Lampstand (Matthew 5:14-16)

LAMPSTAND

I'm tired, I'm tired, I'm tired,

says he who's up next slated to perform

I don't wanna do this, Lord, it's the same ol' nothin new,

Feels like I'm just here putting on the act and Fakin' the Funk

My cups run empty, wells run dry, No progress, it's like I'm stuck in this place, this ship anchor just sunk

Lord, you know my circumstances,

workin Day N Night, feeding my heart just off these scraps to get by

I guess i'll show them a lil something. I'll try...But where's the inspiration I once had, so in this frustration I ask why?

Used to see, but now weary eyes shut, uneasy to be me, The book says preach the Gospel, Be blessed to bless others with the gift of spoken word and do something new, build up the people, O apostle

Yeah, I go to church every Sunday, but only when my schedule intersects with your way,

Yeah, Lightly clappin my hands, stompin my feet, singing the same 'ol church songs & hymns, but just can't remember when I got my last breakthrough from Him

Mechanistic lifestyle Trial after trial, weighting me down after each tick, tick of denial to go back to a place of worship.

last time I did my secretary says currently not on file

I'm tryna speak the words to encourage my brothers and sisters but I find no weight in thin air

Putting up my hands to beat the wind but only getting swept off my feet no target there

I'm runnin with my feet but the rest of my body not functioning, cuz my Heart don't care.

Only option left let's go back to square one, reset the balance, the scale set back to tare

And takin him to Matthew 5:14 thru 16 Jesus says, LAMPSTAND, I'ma take you there

You, being the vessel, the LAMPSTAND but u can't stand without the firm weight planted in at the rock of its foundation

Understand that you gotta stand firm fighting on your own two feet, O soldier, for the Good fight for Revelation of God His Famedation

Shine the light so that your people would know where to run to in this good race

Run the race to achieve first place, and Get this information thru comprehension, with revelation, the activation to manifestation, so not be Lukewarm stuck behind in second place of consellation

Truth is, I know what it's like to be you & MORE

BEAT DOWN BY MY ENEMIES, CRIED IN LOVE FOR THEM IN JERUSALEM THOUGH THEY WERE BOUT TO COMMIT AGAINST ME ONE OF THE GREATEST FELONIES

STEP AFTER STEP TAKING UP THAT CROSS, GOD PROVIDED ALL THE STRENGTH TO NOT BE IN LACK

So with tears I tell you, Keep walkin’ cuz Victory's in the crucifixion of the flesh

Even though you're gasping for dear Life, Run & I will say son, you did well on this test

Run for your Dear Life, Child of God, 4 the upward Prize and Like catching the last train gasping, you'd say it's better to have run than not to have made it

I CAME SO THAT YOU MAY STAND

STAND AND RIZE UP AS MY RIGHT HAND MAN

SHINE WITH MY DIVINITY TEACHING ALL ABOUT THE HOLY TRINITY

I plead to you don't stand for nothing, cuz you'll fall for anything

So REDIRECT the focus and Seek first the Kingdom and His Righteousness and you will gain everything you ever needed I mean Look, He said it

And you gotta shine, NOW is ALWAYS the right time

Sanctify, Bless, Convict, Deliver, Resuscitate Dear Life back Up & illuminate through each rhyme, making use of the precious God-given time

Despite your circumstances weighing you down, remember it's the CROSS daily you take up, Uplifting you and them through each town

And I ask, "You were running so well in the race, what made you slip?"

But I say to you, NOW hold fast to this Word of Life, always the Best Tip

LAMPSTAND, open the eye gate of your Heart, what was once dark, Now made Light to be the Guidance in the Night

LAMPSTAND, cuz now what you see is what you be, Shine bright to the extremities, Christ being the Perfect Remedy, So for the living Word equip and be ready, Labor not in vain, even after great affliction and pain, In love nothing can separate us, Just Trust! Me...I will guide as I am the lamp to your feet, the Light to your path

It's simple, I paid it all, so keep the change It's no Riddle, Just get the Math

& understand I see you night after night with tears in your eyes, Press On

I feel the pain everytime you lose another, Fight On

I know the confusion of your present circumstances But you gotta Live on

And for Christ Sake, I say, speak the Word of Life, Disciple nations, Their lives' at stake!

