MARCH 2010

PROVOKETHOUGHT | CONVERSATION | ACTION

1 | PROVOKE
PROVOKE
PROVOKE | MARCH 2010

Conversations
3 ……………………………………………………….. What’s the Meaning in Your Message

4 ………………………………………………………………………… Spiritually Segregated

5 …………………………………………………………………………….. Seize the Moment

6 …………………………………………………………………...…….. Love Someone Today

7 …………………………………………………………………….… Idealogical Moratorium

8 ……………………………………………………………...…… A Perversion of the Gospel

11 ………………………………………………….…………………………………. Fail Better

12 ……………………………………………………………………...…. How We See Others

13 …………………………………………………………………..... Terror By Another Name

16 ……………………………………………………………………………… Keep Dreaming

PROVOKE

What’s the Meaning in Your

PROVOKE | MARCH 2010

Message
Written By: Timothy A. Valentine

Too many of us try to give sermons to others We all have something to give, something
rather than be a sermon. We’re more take from the sermons of life. But too often
concerned with perception than practice. we’re too busy thinking about ourselves and
what we need to do than listen to the
The sermon I have tried to preach is one meaning of the message.
where you leave knowing that you are
accepted, respected and appreciated. Even if What’s the meaning of your message?
we disagree, this is my mission. One reason
is due to my own experiences of not being
accepted, respected or appreciated. It’s a
lonely feeling that can leave you desperate
and anxious. No longer should you allow
yourself to feel this way.

Now before I continue allow me to say that I

can only come at this through my own
experiences. As a son of a preacher, great-
grandson and great-nephew of preachers I
can only say that I’ve been blessed to have
been born into such a tradition, although I’m
not seeking to be in the pulpit.

Your sermon should be one that leaves a

person with so much self-respect,
introspection and confidence that motivates
you to go out and do the same for others.
Your sermon should motivate you when you
motivate others. No matter what they believe
spiritually, politically, emotionally or socially,
you can easily see them for who they are
beyond what they are and know that they too
have a sermon to deliver.

What is the meaning of your message?

Is it the example you give by the way you

speak to someone?

Is it the way you avoid the opportunity to

serve someone with the proxy of “It’s none
of my business”, knowing they’re hurting?
PROVOKE

Spiritually Segregated
PROVOKE | MARCH 2010

Written By: Timothy A. Valentine

I'd like to pose a question to everyone and The Questions

hope you can provide an honest and
respectable response to this question.
I ask it to first survey your thoughts, ideas
and suggestions on what I believe is one of
the contributing factors in what is ruining
the world. I don't want to be
misunderstood, because I know it isn't the
only factor, but it has absolutely
contributed to the various declines in
human decency and moral sensibilities in
history until today.
1) Why isn’t there more diversity in our
churches, synagogues, mosques or
temples?
2) Should churches, synagogues, mosques
and temples begin instituting cultural
diversity ministries and sensitivities
training?
3) What will you do to answer these
question?

Now I personally know that there are

various instances of diversity in worship, so
I'm not referring to all churches,
synagogues, mosques or temples. But the
words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. remain
true when he said that "11 o'clock on
Sunday morning is the most segregated
hour in America".

When you consider how we worship

today, regardless of the day, time, place or
method of worship it's often segregated or
sparsely integrated. This is not exclusively
to any one race, religious belief or
denomination.

