red tube x videos x hamster Reid Klos | Tailor Made: God's Bespoke Tailoring

  • O P E N

    When the earth was void and without form, the One True God had you on His mind. He chose you like a fine piece of material before He formed you in the womb.

    You were spoken for.

    Hence, He tailored you individually with character, talents, personality, and spiritual gifts, to His specific personal requirements to be a prophet, a mouthpiece to the world around you. You were made for His glory and put on display like a finely patterned suit that hangs in the windows of Savile Row in London.

    You're welcome to come inside.

    Step beyond the showroom, past the mirrors and through the doors of the workroom. See Jehovah, the Master Craftsman, as He finishes His latest creation: Reid Klos. And maybe you'll get a glimpse of what He has in store for you.

Make Me a Captive, Lord

By reidklos | Published: March 13, 2010

I’m so feeling this hymn today. I heard it on one of those 25-hymns-you-love-to-sing or america’s-favorite-25-hymns CDs that I bought when I was moving away from what we call secular music.

If you haven’t tried out Hymnsite.com you have to check it out.  You can find whatever hymn you’re looking for and the tune will play for you, as well.  Fantastic!

Make me a captive, Lord, and then I shall be free.  force me to render up my sword, and I shall conqueror be.  I sink in life’s alarms when by myself I stand; imprison me within thine arms, and strong shall be my hand.

treble pretzel
Image by oskay via Flickr

My heart is weak and poor until it master find; it has no spring of action sure, it varies with the wind.  It cannot freely move till thou hast wrought its chain; enslave it with thy matchless love, and deathless it shall reign.

My power is faint and low till I have learned to serve; it lacks the needed fire to glow, it lacks the breeze to nerve.  It cannot drive the world until itself be driven; its flag can only be unfurled when thou shalt breathe from heaven.

My will is not my own till thou hast made it thine; if it would reach a monarch’s throne, it must its crown resign. It only stands unbent amid the clashing strife, when on they bosom it has leant, and found in thee its life.

Make Me A Captive, Lord

George Matheson, 1842-1906 & George J. Elvey 1816-1893

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
  • Share/Bookmark
Posted in Off the Cuff | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

You Ain’t Gots Ta Lie, Craig!

By reidklos | Published: March 12, 2010

Why do we lie? 

Don’t even try it.  You lie.  Whether it’s to someone else or to yourself – YOU LIE.

I know I lie
Image by the|G|™ via Flickr

I’ve been thinking about that quite a bit since listening to Talking To Tasha this past Wednesday night.  We were talking about Down Low (DL) dudes and how they are helping facilitate the AIDS epidemic among women, and we mentioned why women don’t just ask, “Hey, honey, do you have sex with other men as well?”  Granted, I don’t think anyone wants to have that conversation, although, these days we definitely should.

Here’s my thing though.  We lie!  With all the mantras of “keeping it real” and “I’m grown” and “Independent Women” and “I’m Holy Spirit filled” and whatever else we say that denotes I’m honest and don’t have to lie, we still do.

Back In the Day

I think about the men that I met through the years that were married and tried to kick it with me.  My response was always: “I don’t do, Daddies,” a category that mainly described married and/or “bi” men.  If I wasn’t going to involve a woman into my chaotic alternative life (as I called it then), why would I allow someone else to? Or make them think it was okay?  Of course, back then, I didn’t even know the statistics of black women contracting the disease.  I just tried to keep foolishness to a minimum.

Yet, I’ve been guilty about lying or hiding other aspects of my life; whether it’s to get what I want or to give people the perception I want them to have of me.  It’s all very draining. 

So why do it?  Why lie?  If you are a grown ass man, taking care of yourself, and the only person you have to answer to is God, then why lie to a woman if she is brave enough to ask you if you get down with dudes?  Why lie about your HIV status if someone is concerned enough about their health to ask you about yours?  Why lie & cheat when you can just tell your husband/boyfriend that you want to see other people?  Why tell a child Santa Clause is real when you know he isn’t (I know that’s random)?

My point is, lying destroys people more than the truth.  

A young woman and man embracing while outdoors.
Image via Wikipedia

 

News Flash: {whispers} You’re not protecting anyone.

The Bible records Jesus saying, “The truth will set you free.”  And that truth, sometimes, has to be told to you by you.

Don’t be fool enough to think that people are going to keep it real, because they are afraid just like you are – afraid of losing love, afraid of being ridiculed, afraid of getting hurt, afraid of rejection, afraid of success, afraid of the dark, afraid of being honest, and the the list goes on.  So why lie to yourself saying, “What I don’t know won’t hurt me,” or even “I can take whatever’s dished.”  Chances are it will hurt you and you can’t take it.

I just want you to be wise.  Actually be the smart individual that you portray yourself to be.  Actually live the integrity that you say you have.   Don’t tell yourself that you can spot someone that is diseased or that you can spot a Gay a mile away.  If others lie, connive, manipulate and omit the way you do. ..enough said.

Get tested. Be honest. Keep praying.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
  • Share/Bookmark
Posted in Off the Cuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tear #58

By reidklos | Published: March 11, 2010
Lord,

 

Wall of Tears
Image by jurvetson via Flickr

I’m not even crying anymore…I have been on this message about HIV/AIDS for so long…stuck my head in the wolves’ mouth and pulled it out without a hair missing so many times…I’m not crying, I’m lit, like I was on that goody…to tell the community, black girls, black boys, white girls, white boys, asian, Indian, Hollywood, holy folks, the church anyone who hath an ear…HIV is real…

Get Your Abstinence On!