They won't see you in the valley of self-pity, it's not where you belong O Child of God, Be a LAMPSTAND in the City

Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, & spare not, Cry Aloud

I speak to remind you the difference between True Love and Blind Religion is that I am at the center, not man made incision of division

Like planets revolving around the sun, Through Him, All things line into place, YOUR LIFE gravitates around the Greatest Power into check Mate to Christ, me, my Father's only begotten Son

SO RIZE up like Moses to this Mountain Top

Receive and Manifest the Great Commandments that you may be the LAMPSTAND, standing with uprightness, once dark but now Light, an Awesome Reflection of His Life & Righteousness

I say Love God with ALL your heart, soul & mind, & Reciprocate His Love back at your Neighbor, So God's Love, through your Light, he and she may find

Get to the Nitty Gritty, Change this city, Disciple and Change this nation, this generation, This the Revelation We are the Lampstand Rize up & shine Go Higher past your fear of Heights, we're bout to reach more, previously unseen, but now visible in Eagle-Eye at this new Elevation

God says your DONE with staying hidden in the trenches, helplessly taking in the hits, while just warming up the pew benches, Child of mine, Rize up and on the Frontline Be my LAMPSTAND, Let Your Light Shine

Bearing my thoughts on Facebook...Read! Lol

Ok, I haven't been posting up fb. statuses for a cool minute now starting since about two weeks ago.
No, I've not been falling off my walk with God, actually getting closer. And No, it's not that I don't have anything to say, I've actually got a lot, but all to be said in the right season.

Here are some of my thoughts on Facebook of how it can be destructive:

***Disclaimer: NOT SHOOTING DOWN FACEBOOK, but just hear me out

1) It distracts me from what I should and Could be doing, esp. for Finals week. I've been given the OPPORTUNITY to study, which I am grateful for and thank God often that I am able to do so. So my heart is set to not squander the opportunity through ways I know can be defeating.

2) We may just be pushing off the very people we are trying to reach. I know facebook is a method of expression to represent the real you, or at least an attempt to. lol On that note, I am a Christian and wish to express my Love as a Christian. BUT I always have to consider how my statuses are being perceived by others and most particularly nonbelievers, those of which I am actually trying to reach and share with them more about the faith in Jesus Christ, the same one that changed my life forever. So this fb hiatus allows me more time to reconsider my ways so that i'm not just always reaching out to my Christian friends. I know we never have to compromise our Love for Jesus Christ to reach others, and we don't have to mold or shape God in an attempt to make the Gospel appealing and relevant to nonbelievers. I believe Our Love for God and ability to love one another, and always prevail, will cause others to naturally  seek out the same Jesus we got, who is the same yesterday today and forever (Heb 13:8). And this is coming from an ex-agnostic/atheist.  FYI Today marks my 2nd Birthday in Christ. I dedicated my Life to Christ 2 years ago on Sunday Dec. 20th, 2009 in Carson, CA!!! My life's taken off ever since and God have all the Glory. So in sum, I just want to constantly think about the most effective APPROACH in gaining nonbelievers to Taste and See thee goodness of God I was blessed 2 experience.

3) I get drained of my spiritual energy for creativity & growth. B/c I write poetry and other stuff and yeah..

4) I'll admit that oftentimes it makes me seek out attention to myself, more than necessary (this is just natural of course). i.e. checking notifications like a facebookaholik. yea i jus made up that word. u can use it 2. ....To demonstrate why this is destructive, I'll confess that in the past I used to be the one who wanted to show off his body to others, bc I worked out A LOT and had the "hard evidence" to prove it. LOL..so taking off my shirt during runs was sometimes not just to feel good feeling the air but to gain attention and a sense of self-satisfaction from others, something I didn't know at the time was actually hindering my growth as a person. of course right? I'm guilty of that. Through this and many more examples, I Know that its unnatural and actually damaging to seek out attention for oneself.

