The Sight

Denzel Has Offended...

2012-02-14T09:41:00.000-08:00

Denzel Washington. Family man. Actor. Sex symbol. Target for atheist rage.

Indeed. Denzel, the man everyone loves to love, has found himself in a bit of hot water with atheists recently. While publicizing his new movie, "Safe House," which opened last weekend with impressive box office receipts, he likened atheism to being a sociopath...or at least that's what atheists are saying he did.

In the interview in question, Denzel says in response to a question about how he prepared for the role and character he played in the movie says, “There’s a book I read called, ‘The Sociopath Next Door,’ and… a, it really became sort of the Bible for me in developing this character. I think he is a sociopath. I think he doesn’t have a conscience. I think he is an atheist and a murderer and a liar.”

For atheists, this is indicia that Denzel hates them and thinks of them as sociopaths. The atheist community has gone to great links to liken Denzel to Mel Gibson for this comment.

But, down here in reality, Denzel's remarks, when listened to in context (and not in an effort to find a way to be offended about everything), was simply a list of all of the things his character was. Black, sociopath who also happened to be an atheist.

Try again, atheists. This one's not going to work.

Is This Really How We Do It?

2012-02-02T19:33:00.000-08:00

Okay. I don't have much to say about this commercial, it really does speak for itself. There's no thoughtful theological point I'm trying to make, no social commentary, I'm not even trying to make a funny here. I'm laughing at this commercial to keep from crying.

It's Black History Month people. I'm not so sure that this is where Dr. Carter G. Woodson wanted things to end up, but I'm afraid this is where he predicted they would be--dancing, rapping or singing.

But, at least he's working in this commercial, right?

Happy Black History Month.

Former Slave Owner to Former Slave: Let's Stay Together...

2012-02-01T11:38:00.000-08:00

President Obama made waves recently when, at a fundraiser, sang a few lines of soulful crooner Al Green's "Let's Stay Together." His rendition--a telling reminder to the unusual coalition of supporters he galvanized to win the presidency in 2008--was spontaneous and actually pretty good. The president can sing.

But, it appears that the president isn't the only one in history who has made poetic overtures to congeal an interesting union.
This week, letters from an August, 1865, exchange between a former slave owner and a former slave were discovered. The letters show how a Colonel P.H. Anderson of Tennessee, tried to persuade his former slave, Jourdon, to come back to work on the plantation by promising to treat the former slave "better than anybody else can."

The former slave wrote in response the former slave owner:

Sir: I got your letter, and was glad to find that you had not forgotten Jourdon, and that you wanted me to come back and live with you again, promising to do better for me than anybody else can. I have often felt uneasy about you. I thought the Yankees would have hung you long before this, for harboring Rebs they found at your house. I suppose they never heard about your going to Colonel Martin's to kill the Union soldier that was left by his company in their stable. Although you shot at me twice before I left you, I did not want to hear of your being hurt, and am glad you are still living. It would do me good to go back to the dear old home again, and see Miss Mary and Miss Martha and Allen, Esther, Green, and Lee. Give my love to them all, and tell them I hope we will meet in the better world, if not in this. I would have gone back to see you all when I was working in the Nashville Hospital, but one of the neighbors told me that Henry intended to shoot me if he ever got a chance.

The former slave goes on to say at the end of his letter:

We trust the good Maker has opened your eyes to the wrongs which you and your fathers have done to me and my fathers, in making us toil for you for generations without recompense. Here I draw my wages every Saturday night; but in Tennessee there was never any pay-day for the negroes any more than for the horses and cows. Surely there will be a day of reckoning for those who defraud the laborer of his hire.

So, if you're keeping score, the former slave master denies his former slave wages, kills a Yankee soldier, shoots at the slave, not once but twice, and then writes to the former slave to ask the former slave to come back. "Let's stay together," so to speak.
And the former slave responds in a measured and calm manner, saying in essence, that the Creator will right all of the wrongs you have done to me and my family.

This is some real Christianity in action in the Romans 12:9 (Paul quoting Deuteronomy 32:35, "To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.") sense.

Being spiritual and being a Christian does not prevent us from taking action or calling out wrong doing or social ills, rather it is incumbent upon the faithful to make the case against wrong doing, and allow the Creator to be the punitive heavy.

That is precisely what the former slave did in this instance.

Mitt the Tither...

2012-01-25T12:34:00.000-08:00

That, incredibly dull thud we heard nationally a few days ago, was the release of GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's 2010 and 2011 tax returns. The louder thud we heard, was, at least by many accounts, was his opportunity to become the GOP presidential nominee.

Mitt's returns indicate that he made over $42 million mostly from returns and dividends from investments he made several years ago (he hasn't released tax returns for those years. I wonder why? Really, I do), and paid just under 15 percent of his income in taxes.

While I pay a far higher tax rate than Mitt, I really can't knock his hustle. There is something uniquely American about finding a legal way to pay less taxes, as he has found a legal way to give less of his money to the federal government, good for him.

