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Suspicious

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:51:00 +0000

My father-in-law, Joseph Level, wrote a powerful note titled, "Suspicious" in response to the murder of Trayvon Martin. I've re-posted it below:

I have been stopped by "law enforcement" in traffic, in public, and in retail stores before for being "suspicious". Yet, by the grace of God, I was able, to some degree, corral my anger enough to remain dignified and articulate enough through each humiliating encounter. I'm sure I displayed a bit of righteous indignation…even I couldn't help myself. Regardless of how much I have been prepped to expect these unfortunate situations to occur in my life, I was never quite prepared when it happened. And although I know I'm fearfully and wonderfully made, I continue to live and breathe in earnest expectation for the next time I suddenly appear suspect. However, it pales in comparison to the absolute terror that grips me when I consider my own four sons in light of the curious case of Trayvon Martin.

As the husband of one and the father of our seven children, most would consider me to be too tough on them. I plead not guilty. I haven’t been tough enough. Don’t get it twisted. They are great young adults, teens, and kids…every single one of them. Shanda, our oldest daughter, is married to a wonderful man she met as an undergraduate and both alumni of UNC-Chapel Hill; Brittani is a sophomore at Wake Forest University; Joseph III is a freshman at UNC-Chapel Hill; Josh, a high school sophomore who attends a private boarding school in Asheville, NC (Christ School); Jeremy, an 8th grader; Jordan, 8, our youngest daughter; and infant son, Jaydon (hey, what can we say…lol).

As parents, my wife and I have spent countless hours helping to shape their character and social graces. No pat on the back wanted or needed. It’s what we’re supposed to do and I’m sure most of you, too, have the same testimony. We’ve talked about all the subjects that every mommy and daddy talk about. We’ve talked about all the subjects that mommy and daddy are afraid to talk about. We’ve talked about all the subjects that every black mommy and daddy must address.

And then, there are the daily “present” black father “heart to hearts” I must have with my black sons about what it means to be a black man in America. (I could take some time to differentiate black man vs black man of God; or even black man vs black male, but I won’t. I don’t think it’s going to make much of a difference regarding this topic, so forgive me). I’m not talking about those pep talks about how you’ve got to be twice as good as your classmates just to stay competitive (cue the righteous indignation!). I’m referring to those “suspicious” talks, and I’m bothered by the thought of even having these conversations with my sons in 2012…all these years after slavery, Jim Crow, MLK and up to Obama!

Why must I talk to them about being hyper sensitive about how they walk; their posture; when and when not to make eye contact; when and when not to smile; where to place your hands; their vernacular and tone of voice with police, security, coaches, teachers, and other authority figures? Must I teach them about the dangers of just being in upscale stores, ethnic stores, or even grocery stores? What about the dangers of being in a luxury car, SUV, station wagon, a “hoop-tee”, or on a bike? Can I forget about teaching them what slacks, jeans, t-shirts, jackets, shoes, caps and colors they’re safely permitted to wear? Do I teach them when to say “yes sir” or “yes-suh”, “yes maam” or “yes-sum”? Do I have to teach them when it’s safe to get in the water, when and where it's safe to “make water”, or when and where it’s safe to even come outside and play without being targeted and gunned down? And for what? Being “suspicious”? (O-M-G, forgive me for not teaching them to use the fork farthest to the left for the salad and to place their napkin in the plate only when they’re finished eating.) I mean, really?

If you have any suspicions about whether or not I am, you’re d--n right I’m angry. I’m terrified for our sons. I grieve for Mr. Martin, his family, and all loved ones left after such senseless tragedies.

But most of all, today, I’m grateful that my boys are alive and well, and able to know how their father feels for and about them.

I just pray that they also remember what I’ve taught them. I love them too much not to keep trying.

Look Closer

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:21:00 +0000

Photo Credit: stock.xchng

The world is more complex than it's ever been. In order to make good decisions, we have to be willing to devote more thought to the things around us. We shouldn't allow ourselves to be swayed with slick marketing when the tools needed to make informed decisions are easier to access than they've ever been.

I recently told someone that people like good marketing more than they like good products. The desire for companies, authority figures and the media to make us feel a certain way leaves us open to being manipulated far too easily.

