Racism exists in the body of Christ.  And it’s unfortunate.  My Bible doesn’t read like there will be black section and white section in heaven.  But that’s how we worship here on earth.  Listen, I’m not talking about ya’ll.  I’m talking about me.  I’m a member of a black Baptist church.  I’ve always been a member of a black church.  Give me that saxophone, and the drums, and the organ, and the choir. (But ya’ll could turn the monitors down because I’m trying to preserve my hearing.) The interesting thing is that my first best friend was white.  We went to elementary school together.  Both of her parents were doctors. …

I have been a member of three different, dynamic musical groups.  I told you my life was a musical!  Each group showcased a different stage of my growth and development.  Walk with me as I recount my musical highs and lows. I didn’t want to go to college.  It just seemed like such an insurmountable thing.  How are you supposed to know what you want to do with your life?  How do people even graduate from college?  My answer was to make it big in the summer between senior year of high school and freshman year in college. Set Apart was formed sometime in my high school days.  My Soul…

Am I the only one that has a habit that they’re unaware of?  My cousins and I went to Shake’s one day to get some ice cream.  My little cousin got a flavor that I had never tried.  She said, “I would offer you some, but you gon gross me out with that noise you make.”  I was confused.  I demanded clarification.  She said, “You know that noise you make when you eat.  All that moaning and groaning.” This led to a full cousin council and debate.  They all insisted that I moaned when I ate food.  Particularly ice cream.  I needed people on my side.  So I called friends…

My brother and I could not have more different learning to read stories.  I was a fluent reader by the age of four.  Keep in mind that I was raised by the village while my mom was in college.  And that Ma Patra valued education. My village included two aunts that were teachers.  Neither one of them played around about ANYTHING.  And I was inquisitive.  I constantly asked what billboards, signs, and books said.  I NEEDED TO KNOW!!!  There was whole world going on around me, and I felt left out. So out came the red books.  It wasn’t hard.  I loved it!  I had found my thing.  I was…

We don’t get to choose our family.  And we don’t get to choose our divine connections.  God places special people in our lives who help push us towards our destiny.  Let me introduce you to just a few of the people who will be featured in my blog at some point. Bestie-  She may not pray for herself or anyone else, but I know she prays for me.  Because I’m a real fool and handful at the same time.  Being my friend can be exhausting.  In our 20’s, she regularly had to say to me “We may not be friends after this, but I’m going to tell you what’s right.” …

Who do you look like?  Are your family genes strong?  Do people look at you and say “I know that’s one of the Johnson’s!”  My family has powerful genes.  When people first see me with my cousins, they can have strong reactions.  In my opinion, the resemblance isn’t that spectacular.  I guess because I grew up around them.  They look like themselves, and I look like myself. This happens most often when I’m with Tomica.  We go to church together and sit beside each other.  At our old church, Tomica faithfully stood in front of the church every Sunday and read the announcements.  She interacted with the pastor frequently, and…

Let’s not get beside ourselves. There is no human fetus currently residing in my uterus, but I’m expecting. I’m pregnant with something. I just don’t know what it is. Sometimes I think it’s a book or a series of books. Sometimes I think it’s a top of the line event planning empire. Not company….empire. My cousin says that she always goes to church expecting to get what she needs. She specifically prays that God will give her a Word just for her. And she hasn’t been disappointed. He’s always delivered. Now, I’m expecting. And it’s scary. I suppose I’m 2 weeks along in this pregnancy. I know how this pregnancy…

I’m fat.  I have a serious passion/addiction/obsession with food.  I eat when I’m happy.  I eat when I’m sad.  I eat when I’m bored.  I eat because it’s Monday.  I eat because it’s 3:25. You get the picture. I realized that I was depressed when I had no appetite at all.  I can ALWAYS eat.  (See the above requirements for eating.)  Until the day, I couldn’t.  I had no desire.  I had no fight.  I could tell that my mom and brother were worried about me.  “You’re not going to eat???”  So, I would eat when they were around.  Not much, but enough to make them stop staring at me. …