I was going to write about something entirely different this morning when I ran across this video about the New Black Panthers from Bob Parks, the writer of Black & Right.
After watching the NBP video and several others of the same ilk, I felt terribly sad for all those whose lack of insight and maturity lead them to such self inflicted poison and hatred. Hate is heavy baggage.
Happenstance brought me to another video and post over at Afro Spear. The views expressed here came at the right moment.
They lifted me, as I hope they will lift you! Hope heals and hate betrays … we all get to choose which one will fill our lives.
Let’s look at HOPE.
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” James 2:26
Once a week I volunteer at an inner city mission. Interestingly, even though I had volunteered sporadically before with different organizations and missions, it was after reading Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life”, that I made a conscious decision to commit to volunteer on a consistent basis. I came to realize clearly from his teaching that we are created by God with a ministry and a mission to fulfill. Our ministry is what we do in our service for the “Church” and our mission is what we do in our service for the “World”. Both are important. Both influences and strengthens each other. To have the maximum impact as a child of God on those we come in contact with, we have to be committed to being consistent in our ministry and mission.
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This attitude is the reason why our community at large and humanity in general, haven’t progressed further than it has in regards to the common good. Too many of us are looking and waiting for the next Martin (or Malcolm), instead of taking up our own cross and working to fulfill our own mission. Too many of us would rather answer like Cain: “Am I my brother’s keeper?”, than take the responsibility to “really work for something powerful and special and good” in the service for others. The life work of Martin Luther King is inspirational and influential, however I am inspired and influenced by the ONE who inspired and influenced Rev. King: Jesus Christ. He’s the source. His example isn’t one who went to church (synagogue at the time) 4-6 days a week to prove his faith, nor sit in a room and write a treatise (or blog) on the importance of his beliefs. Jesus got involved and served the poor and oppressed… their physical and more importantly, their spiritual needs.
One other thought … I’ve been going through some tough times of late, wondering what life is really all about … questioning why any of us are here.
The writer of this post helped remind me that we all have the capacity to love, to find wonder, to give of ourselves. Knowing that others share many of the same life questions helps make our journey less daunting while we are here.
By the way, here’s the other video … now go rock for Jesus!
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