Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Sunday, March 27, 2016
TODAY IS EASTER!!!
thi is a repost.
Well, sprta.
Does anybody know the true meaning of Easter? Well, I didn't until I looked around google and read a few articles about it. This particular article on the meaning of easter was found at www.everythingeasier.com
The Meaning of Easter
by Kristen Machut
When you think of Easter, you probably think of the Easter Bunny, colored eggs and lots of candy... but to Christians around the world it is much, much more. Easter is the most important Christian holiday of the year.
Easter Day is the day Christians remember Jesus rising from the dead. After his brutal crucifixion, a large stone was rolled over his tomb. But shortly after his death when followers went back to honor Jesus, the stone had mysteriously been moved and only the cloth that wrapped Jesus' body was laying there. As the story goes, Jesus' body was no longer in the tomb and he had in fact risen from his death in order to save us all. An angel nearby this tomb told his followers of the miracle that had taken place.
The resurrection, as described in the Bible, means that at the very moment Jesus rose from the dead, was the very moment we would be given everlasting life. Christians would now receive new life after death. The Easter holiday celebrates this belief. Easter is therefore the last day celebrated during a 40 day Easter season.
The season begins with Lent, a 40-day period before Easter Sunday. During Lent, Christians prepare for Easter. Lent is considered a time for penance, a time to show sorrow for sins and to seek forgiveness.
One way many Christians show their sorrow is by fasting, which limits the kinds and amounts of food that are eaten. Christians may also give something up during this 40 week period as patronage to the suffering of Jesus. While not all Christians fast during Lent, those that do pattern their behavior after Jesus who prayed and fasted in the wilderness before his death on the cross.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and most churches hold specials services in the evening. At many of those services ashes are placed on the foreheads of worshipers to remind them to have a humble spirit. Lent continues until Holy Week, which is the final week of Lent and recalls the events leading up to Jesus' sacrifce and ultimate death, a death he freely accepted.
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, which celebrates the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, where people spread palm branches and clothing before him. Good Friday is the day Jesus died on the cross and many believe it happened between the hours of 12 noon and 3pm. Many churches hold services during this time to reflect on the last three hours of darkness while Jesus suffered on the cross.
On Easter Sunday Jesus' resurrection is celebrated. Outdoor Easter services sometimes take place at sunrise to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. Just as Jesus rose from the dead, Christians believe they too will rise from the dead and ascend into Heaven. It's important to note that Easter is not a time to dwell on death and sorrow, but rather the fact that Jesus did rise just as prophesized in the Holy Bible. This miracle of renewed life has given Christians hope, faith and love since they know Jesus died willingly in order to save the human race.
Easter is also closely associated with the season of Spring. The new plant life that appears in spring symbolizes the new life Christians gain because of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. Easter is also considered a day of "white" because newly baptized church members wear white clothes at Easter observances.
Now, on that note, I'm going to post up this week's Sunday school video here. Now personally, I think that Jesus Christ being portrayed this way is just wrong... but I'm posting it here because all too many bible freaks and Right-Wing "christians" tend to portray Jesus Christ THIS WAY to the world, although they like to preach to everyone that jesus is a god of love and mercy,the prince of peace, etc.
O.K.
Now, in conclusion, I'm posting my REAL sunday school video on the Jesus Resurrection, followed by a couple of easter day poems...
Easter Holiday
Easter holiday, is a celebration of the resurrection of Christ!
Jesus Christ, The Son of God, bled and died for us in a sacrifice.
This Spring day's celebrated, generally in the month of April.
All of the bright and pretty colors, of the Easter outfits with frills.
Women and children will wear their Easter bonnets.
In the Spring, you'll hear the various musical sonnets.
April will bring many rain showers.
That'll bring us various beautiful flowers.
One special flower for this day is the Easter Lily.
It's color is white, and yet snowy & milky.
The birds will sing their songs of praise.
As we begin to feel the warmth of the sun's rays.
As we say "Goodbye" to the winter's gloom,
The flowers and trees have already begun to bloom.
All of life's beauty, The Lord created, for us all to share.
Spring breezes begin to flow, sending fragrances through the air.
The winter's thawing will let the rivers, lakes, and streams rise and flow.
The beauty of the Earth will make us all feel aglow!
Farmers and gardeners will start to hoe.
And then they'll begin to sow.
On Sundays, we'll hear the various church bells ring.
Let's be grateful for the LORD, let's rejoice and sing.
