Has the church lost it’s mind or am I just going crazy.
It was reported today in the AJC that Gospel Today, a magazine was pulled from the shelves today. Well, I saw it on the news and I was trying to figure out why.
“Smiling women on the cover of a slick magazine. Sold from under the counter. Must request it from store clerk.
That’s not something a buyer would typically find in a Christian bookstore. Not unless it’s one of the more than 100 Lifeway Christian Bookstores across the United States, including about six in metro Atlanta.
Gospel Today, the Fayetteville-published magazine, was pulled off the racks by the bookstores’ owner, the Southern Baptist Convention. The problem? The five smiling women on the cover are women of the cloth — church pastors.
Southern Baptist polity says that’s a role reserved for men.
Teresa Hairston, owner of Gospel Today, whose glossy pages feature upbeat articles about health, living, music and ministry, said she discovered by e-mail that the September/October issue of the magazine had been demoted to the realm of the risque.
I mean WOW!
Isn’t it amazing that we live in times where because a woman is a pastor and on the cover it’s get demoted to the cheap and tawdry level of a Playboy “I just get it for the articles” magazine. I’d be very interested to know what other magazines and books that Lifeway Bookstores carries that affirm the full ministry of women. I’m going out on a limb and saying that there’s prolly at least one book, magazine or something else that has an article or an essay that supports women in ministry.
Sorry, it’s almost a double slap in the face that a) these women are black (except for Sheryl Brady, who puts some black pentecostal preachers to shame cuz she’s just that good) and b) the fact that these women are on the cover. Is it the curb appeal that really offends the Southern Baptist Church or is it really the theology behind it? C) this is a black publication.
You all know where I stand on such wanton foolishness. This CLEARLY falls in the category of “I have no words.”
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And if that wasn’t enough, I also got word, during the same 5:30pm news broadcast that there’s a new reality show called “I Want To Be A First Lady” or “I Love Tommy” or some crap yet to be named starring Bishop Thomas “I look ridiculous wearing bowties” Weeks the former husband of Profitess Prophetess Juanita “I didn’t see that fist coming at me” Bynum who’s divorce was finalized today. Check out this other AJC article:
Weeks will document his effort to open his heart to love again in 10 streaming video “Web Episodes” of his reality show “WHO WILL BE THE NEXT MRS. WEEKS,” which airs at noon Tuesday on his Web site www.bishopweeks.com. The idea came after Weeks was flooded with thousands of e-mails and letters from people offering advice about what to look for in his third wife. Some even offered to be his wife.
“There are some very adamant women,” says Weeks’ associate, Minister Guy Reeves of Global Destiny. “A lady from Belgium flew all the way here to meet him. She came to the campus. She wanted to be the next Mrs. Weeks like many others who have approached me about their strong desire to be Bishop Weeks’ wife.”
Weeks is inviting his followers to observe his personal life so they can get a Christian perspective on dating and coping with the desire for intimacy. The Pentecostal pastor will soon release a book about the subject called “Finding Yourself While In Transition.”
Viewers of his reality show can share their opinions on being single and his search for a mate by sending e-mails or chatting live with Weeks.
“What kind of advice would you give me about the new Mrs. Weeks?” he asks on a Web site promo of the episode.
“We will probably find in due time who is that perfect woman for me,” Weeks says. “This time I’m not going to limit it just to the local church … It’s a global ministry. We’ve got to have a global search.”
I guess he’s taking the Jobian principle of getting back “double for your trouble” cuz this prosperity pimp (yeah, I’m not crossing it out this time) is sho’ about to capitalize on the fact that Juanita didn’t see his fist coming resulting in their divorce.
The book–BWAHAHAHAHAHA! “Finding Yourself In Transition”
I’m bout to pee on myself….this is absolutely a sham and a mess.
Can you imagine the emails he must be getting?
Discuss this amongst yourselves, because clearly I Have No Words for this ish.
Here’s another guest post in which I can rest, kick my feet back relax and not rack my brain for a few days and focus on frigging CHURCH HISTORY **pulling hair out just thinking about it** on my Saturday mornings. So here’s Uppity Friend and her latest installment.
