Tonight Dex and I watched Kirk Franklin's Father's Day Documentary. Which, I'm not gone spoil nothing if you haven't watched it yet so this is a safe read. I just want to take a moment to get this out my head.
If you watched the episode of Trip Lee's End Notes podcast I was on, you heard me mention how I was a kid at a Kirk Franklin concert when the light turned on for me regarding my interests and dreams for working in entertainment and production.
I could write a book about how much Kirk has shaped, supported, and stamped my life. In fact, he is one of the father-figures in my life so watching him go through his own father journey hit me on so many levels.
When I first learned this situation was going to be shared publicly, and so close to it actually happening, I honestly was nervous and concerned. I just wanted him to be ok and fully healed before the world started chiming in with their (usually ignorant) two cents.
But the beauty, honesty, and genius of Kirk Franklin knew how to harmoniously synchronize his pain, process and progress. Hard truths and disappointments have historically been a part of the fabric of his songs. What has also remained true is his ability to translate the darkness into light and bring everybody with him.
He reaches into his pain, pulls up everyone around him, and takes us back up to The One who can actually do something with all the mess.
Kirk's life and processing skills are an absolute miracle. A LITERAL MIRACLE. His life is a plain sight modern day testimony to the tangible and very REAL power of the only TRUE God. Seriously, consider what his story would be without Jesus and Heaven's music.
Jesus Christ is the greatest everything of all everythings and if Kirk Franklin's life and story don't tell you that, then I don't know what to tell you. Like the man is legit a living sacrifice.
After Dex and I watched the documentary, I watched an episode of Abbott Elementary (which is completely unrelated to where this is going Lol). Then I got into my quiet time and read a statement and a scripture that made me think of what I'd just watched in the doc. I'm currently reading John Bevere's book, The Awe of God for my devo time and in chapter 10 he tells the story of Ananias and Sapphira (see Acts 5).
In short, they're a husband and wife who were killed the same day they lied about an offering they gave. John Bevere writes of them, "Appearance was more important than truth and, thus, led to deception." I said, "What in the Kirk Franklin's Mama did I just read?!"
I repeated it to myself this way:
When appearance is more important than truth, it leads to deception.
Immediately multiple examples, I mean 2023 real people I know examples, started coming to mind.
And then I read Psalm 10:12-14 (emphasis on vs 14)
Rise up, Lord God! Lift up your hand.
Do not forget the oppressed.
Why has the wicked person despised God?
He says to himself, “You will not demand an account.”
But you yourself have seen trouble and grief,
observing it in order to take the matter into your hands.
The helpless one entrusts himself to you;
you are a helper of the fatherless.
Then verse 15 just comes for their heads like, "break they necks till these *bleeps* are blameless."
Literal translation — "Break the arm of the wicked, evil person, until you look for his wickedness, but it can’t be found" (Psalm 10:15).
I meaaan did my paraphrase exaggerate anything? Not much.
There's really nothing else I have to say. God sees and knows all. He wastes absolutely nothing. His word is true and it is written.
Let's pray for Kirk Franklin and his family as they navigate the dynamics shared in this documentary. Let's pray for everyone in search of love and acceptance or even just an explanation from an earthly parent.
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...."
And gone head and break some arms, if necessary.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.