A night for all pastors, church deacons and elders, youth ministers, educators, community leaders, and congregants still uncertain about 20/20 Vision for Schools or not sure what to do next in adopting a local school. Come hear Rev. Dr. Tony Evans of the Urban Alternative, a nationally recognized faith leader and President of the National Church Adopt-a-School Initiative, share why public schools are the cutting edge of ministry in our city.

Pastors must RSVP by email to addiemicrobiologist@yahoo.com for the 5 pm gathering.

The 7 pm gathering is open to all.

Watch what Dr. Evans is doing with the National Church Adopt-a-School Initiative at www.2020Schools.net.
 

The Christian Community Development Association is having their Annual Conference down South in Miami!!!

If you are someone who is interested in how your church could get more active in community issues, how you as an individual can become part of the solution to things in your community, then you have to go to this conference.  Hiram and I plan on being there at least two days. The plan is to get some folks to come to my place for a pre-conference gathering like Rev. Ray Rivera (my old boss and mentor), Rudy Carrasco, Phil Jackson and a few others.

Find out more here

My son finished a book called The Courage of Sarah Noble, a true story about a girl who came with the early settlers to North America and had to have courage to live among the Indians, whom she did not know while her father went back to their homeland to get the rest of the family. So this book and the essay he had to write on it, got us talking about this thing called courage.

Do you have it? This thing called courage? Hmmm. I sometimes wonder. I asked my son today what he learned from the book and he said “never give up.”  Sounds good to me. Wikipedia says courage is this. Charles Dubuis said “The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become” this takes courage. Helen Keller said “We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world” going forward in life after a series of disappointments takes courage but I am sure many who have been there would say they are more mature, better, and heck even dog gone amazed because of the things they have endured and continued anyway because they had courage. Perhaps you didn’t label it that, but that is what it was folks.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.”

So do you have it? This thing called courage?

We need courage as mothers to stand up against the injustices and dangers facing our children;

We need courage as church leaders, pastors and planters because our gospel is a courageous one and we have to tell it when no one really  wants to hear it;

We need courage to believe God still has a plan for our lives so we can keep following and discerning His next steps for us;

We need courage to get out of our comfort zones and do what we have never done before;

We need courage to take a break, to get some rest, to declare a sabbath when everyone around us says “gimme, gimme, gimme more”;

We need courage to reveal our true self to the world that thought they knew everything about us already even if we are not sure they would still love us;

We need courage to admit that we are not as smart as people think or as naive as many hope;

Honestly, I believe we need courage everyday on this side of heaven to keep our faith strong, to believe in the good in this world, to dare to hope for a better future, to get married, to bring children into this world, to develop new friendships, to cut the toxic people in our lives off…for good this time, to work on our own spiritual development and face our screw ups and baggage of the past.

So do you have it? As for me…Maybe. Sometimes. Perhaps you feel the same. Yeah but not always. Today I am hoping YOU get the courage you need from God to step out and DO. Do what he has called you to do. Ok, do what you THINK he has called you to do. Do it passionately. Do it lovingly. Do it freely. But please “just do it”, a life of regrets is no life at all.

DARE. I pray that you dare to believe God for that crazy idea, that ludicrous plan, that wild vision. I hope you dare call up that person you know can help you in your life RIGHT NOW but you have some trouble swallowing the pride. I hope you dare say forgive me to that person you know you’ve hurt and at one time didn’t care.

DECIDE.  I pray that you will decide to believe in the crazy notion that we Christians usually speak to one another, share in bible studies and in sermons, that God REALLY does love YOU. That God really does have a plan for YOU. That God didn’t set you up to screw you up.

To DO, DARE and DECIDE we need courage. Everyday. This is my prayer for you!

A Prayer For Courage  (adapted from Internet Prayer by Rabindranath Tagore) 

Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers,
But to be fearless in facing them.
Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain,
But for the heart to conquer it.
Let me not look for allies in life’s battlefield,
But to my own strength through your strength.
Let me not crave in anxious fear to be saved,
But hope for the patience to win my freedom.
Grant me that I may not be a coward,
feeling your mercy in my success alone,
But let me find the grasp of your hand in my failure.

Remember God’s word today. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:9 Isn’t it good to know he’s right there! Courage.

My prayer for YOU and for ME is courage. The world needs people with courage.

Today I shared a poem with Sam (my son) by Langston Hughes, the famous black poet, entitled I, Too. Let me share it with ya’ll:

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen when company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I’ll be at the table when company comes.

Nobody’ll dare

Say to me,

“Eat in the kitchen,”

Then.

Besides,

They’ll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed–

I, too, am America.

