On May 6, 1619, the Synod of Dort promulgated the Canons as a final statement on the controversial issues that disturbed the Reformed church in The Netherlands. The international character of the synod underscores the importance of its theological decisions.
The importance of its theology justifies an academic re-assessment of the theology of Dort. The Canons close with this claim: This doctrine [of perseverance] is something which the flesh does not understand, Satan hates, the world ridicules, the ignorant and the hypocrites abuse, and the heretics attack. The Bride of Christ, however, has always loved this doctrine most tenderly and defended it (Canons of Dort 5.15). 1619:
An extraordinary year in which American democracy and American slavery emerged hand in hand Along the banks of the James River, Virginia, during an oppressively hot spell in the middle of summer 1619, two events occurred within a few weeks of each other that would profoundly shape the course of history. In the newly built church at Jamestown, the General Assembly–the first gathering of a representative governing body in America–came together. A few weeks later, a battered privateer entered the Chesapeake Bay carrying the first African slaves to land on mainland English America. In 1619, historian James Horn sheds new light on the year that gave birth to the great paradox of our nation: slavery in the midst of freedom.
This portentous year marked both the origin of the most important political development in American history, the rise of democracy, and the emergence of what would in time become one of the nation’s greatest challenges: the corrosive legacy of racial inequality that has afflicted America since its beginning.
“Wow… On May 6, 1619, the Synod of Dort close with this claim: This doctrine [of perseverance] is something which the flesh does not understand; but The Bride of Christ, however, has always loved…
On May 6, 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have welcomed their first child, a boy…”
Wow… Gayle King you claim to be a great friend to Orpah but suppose you discovered, after all these years, that it was Orpah that set up your husband with the woman you caught him with and made sure you got home just in time to catch them getting busy???
Would you still be BFF or would that be another (ugly) Shade of the Color Purple???
I say this from experience because I was a faithful black man in my marriage but it still ended in divorce…
I never understood why???
As God would have it, some 20 years later, my Ex BFF, who I knew called me to confess that she knew my Ex cheated on me throughout our entire marriage…She said she knew she should have told me before then but she didn’t… I believe it was probably her husband (who I also knew from College days) who my Ex was cheating with…
This man died shortly after his wife called me to confess the TRUTH to me…
He was in his mid 50s…
I thanked her for telling me with her confession because it answered a lot of questions for me…
Shortly after her husbands death my Ex BFF also died…
She was also in her mid 50s…
I said all of that to say, things aren’t always as they appear… If my Ex BFF had not called me with her confession I would have never suspected her or her husband having anything to do with my divorce… I don’t believe that Gayle King or Orpah should be giving relationship advise because the only relationship that exist between the two of them is a BFF Friendship… Gayle King been divorced for many years so what does she know about relationship accept when the going gets rough quit and get out… There isn’t any need even to address what Orpah may or may not know about relationship because there isn’t any evidence to prove anything different… It appears to me her and Stedman have a business relationship so how can she relate to any one in a committed relationship – NOT??? The sad thing about this scenario is the DAMAGE these two women are doing to young black women planning a future… I see them all the time – homeless in cars and on park benches… And when I inquire why she doesn’t have a man to help her through the rough times, they say something stupid like the advise I hear Gayle and Orpah giving… So I leave them where I find them…
I met a black young lady who had this – pie in the sky mentality – like Gayle and Orpah advise, but she was down and out on the street… I tried to give her some real world advice like where to eat and where to sleep but she was so indoctrinated against doing what God intended – woman meet man – and the two build a relationship together that I left her as I found her…
Last I heard she was in jail for stealing… Therefore from my perspective Orpah advise is kryptonite for a young black woman and for the black community at large…