So I guess you know already know how I feel about it, huh?
The idea is this: in urban school districts across the country (ones in New York, DC and Chicago, among others), public school kids are being paid for getting good grades and scoring highly on standardized tests.Private investors are giving kids anywhere from $25 to upwards of thousands of dollars (or even cars) for their academic performance. Now I’m well aware that there is, to quote Robert M. Franklin, “a crisis in the village” in regards to the education our kids receive, and a host of other issues.But I just don’t think that paying kids for academic performance is a way to relieve the crisis.
“But it’s an incentive! Parents pay their kids to get good grades all the time,” you say, and you’d be right.Middle class families often offer their kids $50, or whatever, per “A” to ensure that little Jane and John go that extra mile and bring home a glowing report card.It’s been going on since, well, there were report cards, I guess.
But middle class kids aren’t the target demographic of this incentive program.It’s the “marginal” kids, meaning black and Latino kids in the inner city who are underperforming and/or not attending school.We’re not asking Jane and John from Libertyville to make those good “Bs” excellent “As” in exchange for a little extra cash. No, we’re asking Jane and John from Englewood [Editor's note: South Side neighborhood in Chicago] to turn those funky “Fs” into mediocre “Cs”, that lousy 3 stanine into an above average 6, and that atrocious attendance record into something that looks acceptable for a few duckets.
I don’t think you can treat two fundamentally different diseases with the same medicine.You may be able to ask kids who already value education to value it more, but you can’t ask kids who don’t believe in a system to believe in it for few hundred dollars now and a couple thousand for college, especially if they’re not sure they’re going to college anyway.
What is the goal of these programs? If it’s to make kids attend school, then you may get results for a while.Kids who were truant may decide that it’s worth their time to show up more often if they’re going to get a paycheck.But what happens when they realize there’s a bigger paycheck to be earned elsewhere? I know a few jobs that young people in the inner city can get to earn way more than $250.Don’t you?
And if the goal is to foster an interest in education, well, I still think the leaders of this program are going about this in the wrong way.I’d argue that the difference between middle class kids who earn money for their grades and low income kids who do the same is that middle class children are taught to value education from a young age in primary ways that make the cash/gift incentives they receive secondary.
What I mean is, middle class kids know that you should go to school because there’s something that you gain from going there that translates into a better life down the road.If you grew up in a setting that included educated parents, educated family members and educated community members who, because of their education, had carved out good lives for themselves, you’d know that the value of education is what it helps you achieve in the long term.You would see that education can sometimes be its own reward, and that the extra $50 you get for good grades is icing on the cake.But if you grow up in a place where no one is educated, and you are poor, and you don’t have access to a good education, and education doesn’t seem like a solution to any of your problems, what use do you have for school?Those kids are the ones that this program is aimed at.And if it succeeds, it will do so because kids have bought into the “get money” culture that we’ve glorified for way too long.
Drug dealers “get money”, ballers “get money” and they do it quickly.So why not go to school and “get money”? I’ll tell you why: BECAUSE NOT EVERYTHING YOU DO SHOULD BE FOR MONEY!Sometimes, doing something that’s beneficial to your mind and sprit is its own reward. And if we teach kids that they must be instantly gratified for everything, even attending school and placing high regard on their education, then we’re making them believe that the only things worth doing are one that we “get money” for.That’s what they teach on BET.And I don’t think kids’ worldviews should be informed by BET.But that’s another blog…
And, dare I say, what if we’re trying to fix the wrong problem? Paying kids to do well in school assumes that they have the ability to do well; they’re just not because they don’t feel like it.They’re lazy, and they need motivation.Maybe.But what if (and this is an important “if”) they’re not doing well because (GASP!) they don’t have adequate curriculum in the schools? What if it’s because there aren’t enough well-trained teachers?! What if it’s because the building is falling down?! What if it’s because there aren’t enough resources to address students with learning or behavioral disorders?!What if it’s because the kids go home to houses where classroom learning isn’t reinforced?What if the kids aren’t alright because were not doing all we can to make their educational system alright? Just a thought.