It frustrates me that, in a world where information is readily available, hundreds of thousands of people watch a short, (albeit well-produced) video and walk away believing they have a full understanding of a complex conflict that's been going on for decades.

People watch the cable news network that most closely aligns with their political perspective and walk away thinking they've got the whole picture.

People hear a couple of sermons with a few Scriptures (usually taken out of context) and walk away thinking that they have a handle on theological issues that people have wrestled with for thousands of years.

We owe it to ourselves to resist our tendency to view things one-dimensionally and take the time and study necessary to more fully grasp the issues that confront us. Taking a more thoughtful, deliberate approach isn't always easy--I get that.

But if we want to have meaningful discussions and make informed decisions about important matters we have to look at things from more than just one perspective.

Wisdom From Ecclesiastes

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:20:00 +0000

A few verses that caught my attention recently...

Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 - A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

It really is a blessing to be able to find enjoyment in the work that you do. I think this verse also speaks to the value of having an overall sense of contentment about your life. Not that things are exactly as you would like them to be, but that you find a way to appreciate who, what and where you are in life.

Ecclesiastes 4:4 - And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

So much of what people seek after is a response to what they see others seeking after. Many times you don't want something until you see someone else with it. It's so important to have a value system that is independent of external pressures false ideals.

Ecclesiastes 6:11 - The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?

I've written before about the power of brevity. Words are important, so we should use them wisely.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 - The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.

Any time you're building or establishing something in your life, the early stages can be small, difficult or frustrating. The key is to focus on the goal you're ultimately pursuing. Pride says, "I need to arrive NOW". Patience says, "These small steps are progress. I'll get there in due time"

Ecclesiastes 7:14 - When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.

Sometimes we try to evaluate our standing with God based on how we feel about our current circumstances. When things are going well, we should be grateful and thankful. But we need wisdom to see clearly when things aren't going the way we would like. We have to refrain from assuming that difficult situations are a sign that God has become upset or has forsaken us. God is always sovereign and good, no matter where life finds us.

The Death Penalty and Troy Davis

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:38:00 +0000

Over the past week, the movement to stop Troy Davis' execution has gained traction around the country, particularly through social media. Most people are protesting because there doesn't seem to be much evidence supporting Davis' conviction. The only evidence tying Davis to the crime is the testimony of 9 witnesses--7 of which have changed or recanted their accounts.

At the time of this post, Mr. Davis has been denied clemency by the Georgia Pardons Board and is scheduled to be executed in a little over 24 hours.

I wish Troy Davis' case didn't come down to last minute appeals. There shouldn't be time constraints on proving a person's innocence. Here are a few reasons I don't support the death penalty:

1. - I don't believe that executions are the truest expression of God's perspective of justice here on earth. My views are mostly summed up by what Jesus says here as well as this passage:

"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment." - James 2:12-13

We can't let our anger lead us to forcefully and permanently preclude someone from having another opportunity to receive God's grace.

2. - Even the most remote possibility of executing an innocent person is too much of a risk to take. Why risk killing an innocent person when you can effectively protect the public by imprisoning those convicted of crimes?

3. - The death penalty does nothing to deter future murders or other violent acts. These crimes are usually prompted by out of control emotions and a disregard for human life. A fear of punishment is the last thing going through the mind of a would-be murderer.

I've lost a family member to murder and I know the anger and desire for revenge that can come with that. But I don't think that those emotions should form the basis for determining what justice is in our society.

How do you feel about the death penalty? What shapes your perspective?

Focus

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:31:00 +0000

Recently read a book called "Focus" by Leo Babauta. The basic idea is that our technology driven world is constantly presenting us with distractions that clutter our lives and keep us from doing the things that really matter.

"Focus" provides strategies for eliminating these distractions and becoming more productive. Most of it surrounds limiting your use of social networking, watching less tv and finding periods of time to "unplug" from other things that keep you from being productive.

There are two different versions of the book. I read the free, e-book version. It gives you the major arguments Babauta wants to convey. There is also a premium digital version that covers the same topics but goes more in-depth and actually includes videos as well.

There was nothing really groundbreaking about Focus. I was just at a point where I needed to focus more, so I enjoyed reading Babauta's thoughts. If you're interested, you can get the free version here.

