“How I Got Over”
{please note that this is a much abbreviated story }
I was raised in “Black Bottom Detroit” a name given to a particular Section of Detroit because of it’s “rich soil”. In the beginning [before my time] it was a neighborhood that was comprised of many different ethnic groups; Irish, “Blacks”, Orientals, Jews, Germans, Europeans, Latinos, etc….a “true melting pot”! Although, Blacks were the ‘last’ to escape poverty due to racism and poor education.
All were poor and family. Many came because of the Underground Railroad, The Great Migration and Automobile Industry; especially Ford Motor Company who offered ‘fair wages’ for everyone [although many ‘blacks’ were excluded at this time].
During the intense labor shortages as a result of WWII, Black workers were hired in significant numbers, particularly in the auto industry. However, Black workers were most often given the hardest, dirtiest, and most dangerous lowest-paying jobs in these factories.
http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/WWII_Women/RA/NCraig/Minorities.html
World War II also ‘enabled’ many Black Women to work in these plants assembling military parts. It was during this time when the ‘racial identity’ of Black Bottom changed that I entered this ‘rich soil climate’. Families were united through love, poverty, family ties and a “common hope” of escape.
I didn’t know that we were “poor” for love abounded and the whole Village was was my World. Detroit’s Greatest Mayor: The Honorable Coleman A. Young was “flipping ribs” and becoming a well known business man in those days. My grandmother “Big Mama” made the Best ‘white lightening’, chitterlings, chili and fish fry’s in her “jute joint”!
Dancing on Big Mama’s tabletops at the age of three I earned a lot of money along with passing the ‘cuss box’ around, hustling by running messages from the pool hall and anything that would get me some money. Shimmying up tall fruit trees [they grew big in those days] like a “native” we ate fruit, ran and welcomed visits from The Great Joe Louis a.k.a. the ”Brown Bomber” whose aunt was a distant relative of my family.
Soon it became time for me to go to school. With photographic memory and an intense curiosity that keep me with a ‘permanent question mark’ in my mind I soon became a “ever rambling, highly-pitched musical lisping, tongue-tied, delightfully funny, inquiring, soulful dreamy eyed ’child prodigy’. Dancing to the tunes of Motown with a love for “Life” and Knowledge I soon entered hell….
My genetic make-up which was good and inherited family disorders [mental illness, abuse, etc…] soon ‘fought’ swirling me into a vortex of confusion, aimlessness, demonic possession, alcoholism, drugs, rejection and searching for the meaning of Life. Many of us ‘raised ourselves’ and had no clue as to how to live or where ‘we’ fitted into Sociey or much more; “The Fathers’s Plans”.
Our ‘village elders’ never taught us for they too were ignorant and just fought to survive. Big Mama who primarily raised me was one of the “last ones out of the cotton fields” and had only a third grade education. But, Anthony Hamilton describes it best, “Mama knew love….”.
After many years of searching for The Creator/Savior, much suffering [see About Me Page] and asking ‘why’ I encountered a dear sweet elderly woman named Marjorie; my “silver-haired angel” who belonged to the SDA Church. She soon took me and my three girls under her wings. It was a very confusing church! They taught “keeping the law” and “saved by grace though faith” which caused much of the “joy of freedom” that I experienced as a child to be constrained and rigid.
This confusing teaching of the “Two Covenants” combined caused me to ‘fall’ many times resulting in being institutionalized. It was like “standing in the middle of a fast moving Highway; I was bound to be injured or killed.”
About a week ago I saw Diana Ross’s film “Out of Darkness” and thought it was my story! Based on a true story, it concentrates on Paulie Cooper, a paranoid schizophrenic, who has battled with her illness for 17 years. During those turbulent years, Paulie’s been institutionalised 43 times, and there seems to be no end to this painful, terrifying hell.
There are many similarities in her characters treatment and mine {although Pauline ‘appears’ to have had more support than many of us} still, “hell is hell”! Many of us lived on the streets, abandoned houses, ate at soup kitchens and were committed to Northville a mental hospital that is now closed. Sleeping on concrete floors, cages, fighting bullies, rapist, pimps, whores, drug pushers, thieves, cruel guards in the Sheriff’s Division and insensitive Police; the “City of Joy” in Metro Detroit where the so-called ‘refuse’ were sentenced to. Please, Bless and Pray for Patrick Swayze.
Diana Ross & Blinky - You Get A Tangle In Your Lifeline
{Bless you Slide, Google Videos and You Tube}
I ‘lost’ my mind soo many times that Father had to come “very near” to shield and restore me. This took many years of “good times and bad times”; until one day the Good News began to shine through the haze of psychotropics, lies and delusions that clouded over me. The beginning of Freedom and Abundant Life! Yes, The Law had “led me to The Messiah”!