Less American however, is the fact that Mitt is a steadfast tither to the Mormon church, giving over $4 million to it. In the Mormon faith, tithing distinguishes the more faithful believer from the believer. It is an integral part of their theology and their history. In fact, Mormons are called on to fast one Sunday a month and donate the cost of what they would have spent on the meal they did not eat to a relief fund.

This is pretty radical stuff. While over 80 percent of Christians donate money to a church, only about eight percent of Christians tithe and about 20 percent give money to charitable causes other than the church.

Now, I am not convinced that tithing is for everyone, but this kind of set up--the one Mitt and the Mormon church has, could really help churches of other Christian faiths (Yes, Mitt, Mormons are Christians) do more benevolent work and community building.

For Tebow Believers, This is Just the Beginning...

2012-01-16T18:25:00.000-08:00

Well, we all witnessed it. On Saturday, The New England Patriots humbled Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional playoff game, by a score of 45-10.

There was little if any upside for Tebow, as he spent most of the game on the ground or on the sidelines watching Tom Brady throw a record six touchdowns to his receivers.

Some of us watched the game as fans of football. Others of us watched the game to see Tim Tebow loose. And still others watched because sports commentators told us this was going to be the best game of all time.

In the days leading up to this game many writers predicted that the Broncos would win the game with Tebow's efforts (and his God's help). See here and here for example. There was even a Tebow-inspired John 3:16 commercial aired during the game.

And there has been enormous attention on Tebow this season, this month, this week, because he is as one sports reporter put it, "the greatest story angle of the season." He is a "gosh golly" young man, who loves the Lord openly and is humble. We like him, the sports reporters love him and other athletes like him.

And his sports reporters have not so subtly claimed that God loves Tebow too. In fact, you know what they say. That God loves Tebow so much that God helps Tebow win.

It's a good angle to sell papers and get internet hits, but dangerous for the Christian world. If we accept that God loves Tebow so much, God helps Tebow win games, it sends a curious messages for the dozens of devout Christian athletes Tebow plays against. It sends the same curious message to thousands of Christians in tight spots or with ailments who see no light at the end of the tunnel.

What I mean is if we accept that God has shown favor to Tebow for being a Christian, then what about the Christians he plays against who loose? What about the devout Christians who loose their bouts with cancer? Do they loose because they are not as Christian as Tebow or pray openly as he does or wear scripture verses under their eyes?

This humbling loss should put things into perspective for sports writers looking for the "best angle" to write about. It should illustrate that God allows the sun to shine and the rain to fall on the faithful as well as the unbeliever.

But, I predict that come next season, when the reporters are looking for an angle, this will all surface again as if we didn't bear witness to the game on Saturday.

Mitt and the Haters...

2012-01-13T07:47:00.000-08:00

In the hip hip community and culture, success is measured in many ways. Naturally, unit sales, constituency of loyal fans, and the accumulation of material things all are benchmarks for an artists' success.
But, more than anything these days in some pockets of the hip hop community, an artist's success is measured by the amount of ill will he generates from his peers or the listening public.
Haters, are the personification of that ill will. If an artist has fifteen haters, he is trying diligently to garner twenty. If he has twenty, it is far greater to have thirty and so on.
On the presidential campaign trail, Mitt Romney made the political culture a little bit more like the hip hop culture.
As the front-runner in the Republican race, he has been skewered by his opponents in the Republican primary field for his financial deals when he was in the private sector as a venture capitalist. His opponents have called him heartless, shady, greedy and out of touch with most Americans.
His response? Well, his response to his opponents and critics has been nothing if not measured and consistent. He has said that people who are critical of the financial deals he made and the wealth he amassed while in the private sector, are simply envious of him and all wealthy people.

Yes, in other words, he is counting and shaking his haters at the same time. Getting the dirt off his shoulder, if you will.
This is all fine for the wealthy fundraisers and lower middle class folks who vote against their own self interests that he's trying to impress, but it does little for the rest of us.
You see the rest of us are not haters of Mitt. We are not his haters and are not envious of his wealth because we know that Christ has valued, and continues to value the poor, the marginalized and the disenfranchised. He came to save the masses, not the wealthy.
But, keep shaking the haters, Mitt. If the GOP gets any more like some pockets of the hip hop community, I'll be expecting Mitt to pull up to a stump speech on spinners.

Mid-Week Meditation: Where's the Prayer in...

2012-01-12T13:14:00.001-08:00

The United States is certainly a proud country with a proud people and a proud history. We invented baseball and the Ford truck. We were the first to put a human on the moon. We have barbecue and apple pie. We have the Brooklyn accent, the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the Bronx cheer. We have Dr. King, Dr. Oz, Dr. Pepper and Dr. Dre. We have Coney Island and the Isle of Manhattan. We have Bill Gates, Bill Clinton and the Bill of Rights. We have, well, you get the point. The United States has quite a bit of which to be proud.