Preparation

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 02:12:00 +0000

Photo Credit: Stock.xchng

Don't despise the place you currently find yourself. Instead of dwelling on the problems you're facing, focus on how the lessons you've been learning will help you as you move forward.

Your preparation doesn't always look like your destination. When David was working as a shepherd boy, he probably didn't think his work tending sheep was preparing him to be king. But it was.

The fact that what you're doing now is not what you ultimately want to do isn't necessarily a bad thing. Your current situation has value--it's just that it's hard to appreciate it until you get past it.

You have the tools and passion you need, but you may not have the wisdom and understanding to use them. It's one thing to have skills. It's another thing to apply those skills and talents appropriately in your life.

While you're being prepared, you learn the ways that God has uniquely gifted you. You learn what works for you and what doesn't. You grow. You develop. You gain confidence.

You may not have asked to be where you are, but whether you recognize it or not, your present circumstances are providing you with much needed preparation.

I Need to Write More

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 02:06:00 +0000

I'm basically just writing this post because I haven't posted anything in a couple of weeks and I felt like I was losing some of my blogging discipline.

Just trying to get back in the flow of reading, gathering links and writing. It feels good.

The way to write a paper or maintain a blog or write a book is largely about making the decision to sit down and write.

Once that decision is made, the words will come.

With that said, I'll be posting more stuff soon.

4 Random Blog Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 22:01:00 +0000

A few miscellaneous blogging tips...

Read. Whether it's other blogs or news articles or books, reading makes you aware of new ideas. It also helps you to grow and develop as a person. If you use words to influence people in any way (to inspire, inform, encourage, entertain, etc) reading can only help.

Set up domain email using Google Apps. In other words, instead of having your blog email address be something like: yourname@gmail/yahoo/etc.com you can make it yourname@yourdomain.com. I've seen blogging gurus charge around $45 to do this for people, but you can do it yourself by following the instructions provided in the link.

Get a Gravatar. A Gravatar, is a globally recognized avatar. Once you have a gravatar, your pic and link to your site appears when you post comments on other blogs/sites even when there's no "sign-in" option.

Evernote. Use Evernote to gather and sync information no matter where you are. Inspiration and ideas for blog posts don't always come when you happen to be at your computer. I talk more about Evernote here.

Week's Best Links (7/16/11)

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 17:57:00 +0000

My favorite links this week:

The Surprising Key to Becoming An Authority by Jeff Goins.

Why People Quit Their Dreams by Ben Arment.

Something's Wrong by Shaun King.

Arguing Like Jesus

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 03:20:00 +0000

Photo Credit: Stock.xchng

Jesus didn't really argue with people. This passage is an example of how he dealt with those who challenged him:

Mark 11:27-33

They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?' But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

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I love the way Jesus responds to his detractors. When I read passages like this, I wonder why I don't see Christians speak with more of the cleverness Jesus uses here. When someone attacks our faith, we're so quick to jump to our own defense and explain why our position is the correct one.

When Jesus spoke, he often communicated in ways that left some people confused. Many times, he didn't even answer the question that was posed because he understood the motivation of the inquiry.

When Jesus was challenged by those who tried to trap him with something he said, he didn't fight them on their level. Instead he answered questions with better questions. He articulated truth in a ways that even his enemies couldn't deny. Instead of giving them the soundbite that they were hoping for, Jesus leaves them with a thought provoking insight.

There's alot to be learned from the way Christ handled criticism and attacks on his identity. I really believe that God can give us creative, effective ways to express our faith. We can have dialogue with those who disagree without being combative on the one hand or pretending that our differences don't matter on the other hand.

Our interactions with those who don't believe shouldn't confirm false assumptions about who we are. Our conversations should leave people genuinely desiring to know more about our faith and ultimately, the Author of that faith.

Week's Best Links (7/9/11)

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 15:13:00 +0000

Photo Credit: stock.xchng

Here are a couple of my favorite links from this week.

All Great Spirituality is Subversive by Don Miller. The example Jesus set, was one that went against everything that society thought was normal. He didn't try to be rich. He loved people who hated Him. Jesus' life was meant to lead us to understand that the fulfillment we seek from so many other sources is found only in Him.

Marriage Wisdom Gathered Over 50 Years by Colbert I. King. - Mr. King and his wife recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and he uses this post to give us a few insights. My favorite quote from the article was this: "Once the knot is tied, leave it alone."

