It’s the eve of my 45th birthday and the first time I have written in this blog this year. I've got to do better! It really is weird to write that I WILL BE 45 YEARS OLD! Wow. I thought 45 was so "old" when my mom was 45! I don't feel old at all and I feel like my 45 is a lot younger than my mom's. Someone recently told me that 50 is where your body starts feeling like your age. I sure hope not. It's been a good year! I've done things I've never done and always wanted to do and shared very special moments with my family that include the following:
Because it's a milestone year, I'm having a party with good music and laughter! I'm celebrating my birthday, but also 15 years of being in ministry. I've been pastoring, preaching, teaching the Word of God, mentoring, discipling, and encouraging people to pursue and live out their God-given purpose. I continue to testify and challenge people to overcome and live through any and all adversity to enjoy a fulfilling LIFE. I'm going to enjoy this 45th year of life, even do some new things, and continue to live with and encourage you to live with LOVE, INTEGRITY, FAITH, and EXCELLENCE!
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“And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.” Romans 8:28 (The Living Bible Translation)I’ve been a full cloud all weekend, ready to drop water at any moment. As I sit overlooking I-440 at from the Renaissance Hotel, the dam has burst! I come here each year because this spot in Raleigh was where two worlds collided for me. It's like a Bethel or holy place for me. Also, I was born in North Carolina's Capital City.
I was raised by my mom and never really asked about my father until a cousin and I had an altercation. It was a normal fight, but he called me an ugly name I hated so I said, "Your Daddy." He responded, "at least I have one." Oh, we fought for sure after that, but it caused me to finally ask my mom who my father was. As if she knew the moment was coming, she somehow got in touch with my father's father, my grandfather, and we went on a trip to Raleigh from Warren County to meet him. I was excited to be gathering this lost piece of myself, but then something happened and we ended up driving on I-440 and passing the time. Looking up down from the Renaissance, this part of the Beltline was near the spot where I remember my mom telling me I'd have to wait to meet my Grandfather. I was disappointed. However, the meeting was delayed, but not denied. On a later weekend, my mother took me to meet my Grandfather and I spent a weekend with him and met many of my father's family members. I would later meet my father, but that's another story. As I look across the Beltline, at the Raleigh skyline today, all I can say is "If it had not been for the Lord by my side, where would I be?!" I’m especially grateful to turn 44 because there were times when I didn’t know if I’d live this long. I don’t say this lightly, but the enemy has attacked me my whole life. I speak freely about my life to encourage others, but there are so many stories I haven't even told. I knew at a young age I’d have to serve the Lord and take daring and uncomfortable stands, but I never expected some of the things I'd live through. Yet, I know now it was for the sake of the call of God on my life. My story didn’t begin with me. As a child, I vividly remember my mother’s prayers in a small apartment in Arizona that God would help her raise me and my brother. She would often say she didn't know what to do. I always loved my mother deeply, but the family trauma and dysfunction that she endured would greatly impact me even as an adult. I'd become her caretaker while taking care of my own sick children. I would further grow up in poverty without a father and have him not want to have anything to do with me due to his own issues, but God has been my Father and sent others for me to learn from. I've heard that I am a walking miracle. I was born prematurely weighing 2 pounds 7 ounces and I once heard they left babies like me alone to see if we’d survive because back then, they didn’t have the technology to keep us alive. My relatives tell me of the shoe boxes and dresser drawers I used to fit in. I’ve had measles, pneumonia, lived in raggedy trailers and houses, been bitten up by bed bugs and chiggers, lived with and at the mercy of others, but still God would give me everything I wanted. Above all, I've never been hungry or without a roof over my head. I obtained my educated to make sure I got out of poverty and live comfortably. In my adult life, I've had some adversity that I would have never imagined. I’ve lost two children to a rare disease. I also lost my mother who would always be the first to tell me Happy Birthday even after suffering strokes that left her unable to talk and move freely. She'd find a way to get me a card or gift the day before my