Church and Racism

The church has come along way, but we do still see black go to all black congregation churches and whites go to all white congregation churches. Today we need to come together as one no matter our color and let everyone know that we are Christians and are here to please God.


If you go to this website and read, you will see what I am talking about: http://www.lamblion.com/articles/other/religious/RI-03.php - it says;
"A small number of black athletes may make millions, but the average black youngster will have to work much harder than his white counterpart if he intends to go to college and rise above a minimum salary wage". Why is that? Why can't we all just get along and love one another as God as commanded? Yes there are a lot of black people in sports that make a lot of money compared to us average white people that just make enough to get by. And yes there are a lot of white people (Bill Gates, all the presidents) that make a lot of money, while there are (like the Internet said) average black youngsters that have to work harder to get a good education.

Why can't the church be more willing to come together (no matter the denomination because we are Christians) and help those people in need? More and more people are drawing away from the church and we need to gain those peoples faith and love for God back. We are the next generation....we need to make that happen!!!!!!!!!!

Why? My Response

Melissa, you bring up a great question about why people would act this way towards these people groups. You give some great examples by giving us 9/11, which everyone and their brother can relate to and now, more recently, the attacks at Virginia Tech.

Sadly, these people don't make it any easier on us. I remember when we had the sniper in West Virginia. Those two were a couple of crazy, NASCAR loving white guys. For some reason, I didn't hear any talks about racism with that. It is only when people of different ethnicity decide to attack us white people. I think it is unfair.

I know everyone, including me, has looked at people of Arab descent with suspicion. It definitely doesn't make it right. It just seems to be something we all do. Robin Williams makes a joke about how when people used to fly the Red Eye they would take whatever medication they had and wake up in Tokyo. Now everyone is wide awake, looking around the cabin. Looking for anyone who ordered the humus.

That's right, we have to throw racial stereotypes in there. Without those we wouldn't have anything else to go on. Just like every postal worker will shoot up some neighborhood, everyone who eats humus will slam a plane into a building. I think it is said this is our response to this

Famous or not?

I don’t know if you guys ever watched/heard about what Michael Richards (Kramer from Seinfeld) said at a comedy club one night. Here is the video link: http://us.video.aol.com/video.index.adp?mode=1&pmmsid=1772645
Kramer was racist against a black man just because the man interrupted him in the middle of his show. Kramer called him a nigga….motherf***er and other names. I could not believe my hears. Even though he went on David Letterman and apologized does not give him the right to say that kind of stuff at all. So is he racist or not? That is the real question. I doubt the his apology was just because of all the people commenting about it and just to get off the news and stuff about what he said and/or did.

Just because you’re famous/well known gives no one the right to call people a nigger, or whatever else. Famous people always can have an excuse for what they did but if it was one of us that did something like that, who knows where we would end up; in a grave probably. We idolize too much and try to be something we are not. We need to be who God created us to be and accept everyone and anyone as our brother and sister in Christ!!!

WHY???

Should America be aloud to be racist, due to the fact of 9-11 (terrorists), Virginia Tech (South Koran), etc?
I think that we shouldn’t be, but I can also see why some people are racist because of these situations. But just because there are people from those same area (that harmed us) does not mean that they will harm us too. But yet we Americans/white people made the KKK…which killed and beat many blacks. All countries are liable for this.
Why are other countries harming us when we are trying to help them? - depends on the country and if the US is really trying to help them or screwing them over!!!!

I know that a lot of elders (70+) are racists. I think that has a lot to do with slavery back in the day, and to them that had been accepted and they were taught that way.

By being racist we are allowing dehumanizing people. We are all equal in God’s eyes and God made us the way we are. God made us to love one another – not how ever you want to. With dehumanizing we can not bring unity and without unity Jesus may never come back to claim us!!

racism at work??? or not

I was at work today and my husband and another associate were discussing about illegal immigrants. They were not being racist; they were just saying that we need to have better control of who we let into this country. They also got into saying that we should put up a sign at the border only in English that says, “No illegal’s aloud” or something to that effect. Yes I am sure that they have might went a little over board with the whole sign thing…but I do not think that an associate should have gone to management and complained! So the manger came and talked to them and told them not to discuss things like that in the break room. Now I think that that is being a little racist. The guys were just expressing themselves and what would be good for our country. Yes the associate was not born in America, but they were not saying anything horrible or being racist.

What do you guys think about this?

I don’t think either one is right or wrong, but why should we have to give up some of our jobs to people that are illegal? Why do we have to work so that people from out of the country get food stamps? Not being racist just curious!!!

Walmart

The color of people’s skin makes other people racist. I was just reading an article online about Wal-Mart and they are in trouble for supposedly being racist against a black women and her check. They suspected her of haven written a bad check and they called the police and took that check into the back office. The funny thing was, the check was good. The women said, “Just because someone does not come out and say they won't serve you because you are black doesn't mean they aren't being racist. I think people would be surprised at how common and overt racism still is.” All Wal-mart did after words were give her $50 gift card and $1000 settlement. Racism is not about many and is being fair to any one and everyone. After myself of working there, I have seen many colors, races, ethics come through. I treat everyone the same and it seems that we white people are the most rude, mean, and inconsiderate people that I know.
http://wcco.com/consumer/local_story_225133552.html

I do know that racism is still out there, I don’t know why because as Christians we are suppose to accept everyone; whether Jew or Greek, women or man, etc.

the pressure

115 lbs, 5'7'', perfect long blonde hair, a size C chest(at the smallest), no IQ(if ya have a high one...keep quiet or just keep quiet anyway) and ya got the perfect woman. at least according to society's media set standard.