Hope you enjoy!

Google Plus First Look

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 02:20:00 +0000

If you haven't heard, Google Plus (Google+) is Google's new social network. Right now it's in a testing phase, so you have to be invited in order to use it. I managed to get an invite from Tony Morgan last week and I've been exploring the site ever since.

There's been alot of speculation about possible uses an applications for Google+, but of course, no one really knows what will become of it. I don't want to get ahead of myself with excitement. I remember how interested I was when I first got into Google Wave--and I remember the disappointment I had when it fizzled out. I get a different sense with Google+. Google Wave was confusing and difficult to figure out. G+ is pretty intuitive and the clean interface makes you want to explore all of it's features.

The general setup looks alot like Facebook, as you can see from the screenshot above. The Google "+1" button functions the same way that the "like" button functions on Facebook.

Google+ is open, in the way that Twitter is. You can add anyone and anyone can add you. There are no "friend requests" so adding people or being added by someone else doesn't have to be reciprocated.

Your stream consists of posts made by people in your "circles". Circles are Google+'s way of organizing your connections. By default there are circles for "Family", "Friends", "Acquaintances", and "Following" (for people you don't know personally). You can add as many circles as you want and you can put individuals in multiple circles.

The most innovative features of Google+ are "hangouts" and "huddles". Hangouts are are basically video chats that you set up. If people in your circles happen to be online in G+, they can see your "hangout" and come chat. Huddles are text chats that you set up with people in your circles through the Google+ mobile site or mobile app.

There is of course much more that could be said, but I just wanted to put down a basic overview. Since this is still in the trial/beta stage there will definitely be changes and improvements. So far I like what I see and I hope Google+ catches on once it goes fully public.

Week's Best Links (7/2/11)

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 02:25:00 +0000

Here are my two favorite links from the past week:

Flipping the Extrovert Switch by Jonathan Fields. - It's hard to be an introvert when the work you do requires you to be public and personable. The temptations is for introverts to try to morph themselves into someone they're not for the sake of their profession. In this post, Jonathan pushes back on that tendency and encourages introverts to accept who they are and "flip the extrovert switch" when needed.

A Fundamental Disagreement I'm Having on How We "Do Church" by Shaun King. - Shaun raises important points that question some of the motivations behind our approach to church. I agree with him that it's always important to go back to the Gospels to remind us of what's really important.

Photo Credit: stock.xchng

Year One

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 02:25:00 +0000

Photo Credit: stock.xchng

I happened to be reviewing some of my old posts and I realized that I have actually been blogging for a year now. My blogiversary kinda snuck up on me. Here are a few of the things I've learned over the past year.

It's hard to write consistently - With a few exceptions, I've blogged every week since I started this site. I would like to blog more, but at this point I'm ok with the frequency of my posts. It's not easy to come up with topics and put down your thoughts week after week. You really have to be intentional.
There is alot to learn - There is always more to learn about blogging. Designing your site. Editing code. Networking with other bloggers. Adding widgets/gadgets. Sometimes it hard to settle on just how you want to approach each facet of blogging. There are so many options and so many people to learn from. I don't think anybody fully masters everything.
You can never be sure what people will think - There are posts that a really didn't put much thought into that people loved. There are other posts that I really liked, that didn't seem to resonate with anybody. Don't try to over think things. Write stuff that is meaningful to you and trust that it will impact the people it should.

There will certainly be more lessons in the years to come. If you blog, what are some of the lessons you've learned on your blog journey?

Week's Best Links (6/25/11)

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 01:35:00 +0000

Photo Credit: stock.xchng

A few of my favorite links of the past week.

The truth? It's simpler...and harder than you think by Andy Swan. - Great encouragement to push yourself to become better at whatever is important to you. How to get better is not complex, but it takes alot of work. This post was written almost a month ago, but I just discovered it this week.

7 life lessons from the very wealthy from The Washington Post. - Interesting insights into what people with a lot of money really value in their lives.

Be Nice to the Cleaners by Chris Guillebeau. - A reminder that we should always treat people with respect and courtesy, regardless of their status. If you're having a bad day, think of the negative impact that you would have if you took it out on those around you. That may be the only impression of you they'll ever have.

