Leadership Network sent out a “news flash” that by 2050, minorities will be the majority in America, and the number of residents older than 65 will more than double, according to projections released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Minorities, classified as those of any race other than non-Hispanic, single-race whites, currently constitute about a third of the U.S. population, according to Census figures. But by 2042, they are projected to become the majority, making up more than half the population. By 2050, 54 percent of the population will be minorities.

By 2030, all baby boomers will be age 65 and older comprising nearly 20 percent of U.S. residents, or one in five Americans, the bureau said. By 2050, the 65-and-older age group will increase to 88.5 million, more than doubling its current number of 38.7 million. Meanwhile, the number of those age 85 and older is expected to more than triple, from 5.4 million in 2008 to 19 million by 2050.

Read census press release here.

Only we can make fun of Florida this way! Yes, the price of paradise!

I’ve written about women leaving church now here is an article that shares why men are not in the pews.

I recently posted on the fact that women are quitting church, apparently the news came from this book “Quitting Church” by Julia Duin. She stated in her book, “Women in particular leave evangelical churches, because they are asked to do too little by their churches.”  She has a seminary degree and wrote: “I have been one of those unwanted women for years.” In fact, Ms. Duin’s interest in her subject is partly autobiographical: She left a church in 2001 and didn’t find a new one until 2007. She has lived through the process of church-quitting, and she has interviewed a lot of people with the same experience.

According to Julia, a religion reporter for the Washington Times, more and more evangelicals are in fact fleeing their churches. Not just women. She says that “… at least among evangelicals, is nothing less than an epidemic.” For those of us in church ministry in one way or another as leaders, we should seriously consider what she is stating, since we have heard about this in varying degrees from many different people. She states, “the problem, is not in the souls of the church quitters but in the character of the churches they choose to leave. “Something,” she observes, “is not right with . . . evangelical church life.”

The faults she points to …running counter to the stereotype of evangelicals bonding happily in their churches are:

1.    A lack of a feeling of community among church members, inducing loneliness and boredom;

2.    Church teaching that fails to go beyond the basics of the faith or to reach members grappling with suffering or unanswered prayer;

3.    Pastors who are either out of touch with their parishioners or themselves unhappy, or who fail to shepherd their flocks, or who are caught up in scandal, or who try to control the lives of church members in a high-handed way.

4.    She claims that many churches have “inefficient leadership models” and that many, preoccupied with the care of families, neglect single people.

So come on people tell me your thoughts! I’m interested really!

I just read this blog discussing how women are leaving churches because they are not being utilized. This is very interesting to me. Here’s why:

1.    I was raised in a Hispanic church and from what I’ve seen, most women do the work, the hard work like most of the ministries in the church. I’ve seen them utilized, just not recognized as the backbone. That has changed significantly in the last decade and more pastors are allowing women not only to be the main contributor of a ministry but also lead it as the anointed and “appointed” leader.

2.    I know women who want to leave “church” but it isn’t always because they are not being utilized in their giftedness, it’s because they are just tired of the same old “issues” of the church and not seeing real authentic community.

3.    Having said the above, there are many women, myself included who just can’t be pew warmers. It’s in us to be part of the solution not just point out the problems. So when we know we can bring something to the table and that is not invited or encouraged, it does make you want to use your gifts elsewhere as I’ve heard preachers say, “where you are celebrated, not tolerated.”

4.    Finally, I have read many reports that have stated that if you don’t utilize people in your church as soon as you can, it is much easier for the back door to remain open for them to leave. It’s true that when you are invested in a place, it is harder to leave. How many people do we know that have stayed at a dysfunctional church that has abused them only because they had a “position”.  That’s not the greatest reason to stay but there is something to the fact that everyone wants to contribute and a place that doesn’t find a way for you to do that is in trouble…one way or another.

Although this report was in 2001, I think it is something still worth noting. The National Community on Latino Leadership did a study, the first of its kind where over 3,000 Latino respondents reflect, but also diverge, from non-Latino mainstream views on leadership. Latinos have a unique view of leadership that emphasizes community service and compassion. The report is especially important in today’s economic and political climate where national leaders are aggressively courting Latino constituencies and markets.