230 lbs, 6'2'', body perfectly built, standard IQ, lots of $$$, new sports car, maybe a penthouse and ya got the perfect man. at least according to society's media set standard.

from my somewhat limited understanding...I'm not aware of anyone on this campus that fits those standards. guess we all fall short of ideal. what can we do? society says diet, plastic surgery, lift weights, make money(scam if ya have to)...do whatever it takes to achieve the standard minimum perhaps attain more.
if you don't feel the pressure to be the "perfect ideal" just how far removed from society are you?

so what can we as Christians do? well, we can start by not succuming to this standard ourselves and by not setting those expectations on others. we can start by loving and accepting all people as they are. we can start by praying earnestly, fervantly, honestly to see through God's eyes and to have a God-centered heart. that's a good start.

change requires more than thought

guys walk down a sidewalk, people don't think much of it. a girl walks down a sidewalk and she gets honked at, whistled at, yelled at. guys walk into bars, people don't notice too much. girls walk into bars and they getted stared at, hit on, and drinks offered or bought for them(with the specific purpose of getting the girl drunk and taking her to bed). guys play sports and most people watch and cheer. girls play sports and they got mocked or ignored. guys sleep around and they get a "high social status" and a slap on the back. girls sleep around and they're called "hoes", "sluts", and so on.

girls so often are seen as objects, property, possessions, trophies...and often times get treated as such. this is not solely the fault of the guy(s). many girls have or do continue to allow themselves to get seen and treated as such. many do not do anything about it, they just complain and whine, not taking a stand. we can't expect things to change while just sitting on the sidelines complaining about it. action must be taken for change to occur.(this theme was quite evident in the movie North Country).

its the same for racism. change needs to occur and for that to happen action needs to be taken. the right actions need to be taken. and for the right actions to be taken hearts need to be right. and for hearts to be right, God needs to be present and thriving within all of us.

.......

Racism

Racism is a huge ordeal in this society. The US is letting so many people in this country that it is hard for people not to become racist, due to the fact that English is not going to be the number 1 language in the US. In this town, they have like over 10 languages in the class rooms. I know for a fact that older people (around 60 and up) are really racist because they think that we should stay with our own color/ethnic. Even on my mission trips down to the Dominican and Haiti; Haitians are treated badly in the Dominican.
EU Nations Agree To New Racism Rules (read)
http://wcco.com/national/topstories_story_109113942.html
it is just not our country that is trying to fight against, but the whole world. God made us for who we are whether black or white, slave/free, etc…we are equal. So why do we see others differently than ourselves? Why are we scared of others? Why can’t we all just get along and try the unity thing? Black people can call each other nigger, and whites can’t…because we are not black and blacks used to be slaves…we really haven’t. All ethnics have things they can say to their people and the same with us, but when talking to others be careful what you say because it could offend them!

the truth

if this comes off as somewhat of an angry blog, you'd be interpreting my feelings correctly. all my life I have been thin. both of my parents were thin growing up and I was "lucky" enough to inherit my father's incredibly high metabolism and my height from my mother's incredibly tall family(with the shortest person being my mom and aunt at 5'8''). no, I am not and never have been either anorexic or bulemic. I love to eat and fully digest all of my food. I hate the term skinny, it makes me feel grose. yet for as long as I can remember, since I was just a little girl, I have been made fun because I have always been tall and thin. people have always told me to "shut-up", that I don't know what I'm talking about when I say I have a hard time finding clothes that fit. people make comments like, "you've weighed the same since grade 6(or whatever)"...well just to clear something up, I have gained at least 30lbs since then. to clear something up, I weigh well over 100lbs. believe it or not I'm 130. I'm not saying that society doesn't put pressure on girls to be "skinny". I know it does. but I am thin and I have also been made to feel grose and "less than human" and so on. for years, with much struggle, I have been trying to gain weight.(and I'm well aware that some of you who read this will think to yourselves...she's ridiculous! she has no clue what she's talking about. she just wants attention. she's thin. she's got it all as far as the ideal body is concerned.) well for starters, stop judging me. and also, I'm not ridiculous for feeling the way I do. and I don't want attention. I want exactly the opposite. I want people to leave me alone about my height and weight. I hate that you stare and comment about it! I hate it! and another thing, I don't have the ideal body. I'm taller than several guys and I don't have an "ample bossom". far from it. maybe I wouldn't have such a hard time liking how I am if you'd all stop commenting on it and making fun of it, making me feel like crap. just a thought.

are you kidding me?

so I encountered something last night during my visit to the ER...a little background information: I was in a car accident last night(thanks to the wonderful snowy roads) so don't be shocked when you see me, I'm in a neckbrace. ok, but anyways...during my visit to the ER, before they would perform the CT scan they told me they needed to run a pregnancy test first. When I asked them if I could just tell them that there was absolutely no chance that I was pregnant and not have to do the test they told me they couldn't run the CT scan until they ran the test. Well, to say the least I was a little bothered. Why can't they just take my word for it? Why do they have to run a test that is not necessary? Why do they have to charge me(or rather my insurance) so much for me to pee in a cup and then for them to dip a stick in it just to tell them something I could have already told them without the test? Why is it that they assume all girls(or even all people) sleep around? well, thats my thoughts on my most recent experience with a form of a gender issue.

dc Talk

When I think about racism one of the first places I always end up going to is the music of dc Talk. The three men who make up this band have spend the majorit of their 10+ years together talking about racial equality and the beauty of diversity. Even now, as they have, for the time being, split off into solo careers, each one still focuses a lot on this subject.

The started the E.R.A.C.E. foundation, which jingle was, "Colors don't hate, people do." Which is dead on.

However, the story that has touched my heart the most would be the father of the African-American in the group. Michael Tait's father, Nathaniel has been recorded on a few of their albums talking about racism, but this video blew them all away. We learn that if anyone had a right to be racist it was him. The Klan burned his house down and lynched his father. They beat him and the rest of his family. However, he never taught his own children to be racist.

"This hate stuff is for the birds," he said. He quoted John 3:16 and ends it by saying that nothing in that verse talks about color. Jesus is for all.