When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 04:33:00 +0000

Photo credit: Better World Books

Just finished Jerry Weintraub's When I Stop Talking, You'll Know I'm Dead: Useful Stories from a Persuasive Man. It was a really enjoyable read. The book isn't really structured as a continuous narrative. As the subtitle suggests, it's really a collection of smaller stories that capture Weintraub's experiences at various points of his life and reveal insight into his perspective on life and work.

This tweet first made me aware of When I Stop I Stop Talking:

I'm not in business and I don't know that I want to be an entrepreneur, but I thought I would at least look into it.

I looked up the book on Amazon and then decided to check it out at the library a few days ago. The text moves along quickly because Weintraub's stories are so interesting.

He starts off by talking about growing up in the Bronx as the son of a jewelry salesman. Then he goes on to relate stories of auditioning for Martha Graham, taking Elvis on tour, being mentored by Frank Sinatra and producing the Oceans 11, 12 and 13 movies.

Mixed in are various details about the risks and serendipitous circumstances that led Weintraub from one success to the next. Everything from promising Elvis' manager $1 million, despite the fact that he had no idea how he would come up with the money; to faking a heart attack to get the rights to produce a Broadway play.

There are several stories that are almost too hard to believe, but they're still good stories and fun to read. Here are a few quotes from the book that reveal the principles Weintraub carried throughout his life:

"You might have the greatest talent in the world, but it doesn't matter if you can't sell it."
"Relationships are the only thing that really matters, in business and life."
"You can evolve and grow but you should never resent your thing."
"You have to be willing to walk away from the most comfortable perch, precisely because it is the most comfortable."

When I Stop Talking is a really entertaining book. Great stories and lessons from a guy who's lived a pretty interesting life.

Life and Death

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:31:00 +0000

My cousin was murdered on June 2. I preached his funeral last week. Naturally, I've had alot of thoughts and emotions over the last couple of weeks. The main thing that's been resonating with me is the importance of appreciating life and focusing on the things that are really important.

Photo Credit: stock.xchng

Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, "It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart."

Part of the reason that life seems short is because we don't spend enough time coming to grips with the fact that it will end one day. We all know that we will die one day, but we usually go about living our lives without considering that fact.

There is wisdom in ordering your life with the end in mind. Not in a morbid way, but in a way that helps you to better value the experiences of each day.

“Hear my prayer, LORD, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were."- Psalm 39:12

This Scripture reminds us that the Earth is ultimately not our home. We're just passing through. We're going to spend more time in eternity than we will here. That fact should cause us to reevaluate the way we live our lives here.

The things that stress us out or frustrate us are rarely things that concern eternity. Why focus on things that ultimately won't matter?

The best way to honor someone's life is by the way we live our lives. Understanding that our life here is temporary and that eternity awaits us, helps us to structure our lives accordingly.

Week's Best Links (6/4/11)

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 13:34:00 +0000

Photo Credit: stock.xchng

Here are a few of my favorite links of this week

"God's Office Hours Are...?" - by C.D. Hopes. - Great post about the importance of seeking a relationship with God more than we seek the things God provides.

"College Is a Waste of Time" by Dale Stephens. - The title is a bit of an exaggeration, but this article raises good points about the value and purpose of a college education in today's world. He raises some of the points that I wrote about here.

Jon Acuff's Interview with Daniel Darling. Jon Acuff, creator of Stuff Christians Like and author of Quitter, gives great advice about what it takes to pursue God-given dreams.

Enjoy!

Leadership Lessons from Ohio State

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:54:00 +0000

A lot has been made of the fallout from violations committed by people associated with Ohio State football. Some blame the players for taking money and selling memorabilia. Others blame former coach Jim Tressel and others for turning a blind eye.

It's unrealistic to expect followers to behave any better than their leaders. Like many people, I get frustrated sometimes with the arrogance of over-hyped athletes whose egos have outpaced their character. But when I look at those who are supposed to be examples to the Ohio State players, I see a coach with a long history of violations. I also see an athletic director and a university president who weren't that interested in knowing the truth.

In situations like this, too often players get marked as having serious "character issues" while coaches and athletic directors feign ignorance and at worst, admit making "mistakes".

