B.A.D. Talking but Saying Good Stuff!

By Benedict A Dorsey

Faith based christian book to enhance a person's spiritual growth. A simple approach to becoming a better christian. A journal that understands what it means to fail and continue to struggle as you try to become a fully mature christian. A guidebook to measuring up to the full stature of Jesus Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Benediction Productions
• Release date: Aug 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9781087971971

Benedict A Dorsey

"God called me to demystify the word of God for people like you..." Benedict A Dorsey was born in Baltimore, He earned his Master's and Doctor degree in theology from ATS. For the past 35 years he has worked to assist student secure funding to attend various higher education institutions around the country. Concurrently, he served as a Pastor of an inner city church in Baltimore, Md. for more than 30 years. He has worked in various ministries domestically and internationally for more than 40 years. He lives with his wife, Charlene, and together they have 4 children and 4 grandchildren. With a love for writing and helping others, combined with an MFA in Creative, he took courses in screenwriting at the American Film Institute in DC and at New York University. Benedict has written more than 15 plays, and as an independent screenwriter he has been involved in writing, directing and producing several films, as well as over 100 stage plays. On top of that, one of Benedict's proudest achievements was to have founded the Johns Hopkins University African American Theatre Company, of which he has been the residential director for 25 years. All of this has come with numerous awards from some of the most prestigious film festivals around, including for Best Feature, Best Actor, Best Ensemble, Best Director and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award. In his free time Benedict enjoys keeping fit at the gym, going to Broadway shows, watching movies and entertaining others in whatever ways he can. He also enjoys being able to travel and loves the feeling of getting off a plane in a hot country or exploring something a bit closer to home. It is Bishop Dorsey's ambition to create a group of men and women who have measured up to the full stature of Jesus Christ. Pastor Dorsey in in demand for public speaking assignments. You can contact Benedict A Dorsey at Benedictadorsey.com

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Copyright © Benedict A. Dorsey

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All rights reserved. This book is protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America. This book may not be copied or reprinted for commercial gain or profit. The use of short quotations or occasional page copying for personal, or group study is permitted and encouraged. Permission will be granted upon request. Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, The King James Version. Additional quotations from Living Bible (LB), Amplified (AMP), ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION (ESV), New International Version (NIV), New Century Version (NCV), The Voice (VOICE), and The Message (MESSAGE.)

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Table of Contents

Dedication

Preface

Acknowledgement

Chapter 1      Get Your Hands Out of My Pocket

Chapter 2      Is That Bush Talking to Me?

Chapter 3      Is It Time, Yet?

Chapter 4      Saints Mind Your Business

Chapter 5      Wasn’t It Your Day to Watch You!

Chapter 6      Breakout!

Chapter 7      How to Get Your Such and Such? Just Ask!

Chapter 8      Put Your Fives Up – Let’s Fight!

Chapter 9      The Hand of God

Chapter 10    Hooking Up with God: Holy Spirit Intimacy!

Chapter 11    Saints, Kill the Ox, and Get It Over with Already!

Chapter 12    Saints, Four Things to Remember About Nain!

Chapter 13    Saints, Say Your Name!

Chapter 14    Something for the Bullied: Saints, That Is Not True (T.I.N.T.)

Dedication

I dedicate this book to my wife, Charlene, for believing in my passion, her

continual push for me to pursue my dreams, and for reminding me of my gift from God to write. I could never have done this without the faith, trust, and love I have in her. My best friend. My first lady. My wife. My Beloved!

Also, this is a memorial to my late mother, Mother Anna Dorsey, her life taught me the true meaning of compassion. She never ran out of love. What a woman! What a mother! I can still feel her wind beneath my wings Wow! What an encourager. I miss her. I want her back… s till.

Preface

This book is for anyone struggling to find their place in God and those fighting to maintain their place in His Kingdom.

An anointing rested on me when I was twenty-three years old that shook the world of people I knew. They would ask: what is happening to you? and I would answer, I am on a quest, and Christ was leading me to a new place of understanding. At twenty-three, God directed me to trash my early teachings and only hold onto the foundational truths. I grew my faith in the Lord by only reading books that added to my spiritual stature, such as books by Oswald Chambers, So Send I You and Workmen of God , A.W. Tozier’s Search for God , and any books by Dr. David Yoggi Choi. I read all of his books. I swallowed the meat and spat out the bones. I knew God was directing me to remember parts of a book or to take special heed to other sections to use later in my life because I would get a burning sensation in the pit of my stomach at those moments.

I began to master foundational truths like soteriology, the doctrine of salvation (major doctrine of redemption, reconciliation, propitiation, conviction, repentance, faith, regeneration, forgiveness, justification, sanctification, preservation, and glorification). And the other doctrines of the bible imputation, rejuvenation, and righteousness. Those were the only parts that were solid enough for Christ to build upon. I studied the Bible late into the hours of the night and prayed to God while doing so. My journey with God led me to South Korea, where God worked miracles through me.