But, this country also has many embarrassing, shameful moments historically speaking. And, I don't mean shameful like "Jersey Shore" or Pauly Shore shameful. I mean shameful. This country, for the better part of 200 years allowed humans with melanin in their skin to be sold into slavery, lynched, beaten, raped and abused. It facilitated a segregation of those people for decades, and has sometimes turned its back on the needs of its most vulnerable citizens.

And today, we acknowledge the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Guantanamo Bay detention center. Opened at the direction of president George W. Bush, it was to house the meanest, most vile and abusive terror suspects in the world. Many of the 800 individuals detained there in the decade Guantanamo Bay was open for business, were held indefinitely without a single hearing or court appearance. While the detention center has been "closed," nearly 200 people still remain there.

Guantanamo Bay is infamous because leaders of our country stood by, silently, while U.S. military and officials beat, tortured and humiliated the people detained at the center.

I certainly remember president Bush saying repeatedly that he was a Christian and that he did not make any decisions without prayer to the Creator and reflection. I want to know on the tenth anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo Bay detention center, was this one of those decisions soaked in prayer?

Now, this isn't my Kayne moment--I'm not accusing president Bush of not caring about any one class of people. I am merely asking did he pray about the decision to open this center, and if he did, how did that shape his decision to open what will be a shameful moment in our country's history.

Sex in the Holy City?

2012-01-12T08:53:00.000-08:00

The church, and I mean the church universal, has always had an interesting, if not strained relationship with sex. When the scriptures are not punishing someone (usually a woman), for having it, not having it, or having too much of it, church leaders historically have sought to make the chasm between the church and sex as wide as possible.

Even today, many pastors, clergy and exhorters of the gospel stay away from the topic of sex in the preached word. It is not a neat and tidy discussion to talk about the way Christ's birth, death and resurrection, or His gospel of love and empowerment of the masses are easy to talk about.

Which is why Texas Pastor Ed Young's actions and plans this weekend are interesting. Pastor Young plans to spend a night in a bed a top a roof with his wife this weekend, having a discussion about sex that will be streamed live on the Internet. Specifically, they will answer questions about their love life and general relationship questions.

Now here's the hustle: The couple are promoting their new book, "Sexperiment," which, among other things calls on couples to have sex for seven straight days to strengthen their marriages.

You mean to tell me the key to ensuring financial stability, quality education and health care for children and harmony in the home can be achieved by couples having sex for seven straight days? Russel Brand is somewhere in time, hearing about this, weeping and wishing the book came out just a few days sooner.

I can't knock Pastor Ed Young's hustle. This thing may work and his book may be just what the community needs. I guess we'll see. For now, I'm sure we can look forward to seeing Pastor Young and his wife on the grind (figuratively) this weekend, talking about sex and if nothing else, selling their book.

If only Jesus had this kind of marketing genius around Him...everybody would know about His life and gospel.

An A and B Selection...

2012-01-11T13:23:00.000-08:00

The movie Joyful Noise, starring Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton, is due out any day now. While I have not yet seen the movie, as near as I call tell, the plot of the movie is this:

A small town in Georgia, has fallen on hard economic times (in no way due to the president's policies), but the gentry are counting on the Divinity Church Choir to lift their spirits and hopes by winning the National Joyful Noise Competition. The choir has always known how to sing, but the discord between its two leading ladies now threatens to tear them apart. Their newly appointed director played by Queen Latifiah, stubbornly wants to stick with their tried-and-true traditional style, while Parton thinks tried-and-true translates to tired-and-old.

There it is. Enough sappy sweetness to make Buddy the Elf sick.

Now, the plot is harmless enough and it seems like good, clean family entertainment. But if the plot sounds familiar, that's because it is. This plot line has been used hundreds of times in religious movies--pitting traditional worship and song against more the more contemporary worship.

We know that this is a discussion within the church that has caused some friction. Some in the pew believe that church worship and song should be traditional in all ways, while others have eschewed most traditional forms of worship, and favor non-traditional worship.

Who's right? Perhaps both sides are. Worship needs both traditional and non-traditional, contemporary elements to edify the Creator and connect with the pew. It's a serious discussion that should be ongoing and continuous...and serious.

I have not yet seen Joyful Noise, so I can't praise or criticize it. I appreciate the movie entertaining the very valid and serious discussion of traditional versus contemporary song and worship.

My hope is that the movie handles the discussion responsibly and thoughtfully.

Candidates Called by God

2012-01-06T09:07:00.000-08:00

This political season, God has been busy. In addition to God's regular work of being all-knowing, all-powerful and all-seeing, God has been urging some politicians to run for various political offices at the local, state and even national level.

Herman Cain, Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum have all said explicitly that God called them to run for president. (God, how is it that you only speak to Republicans these days?) I have no problem with that at all. God, the Creator does call the unlikely, reluctant or unexpected to do things all the time. God called Moses and Jacob and Paul, and Joseph and Mary and Rahab for greater work. All reluctant or recalcitrant in some respect.