If it wasn't for the Lord, we wouldn't have anything!
Meeting the Easter Bunny
by: Rowena Bennett
On Easter morn at early dawn
before the cocks were crowing
I met a bob-tail bunnykin
and asked where he was going.
"Tis in the house and out the house
a-tispy, tipsy-toeing,
Tis round the house
and 'bout the house a-lighlty I am going."
"But what is that of every hue
you carry in your basket?"
"Tis eggs of gold and eggs of blue;
I wonder that you ask it.
"Tis chocolate eggs and bonbon eggs
and eggs of red and gray,
For every child in every house
on bonny Easter day.
He perked his ears
and winked his eye and twitched his little nose;
He shook his tail -- what tail he had --
and stood up on his toes.
"I must be gone before the sun;
the east is growing gray;
Tis almost time for bells to chime."
-- So he hippety-hopped away.
Now, what about the easter bunny?
From Wikipedia:
The Easter Bunny (also called the Easter Rabbit or Easter Hare) is a folkloric figure and symbol of Easter, depicted as a rabbit bringing Easter eggs. Originating among German Lutherans, the "Easter Hare" originally played the role of a judge, evaluating whether children were good or disobedient in behaviour at the start of the season of Eastertide.[1] The Easter Bunny is sometimes depicted with clothes. In legend, the creature carries colored eggs in his basket, candy, and sometimes also toys to the homes of children, and as such shows similarities to Santa Claus or the Christkind, as they both bring gifts to children on the night before their respective holidays. The custom was first mentioned in Georg Franck von Franckenau's De ovis paschalibus[2] (About Easter Eggs) in 1682[3] referring to a German tradition of an Easter Hare bringing Easter eggs for the children.
But I wonder...
What does the Easter Bunny do the other 364 days of the year?
,br>O.K., I admit that was a little wrong... But I post this every easter.
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Friday, March 25, 2016
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Friday, March 11, 2016
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Monday, February 22, 2016
SHIT I FOUND ON FACEBOOK
Check it out.
Joey Ryan proposes to Laura James in the middle of their Pro W...Joey Ryan surprises his girlfriend Laura James by proposing to her in the middle of their intergender wrestling match at Finest City Wrestling in San Diego, CA.
Posted by Joey Ryan on Sunday, February 21, 2016
Friday, February 19, 2016
SHIT I FOUND ON FACEBOOK
Mind = Blown.
Posted by iReleaseEndorphins on Saturday, February 6, 2016
Thursday, February 18, 2016
SHIT I FOUND ON FACEBOOK
A World Without Black History Month ft. Franchesca "Chescaleigh" Ramsey
Posted by MTV on Friday, February 5, 2016
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
CAPOEIRA IN THE WINTERTIME!!!
What's up Family!
The picture above was taken in Giffith Park on January 3rd of this year. I realize the picture is not of some snowy paradise, but hey, I live in Southern Cali, and this is about as cold as it usually gets.
And you're probably wondering why I'm posting this now, since winter isn't over yet. Well, so much has happened on my capoeira journey these last couple of months and I wanted to share them with you.
And this is me, looking all dignified...
But anyway, before I tell you guys what happened this winter on my path as a capoeirista, I thought I'd take this time to show you guys what a typical weekend Class at Agape and at Griffith Park is like for me. so, here's some pictures of all the bus stops, train stops, etc. I take to go from the city of Carson, to both places:
On Saturdays, I take class at agape...
...And on Sundays, we are here at Griffith Park. I like to get there an hour early or so, and talk to people, exercise a little bit, or just sit & chill. This is a very beautiful park, a small slice of nature in the middle of a huge urban landscape...
And what happens when class gets started? Well first, let's show the montage:
And in case you guys don't like pictures, here's a short video of the sunday class...
The class lasts 3 hours. For the 1st hour, there's a music class where we learn to play the berimbau, the pandeiro, and the other instruments, and we learn new songs.
Then for the other 2 hours, we have movement training, where we warmup with yoga exercises, and learn ginga, negativa, kicks, and other movements, and then we have a small Roda at the end of class, where we put it all together.
I love this class. We're there outside, Hot or cold, rain or shine, etc.
I beleive capoeira belongs outside, with different people, and animals, feeding you energy. It makes me so happy when I see families, couples children, etc. watching us, and when people come up to talk to us about what we're doing...