Sam and I had a discussion about this poem. Of course, it is hard for him to comprehend that there was ever a time when people of color were treated in such fashion. Given the fact that his mama is also of darker skin, he was puzzled that people would treat me bad or even consider not thinking that I was beautiful.

In many ways, this is still occurring around the country. There have been a few times that people have discussed “getting a place at the table,” most recently at the Everything Must Change event in the Bronx last weekend. Being invited is progress for sure. But being the ones doing the inviting is even more progress. Because like it or not, I (you), too, are America.

This video takes me back to the days when I carried a Bible bigger than me. When I couldn’t wear pants or earrings and when I always felt guilty about something. The worship in Spanish Pentecostal churches. While I would not want to relive the days of legalism, I am totally, unequivocally Pentecostal and you know what, I like that about me. I consider myself Blatino in alot of things…the foods I like, the way I preach and like others to preach, the social aspect of how Blacks/Latinos hug and kiss pre and post service and especially in worship styles. Our church was the closest we found to the style we like, except Metro Life Church in Doral (Miami suburb). We didn’t go there for reasons I won’t share here…this blog is to encourage while keeping it real, but I don’t want to be that “open and authentic”. LOL

But yeah, my roots are pentecostal.

“Pentecostal” Christians may also be described as “Charismatic.” Pentecostals include Protestant Christians who believe that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit are alive, available and experienced by modern-day Christians. These “manifestations of the Holy Spirit” were seen in the first century Christian believers (Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 12:4-10; 1 Corinthians 12:28) and include signs and wonders such as the message of wisdom, the message of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miraculous powers, discerning of spirits, tongues and interpretation of tongues. The term Pentecostal, therefore, comes from the new testament experiences of the early Christian believers on the Day of Pentecost.

I like to raise my hands, I don’t like to be rushed in my corporate worship time and I definitely like the worship leader to be sensitive to what I believe is the Holy Spirit. I don’t like to roll on the floor or be doused with anointing oil like some old school pentecostals but I could handle that going on around me. I like my roots. Que me digan lo que sea!

I am back from NYC after what Brian McLaren called an amazing weekend. I am still tired. I actually took the “day off” today and went to see Iron Man with my son Samuel. I worked not. Since my trip was a combo trip (to take care of a friend who just had cancer surgery) and to coordinate the Bronx “Everything Must Change Tour”, I awoke most days at the ungodly hour of 5 a.m. to stay up late and do the same thing over again. It felt like the movie Ground Hog day. Nevertheless, it was truly my honor to be there for one of my best friends (what are friends for right?) and to work again with and for a tremendous group of people I have come to respect and cherish as friends, namely David Ramos, Luis Alvarez, Susan Rivera Leon and Belinda Passafaro.  Thanks for entrusting this event to me, I hope you were pleased. I myself was extremely pleased with the volunteers from all over the city and staff from LPAC. This is the first time I worked with people I didn’t self-select and well, they did an awesome job. Thanks Rose, Wanda, Wilma, Manny Leon, Manny Z, Louis, Alicea, Onilove, and all the rest!

 For those of you who want a play by play, I noticed that Jeremy Del Rio has some notes on the event and he was taking a boat load of pics so make sure you check his site to see them. I can’t provide that for you. I was uh, too busy to take notes.  More thoughts on event from David Ramos, Founder of the Latino Leadership Circle here and Jose Humphreys, Church Planter and Pastor of Metro Hope Church in Harlem here.

Although the event itself was wonderful and seeing Brian again was great (I hadn’t seen him since the last Emergent Conference in Nashville), what stood out the most for me is:

a. Seeing the folks of the Latino Leadership Circle –the group has a number of people I am just blessed to know, many of them I call friends and many I am proud to say represent “mi gente” well. I remember a time when a gathering of Latino professionals both in the marketplace and in ministry was hard to come by, yet that is what happened this past weekend. David, you are such an inclusive person with the patience of a saint. You are a sweetheart and I am so glad we’ve been friends all these years. Thanks also for tolerating my “Heather”.  Belinda, you are one bad mamajamma. The way you opened up our volunteer orientation and how you took control of our “singles discussion” at Betsy’s made me feel like you are a force to be reckoned with. I know God has someone special picked out especially for you!  Hope our friendship continues to develop. Susan it was so great to see how you’ve risen to the challenge of running LPAC even amid what Rev. Ray calls organized chaos LOL. I am proud of you too. Look what the Lord has done.

I know I don’t post nearly as much as I should on enough “interesting” things. Seems I only have enough brain power to post what is happening in my life and not much more thought into anything else. It is what it is at this point.