birthday. This year my in-laws were the first! No matter what, God has always made things up to me. I can assuredly say that He has still given me everything I've ever wanted! When I tell stories, people’s jaws drop, but then their hands end up and they end up crying with me. I have testimony after testimony of the goodness of the Lord! Last year, God gave me a job that I know without a doubt that He set up just for me. So, there’s no telling what He’ll do for me this year. In fact, I was minding my business eating out with friends and Shirley Caesar, a world famous Gospel singer somehow ended up serenading me with a Happy Birthday! I can assuredly say the hand of the Lord has been on me all my life. This year, I have no gift or party requests. God has given me my greatest gifts in my wife and children who always seek to make me happy. My second greatest gift for me is being able to give them whatever they want and need and to walk in any store and buy it. I used to have to always wait for everything because we didn't have, but now I know my Mom, my Dad, and my Granddad did the best the best they could. God has been my keeper and my friend! He's completely turned my life around with and through the love of my wife, Dr. Francemise Kingsberry. I can boldly say I will serve the Lord for the rest of my life and always stand and speak for Him no matter the discomfort or challenge! For as many sad or bad things that have happened in my life, there have been double happy and good things. I have testimony after testimony on top of testimony of the goodness and mercy of God. Know for sure that when the hand of the Lord is on your life, you can trust Him with everything that has or will happen in your life. He's working ALL THINGS for your good! Don't accept the negative reports, life through the adversity, and keep your faith and trust in God. You will dwell and live in Romans 8:28! Find your purpose! LIVE on PURPOSE!
Happy New Year! We made it to 2021 after experiencing a year like no other! 2020 was very challenging as we faced, and are still facing, a global pandemic. We dealt with, and are still dealing with, racial and political tensions and tipping points that have culminated in a Joe Biden becoming the President-Elect of the United States of America; Kamala Harris, becoming the first woman and person of color Vice President; the Democratic party being back in power; and the President Trump inciting rioting at the U.S. Capitol building, but finally conceding that he lost the election. It's just been a lot. Yet, God has been with us.
Personally, 2020 began with the passing of my daughter, Kelyn, and ended with the passing of my beloved mother, Rev. Sheila Kingsberry-Burt. She suffered some strokes in 2007 that left her living in a nursing home since that time. The strokes left her different physically, but her essence remained as she continued to live and thrive. I oversaw the care of my first best friend until on November 23rd, 2020 when I got a call from the nursing home telling me that she was having seizures. I rushed to a hospital to find her unresponsive and to watch her pass from an infection that was untreated or not treated well. I am still in the grief process, but I am ok. I am hopeful and encouraged in the fact that my mother was a strong believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and she imparted many of the best things about herself to me. I also find great solace in the many prolific and prophetic words of poetry that I listened to her speak over the years. Thankfully, she transcribed them and I published some of them before her passing. I'm also encouraged to know and want to encourage you with the fact that the same God that kept you through it all in 2020 and brought you to 2021 will continue to keep you in #TwentyTwentyOne and beyond! We made it and things will get better! I will continue to inspire and encourage you to keep going no matter what life adversity you face. My social media outlets remain available to help you live your best LIFE (love, integrity, faith, and excellence)! Check out my YouTube Channel for videos also, as I have found that I have many words that sometimes, you just need to hear! God bless you abundantly and keep going no matter what!
Early last month, the U.S. was impacted by the coronavirus and the diseased it causes, COVID-19. Other nations had been and have been impacted as well and it is a global pandemic. States, including North Carolina, where I live, have issued stay-at-home orders to help stop the spread of the deadly virus. Schools have been closed. Courts have been closed. Retailers, that don't sell necessary items, have been closed. Thus, for months, we have primarily been at home and I have actually had time to write. I had been working on a second book for years and I am actually about to finish it and possibly release it this month. Wow.
