The "Hunger Strike" guy

Picking up where we left off, with me walking away as Ho Dap rode away on the bus, I walked further down the street and see a bunch of white tents set up in this open square. My curiosity peaked. "Let's go check it out Roc, shooooot, I already got the camera out." So I did. I walked down to the streetlight and crossed during a red light of course. What can I say, it's Chicago. (The city of professional J-walker) and I'm getting pretty good myself.

Back to the moment tho.

I was walking towards the tents trying to figure out what was going on and I had seen a man sitting on one of the benches holding a sign. It read "HUNGER STRIKE!", and I was like "Ouwwww!" so I walk up towards him to see what this was all about... I didn't understand everything on the sign and thought to myself that maybe I missed something in the paper ( I read everyday now) or that something was happening somewhere around the world that I haven't heard yet.

I walked up this man sitting there and asked him "What is the 'Hunger Strike'?" hoping to get answer that might further enlighten me that day. But, he just looked at me and motioned with his palm facing upward to his sign. I was kind of puzzled and thought to myself "I know you ain't deaf". I asked again, "what's up with the sign?", and again he lifted his palm up directing my eyes to his sign. So I asked "Is it OK if I take a picture?" Again he used the same gesture. So I took the picture and told him I'd look it up and blog about it. By this time I really wall full of curiosity and wanted to know why he was on a talking strike too, or maybe that it took too much energy to talk because he was hungry. Either way when I got home I looked up what's been going on in the world of hunger striking. I found out that there's all kinds of things going on in 2011 as far as people doing a hunger strike. From trying to protest against criminal organizations, to cruel prison treatment fighting for due process, the economic crisis and various justice issues around the world....even tho I do not know the man or what he was participating for...at least he was doing something. Some people say that the homeless out here do any and all kinds of crazy things...I say "true".."and?"

VISIONS

Visions

In the scheme of modern things

I stand amongst the screams

If you freeze em like a snap shot

Then you would see a dream

They’re reaching after me

To catch me off my guard

If I give ear to one lie

Then the road to destruction starts

Standing on the stage loud speaking

Then behind the scenes

The secrets of internet seekings

We are not the weaklings

Impacting like bee stings

Changing lives

When we arise from these dreams

Meeting Ho Dap (continued.)

"Moody!...ah, yea, yeaaaaa, I know Moody (pause), Mooody Biiible Institute" He said with elongated vowels. "Years ago they would have people going everywhere..." what's the word he used....ummm...well I can't remember but he used a funny word to say that they were street witnessing and open air preaching, "and whatnot" as he finished.

(Earlier in the conversation he invited me to go with him to a spot in the city where one could view the whole city and even Indiana...but at that time i politely declined.Also I explained how I dont really listen to rap past 2005 because its WACK! After he heard why, he nonchalantly agreed and said that I need to take my message to the streets. But I began to pray for a message for him in that moment.)

That was a great invitation i thought to tell a little bit of how I got to Moody, how i didn't even want to come here at first and what the goal is of me being here. To my surprise he wanted to know...So I told him.
I told him how I study communications studies and how I felt that a lack of knowledge and ability to communicate was a big reason why not only Christians but those who are looking for answers are unsatisfied and feel unable to really evangelize or apply the that they hear and are shown truth. Of course accompanied with a solid faith in Christ... I made it clear that I was only speaking from the outlook and perspective of someone whose Faith was in Jesus Christ. My bottom line in sharing with him was to present the Gospel and answer a couple of basic questions in the process. Answers to the 'WHAT?" questions. What is this? what is that? what does this mean? but most importantly in this series of questions to keep in mind,, that when you ask them you ask what is this(for the believer)?

It went a little like this(simplified version)...
When people think of faith they have many definitions like believing in something you can't explain or don't see. Yet I beg to differ. For the believer some people try to give an explanation rather than an answer. They want to sound intelligent rather than understood. The truth is that they really do not know. Is faith in the outcome, the thing, the hope. If I told you I had a job interview tomorrow would you tell em to "just have faith, and I'll get it." I don't even know what you really mean, seems like we use faith as a 'feel better for now' remedy. When really what we should be saying is "The Lord's will be done!" But rarely do we say that. We like to sound all spiritual and quote Hebrews 11:1 if we know it. But can you explain the verse...From what I can say about people in whom I have inquired, the answer has been either no, or another abstract explanation that can't be understood. Unfortunate (this applies for hope, prayer, worship, the will of God and so much more.) but why? Why cant it be as simple as a few words or a sentence? I think it can be that way..."you know what I'm say?" I asked Dap.
He nods and tells me to make sure I speak up since his hearing is not so great with all the city noise going on around us. So he lent me his ear and I finished my proclamation. "If you asked me 'what is Faith?" I would tell you "Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God!"...How? you ask? [well let me just share a piece of how and you can confirm that or find me to be a liar and I pray you lovingly rebuke me.]

Hebrews 11:1 says "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." 
What I'm going to ask you if if you see that Jesus fits to what this verse here is saying...Ready>Go
1. What is the "assurance"? Jesus!?
2. What things are "hoped(expected) for"? Jesus!?
3. What is "the conviction(evidence)"? Jesus!?
4. What are the "things not seen"? Jesus!?

Did not Jesus say, believe in God, and Believe in Me also. I AM the way/truth/life. Light of the world. That I Am in the Father and the Father is in me and that they were One, that the Helper would be sent in His name. Was not the promise from Genesis that Jesus would come and the End that Jesus will come again and reign eternal. Who is the Beginning and End that the book of Revelation says is? Jesus I think. Ephesians 2:8 says grace through faith. Christians believe only by Jesus. I advise that you study the Bible and look to see if even the Old Testament saints weren't being prepare and led in the prophesying of a King and Messiah(JESUS).  and even though they did not know who specifically they believed, they believed God. Which Philippians and Colossians both say Jesus exist as....