I touched me that so many today are racist for reasons that are completely insignificant compared to this man. If he won't hate because Christ wouldn't, then why should we?

north country

I don't know where to start. when I watched north country I got incredibly disgusted, upset, and offended and it wasn't even me that everything happened to. and what got me most was the fact that it was even some people she knew; a guy she grew up with and even had a "fling" with. and even her own father stood by for awhile doing nothing until it finally got out of hand and her mother finally stepped in to do something about it by standing up to the father. it just seemed so unreal to me(and sadly it was based on real events). I thought over and over and realized just how blessed I am to have the parents I do, to have the father and brothers I do, the male friends that I have. I won't say I never get treated like on object or like I am sub-human because at times I have been treated that way and yes it can be just as horrible as that movie depicted but I don't live with it day in and day out and I also have family and friends(both male and female) that support me and watch out for me.
I am by no means a radical feminist, I am actually fairly traditional. but regardless, we are ALL created in the image of God. man is no more superior than women. and no one should be treated as inferior or be made to feel like any less of an image of God.

My Take on Women as Pastors

My view on Women in the ministry has changed a lot over the years. It interesting to me that I spent nearly 20 years of my life agreeing with what it was my parents had to say about it. I remember at my home church for a lot of years we had a woman on staff that was called The Shepherd of Women. She left after quite a few years there because the senior pastor refused to give her the title of Pastor.

I found this humorous when I got older because what is a Pastor? One of their jobs is to shepherd. It appears as though it was all semantics. Little did anyone realize that by calling her a shepherd they had already given her the title of pastor.

It intrigues me how people can get so caught up in a title. The gift and the calling is not in the title. I don't think it's fair to keep that from someone because they are a woman.

Women's Basketball Unnoticed

It really is funny, Leannna, when you think along those lines. I remember refereeing soccer games back in Milwaukee. I would get a lot of the High School age girls games. So many more fouls are called in those games. Why? Because those women know how to use their hips and they throw them around all the time.

It is both scary to watch, because you think somoene is going to killed, but incredible to watch them give their all for a fan base that is so much less. Being a soccer fan, I remember when the U.S. Women's National Team started winning World Cups. All of the sudden, women's soccer mattered. It mattered even more after the famous "Sports Bra" incident with Brandy Chastain. All of the sudden guys noticed, because a little bit of sex appeal had been added.

the continued debate

I'm really not sure if a good solid answer can ever be reached for the question of women as pastoral leaders. There will always be differing opinions and different views and interpretations of what the Bible says on the matter. Yes the world has changed and continues to change and roles and opportunities continue to change, on that I agree with Melissa whole-heartedly. However I am still not totally sure that just because the world changes and does something that we are to follow suit. Christians--Christ followers not world followers. But yet we are also to be applicable and understanding in this everchanging world. What is the middle ground? Is there really a Biblical answer on this?

women's athletics unnoticed

I have never personally stopped to think about women's sports and how they differ so much from men's as JJ pointed out but even that I never noticed it is proof of JJ's arguement. I flip channels and see men's sports all the time, but women...rarely. and do I stop to watch the women's sports...not nearly as often as I stop to watch the men's games. and I'm even a girl. ha, go figure that one.
I can only imagine how much women athletes go through and how much they struggle and push themselves in their sports, how much of a fight it must be at times. It requires a great deal of courage, strength, and perseverence, of that I'm sure.

Basketball

An interesting thing happend tonight regarding gender. I was watching the NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship tonight with Tasha. She made a comment about how surprised she was that I was watching it. I think I've made comments in the past about women's sports and how they're less significant. However, my Dad enjoys watching Women's sports more. His reasoning is simple, because women's sports are viewed as less significant they feel they have more to prove. I made a comment tonight along the same lines about why I was watching the game.

It struck me later how true this is of society. Look at the attitude America has towards women's sports. No one would actually speak out publicly about this because the radical feminists would be all over them. BUT the WNBA? It gets made of fun all the time, barely covered on ESPN. U.S. Women's National Soccer Team? It only has some respect because it won the World Cup and the Men can't even get out of the first round.

These athletes are GOOD athletes, they prove it everyday. They work harder than any man just to get some attention.

Depends!!!

Gender issues can depend on age of all sexes, color, and true sexuality (homosexual). This does have a lot to do with racism, but gender issues are more than just adults and white people. Everyone has to realize that the world is never going to be perfect, not is it going to really be a free world.
Men still think that women should stay home, women think that they are free to do anything and everything, different color people think that they should be able to do anything and everything, and finally children have some choice in the matter of what they can do and not do.
The world will never be perfect. It is going to take forever to have unity among churches due to the fact of gender issues and other issues. Gender issues will always be out there no matter how hard we fight.
“It wasn’t until the 1960’s, however, that women got to move beyond their role as a housewife again”. http://intranet.dalton.org/ms/8th/students/decades99/Muffins1950/Pages/gender.html

"The Catholic Church is "Behind the Times" (Thank God!)
Then the charge was made that "Rome" was slow to recognize feminine equality, while many other denominations are "enlightened" and therefore do ordain women. I replied:
For how long have these other "branches" ordained women? And why did they wait so long? Did they need the "illumination" of radical feminism and the sexual revolution to "wake up" and "see the light?" Are we now in a sufficiently-enlightened age to finally grasp what sexual liberals and feminists apparently think is self-evident, while ages past were hopelessly regressive and "primitive?" It is the height of arrogance and folly for any of us moderns, with multiple hundreds of millions of dead in our century and enough slaughtered pre-born children to fill up Yankee Stadium to the brim, field and all, to wax eloquent about our "progressive" understanding of men and women!
It is utterly implausible to think that a century as corrupt and evil as ours (hence, Communism, Naziism, and abortion as the quintessential examples of this, just as slavery and genocide of the Indians were in the 19th century) would be the one to discover these moral truths which sexual liberals consider so self-evident. It just doesn't make any sense. Of all the twenty centuries since Christ, we are the ones to discover the "truth" that men and women are essentially no different from each other (or that abortion is morally permissible), and that virtually all Christians previously were dolts and chauvinists, who couldn't see that women ought to be ordained?!!! "
http://socrates58.blogspot.com/2007/03/gender-roles-male-priests-equality-and.html

What do you think of this article?