The problem with major college athletic programs is that money is the primary objective of the system. Winning means more money for NCAA officials, athletic directors, coaches--everybody except players.

It all starts with the leadership of the NCAA. The NCAA as it's currently constituted is designed to make money. The NCAA's rules are designed to make sure players don't make money. That's the fundamental contradiction that sets everything else in motion.

I'm not defending the actions of the players. If they know what the rules are and agree to abide by them, then they should keep their word. I'm just saying that it's shortsighted to separate the actions of the players from the larger culture created by the NCAA.

If the intentions of the leadership aren't noble, then you can't expect followers to consistently act with nobility.

For better or for worse, the principles that motivate you will shape those you lead. When you lead people--whether it's in an organization, a business, a church or a family--the values you embody heavily influence the actions of those who follow you.

I realize that people make their own decisions. Sometimes people make bad decisions even when they have great leaders. But before you criticize the people at the bottom of the hierarchy, make sure they aren't just getting their cues from the people at the top.

Week's Best Links (5/28/11)

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Sat, 28 May 2011 21:59:00 +0000

Thiel Fellowship Pays 24 Talented Students $100,000 Not to Attend College from The Chronicle. Peter Thiel is a co-founder of Paypal who decided to create this fellowship to give exceptional students an alternative to college. Click the link to read more about the fellowship and the students who won.

Married Couples Are No Longer a Majority, Census Finds from the New York Times. This article speaks to and sheds some light on the changing nature of families in America.

Deep

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Wed, 25 May 2011 21:59:00 +0000

“Most people are educated beyond their obedience” - John Maxwell

In other words, we want to know more but we don’t always live by the things we already know to be true. It's the obeying or doing that actually matters though.

We have a flawed understanding of what it means to be "deep". Being deep is not about saying something clever or catchy or even profound. Much more important than words, are actions. Knowing something is one thing; the deep part is actually living it.

Knowing that you should forgive is one thing. But when you actually forgive people you appreciate the forgiveness that God has given you even more.

Hearing that you should love your enemies is great. But showing love to people who mistreat you, gives you a deeper understanding of God’s love.

When you believe for something and watch it come to pass, you get a greater understanding of faith and God's faithfulness.

We all know things are easier said than done. We should be pushing past simply learning, and actually do more. We can't allow ourselves to get caught up in how eloquently someone speaks or tweets or writes, etc. We've got to find ways to make these great principles and ideas realities. We can be deeper.

Week's Best Links (5/21/11)

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Sat, 21 May 2011 23:27:00 +0000

Photo Credit: stock.xchng

Here's a few of my favorite links from this week:

How to Quit Your Job, Move to Paradise, and Get Paid To Change the World - by Jon Morrow. This post is not some internet marketing hype. It's really about a guy who survives a car accident, lives with a debilitating illness, but continues to serve people through his words. Really inspiring.

What Does It Take to Be Called "The Church"? - by Carlos Whittaker. We all have images that come to mind when we hear the word "church", but this post is really just trying to get us to think about what actually constitutes a church. It may not be all the things that we normally think

Psychology Today's "Beauty" Bell Curve Proves A PhD Is Just Paper - by Jason Johnson. This post is from a professor (who has a PhD) who uses the flawed work of another professor (who has a PhD) to highlight the problem of assuming someone is knowledgeable, simply because they have a PhD.

President Obama, Cornel West and Black Self-Criticism

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Thu, 19 May 2011 21:22:00 +0000

Recently, comments Dr. Cornel West made about President Obama caused a great deal of controversy. Professor Melissa Harris-Perry responded with her perspective on West's arguments—a perspective that was shared by a number of public black intellectuals.

The main issue people have with West's critique of the President was the fact that some of his criticisms came off as personal, even petty. During the interview, West expressed his disappointment at not having his phone calls returned by President Obama. He also mentions being dismayed at not receiving tickets to the inauguration. West felt that these were snubs, seeing that he had faithfully campaigned for the President. Then Dr. West loses it and begins to speculate about President Obama having a “fear of free black men”.

I'm not here to defend all that. I do want to talk about the fact that people are focusing so much energy on dismissing the personal grievances of West, that they are failing to acknowledge that there are some serious, substantive critiques that West and others have made of the President.

I think we've allowed our collective ambition (to see a successful black president) to pull us away from the principles that are important to us.

