Tuesday, January 1, 2008

What is life

Living in freedom everyday................................................L.I.F.E.

the manual

As I begin to be more engulfed in ministry and volunteer management, I
understand that ..."he that is greatest amongst you shall be your
servant..." even more. As continue to read and re-read the new testament, I
see that service is themed throughout. This may seem odd to you, but I see
the new testament as a manual for service (a sort of volunteer manual and
program report). It is full of policies, procedures and tasks. It provides
background research, service impact reports, and of course best practices.
Insurance policies, how to complete procurement requests. Just meditate on
it and let me know what you think.


Peace and Blessings,

EV

Reflections on the plight and MLK

I have been (not so) quietly noticing the reincarnation of the Jim Crow fall upon this nation, its minorities, and impoverished (or lets just say those who did not benefit from the Bush Administration's tax cut.) In 2008, we celebrate our drum major for justice and equality and mourn for the same. In preparation for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service, I have begun re-reading many of Dr. King's writings, but there is one in particular that strikes me as TIMELESS. The prophetic anointing was on this brother STRONG.

Hopefully you have, but you if you have never had the pleasure of reading Dr. King's letter to his Birmingham "fellow" clergyman, please take the opportunity. As I think about the dissolution of the civil liberties, the several unequal justice cases, and even the attempted economic Blackout (where many African- Americans refused to participate in for whatever reason), I think and allude back to this letter. "...I stand in the middle of two opposing forces in the Negro community. One is a force of complacency, made up in part of Negroes who, as a result of long years of oppression, are so drained of self-respect and a sense of sombodiness that they have adjusted to segregation; and in part of a few middle-class Negroes who, because of a degree of academic and economic security...have become insensitive to the problems of the masses."

He also goes on to state his disappointment with the church and expresses feelings that may be applied to many members of the younger generations that are thirsting for pure-hearted, strong leaders, especially in the area of spiritual cultivation. I do not like to use the term struggle, when it pertains to the African- American and other minority plight. The term invokes in my mind that it is a never ending story, but what word should I use that expresses the cycle of conflicts or battles against the unjust that continue to rise?

I think this should have been on a blog somewhere, for this seems to be a voluble rant. At least I'm at lunch typing this.


I love to share and swap thoughts, views, and opinions, so please do respond after reading.



I have attached the link to the paper as well as other laudable works. <> http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/index.htm



Peace and Blessings,

Ethical Vision

New Beginnings

I awaken to the calling of my future and new year. Many blessings were bestowed upon us in the former and He has promised to us more in the latter.

The plan for the night was to attend a service and head to a party afterwards. :-/ So many try to attend church on the last day for a fresh start in the new year.
To shorten this blog, let us just say that we were turned away.

We ended up in a local Starbucks (Lord help us!) to feed ourselves on the word of the the omniscient. I started with Isiah then Jeremiah and finished with Phillipians. And this where I will reflect.. Begininning at Phil. 3. Paul says he gave it all up for the walk with God, but I particularly love this at verse 9 where he mentions two types righteousness-one by the law or commandments and the other by faith in God.
He continues with verse 11, "...by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead..."
I love this chapter, for Paul basically says that he understands he must continue to be disciplined in his righteousness (both faith and law), that he..."may lay hold for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." He presses on to follow in the foot steps of Christ.

He states that he forgets his past and reaches forward to those things which are ahead.

(This is simple enough. Do not allow your past be the tether of your life. More so use it as your motivation and catalyst for change if needed.)

Peace and Blessings,

Ethical Vision