I Could Do That!!!

It may be the middle of winter, but it is also Black History Month! No matter what you think, you have to admit, it's very cool to take a few weeks and focus on the unique contributions of Black Americans... so many who not only were and are famous, but people who fulfilled their purpose!

Growing up in the late 60's and early 70's, i think the thing that stands out the most to me are the black actors and actresses that took to the "silver screen"! It was a "new thing" to have so many Black people playing the main roles... the strong, take-no-trash man or woman who takes charge and saves the day! When i was a kid, seeing these men and women in these roles had a profound effect on me. For as strange as it might seem Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Pam Grier, Billy Dee Williams, Cicely Tyson, Jim Brown and many others helped me see that the sky was the limit! It was possible (if i wanted) to do the same thing they were doing... i mean, maybe not literally as a cowboy in the Old West like in Buck and the Preacher but... you know what i mean!

Of course many of the movies these pioneers were starring in had a sub-plot involving the insidiousness of bigotry or racism. But the really cool thing is that no matter what other obstacles their characters encountered they typically found a way to overcome those obstacles and teach strong lessons about doing what was right or for the greater good.

Not to mention, these people were really, really good at their craft but even in the midst of all that they never took themselves out of the reach of people who live normal, everyday, 9 to5 lives. They may have taken political or moral positions on issues but they tried to back up what they "preached" with how they lived. Not perfectly they might admit but it
made you want to be like them and that was (and is) essentially a good thing.


But at its' core, isn't that really what Black History is all about? Wanting to be like the people who have made a difference? Having an impact that last beyond the last time we draw breath here on earth? Fame is a flash in the pan... but fulfilling a purpose last for eternity...

Are We Still In America?!?

Went to Phoenix last week... leaving Midwest, dead of winter, below freezing temperatures for short sleeve weather was pretty nice! The only thing that would have made it better would have been to have my family be able to make the trip with me... but this time they couldn't...

i had the opportunity to hang out for a few days with a bunch of great people at the XP Summit. Folks from all over the country who serve their church staff in a capacity similar to mine... it was a great experience!

But i must admit the part of my little excursion out west that disturbed me and at the same time filled me with excitement me was a trip to Arizona Reservation Ministries. Having the opportunity to find a little bit more about what God is doing in Arizona was encouraging and challenging. I want to thank Dale & Diana Lawrence for allowing me to spend time with them, finding out exactly what the conditions on the ground are for the Apache people...

Let me just say i was both awed and humbled by what Diane and Jean (thanks so much!) drove me around to show me that day... with over 2 million acres of land, the San Carlos Apache reservation (total population of roughly 12,000) sits on the edge of Globe, Arizona. My mind was filled with questions as i saw up close and personal life on this particular reservation. i found myself thinking..."Are we still in America?!?" Especially given the following facts about life here....

• 77% unemployment
• Up to 20 or more people sharing one single-family home
• Many of the girls are having multiple children before they turn 18 years old
• Children begin abusing alcohol while still in grade school
  
• Growing resurgence of gang activity
  
• High instances of alcoholism and rampant methamphetamine use (80 "meth" babies were born here in 2008)
  

But in the midst of this God is working through the team at ARM, their ministry partners and supporters and many of the Apache themselves to bring hope to the Nation of the San Carlos Apache! Westbrook sent a group out west to work with ARM last summer and is planning on doing so again this summer.

The darkness cannot hold back the light, we are excited about strengthening our partnership with ARM, we pray they are excited as well!

Wow... a ton of Tiger!

i have not had much to say but have found myself wondering over the last several weeks... what's the big deal about Tiger Woods? i must admit to being a little shocked by what seems to be a generally across-the-board negative reaction to his, shall we say, indiscretions?!? Now perhaps i'd have a different take if he was married to my daughter, sister or friend... but seriously i wonder why is there such an overwhelmingly negative reaction?

• Is it driven by the shock of seeing the world's number one athlete using multiple women as nothing more than objects with which to feed his own voracious sexual desires?
• Is it driven by deep seated resentment of a ultra-wealthy guy who seemingly threw all common-sense to the wind and behaved in sexually irresponsible way?
• Is it driven by a disgust with a husband completely disregarding his own promise to remain faithful to the mother of his children?
• Is it driven by the image of a black man who, as it seems now, has a fairly narrow (and perhaps distorted) view of what "beauty" truly is?
• Is it driven by jealously, the thought "Gee, I wish I could do that... but I'd never be able to get away with it like he did/has/does?"

Not that it makes it right or ok but the fact is Tiger Woods has not done anything that many, many other people haven't already done... and that is, try to fill up the whole in our souls with garbage that will ultimately destroy us...


Technically, psychologically maybe there are other words, phrases and explanations assigned to what has happened with and what he is accused of having done but here is the heart of the matter for me... a family has been (again) forever impacted by a father's poor choices... it doesn't have to end this way however... but for now we wait to see what will ultimately happen.

Personally, my hope is, if i get to revisit this topic in the future the story will be very different and filled with promise.