God continued to work through me when I returned stateside. Little did I know that there was a price to pay for this anointing. This anointing required separation and abstinence from not only sin but non-expedient things. Over time, my quest slowed down after returning home, and my anointing stirred only at certain times and seasons. Soon I found I wasn’t paying the price any longer. As it turned out, being home was a significant distraction to giving my full devotion and time to my calling. What I learned during my time in South Korea up to today I share in B.A.D. Talking but Saying Good Stuff!

During my early years as a pastor, I recognized the importance of having a salutiferous relationship with God to manage my mental, emotional, and spiritual health. To reach my goal and create a strong relationship with God, I pursued a doctorate in theology. You might wonder why my focus is on mental, emotional, and spiritual health. As a young pastor who was in the process of cultivating a strong bond with God, I realized that mental, emotional, and spiritual health are pertinent to getting closer to God. These three areas can wreak havoc in a person’s life if they are not placed in check.

In my more than 35 years of ministry, I’ve counseled and advised many members struggling with an insalubrious relationship with God. Full of spiritual confusion, stunted spiritual growth, and overactive depression, most of whom learned to manage their situation with diligent prayer, consistent bible study, medication, and counseling. After watching so many of my members make a complete turnaround, I realized that lay members could use my advising strategies to help themselves and others. Hence I wrote this book. I trust this book will be a practical guide to help everyday Christians maneuvering the maze of Kingdom living.

It is not advising methods but clear guidance on addressing issues that disrupt the spiritual equilibrium in believers’ lives. This book is for every believer who has received the call of God. Every believer still desires to be like Him and measure up to the full stature of Jesus Christ, lacking nothing. Every believer who knows they have issues, like a stubborn thorn in their side that will not let go, that causes them to struggle or fall short of the glory of God. After every spiritual high, after every miraculous breakthrough, after every earth-shattering moment with Him, that thorn pokes you. It reminds you that your issue, your condition, your weakness, and your struggle are still there, resisting your forward progression in Christ Jesus. That issue taunts you and whispers to you, telling you that You’ll be back to do it again! It often shouts to you from across the church, Go on and dance and praise Him and worship Christ for now, but you will be back! This book is for the Believers who are determined to never go back to that issue, or condition, or weakness! It is for those who refuse to allow issues to control them.

The title of this book, B.A.D. Talking but Saying Good Stuff! came from my good friend’s mother, the late Gloria Rodgers. One day she was angry about people running their mouths about the problem but contributing nothing to the solution. She said, People are doing a whole lot of talking but ain’t saying nothing! She used a more colorful word for nothing. I uncolored it with the word nothing. Also, I cleaned up the grammar and reworded it to People are doing a whole lot of talking, but not saying anything.

It doesn’t have the same punch, but you get the drift. I guess that’s why people use profanity- they want you to feel the punch of the statement. Well, I am saved, sanctified, Holy Ghost filled, and Fire-Baptized—I never used profanity! When I first heard the statement, I was committed to saying things that would only enhance or improve a person’s joy, stature, or maturity. I didn’t want to be a man of many words and no substance. Those who are careful about what they say keep themselves out of trouble. Prov. 21:23NCV …, but one who fills the air with meaningless talk will fall into ruin. Pro. 10:8 Voice

B.A.D. Talking addresses issues in Christendom that folks are casually walking over and ignoring, e.g., how the church has lost its focus. I believe that the focus has been lost for a long time. Hence, I told God; if you call me to Pastor, I want my church to focus on two things: Love and Winning (winning souls to Christ.) I don’t want to be judgmental. I don’t want to be policing righteousness. I want to teach and preach the Word - pure and unadulterated. My call is to win souls! Period! We add more stuff to being Saved. Jesus’ goal was to die on the cross for our sins, not all of the other things we place so much emphasis on. Stuff such as miracles and healing and loaves and fish! No! Get back to the basics, the simple, Win a Soul to Christ. This book is to place the believer back on track.

Since writing the book, God has burdened my spirit with a third focus for my Church, The Rapture. God placed a burden in my spirit to make the Rapture relevant again. Churches have forgotten the Rapture. Not many, if any, preaches about the Rapture anymore. God revealed to me why the Church has depressed, unhappy, unmotivated, joyless Christians in the body of Christ. It is because the Church has no lively hope. They have nothing to look forward to when this life is over. The Rapture is the Christian’s lively hope. The Rapture is the Christian’s optimistic expectation. If you don’t preach it or teach it, people will emphasize this World more than the World to come. Believers, we must bring back the Rapture.