I do note that when supporters of the current president made the same claim as he was running for president, the president's supporters were accused of trying to elevate Obama to prophet or even Christ-like stature. And, I want to put the claims made about God's calling on Obama's run in perspective. Obama outlasted the wife of a former (and beloved) president, moved past questions about his drug use, his flamboyant Chicago pastor, and his ties to Islam, and found a way to win the election. And he didn't even have one stripper, one escort, one blond porn star come out of the wood work to accuse him of sexual misconduct. Not one. That doesn't happen today.

In some circles, that does amount to evidence of a human called to run for president. Heck, that might even get someone canonized for sainthood or at least a book deal and some TV commentator jobs.

So now that Bachmann and Cain have dropped out of the presidential race, and Rick Perry is on his way to doing the same, people are questioning God's wisdom, or rather whether God called them at all.

For people like Bill Maher and others who want to poke fun at God and Christianity, this is a fair question. If God calls you to run for president, why are you not winning? In fact, why are you dropping out of the presidential race?

The answer is this: In the scriptures, Job asks God why all of the things he was going through were happening to him. And God, in essence replied, that there are some things that God does that pass human logic and understanding.

Perhaps Cain was in the presidential race to advance a discussion on sexual harassment in the workplace, and Michelle Bachmann was in the race to bring attention to Minnesota or give another young woman the motivation to run for president, and perhaps Rick Perry was in the race to forward a discussion about poverty. I don't know for certain why any of them were called to run.

But, perhaps the Creator called them to run to move something else forward, but not necessarily to win.

Father was a Rolling Stone...

2012-01-04T18:09:00.000-08:00

Earlier today, Gabino Zavala, an assistant bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles of the Roman Catholic communion, resigned. Zavala's resignation came as it was discovered that he had a secret family complete with a side piece and teenage children. Naturally, the names of the children have not been released.

Of course, the Catholic church has been plagued with sexual issues. The church, has paid over a billion dollars in settlements of sexual abuse of minors cases in 2007. What's more, there have been notable cases of priests in academia abusing seminarians and priests within the pastorate maintaining secret families for decades.

Matthew 19:10-12, certainly are controlling scriptures in this case. The passage says: "The disciples said to him, 'If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.'
Jesus replied, 'Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.'

Christ says in the passage that there are people who are born to not have sexual relations, people called by the Creator to not have sexual relations, and people who have not been so called. Both those who have been separated to not have sexual relations and those who have no such calling, are equal in the the eyes of the Creator.

Now, I'm not trying to renew the centuries-old debate of whether clergy within and outside of the Catholic communion should be able to marry, but Christ makes it clear in the passage above, that it doesn't matter to Him whether a member of the cloth has sex or not.

What is gets me about Zavala's resignation is that it was quick and efficient and quiet. While the Catholic church can handle its clergy any way it wishes, it sends a message that Zavala's sin is more egregious than other sins of clergy. You see, for decades, some clergy within the Catholic communion were caught molesting children, and those clergy were quietly moved to other churches or assignments.

There was no moving Zavala. No rehabilitation. No reassignment.

It's ironic almost. What message does this send to the pew?

Cee Lo Green to John Lennon: Forget You...

2012-01-03T17:55:00.000-08:00

On New Year's Eve, recording artist and reality TV star, Cee Lo Green performed in Manhattan's Times Square. Naturally, this is a great honor. And for his part, Green treated the sublime honor with aplomb. He chose to sing John Lennon's "Imagine," a timeless piece about unity, peace and harmony. The piece, "Imagine" while timeless, advances some fairly timely messages in the American and global political environment.

What Green most certainly meant as a tribute, offended both Lennon fans and fundamentalist Christians alike. In Green's rendition of "Imagine," he sang,“Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too,” Green sang, “Nothing to kill or die for, and all religion’s true.”

Beatles' and Lennon loyalists are angered with Green because he tampered with Lennon's lyrics (any tampering with Beatles' lyrics are not just frowned upon, it's downright wrong.)

Fundamentalists have taken umbrage with Green's rendition because they believe there is only one true God and if "all religion's true," it directly contradicts their beliefs.

Now, the outrage from either side is expected and not unreasonable. Beatles and Lennon fans have a reasonable desire to keep Beatles lyrics pure and intact. And fundamentalists have a right to believe that their God is the one true God and anything--lyrics, television shows, popular trends or other religions--serve as a threat to their faith.

However, Green appears to have meant no harm, and debating a song in which paradoxes are juxtaposed (almost to the absurd) to make a point about unity, it should go without saying that Green deserves a little leeway.

Love Don't Cost a Thing...Except in Grand Rapids

2012-01-02T07:01:00.000-08:00

Prosecutors in Grand Rapids, Michigan have authorized a warrant for Author Pearson. Pearson is the senior pastor of Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, who is accused of embezzling over $200,000 from his congregation's operating funds. Naturally, the prosecutors in Grand Rapids intend to file criminal charges against Pearson.

