Obama’s Speech: A More Perfect Union
March 18, 2008
Barack Obama spoke this morning in Philadelphia, PA at Constitution Center, on matters race and of the fundamental path by which America can work together to pursue a better future.
Regardless of your politics the insight and resolve Barack Obama shows in this speech deserve attention and reflection by all. The issue of race and the role it plays in achieving a just society still weighs heavily on the American people in our relationships and our politics.
Listen to Obama call out and name these issues and their root causes. In issues of race and inequality in America — what does the LORD require?.
Here is a video of the full speech and the entire transcript is copied below:
In the News: Ending Famine in Malawi
December 2, 2007
What does it take to bring an impoverished nation from famine to surplus? An excellent article in the New York Times tells how Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world, suffering from famine, drought, poverty, and diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis, with at least 1 million are orphans out of a population of 12 million, has done just that…
Link to the Times article: Ending Famine, Simply be Ignoring the Experts here or for convenience the entire article is copied below:
Vernon Came Back.
September 24, 2007
When confronted by a panhandler on the street or even on your own doorstep — what does the LORD require? Shane Bertou, a husband, father, writer, blogger and would-be pastor from
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Park Community Church faces the history and future of Cabrini Green.
September 21, 2007
When standing on the site of Park Community Church’s new building the view is certainly breathtaking. Under the Chicago skyline you are lined on one side of the street by brand new half-million dollar town homes, and on the other by public housing projects slated for renovation. The stark contrasts of the rapidly changing neighborhood are striking. New development aside, the neighborhood will be “mixed income” to say the least — Park’s new home is literally and metaphorically in the shadow of the infamous Cabrini projects. Read on for an introduction to the history and future of Cabrini Green…¦
The Jena 6 and “stealth” racism in the U.S.
September 20, 2007
What do three nooses hung from a tree in response to a black student sitting in its “whites only” shade say about racism in America? Volumes. Today over 20,000 people from all 50 states marched on Jena, LA. This is an issue that everyone needs be familiar with.
The incident one year ago and the events following came to boiling point as six black students found themselves facing life in prison for beating a white student in retaliation. Now the trials begin, lines are being drawn, movements are forming all over the web and in towns across the country, and tensions are high in Jena, LA as we once again must struggle with our shared history of racism in America.
The situation is much more layered and complex than you might garner from the nightly news. Rather that trying to recap all the details here it would be best to review the growing Wikipedia article on the Jena 6 here.
Were the nooses merely a “tasteless prank?’ Was the beating nothing more than a “school yard fight?” Does this prove racism and bias in the justice system is still alive and strong in the US?
Of course the media is weighing in on every channel. Here are a couple of clips to bring you up to speed.
A”Free the Jena 6″ campaign is building support online, you can learn more and sign their petition here.
When three nooses are hung from a tree — what does the LORD require?
Story of Change: Shane Claiborne
February 18, 2007
Living a just life is not only about transforming external structures, but is equally about the transformation of the internal structures within us. We need to hear the stories of this journey from others. Shane Claiborne regularly shares the story of his response to God’s call for love and justice. Read on to learn more…
Biblical justice is a celebration of discipline
February 15, 2007
The Just Life is very much an approach to justice issues through spiritual development and self-giving discipleship — viewing a truly “just life” as the ultimate expression of a Christian’s engagement with the world we find ourselves in.
Studying the spiritual disciplines is a great place to start your journey. One of the masters at articulating the disciplines is Richard Foster and his book “Celebration of Discipline” is one of the best…
Is “microfinance” the solution to global poverty?
January 11, 2007
Perhaps. Microfinance (aka microcredit) are very small loans — typically less than $100 — made to the rural poor in developing countries who would have no other legitimate way of receiving traditional banking credit. Read on for links and resources that provide an introduction to this concept and to a few of the organizations pioneering the way.
Inversion continued…
September 24, 2006
Read on to follow the thoughts of a friend, theologian, family man, and pastor as he wrestles with Jesus’ example and what it might mean to live a just life.
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Justice and Consensus
August 15, 2006
I’ve been inspired and challenged by some of the recent dialog to look again at the tension between justice and consensus. Do we need to have a unified position on specific issues in order to be effective agents of biblical justice? Or can we act as individuals for the common good and not have to worry about any official church/community position? Does this individualism limit the effectiveness of just causes or does waiting on a consensus in the community do more harm than good?
I ponder these questions as someone who believes strongly in community standards, authority, and unity — but also as someone who sees this concept as possibly the most abused aspect of church polity in history.
I’m drawn to the words of Miroslov Volf: “What happens before we have acquired ‘a common language,’ however? …those caught in the midst of personal and social struggles cannot (acquire a common language). They must act — As we must act before we have resolved a contradiction and sorted out between multiple opinions, so too we must act before we have come to a “œcommon human understanding”‘
Langdon Gilkey observes rather academically: Praxis begins with it forced option, one that cannot be avoided. When praxis is called for, puzzled immobility before contradiction or indifferent acceptance of plurality of options must both cease — for to exist humanly we must wager, and must enact our wager.
“We must wager and must enact on our wager.” I like that. What do you think? Does justice require consensus?
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