I proceeded to share the gospel. How Jesus who existed as God through the Holy Spirit who is God impregnated a virgin so that a Son, namely Jesus. would be born to save humanity back to Himself by dying on a cross and raising on the third day of His death according to scripture and will one day come back for those who believe to be judged, but not condemned, and spend eternity with Him while those who did not believe were judged and condemned. That is is the Faith of the believer and that Jesus who IS the Son of God as the centerpiece( or better yet cornerstone).

Then with enthusiasm Ho Dap responds with "PRAISE GOD, LORD JESUS, KING ALMIGHTY!"
I just smiled and at that very moment His bus that we had been waiting for from the time I had seen him, finally came. And I promise you we had seen other buses go by at least three each. As people began to line up for the bus he hugged me, asked me my real name, thanked me and gave me a blessing, told me his name in which i gave a blessing back. Then he hugged me one more long time quite tightly and then got on the bus and left. I turned and watched the bus go and after thanking God (silently so), I just began to walk. Ended up at a Turkish event...So I guess you can look out for that post next. HA! 


 

H.O. D.A. to the P.

Do not let the Title fool you!
Ho Dap is his name and emceeing is his game, message moving is his frame and lifting spirits is his fame.
I could tell that freestyle rapping is something he did on a regular basis as he meets people in the streets of Chicago everyday. That's what he did for me. So let me introduce you to the day, of what I call a God ordained/providential meeting that took place, i met the now famous (in my eyes) HO DAP!

If I can remember correctly, and I'm sure that I do, it was a Sunday afternoon heading into the evening and I knew that I just was not going to make it to Church, so unfortunate. I had done something earlier that day helping someone out, I cannot remember who, and by the time we had made it back around service at Reborn had already started. I had planned to join friends on the North side for dinner that day so I decided that I would take my camera and take a walk through the city towards Clark and Lake "L" stop and catch the line from there. Standing on State St. just after crossing Wacker Dr. and looking into the crowd it seemed as if there were thousands of people moving at one time. I said to myself "Self", but Myself didn't answer (musta been distracted), so i said again "Self!", Myself said "huh, uh..yea w-sup", so i said "Ima take a picture, this my look cool"....so I did lol. It was then that I realized that there was an older man looking in my direction and had seemed to be staring directly at me.

The picture I was trying to take(kinda caught a piece of Dap on left, his shirt)...

...and the one I didn't realize that caught Ho Dap(in the orange shirt)

As I continued on my stride down State St., Dap, orange shirt,with a bottle in his hand and arms folded, was staring at me the whole time as I moved closer in the direction where he stood. The leery look on his face spoke to me, you know those times when you play out a scene in your mind based off what you're looking at; yea I did that. All I heard was "WHAT SO YOU THINK YOU WERE JUST DOING!" and of course I have resolved in my mind that in the worst case scenario that I would have to claim self defense for hitting this frantic man who got the wrong impression of what I was doing...Stupid me though...It actually went more like this
Dap - "So you professional, novice, beginner or just like taking pictures?"
Me -  "Just taking pictures, my camera is fairly new so I'm just messin round with it. I was trying to capture all the people in that space right there because it looked like a thousand people walking right there"
He asked if I were taking pictures for school, i said no; we exchanged a few more words and he eventually asked me if I liked hip-hop...I almost threw a thizz face at my dude...instead I just answered "yea". IMMEDIATELY he started goin HAM with the rhymes. He switched  back and forth between different styles while naming off the rappers before he did so. He'd throw out T.I.'s name and then switch the flow then Wayne and switch the flow then Drake and switch the flow...and he watnt bad either...(yea I said watnt because that's how I talks, ye' diiig- n my cousin Jamel voice (shout out TVJ) ).
When he was done he asked me what I thought and I told him that he was tight. Truly I was impressed. I asked him if he was from Chicago and he said no, but then he said he moved to Chicago at a young age so, "yea". Dap said he was 21 or 23 in 1966 that would put him around 60+yrs. He asked me if I emcee but I said not really that much these days. He asked if i was from Chicago and I said no. After learning that I was from Californ-i-a he asked why I would trade that for Chicago. So once I told him that I came for Moody, his reaction turned the course.

*well that's time, so if you want the rest look out for part two*

HOLLA!

Catching Up with Myself

Finally, I obviously feel as if I right now in this moment have the time to lay here and type out some words for you. I've been spending the last three weeks out of school wrapping my mind around the last school year and where I have come to now. As of Sunday I am now a work commuter. That's right, you know the West Side of Chicago (Garfield Park area to be exact) where I go to church and actively do ministry. If you guessed it you're right. I am now a resident. Great you say! I know right! So i have some blogs to write to fill you in on some events that have taken place in recent day.

Like my conversation w "Ho Dap" freestyle emcee, Ho D. A. P., in his sixties, and he talked to me, then he listened to me talk about my G O D......
or the Turkish festival I came across right after I talked to Dap
or the homeless guys with the sign who I attempted to understand at the Turkish festival
adventures with Mike and Jarvis, Memorial Day heat, Bachelor party and more...

Last but not least two more survey analysis on the way...LOL you've been warned ahaha (big fun)

And most importantly...God, Christ Jesus, Holy Spirit talk

so pray for the community, ministry, finances, dental work, family, friends, yourself, and me if you get the chance....oh yea, pray for my wife (hahah) God's grooming her for me right now, a few more years yall...but lets just keep praying about that one. Yea lol....