Sometimes my knee, hip, or one of my ankles sometimes hurts like hell, or my left pinkie from holding the berimbau. But that's O.K., because none of those are injuries, that's just my weakness leaving my body. Even when it takes 3 or days to do so...
Now, in the month of December, just a couple of weeks before Christmas, we had a special class. on this class, charles took me and another classmate up to his personal training area, where he trains by himself. I'm not gonna tell you where it is, because this area is sacred to him.
And here is the other man who was there with us. His name is ASHANTI SELASSIE.
He's an awesome reggae singer, and Capoeira Angola instructor who was here in L.A. to do some recording, and visit his friend AMINA MBANDE, who came out to the park for the class.
Here's a short video of their first class at the park. It was actually Amina's first class ever in Capoeira Angola.
I posted it from her facebook page, I hope she doesn't mind...
Mi first classHe's so patient with meAshanti Selassie
Posted by Amina Mbande on Monday, December 14, 2015
And here's some of Ashanti's teaching skills, and musical talents...
And this is a video of Ashanti teaching Capoeira Angola in an Afrikan Martial Arts workshop with a man I've been wanting to meet and learn from, BALOGUN OJETADE
The Combat Capoeira Workshop!#CapoeiraAngola#EgbeOgun#EONope, there is no new art called "Combat Capoeira." The workshop was an examination of Capoeira Angola and an affirmation of its effectiveness and the fact that it is, indeed, an AFRIKAN martial art! Ase O
Posted by Balogun Ojetade on Wednesday, July 22, 2015
I'll let this video tell you who he is.
If you want to know more about him, then click HERE to go to his website, and click HERE to go to his facebook page.
He also has a blog called THE CHRONICLES OF HARRIET.
Ashanti and Amina, it was a pleasure meeting and training with you, and I'm sure I speak for Charles and Tope as well when I say, if you two are in town again, come on down to the park!
Now this happened a couple of weeks before winter, I admit, but Ashanti and Amina are great people, and I wanted to tell you about them.
Now, Christmas came and went, and the day after christmas, CAPOEIRA BRASIL DTLA Had a monthly Roda at their school in DTLA, and I went there.
Here are some pictures I took at the Roda:
I like Capoeira Brasil. Everyone I meet from that group always have a great vibe about them. The instructor from the DTLA branch is SARACURU, and every so often he holds a Open Roda at the DTLA Artwalk, usually around April or May.
He, along with another capoeirista named Muito Tempo, also helps to organize an awesome event called THE CAPOEIRA EXCHANGE. More about that later...
Anyway, the Roda was AWESOME. It was great seeing familiar faces, like my friends BAMBOO and MIMI, the first two people I met from Capoeira Brasil, and meeting new people like Barbara "Tataruga" Ritchie. Now as you know, I'm an Angoleiro, and this was a Capoeira Contemporanea Roda, so there were things I was a little nervous about, like the custom of "buying the game", that they do. But whenever I got a little nervous, there was always somebody to reassure me, help me out with some of the songs, and play with me.
One guy in particular, I don't know his name, but he's the one who made this short video about a batizado they had in 2014...
And here's some of us monkeying around after the roda...
Anyway, it was a great afternoon, and I would LOVE to go to one of their Rodas again.
Now the day after that Roda, and after another grueling class at the park, we (Charles & I) went to CAPOEIRA BATUQUE'S end of the year Roda:
As you might remember, Capoeira Batuque is the group that Charles did that play "ZUMBI: BATTLE OF PALMARES" with:
Below, you'll find a video of the Kickstarter Campaign to help make this a larger production:
Oh, and check out this amazing video Jelani made with Contramestre Muito Tempo, both of whom were also in the play...
Click HERE to check out some other videos on Muito Tempo's You Tube Channel.
Anyway, the roda was great, it with a lot of high positive energy, with wonderful people. I didn't play that day because I was EXHAUSTED, but it was fun nontheless.
5 days after that roda, on New Year's day, Came another Roda in Pomona, Hosted by Grupo Jogo de Cintura, headed by Jelani Ticum Lateef.
I admit I did get lost on the way there, but once I got there, the good times started rolling!
Here are a few pictures from the roda:
And of course, for those of you who don't like photos...
Instrutor Arrepiado e Lateef e ChuckCapoeira Angola Jogo De Cintura New Years Roda, Jan.1, 2016, Pomona, CAInstrutor Arrepiado da Capoeira Batuque Pasadena e Lateef (CAJDC) e Chuck da CapoLock24
Posted by Capoeira Angola Jogo De Cintura on Thursday, January 7, 2016
And Now, I want to introduce you guys to a beautiful soul that I met at this roda.
