed to receive.

The knowledge, intelligence, and truth I’ve been blessed to learn.

My vision, which I know, without a doubt in my mind, comes from above.

My voice because I’ve been told numerous times that it’s soothing.

My mind, body, spirit, and soul.

My life and the story it creates.

My REAL friends and loved ones.

ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE MY LIFE WORTH LIVING!

Instead of counting sheep at night, I enjoy counting my blessings to sleep!

It activates a very peaceful sleep!

So, what are you thankful for?

Everybody Hates Sneak Dissers

I think it’s funny how racist white people act. Being a young black female in Louisville, KY, I’ve experienced my fair share of racism. From the, I-did-nothing-wrong-but-they-labeled-me-a-thugette type of racism. To the let-me-follow-her-and-make-sure-she-doesn’t-do-anything kind. And the ever popular stereotypical kind.

The most recent “racist moment” happened when I was in Walgreen’s. Not bothering anyone, just looking around. I will admit that I was “dressed the part” if you will. I was wearing a green sweater with red sweat pants and pair of light blue Timberland boots. I’m not one that puts a ton of thought into what I wear as long as I’m comfortable, but there’s the label racism.

I was there with a loved one and as I began looking for her, I noticed two white, female cashiers near the photo station. The younger one behind the counter and the older sitting at the photo kiosk. After I found her, we separated again and I went up towards the entrance registers. I was looking at the rack and heard the the younger lady say something, almost as if she was the Chinese woman from Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking your Juice in the Hood who kept telling them to “Hurry up and buy!”. Although, I assumed she was speaking to someone else because my back was turned towards them because like I said, I was looking at a rack.

So, as I was looking, I noticed a tripod stand for cellphones. Excited about such a product, I picked it up and went to show it to my loved one. As I turned around, I noticed the women looking at me like I was somehow “up to something”. But I shrugged it off because I could care less about how someone else feels about what I’m wearing. So, I showed the item to my loved one and as we were walking back over to the rack, she confirmed that they were indeed looking at me and whispering among themselves. She said that it wasn’t until they noticed her looking at them, that they stopped.

Like I questioned my loved one, why was she even talking to me? I wasn’t even headed in her direction nor to a register, period. I was looking at a rack, still shopping. And there were two other people up there, both in which were also black females. I guess I was the only one that looked “suspicious”.

So, of course when I went to checkout I spoke with proper language and intelligence. “Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to ignore you, I just didn’t think you were speaking to me.” I then ignored her and started a conversation with my loved one and handed her my money before she even got the chance to tell me the total. I didn’t speak to her again until I said “Thanks! Have a blessed night!” Not out of spite I assure you, just out disgust.

I’ve never been one to judge by a cover, literally or figuratively. I don’t think it’s fair. But not everyone lives by Luke 6:31 “Do unto to others as you would have them do unto you.”

You know, the part that disgust me is that there are soooo many white people who claim to be devout Christians. Yet, majority of them don’t follow even the most basic scriptures. They place themselves upon the highest horses but don’t even deserved to be near it. But in GOD WE TRUST! Right?

I’ll just end by stating, they lost a customer. I surely haven’t been back since and I promise I will not be back again. I boycott businesses with bad customer service.

ARE YOU Ready for War?

We are all at war, rather we realize it are not. I’m not just talking about the war in Iraq or Chiraq. Or even the “war on drug”. We are enlisted, as Christians, into a battle every day that we are alive. It always starts in our minds!

I didn’t realize this for myself until I began reading Joyce Meyer’s Battlefield of the Mind. (If you haven’t read it already, I suggest you do so.) It was a life changing read. It wasn’t until I read it that I finally and clearly understood what Peter meant when he said “Be alert and of sober mind! Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” [1 Peter 5:8].

I’ve found this scripture, like all scripture, to be VERY true. He’s always waiting for us to drop our guard so that he can come in and disrupt our lives. It is in the Book of Job that we get the chance to see how far he is willing to go, in order to turn us away from God.

We can’t allow this to happen! The amazing part is, there are many ways to prepare for these attacks. Ways that, all throughout the Bible, are proven to work. Ranging from prayer to mindfulness. The greatest of them all are the full armor of salvation.

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Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm than, with the Belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition, to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [Ephesians 6:13-17]

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Let’s start with The Helmet of Salvation! It is knowing, without a doubt, that Jesus (the Head of the Church) died for our sins and that we are saved from the consequences (which are the wrath of God and death). I like to call it the Helmet of Hope as well.

Next is The Breastplate of Righteousness! Which enables us to have a heart of goodness. It urges us to be kind and just to people, especially those we don’t know. It’s what helps us love our enemies and keeps our morals/integrity in check. It also helps us to guard our hearts.

Then, there’s The Belt of Truth! The truth about God the Father, Jesus Christ our brother, and the Holy Spirit which make up the Holy Trinity (and their functions/works). The truth about yourself (who you are created to be) and the world around you (your family, friends, country, etc.). It gives you the wisdom to stay balanced. I can’t speak for anyone else but when I read the Bible (from beginning to end), I learned so much about all three of these areas. So, I can assure that the truth shall truly set you free. [John 8:32]

There is also The Shoes of Peace! In which your steps are ordered by the Most High. Knowing that you’re walking (living) in agreement with God’s will for your life. It makes you surefooted. It allows you to be confident in yourself as well as your faith.

Which brings us to The Shield of Faith! Trusting that no matter what may be going on in your life and the world around you right now, things will get/be better. Knowing God is ALWAYS in complete control and has the final word. It gives you the strength to overcome the obstacles that the devil places in front of you. As well as, the courage to keep fighting.

Finally, there’s The Sword of the Spirit! Which is the Word of God, the Bible. I like to believe that Prayer and Scripture make up this double-edged sword.

As a soldier in the Army of the Lord, I can promise you that you’re going to need this armor for every day of your life. And that each piece is fought for and earned much like ranking in the Army. You get the Helmet of Salvation when you’re baptized but you have to work hard, on a regular basis, for the rest.

I tell you the truth, I’m still trying to put on my Shoes of Peace. I have one on but the other keeps falling off. It’s like every time I try to put it back on, the devil steps on my foot. He knows I’m covered in all other areas, so he tries to keep me worried about something. But I never give up I’m determined to put that other shoe on EVERYDAY.

So, again I ask, are you ready for war? Do you have on your Armor of Salvation?