Slavery is Over, Mr. Murdoch!

I just read Rupert Murdoch’s  recent tweet in which he expressed his desire for a real black President. Wow! I wonder what exactly he means. Is it that the present POTUS is not black enough for him? Is it that someone with a darker skin color would be better? What does ‘real’ mean? What qualifies Mr. Murdoch to judge whether one black person’s grasp of his or her identity, and connection and appreciation of the black experience is less or greater than that displayed by another black sister or brother?

I find Mr. Murdoch’s comments deeply offensive. It speaks to a philosophy of power and control that would keep certain people in check and in their designated place. In Mr. Murdoch’s world he gets the privilege to determine who is good enough; who sits at the table or who serves. But someone should awaken Mr. Murdoch from his mental slavery dream. We are no longer living on a plantation, and he is no bakra master. The great house no longer exists and there are no more ‘house’ and ‘field’ slaves. That era has passed and we ain’t going back there!

Let’s End Capital Punishment

I went to bed last night, hoping, praying that some last minute effort, including the plea of His Holiness, Pope Francis would have spared the life of Kelly Gissendaner. Imagine my horror when I awoke this morning and learnt that she was put to death late last night in Georgia.

Am I the only one deeply saddened, embarrassed, and ashamed by this travesty of justice? Our politicians love to claim that our justice system is the best in the world. How can it be, when the co-conspirator in this case, the man who did the stabbing, received a sentence of life imprisonment but Kelly was sentenced to death? The late Bob Marley said it well: “Man to man is so unjust!” But thank God our human judgment is NOT the final word.

The pastors and other prison visitors who interacted with Kelly over the past few years testified that she came to a place in her life where she acknowledged the error of her ways, sought God’s forgiveness, and found peace. Those who have never had the need to seek God’s forgiveness have no idea of the peace that must have attended her soul. That’s why, even to the very end, she could sing “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound … I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.” I pray her soul will rest in peace, and I beg you who share my outrage to never cease praying and working for the end of capital punishment. This too is a major human rights issue. We can’t afford to gift our kind, who are prone to make mistakes and who are so often prejudiced in our thinking, with the ultimate responsibility to decide who lives or who dies.

Shame and Scandal in the Duggar Family

The ‘in-house’ handling of childhood sexual abuse as reportedly carried out by the Duggar family was wrong. It avoided accountability and hindered justice for the children who suffered. Consider how the victims were re-traumatized over and over again, every time they saw the secrecy being sustained, or observed the accommodating posture of the parents towards the offender. “Shame and scandal in the family!”

“I appreciate you.”

Something sadly lacking in many relationships is the daily practice of each partner taking time to tell the other person how much he or she is loved and appreciated.

Do all the good you can…

Whether or not John Wesley said this, it is a good challenge to us this, and every day:

“Do all the good you can.
By all the means you can.
In all the ways you can.
In all the places you can.
At all the times you can.
To all the people you can.
As long as ever you can.”

Violence Against Women Is NOT a Private Matter

It was so disheartening to hear the views of some women attending last night’s football game in Baltimore. Many of them wore shirts with words supporting Ray Rice. That’s fine. My problem lies with the opinion of some of the women who told journalists that Rice should be left alone because whatever happened is between him (Rice) and his wife. I beg to differ. Violence against women is a problem that needs attention and action if we are to bring any relief and hope to the many women who are suffering. It is not a private matter. If we close our eyes and pretend that we just don’t see or care, our inaction will only help to make life more miserable for the victims. I am reminded of the words of Niemöller:

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”

What Does the Lord Require?

What a thought-provoking question this one is which we will read from the book of Micah tomorrow:  “With what shall I come before the Lord?”  Maybe we should think carefully before we each give answer to this question.  We are not worthy because we have been regular in attendance, or because we have been consistent with our tithing, or because we have been devoted in attending the meetings of the boards or committees on which we serve in our local church.  These, though commendable, are not enough. So for instance we need to engage and transform a society in which children lose their lunches because their parents for one reason or the other are indebted to a school district. For the Christian, this kind of ministry (advocacy and engagement) is not an option.  Micah 6:8 tells us that this is what God requires.  Hymn-writer, Albert Bayly reminds us: “Still your children wander homeless; still the hungry cry for bread; still the captives long for freedom; still in grief we mourn our dead…”  To such conditions God still calls us … to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.  God delights when his children live in this way.

Let’s Get Our Act Together

Unlike many commentators who seem annoyed about the President’s intent to apply executive powers to thwart congressional logjam, I am not bothered by this. It has happened before and will continue long after President Obama leaves the White House. The sure way to prevent the President from going this route is for congress to get down to some serious work on behalf of the suffering masses. We have seen a ray of hope with a few bipartisan bills over the last two weeks. Hope this continues. What I am more concerned about though, is our one-on-one interactions… the increased incidents of shooting…our attitude to those who offend us such as that shown by a congressman who last night threatened physical harm to a reporter who dared to ask him certain questions. This is where we need to get our act together. No executive decision can do this for us. We have to dig deep to recover the value of human life, the dignity of each person, respect, and love.

Winter Concert

Last night’s Winter Concert by the three choirs of the Pocono Mountain West High School was special for two reasons. First, we were treated to a lot more sacred songs than we have had in previous years. It was a delight to hear the massed choir of about 80 students sing Charles Wesley’s,  “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”  Then the other thing that made the night special was that my daughter made her first appearance as a member of the school’s Concert Choir. Great night of music!  We are supposed to get about 8 inches of snow here in the Poconos today, but after last night’s treat all I can say is … let it snow, let it snow.

Giving Tuesday

Since Wednesday night’s pre-Thanksgiving Day sales events through to tomorrow’s anticipated Cyber Monday spending spree, we would have devoted five days to GETTING… food, gifts, personal effects, entertainment, etc.  Let’s switch gears and make Tuesday a day of GIVING.  This will be the second year of this program that tries to balance our need to acquire things with an appeal to help others who are in need. Giving Day challenges us to think a little less of ourselves and a little more of others.  For example, UNICEF (www.unicefusa.org) has announced that for as little as $38.00, one can sponsor a polio vaccine shot for a child, and $23.00 can provide a blanket for a needy child.  My denomination, the United Methodist Church offers opportunities for giving through its Mission Advance projects.  You may visit www.umcmission.org/give to learn more about some of the available options for giving through the UMC.  No doubt other Christian denominations provide similar opportunities. You may also be able to find projects in your community that might benefit from your financial support. Find one that you can support with a financial gift this Tuesday. If you don’t have money to give, you could also spend some time volunteering at a nursing home or some such institution in your community. Whatever you do, make Tuesday the day when instead of GETTING, you GIVE to someone less fortunate than yourself.