The church has also taken action against Pearson. On December 30th, the church filed a suit in civil court to recover the money Pearson allegedly embezzled from the church.

But, the story isn't that Pearson will be charged criminally, or that the church has filed a civil suit against him to recover the money. The story is in how some of the members of the church are defending Pearson, even ones who believe that he embezzled funds. Some are even fighting to keep Pearson at the helm of the church.

"This is hurting Pastor. Pastor loves all his members," one member of the pew exclaimed recently.

If Pastor loves all his members, his love is pretty darn expensive.

One Thing Fundamentalists and Science can Agree on...

2012-01-01T19:50:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year.

As with all new years, in the coming days and weeks, there will be plenty of reflection over the most significant events of 2011. And there will also be predictions about what will happen in 2012. Some of the predictions will be silly. Others will be sublime. And some predictions will actually turn out to be accurate.

One prediction that will most certainly get some attention in this week, is the Mayan Calendar prediction. You know, the theory that the ancient Mayan civilization predicted the end of the world--an Apocalypse, complete with asteroids colliding into earth and other natural disasters--would occur on December 21, 2012, because their "Long Count" calendar does not contain days after that day.

The theory has been rejected by the descendants of the ancient Mayans and the scientific community, but has its supporters in the United States (There must be some people who still believe this theory because there has been a moderately successful movie and four major books written on the subject in the last year).

Surely, in anticipation of the predictions we will hear, NASA, has issued a statement indicating that there would be no Apocalypse as no planets or asteroids are set to collide into the earth in 2012.

So the world will not end in 2012. Finally, something fundamentalist Christians and scientists can agree on. Now, if we can just get the whole Creationism argument worked out...

Tebowing for a Better Way...

2011-12-30T21:53:00.000-08:00

This weekend, we will see the last games of the NFL regular season. Some of the games this weekend will be meaningless, and others will be pregnant with opportunity--a few teams will be able to make the post season playoffs with a win or a loss of another team or a combination of the two,

(Mother Teresa "Tebowing" for an end to poverty)

No doubt the Denver Broncos are one of the latter teams. While the Broncos and their quarterback Tim Tebow have had some exhilarating 11th hour wins this season, they were humbled by two sizable losses last week and the week before.

Those sports reporters and social critics that were quick to dub Tebow "God's quarterback" who was performing "miracles" in football games, have been silenced by these losses, while people like Bill Maher has used the loses at an attempt to mock Tebow, God and Christians.

(Nelson Mandela "Tebowing" for unity)

Maher and others have been out of line in their recent comments about Tebow, about God and about Christians. However, we should have anticipated them. Calling Tebow "God's quarterback" and referring to the games he and his team have won this season as miracles has been most

(President Obama "Tebowing" for guidance)

irresponsibly done to satisify our need to have everything packaged neatly with a cute name. You know, Jennifer Lopez can't be Jennifer Lopez, she has to be JLo. There's a ScarJo, a Brangelina, and a KFed. All packaged neatly with cute names.

(Dr. Martin Luther King "Tebowing" for peace)

And so when God is packaged in the form of a Denver Broncos fan and communication with that God is cutely referred to as "Tebowing," its easy to mock. God becomes easy to mock.

This isn't Tebow's fault. He didn't create this mess. I wish him well. But I wish Tebow's humbling would teach us that there are somethings that don't need slick, cute packages or names and the Creator is on of them.

I'm not optimistic that we will learn from Tebow, but I am Tebowing right now that we do.

The Pope and Me...

2011-12-29T20:02:00.000-08:00

Recently, Pope Benedict XVI articulated his support for sweeping political and social action to end the death penalty internationally.

Pope Benedict, like Pope John Paul II, has been a consistent voice against the death penalty. He has called on governments within the United States and other countries to commute sentences of criminal offenders facing the death penalty. Indeed, the Catholic church has been opposed to the death penalty for decades, but ramped up its opposition in the early 1990s.

The death penalty, particularly as used and applied in the United States disproportionately affects people of color, the poor, the marginalized and the disenfranchised of our community. While there are some within fundamentalist Christian circles that have sought to justify support for the death penalty (while incidentally in the same breath vehemently opposing abortion) using Old Testament passages, any Christian support for the death penalty is contrary to every one of Jesus' teachings.

While the Catholic church is not perfect, it is refreshing to see a Christian communion standing firmly and consistently against the death penalty,

Playing God and Newt at the Same Time...

2011-12-13T11:14:00.000-08:00

Recently, GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich signed a pledge, promising in writing that he would defend and strengthen the family and uphold the institution on marriage.

The pact, called the Marriage Pledge, is a construct of a group called Family Leader, a socially conservative group based in Iowa. The Family Leader has called on all 2012 GOP presidential candidates to sign the Marriage Pledge, which is, among other things, a veiled litmus test to sure up strong opposition for and of same sex marriage. Clearly, the pledge is also a call for fidelity in marriage. Newt has had his issues with past marriages.