5) I am more likely to be POSTING (Fronting) about my walk with God and less likely to actually be living the walk out. This includes reading and HEARING and following his Word with clarity/comprehension, getting new revelations/insight, activating my spirit man, manifesting these principles into my life, PRAYER-talking to God and hearing from Him with Intimacy, Getting my heart Right with Him, Dedicating my gifts He gave to me like poetry and Dance 4 Him and others, Reaching out to others in need in a way that can only be done by talking to them inter-personally, Getting people the Gospel, doing good for them so that they can know bout a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that I have learned brings true freedom, joy, and salvation.

6) And lastly why I have been using fb less is cuz Theres soo muuch dirt contaminating my fb feed!!! foreal!! the list of things goes on!!...drama, cursing (this is not just swear words, think about it), pictures of scantily clad women who i profess would look more beautiful with clothes on-just saying. Beauty is the way one views oneself and thus presents his/herself.  And half-naked pictures of dudes, same issue...Lol.

But the thing that irks me the most...well, I ESPECIALLY HATE it when brothers/sisters in Christ shoot each other down, when we should be building each other up. I see it on fb often.

What does Jesus say regarding this issue?
In Matthew 22:37-39, He is quoted in saying,
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the great and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
-Amen. And...
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35
-We cannot truthfully call ourselves Christian-followers of Christ, if we're not following Jesus' commandment to Love. and of course, it's hard to love one another sometimes, especially when we''ve been used, talked about, been wronged. But I believe Loving others DESPITE, NONETHELESS, EVEN SO... is one of the biggest marks of what makes a Christian. It's what sets us apart from what the world often teaches one to do. Romans 12:21 says, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

I'm actually glad for the opportunity via fb to see more of how we treat each other even when it causes me a lotta pain...so that i know what to pray for...But I also do believe that we gotta always at least CONSIDER cutting or pruning off ways that might just cause us to be half-hearted about our walks for even a moment. We are called 2 hear with an Ear and follow His words to Love God with all our heart, soul, & mind and Love one another as He loves us...AS WE ARE HIS DISCIPLES.

Yes, I'll admit that I still am at times selfish, prideful, arrogant, self-boasting, fearful, insecure... im human. Yet i'll admit all this and more with others and How God is Transforming me by the renewal of my mind (Romans 12:1-2) b/c as we share our testimonies and what might be embarrassing to people, we can show that for 1) we are human and 2) God can transform, heal, and fix anybody. I'd call a testimony a success if it can at least save one person hearing it, or a backslider, hypocrite, etc. So we need not be ashamed of what God has brought us out of especially when we see it's all a part of the plan and know that all things work for the Better through God.

And NO, It's not that I think Facebook is from the devil. LoL. I believe it's a Good thing to use b/c its given by God (ultimately)- FB is a tool we can use to connect with people, invite ppl to events, challenge each other, reminisce, reflect, have fun, take a break with from studying, etc. etc., all a way to build up the Kingdom. I love all that! I am not saying "Don't use facebook anymore-its the Devil" or that I will never ever post another status again. I just believe that we should Always CONSIDER our intentions and IMPROVE our approach to things we both do and use especially when it's of a daily (sometimes hourly) basis, such as Facebook.

2 Corinthians 5:17 reads, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
-Thus, we should no longer be talking like the world. We are children of the Light, new Creatures that radiate out of ourselves the Light which is Christ. This is verified in Ephesians 5: 8-11: "8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."

So if you've made it this far in this lengthy note (ahh commend you. Lol), but the main point of this message is that I simply think we should always Consider and Approach the way in which we use our outlets of expression. That's All.
-Mike

Nevelle Orlando Grow aka “CHUCKY” (August 10, 1987- July 25,2011)

A “half Muslim, half Christian”, “thugged out genius” I shared the faith to at the University of New Orleans during Impact Kamp (June 20th-July 29th 2011). He had high energy and a love for talking with people. We kept in touch through text/calling/prayer.

One of my last texts to Chucky one week before he took his life on Monday morning, July 25, 2011:

Wasup Brody. Here we Go: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 2 timothy: 6-7 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ..Ok love you Chucky. Write these scriptures down! =] -Mike

Chucky: Not to grieve too heavily in heart but a constant reminder of the immeasurable value in keeping strong relationships, saying a simple, sincere hello, and showing Love to one another through words and works. You never know when people are going to go! So Love HARD. R.I.P. Chucky, God have mercy on your soul.

