Fact or Facade.

People judge you based on assumption. They never ask for or seek the truth. They make up their own truth in their mind. People will swear they know all about a situation they know nothing about because they piece together their "facts" with incomplete information. We do it all the with celebrities and with events the media sensationalize. A lot of people also do it with God. They have a second hand knowledge that is not their own. I did an experiment on my Facebook account putting sayings up and scripture. Some of the sayings were kind of borderline and some could not be supported by scripture. Much of the scripture was ignored except for by a few. When asked about it was often taken out of context of what it was talking about in the Bible. We have things in our culture and countries that we talk about and attribute to God that really doesn't come from his Word or have been twisted. We want to make the things of God "me" centered or want it to fit our mindset and philosophy when in all truth it's something that was here before any one of us had a thought. Eternal things are not dictated by the temporal.

7 Years Ago

For those who know me intimately you know since early 2007 my life has taken an unexpected turn. As I tried to outrun this "spiral" it seemed to me things just got worst. I will not go into detail. I'll just say say I've experienced loss in a magnitude I never had before and really just tried to "go to a corner" to just do something positive at least. What I really did was give up. December 2007 I'll admit I gave up on everything that I God showed me at the age of ten. I felt nobody believed in me anyway all they wanted were my talents. (Still feel that to a degree.) I packed up and went to WV where I met some wonderful people which I never completely told my story to. Basically God told me to go back home and I basically left and went back to NJ. I just joined a church going through the motions not really concerned about much but ended not being there after a while. The thing is this journey helped me discover a few things. I really stopped listening to people about God and decided to seek and study for myself. No holds barred and put it all to the test. I discovered we all have sacred cows we want to hold on to. I had branded mine but it wasn't His Word or the truth. It was something I had just accepted without studying it for myself. It's been a hard last few years learning some things and perceptions may NEVER change but none of this was really never about "me" in the first place. Really I'm just running still. Doing this and that not really happy selling myself short depending on talent fighting against a box I have no business in. Death to myself already happened on the cross. I was reluctant to let the life of God "animate me". I wanted reason to hate and be bitter and hold others responsible for what Jesus already payed for with his sacrifice. When it comes to what I'm good at I've never been swayed. Now even more so for what God has purposed me to do with my life.Why? It's not my life. It's what He's doing. It's no longer about proving myself or a point. It's about Christ and what He is doing in the earth. Nothing is sacred and nothing He's not doing is acceptable anymore. Ironically I'm coming up on the 7th year since all this began and I see something coming that everyone else will clearly be able to see themselves soon. Stay tuned. 

DIRTY LOOPS - Hit Me

Amel Larrieux - No One Else (Live 9/25)

Amel in the morning. Yeah it's going to be a great day.

Stevie Wonder- You Haven't Done Nothin'

This song was released the year I was born and ironically still holds up well in relevance.

Lesson Learned

Why did I let the feeling of my heart hide inside
Killing me softly every time I deny
The truth of how I felt all along
How you smile gives me strength and my heart a song
Maybe because of stereotypes and prejudices I felt we could never belong
I sold myself short and I realize I was wrong
Time has past and we have moved far apart
It's painfully obvious someone else has your heart
I refused to take the gamble and never place my bets
I never took the plunge and have many regrets
But living in the past has never held me back
Just know because of you I'll never hide my love again like that.

-The Poet With A Passion
(C) 2013 Shamik H. Jones 

What I Feel

Hiromi Uehara 2006 Love and Laughter

She's my musical hero. Well one of the MAIN ones. Love this.

Skrillex, Sound Energy, and The Drop -- with Jack Conte

Hiromi The Trio Project - Desire (Live Fuji Rock Festival '12)

Morning. :)

David Letterman - Will Smith's Impromptu Rap

Paul and the band rocked the track so nice Will had to take a sec to reminisce on the mic.

Just some morning thoughts...

The closer I get to God for myself the more I realize how much we accept ways and philosophies that are not like Him. Jesus was moved with compassion. Dubbed a "friend of sinners" by the world. He even loved and called His betrayer friend. There's a knowledge of God but not a closeness. For example I love Stevie Wonder and can shoot fact off about him but I don't know him and never met him. I can make you believe things about him that aren't true because I know enough information to sound good. The problem today is people have a head knowledge that makes them prideful instead of a true experience with Jesus which would make them compassionate and loving. In grace sin is paid for according to scripture and Christ is our life. He always went the opposite of the Pharisees (the religious leaders of the time) and said they look good on the outside but are full of dead man's bones, Just some personal morning thoughts. You don't have to agree. I'm beyond arguing in my life. I just encourage you to know Him for yourself not through others. Knowing through others is hearsay at best.

The Procussions - Little People

Inside The Actors Studio - Liza Minnelli

Happy Birthday Fred. We knew a lot of the same people yet they never introduced us. Yet God made sure we met. You are truly one of my closet friends and brothers. You have taught me what humility and heart are all about. I love you and appreciate God letting me be in your life. Enjoy your birthday man. Much love. -Shamik