“Wow… Gayle King claim to be a great friend to Orpah but suppose she discovered, after all these years, that it was Orpah that set up her husband with the woman she caught him with and made sure she got home just in time to catch them getting busy??? I don’t believe that Gayle King or Orpah should be giving relationship advise to young black women because the only relationship that exist between the two of them is a BFF Friendship… The sad thing about this scenario is the DAMAGE these two women are doing to young black women planning a future…”
On the other hand there are people like Dr. Miller Lucky, who is Professor of Theatre Arts at NCA&T Greensboro NC
who never made the BIG LEAGUE but who is a Master Professor of Theatre Arts… How does one explain that??? It sound to me that Whoopi called it LUCK… With a name like Miller Lucky, one would think that Dr. Lucky would be a ‘Lucky Guy’ (pun intended)…. 🙂
Now that’s another “Shade of the Color Purple…”
“Wow… Anyone can call a person a Master who made it; On the other hand there are people like Dr. Miller Lucky, who is Professor of Theatre Arts at NCA&T Greensboro NC… aka “Lucky Guy” (pun intended)…. :-)”
Wow… MM 3:18 – She is an African Immigrant therefore she doesn’t understand the history behind the pains of 400 years of Black American (PTSD of Slavery) History…
The Ancestors Speak Poem By: John Angus Jacobs
We’ve lived through persecution, mutilation, social devastation, excruciating pain; Bondage, shackles, thrashings, bashing;
the ravaging of the motherland…
We’ve survived starvation, dehydration, inflammation, that horrible trip; Tossing, tipping, constant dipping, sea sickness, the belly of the ship…
We’ve endured indignation, humiliation, sequestration, the stripping of our souls; Desecration, degeneration, castration, the market place, being sold…
We’ve drudged through war, brother against brother, blood, Mason Dixon, the blue and grey; Destruction, emancipation, reconstruction, forty acres, broken promises; What mule;
No pay…
Civil Rights, U,S,A, pic: 30th March 1968, Memphis, Tennessee, Guardsmen with fixed bayonets in Beale Street, Memphis as black marchers stage a protest march (Photo by Rolls Press/Popperfoto/Getty Images)
We’ve overcome racism, discrimination, segregation, deprivation, generations of being second class; alienation, degradation, mortification, all sorts of derogatory; Thank god, free at last…
Now we live with a simulation of freedom, equality, prosperity, liberty, and justice for all; The black,
the green,
“Wow… MM 3:18 – She is an African Immigrant therefore she doesn’t understand the history behind the pains of 400 years of Black American (PTSD of Slavery) History…”
“No one man will be ruler,
therefore love must rule us all
Dishonesty,
anger,
fear,
jealousy
and greed will fall
Love can save us all
Oh, love, love, oh love if you would just please give us a sign
Still would stand all time…”
“Image: The Trojan Horse. Your guile is hidden inside a magnificent gift that proves irresistible to your opponent. The walls open. Once inside, wreak havoc.” — Robert Greene, The 48 Laws of Power
And we know why the Greeks left that horse on the Trojan’s doorsteps???
Still would stand all time…
I am just saying…
“Wow… I believe Bob Mueller must have been listening to Prince – Still Would Stand All Time (Trojan Horse Aftershow 1988) on continuous replay the entire time he was finishing his Collusion Report and his message is CLEAR…”
Wow… What a week Gayle King has had and she did it all on her own…
Now ‘little girl blue’ probably feel like the words of this great song by R Kelly – I Believe I Can Fly
(LP Version) (Official Music Video) https://youtu.be/GIQn8pab8Vc
Gayle King can now call her OWN shots with @CBSThisMorning and probably any network she chooses… I believe Gayle King and R Kelly had a ‘Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’ moment when Gayle King said so calmly that -now infamous word -“Robert!!!”
Wow… I felt it then and I feel it everytime I hear her say it in reruns – it was a genuine moment of concern for the black man “Robert…”
I believe R. Kelly, like most black men of our generation, are suffering from the PTSD of slavery and the hardships of growing up in extreme poverty…
From acclaimed author and researcher Dr. Joy DeGruy comes this fascinating book that explores the psychological and emotional impact on African Americans after enduring the horrific Middle Passage, over 300 years of slavery, followed by continued discrimination.
From the beginning of American chattel slavery in the 1500’s, until the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, Africans were hunted like animals, captured, sold, tortured, and raped. They experienced the worst kind of physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual abuse. Given such history, Dr. Joy DeGruy asked the question, “Isn’t it likely those enslaved were severely traumatized? Furthermore, did the trauma and the effects of such horrific abuse end with the abolition of slavery?”