More personally important, about 5 days before the stay-at-home order was issued, on March 9th, 2020 at about 3:30 a.m., my daughter Kelyn, pictured to the left, went home to be with the Lord. She was diagnosed in November of 2017 with a genetic disorder called, Niemann-Pick Disease Type C (NPC). For more information, you can read here (https://nnpdf.org/overview/#NPC). For almost 3 years we watched her health decline as she struggled with the condition. I had another daughter, Amira, who passed away from similar symptoms in 2010. We had no idea of what the condition was back then, but found out upon Kelyn's diagnosis. I miss Kelyn. She was my beautiful baby girl. Unlike with Amira, I remember everything about Kelyn from birth to death. During Amira's life, my wife and I dealt with so many other family emergencies and situations that I had to fight for memories after she passed. I've been grieving, but I honestly began the grief process when we got Kelyn's diagnosis. The picture on the left below, while sad, is beautiful. It reflects my family's new normal of enjoying each other while holding on to the memories and what we have left of Amira and Kelyn. You see Amira's beautiful headstone, Kelyn's beautiful casket and floral spray, and my other beautiful children blowing bubbles commemorating Amira's birthday. On March 14th, 2020, Amira would have turned 14, the same day we buried Kelyn. Of course, there's comedy. The bubble over my eye as I give someone a sarcastic smirk. Joy in the midst of pain. Beauty and fun intertwined with sadness. LIFE. No matter what, because God has made us strong, we are alright and it will all make us better. It's purposed adversity. Speaking of purpose, I recently released a second book called the Fight for Purpose that discusses finding and fulfilling purpose. Check it out. Over the years, I have been reluctant to celebrate myself. Often, if received too much attention for doing something good or celebrated myself too much, people close to me would do the following:
I’m 40. Wow. I remember when my mom turned 40 and I thought it was old. I even threw her a party and looking back, considering things she's undergone since then, I'm glad I threw the party. In fact, one my dearest family member and best friends, my aunt died at 40. So, I'm just glad to have made it! And I'm going to celebrate! In the Bible, 40 is a time of testing and trial. Certainly, I have come through many of those and I won't recount them. Yet, in spite of it all, God has given me everything I’ve wanted or went after in the midst of it. Particularly, I got my own family and a best friend in Francemise to redeem any of my dysfunctional family or bad relationship experiences. I was telling a millennial once that I felt like I had lived about three lives reflecting on the time I've spent as a pastor, educator, and attorney. When people ask me why I am so educated, I tell them it's not because I necessarily wanted to get so many degrees. I had to get the degrees for the particular jobs I had and to take care of my family. (Except pastoring: I got that degree because I just wanted to know what I was talking about when I stood before God's people.) The best part of this turning 40 thing is that “I don’t looks like what I’ve been through.” I actually have been told I look younger than 40, although in my twenties I was told that I looked old. It’s not a cliché or a catchy, emotion-grabbing song for me. I really don’t look like what I’ve been through and “I’ve been through too much not to worship Him!” God has kept me. I’ve had to be a lot and do a lot and be responsible for many so young; actually well before the time for certain things. However, it’s made me savvy, wise and experienced. I’ve been excited about this birthday because in my pursuit of purpose and living out God-given purpose, I’ve endured process. I didn’t always endure it with the best attitude, but I endured it. And in the process, I didn’t mentally faint or give up on God. I haven’t always understood and I’ve had to readjust, but I went on anyway. Yet, one day, I realized that much of my purpose and God-given assignment I’ve been after has been fulfilled. I relocated to fulfill a purpose and to be a blessing to where I’m from and I’ve done it. I'm so excited about turning 40 (as you can tell!) However, there is a part two to me. This next half or more holds so much more and in this part, I’m confident about being me and comfortable. My attitude, stances, impetuousness, boldness, loyalty, wit, things that I am, I will be more assertively. Over the years, I’ve had to fight for my person-hood in various other areas of my life. I now understand, appreciate, and have accepted certain things about myself and now it's time to fully release myself and offer a complete and uninhibited me to the world. I have learned that time is precious and life is to be lived fully with the time you have. Thus, I'm giving y'all everything this next half! To celebrate me and this new phase of life, I had my first photo shoot. I am excited and pleased and highly recommend the photographer, Ken Bledsoe. So, here I am. Happy Birthday to Me! Everyone deserves a day and a season, so celebrate with me! So, I felt a need to do a turning 40 blog post. I have always been a little impatient and impulsive so when I feel something, I generally go for it and do it. I plan and think things through, but I go on and do what's in my heart and mind. So, while I have time and good scenery, I figured I'd write about 40 lessons I have learned over these past almost 40 years of living. Hopefully, the blog won't be too long and you'll glean some things that will help you in your life's journey. So, here we go...