B.A.D Talking consists of several short chapters that offer a poignant, reliable philosophy of individual achievement, ever presented for the benefit of the man or woman who diligently seeks a way to measure up to the full stature of Jesus Christ. I am known to make people laugh and bring light to any dark moments that may arise, but this book isn’t written to humor you. The book is not emotionally barren, as this might suggest, but is instead surprisingly poignant. There may be light moments, but those are few and far between. The purpose of this book is to help you elevate your relationship with God; therefore, after reading a chapter, you must ponder the critical element over days, weeks, or months to determine its application to your life.

Furthermore, all the chapters of the book teach a profound lesson. The first chapter warns you not to be distracted by the antics of satan. That is why you keep missing the blessing God has for you. The second chapter deals with God trying to get your attention, but you are too busy doing YOU. The third chapter reminds you that God will bring you back again, and the time to bring you is NOW! The fourth chapter tells Saints to mind their own business! Chapter five reminds you that YOU are responsible for being the way you are or acting the way you are, not the devil. Christ freed you from YOU, but you won’t let YOU go. Chapter six is the BREAKOUT! chapter; it forces you to stop sitting like a bump on a pickle and do something great. Chapter Seven reminds you that God has much more stored up for you. You want it- ask for it. The other chapters deal with the Christians’ fight against depression, how my mother’s death revolutionized my prayer life, stop being bullied, and the last few short chapters draw on the author’s experiential knowledge as a Christian. Lastly, I know folks will clap back at me for the section on homosexuality, but someone had to say something. Well, I did.

My message to you: Do not fall for the okey-doke from the devil to make you less than what God created you to be. This book is for the lost, the fallen, and the standing to remember where their quest began. This book is to lead you through the last lap of the pilgrimage to be like HIM!

Acknowledgement

N  one of this would have been possible without my former Chief Adju tant,

Pastor Gary T. Goodwin. He made it his mission to see the book finished. His daily calls for a word/page count motivated me. The various discussions we had about chapters, scripture analysis, and bible translations helped make the writing easy. You always trusted the God in me! Thanks

Janice Taylor, my spiritual big sister, introduced me to Christ and tarried with me for many days and nights until I was filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. As a teenager, I stopped believing in God. She diligently witnessed to me until the Flame that was dying out was re-kindled. This book is- because she was faithful to the call of God to bring me home. Eternally in my love- I am eternally in your debt.

I’m eternally grateful for the words of wisdom poured into me by my three late Godmothers: Ms. Maureen Allen’s sacrificial love, Mother Mildred Byrd’s unconditional love, Mother Maxine Stephenson’s selfless love. I poured all of that love into this book.

Mother Charity Shields and The New Light Church: Ministry of St. Luke 4:18-19, Inc., who allowed me to Pastor them for over 30 years that I’m honored to be a part of. These chapters have come out of conversations I had with you.

My father, the late Charles W. Dorsey, Sr; during the last years of his life, he pushed me to keep telling The Story. Starr, this is my story.

My only sister, Antoinette, I could freely write because I knew the family was in good hands when you assumed the Matriarchal role.

My grandchildren, Zoe (My Doe’), Tristan, Briel, and Micah, inspired me to write the That Is Not True chapter. You guys are fantastic! I release victory over every bully you may encounter in life.

My children, Aaron, Timothy, Christie, Adriel, and my godson, Tevin. So much talent in you guys. The Breakout chapter is for you. Show the world what God has placed in you! Make a loud noise with your gifts/talents!

To Kevin Rodgers for sharing the many funny and thoughtful quotes from his mother. Out of our laughter, I found my title and subject for this book.

Ellen Frishberg, I wouldn’t have made it to this point without your selfless dedication towards me during my rough years. You pushed and pulled me through it all. I came out with a book. Oh, thanks for sharing your Jewish traditions and your Mom with me. Her spirit is in here, too.

My faithful friend, Mary Flanery. You have been a continual blessing in my life. Once, you said, If I keep hanging around you, I am going to end up saved. Those words motivate me to live holy before all men and to write a book about it.

To all the individuals I have had the opportunity to lead, be led by, or watch their leadership from afar, I want to say thank you for being the inspiration and foundation for B.A.D. Talking.

Chapter 1

Get Your Hands Out of My Pocket

Now unto him, that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. – Eph. 3:30

The Lord, your God, will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb, and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers. – Deuteronomy 30:9

When Malcolm X was murdered, the assassin needed someone to cause a distraction. The distraction came from a man in the audience who stood up and erratically declared, Get your hand out of my pocket! Don’t you mess with my pockets? This distraction was the signal to assassinate one of our nation’s great prolific leaders for social justice. These words are still being echoed in Christians’ lives through different means to get them distracted from becoming whole in Christ Jesus. The forces of darkness utter such words to make children of God look in the direction of the commotion, taking their eyes off the prize. While Christians are being distracted, they fail to notice the path that Christ is leading them through to freedom and out of the oppression of poverty. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. I keep my eyes always on the Lord . With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalms 16:8 NIV. It is God’s will for us to have life and to have it more abundantly. It would be best if you pursued an abundant life. To get to the abundant life, you must keep your eyes on the guidance of Jesus Christ. He endeavors to lead you into green pastures. Therefore, don’t ever allow anyone to put their hands in your pocket and steal your abundance!