Report findings include:
» Latinos are twice as likely to find their heroes in their family than the general population.

» The leadership qualities Latinos deemed most important were: honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity (50%), followed by intelligence, experience, and education (8%), being respectful of persons and community (4.6%), community servanthood (4.1%), and being loving and compassionate (4.1%).

» The Latino community’s perspective on leadership bridges racial, class, political and cultural lines. Contrary to expectations, Latino ethnic groups do not differ significantly among each other with respect to what they seek in a leader.

» Among Latino respondents, there was a striking underlying consensus on their views and values toward leaders –no significant differences exist between Latino young adults and seniors, citizens or non-citizens, or between Latinos and Latinas.

Unlike other cultures that emphasize individualism, Latinos emphasize collectivity, belonging, and group benefit.

Based on NCLL survey results, the twenty most desired leadership qualities are clustered into four general leadership traits. “We have taken these traits and categorized them as the “Four C’s of Latino Leadership” said Ramirez. “Latinos want leaders to demonstrate character in their public dealings and private lives, be competent, express compassion in their exercise of leadership, and work as a community servant.” For more information on this report or to learn more about this organization visit their site here. 

If you read this blog, if you consider yourself a Christian, a smart one at that, please do your homework. I do not tell you who to vote for here. I present my take on both sides. I already know who I am 99% sure I will vote for come election day but like I’ve mentioned in the past, we should be people who do our research, read our bible, discern the times. Don’t just go with the flow, don’t just vote for whoever your pastor or friends will be voting for! Use your cabeza people!

The Matthew 25 Network is asking people to sign its petition against the tactics used by Governor Palin in her speech last night. If you feel so inclined you can read their letter below and click the link to sign at the bottom. You can find out more about their candidate for President… Barack Obama here and discern for yourself.

This is the letter they seek people to sign.

Governor Palin, Put Away Falsehood

As Americans and people of faith from around the country, we were extremely disappointed in Sarah Palin’s divisive, sarcastic, and often deceptive address last night at the Republican National Convention.  We call on her not only as a political figure, but also as a prominent Christian, to recommit herself to campaigning in good faith, with a strong commitment to truth-telling.

As Christians, we are called to be respectful and loving toward our neighbors, honoring their intentions even if we disagree with their plans.  We are also called to “put away falsehood” (Eph 4:25) and to refrain from slandering, belittling, or speaking out of contempt for anyone.

If these are the standards God has set for us in our personal lives, our church communities, and our neighborhoods, how much more so should they be the standards of those Christians who choose to be in the public eye?  Shouldn’t we also expect our brothers and sisters in politics to speak the truth in love and to extend respect and goodwill even to those with whom they disagree?

Sarah Palin has shaped much of her life around her Christian faith [1].  Indeed, it has been continually suggested that one of the major reasons John McCain chose Palin as his running-mate was her Christian faith and her ability to energize evangelical Christian voters.  Thus, it is no stretch to say that Palin has suddenly become one of the most visible faces of Christianity in today’s political scene.

As such, we believe she has a calling even higher than her responsibility to her party’s victory in November - a calling to represent Jesus to the rest of the world. This is why her speech at the Republican National Convention last night was so disappointing to us at the Matthew 25 Network.

In questioning not only Senator Obama’s policies but also his motivations, and mocking his career, Palin went far beyond what could be considered acceptable disagreement and into what seemed like open contempt for a political opponent.

To be blunt, we saw very little of Jesus’ love in Sarah Palin’s speech last night, as she heaped contempt on those who disagree with her politically, while offering no vision for how to resolve the critical issues facing Americans today like job loss, health care, growing child poverty rates and the war in Iraq.

Moreover, as has been documented by major media sources including the Associated Press [2], Palin spoke falsehoods not only about her own record, but about Barack Obama’s record as a State Senator and as a U.S. Senator.  As Christians, we are called throughout Scripture to speak the whole truth, to put away falsehood, to bear true witness even when it hurts our own interests.  The name of Jesus should never be associated with falsehoods or deception, but last night, in Sarah Palin’s speech, we believe it was.

