I’ve been reading thru the Daily Bread recently in an effort to get back to some regular scriptural study and I came across a pretty good one from Wednesday April 9th. As part of his minister training efforts, John Wesley, famed founder of the Methodist denomination of Christianity would occasionally allow lay ministers with limited education to preach. One such preacher trainee took up Luke 19:21 as his scripture reference: “Lord, I feared Thee, because Thow art an austere man” (KJV). Not knowing the meaning of the word austere (see definition) he thought the text spoke of “an oyster man”.
So he explained how “Christ descended from heaven…in order to retrieve humans back to Him…His torn and bleeding hands are a sign of the value He has placed on the object of His quest”. After the sermon 12 listeners joined the church. Later some parishioners came to Wesley to complain about uneducated preachers who were too ignorant to know the meaning of the words they were speaking from the Bible. The Oxford educated Wesley’s response was simply this, “Never mind. The Lord got a dozen oysters tonight.”
So how is the honesty and fervency of your witness these days? Are you taking an oyster or two to Bible Study and Sunday School this week?
I get it now. Having actually heard the entirety of Rev. Wright’s post September 11th sermon I realize now that people all over the country have miss-spun and misconstrued a sound bite to horendous and comic proportions. This is basic liberation theology that you’ll hear in at least half the black churches in America every Sunday. No, not every Black preacher takes this ministerial approach but many do. I was a member of and married at a church where this was standard fare. Where the truth was dealt with in no uncertain terms at all times. This is just a no-big-deal mole hill turned into a mountain.
Man people need to get serious. But I do get it though. Those White Americans who are flipping their lids over much ado about nothing can’t comprehend it because they’ve never had to be liberated from anything in societal terms. But smart people with a clue to history, especially American church history, do understand and they aren’t losing any sleep over this. Least of all those White and Black pastors and preachers who know Rev. Wright well.
Well let your heads rest easy friends. Liberation theology is generations old and universal. It’s not just a Black thing either. It is even European and South American in nature and tradition. Where ever there is oppression or its lingering legacy there is liberation theology. In America it was spawned by racism within the Christian church. The only reason African American denominations even exist is because white preachers and parishoners were no different than the rest of society. From earliest colonial days in two story churches Black members had to sit on the balcony, not the floor (You thought that was just in movie theaters years later, didn’t you?). In one floor churches Blacks had to sit in the back not in the front (You thought it was just on busses and trains in the Jim Crow era, didn’t you?). This is how Christians were treating their fellow believers, as inferiors in God’s house.
No, I’m sorry my White friends. You guys are really going to have to get a grip on your false emotions and get over yourselves because Black people aren’t impressed. Look at your history in the mirror, read up on the parts that some of you have obviously missed and still consciously choose not to acknowledge and deal with. Until then, quit your whining White people. To my White fellow Christians, when are you folks going to show some courage and speak up to counter the ignorance your friends and families are encouraging? Crimes of omission are as bad as crimes of commission so get off your haunches and fight the lies from the spin machine.
National Press Club. But you know what? Somebody who wants to find a problem with something where it doesn’t exist will find it. And if they can’t find it they will create it. I say continue telling the truth Rev. and let the spin miesters have their way. The public will remain as ignorant as they choose to be so tell it anyway.
I’m sure you guys remember the midwest earthquake from a couple of weeks ago who’s epicenter was in Illinois and it’s wide spread tremors. I had relatives in Missouri and Kentucky who felt it. Here’s some helpful follow up info that was forwarded to me by my mother. It’s a preparedness quiz. Here’s a link to the ten point questionaire from Northwest News and Weather which let’s you see if you know what people in California and Japan already know as a way of life. We native midwesterners know all about tornado drills. We learn them from the start of grade school.
Well the forecasters are now telling those of you who currently live in the middle of the country to get ready for a big earthquake hit within the next fifty years. They are saying that the 5.2 shake in early April could be a precursor for something much worse down the road. With rumblings felt as far south as Atlanta and as far north as Michigan and Wisconsin I don’t doubt it.
Forecasters aren’t sure if the Illinois fault is connected to the New Madrid fault in Missouri but the history is there to suggest bad things and big preparation. The last really big New Madrid quakes were in 1811 and 1812 and its tremors we felt as far to the east as Massachusets. Winesses on site reported major upheavals of masses of land and large chunks of land suddenly falling thru the ground. Not to mention seing waves rippling accross the the ground while the quake was in progress.
Check out the assorted links from your favorite news outlets and the US Geological Survey and be sure you’re ready for any tremors that might affect your part of the country.
I don’t know if I’m going to see the movie but seeing the trailers made me think back to the cartoon back in the day. I never knew each word of the lyrics so I thought I’d Google them today. I used Lyrics On Demand’s version and pasted them below. All you other old heads who remember the rhythm see if you can sing along with the YouTube clip of the cartoon intro and keep pace.
President George Bush said each one of us would get a $600.00 tax rebate. It was previously slated to be $800.00, but they dropped it to a $600.00 tax rebate because of various budget problems.
Now, if we spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China, if we spend it on computers, most of the money will go to Korea or India. If we spend it on gasoline it will all go to the Middle East……and none of these scenarios will help the American economy.