So I say all of this to ask three questions

that I hope doesn't get me stoned or
vanished to a virtual Isle of Patmos.
Perhaps I need to just look towards the
ground and write these questions in the
dirt.
PROVOKE
Seize The Moment
PROVOKE | MARCH 2010
Written By: Timothy A. Valentine
Be present where you are. Don’t miss the
moment.
How many times have you found yourself
occupied with something or someone only
to later realize how much you’re missed?
For those who are parents. How often have
we found ourselves caught in the routines
of our lives before we discover our child
now don’t have time for you? You can’t be
mad at them, because they’re only giving
you what you gave to them.
When something reminds you of that lost
love one, whether it is a parent, sibling,
family member, neighbor, co-worker,
church member or friend, but you were too
busy with your life to consider the lives of
those around you?
Take the time to talk to people; think about
others, even when they don’t think about
you. Seize the moment, because it may be
your last.
Offer a sincere love, a genuine friendship.
Let people know you’re thinking of them
now, not later.
Contact someone who has inspired you
and encourage them. Thank the person(s)
who made a difference in your life and let
them know that you appreciate them. Have
a conversation with someone you haven’t
spoken to for awhile about whatever
comes to mind. Give your child a gift of
your time, attention, acknowledgment and
acceptance.
Love someone for no reason.
The same goes for your spouse, girlfriend/
boyfriend, parents, siblings, family, friends
and anyone who offers you their time.
The point is to appreciate where you are
today over where you’re trying to be
tomorrow. There's so much I want to
accomplish in life and sometimes feel I
may never get there, but you have to
sometimes encourage yourself. Regardless
of your belief or disbelief, tomorrow is not
promised to you. Today could be your last.
Finally, seize the moment to forgive. Oh
the things I could say on this, but won't at
this time.
Forgive beginning with yourself.The
countless mistakes I've made... quit putting
yourself through Hell for the hellish things
you've done. The things people know and
those no one or one or two may know. Ask
for forgiveness, be sincere about it. Then
go and do good.
I know it's more to that and it's not that
simple, but you get my point. Before I
conclude I ask that you seize the moment
to forgive others and ask others for
forgiveness. Don't allow the opportunity to
pass you by because it may never come
again. Then what could you say when or if
you did not forgive.
I can keep going, but I just wanted to share
this thought with you today. Share it with
others.
Don't let news of financial recession be the
recession of your mind. Stimulate your life
by investing in the moment.
Love is Free. Spend it Today.
PROVOKE

Love Someone Today

PROVOKE | MARCH 2010

Written By: Timothy A. Valentine

One of the things my father taught me by

example is just that, to be the example. Far
too often we get caught up in our daily
routines that we forget to enjoy the
journey.

When everyone around you, whether it is

in your own house, job, school or
somewhere else is projecting some
measure of negativity, counter it with
positivity. I know it's not always easy, but
become the leader.

You don't have to be upset, moody or

depressed because someone else chooses
to. Just like a bad attitude can be
contagious, so is a good one. So spread it
to everyone you come in contact with
today. If you want to be the leader, then
lead by example.

Love is free, so be generous when you give

it.
PROVOKE
Ideological Moratorium
PROVOKE | MARCH 2010
Written By: Timothy A. Valentine
What would happen if there was an
ideological moratorium?
Republicans & Democrats had no issues,
Religious & Non-Religious had no issues or
the Religious & Religious had no issues,
You easily could embrace someone
regardless of they were straight, gay,
lesbian, bi-sexual or transgendered.
Racism were no more, bigotry was just
apart of yesterdays history and
discrimination was nothing more than a
fascinating mystery.
I'm not asking you to give up what you
believe, but allow a period of time where
you step back from your own ideology,
beliefs, affiliations, in fact your own
thoughts, ideas and suggestions about a
particular subject and sincerely allow the
ideas of your opposition to flow into your
realm of consideration. What do you think
would happen?
Once we begin to stop trying to convert
people to your views and take a moment
to recognize everyone’s humanity and
honestly appreciate their ideals, perhaps
we can move towards where we want to
be as an individual, a community, a nation
and world civilization. Then we can begin
to end the age old conversations, debates
and contentions that have remained
between us. Racism, religion, class,
economics, education, politics and
relationships will not an issue. Without
taking an ideological moratorium, this is
just an allusion of a liberal utopian
dreamer.
When we stop trying to slice and dice the
facts in a way that we appear on the side of
truth and justice and how the people you
proclaim are so wrong, so unjust is when
you can begin to see their humanity.
I continue to find the truth in this one
statement by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that
I will quote again.
“We are all caught in an inescapable
network of mutuality; I can not be what I
ought to be until you are what you ought
to be.”
Once we concern ourselves with what’s
right instead of just being right, then
change will begin.
We all are guilt of what Dr. King
called ,"The Drum Major Instinct". This is
the need we have to be right, recognized,
noted, admired or aligns ourselves with
what’s popular or socially expedient. I too
am fearful of failure and rejection,
although I’m comfortable and well
acquainted with it now I still find myself
wanting to take the easy route.
The final point I want to leave with you is
one that I continue to work to perfect.
When you’re willing to give someone a
chance, more often they’re willing to give
you a chance. Disagree with my positions,
beliefs or ideology, but when you unclench
your ‘fist’ that’s when we can walk hand-
in-hand towards change and a better day
together and not divided.
So ask yourself and others, what would
happen if there was an ideological
moratorium?
Give me your ideas. If you can.
PROVOKE

A Perversion of the Gospel

PROVOKE | MARCH 2010

Written By: Timothy A. Valentine

Quick Note: An interesting link to an article
was sent to me with a message that asked me
for my thoughts about it. They knew I would
have something to say about it, so here it is. I
apologize for its length, but I had to say what I
felt should be said. You can add your own two
cents, but this is at no charge.
because that’s what so many are doing
these days and have done yesterday and
sure will continue doing tomorrow.
Glenn Beck has been urging those who
listen to his radio show to leave churches
that use the words “social justice”. How he
associated social justice and economic
justice to communism and Nazism is
beyond me, but this is Glenn Beck we’re
talking about. So the ridiculous is logic.

The absurdity of it all would be laughable

if he wasn’t serious. The implications of his
absurdity and absolute ignorance would
not be a factor if it wasn’t for the silence of
his employer FOX News. This is not even
political, so those who are prone to
disagree with me for political reasons must
check that at the door. This is not even
about race, so those who are prone to
I know some of the friends of friends who
argue with me on grounds of something
may see this may choose to get upset, but I
you don’t truly understand must leave that
personally for once don’t care because
at the door as well. This is essentially what
Glenn Beck is an idiot. Now this is not
is wrong with politics, religion and race
really news, but let me tell you why before
relations; people misleading others, a
those who choose to get upset start
strong history of mistrust, apprehension to
emailing and commenting on what I’ve
conversation and the perversion of truth.
said to see if you really want to align
yourself up with Glenn Beck of the other
When you consider that the Catholic
individuals I mention.
Church and our predominately racially
segregated churches that includes Mainline
Glenn Beck said either out of pure
Protestant Churches, Conservative
ignorance of the gospel or deliberately in
Evangelical, Black Pentecostal Churches
the perverted version of it he has been
and many others ALL consider social
taught to be true is that “Social Justice was
justice central to Biblical faith you must
a Perversion of the Gospel.”
have the courage to ask the real question,
“What is he really promoting?”
Now you should always be leery when
Glenn Beck is quoting anything, but this is
Regardless of your political ideology, those
the problem that has corrupted politics and
who claim to be Christian, Catholic and
the church long before Glenn Beck, today
others beliefs that I have not the time to list
and unfortunately long after this fool is
generally agree with the biblical teachings
gone for good. It’s the reason why I’m
and examples that span from Moses to
writing “Stop God Damning People”,
PROVOKE
A Perversion of the Gospel
PROVOKE | MARCH 2010
(Continued)
Written By: Timothy A. Valentine
Jesus Christ himself. Social justice is an
integral part of humanity.
Unless you are condoning inhumane acts
such as slavery, torture and hatred towards
others to name a few then how can you
possibly agree with Glenn Beck?
I can put aside my disagreement with him
long enough to objectively consider what
he’s advocating and what he’s advocating
is what he’s suggesting to naïve Christians,
that social justice is a perversion of the
gospel. He’s doing what he’s saying.
This fool said that if his church were about
social justice he would report the church
to the Church Authorities.
Now this brings up some questions you
should ask yourself. The first being, what
church does Glenn Beck attend and what
in Hell are they teaching?
(Note the keyword in that question,
because that’s the answer to the question)
The second being, what church authorities?
If the church as a whole paid more
attention to its authority, Jesus Christ and
what he instructed us to do, then we
wouldn’t have a fraction of the issues,
division, cultural and spiritual mayhem we
have today.
Social Justice is a perversion of the gospel?
If we were to continue down this path of
McCarthy-style Spirituality that Glenn Beck
is proposing, then who all would we have
to turn it to the so-called ‘church
authorities’ he speaks of?
I would have to say Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr. would have to be among those who
