" Say the Words" by DC Talk

(You gotta say it, you gotta say it)

Solomon once wrote:
"Better is open rebuke, than hidden love"
So say the words...

Silence is golden but these are the words
That the world needs to hear
(brothers and sisters)
Terms of compassion will cause a reaction
As love drives them near

But still we choose to hide behind the face of pride
Pretending we are blind to the calling
This is my point and case, if hate can be erased
With such a simple phrase, why are we stalling?

[chorus]
Say the words, say the words, say "I love you"
Say the words I long to hear
Say the words, say the words, say "I love you"
Say the words I long to hear

Ya gotta say it, ya gotta say it, say it
Ya gotta say it, ya gotta say it

Some just assume we already know
Of the love that they feel
(brothers and sisters)
Some have a heartfelt emotion
But never the words to reveal

I think we all relate, so why are we afraid
To let our hearts convey what we're feeling?
There is a world in need with hungry souls to feed
And love can intercede if we're willing, so...

[repeat chorus]

Ya gotta say it, ya gotta say it, say it
Ya gotta say it, ya gotta say it

(check this out)
The word love, well it was once overused
Back in the 70's the word was abused
But I refuse to let love be diluted
We can't allow physical lust to intrude it
Or pollute it cause there ain't no excuse
For the greatest gift of all to be abused
So choose to lose the pride that may tug at you
Don't be afraid of the words "I love you"

[repeat chorus]

Choose to lose the pride that may tug at you
Don't be afraid of the words "I love you"

Won't you say the words
Say the words
Say the words "I love you"
(You've got to say it)
Say the words
Say the words
Say them over and over
(Yeah, you've got to say it, say it)

Choose to lose the pride that may tug at you
Don't be afraid of the words "I love you"

Musing about having "nappy" hair...what is wrong with nappy hair

Thursday I wrote a musing about natural hair.  Why call it natural?  Why the "happy to be nappy" mantra?  What is wrong with the word nappy?  Nappy has become a slur for "bad hair" or tightly coiled hair.  I realize that it stems from the division in the black community.  "Good hair" is seen on those who are more "mixed" looking while those who look less "mixed" or rather more "African-looking" people have "bad hair".  It is so sad that that we have this.  What is wrong with a man or woman having tightly coiled hair?  Those are some questions that I wish I could ask others.  What is wrong with having nappy hair?  This issue pretty much fires me up.  Here are some pictures of women with tightly coiled hair:

Natural and happy

I would love to know what it will be like to have long curly hair.  It has been a long time.  It has been a long time coming.  For over 2 decades, my hair has been relaxed and my hair thickened up and itched.  It was time for me to relax my hair when that happened.  Today, I can say that I have no relaxers and hair colors and my hair, (as well as me) are very happy about that.  My hair isn't long by any stretch but I am surprised by how much I love my hair.  I finally don't take my hair for granted.  I actually pay attention to my hair and I love every inch of my hair and I love every curl.  Here are some pics of women who too seem to love their natural hair.

"I Know I've Been Changed" by LaShun Pace Rhodes

Chorus: 2x
I know I've been changed
I know I've been changed
I know I've been changed

Angels in Heaven done signed my name
Well if you don't believe that I've been redeemer
you know the (angels in Heaven done signed my name)
Oh follow me down to that old Jordan stream

Angels in Heaven done signed my name stepped in the water and the water was cold
you know the angels in Heaven done signed my name
oh it chilled my body but not my soul
Angels in Heaven done signed my name

Chorus: 2x
Spoken:Somebody said how can a brown cow eat green grass and give you white milk
well if you think that's something
God's chemical laboratory of redemption
took my black soul and dipped in red bloodand I came out white as snow

Angels in Heaven done signed my name
Angels in Heaven done signed my name

Positive qualities

I do have low self esteem, which is true. However, I don't take the time to be thankful or write positive things about myself.

These are my positive qualities.  I think I have many positive qualities.  I don't lack humility.  I think it is true.

1. Sincerity
2. Kindness
3. Wise
4. Intuitive
5. Caring
6. Loving
7. Intelligent
8. Fair-minded
9. Opinionated
10. Loyal
11. Earnest
12. Family-oriented
13. Unselfish
14. Prayerful
15. Affirmation oriented
16. Polite
17. Daydreamer
18. Versatile
19. Talented
20. Clean-cut

I believe that those are just a few good qualities that I share with most people.  I believe that I am a good person who doesn't always feel that way about myself.  I don't mean to be arrogant when I write this, but I do have this tendency to explain myself to others.  I do care about what others think and that is a negative quality that I have struggled to change.

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.