But, I don't care about what Newt does with his wife or anyone else. We have all sinned--from lying about how well someone looks, to the failure to help someone in need, to sending military troops into a war to kill. (Yes, all of those are sins.) No sin is more egregious than another.

But, what is troubling about this pledge is this: all of the GOP presidential candidates are married and call themselves Christians. By accepting Christ as their savior and reciting wedding vows, they have already made the Pledge to the entity that matters. You know, the Creator. Newt, the other GOP presidential candidates, and the rest of us for that matter are only answerable to the Creator for how we construe marriage.

Defining the terms or construct of marriage is wholly the job of the creator, not the Family Leader. Why don't we just let the Creator do the Creator's job. She has it covered.

I'm Not on Tebow's Jock Just Yet...

2011-12-12T08:34:00.000-08:00

This weekend, Tim Tebow and the Denver Bronco's beat the Chicago Bears 13-10 in overtime. The Bronco's field goal kicker, Matt Prater, kicked a 51 yard field goal in overtime to secure the game for the Bronco's.

That was it. The Bronco's won another mediocre game over another faltering team (the Bears' were without their starting quarterback and running back due to injuries).

But, the better story, the angle that's far more attractive, is that Tebow is winning and giving the credit to God. Actually, that story isn't even sexy enough--you know, a humble football player who gives thanks to the Creator for the ability to play football and such.

But, saying that God is actually making Tebow win, is a far more attractive story. It allows sports reporters and marketers to come up with cute names for Tebow like, the "Mile High Messiah," or "God's Quarterback." (Remember, what happened to the Dallas Cowboys when they were dubbed "God's Team?" I'm just saying.)

Christians know that God intercedes on our behalf and protects us and comforts us. Christians also know and believe in the power of prayer--that through prayer all things can become possible. But Christians also know that the Creator provides blessings and prosperity for the just as well as the unjust. Matthew 5:45.

Tebow is winning for sure. He also appears to be sincere with his faith, humble to a fault, and even careful with how he characterizes his win streak.

But, I prefer to believe that the Creator isn't in the business of fixing professional football games against and between marginal teams. Tebow's win streak is no miracle.

But it sure sounds good.

Mid-Week Meditation: The Continuum of Sin...

2011-12-07T12:51:00.000-08:00

With the rise and fall and rise and fall of Herman Cain, and the rise and fall and apparent rise again of Tiger Woods, the fall and fall of Bishop Long and the whatever Jerry Sandusky is doing this week (he can't even lie for the camera and say that he's not attracted to boys), I have been meditating on sin.

Clearly, a continuum of sin exists in our spiritual and even secular cultures--some sins are more egregious than others. I don't have it all figured out, this continuum we have, but as near as I can tell, it works something like this:

At one end of the continuum are what we'll call the "Oprah offenses"--adultery, domestic violence, and the emotional abuse of a partner or spouse. There are no offenses more repugnant in our culture than these sins, called Oprah offenses because, Oprah spent much of her career railing against these sins.

Just under those sins are sins against children and the otherwise helpless. On this place of the continuum, we place child molesters and mothers who kill, neglect or mistreat their kids. Casey Anthony and Jerry Sandusky live here.

Next on the continuum is, the killing, mistreating, or otherwise causing pain to an attractive, productive woman of European descent...if you are not of European descent. Ask O.J. Simpson why he's doing a 10-year bit for trying to take back property that was stolen from him.

Messing with someone's cheddar who matters in this society is next on the continuum. If Bernie Madoff Ponzied prison inmates or the people who love them, he wouldn't need protection in prison because he wouldn't be there. But he did not. Madoff bilked professionals and people who vote and pay taxes and write fundraising checks to senators. He had to do some time.

Mistreating animals...In some sections of our culture, this is above the Oprah offenses.

Selling drugs, killing for self-defense, drunk driving and engaging in war seem to be a bit lower on the continuum.

There are certainly other sins, of which I am unsure of their placement on the continuum, but this is what I have gleaned from years of listening and reading.

When the Apostle Paul proclaimed in Romans 6:23 "that the wages of sin is (sic) death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ", is this what he meant? Can a continuum of sin (I may have sinned in this way, but at least I didn't do what he did. He's disgusting) that is consistent with Paul's pronouncement that all sin is punishable by death without Christ checking it in?

Praying for Tiger...

2011-12-05T19:22:00.000-08:00

I have been quietly waiting for the opportunity to write this post for over two years.

This past weekend, Tiger Woods won the Chevron World Challenge golf tournament, ending a drought of almost 30 winless tournaments over two years. He has made strong showings in several golf tournaments, including the 2011 President's Cup, but wins have eluded Tiger for some time.