would considered guilty and posthumously
convicted, because what better drum
major for justice in our recent memory can
you consider. Rabbi Abraham J. Herschel
would absolutely be in that line-up. Rev.
James Reeb would be considered guilty as
charged.
These men were all of different faiths with
the same objective, social justice. But let
me move on before the verbal stones are
tossed. Oh, this one should hit home for
those who may not know the history of
social justice well enough to have
recognize the previously mentioned.
You would have to sentence Billy Graham
and Oral Roberts for their roles in
promoting social justice as well. The so-
called “Church Authorities” that Glenn
Beck interestingly speaks about would
have to pick up T.D. Jakes and Dr.
Frederick K.C. Price for being accessories
to the imaginary spiritual crime of social
justice according to Glenn Beck.
Let me not forget the women who would
have to be hauled in front of the so-called
“Church Authorities” that Glenn Beck
refers to because Bishop Vashti McKenzie
& Pastor Paula White are just two who
must be charged in the crime of social
justice.
I taunt him because it’s ridiculous. None of
these people, regardless of their political
ideology or racial or spiritual composition
are guilty of anything Glenn Beck is
advocating, but I can think of some who
are.
PROVOKE
A Perversion of the Gospel
PROVOKE | MARCH 2010
(Continued)
Written By: Timothy A. Valentine
There was another group of people in
history who was prone to a similar mindset
that we see in Glenn Beck today against
someone who they said was "perverting the
gospel". They eventually unjustly convicted
him to death, even as the governor of the
day expressed his doubts the people were
so stirred up by those who mislead them
and those who remained silent that this
man was killed for his works for social
justice.
But I'm not here to verbally crucify Glenn
Beck for his lack of understanding,
because he knows not what he does. But
to warn those who listen to him or made
aware of him of the hypocrisy and
perversion of the gospel he's advocating.
The point of it all is that you must
recognize perversion when you see it. You
want know it is perversion if you don’t
study to show yourself approved. I’m not a
Bible Scholar by any stretch of the
imagination. I have upset the saints with
challenging questions in the past and
surely will do so again in the future. But
my intentions are never to pervert, but
perfect a person’s practice of faith. My
willingness to openly accept someone who
may not believe in God or the same
spiritual belief as I do does not pervert my
relationship with Christ. It is the teachings
and examples of Christ and his campaign
for social justice that interests me to seek a
relationship and a more acute knowledge
of him.
Glenn Beck is a fool. But the bigger fool
are those who believe what he says is true
or worthy of practice.
Stop God damning people with lies about
the gospel of Jesus Christ. Quit God
damning people by feeding them a
distorted self-serving doctrine of the Bible
that advocates one leaving a church that
doesn’t teach what you believe it should
teach. Stop God damning people in the
practice of perverting the gospel with a
faulty ideology for your own gains. Just
stop God damning people.
PROVOKE

Fail Better
PROVOKE | MARCH 2010

Written By: Timothy A. Valentine

If you strive to be a Rocket Scientist and

fail, you can still be a scientist. If you strive
to be a surgeon and fall short, you can still
be a doctor. If you want to be a Judge and
fail it's alright, because you can still
practice law as an attorney.

Dare I say it?

Even if you're wanting to earn a PhD in

Psychology or whatever it is you may
choose and it seems impossible or like
you'll never realize it, don't fret. Because
you can still be a Psychologist, Counselor,
Therapist or even Professor.

Don't give up because you fail, just try

again and fail better the next time.
Eventually you'll reach your goal.

Keep trying. Set your dreams high, because

if you miss your anticipated or desired
target goal you're still better off than you
were if you gave up or didn't try at all.
PROVOKE

How We See Others

PROVOKE | MARCH 2010

Written By: Timothy A. Valentine

I ask that you embrace this challenge with

sincere truthfulness and without any
concerns of the perceptions others may or
may not have.