It was during this time, a time when I began to “take the Higher Road of Love” [ICor.12 & 13] that I became acquainted with Writer/Listener Charles Slagle’s Books: From the Father’s Heart: A Glimpse of God’s Nature and Ways and An Invitation to Friendship: From the Father’s Heart: Publisher; Destiny Image Publishers, Shippensburg, PA,.
Listening to my Counselors at DCC Community Mental Health, Inc., taking classes and these wonderful books helped me to understand myself, people and The Father and Trust Him without fear of speaking to Him candidly and openly. By clicking on the link Brother Charles [wife Paula] will relate to you much of the process that I went through. {Used by Permission}
Blessings and Peace to these Courageous and Loving Warriors! It was by ‘accepting’ the Love and Guidance from others and Eeah’ooeh {YahWeh} that began my healing of loving myself and others with Unconditional Love.
See, all I had was a “child’s broken heart” which caused a chemical acidic imbalance that resulted in sickness in mind, body, spirit and soul. I didn’t know The Father and “who I was in His Son”! I was no longer able to receive nor give Unselfish Love or True Supportive Love for it had rarely been given to me and I had been cruelly stripped. My Growth had halted, but what a Blessing in disguise!
Purple Rain
Acid Rain
Flowing
Burning Streaks of Pain
Masked emotions
on Stage
Tragedy and Comedy
Laughing
Mocking
“The Tears of a Child When No One’s Around”
I was wretched and desperate with no one to turn to. Who could save me from my misery, demons and certain death? No one wanted me I said to myself as I walked in lonliness and despair. ‘Twas then I heard a sweet voice from behind, “I want you”. I knew it was the One they called “God”. I had to go to Him with my whole heart, soul, mind, body and strength trusting that “He would not turn me away”. And He didn’t. He has given me all and I have given Him “my all”. He is my Savior and Helper in whom I Trust and Adore. He is my Friend, always. Amein.
Deliverance From Chronic Manic Suicidal Depression
Testimony of a Minister, Charles Slagle
http://www.tentmaker.org/testimonials/CharlesSlagle.html
Come Out and Be Ye Separated
Many churches are good for many of us as a “starting point” in our walk. We are like flowers: Father will plant us in a “pot or setting” that allows us to grow then like houseplants we need a “bigger pot” to enable us to flourish. Although, Ellen White never said that she was a prophet [said she was an Emissary; messenger angel or Malak].
Also, no one’s teachings should be above the Word and must be in agreement although most-times this always takes an in-depth Spirit led Study {like the noble Bereans}.
When we find error and the settings around us disturb our Spirits: we must leave as the Ruach haKadosh/Spirit leads. The Savior never “established” the Christian Religion {church/state} the Roman Emperor Constantine did.
YahWeh the Son said,
Joh 4:23 “But a time is coming, and it is already here! Even now the true worshipers are being led by the Spirit to worship the Father according to the truth. These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship him”. And that “We are the True Temple of YahWeh”. We do not need an expensive church brick or wood building for [the disciples met in homes and taught in open courts],
Mat 18:20 (ALT) “For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I will Be there in the midst of them.” Many Prophets were isolated and alone in their worship: Eliyah, Yahanan the Immerser [John the Baptist], Yeremyah, etc….
Are you able to Stand alone with Eeah’ooeh {YahWeh}?
1Co 4:3 But to me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by a human court. Indeed, I do not even judge myself.
1Co 4:4 For I am conscious of nothing, but I have not been justified by this; but He who judges me is the Redeemer King.
1Co 4:5 So then judge nothing before the time, until the True Savior comes, who also will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make clear the purposes of the hearts. Then each one’s praise shall come from Eeah’ooeh {YahWeh}.
1Co 4:6 Now these things, brothers, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, in order that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.
1Co 4:7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? And if you did indeed receive what you have, why do you boast as though you did not receive it?
1Co 4:8 You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us; and I wish that indeed you did reign, in order that we also might reign with you! {sarcasm 
}
1Co 4:9 For I think that The Father has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men appointed to death; for we became a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.
1Co 4:10 But Oh! We are fools for Mashach’s sake, but you are wise in Mashach! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are despised!
1Co 4:11 Until the present time we both hunger and thirst, and we are naked, and beaten, and homeless.
1Co 4:12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
1Co 4:13 being defamed, we encourage; we have become as the sweepings of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
1Co 4:14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I admonish you.
1Co 4:15 For though you might have ten thousand guides in Mashach {ch-ist}, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Mashach Eeah’ooeh {YahWeh} I have begotten you through the gospel.
1Co 4:16 Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.
Heb 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
As Eeah’ooeh {YahWeh} the Son suffered without the gate, so spiritually must those who desire to belong to Him, withdraw from the earthly Jerusalem and its sanctuary, as from this world in general. We are of The Heavenly Shalem on Mt. Syon! [Hebrews 12:22]