If you are determined to live life and live it abundantly, you must do the following things. You cannot skip on any of the four items I am about to disclose to you. Achieving the abundant life isn’t a school where you can cram for a test at the last minute and barely pass it with a 60. We tend to cram with God when we need Him to help us out of a bind. We will do right, act right, and get right when we need God to perform a miracle in our life or deliver us from an ugly situation. There is no cramming with God. He will know you haven’t been studying and preparing for these difficult moments in life. He will know you aren’t prepared for your life’s tests. God’s passing grade is always 100%. Ninety-nine just won’t do. God wants you to prosper. God wants you to live in wealth. It is the will of God. It is not God’s plan to withhold anything good from you. But you must be standing in the appropriate place, or your abundance will keep passing you by.

Listen, don’t allow Mr. Abundance to pass you by. Mr. Abundance is looking for you. God released him to come to you. If you see Mr. Abundance passing you by, grab him by the collar, and say, Here I am, give me my blessing. How do you stop Mr. Abundance from walking by you? You stop him by worshipping God in spirit and truth! I am not talking about worshiping during a morning service at church but worshipping Him in your life. We should worship Christ Jesus twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and all year long. A lifestyle committed to living holy will ensure none of your abundance will go past you. God told Abraham, walk before me and I will release miracles in your life. Blessings, miracles, healings, deliverances, and wonders are released when you walk before Him. I am the Almighty God; walk before me and be thou perfect. And I will… will multiply thee exceedingly. Genesis 17:1-2. The walk will release your abundance if you walk perfectly. Multiply thee exceedingly means the Spirit of multiplicity will follow you all the days of your life. Merriam-Webster said multiply means to increase in number especially greatly. Dictionary.com defines multiply as to make many or manifold; increase the number, quantity, etc. I like the word manifold because it means to make many. When the Spirit of Multiplicity follows you, whatever you say, do, or have, will be more powerful, much stronger, and outperform any other. If you place a dollar in your hand, the one dollar is a thousand dollars when you open your hand. Just touch and go and watch it grow. Of course, this type of anointing is reserved only for those who walk before Him.

Stop being mad at God because of your station in life. He has already released the abundant life. It is you that is not in the right place to receive the abundance. It isn’t just a physical place but a mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical one. God revealed four principles to me that will help you to manifest abundance. These are the things that will help you to walk perfect before Him. First, you will experience the abundant life when your life revolves around Christ Jesus. Second, when Christ is leading your life, and you are following Him. Third, you are faithful in all things (time, tithes, and worship). Lastly, you have detached from the ungodly, non-expedient kinds of stuff in your life. If you can do these things, abundance, the spirit of multiplicity, will be released in every area of your life. These are the keys and combinations to unlock wealth in your life. If you follow through persistently, abundance will be yours.

The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. – Genesis 39:2-4

There is a common saying that

God gives, gives and forgives; and man gets, gets and forgets.

This saying explains the human as not quite effective a being. Therefore, one should keep his connection with God strong or otherwise before long, the connection is severed, and all that remains is despair and hopelessness. You start feeling disappointed, and the faith you once had dwindled. Had you kept your connection with Him firm, it would not have happened in the first place. God has a plan for all of us and has designated each of us a place. He has decided where we will be at different stages of our life. He has assigned to us an emotional place, a financial place, a spiritual place, and a social place. He has given you these chances and options, but you will avail them only if you are in His will and lead your life according to His orders and commands. When you follow God’s path, you will be included in His plan. If you do not follow God’s path, you will be lost in the dark and the wilderness. The light that guides us through the dark and wilderness is the light of God. God has a simple assignment for you, and the assignment is to lead your life as He wishes because He comes before any other thing in this world. Be it your family, friends, or nothing comes before your duty to God.

If any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. – Luke 14:26

When you are unhappy in your life, you are slightly disappointed with the outcome of your efforts. Take a moment and reflect upon your standing and place, you will find yourself slightly misplaced and misaligned. That is because you are not living your life like you were supposed to. You have drifted off the track that was laid out for you, and now you are in the wrong lane of life, and at the wrong bus stop in life. One tends to get lost when operating without a compass or a North Star. You can easily get lost in a jungle without a compass or a GPS. Your GPS in life is the path God wanted you to