1. Do what's in your heart and mind. As I said above, that's generally how I live. I have tried to have no regrets about things I've wanted to do and the few things I haven't done yet are the things I always wonder what-if about. Plus, after living these almost 40 years, I know life, time, and good health are precious commodities. So, don't waste time and think you have time to do what's in your heart and mind. Plan and do it! 2. Make a plan and write it. Planning is important to anything you want to do. You have to think things through, weigh options and courses of action and see what resources you need to make your dreams happen. I've always been a journal writer and over the years have found that the things I have written down, I have done. 3. Know and keep your values. You need principles and values to live by. Often what you may want to do or plan to do may not be in agreement with what you have been taught, aspire to be, or choose as the values you live by. For me, I've always cherished the following things: love, integrity, faith, and excellence. I seek to measure everything I do by these things and when my aspirations or plans don't line up with these values, I abandon the aspiration or plan in order to keep my conscious clear. 4. Mind your business. This is harder said than done, especially when it comes to those close to you, but I've learned that people have to make their own decisions. You can provide them with information, encouragement, or support if they ask, but even then they may resent you if things don't turn out the way they want and they took your advice. 5. Root for the underdog. I've had so many odds against me and I always love to see those with odds against them win and overcome. I've found that adversity often is what pushes people to be great and develops the character needed to achieve our dreams. 6. Don't be stuck to a plan or course of action. If you've been going in a direction for a while and see it's not working or going the way you planned, don't be scared stop and/or start again in a new way. I've had to do this so many times and it took courage to admit that something just wasn't working. 7. Take good advice. What you don't learn from listening, you will learn from experience. Listening to proven, sound wisdom can save you time, money, and mistakes. 8. Don't be scared of conflict. You'd rather say how you feel and deal with a conflicting point of view or disagreement than keep your feelings bottled up. I've been a volcano myself and often once you overreact, you don't get an opportunity to fix what's been messed up. 9. Everything others do, you may not be able to do. You have to accept that you can't be like everyone else and do what everyone else does depending on your own purpose and goals in life. I've had to deal with this every since I've been a serious Christian and pastor. You have to live according to your principles and the dictates of your God, faith, and conscious. Others may not agree, but they will respect it. 10. Another's emergency and poor life management cannot be your issue. As a responsible person, I've always felt I had to help others and often fix messes they made. You cannot do this. Some lessons people have to learn on their own and if you are always there to bail them out, you enable them and they never get better. 11. Save money and plan for the unexpected. I've had so many emergencies and issues that were ultra me or anything I could control and I know this first-hand. So, you have to have resources at hand for unexpected illness, bills, death, etc. 12. You cannot care what everyone thinks. No one will always agree with you. People will often dislike you and your ideas and dreams and sometimes for no reason. Thus, you have to do and say what your convictions direct and be bold if you're going to do so. 13. Don't keep expectations of people unless you have to. We expect certain things of family members we care for or who care for us, people on our jobs, close friends, etc. However, other than what people explicitly say or commit to, you cannot expect more. You end up with unmet expectations and hurt feelings. 14. Everyone is not your enemy. Everyone is not your friend. Discern the two and keep information until you discern correctly. You have to take the time to get to know people and classify relationships accordingly. I've heard many different categories, but you have to just make sure your closest friends are tried and true and that you really trust them before sharing information and your life with them 15. Be honest and don’t be fake. Lies always come to light and if you don't want to answer, just don't answer unless you have to. However, you have to be honest with those closest to you! Also what you feel about people and circumstances will eventually come out so just be honest up front. OK...I only made it to 15 lessons. I'll have to continue the rest at another time. Until then, LIVE your best LIFE!!! Enjoy some pictures from my 40th birthday party! LOVE INTEGRITY FAITH EXCELLENCE It delights me, as a father, to give my kids exactly what they want for Christmas. As parents, we make them wait for weeks or days to open their presents on Christmas Day. Then, to see their faces and hear them say, “Thanks, Daddy! I love you” makes it all worth it: the long store lines, the overpriced toys, etc. Even when you threatened not to get them anything because they were bad, you break the rules for your children. This is how our Father God is with us.