I believe as a coping mechanism R. Kelly did what most of us black men learned to do ‘Back-N-Da-Day’ is live out of our right brain; tap into all that creative energy using it to sing our way out or ball our way out or run our way out of poverty… Where does the world think the LeBron James’s and the Michael Jordan’s and the Michael Jackson’s (and the list goes on) came from???
SANTA MARIA, CA – JUNE 1: Michael Jackson arrives for his child molestation trial on at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse arrives for his child molestation trial on at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse June 1, 2005 in Santa Maria, California. Jackson is charged in a 10-count indictment with molesting a boy, plying him with liquor and conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. (Photo by Aaron Lambert-Pool/Getty Images)
Now unlike Gayle King, who was a diplomat’s daughter (The R&B Singer and the Diplomat’s Daughter), R. Kelly had to hustle and fight his way to the top; therefore all he had was his dreams of reaching the top; where his right brain imagination imagined…
I am sure R. Kelly heard it and felt it too… The one thing a black man absolutely crave is to hear a beautiful black woman call his name… Hell Prince wrote song about “Call my name!!!” https://youtu.be/MdPXM-p7IFY
Wow… What a moment for all times… Gayle King could actually become R. Kelly’s salvation and rescue him from this downward spiral like Uncle Charlie’s woman did for him when he was down and out
R&B artist Charlie Wilson was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September, 2008 after his wife, Mahin, urged him to have a prostate screening. Today they are working with the Prostate Cancer Foundation to raise awareness for the disease and funding for research. Photo: Kevin Winter
… Now that would be a great story because sometime, instead being a Misandrist, a black woman has to be a ‘Good Samaritan’ (Luke 10:25-37 KJV) for a black man…
Now that would really be a different “Shade of the Color Purple…”
Except in this story of “Humpty Dumpty” a (Gayle) King does come along and puts R. (Humpty Dumpty) Kelly back together again…
“Do you feel me???”
“Wow… I believe Gayle King and R Kelly had a ‘Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’ moment when Gayle King said so calmly that -now infamous word -“Robert!!!” Gayle King could actually become R. Kelly’s salvation and rescue him from this downward spiral like Uncle Charlie’s woman did for him when he was down and out… Do you feel me???”
Wow… I attended a Gospel Christian Banquet in the early 1980s in Greensboro NC where the special singing guest were BeBe and CeCe Winans of PTL…
As I recall it, BeBe and Cece were late coming on to perform and the crowd was getting a little restless…
The rumor that was circulated was that they had arrived late because of traffic from PTL in Charlotte NC…
Then suddenly the house lights were lowered and BeBe came out alone (the crowd went wild with excitement) and he sat down at the piano in the middle of the stage area…
With that uniquely BeBe staire, on his face, BeBe began to play and sing the Nursery Rhyme “Humpty Dumpty…” I assumed he sang it as a form of a sound check… Then he got up and walked back behind the stage area…
Then shortly after that, BeBe and CeCe came on and gave a great concert…
At that time as I was sitting there, I believe God dropped into my spirit this poem – “Humpty Dumpty, The Whole Story…”
Humpty Dumpty, The Whole Story
by John Jacobs (1984)
Humpty Dumpty was just like you and me, Full of energy and creativity…
He talked to his family and his friends and his neighbors and all, and said;
if you will help me, I’ll climb up on this WALL…
For from up there, for mile I will be able to see;
and when Kings pass by, they will marvel at me…
They will give me silver and gold and diamonds and pearls;
and we will be the riches EGG kingdom in all the world…
So they helped Humpty and all he said came true,
As kings passed by, they gave him his just due…
They gave him Diamonds and Pearls and Silver and Gold,
and throughout all the world Humpty’s FAME was told…
But Humpty had forgotten all that he had said;
His FAME and FORTUNE, went straight to his head…
Instead of giving back to those that helped him succeed;
He just sat on the WALL, full of PRIDE and GREED…
He adorned himself with the SILVER and the GOLD;
He had Diamonds on his fingers and PEARLS on his toes…