Let me share some stuff with ya’ll:

* I am leaving to NYC tomorrow morning. Hoping the weather is good to me. I HATE the cold. I am truly FLORIDIAN.

* Hiram and the Porn Pastor-My church had Craig Gross from XXXChurch.com this past Sunday. Hiram was his liaison or in some circles its called “Armor Bearer”. I wish more people would have come out to hear the message but we had a pretty good turnout and the message was clear. Very down-to-earth dude.

I want to share this poem which is part of a book called Poetry for Young People based on Langston Hughes’ poetry. Poetry is something I added to the curriculum I do with my son. He’s learned about different kinds of poems thus far…narrative, lyrical, nonsense verses, and haiku. This poem is scheduled to be discussed when I return from NYC. I can’t wait to get his thoughts on it.

Mother to Son

Well, son, I’ll tell you:

Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

It’s had tacks in it,

And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor–

Bare.

But all the time

I’se been a-climbin’ on,

And reachin’ landin’s,

And turnin’ corners,

And sometimes goin’ in the dark

Where there ain’t been no light.

So boy, don’t you turn back.

Don’t you set down on the steps

‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.

Don’t you fall now–

For I’se still goin’ honey,

I’se still climbin’,

And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

They say when you teach you learn twice. I have to say I am learning so much

Vacation Reflections…

·         Don’t take anything or anyone for granted. I had a great time on vacation and in the moments when I was doing absolutely nothing, I found myself staring at my husband or my children and just exhaling because it wasn’t too long ago that I almost lost my youngest son on Mother’s day and a few years earlier my husband. Splashing water, squealing in delight over dolphin play, kissing my little guy and smelling his breath (which only a mom can do and love) and just holding hands with my honey as the sun was going down are things that were almost taken from me. So I ask, what are you taking for granted that you almost lost and have let the day to day grind make you forget?

·         I’m grateful for what I have even if I sometimes cry about the things I don’t. I realize in today’s harsh economic times that I am in a handful of people who don’t have to worry about a mortgage and although at times I still  get panic attacks about making ends meet, I know I am blessed even though my blessing came at a cost, the disability of my son. Sometimes things look wonderful on the outside with people in your church, neighborhood, etc. but you just don’t know if they only have $25 until the next payday. So I ask, who can you invite over for dinner, bless with tickets to something, etc. because although you may cry about some things you don’t have (like I do),  as God’s children, He always comes though for us in some way, and you may be the “the way” for God to “come though” for someone else.

·         What makes special kids so special is that they trust unconditionally because they need you. I am blown away by the helplessness of my son DJ. My husband and I carry that sense of responsibility everyday and while most parents know they will eventually have an empty nest, we know we never will, unless DJ goes home to the Father. Which means, for us to have what most parents get we will have to suffer another loss. What I’ve learned from DJ is that we need each other a lot but we are not willing to trust unconditionally with no agenda. I’ve made a few “special” friends and I’d like you to meet them. They are Peter and Debbie, we just met officially at the recent vacation trip we had but they immediately let me in on their life. My goodness, I so wished I could be half the people these two are. They are special indeed.

Excited About…

·          I was just asked to become a Contributing Editor for Outreach Magazine. I’ll be joining these guys Anthony Coppedge (church media expert), Brian Mavis (creator of Sermon Central), Brad Powell (Sr. Pastor of Northridge Church in Michigan), Sam S. Rainer (Pastor & Pres/CEO of Rainer Research), Thom S. Rainer (President/CEO of Lifeway Resources and author of many books including Simple Church), Steve Sjogren (Servant Evangelism idea guy, pastor, planter, and church planter coach), Lee Strobel (former pastor at Willowcreek and author of many books including The Case for Christ, The Case for Easter and many more), Marlon Hall, and Ed Stetzer (former church planter, author and church planting coach). I’m honored.  I hope I do some justice to the role and they don’t regret asking me!

Perplexed About…

·          A friend of mine is getting ordained next month and I’m really happy for my friend. That is not what perplexes me. What is perplexing me is that I wasn’t told about it by my friend even though the planning has been going on for a while. I can’t be there anyway because I will be travelling to much that month.  I happen to find things out because I do J but I don’t want people feeling sorry for me because I am no longer pastoring. I know that this is a season for me. I know that God’s call is irrevocable and that something somewhere will open up for me one day so I am not sweating the roles. I’ve been on both sides and trust me, I am enjoying the break from the executive pastor role I played. I know what I am doing right now is where God wants me in this season of my life. I may never pastor again or maybe I will but is that really important? I think my friends don’t know how to tell me that their life is “going on” as “planned” while my life has went off on a detour so to speak.

Note to all who read this: My entire life is a detour. I celebrate, I don’t hate.