Catholics have a different doctrine and basically only men lead the church!!!

old and new times

In the old days (Bible) 5And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is just as though her head were shaved. 6If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. 7A man ought not to cover his head,[b] since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. 8For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head. 11In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. 13Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. (1Corinthians 11:5-15) After my lost blog, I would these verses and wanted to comment on them. Times have changed and women do not have to cover their heads, short or long it does not matter, and we do not have to shave it if it is a disgrace to others. On the other hand, if women have to cover their heads then why can’t men were baseball caps to church (just being a devils advocate)?
34women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. 1 (Corinthians 14:34-36)
This as also changed; women are able to speak what they think. Women are able to read scriptures in church, give/say a prayer out loud, and sing. Women in this day and age have the knowledge to find the answer to their questions instead of always asking their husbands. Another thing, is that men do not always know all the answers to all the questions!

women as pastors

I think that women should be pastors. I think that everyone has the chance to be whatever they want to be, as long as they try their hardest. Women have just the same amount of knowledge as men. Yes I do agree that men are spiritual leaders of their families, but women can be in the lead of a church. Yes women are seen to conquer the children and they are in charge of them most of the time, so why can't they be in charge of the elders?
I guess I think that men should be in control at the home, but at church, all people should have a fair chance of control, whether it is a woman or man. Yes men were made first and woman out of man, but God made women for a reason and since the tides are turning and women are starting to be able to get an education and real jobs, they should be able to lead the church. A pastor is a huge role to play, and they put up with a lot of stuff; but women are better multi-taskers, men are more dominant, and the both are equal. 1 Corinthians 11:11 "11In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.
Those are just some of my thoughts and feelings on the subject. I also think that if we do not let them be pastors of churches, then society would frown upon us and say that Christians are sexist, and even more than that!!!

female pastoral roles

the question has often been asked, should females be pastoral leaders? is it right for them to be pastors. honestly, I'm not totally sure of a biblical foundational answer to that question but I do have my own thoughts on the matter. I think that since the beginning of time, women have been created to support man, help man, nurture man, and so on. I think that people in general respond better to male leaders. It is more likely that a congregation will follow a male leader than a female leader, at least that is my view on the matter. I don't know if it is a sin or wrong for a female to be a pastor but I do think that the way men and women have been created, the ways in which we differ so strongly, better suit the men to lead and the women to support and nurture. I guess that is just how I feel on the matter.

poverty and tithing

reading through the book, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, I found his words on tithing to be thought-provoking and convicting. being honest with myself, I am not the most faithful when it comes to tithing. so often I feel that if I tithe I won't have enough money to pay my bills and buy groceries and gas. I am weak in my faith. when it comes to financial issues I struggle with faith and trusting in the Lord a great deal.
I am thinking how selfish I am, how weak I am, and how blessed I am. According to scriptures I matter more to the Lord than a sparrow which is always taken care of by the Lord. I should trust He will supply my needs. And isn't it the Lord that supplies me with the ability to work and the opportunity to make money?. Isn't it only right and fair to give to Him; after all it is His to begin with.
and I am also thinking how tithing isn't just placing 10% into the church offering. Tithing can be giving money to a homeless shelter, supplying food to a food pantry, providing the financial means to for missionaries to travel abroad and teach people in foreign cultures ways to develop agriculture and farm and have clean water, to help them build houses and learn to work and support themselves in impoverished situations. thinking of tithing in this way gives more opportunities for tithing and sparks more of an interest within me to tithe. it saddens me to realize this though, that I have waited so long and so many have died.

passing by

after reading JJ's post "conscious / unconscious" I thought about how as a child my parents always taught me to be friendly to people, to say 'hello' as you passed by someone on a walk or what not, to smile. there have been so many times when I have been out walking on the trail or passing someone in the mall that makes eye contact with me, and other such circumstances and I usually try to remember to smile and say 'hi' and it seems that very rarely is it reciprocated. our world has become a "keep to yourself" enviroment.
I've been reading a series of books by my favorite author, Lori Wick, and in these books, which are set back in the colonial days, everyone in each town knows the other, neighbors have Sunday dinners or tea together, people stop by as they pass by and visit or help whenever needed, people look in on their neighbors to see how they're doing, people cared about others. this is not something that is seen in our world today just as JJ said. now, people have to make the conscious decision to be friendly, loving, and helpful; to care. even I have to remind myself to serve others, to love others, to be like Christ and show Christ to others. its a convicting subject.

Gender issues

Why are men more dominant than women? Why hasn't there been a female president? I do not mind having to stay home when I have children, but men always say that women are suppose to stay home 'bare foot and pregnant'! Women are starting to make a difference in the world and becoming successful, yet men always try to out do us and say that we can not do everything that they can do. I think that we (women) can practically do everything that men can do besides pee standing up (we can but it's hard)!!! I found this quote online:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves "who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you... As we let our light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others. "
Marianne Williamson, as quoted by Nelson Mandella in a 1994 Inaugural Address.

Home Improvement

I was watching Home Improvement earlier today and the premise behind the show was that a Binford employee was going to go up in a space shuttle as part of a mission. Time and Al are fighint for the spot and at one point Al makes a comment about the fact that the mission would be commanded by woman. He says, "Al thinks it's about time."

Now, I realize the entire thing is played for laughs and is to come across as not serious. However, I think this is a very common way for networks to push their views across as to where they sit with their attitude towards women. I just think it's interesting how the network can find subliminal ways to get their political views across. It saves face for the execs and keeps people watching the show.