Therefore, we in the Matthew 25 Network call on Gov. Palin to repudiate her attitude of contempt towards her political opponents and to tell the whole truth, not only for the sake of a more honorable politics, but also for the sake of our Christian witness in the world.

Senator McCain is no less responsible because he selected Gov. Palin and praised her speech, and he claims to be a Christian as well.  It is ill-fitting to use Christian identity and language for one’s political advantage without seeking to live up to that high calling.  Ultimately, as the Presidential candidate, Governor Palin’s tone and infidelity to truth reflect negatively on Senator McCain as well.

Brian McLaren
Author and Pastor

Douglas W. Kmiec
Caruso Family Chair & Professor of Constitutional Law
Pepperdine University School of Law

Rev. Dr. Susan B. Thistlethwaite
Professor of Theology, Chicago Theological Seminary

Vince Miller
Georgetown University

Peter Vander Meulen
Coordinator, Office of Social Justice, Christian Reformed Church

Rev. Dr. Derrick Harkins
Nineteenth Street Baptist Church

Bart Campolo
Urban minister, Founder of Mission Year

Sharon Daly
Former Vice-President of Catholic Charities

Rev. Wilfredo De Jesus
Vice-President for Social Justice, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference

Add your name here…

The discussion over Pitbull Palin and Obama is ever recurring at home and at my husband’s workplace. Here is some more perspective I thought relevant to our discussions from That Minority Thing, good food for thought as you think about your choice for President…

If you’re a minority and you’re selected for a job over more qualified candidates you’re a “token hire.”

If you’re a conservative and you’re selected for a job over more qualified candidates you’re a “game changer.”

If you live in an Urban area and you get a girl pregnant you’re a “baby daddy.”

If you’re the same in Alaska you’re a “teen father.”

Black teen pregnancies? A “crisis” in black America.

White teen pregnancies? A “blessed event.”

Read the rest at the That Minority Thing website.

Like I mentioned in my previous post, I wanted to touch on Palin’s speech from last night again now that I am awake!

First let me say that McCain was really hoping that Palin would pay off and he took a major risk on her by putting her on the ticket. What stands out for me the most is the fact that he met her only once at a National Governor’s meeting in February. Only once! Then as he started thinking of a running mate, her reputation and whatever his motivations were to add someone like her gelled together for what is now the Republican parties ticket. How many of us who have had leadership roles, would bring someone on, knowing only the reputation that precedes them, not having much of a relationship with the person, to a top level position in our organizations, churches? A lot of mega churches have done it but Latino churches wouldn’t. They need you to jump through hoops first and sign in blood before that would even be considered. I’m just saying, there is a leadership lesson in this appointment. How big of a risk do you dare take if you need to shake things up and make things happen?

Anyway, getting back to the speech!  At first, she started a bit slow and I didn’t think she was going to be that good. But then things started to heat up…

Gov. Palin talked about her family — her five children and her husband. In the wake of the media frenzy about her pregnant 17-year-old daughter, Gov. Palin said, “Our family has the same ups and downs as any other … the same challenges and the same joys.” I agree with Karl Rove’s analysis after the speech that this portion was a bit awkward. She should have either skipped reference to “family challenges” or really hit it head on. Glancing over it seems at the level she did seemed just a little off.  In addition, I’d like to point something out. We have to say that her man is truly a very great man. You see, it is always hard for a woman to take on major leadership roles especially if they have kids. The only way to make something like this work is a very, supportive, confident in his own skin, hubby! I got one of those but most men rather be the one in the spotlight and it’s hard for them to be the supportive spouse or the “husband of …” A lot of our great women preachers, pastors, fortune 500 gurus etc. have those men and although its only speculation, I think this “issue” was at the root of what happened to Paula and Randy White, since she was the “most popular” of the two. Some marriages just can’t handle it. So whomever you are voting for, pray for their family because they’ll need it now more than ever.

Back to speech, every grassroots conservative activist, and all the people of America watching at home were in for a treat when she got past the necessary parts of the speech. The governor of Alaska took the gloves off and put on a show… and what a show it was!