We need to keep that money here in America …..so the only way to keep that money here at home is to drink beer, gamble, or spend it on prostitution. Currently it seems that these are the only businesses still left in the U.S.
I’m Elliot Spitzer and I approve this message
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Just a little Friday night jokey joke. Thanks to my homegirl Vichelle for sending that one along.
So we’ll call this hump day 2 of my tribute to WAR. I’ll throw three more selections at you to carry you thru the week.
This one was their first release back in 1970. Spill the Wine is led by Eric Burdon. And when was the last time you saw a flute in a contemporary band? Jethro Tull is the only other I can recall. Anyway, check out this live version.
One of my favorites of all their songs is about the old Cowboy who’s movies I used to see on T.V. every now and then. This video is grainy but it’s another live braodcast, this time in 1973 and lets you see the band in action. How bout that clarinet and harmonica as featured instrumental parts.
This last one is a silly favorite. Sounds like the guys must have been sitting around hamming it up when they wrote this one. Most groops have a feel good, happy time song and a message song. Why Can’t We Be Friends fit the bill for all those…”I know ya working for the C.I.A., They wouldn’t have you in the Ma-Fi-A…”
Yes indeed, great group and great music. Hope it gives you a smile and a giggle today.
Want to hear one of the first multicultural-multiethnic crossover groups to break out big on the popular music scene in the early 70′s? Tuesday Tunes is a day late but that’s alright. How about we call it a hump day special? We’re going back thirty years so allow me to declare WAR on your earlobes. Not surprisingly Wikipedia gives some great background on the band.
If any bunch of guys had variety and style it was this crew. They fused the Latin sound with Afro-funk and everything in between.
Do you remember jams like…
Here’s the long play version of The World Is A Ghetto
Or hows about…
I know, I know. These dudes were so cool you can’t handle it all in one sitting so I’m going to save ya some for later. Until then though save these in your YouTube favorites file and share them with a friend. What are some of your other favorite War cries? Can you guess which ones I’m bringing to you on Friday?
Have you been keeping up with the race on NPR? In her March 25th Morning Edition segment entitled “France Tracks U.S. Presidential Election” National Public Radio commentator Eleanor Beardsley talks about French impressions of the primary season. As it turns out our sometimes testy allies the French are following the primary contest as closely as us Yanks.
There are some very interesting comments from Frenchmen concerning the potential progress and perception enhancement that an Obama presidency could bring. Sounds like our European allies are having the same discussions as we are this year. Apparently they even have Democrat and Republican support groups.
Interesting to hear someone from another country talking about their favorite potential American “leader of the free world”. They may love us or hate us in many corners but they still see us as the leader. Very intriguing perspective. Take a listen and tell me what you think.
It is the 40th anniversary of the assasination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. There won’t be a day as historically significant as this one any time soon with the exception potentially of the innauguaration early next year. I don’t even know how to start or structure this post just with everything swirling thru my head today. All I can think to do is throw a few things up collage/montage style.
These are reflections on and Dr. King’s statments against the Vietnam conflict:
This clip is the most well known speech in its entirety:
Decade remembrances are custom made for reflection on how the world has changed and where it’s going. This day in particular is always significant for me specifically because I was born the day Dr. King was assasinated. Today is my birthday and my parents, instead of giving me the name they had picked out, named me Martin in his honor. I’m still waiting for someone to ask me “Where were you when Dr. King was killed?” so I can reply, “I was giving my mother labor pains (LOL).
But in the spirit of history and forward planning let me share a few significant items with you. If you are a young parent like me make plans to go to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and give your young ones a good visual impression of the times past and the possibilities forward. If you can make it all one southern regional tour continue north to Memphis and visit the National Civil Rights Museum/Lorraine Motel site where Rev. King was shot that fatefull day. Of course no historic site tour is complete without going to the Martin Luther King Museum National Historic Site in Atlanta, Dr. King’s hometown. It’s run by the National Park Service and you sites like the King Center for Non-Violent Social Change and Ebenezer Baptist Church where he once preached. You can also go to the historic district in downtown Montgomery and visit Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church where Dr. King also pastored.
Clarence Jones was Dr. King’s personal lawyer for many years and he has a new book out, “What Would Martin Say?”. See the link to the left, buy a copy and take Dr. King’s theories and life applications forward.
You would think I could put together something more significant for the greatest American of the 20th century but at the least it’s a snapshot of the impressions of greatness and positive advancement that Dr. King’s legacy have always had on me. I’m grateful God sent a force like this man like this to help force the country do and be it’s best. I pray that I can have just a fraction of the impact that he did. Hope this inspires you to learn more and do better in your life as well.
Wow, are the protesters ever serious this year? The Chinese crackdown on Nepal has created ripples to the heartland of the Games themselves. Dutch protesters with flags showing the Olympic rings as five handcuffs were arrested in Athens.
The Chinese may be banning transmissions to their own citizens but activists around the world are keeping the rest of us informed. Even more, the Nepalese people themselves are making it clear to the rest of the world that they’ve had enough. They are making it hard for Beijing to state their case as a supporter of human rights. It’s like a world wide version of Tianamen Square from years ago.
Monks are kicking non-violence to the curb and fighting the police and citizens are burning Chinese consumer goods. Interesting to see how this goes into the summer and leads into the games.