I do see gender discrimination towards the man a lot in the show to. Tim is always blowing something up, misquoting some philosopher, or just doing things wrong. It kind of degrades men in a way, something we don't see much of. We see the wife who is the psychology major, does all these things that the "liberated woman" can do. It's a reversal of what we are used to seeing on TV.

Conscious vs. Unconscious

I came across an interesting thought this morning. It seemed like there was a time in life when hospitality was a key part of life. There was a time when the unconscious decision was to help people. It wasn't something that was even questioned it was just done. The conscious decision that had to be made was NOT helping people.

Now the tables have turned. The thing everyone does now is make the unconscious decision to walk by someone that is in need. They actually ignore them without realizing they do. It's sad to see the swing that has taken place not just within the culture of the United States, but in the Christian circles as well. It seems that one of the most difficult parts of the Christian life is reaching out to others.

Luke's Story

Luke Mirau just told me a story that really touched my heart.

He was on a mission trip to Washington D.C. a few years ago. There was a boy there named Kenny who followed him everywhere. Kenny had absolutely nothing. His parents owned nothing. He was attached to Luke's hip the whole time he was there.

They were running a VBS there and most parents dropped their kids off because it was free babysitting. However, Kenny was just there because he had no place else to be and really wanted to.

The day came for Luke to leave and Kenny would not stop crying. The last thing he wanted was for Luke to leave. Luke had bought a hat for a vacation his family going on after this trip was done. It was the most expensive hat he ever owned.

He just gave it to Kenny. Immeadiately the kid stopped crying. It was the genuine care for this child that got to me. It was the giving up of something one liked to help one who had nothing. It isn't about the hat, it's about the attitude.

Poverty and Education

On Yahoo! Questions I cam across a question that asked if poverty depended on education or educatioin depended on poverty. This question was in regards to poverty in America. I found the views expressed in answering this question be rather interesting.

A lot of people seemed to think that it was an act of laziness. They felt that with a little bit of will power these people could go get educated, get a job, and join the rest of society. This got me thinking about all the thing we've discussed in class towards racism and prejudice. The truth is, we do the same thing with poor people that we do with black, asians, and hispanics. We seem to get an attitude of contempt.

Instead of feeling compassion for them we fill ourselves with contempt. We feel better about not helping them if we tell ourselves that they put themselves on the street. It all does come full circle.

Am I Impoverished?

I started thinking tonight about poverty and the differet aspects of it. What does it mean, in my mind, to be impoverished? Why does it even exist?

I'm not looking for the answer that it exists because of the fallen world we live in. That's a given.

To be impoverished means to be without something. I think that's the most basic way to put it, honestly. When we think of poverty-stricken areas like Malawi or Central America we always think of them being without food, clean water, sanitation, etc. The list goes on! Naturally, this isn't something we can ignore.

However, I began thinking why it just has to apply to these types of subjects. What is is that I lack? What am I without? When it comes to materials I am very blessed.

I have learned that God has a deeper meaning to all this, I think. We see poverty and think of all the things we are without, BUT we don't stop and think that the whole world is impoverished from God's love. We see the lost but we don't think about a spiritual poverty. We don't see it as them being without God. Although, that's exactly what they are.

We live in a world full of poverty. The truth is that with enough money and generous hearts we can do a pretty decent job of fixing the poverty we see. That'll make us feel good about ourselves. We don't see the spiritual poverty of people, so we don't let if phase us.

We need to remember that poverty is spiritual too.

Poverty Coincides with Politics

I just read over an article located at this site: http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Poverty.asp

The woman writing about these issues explains the role of politics in the fact that poverty exists.

I found these thought to be extremely interesting. I found them particularly intriguing thanks mostly to my recently founded opinions on politics and the political regime. We see how politics have played such an important role in the progress of poverty.

It seems that everytime there is a war poverty follows. This is how politics play into it. A war these days tends to be fought on grounds of differences in politics and other things. As the article states, a lot of times trade is involved.

I find it ironic that a lot of the time the politicians that are elected by the people send their countries war and force the people that voted for them into poverty. The right political agenda can help stop this, however, that's a dangerous path because somehow it might show weakness.

United by faith

I thought that the book was very well written and I like what the author had to say; even though he repeated himself a bit. Racism is a huge problem in this world and I see it all the time at my work. Almost everyone shops there and you see whites give weird looks to the Muslims and vise verse. The book just put it all into prospective for me and I love UNITY!!! I could not believe that we had a church in this state that was working on inclusive with all types of colored people. That is so awesome and i think it will go a long way. Down in the D.R. we went to a conference that was over 5 hours long (we only stayed for 5 hours though) and they had all types of denominations there, under one roof worshipping the one and only true GOD!
Why in America don't we do this? Why can't we try and do what Martin Luther King Jr. did/tried? Unity I think is a key thing to have. Once we have unity and everyone believing in trinity, I think that everyone would we get along a lot better.
When people ask me what denomination I am, I say Christian. It should not matter what church I go to show that I am a Christian. Once people find out what church you attend, they tend to label you and assume (you know what happens when you assume)and you wonder why there is not unity!!!!

love them

I love mission trips and I think that everyone should go on one at some point in there life. They are life changing experiences and they show how similar people of a different culture are to us. Down in the D.R. there is racism with the Haitians and the Dominicans. For me it was hard to point out who was who, but from what I heard, people are racist and they want the Haitians to go back to their side of the island. As for poverty, Haitians are poorer than the Dominicans as a country. The Dominican does have some towns that are poorer than others but as a whole they are richer than Haiti.
Since I have visited both sides of the Island, I have come to the conclusion that no matter how we treat them or what we look like to them, they still think that we are awesome and they know that we are there to help. They know that they have people to trust. Kids now that we are there to give them hope for the future. Parents know that we are there to help their children, but also to help them with a better sense of understanding of certain things.
God loves all of us the same and no matter how we look, feel, do, etc; God still loves us!

