I am happy to report that our golf tournament was a success!! Check out the staff pic below. I am so blessed to be there, God does answer prayer.
1
“The challenges in life aren’t intended to make you fall but to watch you fly like an eagle when you conquer them.” Unknown
Apr
30
Apr
30
"If we’re really honest with ourselves, there are probably times when we think, "what possible use can I be in this world? What need is there for somebody like me to fill?" That’s one of the deeper mysteries. Then God’s grace comes to us in the form of another person who tells us we have been of help, and what a blessing that is." [Fred Rogers]
My girls…(Betsy, ME, Edna, another one is missing in NY) are the ones that nurture me and remind me that I bring something to this world and they have been impacted by my contribution. I do the same for them. I can’t believe so many years of my life I didn’t have this fellowship of sista soldiers–so glad that time is no longer.
Apr
30
This story about a woman who claimed to be kidnapped because she could not "handle the pressure" of her upcoming wedding kinda angers me. It is so selfish. I understand that she could have "issues" and that unfortunately as so many people do allowed herself to become part of something that took on a life of its own without saying how she really felt, but come on…having so many people worrying, tax payer dollars wasted looking for her! If I was her fiance I would use the money that was going to be spent on the wedding, on therapy and some spiritual direction for his bride-to-be!
Apr
26
Apr
26
My sis-in-law passed me this info (thanks to Enid for the heads up) which I think should be publicized further. It turns out that Denzel Washington has more than good looks, he has a good heart…using his money for the good of American soldiers. You go Denzel!
Denzel’s visit to Fort Sam Houston - Haven’t seen this on the news.
Don’t know whether you heard about this but Denzel was visiting Brook Army Medical Center, in San Antonio,Texas (BAMC) the other day. This is where soldiers that have been evacuated from Germany come to be hospitalized in the States, especially burn victims. They have buildings there called Fisher Houses. The Fisher House is a hotel where soldiers’ families can stay, for little or no charge, while their soldier is staying in the hospital. BAMC has quite a few of these houses on base but as you can imagine, they are almost completely filled most of the time.
While Denzel Washington was visiting BAMC, they gave him a tour of one of the Fisher Houses. He asked how much one of them would cost to build. He took his check book out and wrote a check for the full amount right there on the spot. The soldiers overseas were amazed to hear this story and want to get the word out to the American public, because it warmed their hearts to hear it. I hope you will spread this story.
Apr
21
The Geek Squad from Best Buy visited me yesterday. So cute! They had to install my wireless network.
Apr
21
How my faith should influence my politics? Well, as Black Eye Peas are famous for singing "Let’s Get It Started…" This is juicy and I wish I could talk about it rather than write about it but here goes…
Bill Bean shared on Chapter 4 and how there is always the politics of complaints in our world. I agree. Most people like to complain rather than to participate in a process. I think that those who complain often are the least knowledgeable about some of the issues at hand and some may not have done the self-evaluation necessary to help them figure out how their faith should influence their politics. The complainers are talking about the shoulds because they may not have mentally processed the how’s.
Jim Wallis starts out Chap 5 stating "the real question is not whether religious faith should influence a society and its politics but how." To even suggest that people should keep quiet about what they believe which essentially affects (or should) behavior that is publicly visible is ridiculous. That suggests that people should compartmentalize their brains and their lives so that faith and politics never meet. The reality is that they do and quite often, even if people do decide to not voice their thoughts. Naomi Schwenke talks about that here.
Today, some 100 million Americans discuss political issues with friends and family in a given week, and 90 million say they bring up spiritual or religious matters, says the Barna Research Group. He also notes that in America 79% are registered to vote. 37% of voters are registered Democrat. 30% of voters are registered Republican. 18% of voters are registered Independent. So again, the real question is how should my faith influence my politics?
Your faith should help you walk your talk so you can have public credibility. Ron Sider mentioned in his new book(The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience-Baker Books, 2005), how people of faith are calling for a number of things to be addressed in the political arena yet they are living much like the world. I believe this is the first step in engaging politics outside of your kitchen table. He said in an interview: "We have to face the reality. It strikes me as being incredibly tragic and, yes, hypocritical for the evidence to show that precisely at a time when evangelicals have more political power to raise the issue of moral values in this society than they’ve had in a long time, the hard statistics on their own living show that they don’t live what they’re talking about. And sure, I’m afraid that’s hypocrisy. So we have to set our own house in order before we’re going to have either any integrity or any effectiveness in terms of helping the larger society recover wholesome two-parent families." So before you start mobilizing clergy and lay folks to protest against gay marriage, ask yourself how are you doing with your own?
Your faith should help you accept that in and of itself government was God’s good creation-it just gets misused. In perhaps the most positive biblical statement on governing authorities, the Apostle Paul writes: "By [Christ] all things were created . . . whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him" (Col. 1:16, emphasis added). Paul then describes government as "God’s servant for your good," specifically noting its role in promoting justice and preserving order (Rom. 13:1-7). In this view, government is part of God’s good creation.
