Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Who Do You Think You Are?


Each morning I enjoy the comic strip, Mallard Fillmore by Bruce Tinsley.

The past few days, Mr. Tinsley’s writing has addressed the 2010 census. I too was offended by the racial profiling on the 2010 census forms. I wondered why our government needs to know my color and race while admonishing us all that we must judge people – not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Let me state that I do agree with Dr. King’s statement, but this led to a dilemma.

Frankly, I was not sure which box to check. My skin is neither black nor white. I was not sure about familial Hispanic origins. I also had doubts about every other race listed on the census form. It was a quandary. As a fan of the NBC show – Who Do You Think You Are? – I wondered how to answer truthfully.

Desperate, I sought help from a very learned man, Noah Webster. Based on his assessment, I checked the ‘Other’ box and wrote in Native American.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

National Day of Prayer


Spring heralds a rebirth. We see this rebirth in the flora and fauna, the trajectory of the sun and the activity of man. The spirit of man is also reborn and some choose to commemorate this rebirth with a National Day of Prayer. On May 6Th religious leaders will stand beside secular leaders with one spirit to pray for our country.

I agree that our country needs these prayers - perhaps more now than at any other time in our history. I see no reason why religious leaders and secular leaders cannot pray publicly together whenever or wherever they choose. It is our right to pray publicy as afforded by God and our Consitution. However, I disagree with any government that makes attendance at these prayer vigils mandatory. I may point out to detractors of the National Day of Prayer that our government does not make prayer mandatory.

Still, many take issue with the prayer venue. Fine! Then let our secular leaders leave their government-sponsored offices and pray on the steps of a local church.

Social Justice

Th Bible States:

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. " Genesis 1:27


The Declaration of Independence states:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

We were already created equal - so why do we need the creation of Social Justice through this 'Hope and Change" guy?

Sunday, April 04, 2010

Like The Wind


Some say that the miracles of the Bible do not exist in today's world. The miracles performed by the early church followers provided revelation of your existence to the masses. Today those miracles are no longer needed because we have your word. I know better.


The people of the the first century were living in the enemy's territory - same as we are today. Satan tempted Jesus in the desert with power of all the world's governments. Satan would not have used that temptation unless he was the ruler of this world. We bring your power and miracles into this world by asking.


When someone asks me for 'proof of God', I can truthfully answer that I have seen you. You are like the wind. I cannot see the wind, but I can feel the wind. I can see how the wind affects all that it touches. The wind can caress a small crocus petal making it dance playfully in the garden. The wind can blow dry leaves from one yard to another and down the street clearing a path. The wind can down a tree or devastate a community.


Your movements are like the wind. Your gentle touch to a mourning soul or the clearing of old ways to make way for new. Your movements inspire compassion for communities that have long been neglected in their poverty. Your movements remind a people caught up in day to day living that they need you.


Lord, you are like the wind - for now - and I know that one day all will finally see the face of the wind.