He looked down on his family and his friends and his neighbors and all;
Even though without them, he would not be on the WALL…
Then one-by-one they began to let go;
As Humpty began to sway, as never before…
For without anyone there to keep him balanced on the WALL;
Humpty Dumpty, began to fall fall fall…
Then off came the Diamonds, the Silver, the Gold. and the Pearls; No more FAME and FORTUNE, No more TOP of the WORLD… DOWN, DOWN, DOWN pass all of his use to be friends; Humpty Dumpty was nearing the beginning of the END… Then all of a sudden there was a BIG LOUD SOUND; As Humpty Dumpty, HIT THE GROUND…
Cracked and Hurt and barely alive;
But mostly hurt, was Humpty’s PRIDE…
For he moaned and he groaned, SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME; But for Humpty Dumpty, there was NO MORE SYMPATHY…
As the Kings passed by, they saw Humpty lying on his back; With his life running out, of his BIG HUGE CRACK… They promised to have their horses and men return;
to try and put Humpty back together again…
But no one came back, to give Humpty a hand;
For Humpty Dumpty, was just another Has-Been…
So the moral of this story, is very simple you see;
it’s been that way, for centuries…
No one accomplishes anything, by oneself;
it always takes the help, of someone else…
So don’t be like Humpty Dumpty;
when you reach the top of your WALL…
For remember;
the further you go UP,
the further you must FALL…
Humpty Dumpty, The Whole Story… by John Jacobs (1984)
Wow… The Jussie Smollett “Maga-Saga” is a lot like “Humpty Dumpty, The whole Story” in another “Shade of the Color Purple…”
Like in the Poem “Humpty Dumpty, The Whole Story” Jussie Smollett needed help from possibly “His Friends and Family and Neighbors and all” as support…
The question is who is that stimuli that is using their own dark “Shade of the Color Purple” to cover up something bigger than this “Maga-Saga…”
CPD should be following the “Purple Money” and the hands covered in the dark “Shade of the Color Purple…”
Wow… Just like in “Humpty Dumpty, The Whole Story,” Jussie Smollett, has hit the ground and he is hurt and he is cracked and he is barely alive, but mostly hurt is Smollett’s Pride…
Now Smollett is moaning and groaning for someone to help him but the no one will come back to give Smollett a hand, or will they??? CPD should keep a “Purple eye” on Smollett to see who that outside stimuli is;
the Purple one will be someone who can easily hide in plain sight; but has something that is worth covering up with his or her own dark “Shade of the Color Purple…”
Quincy said on TMZ – Smollett is finished… Smollett is finished, unless he too, begins to color in his own “Shade of the Color Purple…”
“Wow… The Jussie Smollett “Maga-Saga” is a lot like “Humpty Dumpty, The Whole Story” in another “Shade of the Color Purple…” Just like in “Humpty Dumpty The Whole Story,” Jussie Smollett, has hit the ground; and he is hurt and he is cracked and he is barely alive, but mostly hurt is Smollett’s Pride… Quincy said on TMZ – Smollett is finished… Smollett is finished, unless he too, begins to color in his own “Shade of the Color Purple…” “
"Believer!!!"
Will you carry the torch??? Will you carry it on... The Torch of life and liberty... But you must be fore warned... The road is hard and the way is rough... It's not for the weary and the weak at heart... But if you are tough enough to accept the rejection and the redicule... If you can withstand the name calling... Being treated like a criminal or even a fool... If you pocess the intestinal fortitude to overcome the hardships that befalls all who dare to trod... Then come along with me, for there is plenty of room for your courageous tenacity... For your fresh pure convictions and your unwavering desire... To march fearlessly and boldly into the line of fire... For you are a believer...
I believe Bob Mueller must have been listening to Prince – Still Would Stand All Time (Trojan Horse Aftershow 1988) on continuous replay the entire time he was finishing his Collusion Report and his message is CLEAR… 
From acclaimed author and researcher Dr. Joy DeGruy comes this fascinating book that explores the psychological and emotional impact on African Americans after enduring the horrific Middle Passage, over 300 years of slavery, followed by continued discrimination.
Smollett is finished, unless he too, begins to color in his own “Shade of the Color Purple…” 
John Jacobs