Your faith should help you understand you have a role, a voice in society and its needed. Since its a fact that authorities frequently misuse power, God wants people of faith to to confront, challenge, and call authorities to act justly and fulfill their intended (elected) purpose. Jim Wallis mentions (p. 60) how after addressing a group of Democrats a government councilman thanked him by saying "Rev, you have given us a spanking that we needed." If not YOU who? We have a tendency to think someone else will handle this area. Religion, Wallis feels should be able to critique and challenge all parties precisely because of the faith journey you experience. There are tons of biblical stories on how people of faith spoke up in the political arena like:
1. Esther risked her life to plead the case of her people before King Ahasuerus (Esther 4-8).
2. The people appealed to Nehemiah, the governor, about unjust economic practices of the ruling class (Neh. 5).
3. John the Baptist lost his head challenging King Herod about his unlawful marriage to Herodias (Mark 6:14-29).
4. When King Darius ordered his subjects to pray only to the king, Daniel continued to pray to God — and was thrown into a lion’s den (Daniel 6).
As Wallis, reminds us, "God is always personal, but never private". Every day we are challenged with decisions and we make many of them based on our faith. The people in the Bible stories above, spoke up because of their FAITH but they spoke up to GOVERNMENT. Their personal faith had a public dimension. There will always be a time when you will have to make a decision and fast, what do you think you will draw on…could it be your faith or lack thereof?
Your faith should keep you focused with the taste of power becomes strong. I’ve seen it happen just like Wallis mentions. Religious folks want to go to the next big event, not because they want to really be catalysts of change but because they want access to power. I think if one decides to get involved in politics, your faith and daily disciplines should keep you focused because as your power to mobilize folks around political issues rises, your head can become too large to carry. This will help the politically involved person of faith ask as Wallis states "Are we on God’s side?" as opposed to "Is God on ours?"(p. 65).
Your faith should remind you that you weren’t made to be in a bubble. Wallis speaks of fundamentalism and how it "became an increasingly conservative, and isolated enclave of defensive faith, ’separate from the world’ which essentially created the right-wing movement. But did Jesus separate from the world? He hung out with tax collectors, prostitutes, the sick and spoke to those who were considered to be too lowly and dirty. He came to change culture not get away from it. But you see, that takes alot of self-help, you need to be prayed up, you need to be aware of your own hot buttons so you don’t fall into sin, you need to know thyself and the one who created you and since that is hard work, most would call for a separatist approach. Wallis excellently points out that "secular fundamentalism made a fundamental mistake." As he points out, "they believe that the separation of church and state ought to mean the separation of faith from public life."
Your faith will sometimes call you to advocacy. Wallis reminds the reader that "the purpose of biblical faith is not simply to comfort the believers but to transform the world." We as people of faith cannot transform anything without informed biblical values. MLK Jr. through the civil rights movement helped create a more justice world. Mandela a more tolerate country. Mother Teresa a more gentle approach to the poor. Their faith had a public expression that impacted the way government did things which ultimately changed society. Be the change you wish to see in the world…and sometimes that means advocating in the public arena. The New Testament describes Jesus as our advocate with God in 1 John 2:1-2, and the Holy Spirit as "another advocate" in John 14:15. At its core, our advocacy on behalf of others grows from an awareness of our own need for an advocate.
So how should your faith influence your politics? In every way possible. You cannot divorce your faith from your politics unless you have no faith at all in which case your politics will be influenced by the "if it feels right to you, do it" philosophy. Sure, you can make decisions not listening to that voice within you but I believe it will haunt you. Bottomline, I think us Christians at times are just too scared to stand up for something or too busy to care. This past election year too me was about everyone rallying together because they wanted to show America, the gay community, the world, that they had power and would use it. I think it inflated some of the already big heads in the faith arena because they feel "they did it".
I pray we continually evaluate our motives even in getting involved in politics. We should definitely exercise our individual freedoms especially people of color who got those rights through the blood, sweat, tears, and prayers of others before us. But we probably should not do more than that if the motives are wrong and even in this our faith will inform you. Your faith is the essense of who you are, how can it be torn asunder? I can’t even imagine it.
For more comments on this book go here. Let’s join Bob next as he addresses "Prophetic Politics" on April 22!
Apr
17
It is said when one wants something done to ask a busy person…well, I am the busy person and I’ve been asked to get involved in a few things so its my intention on getting them done. I am really excited about what I’ve been up to and since I just finished this semester with a few weeks in between before starting summer school, I’d like to tell you about the posts of things to come.
1. A short review, opinion, whatever you want to call it on the book, The Seeker’s Way by Dave Fleming . Others have shared on the book if you want their opinion here, here and here. The essence of this book is about exploration and being comfortable with a continual journey in seeking after God or what he says is that path (versus place) called "home". What made me say yes to this was the fact that he states that we are ALL seekers, continually, with different longings at different stages on the path. Best chapter title so far is "From Control to Compost". Do you know what compost is? crap-ola, garbage that is used by gardeners so things can grow…check out definitions here. A quote from pg 60 reads "We don’t tend to view our lives as compost, but it’s not a stretch to think this way." By next week I should have a post on how this book slapped me around a bit.