 Final Thought…

·         We are the ones we have been waiting for. Have you read this before? It was spoken by the Elders Oraibi of the Hopi Nation.          

We Are the Ones
We’ve Been Waiting For 

·        You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour. Now you must go back and tell the people that this is The Hour.And there are things to be considered:·       

So I say…It’s time to take a stand. Say what you must.Do what you will.Walk in your destiny.

Don’t be ashamed of your past.

Let your pain point you to your purpose.

And be the glorious you God intended.

Don’t wait for someone else to be “the leader” perhaps YOU ARE THE ONE YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR.

We are officially on vacation and we go to our Florida Keys destination Sunday. In between I have to try to finish one overdue article for PRISM, two entries for a Latino History encyclopedia edited by Dr. Miguel de la Torre and a Theology News and Notes article for Dr. Ryan Bolger all of which were due by March 31st! And mind you, this is not including the book proposal I owe my agent!

I was telling my husband I NEED this vacation for a myriad of reasons. The most likely culprit of my brain exhaust is the homeschooling adventure I am on, while I am most definitely prepping for “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?,” I am totally spent by days end. Don’t get me wrong. I am loving this but it is definitely a hands-on, get in the mix role and it isn’t for everyone. I have learned my son’s strengths and his weak areas. 

In addition, after my dissertation process I just can’t seem to get into much that will require 100% brain power. Don’t laugh. I’m getting worried. I am also working on a few consulting projects. So yeah, I am sooooooooooooo looking forward to the Keys.

Do you ever wonder why…

people and corporations are so greedy! This story about Walmart suing an ex-employee made me mad. What on earth were they thinking!!! Of course, their decision to not sue could pretty much be because of the public outcry. This hit home for me personally because when my son won his lawsuit, Aetna health insurance put a claim on his settlement to get back a portion of what they paid out for him when he was in and out of the hospital in NY. I couldn’t for the life of me understand the purpose of health insurance! I was upset that we had to pay them back for something that they are in business to do anyway and let’s not forget getting paid by my employer at the time and me.  I found out that Aetna is one of the few insurance companies that do this. So if you have Aetna…beware! They just might be “loaning” you money.

some people succeed and others fail? Winston Churchill is quoted as saying…”Never give in. Never give in. Never give in. Never. Never. Never. Never.” That sounds so empowering doesn’t it? I mean, when I read quotes like this I feel like I can kick some serious devil butt. However, I know from personal experience that there are times when you just say the heck with it, not because you really wanted to but because you felt like all signs point to “give it up”or it would drain you of life.

Everyone wants to succeed, but few people take the time to study success. Similarly, everyone dislikes failure, but few people invest the time ad energy necessary to learn from their mistakes. Often we are too busy basking in the glory of our triumphs to think through what we did right, or the pain of failure is sufficiently intense that many of us want to “move on” and “put it behind us” as soon as we can. Yet those who want to improve their chances of success can ill afford to disregard the issue of why; despite seemingly equal levels of intelligence and  education, some people succeed where others fail. This is what I’ve been pondering the last few months as I get information for the book I want to write. What makes people succeed at life?

For me the issue is not in “giving up or giving in”. I think sometimes we have to do that because continuing on in something that is not working after you have put your best effort just to prove a point or not be embarrassed is simply not a good enough reason to sacrifice your life or the lives of your loved ones.But I believe You are SUPPOSED TO FAIL! If everyone succeeded at everything the first time they tried it the world would be a pretty boring place. Everyone would be the same. Hard work and ingenuity would mean nothing, and there would be no incentive to learn and grow and improve ourselves. Thank goodness for failure. It gives us the opportunity to succeed!

The one crucial ingredient that many people forget is persistence. Persistence is a hard thing to have, and for many its simply not worth it. I mean persistence to keep trying even when there are things we have experienced that made us fall flat on our face.  Every time we fail we learn something - EVERY TIME. God does not waste ANY journey. If you take that knowledge and use it to try again then success is inevitable. It might not happen the second time, or the third time, but it will happen. So its not in the NOT failing that people succeed, it’s in the persistence to “keep trying” even after failure.

Some quotes that prove this philosophy are:

A failure is a man who has blundered but is not capable of cashing in on the experience. Elbert Hubbard

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent in doing nothing. George Bernard Shaw

My reputation grows with every failure. George Bernard Shaw

Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly. Robert F. Kennedy 

So the next time you hear the little voice in your head saying, “Forget it! Give up and Never ever try again”, just remember that one more try coupled with the knowledge you have obtained by previous failures just might be enough for you to reach your destiny successfully! Remember failure + persistence = success!