1 John 4:19 “We love because he first loved us.”

4 Deborah

Written for an elderly lady I met at the Westlake tunnel bus station in Seattle. 

4 Deborah

I don’t ask for much of this world

I don’t need the limelight

I just wanna be there when the time’s right

Cuz, when I looked deep into your face smiling

Your eyes revealed your Soul Painfully crying

You laugh and joke and pretend your care-free

But the tone of your voice says your not

Where you wanna Be.

People they’ve laughed at you, mocked you, pointed their fingers

Behind your back

They left you on your knees to their ceaseless attack

You without “nothing”, homeless

But in their self-righteousness they could careless

I can hear the tear in your eye

I can feel the peal of the lie

I see the cryout blotted out to their earpiece

Ears Shut, No Peace

But,

I Am God

I can Hear you I am Here so cast aside the Fear

I am Real I Will Deal a Deal Eternal Elevation of Revelation Your Soul will Feel

No more “Nobody’s There” cuz I will Bless you with

Every bit of Food, Every Breath of Air

I will walk with you, Talk with You, Live in You,

Regardless of the Situation, In our Relation, Elevation

Romans 8 1&2, I will Love you Unconditionally, No Condemnation!

So Look no Further

Your Homeless No longer

Cuz in you is where I will Dwell

& you in Me-We r One so Just See

Life More Abundantly

Now I don’t need to look in your face

To discern because by Faith and Not by Sight, Heart to Heart,

I know You feel my Warm Embrace

With you I weep just so together in the morning we Reap

That sweet…Rejoice, Hopeful, Patient, Persistent

Romans 12:12, & The Book of Life is no longer on the shelf

Deborah, Stand Tall, Remember the Rise from the Fall

This a new season, Love and Walk Hard with New Reason

Thru Every Season Talk with me Everyday

             I’ll Listen & I’ll Make the way

So Let’s Be on Our Way

Amen.

6.4.11 –by Mike Fujimoto

Random Thoughts

Real Love is one that can be given to somebody even at their worst!

The Trix Bunny always got a bad rep. All he wanted was some Trix!

Peanut Butter & Jelly is the perfect relationship we should all model ours after. MMMM...the perfect combination. yeupp. :D

I love Jesus.

You all should listen 2 Balif. Gospel music, will touch your Soul. here's the free download link 2 his new mixtape: balif.bandcamp.com/album/redefinition


Gotta have that scripture: Philippians 1: 9-11
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and [in] all judgment;
That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

B.I.G. (Believer In God)
-My new acronym (its probably already been thought of but its new to this one! *points @ myself lol.

Being a Christian is TUFF STUFF. like woww mayn... it feels like im pulling the lone ranger out here sometimes. wish i had some brothers up here 2 help me out while im @ skool. eh?... God's gonna help me out with that i kno... Just gotta pray. GODS ALWAYS WITH ME ALL THE TIME. PraiseTheLord Worship Bringing this Vessel Higher, He is mY SOUL SUPPLIER!

I love My Church Fam 2 Death... in any weather! ...SLAUGHTERHOUSE FAM-compton, CaLi. y'all should come through with me 2 church in cali. really tho! im serious. lol...youll always take something away from every service, and feel WHOLE. cuz its with GOD, of course. :D

Sometimes I really think and feel that i wuldn't have doubts or insecurities about being a different race or person, period, if others didn't make it a point to make that Big in the first place. .... I dare 2 be different.  i'm weird, & i love that about me. I'm just a Servant of God when it comes down 2 it.

You may know what I've done or what I have or where I am at, but please don't overlook my testimony... Never get caught up in status or any material possesion or any education attained. The story's never complete nor justified without seeing what one has gone thru or what he or she has to deal with and overcome daily.

I struggle with image, identity, family, belonging, fear, the flesh... etc. etc. etc... the list ALWAYS goes on.

I never know who views my website. But blogspot tells me that i have many... especially from japan, my motherland. LoL. HELLOOO OUT THERE!! maybe we can meet sometime, chop it up.

I hope to one day do something nobody else has done. I wanna inspire.

Tell the world something.

I figure if i can reach at least one person, I am doing good. =D

I love my last name...Fujimoto. LoL its cuz the ways different people say it! It's all funny 2 meeeeee.

I love 2 mix different cereals together. I call it Variety.

I carry a bottle of hotsauce in mybackpack at all times, just in case of an emergency.

I love KRUMP. its my form of Praise. It's my way of BREAKTHRU.

KINGDOM RADICALLY UPLIFTED MIGHTY PRAISE

My pastor is Jason Green AKA SLAYER, whom I now call Pops. Krump Pioneer. Man of God. Man of Real Love (God). Will Give you The TRUTH with a capital T. Take it or Leave it!

I love my Big homie/mentor/Spiritual Brother in Krump, Oscar "Choirboy" Duncan aka Twinn Slaught aka Big GS
We rep GS! GOD SPEARS UP!!!!!! and.... ALWAYS... CHRIST UP.

I love God first and foremost, above All... Wish everybody could get 2 Know Him.

If I had a choice between having the power to fly or be invisible, I choose the latter! Rather u see my Daddy via me. not me!

It's better to act than talk. "Preach the Gospel. Use words if you must." -St. Francis of Assisi
James 2 Faith without Works is Dead...

ALive ----> Thru Christ Jesus. He's my main man!

-Mike

New Video Projecc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXviP_wBgdU

Examining myself as a Japanese American Christian. Check it out!

The Big Picture

Here's what I wrote in response to a question on a camp Job application (lol). WEll, Here it is: The Big Picture

Much of my Life caught up as a stone in the gravel
My toes dug in and I was locked in place, No place, No place 4 my Soul 2 Travel
Had a voice but it was trapped
Locked up like the Ship in a bottle of the Youth of My Expression Tree sapped
Had a Dream but it was compromised
To trying to fit in, look good, and please the World's Eyes
What was my identity?
Amidst of all the clutter of the world tried to pour into me
I was just bit of gravel in the sand
But God had said Look Up- I urge & Demand
And as I tilt my Vision my Lens shifts
Focus to Expanse of My Soul Advance
Deep, Blue Calmness
Mountains, Large with Boldness
A Sky of a painter's pallet of many Colors
Mixing in with the Smoothness & story of Each & Others
A tide of Rhythm and Rhyme and Time with the Effect
of making Smooth the Rock so my Soul Connect
Hearing nothing but seeing Peace
& Seeing nothing but hearing Peace without Cease

So I look up, & Yes here it is, the Big Picture
Created by none other than He, Our Rock Redeemer, & Creator
So the stone of doubt I am
A child picks me up just as the Lamb
Skips me across the Ocean's Vast
2 the Deep Beauty of Life My Fears are Let Go Fast
My Soul is ever glad to be made anew
A part of this Art is my Heart so is my pain bid a due
To let go of my sorrow and strife
Yes,

so I'll let Go and Let God give me Life

Untitled

Untitled 1.29.11

This poem is untitled, just a spit off of wat 2 me the world spit ontop of me
The split of the clutter of this world that binds like a chokehold, so I must escape 2 gravitate 2 satiate this Spiritual Hunger inside of me
Never fully understood that the computer, TV, and mr. mrs. Rockstar wannabe prohibited me from seeing me and what I was called to be
Had no team, low-self esteem, a dwelling place in the world that didn’t speak for my dream
I tried this and tried that, but never fully satisfied
Worst thing was that I would cry aloud but no one heard me- the music was too loud
Kept my mouth shut not for fear that they would shut me down, but that they would Notice me
No place, a shame and disgrace, in this world lost and confused, felt no grace
Misplaced hate, what was the purpose of this fate?
On the outside it looked fine, but on the inside I was broke and every good thing inside me confined.

Made to be different, made to be patient
Made to be humble, made to be open
Made not for me, but for God’s glory so that the world can see
How he can bring you out, oh you of solid concrete formation Heart
And it all starts with this one seed, God waters it and watch it grow above the pot-holed fill of shaky weight you call Religion
He can fix any situation, you just gotta let the world go
And I can only tell u and show u bout his everlasting Love which surpasses all law,
Its up 2 you if you wanna live it out and see for yourself
You can see what he’s done for me
More importantly I wanna see what he will do for you

As for now, this poem remains, Untitled.