We know the trouble Tiger has been in. We know about the divorce. We know about the porn stars and the side pieces. We know about the hush money Tiger gave to all of them and we know the sex rehab center he went to because of all of the trouble he was in. Let us not rehash it.

It has been most interesting over the past two years to watch people watch Tiger. His friends and enemies alike have fallen away from him. Sports writers and golfers who lived in Tiger's chilly shadow for years, made a point to attack him about his personal failings whenever they got a chance to do so publicly.

Even his closest friend, his long time caddie, a guy Tiger heaped millions of dollars on for almost two decades, took some racially insensitive and tasteless shots at Tiger while Tiger has been down.

They, wallowing in self-righteousness, hurled "I told you so's" and "He's troubled and sick," as if they didn't know that Tiger would make a comeback, rise from the ashes and win tournaments; find a way to make people love him again.

It all reminds me of how friends and family of Christ fell away from Christ and betrayed Him just before He was crucified, not knowing or at least not fully believing that Christ would rise from His grave and make His Ascension. That had to be a lonely place for Christ in those moments, but He was comforted by prayer and meditation to the Creator.

I am not calling Tiger Christ, but it appears that a healthier Tiger is on his way back. While many have fallen away, I for one, am praying and meditating for his well being.

Oh, Christmas Tree...Oh, Really?

2011-12-04T21:19:00.000-08:00

As we approach the third Sunday of Advent, and as we begin the Christmas season in earnest, the heated "Christmas tree" debate is becoming salient...again. In just about every corner of the country, citizens, politicians and religious leaders are fighting to name the tree that pops up this time of the year one thing or another.

Some want trees that appear in state capitals, governors' mansions and other public places, to be called "holiday trees." Naturally, these people want to use politically inclusive language for the tree as many people of many faiths with be celebrating, holidays at this time.

Others (the perpetually offended) want to call the trees "Christmas trees." These people say they believe that a tree decorated and displayed around this time of year, is unmistakably a Christmas tree, and any attempt to call it anything else, is pandering to the politically correct forces in this country and "taking Christ out of Christmas."

While I can appreciate their concern for wanting to protect Christ, Christ doesn't need any help keeping himself in the celebration of His birthday.

We know from a careful reading of historical context and the scriptures, that Christ was neither born on December 25th or even in the winter for that matter. It is more likely that Christ was born in the fall between September or October.

What's more, there is nothing "Christ-like" about "Christmas trees." Not only are the scriptures void of any mention of a tree in or around the birth of Christ, every single story about the origin of the Christmas tree has pagan roots, so to speak.

And, after decades of Black Friday shootings, Santa Clauses, reindeer, Frosty the Snowmen and other gimmicks designed move our attention away from the reason we celebrate Christmas, we still acknowledge Christ this time of year and we know that Christ breathes charity and loving kindness into this holiday season.

So while I'm sure Christ appreciates their efforts to protect Him, I think He has this whole Christmas season covered.

Politicians and religious leaders should use their time living the gospel of Christ--an endless, perpetual fight for the marginalized--rather than try to score political points with this issue.

Why We Must Be Careful With Herman Cain...

2011-12-02T18:46:00.000-08:00

I have been praying that I could stay out of the Herman Cain discourse altogether. I have 99 problems of my own, and Herman Cain ain't one. But, I think the discourse is heading in the wrong direction, so I should probably say something now before all of his accusers get reality TV shows.

Clearly, in the blogosphere, the tweet and Facebook universe, and even in the traditional print media, it has become trendy and most acceptable to ride out on Herman Cain. He is an individual in an unfortunate position, and it is easy for us to pile on criticism when a person is down.  At the hands of bloggers, Herman Cain is anything from a dog, to a cheater, to an ordained minister possessed with a lustful spirit...all before we have seen any of his accusers show and prove he did anything wrong.

Now, it would be most foolhardy of me to articulate an opinion on whether or not Herman Cain did any or all of the things of which he is accused. I have not seen any evidence and I don't know the man well enough to do that. But, it seems to me that we owe Herman Cain some deference or at least silence for now. Here's why:

Professionals of color who have made their way in this world are roundly attacked for one reason or another.  I'm not saying there is some vast conspiracy, or coordinated effort to attack them, it is just so. In fact, I know of know professional of color who has a love affair with the media or the public. Let me illustrate what I mean.

The attacks are packaged in one of three ways. First, professionals of color have their color used against them, even if they never actually mention their color themselves. Here, professionals of color are marginalized and can only speak about "diversity" issues, are implicitly called different and therefore bad because of their color, or they have their color taken out of context.

For example, Lani Guinier, for years was called a "quota queen" for her efforts to discuss the voting rights of minorities. Justice Sotamayor was flogged over and over about her "wise Latina" remarks. And of course, President Obama has been fighting to prove he's not an African Muslim since he has been on the national scene.

The second way attacks of professionals of color are packaged is their professional acumen is called into question--they are called incompetent boobs. "He is flash and no substance," "he gives great speeches, but he's an empty suit," "or he's a 'community organizer'" are all examples of this.