I had to learn this by having children because, honestly, many Christmases sucked for me. For a long time, growing up without a father, I never had this experience. I would look at the J.C. Penney Wishbook with all the toys and imagine I’d get this or that. My mother did her best, but many Christmases I either got nothing or found myself at the mercy of extended family for presents. I remember her aunts and uncles chipping in to get me a bike and one Christmas where they drew names and exchanged gifts and I got a flannel shirt. See, I was needy and had to get clothes while all my cousins got toys and clothes. When I met my paternal grandfather, he took up some of the slack. Yet, to this day I still don’t have a normal relationship with my own father. So, now that I can, I give my kids almost everything they want. I didn’t plan to go too deep in this blog, but since I’m writing... My mother did her best. Even though we didn’t have often, when we did have, she would make up for the times I went without. In fact, she taught me a lot about giving and character in hard economic times. She was deep. She wrote a poem that many people know and exclaim called “Three Days Before Christmas” where she speaks against the commercialism of Christmas and snobbishly giving handouts to the poor. She taught me to find and know the history behind Holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Halloween and I question everything and challenge stuff that makes no sense to this day. In fact, we didn’t celebrate some of these holidays many years including Christmas. I applaud her depth. However, as a child, I still would rather had gifts. One Christmas she gave me $20 dollars and made me spend it on others. Yeah, it taught me character and I got it, but... I am so very thankful for Francemise, Hassan II, Keren, and Kelyn Kingsberry and being a father. I am glad to have them and glad to give them whatever they want, including myself. It feels good to be loved and appreciated not because of what I do for them, but just for who I am. That’s a special gift there that makes you give. I cannot wait to see them open these gifts! Here are a few things I love in this world from birth and as I've journeyed through life. I'll put them in the order in which I experienced them. 1. My Momma, Sheila Kingsberry-Burt. (Everyone loves their mom, but "mines" is one of a kind! She made me who I am. When people say I'm smart, it's because of her. When I open my mouth, they hear her. We've have had our changes because she spoiled me and wanted to undo it when I got grown, but... Another, digression. I can talk about her, but NO ONE ELSE CAN! Remember, that! That goes for all the other things I'm about to name as well!) 2. Gospel Music and Singing. (particularly Karen Clark-Sheard and hearing my maternal family sing visiting and growing up in Jordan Chapel Missionary Baptist Church on the border of Warren and Franklin County, NC. Good singing brings me alive!) 3. Pizza with Black Olives and Italian Sausage. (I know y'all may not like olives, but taste and see!) 4. Warren County, NC! (I came to Warren County from Vance County in the 6th grade and matriculated through Warren County Schools until I graduated as Valedictorian of the Warren County High School Class of 1997. Other than my family, this is my most prized achievement. Someone had to fight me to take it off my resume! I achieved to make all my teachers and the community proud because they built a bullied and torn down, but assertive and smart kid up to be proud of being smart and being himself despite my prior experiences in school.) 5. Warren County High School (As stated above and oh, I love my classmates! It's a deep love and we have a 20 year reunion coming this year! Turn up! Ayyyeee and all that stuff!) 6. UNC-Chapel Hill. (Yes, I am an unapologetic Tarheel! The only portion of my education fully paid. I thank them!) 7. Francemise St. Pierre Kingsberry! (My baby! I'm about to tear up. She just gets better and better as we grow together. When I first saw her, I knew something special about this woman and I thank God she's mine!) 8. World Changer's Church International and Pastor Creflo Dollar. (Say what you want about the Word of Faith movement and prosperity gospel, but God changed my life and some of my thinking there. Yes, He did!) 9. Amira Elyse Kingsberry (I will not cry today. RIP. Love you, baby!) 10. Hassan Terrance-Craig-Kingsberry, II; Keren Alyssa Kingsberry; Kelyn Anissa Kingsberry!!! (All me! Mines! Love them more than life. Grind for them! Spoil them! Now, I'm crying! Just a little though. I'm ok.) So, there's much more that could be on this list, but this blog is not about this list or what I love. It's about a "shift" that took place in my life recently that I must share. You see Warren County is up here quite a bit. Why? Because I love it! I love it! I love it! One of my deepest core values is LOYALTY and I'm always loyal to those that were there for me or that helped me along the way. So, it is with great pride and honor that I can say I was appointed the County Attorney for my beloved and dear WARREN COUNTY! Now the blog gets serious: Since I got the news of my classmate, colleague, former parishioner, and friend Jamie Wilkerson's passing, I've been trying to process and discern many things about it and life and purpose. Jamie was the County's first full-time attorney and she loved it! When the opportunity first arose, she came to me and told me she wanted the job and we prayed and "believed God" for it and she got it and she did a great job. I'm still a little perplexed by her passing and the events following, but I know she's resting with the Lord. Like Jamie, as one acquainted with the emotional and mental pain of dealing with sickness, loss, and grief prematurely, but yet still having to go on with the business of and enjoyment of life, I've learned to seek the Lord. I've learned that wisdom, comfort, and solace from people just does not do it when you deal with certain things. It can actually leave you feeling judged and criticized and even more burdened. Yet God always knows and cares and can answer and not answer in a sovereign, loving, and all-wise way. So, I sought the Lord and when I seek Him, He seems to roll back the curtain of my life and remind me of some things. Over the past ten years of my life, I've had many inexplicable things happen to totally shift my life and plans unexpectedly, good and bad. I won't recount them all, but if you know me you know them. However, something always keeps me going in pursuit of the purpose of God for my life. So, when many would have lost their minds or given up or allowed the bitterness and disappointment with life to set in, God has kept my mind and heart even when I just wanted to go off or flip out! A piece of what has kept me going has been what Warren County put in me and the people from "Dub-C" that encouraged me along the way and believed in me as a child, teenager, as a teacher, as an attorney, as clients. Remembering that I'm special to an entire place has carried me. The love. God's love expressed geographically. Recently, as I've sought the Lord, God's sovereignty and Proverbs 19:21 have sprung up to remind me of some things. Proverbs 19:21 says, "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails." I've tried to figure my life out and chart my own course so many times. I've been so certain and yet so uncertain. As people know occupationally I'm an attorney and pastor. I've been an educator and that started in my dear Warren County. Those close to me know that above all I prize my pastoral and ministry calling so much that I've never settled with the other two occupations. This year I was going to walk away from law and just focus on church and ministry. That was my plan. My wife warned me when I blogged and announced it to social media about it back in March not to make such final declarations! (I told you my wife is the best! But, you know us men...) But, when Jamie died, I had a feeling that I needed to go back to Warren County. My home needed me. I may even need my home. Often the Kingdom needs you to fulfill a role other than I what you plan or want to be at a certain season of life. It had been stirring in me that a shift was coming and I'd been preparing for something, but just didn't know what. In the midst of what I'd been facing even personally this season, I sensed God saying press through it and get flexible. So, here I am at the shift... Regarding purpose, as humans we always want to know what's next and make a plan and control our lives. I've learned you can't do that especially if you belong to God. All who know me know that Warren County is special to me. The people and place built me up when I was torn down and comforted me in my weary times and I've lived to make it proud and show people that no matter where you are from, you can be great. I've found that definition of great changes depending on where you are in life. I'm in a place where "great" for me is being used maximally for the Lord at the right place and at the right time. It all leads to "not my will, but thy will be done." Thus, I am honored and humbled to go home to Warren county and serve. Always remember that God is sovereign and purpose is consistent, but may have many manifestations. Forgive the long blog with many various ramblings and thoughts, but I think it will make sense...
Two days ago, my wife reminded me that my first child, my daughter, Amira Elyse Kingsberry's birthday was today. Normally, I remember it before it comes each year, but when my wife said it, it caught me off guard. I've been so busy with work stuff. Most times, it would make me sad or I'd fight tears, but this year it startled me. It just shook me a little. I said, "whoa" and before I could really think about it or reflect, I had to go attend to my children who were avoiding going to sleep like I told them!
Amira's life and death always make me think about my purpose in life and whether I am living it. I think the reminder startled me because I recently did some soul searching about one of my occupations and decided it just wasn't my destiny. It shouldn't have startled me because I have learned to live by faith and trust God. However, you do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do. People always told me I would be and It had always been prophesied to me that I'd be a preacher, but I didn't want to do it. In my mind, preachers made no money and I grew up in the land of preachers and churches where everyone went to church, but had the same problems everyone else did (I mean even the hype, Charismatic, Pentecostal, sho 'nuff Bible-teaching, churches). Thus, I never wanted to be labeled as a hypocrite, even though I had times in life where I was... Lord, help. Eventually, I accepted the calling. It was just who I was: a preacher. And I wanted to be living this purpose as my daughter and children grew up. So, in 2007, my wife and I moved back to NC in pursuit of purpose. We planted the church that God had put in my heart. I pursued my purpose to be the preacher I had always knew God had called me to be and it was because of Amira. I encourage you, if you're nosey enough, to buy and read my book The Fourth Man Principle. It's an easy read about purposed adversity and our struggle with Amira's health, decline, and eventual passing. It was the greatest challenge of my faith and life, but I have learned so much from the experience. It has has fueled my heart and passion as a purpose-driven preacher, pastor, and servant of God in ways that I never imagined. So, when my wife reminded me of Amira's birthday, I was startled because I knew that it was time to gauge whether I'm living out my purpose again. This is the same purpose that brought us back to NC and fueled the resilience to weather the storms of life and ministry. I asked myself, "Are you doing what God told you to do? Did Amira die in vain?" And in recent years, God called me out of public education, though I tried to stay on that pay scale with those benefits. I tried to make it my purpose because it had become comfortable, but in 2014 He shifted me. I didn't know what to do when I left education, but God led me back into law practice and supernaturally touched my firm as I trusted Him. Now, it's time for me to make another change and to refocus. I don't think I'll be able to completely come out law practice, but I must press into Kingdom advancement more. Although I've been in ministry for eight years, there's more to do. It's one thing to know, but to really know is another thing. Years ago, in 2010, while trying to get answers about Amira's illness, the Lord told me and reaffirmed my life purpose to me. I'll never forget it. At my dentist's office I heard in that deep place: "Your purpose is to be my mouthpiece, you will use your creative and artistic gifts, but the main purpose is to speak for me—You and your whole household after you." And I promised to do just this: Speak for God! So, today, I reaffirm this purpose and commit to it more fully in honor and memory of my baby girl, Amira Elyse Kingsberry. 38) Being Valedictorian of the Warren County High School Class of 1997. 37) The birth of my first child, Amira Elyse Kingsberry at Cobb Wellstar Hospital in Austell, Georgia. 36) The morning we woke up to find that Amira had passed away in her sleep, October 15th, 2010. 