Once Gov. Palin started talking about her story, she seemed to settle into a groove. In an effort to show experience, Obama’s camp and he himself have often talked about how he was a “community organizer.” They and the media have also unleashed attacks on Gov. Palin to diminish what she has done. She went straight at them, saying:

Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown.

And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves.

I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a “community organizer,” except that you have actual responsibilities. I might add that in small towns, we don’t quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren’t listening.

We tend to prefer candidates who don’t talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco.

Yikes! This lady wasn’t playing! In just a few passages she not only hit Obama’s “lack of experience”, but also tried to get Americans to think of him as an elitist with an attitude by using his own quotes against him.  That wasn’t going to sit well with the Democrats.

She continued:

And I’ve learned quickly, these past few days, that if you’re not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone.

But here’s a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion — I’m going to Washington to serve the people of this country. Americans expect us to go to Washington for the right reasons, and not just to mingle with the right people.

Palin talked about reform and “shaking things up” –She mentioned how she got rid of the governor’s luxury jet by selling it on eBay. She eliminated the driving detail and also the governor’s personal chef.  

Gov. Palin then set her aim squarely at Obama, noting:

* Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America’s energy problems — as if we all didn’t know that already. But the fact that drilling won’t solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all.

* It’s easy to forget that this is a man (Obama) who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform — not even in the state Senate.

* This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting, and never use the word “victory” except when he’s talking about his own campaign.

* But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed … when the roar of the crowd fades away … when the stadium lights go out, and those Styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot — what exactly is our opponent’s plan?

* What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he’s done turning back the waters and healing the planet?

The answer is to make government bigger … take more of your money … give you more orders from Washington … and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world. America needs more energy … our opponent is against producing it.

* Victory in Iraq is finally in sight … he wants to forfeit.

* Terrorist states are seeking nuclear weapons without delay … he wants to meet them without preconditions.

* Al-Qaida terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America … he’s worried that someone won’t read them their rights?

* Congress spends too much … he promises more.

* Taxes are too high … he wants to raise them.

* And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change. They’re the ones whose names appear on laws and landmark reforms, not just on buttons and banners, or on self-designed presidential seals.

Oh my goodness, she came out swinging! However, I do have to say that the attack was good but the content that really could give us independents more meat about what the republicans really want to do better than the last 8 years was lacking. This was a good boxing match and those of us that like a good fight, got one from this fiesty lady. But we didn’t get enough to sway us their way.

Did you notice anything else as the cameras spanned the convention floor? Lots of white folks, very little spots of color and many were uh, pretty old. Obama’s convention floor was definitely more “colorful”, and the ages spanned from young to old. After the speech, McCain was smiling from ear to ear… and rightfully so. This campaign lacked the energy that Obama’s camp has had from day one.   Yesterday they were charged. Perhaps enough to get the ultra conservatives involved in volunteering now.

As Gov. Palin noted, “What’s the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick.” She’s definitely a pit bull and I think the fighting just got started.

I am half asleep right now but absolutely could not go to bed without sharing how I think VP nominee for the Republican party Sarah Palin knocked it out the park today when she gave her speech. Wooooooooooooow! To be honest, I think she showed she is a little fiesty one, not afraid of the boys club, not backing out, not whimpering. She gave the hardest, blow by blow speech than any man in ANY of the parties. Guess what touched my heart? If you guessed her mention of special needs parents and her promise to be an advocate for them in the White House should she get elected…you were right!

She certainly had a lot to say and Rudy you’d be glad to hear that she gave me cause for pause. Hmmm, I am going to look over both party “plans” AGAIN. I’ll be visiting this informational site as well. She blindsided me, didn’t expect that! I’m not saying I’m changing my mind but uh, she really made me think to review again. That’s a good thing if the rest of America does the same, don’t you think?  Maybe McCain’s gamble is going to pay off. Only time will tell.

Besides her speech, a highlight for me was when her daughter Piper licked her fingers to get her baby brother’s hair down. Kids

I’ll be writing more about this tomorrow when I am not half asleep. But man, wow, wow, wow. That lady was a tiger in a skirt!  In the meantime, check out what this guy says about this nominee for Chick in Charge or as some of the buttons seen in tonight’s convention said, “The Hottest VP on any ticket”.