Why?

Why is it that when we go on a mission trip to serve, we are the ones that get served? Why is it that when we get back from mission trips, after a week, we get back to our old self's and forget what we learned and how lucky we are? It is amazing, even as a Christian, I do take things for granted! Everyone does some time or another. Yes God blessed us with what we have (job,car,school,money,etc.), but those people in the third world countries can not even find a job. Where do they get the money? Where do they ate? Do they go to school? Have they even seen a car, or even rode in one? Yet when we come to help, they are so grateful that we are there and they give us as much as they can and we want to save our money for souvenirs! Why can't the world have the same things? Why can't the rich give to the poor? Why can't the poor die?

These are just some questions that we ask one another, if not ourselves! Why can't the world be a better place for all people - poor or rich, female or male, etc?

misrepresented?

reading over the blog posts, I haven't posted on Christians in the Media, so that's what I'll be doing now.

the question on my mind is, "are Christians really being misrepresented in the media"?
we're often portrayed and "Bible-beaters" or selfish people with their own agenda or "hippy-like" and when many people think of Christians they think "hypocrites", they are no different than me. and when this happens, we get upset and scream "misrepresentation" but what are we really doing to change that? so many of us do "shove" Christianity down others' throats, or are more concerned with our own agenda, or are Sunday Christians or C&E Christians. If we're going to live like that then we can not get upset with the stereotypes or labels people and the media are putting on us. Yes, this is quite upsetting and it should make something deep inside you squirm a little. True, the media does not display and accurate picture of what a true, Christ-following Christian is; but they do paint a fairly reasonable picture of how many Christians are today in our world. And until we take action in our own lives and in the world to change that, the "misrepresentation" will continue. Just some thoughts...

A Lesson of Humility

I was also a part of the team that went to India last spring along with JJ. It was an experience that I cherish and will never forget! The people over there, although so many of them had so little, were so incredibly loving and giving. When we went to visit some of the church members in their homes(which were typically 2 maybe 3 rooms with mud or a cement type floor covered by handmade rugs. they had a humble kitchen with a stone type firplace to cook in, one bedroom for the family, and then the small sitting area with maybe a couple chairs)...they went above and beyond bringing bananas, cookies, tea, or coffee to us. They were so welcoming, so giving, even when they had so little(or maybe, they have more than we do). That is a thought I think about a lot. They seem so much more content, so happy while we over here in America, live in huge homes(especially in comparison to theirs), have two, three, sometimes more cars, pools, multiple indoor bathrooms with plumbing...it literally boggles my mind how we have all this and yet are always so unhappy, so unsatisified, and give so much of ourselves, our time to attain more and more. The Christian families we met there have God and their families at the center of their lives. It was so refreshing and humbling. I know I've said it before on here, but I think that poverty is truly a blessing in disguise.

Mission Trip

I just got back from my mission trip to the Dominican Republic. The trip was amazing and yet sad at the same time! From where we stayed and where we worked at were two different towns within 30 miles of each other. Just amazed me how people would rather have their money than try to help others. The children that we worked with were awesome and loved getting their pictures taken. On the other hand, the parents of their childern let us hold their babies, but in return they wanted something from us. People think that since we are Americans we are rich. That is some what true, but not true! Yes America is a rich country, but as college student and working to get through college, we consider ourselves poor. Yet to the people in the DR, they see us as rich.
That trip got me thinking so much. Besides shoes, I think I am going to start buying clothes at good will, salvation for 2 reasons- 1. cheaper 2. some of the clothes that we buy are priced so high and people that make the clothes get paid so little. These shops are just as good as shopping at the mall, you just might want to wash the clothes first before you wear them.
Where the children had school was amazing. They had a tin roof, hardly a floor (some 2 by 4s) a couple of pews and 2 chalkboards. When we handed out coloring sheets and 2 crayons, they were the happiest children in the world. I think that since living in America, we take a lot of things for granted! Please pray the children in Amistad and for the ministries in the DR!!!

India

When I traveled to India about this time last year I remember not really knowing what to expect when I set foot on their soil. I had no real knowledge of those people. The first real day we were there we were expected to go around town with some of the pastors and make house calls and just meet people. I remember driving around the city of Kochii and viewing the houses. There were some gorgeous houses, very ornate and well maintained. However, in front of or next to these houses were very small, dirty, broken down homes. It struck me as odd that these homes were in the same areas of town. I remember one house I walked into was about the size of the old unit's downstairs room. They're walls were sheets of plastic. These people had NOTHING!

However, when I walked into their home they offered me the best they had. They were thankful for what they had and where they lived. I can't imagine in India, where the caste system is still so strong, how difficult it would be to be apart of a lesser class and live in poverty. However, these people didn't take it that way. They were thankful for everything they had. They accepted their places and did all they could. The Christians in poverty were some of the happiest Christians I've ever seen.

Poverty - According to Derek Webb

There is a song by Derek Webb called "Rich Young Ruler". When it comes to our attitude about poverty in the west I think he hits it right on the head.


Rich Young Ruler

(vs. 1)
poverty is so hard to see
when it’s only on your tv and twenty miles across town
where we’re all living so good
that we moved out of Jesus’ neighborhood
where he’s hungry and not feeling so good
from going through our trash
he says, more than just your cash and coin
i want your time, i want your voice
i want the things you just can’t give me

(vs. 2)
so what must we do
here in the west we want to follow you
we speak the language and we keep all the rules
even a few we made up
come on and follow me
but sell your house, sell your suv
sell your stocks, sell your security
and give it to the poor
what is this, hey what’s the deal
i don’t sleep around and i don’t steal
i want the things you just can’t give me

(bridge)
because what you do to the least of these
my brother’s, you have done it to me
because i want the things you just can’t give me

This song strikes a cord with me. I can picture Jesus saying this to us. For some reason we have it in our heads that giving money is all that is needed to help destroy poverty. How very wrong we are.