I ask that you privately survey your

immediate social environments. This could
be your workplace, business, church,
school, store, café or market. Without
looking obvious or suspicious, I want you
to give a general description of who you
see. Whether on paper or electronically,
give your initial description of who you
see.

This may be a good indicator of how

eclectic your social environments and/or
the places where you choose to frequent
are. You may discover something
fascinating about the local society you live
in.

Do not focus on how beautiful, artistic or

even coherent your observations may be in
comparison to any one else, because
comparison is not the point of this
exercise, but honesty is.

After you’ve done this, list all of the

common observations, characteristics or
attributes of your list. Of that list I want you
to share the commonalities, whether it is
race, gender, age, class, weight/size,
culture or style.

Feel free to share your results or just

provide a summary of your thoughts about
what you discovered about the way you
live. I will do my best to respond to each
comment, if possible.

How we see others, may provide a clear

picture of ourselves and help determine
what we can do to improve.
PROVOKE
Terror By Another Name
PROVOKE | MARCH 2010
Written By: Timothy A. Valentine
In February we witnessed two senseless,
but high-profile acts of criminal violence
that would have been labeled terrorism if
the victimizer were an Arab Muslim with a
foreign-sounding name.
But the people who committed these acts
of violence, however, were White. Isn’t it
interesting that our political and certain
members of the media never used the
word “terrorism” in its discussions?
John Patrick Bedell, a 36-year-old man
from California, walked up to two security
guards outside the Pentagon Metro station
in suburban Washington D.C. and started
shooting. I guess he had a death wish,
because you don’t come to the Pentagon
with a gun-in-hand shooting and expect to
live long. As expected he was shot and
killed.
According to The Christian Science
Monitor, (Note: not me or Liberals,
President Obama or any other group some
like to issue unfitting names towards) said
Mr. Bedell appeared “to have been a right-
wing extremist with virulent anti-
government feelings” and also battled
mental illness before his shooting rampage.
Now I’m not suggesting you have to be
crazy to hold right-wing views, because I
know some intelligent and level headed
conservatives do exist. But this is what I’ve
been warning you about for so long that
some accused me of “using the race card”
or the most ridiculous harboring “racial
resentment”.
I’m just pointing out the unconscious
racism, bias, prejudice or discrimination
out to you so you can do something to
correct it. My hand is extended, but you
PROVOKE
Terror By Another Name (Continued)
PROVOKE | MARCH 2010
Written By: Timothy A. Valentine
must psychologically unclench your fist in
order to receive it.
But something else happen in February,
because another anti-government extremist
named Joseph Stack who happen to be
White flew a plane into an IRS building in
Austin, Texas that killing two people and
injuring 13 others.
According to media reports, Mr. Stack had
left behind a disjointed suicide letter in
which he expressed his hatred of our
American government and outlined
grievances with the IRS, chillingly stating
that “violence not only is the answer; it is
the only answer.”
Now these attacks come at a time of an
increasingly alarming growth in domestic
extremist-group activism across the United
States or should I say those who call
themselves patriots.
A recently released law center report
showed these so-called patriot groups were
steeped in anti-government conspiracy
theories and grew from 149 in 2008 to 512
in 2009. That’s a 244% increase that the
Southern Poverty Law Center report judged
to be an “astonishing” rise in the one-year
period.
What is interesting is the timing. What
significant socio-cultural psychological
shift occurred in the U.S. in 2008 that
would encourage this sort of activity?
I’ll let you ponder that one for a minute as
I continue.
January 20, 2009 President Obama took
the oath of office. Now according to the
SPLC Report in addition to other reports
from various organizations that monitor
this sort of activity, the number of these
groups that are domestic extremist
paramilitary militias grew from 42 in 2008
to 127 in 2009.
But race has nothing to do with it. It’s the
ploys of a liberal big government socialist
take over.
Now imagine the response if this was
committed by someone with a ‘funny-
sounding name’ (which is also an
insensitive phrase) or Heaven forbid they’re
Black, Latino or Asian. The world as you