And finally, professionals of color are attacked with their sexuality. Men are seen as over-sexed monsters, who are hungry for lustful encounters. Women are either seen as asexual (think Aunt Jemima) or vamps who seduce any and everything with money (think every actress of color working today...)

Now, as I said, I can't say what Herman Cain has done or not done. But it does look like he is an otherwise successful man, who is being attacked with this playbook.  Attacking Cain because it is easy and popular (Black Republicans are easy targets for ridicule, I get it) has broader implications.

What happens when the next Herman Cain (a Herman Cain whom we actually agree with politically) steps up to make her way in this world? Will she be oversexed, or undersexed? Will she be all flash and no substance? Will she be the wise Latina?

Rosa, Rosa...

2011-12-01T12:47:00.000-08:00

Today, we acknowledge the life and bravery of Rosa Parks. The story of her curage is legendary. On December 1st, 1955, a tired Rosa Parks sat down in a seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. As the bus became crowded, the driver of the bus asked Parks to give up her seat for a white passenger. Naturally she refused, and Parks' refusal to give up her seat spurred what we now know as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and eventually, the Civil Rights era in the United States.

We know that Parks was not the first person in this country or internationally, to engage in civil disobedience, but her actions were forward-thinking, radical and enveloped in and with the notions of humanness and equality. She made this country think about the manner in which it treats all of its citizens.

And, by the way, she was a faithful memeber of the African Methodist Episcopial church.

As we celebrate the spirit of Rosa Parks, let us, particularly those in the A.M.E. church, remember her by keeping the same forward-thinking spirit in dealing with issues of salience today.

Mid-Week Meditation: Organized Religion and Interracial Dating

2011-12-01T08:43:00.000-08:00

Recently, a church, voted to ban interracial couples from church.

I meditated on this story and then I asked a friend of mine if she believed in organized religion. She told me that she wanted to, but she didn't. I didn't bother to ask any follow up questions like, "Why not?" or "What happened?" I didn't ask because I knew, sadly what her issue was.

My friend, like many people my age, grew up attending mass regularly because it was the right thing to do and because her parents wanted her to. But as she got older, I assume that she felt what many of us have observed--a disconnect between church attendance and a connection to the creator, or anything else that would personally benefit her spiritually or otherwise.

The first century church was established for two reasons--as a place for believers to worship God and as a gathering place for believers to to find security. Naturally, the first century Roman Empire was not a kind place for Christians. They were literally persecuted and marginalized. Gathering at church with other souls who were in the same boat, provided comfort and sanctuary.

Today, while we have some difficulties in our lives, we are in a better place than first century Christians...at least theoretically. We have access to the government, access to the economic structure and Christianity is, in essence, the official religion of this country. What's more, we can worship and contemplate on the works of the Creator and the creation in our own comfortable homes. The scriptures do not mandate that a person must attend church regularly or at all to be in good stead with the Creator.

So convening in church for the same reasons first century believers did are not persuasive for the 40 and under crowd. So they have stayed away from organized religion.

And churches that vote to ban interracial couples from worshipping does little to help attract that demographic either.

Wyclef to Foundation Donors: Your Money's Gone 'til November...or Forever

2011-11-29T17:32:00.000-08:00

This week, the New York Post released a report that claims singer, hip hop artist and composer, Wyclef Jean, used chunks of money from his charity, Yele Haiti, for his own benefit. Specifically, the Post says that while Wyclef's organization received some $16 million in donations shortly after a hurricane struck Haiti in January 2010, only $5.1 million was actually spent on relief efforts, while millions were given to contractors with ties to Wyclef or businesses that never actually existed.

Wyclef is a very talented hip hop artist and composer. He has revolutionized creativity in hip hop. He has managed his career with an eye on longevity, undertaking thoughtful projects and collaborations on his albums.

However, clearly his charity, even by his own admission, has been mismanaged since its inception in 2005. The charity has a track record of loosing money, failing to file proper financial reports and statements, and keeping the transparency charities and foundations doing the work Wyclef's claims to be doing should have.

I also acknowledge that it was in very poor taste for Wyclef to show up immediately after the hurricane, in a tailored suit and limousine while the citizen wallowed in squalor.

However, with all of that said, Wyclef's charity isn't the first charity that is poorly run. A vast majority of charities only direct a third (which is what Wyclef's charity spent on direct relief efforts) of the funds they raise on direct relief. In fact, a charity that directs about 60 percent of its funds to direct relief, a well-run charity organization.

Which means that the problem is systemic. Charities, even well-intentioned ones, are not directing all of their funds to direct relief for one reason or another.

So, why is Wyclef's charity under, what I consider an unusual amount of scrutiny for its mismanagement? I understand that it's noteworthy, but why is Wyclef's organization the subject of an exclusive New York Post report and article, when there are so many other poorly managed charities that should be scrutinized?