I remember when the woman from Compassion International came to chapel. She said one thing I have never been able to get out of my head. She asked us to be the voice of these children. The exact same thing Jesus wants of us. He isn't as interested in our money as he is our time.

Then think of all the luxuries we have. We can do without so many of the things we have. We taken it all for granted. We justify not doing that by talking about how we live and keep the commandments. Derek show us how WE are the rich young ruler.

Christians in Media

So I suppose it's about time I actually did this right....

I definitely think it's important to look at a how Christians are viewed in the media, whether it be in a movie, or the news, or theatre, or any other part of pop culture we can think of. We see them constantly bad-mouthed and torn down, look at movies like Dogma.

However, there is another side to this that few people are willing to address. We seem to look past the fact that there are Christians whose professions are to work in these different places of the media. Is this a problem?

In order to get anywhere in this business people are often forced to do things that they don't want to. They can sometimes be asked to compromise themselves. My thoughts on this lie more towards movies, theatre, and television. There are several professing Christians in any of those genres who will swear, because the script calls for it. They are playing a character and this is not them, is usually the justification. Is this right? Or does it not matter at all?

Jesus Camp

As I sit back and think about the documentary Jesus Camp, my mind keeps being drawn to one specific part of it. Never mind the way these kids find it so necessary to share their faith with total strangers or the charismatic tendencies of those being documented. My problem deals with the woman who led the youth camps shown throughout the film.

This woman had one of the strongest passions for youth that I have seen in a long time and I do not doubt that her intentions are good. However, I watched her address these kids in the general assemblies they had. I could tell she was trying to motivate them, but it was the way she did it that bothered me. It seemed that guilt was the tactic she always used. I distinctly remember her telling the kids that they would be come fat and lazy if they didn’t start sharing the gospel. She also asked them to make a promise to them and they told them they would be liars if they broke it.

I do not believe that this is the correct motivation for these kids. No child wants to be labeled a liar, so naturally they will make the promise being asked of them. Guilt in no way works when it comes to getting anyone to do thing for the right reasons. It makes me question whether or not the decisions being made by these young children were real. Come to think of it, based on the age of some of these kids, did they even know what they were doing…

respond to Leaanna

That is so true Leaanna, about the poor and even being homeless just once would be quite an experience. I have never thought like that before, but I have wondered how the homeless even in the USA do it from day to day. I have seen people wanting rides, with a dog, and yet all they want is food and/or a ride somewhere. Especially in MN, it is amazing how people survive in the cold winters. God has blessed us with a roof over our heads, work, food, cars, heat, etc; and yet we see that we struggle to get by!!! We are always wanting more, spending money on thing that we do not need but we want!

poverty: a blessing in disguise?

The pastors son at my home church, and also a friend of mine, has told me before that one thing he someday wants to do is live as a homeless person. Thinking about this, I asked him why and he answered with: homeless people are some of the most humble people, some of the most thankful people, some of the kindest and most loving people, not to mention they have some cool stories to share. And you know, he's right. Now certainly I am not saying that poverty is a good thing; it is a characteristic of our fallen world. However, is it a blessing in disguise? One living in poverty may very well learn things, life lessons, that take most people a life time to learn. They may very well be some of the most humble and loving people on this planet. I'm not really sure where it is I'm going with this thought, but it is something that is on my mind from time to time.

selfishness begets poverty

so this morning I'm riding over to chapel with Sarah and as we pass one of the gated communities here in Rochester she points out this enormous house that is valued at around 5 million dollars. Their driveway is heated(so that ice never forms on it)! She shared with me how a company she works for, Red-Nose Lighting, decorated their house at Christmas time this year for $3 grand. and as I'm hearing this and seeing this house, I'm thinking...here these people are living in this enormous house with a heated driveway and yet there are still so many people out in this world that are homeless, starving, sick, and dying. and then this gets me to thinking, so many times I think about how I have to scrape by just in order to get my bills paid and sometimes it is so frustrating and stressful but how much more do I have then those living in a third world country?. I have things that some of them only dream about.
Remembering the time I spent in India last spring I can recall how little most of those people had and yet they were still so willing to share it with us; and how small their homes were and yet they would pack people in for prayer and service meetings.
When you think about it, if the wealthy in this world would live more like the average person and even if the average person would give up a little extra cash instead of splurging on something frugle...we could end poverty. But we are too selfish and so I don't see poverty ever being ended. I just don't see mankind being that selfless. It's definately a tragedy that plagues mankind.

poverty

Poverty – according to dictionary.com, “the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor; indigence”. Poverty is a huge thing in the world today. I hate that people get paid millions of dollars doing what they love, while people are starving/dying everyday. With the money that some people make could probably feed the world.
WCCO today actually talked about poverty - http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_048151748.html
WATCH THE VIDEO – in our own state this one guy is making a huge difference in Africa, saving people’s lives and making it more of a clean area to live. This guy started building wells for cleaner water for the people down there. The people used to drink water that cows stood in and just water from a stream. If one state can do this, what would happen if all 50 states did this all over the world?
That is why I love mission work. I am going on my second mission trip (first to Haiti and second to the other side of the Island Dominican Republic). Being a Christian and going on mission trips are awesome and really prove to the poor that you are there to help. Taking mission classes really changed my view on people that live in poverty. The people do not really like us taking pictures because we use those pictures to show how poor they are and how lucky we are. They dress their best to go to church because wearing your best shows honor to God. We dress in whatever we want to go to church because we are lazy, tired, feel that whatever we wear will not dishonor God. I think we should dress up for church. Church is a place where we go to honor and worship God as a family.
57 million people in the world died last year because of poverty, but we have doctors, dentists, food, etc that we have. God created this world for us to love one another not hate or be greedy. I am a poor (in the USA) married college student and we have adopted a child from Bolivia (pay only $36 a month) to help a child get education, food, etc. If every family in the USA did the $36 a month this world would be a healthier/loving world.