-tazzy1

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
  • Share/Bookmark
Posted in The Wailing Wall | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Week of Prayer For The Healing of AIDS

By reidklos | Published: March 10, 2010

It’s 10:13 pm and I’m still goofing around on my laptop.  Just a little haunted by my homegirl’s radio show topic tonight.  Earlier between 8p – 9p CST I tuned in to my “sister’s” show Talking To Tasha on BlogTalkRadio.  It is the Week of Prayer For The Healing of AIDS, so I wanted to show my support and see how well her show was coming along.  I picked a great night.

The Red ribbon is a symbol for solidarity with...
Image via Wikipedia

On The Radio

Natasha was giving her listeners the old one-two-SNAP.  It was geared toward down-low black men, or MSMs (men who sex men) and the women whose lives they are tearing apart.  She had something to say to rappers that promote the foolishness of IT-girls being the ones with small waists, big rumps, supple breasts and the pole dancing skills of a Cirque du Soleil acrobat.  She didn’t leave BET out of the thrashing either considering it allows the foolishness to be promoted.  And, yes, in case you were wondering she had a little something for Congress as well.  It’s time to stop asking “What role does the government have in the AIDS epidemic?”  As Natasha blasted on facebook: “the gova who…if we don’t raise hell they won’t raise a finger…”

Well you know I had to call in. It was too good to pass up.  And I don’t know how much I added to the show, but she asked me something along the lines of what I thought black women should do to protect themselves.

I frankly told her that I think they should be willing to ask the pointed questions.

My response really made me think.  We as a people, you and I, are often afraid to ask the pointed questions to others, and most importantly to ourselves.  “We’ve taken ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ too far,” Natasha commented.  Indeed we have.

On Facebook and Twitter

So I’m awake blowing up facebook and twitter.  I even went so far as to tweet one of my favorite models, @evamarcille, this little diddy: “pose this question to your girls…before U engage in relations do you ask a man if he has sex with men?”  Will I get a response?  I dunno.  But I felt that I had to spread the word.

I mean, we’re living in a day and time that we are so connected to each other yet so disconnected.  That was one of the things we talked about on Talking To Tasha.  What happened to the camaraderie; the feeling of responsibility for each other?  It is best summed up by the words of Jesus: “…the love of many will grow cold…”

All these facebook friends and twitter followers and blah, blah, blah.  We have no sense of accountability toward each other besides updating our status so that the billions of people around the world can know that I just got off the toilet.  Really?

Out of Control

I guess I’m just a little frazzled tonight.

How about you?

Is any of this making you wonder if you’re doing something worthwhile?  Are you using your voice to make a difference?  Are you using the opportunities that you have to make a change?  Are you using the privileges that you have to do something besides scratch your butt and sniff?  I’m just saying.

This video–> Out of Control: The AIDS Epidemic in Black America is the truth.  I keep getting interrupted while I’m watching it, but what I’ve seen is, whew, eye opening.

Am I going to become the next spokesperson for AIDS? I dunno?  Maybe.  I just know that I’m feeling a little duped.  Duped because, like an ostrich, I’ve gotten frightened by life and I’ve had my head in the sand.

Okay…

My favorite line in The Devil Wears Prada is when Nigel is talking to Andy about her lackadaisical work ethic at the magazine and why Miranda isn’t giving her the props she feels she deserves.  He says, “Wake up, SIX,” snapping her into the reality that she wasn’t doing all that she could to succeed.  I’ve been quoting that for about a month now to myself when I open my eyes to a situation be it spiritual, at work, or anything.

Hey, you. Yes, you. Wake up, Six!

There’s an elephant in the room and it is causing major damage. Call it out the next time you have a chance.  Don’t be afraid to ask the pointed questions.  Don’t be afraid of the responses.  The dialogue needs to happen.  Your life may depend on it.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]
  • Share/Bookmark
Posted in Off the Cuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tear #57

By reidklos | Published: March 10, 2010

I see the people’s minds turning, LORD. I see your people standing up to take advantage of the opportunities we have in 2010 to spread the gospel and make a difference in the world. Two of my girls said today that they are looking to start blogs/websites for their ministries. I can’t wait to have their stuff linked to Tailor Made. It’s going to be awesome.

Jatropha podagrica flowers
Image by Martin_Heigan via Flickr

Clear the minds of Jasmene Rhem and Kayla Rike as they plan and seek Your will for what You would have them create as far as a website. You already know that Jasmene’s is going to be geared toward her ministry, Transforming Former Minds, that she does with her husband, Ranger Rhem. Kayla’s is going to be a prayer based site.

You have to give them the wisdom and tenacity needed to accomplish their goals, Father. Give them the support team that they need. Keep their husbands fortified to encourage the ladies to keep pushing on. Keep them ever before Your face seeking Your guidance. Go before them and prepare the hearts and minds of the readers that will come across their sites. Coat the sites with Your spirit.

I’m geeked, LORD! Continue working with Natasha David-Walker and her two sites, Talking To Tasha & Sex and the Saints. She’s holding on and it seems that she’s gotten a stride going. I believe her show is every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night now instead of everyday. Help her keep her busy life with her husband and the children mangaged so that neither her ministry as a wife, mother, talk show host, or author suffers. Balance, Father. Balance.

Thank You for all that You do, LORD.

  • Share/Bookmark
Posted in The Wailing Wall | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment