Pretense (A Poem)

Here we are avoiding what we really want to say
Believing these issues will just go away
But in reality they grow worse

So we poker face not saying much day by day
But inside it just eats away
It just leaves hurt

Will it take a harsh reality of division
For someone to make a mature decision
Or will it be too late?

Will there need to be another exodus like Egypt
Before anybody will really see it
Is this our final fate...?

©Shamik Jones

60 Questions - A New Questionare

1. What are your initials?
S.H.J.

2. What is your favorite thing to wear?
Jeans a tee and a basketball jersey

3. Last thing you ate?
Chipotle

4. I say Shotgun, you say:
I'm driving 9 times out of 10 so it don't matter

5. Last person you hugged?
A friend

6. Does anyone you know wanna date you?
How would I know?

7. Name something you like physically about yourself.
My brain.

8. The last place you went out to dinner to.
IHOP

9. Who is your best friend?
Every real friend I have.

10.Why are you still up?
I just finished prepping for some mixes

11. Who/What made you angry today?
The fact that the world is cold and unforgiving.

12. Favorite type of Food?
Lasagna

13. Favorite holidays:
4th of July

14. Do you download music:
Legally from iTunes

15. Do you care if your socks are dirty?
Yes

16. Would you date the person who posted this?
Maybe. I Dunno

17. Has anyone ever sang or played for you personally?
No

18. Do you love anyone?
Yes....deeply

19. Do you like Bush?
I don't really know him personally, so I don't have an opinion.

20. Have you ever bungie jumped?
No

21. Have you ever gone white-water rafting?
No.

22. Has anyone ten years older than you ever hit on you?
Yes.

23. Have you met a real redneck?
Yes

24. How is the weather right now?
Clear and mild

25. What are you listening to right now?
The music on my profile

26. What is your current favorite song?
Unbreakable - Alicia Keys

27. What was the last movie you watched?
Blades of Glory

28. Do you wear contacts?
No

29. Where was the last place you went besides your house?
Chipotle

30. What are you afraid of?
Being manipulated.

31. How many piercings have you had?
0

32. How many pets do you have?
0

33. What's one thing you've learned this year?
Real friends understand. Fake friends disappear when hardship comes.

34. What do you usually order from Starbucks?
Hot chocolate with soy milk or Refresh Tea

35. Have you ever fired a gun:
Yeah

36. Are you missing someone?:
Yes

37. Favorite TV show?
Heroes

38. Do you have an iPod?:
Yes

39. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celeb?
Reuben Stoddard, Sinbad

40. Who would you like to see right now?
Can't say here.

41. Favorite movie of all time?
So many to choose from..........I don't know

42. Do you find yourself loved?
At times

43. Have you ever been caught doing something you weren't supposed to?
Yes, too many times

44. Favorite flower?
Tulip

45. Butter, plain, or salted popcorn?
Butter and salted

46. What Magazines are you reading?
MacWorld, Keyboard, Modern Drummer

47. Has anyone you were really close to passed away recently?
Too many people.

48. What's something that really bugs you?
Not accepting people for who they REALLY are.

49. Do you like Michael Jackson?
Again I don't know him personally so I have no opinion about him.

50. What's your favorite smell?
The countryside after it rains

51. Favorite baseball team?
Mets

52. Favorite cereal?
Honey Comb

53. What's the longest time you've gone without sleep?
72 hours and fell asleep at a special youth service in NJ (I was a teen)

54. Last time you went bowling?
2 years ago

55. Where is the weirdest place you have slept?
In a 15 passenger van in a rest stop

56. Who was your last phone call?
My mom

57. Last time you were at work?
Last week

58. What's the closest orange object to you?
Winnie the pooh on a cover

59. Is there something big on your mind?
Yes, but it's private

60. Is there something important you need to talk to someone about?
Yes, but I won't because it doesn't matter anymore.

Fin.

The Real Problem

Many people blame their problems on others. I am often guilty of this but the truth is external annoyances are just an addition to an inner turmoil that we don't like to admit to. The real problem starts in what the Bible calls the "vanity of our minds" where we "interpret" events into our own thought patterns and belief systems. We even exalt this over the Word of God when we make our own decisions. The truth is we make life decisions on whims and feelings a lot of times. We never let patience complete it's perfect work and when things don't turn out like we want we turn to everyone but ourselves. I have let things just happen when I should've spoke up. Knowing it would not be received well I just said forget it and "play along" to my frustration. I'm tired of everybody having answers that never seem to work. I refuse to think that everything is an attack and that sometimes we are just reaping what we have sowed. We forget the seed we have sown and the judgments we have made of others when our test and trials come. Our self righteous and justifying nature kicks in to miss the lesson thus putting us back at step one of the lesson. This year I have been disappointed deeply. I really just want to learn what I need to and move on. I don't know what lies ahead but I personally want major change. What ever happened to impartation and inheritance. People want you to do what they did. We repeat history and really there's no true advancement next generation. If God is in control why does someone have to control you? The real problem is that everyone needs to take the mirror of the Word of God and handle the thing God gave them to handle, themselves.

One.
John 3:8 KJV, NKJV

40 questions minus 1

Bored so I did it.

40 questions about Yourself
Be HONEST no matter what.

1. What is your natural hair color?
dark brown

2. Where was your default pic taken?
my kitchen

3. What's your middle name?
hakim

4. Your current relationship status?
single

5. Honestly, does your crush like you back?
who knows

6. What is your current mood?
thinking and problem solving

7. What color underwear are you wearing?
blue....why?

8. What makes you happy?
being understood

10. If you could go back in time and change something, what would you change?
the day I came home from Ohio

11. If you MUST be an animal for ONE day- what would you be?
eagle

12. Ever had a near death experience?
When I was 7. I stopped breathing twice.

13. Something you do a lot?
play piano, sing, sound

14. What's the name of the song stuck in your head right now?
Platform - Kevin Max

16. Name someone with the same b-day as you?
Joyce Michelle

17. When was the last time you cried?
monday night - tuesday morning

18. Have you ever sung in front of a large audience?
yeah

19. What do you usually order from Starbucks?
Refresh Tea of Hot Chocolate with soy milk

20. What's your biggest secret?
I can't tell that.

21. What's your favorite color?
blue

23. When was the last time you lied?
When I said I happy in NY,NJ

24. Do you still watch kiddy movies or TV shows?
Power Puff Girls baby!!

25. What are you eating or drinking at the moment?
water

26. Do you speak any other language?
ebonics (lol)

29. What's your favorite smell?
The countryside after it rains

30. If you could describe your life in one word what would it be?
complicated

31. When was the last time you gave/received a hug?
yesterday

32. Have you ever been kissed in the rain?
no.

33. What are you thinking about right now?
How I'm going to solve and audio problem

34. What should you be doing?
Solving this audio problem

35. What was the last thing that made you upset/angry?
Being alienated because of lack of "spirituality" by certain members of my family.

36. How often do you pray?
every day (not long always)

37. Do you like working in the yard?
No. I a tech and gadget man.

38. If you could have any last name in the world, what would you want?
Jones because I like it and already have it.

39. Do you act differently around your crush?
Yes, I clam up and don't know how to break the ice.

40.