2. God’s Politics Book Group dialogue. I will be posting on April 20 on "How should your faith influence your politics?" and on May 9 on "The poor you will always have with you?" And I’ll probably have more to say pre and post my ‘assigned’ dates. To find out more about this group go here and here and just cause I feel like it, I’ll start off with this quote: He who dares not offend cannot be honest. (Thomas Paine).
3. And, finally finishing my next PRISM column article on "The Voices that Seek to Silence You".
I’m busy but I’ll get it done ’cause that is another thing busy people do, don’t they?
Apr
14
One of our church members wants to celebrate passover. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. This will be a first for all of us. Ideas? Suggestions? Anything? Thanks.
Apr
14
Lordy, Lordy, this time I’m the one that’s 40!
In our teens, we jump way forward… we say "I’m going to be 16!" even though we are only 13—the key is that we are GOING to be 16. Then the great day comes when we are legal. For me it was 18! Then when I went to college they changed the legal drinking age to 21, I was bummed. Then I became 21 and YESSSS!!!
Then one day I woke up and dag, I was 30. I TURNED 30. You BECOME 21, you TURN 30 and then you’re PUSHING 40. I remember singing "Ancient of Days" reworded for my sister-in-law’s 40th a while back on City Island in NY. I was yapping away "Lordy, Lordy, THANK GOD I’M NOT 40!" Look at me now…I am the one who crossed the threshold to the big 4-0. The Inevitable Happened!
So…why am I even sharing my age with the world? I am sharing because of what I’ve learned thus far and this keeps me feeling 26…and I feel like we don’t share enough of our process which makes people think they are in "this thing we call the Christian journey" alone. So should you care, this is what I’ve learned by 40…
1. Age ain’t nothing but a number. I used to think this is what people said when they were old. But I don’t think that anymore. My sister-in-laws ALL look great for their age. I still am told I look young. Maybe those folks are lying but I believe it and since I believe it, I feel it and thus, I feel great because I STILL dream of the me I’m going to be and know hitting 40 won’t stop me…
2. Keep Learning. Never stop learning. I don’t mean go back to school although that won’t be bad either. But pick up a book. Watch the learning channel. Hang out with folks different from you. Bottomline, activate the brain. Some folks are in perpetual brain freeze and that is so sad because THAT my friends makes you age.
3. Live Passionately. Life can hit us pretty hard and sometimes we get punched in the stomach or so it feels. But it doesn’t have to be a sucker punch…because that kind of punch is for people who never get back up. Accept the fact that life ain’t fair and that God tried to hand it all to us but Adam and Eve screwed that all up…so we have to live life with all its lemons. Determine to make lemonade. If Plan A didn’t work, get out that Plan B. God allows Do-Overs (an inspiration for an article coming up soon thanks to Hiram). Do not allow the lemons of life, the disappointments of your life and the MIS-TAKES of your life to drown you forever. Life was meant to live with passion. Do it.
4. Laugh often. LAUGH. Yes, find humor in things. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Laugh often, long and hard. Laughter is medicine for the soul. Surround yourself with people who make you laugh not those who make you cry.
5. Cry. When life hands you a blow…cry. If you are not one of those who can’t cry in public (we Rios’ are public criers) then go to the bathroom or cry on your pillow. David cried on his pillow. Jesus cried. A good cry is so liberating. It really doesn’t make you stronger just because you can hold off a crying session. It helps make you healthy.
6. Love deeply. Sometimes in life we are afraid to love because we have been hurt. The hurt that is possible with deep love is real. But that should not make you build up a wall against loving deeply. Your husband/wife, pet, family, whoever. The power of love is immeasurable, it covers a multitude of sin and takes us back to the cross. I’ve been hurt by people I love but I love nonetheless. I rather love and risk being burned than have no love and live in a lonely cave.
7. Share the love. It makes no sense loving deeply if you don’t tell those you love that YOU LOVE THEM. Tell them, every opportunity you get that you love them. You get a "love burst" for someone as my friend says, call them right there. There is no such thing as sharing the love too much. People in this world are dying for some love. Share it!
8. Do some body building. Not the kind you are thinking of…build people up in the world. If you see potential in someone, call it out, let them know. You may be the only person who has done it and it can lead that person into their destiny. Encourage another person, we ALL need that in this world. Life is tough remember. Send a card to someone or give them a call…just cause.
9. Open up to others. You can never have too many friends. Sure we can’t be best friends with everyone but we can have a circle of friends. Life is made richer when we connect with others.
and 10. Be YOU. Be daring, be different, be original. Don’t feel like you have to stay the same person you have always been. God is a transformative God. He changes us continually to be better (if we let him)…from glory to glory right? So when you feel a change coming on…let go, let God, a new you is emerging and God can’t wait to see you fly!
Bottomline, at 40 I take to heart these quotes "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." and "in the end it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years."
I’m looking forward to alot of breathtaking moments and alot more life in my years! I hope you are too!
Never regret becoming older; too many are denied the privilege!