know it would end.
Seriously, this is what I’ve tried to convey
to you. It’s not just Democrats who get it,
because there are some Republicans who
has gave the same type of warning, but
they’re cast as being too moderate for the
party and essentially ran out of the party or
demonized by the same media who fails to
call it as it is.
I don’t mind the political discourse, but for
far too long both sides have harbored such
a distain for the other that discourse is
virtually impossible and replaced with
political talking points.
Others have chosen to simply call anyone
who disagrees or even challenges their
ideology with warnings of discrimination
as being the racist. An absolutely
ridiculous and telling statement of how
uncomfortable and unprepared they truly
are. You get defensive when you have no
defense.
So you ask what proof I have for my
accusations and social analysis.
Although I anticipate the response some
individuals may choose in response to this,
PROVOKE
Terror By Another Name (Continued)
PROVOKE | MARCH 2010
Written By: Timothy A. Valentine
I doubt many if any will have the ethical
courage to address the bigger issue of not
only unconscious racism, but overt
discrimination, political extremism, white
privilege, religious bias in addition to areas
of self-hatred and a support of unpatriotic
activities and calling yourself patriots. You
prove me right ever single time. Some are
too ignorant of history, inconsiderate and
culturally unaware to sincerely grasp what
is really going on for the feeling of
acceptance and a false sense of social
maturity.
Because Theodore Kaczynski (Una bomber),
Timothy McVeigh (Oklahoma City bomber),
Eric Rudolph (1996 Olympic Park bomber in
Atlanta), James von Brunn (National Holocaust
Museum Shooter), Joseph Stack (IRS Attacker),
John Patrick Bedell (Pentagon shooter), and
shall I not include so many other instances
that dates back each year for decades,
including certain hooded and steel booted
organizations.
Should I dare say that all were white men
motivated by their respective ideologies
that drove them to violent attacks? But
surprisingly, the term “terrorism” has never
seemed to have been applied to any of
them. I wonder why.
How persuasive is hate + fear + ignorance
+ a lack of socialization?
Apparently very for some. But I’m the
racist because I have no fear of talking
candidly about race. But I harbor racial
resentment towards Whites, because I
point out unconscious racism amongst
Whites. But you fail to consider all of my
arguments that counter those accusations.
Just lay your misconceptions aside for a
moment if you can. If I or any other Black,
Latino, Arab or Asian harbor any level of
animosity towards Whites how could I or
they function in American society?
If you just shadowed a non-white person
for a month, you’ll discover many of them
fluidly interact with Whites without issue.
Yes, there are racist among these groups
too, but I speak of the majority. In fact I
would be willing to suggest that many
Whites may not harbor diliberate racial
animosity towards other groups. But the
problem is the silence.
Who is willing to speak up?
Who is willing to say what must be said?
Who is willing?
So I will conclude by asking you this
question. Why does terrorist not apply to
other white extremists?
Work Cited & Additional References
Iftikhar, Arsalan (March 10, 2010). “Extremist of any
color can commit terrorism” from CNN International
Edition
Hanna, Jason (June 11, 2009). “Hate groups riled up,
researchers say” from CNN
Chen, Stephanie (February 26, 2009). “Growing hate
groups blame Obama, economy” from CNN
Preston, Mark (January 16, 2009). “White supremacist
watched in lead up to Obama administration” from CNN
Adams, Jonathan (March 10, 2010). “Jihad Jane and 7
others held in plot to kill Swedish cartoonist” from The
Christian Science Monitor
PROVOKE

Keep Dreaming
PROVOKE | MARCH 2010

Written By: Timothy A. Valentine

Every great dream begins with a dreamer.

Always remember, you have within you the
strength, the patience, and the passion to
reach for the stars to change the world.
Harriet Tubman freed approximately a
thousand slaves and she said that she
could have freed a thousand more if only
they knew they were slaves.

You can see the entire universe if you can

just get beyond the stars. When you are
willing to go beyond yourself, despite
those who may put you down,despite
those who may laugh, despite those who
may oppose it and despite those who may
misunderstand you; keep dreaming. Never
allow the words of someone who has no
vision be your guide. Keep dreaming of
things not as they are, but for what they
can become.

Be where you're going and enjoy the

journey on your way there.

Never Ever Give Up.