35) The birth of my son, Hassan II, at Wake Med Hospital in Raleigh, NC, November 30th, 2012 after my wife’s nurse told her to push with her bottom and not her mouth! I hollered inside, but did not say a word… 34) Watching them pull my twins, Keren and Kelyn out of my wife via C-section on September 10th, 2014. Wow. 33) My wedding day, July 19th, 2003. I cried like baby. Francemise was so beautiful and the singing ensemble took me in! 32) The first time I saw Francemise Kingsberry at Hill Hall at UNC in August of 2002. She would look at me then hide her eyes like she wasn’t looking. 31) March of 2007 when I found out my mom had had her first stroke. 30) The first church service we had for Rebirth and Renewal Church International at the Ambassador Suites Hotel in Henderson, NC in October of 2008. 29) Singing “Dona Nobis Pacem at a 3rd grade Recital in Aiken, SC. I was fancy singing opera! 28) Singing "It Will Be All Right" by John P. Kee in 5th grade with Jordan Chapel Baptist Church Youth Choir. I had to think real hard to change the lyrics because I was not born in Durham, NC outside the county line nor was I the 15th child of 16 children. 27) Passing the Georgia Bar exam in 2005. 26) Passing the North Carolina Bar exam in 2009 and all the many things that tried to keep me from studying that summer and my friend who went over with me all the topics that happened to be on the test and the flat tire I had trying to leave the test the last day! 25) "My Boo" and "Come on Ride That Train" and the Nutty Professor soundtrack at Governor’s school in the summer of 2006! 24) When I first heard Karen Clark-Sheard in concert at World Changers Church in ATL and met her and was star struck! 23) The first time I heard hundreds of people pray in tongues at WCCI at once. The Holy Ghost! The Holy Ghost! 22) Dancing with Francemise at the Coronation Ball in 2001 and trying not to touch her hip, but wanting to touch her hip. 21) Buying my first car, the Black Geo Metro. I and others folded up in it a many a day and flossed just like it was a Benz! 20) Smoking my first cigarette in 6th grade trying to fit in. 19) Smoking my last cigarette in February of 2007; that deliverance took a long time! 18) Buying our first house in Austell, GA. It was the first house we saw, but looked for a long time after seeing it like we weren’t going to come right back to it. 17) The big window in Mece's apartment when we first married where we watched the city lights and listened to Chocolate Factory by R. Kelly. My Lord! 16) My first trial in Clayton county, GA. I was so nervous, but I won. I think the jurors took pity on me. 15) Learning to ride a bike in Twin Oaks Trailer Park in Franklin County, NC. My cousins pushed me down a hill/dirt path and did not care if I fell! But, I learned how to ride that bike that day! 14) My first plane ride from NY to AZ by myself as a child. 13) The many laughs I had teaching social studies in Warren County with my crazy classes (particularly when one of my students was drunk and told another he had slept with her momma! His commentary led to our discovery of intoxication.) 12). My first day at my first job as an Asst. Principal at Bunn High School and the petition the kids sent around the school to get me fired because they thought I made all the changes that year. 11) When all my kids walked for the first time. 10) 9/11 9) Seeing Europe and being able to visit several countries in one day. 8) Flying to Japan and the plane ride I had to get intoxicated to take. Saki is nasty, but it got me there and back. 7) Meeting my father's father (grandfather), Swade Exum for the first time and remembering how tall he was. I never thought I would get that tall, but did. 6). Laughing and busting 'tines (routines) with Dorie Davis and that video we made at King’s Dominion to “Cool Like That” by Digable Planets. Burn it, Dorie! Burn it! 5) When I tried out for basketball in middle school and threw up every night after practice and let that dream go… 4) Figuring out that I was going to have to cuss and call names to make it on bus 116 to make it. One day I called somebody an "ashy back heiffer" and they stopped picking on me. 3) Eating authentic Mexican food in Tijuana, Mexico and the police telling us not to cross a certain street or else... 2) When I got saved at 5 years old at a revival in Phoenix, AZ. 1) Yesterday, when my mother gave me $5 for my Birthday and hugged me and told me she loved me. I cried like a baby. |