There are real issues regarding our President, like his tapping people from Wall Street to fix the economy. Or extending tax cuts to the wealthy. Or providing waivers to companies that allow them to get around compliance to the new healthcare legislation.

During the Bush administration, people were up in arms about our need to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We're still in both those wars and bombing Libya as well, but I don't seem to hear the public outcry against the President's decisions in these matters.

People screamed about President Bush having policies that were hostile to black people, and poor people, but now that we have a black president, we feel it's inappropriate to ask him to specifically address black issues. Nobody's asking President Obama to replace the National Anthem with "Lift Every Voice and Sing", or to become a modern day Malcolm X, but is it too much to ask him to talk about black unemployment being over 16 percent?!

I'm tired of the “he's not the President of black people, he's the President of the U.S.!” argument--I know! I also know that black people are a part of the U.S. And I know that every President has been asked by black people to enact policies that benefit black people--until now. My question is: Why the change?

We lose some of our credibility if we are harsh critics of a President we don't like, but can't find the heart to offer an honest critique a President we say we love. We're not doing ourselves any favors by de-legitimizing honest criticism.

“One of the sure signs of maturity is the ability to rise to the point of self-criticism” - Martin Luther King, Jr., The Rising Tide of Racial Consciousness

I'm not writing this as an enemy of our President. I voted for President Obama. I like President Obama. And as of today, I plan to vote for President Obama in 2012. I realize the President is facing pressures and problems that we can't fully comprehend. People are constantly questioning his blackness, his citizenship and his faith. I get how unfair those attacks are.

But I don't have a problem with having an honest discussion about what he has/hasn't done while in office. I think such a discussion will only help us become more informed and more aware of where we stand politically.

When will the day come that black people who support the President can offer legitimate criticism of him without having other black people become overly defensive of him? When will we “rise to the point of self-criticism”?

Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:16:00 +0000

Photo Credit: stock.xchng

Recently, someone asked me a question about how to gain a better perspective and be more informed about the world. So I started thinking about the things that guide the way I process information. I came to the conclusion that the key thing is to gather info from a variety of sources.

"When you listen [to] and read one thinker, you become a clone… two thinkers, you become confused… ten thinkers, you’ll begin developing your own voice… two or three hundred thinkers, you become wise and develop your voice" - Tim Keller

If you are going to gain a really good grasp of anything you have to make yourself aware of all that's out there. Even hearing perspectives that you disagree with will help you to sharpen your understanding of your own position.

"The first to speak in court sounds right--until the cross-examination begins" - Proverbs 18:17

It's easy for somebody to seem compelling if you're only hearing their side of the story. They can accentuate the strong parts of their argument and omit the weaker parts. But what happens when someone comes forward and points out the flaws in another's argument? Or exposes their biases? You're able to see the issue with a little more clarity.

Here are a few tips:

Listen to multiple sources of wisdom, then see how those perspectives fit in to what you believe.
Embrace the challenge of re-examining the way you see the world.
Don't be afraid if the information you hear leads you to ask yourself difficult questions.
Listen to people who are at different stages of life.
Hear from people who know more and those who know less than you do about an issue. You can learn something from everybody.

The practical way to become aware of various perspectives is to read. Books, blogs, news articles, magazines, etc. The more the better. This is what works for me:

My faith is central to my perspective on everything, and I use YouVersion to read a few chapters of the Bible each day.
I use Google Reader to keep up with about 70 blogs on various topics (faith, politics, technology, culture, etc).
I use Twitter to make me aware of things in real-time and to find interesting people and sites to learn from.
And Kindle for Android has made it much more convenient for me to read books.

What goes into shaping your views or perspectives?

Week's Best Links

noreply@blogger.com (Trevor) — Sat, 14 May 2011 20:19:00 +0000

Photo Credit: stock.xchng

Here are a few of the best links I read this week:

"Avoiding One Great Temptation Every New Dream Faces" - guest post by JonAcuff on MichaelHyatt's blog:

"I don't have to like it because he's Black" - from Nesheaholic

"Self-directed effort is the best kind" - from Seth Godin

"5 Ways Blogging Can Make You a Better Person" - guest post on ProBlogger by Jamie Martin of Steady Mom and Simple Homeschool