Denominational Battles

Well, when I was just a kid my family went to the Greenwood Community Church in Greenwood, Indiana. Once the church got rather incredibly large we went to it's sister church, Franklin Community Church in Franklin, Indiana. Around the age of 10 my family moved to Wisconsin and attended the Church of Christ in Janesville, Wisconsin where Jon Grice was Pastor(my father had been friends with him here at MBC). We were members of that church for many years. I guess you could say I grew up in that church. I was there 4-12 grade. However, during my Senior year in highschool I also started attending the Seventh Day Baptist Church in Milton, Wisconsin with a friend and became a member there my Freshman year of college. I still attend that church whenever I am home. My parents have now been going to Saunders Creek Community Church for the past few years and I attend there with them when I am home as well. When I am asked what denomination I am, I reply...I am not a denomination, I'm a Christian. Honestly, I think all these different denominations are ridiculous! Every church I have attended, although there have been very minor differences in things such as communion or baptism practices, the core beliefs are the same. And I firmly believe that even within a denomination people will differ in their beliefs. We are called as Christians(followers of Christ), not as Church of Christ'ers' or Baptists or Protestants or Catholics or Lutherans and so on, but as one holistic group. We are called to be united and to reach the masses with love. Instead, with all these different denominations, we are competeing to see who's got the higher membership count or the better building or the more "cool" programs. It's ridiculous and it certainly is not accomplishing what we were commissioned to do.I have learned from my classes here at Crossroads and in my life experiences that there needs to be some serious unification amongst Christians both within each denomination and amongst the denominations. Now, although I firmly believe this, at this point in time I am still working on developing ideas of how to accomplish this. I do know that there needs to be prayer, confession, and humility amongst all Christians for this to even begin taking place. It needs to be an individualistic thing just as much as a holistic thing. You can't change the group if there are unwilling participants. So I guess, at this point in time, prayer and working on yourself is the first step.

Christians in Media

Christians are portrayed horribly in Media. Almost all shows that we watch you hardly ever see people going to church, praying, and/or talking about God; there is a lot of using God's name in vein and people talking about the Bible,but that does not mean that they are Christians. Almost everyone knows what the Bible is but some follow it, some believe it, and others want nothing to do with it.
I was watching the show "House" (it is about very smart Doctors that can basically find what is wrong with clients and cure them) and this nun had came in because her hands were allergic to something and then she start seizing after getting a shot. Afterwards she was talking to one of the doctors about God and the Doctor sad that before becoming a doctor he went to seminary but then dropped out. He then told the nun his favorite passage and she told him hers. Later she had almost started to stop believing and thought that it was her time to go, then the doctor started praying for her. This doctor never followed up with his faith later on in the show, never talked to anyone about himself and his believes. The woman Doctor on the other hand had lost her husband 6 months into the marriage and doesn't believe because of how soon her husband died.
Some movies I think do portray good Christians like "Passion", "Walk to Remember", and the "Nativity". Of course two out of those 3 movies are based on Jesus' live. In the news, it seems that the only time that the church, Christians, or God/Jesus are mentioned is because of a bombing, building project, or a miracle. Christians are portrayed very poorly in the Media. People mock us in almost every show. It is not ok to sleep with multiple people, even though everyshow practically shows that! In the news, WCCO talks about the Christian Prison mission loses state subsidy http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_040104438.html. I guess our good deeds and trying to help people that had a rough life is not good enough to keep prison mission running. That mission helped inmates for a life after jail. It helped and showed them how to live a good life and to change for the better. Several states were doing this, but just because Texas wasn't paying in and a federal judge in Iowa halted the program because it was a separation of church and state, this Christian mission has to halt! I think that is crap, to fair at all. Christians were helping people, putting their time away from family and work to try and change people's lives; make violence start to diminish.
Not all Christians are perfect, in fact no one is perfect. Christians do cheat, beat, etc., but we also ask for forgiveness, we try to do the right thing, we try and live how Christ lived. But life is not easy there are obstacles in everyone's way no matter how easy/hard we think our lives are. Some music that we listen to on the radio is either against Christianity or against it. For example KROC 106.9 plays almost anything new even some new christian music as long as people like the beat, not so much the words. When listening to music we should be listening to the words to know what the artist is trying to portray through that song.

Jesus Camp cont.

The movie gave a lot of statistics which I liked and learned from. At the bowling alley, i thought it was also neat to see a 9 year old girl preach to an older lady about God and telling her that God has a great future for her if she wants to go in that direction. I just believe that children are still learning more about their religion and about God/Jesus, I do not think that they have the experience and the knowledge to go out and preach to others.

The red tape on the kids mouth "LIFE" - really disturbed me.

Becky (pastor)-"Devil uses tactics to tempt us, sin designed to destroy you" The devil thing I believe to be true, but the whole thing is not designed to destroy us, God gave us sin because we need not obey His law in the Garden of Eden; therefore sin is life and without sin then you are basically Jesus, Mary, etc. (few of them in this world).

At the camp they talked about Harry potter and if they talked about that in the Bible Harry would be put to death. Warlocks are enemy's of God. I think you can let your children watch Harry Potter but you have to be able to let them know that witches/warlocks are not real, you can not fly, no such thing as magic. Ghost stories are not really of course because there is no such thing as a ghost. But, do ghost stories dishonor God? As for the Bible, it talks about miracles. With miracles comes the power from God (belief, prayer, etc.).

Jesus Camp

I watched Jesus Camp and i was really devastated. To me it felt like the children we being brainwashed by Pastor Becky. I do believe that some people can talk in Tongues but not everyone. With speaking in tongues, i thought that those people needed to have an Interpreter? I do not think that at the age of 12 you should be giving sermons, to kids younger than you yes, but not to adults. Also I do not think that childern should be evangelizing.