Tuesday, November 6, 2012

"We Don' Talk about Religion nor Politics"

When I was growing up, I was told by some that "We don't talk about Religion nor Politics."  The advice was given me to insure that I would avoid personality and agenda clashes and "be friends" with everyone. Another saying was, "Can't we all just get along?" These were spoken by well intended folks who desired for relationships to be amiable and easy. Yet, breaking ceilings and barriers rarely is amiable or easy.

So, over the years, I avoided these discussions in the name of peace. I soon discovered that religion is about doing things religiously and politics is about how a group of people utilize power to make decisions--neither of which I am a fan. I figured out the thing about religion--I am about a relationship with God not religion so I tend to upset religious structures to make room for new people, new ideas, and new stuff. But for the politics thing, I studied the issues to find that many of the decision made by existing power structures that affect daily life are rooted in some kind of moral understanding which in essecnce is "right" and "wrong." Cross-cultural experience helped me to understand that "right" is not "right" everywhere and neither is "wrong." Realizing that where you come from, how you were raised, and bottom line what you believe informs your politics helped me to put the politics thing in perspective. Here is what I learned:


When faith meets politics the existing "power" is transformed.   

Question: How do we do our part to transform the existing power structures?

*      When we stand in the Holy Spirit ready to publicly practice our faith.

*      When we realize that our personal salvation means little without personal responsibility to others.

*      When we make the shift from favoring those with power and begin speaking truth to power.
And, this is why I vote--to speak truth to power, to take responsibility, and to publically practice my faith.
What do you think?

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Family

I want to just express my sincere thanks to God who with infinite wisdom gave me the privilege of being in the family I am in. I know that everyone may not experience the depth of love that I do in my family so my heart goes out right now to those who are lacking. Yet, I do know that great earthly family or not, God gives us a spiritual family that shines for the glory of God in the time of need. Each one of us can shine the light into someone's darkness every day. I pray to shine like my family shines as a beacon of God's grace to me. I pray that you shine like the Son! Be someone's spiritual family today.