Guys, this is Aja.
She is an amazing masseuse. You see, I have really bad knees. And throughout my training in Capoeira Angola, this has been a real issue. But now because of her, I see a roadway out of my knee pain. I have had 2 sessions with her so far, and this WONT be the last. Oh, and she's a pretty good Capoeirista as well...
Posted by Jelani Ticum Lateef on Thursday, February 11, 2016
I any of you out there want to know the healing power of massage, I urge you to look her up.
Click HERE to go to her Facebook page, and click HERE to go to her Go fund me campaign
Anyway, it was a beautiful Roda. I wish I could have stayed longer, but it's around 50 miles from Pomona to Carson, and at leats 2 and a half hours on the bus, So I got Charles to take me to L.A. Union Station, which cut my travel time by an hour.
But I hear that Jelani is gonna organize some rodas in the Claremont/Upland area in the near future, and you know I'm gonna be there.
I want to give a big shout out to Jelani, Charles, Contramestre Muito Tempo, Joseph, Issac, Aja, Minyan, and everybody else for sharing your energy, your hospitality, and your love.
Now the day after Jelani's Roda, there was the Roda hosted by the L.A. Branch of CECA at Chuco's Justice Center.
I didn't take any pictures of this particular roda, because I was more interested in actually playing than taking pictures... even though I only got to play once.
Now as I said, this is the L.A. branch of mestre Joao Grande's school. Here's a video of him at his main school in New York:
Mestre João Grande has taught thousands of students at his academy and has staged innumerable Capoeira Angola performances. He has travelled Europe, Brazil, Japan and many parts of the US to teach and perform. In 1995 he received a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Upsala College, East Orange, NJ. In 2001 he was awarded the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, which is one of the most prestigious awards given to practitioners of traditional arts in the US. Mestre João Grande has also recorded an audio CD and several DVDs featuring himself and his students, as well as other illustrious figures of Capoeira Angola.
Here's a video of him being honored for his 50 years of learning, practicing, teaching, and preserving Capoeira Angola.
Anyway, It was great seeing Uncle James and Nana Gyamfi (I think I just spelled her last name wrong), Jason Byrd, Contramestre Versatil, Issac, and of course, brother Jelani. By the way, Thank you Issac for giving me a ride downtown after the roda.
And also, a big THANK YOU to Uncle James and Nana for the Roda and potluck! I hope I see you guys again soon.
The next day, was what is probably the largest Capoeira event in L.A. so far: The Capoeira exchange!!!
As I was going to this great event, when I was about halfway there... I changed my mind and went to Griffith Park.
You see, It's just not a good Sunday for me anymore unless I go to the park and at least get some training in. It's like going to church for me.
And Charles feels the same way. He came also, and we had a little music lesson, and THEN we went to the exchange.
Here's some pictures I took while I was there:
And once again, for those of you who don't like pictureshere's some Roda Action. Thanks to Mimi Schirm for the videos. She has a You Tube Channel... Click HERE to check it out.
Yes, we saw and played some great games at the exchange, and I hope to go to many more in the future!
Now, fast forward a couple of weeks...
Jan.24th was Charles's birthday, and he, along with my friend and fellow capoeira student Ian Trujillo, decided to celebrate by having a...
Solsinmotion Capoeira Collective Birthday Roda!!!
But the night before, they had a birthday party in downtown L.A.
And yes, even though we had a Roda the next day, we just couldn't wait...
And the next day, there was the roda. It was a small but grand roda. It was nice to see old friends, and meet new ones, like a lady named Selena who learns capoeira at CAPOEIRA BRASIL, and who also has a wonderful blog at SELENAMADDEN.COM.
The pictures below were taken after the roda, because once again, I was more interested in playing than taking pictures...
Anyway, I want to thank Jason Byrd, Roger, Selena, and everybody else who came out to the park and rocked out with us!
And this..., is a roda I missed.
The last Sautrday in January, I heard of a roda that was going on in Downtown L.A., called RODA DE PAZ.
But due to a number of factors, I just missed the roda, but here's some pictures I took after the event:
One of the reasons I missed the roda was because there was a small carnival and concert going on. I didn't stay for the whole thing, but I did take a few pictures...
Well, that's the end of my blog, but it's not the end of winter. I'm sure there are some more places Capoeira will take me...
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