The part of this program that gives the kids money for college, I’m down with that. Word bond. The cost of college is atrocious, and I’m all for giving kids access to higher education who may not have it because of the economic status of their families.That’s nice. I’d donate to that cause. But you know who I really want to give cash incentives to? Parents.That’s right, you heard me, mama and daddy.Pay them for going to open house. Pay them for helping out at the school.Pay them for picking up the kids’ report card.Pay them for having the good sense to agree to diagnostic testing that shows their kids have a learning disability, then pay them for helping that kid with a disability study and do the best they damn well can in school.Maybe parents need an incentive.I’ve seen a few lazy parents, and trust, they aren’t motivated to “parent for the sheer joy of parenting”.Hell, some of them aren’t motivated to do anything.At all.So if money talks, and people listen, tell your cash to talk to these parents and maybe they can work out a deal.Cuz, I have a feeling that for every “lazy” kid out there who isn’t doing well in school and needs to be given an “incentive”, there’s a family that’s not doing all they can to encourage the child to do their best
I guess ’nuff said.
Personally, I do disagree with Uppity Friend if paying money means that John and Jane, or should I drive the point home more and say Jaekwon and Roumeshia, will do better because they have money in their pocket, then be my guest. I personally don’t believe that if it suceeds it will be because “they have bought into the ‘get money’ culture” nor do I think that these few schools will be contributing that much more to the idea of instant gratification. There are plenty other sources in this society to feed into that ideology. And at the end of the day, given everything else is a constant (teachers teaching well, books and other resources etc.) the kids will be educated.
Worse thing is that this will not work and the donors’ money will cease and we go back to the clearly broken-ass system that’s in place. Clearly there’s a crisis in the village and I see nothing wrong with trying some radical plans.
Well, you see where both of us stand on this issue. I’d love to hear from you and I’m sure Uppity Friend would love to read your comments as well.
Keep it uppity and keep it truthfully radical, JLL
Well, only because of the insert I’m adding, in full, so just letting you know.
I had to really be careful that this blog didn’t turn into an all out hate site against Sarah “I’m going to ride this till the wheels fall off” Palin because I realised that people in my community and people that I talk to really don’t like her. Her lack of knowledge is overcompensated by her unwaivering confidence–kinda like Elisabeth “Miz Liz” Hasselbeck.
So this morning, I was talking with my friend about how much Tim “I’m channeling my inner Michael Pfleger” Wise snapped in his latest article (he always does, nothing new) and my friend also added it’s a Republican privilege as well. I’m not totally ready to make that jump, but I definitely could see how one could intepret this because Republicans historically across regional barriers are always the one’s to bust out the dirty politricks before the Democrats do and they do so with such evilness. Just ask current Senator Bob Corker and former senator Jesse “I found out hell isn’t segregated” Helms.
and here’s the Jesse Helm’s ad.
Every once in a while someone makes a comment either here, or perhaps another blog and it really prompts me to do a whole post based around it. But, there was a comment and this person, who has commented on this blog before, said that Tim Wise was more or less a “retard” and that “we already know the problems” and I contend that this is a problem that we don’t talk about that much about.
I further added that usually we name this problem as flat out racism or some deviant form of racial prejudice. But in fact we really don’t deal with white privilege because as we all know, the privilege is only seen as a privilege from the one who doesn’t benefit from the privilege. As I said coming from Philadelphia this summer to some of the teens I was working with as they were telling their cop stories, I told them that while what they did to get out of tickets worked for them, had I done that, I woulda been face down eating concrete on the Beltway.
Usually white privilege is masked in white ignorance. Real talk, the white folk out in the suburbs who are die hard liberals and are voting for Obama without any equivocations are the ones who don’t know about white privilege and don’t understand the nuances of black culture. For those of you who need some more examples I will be placing my blogs that I wrote about my internship out in Montgomery County, Maryland this summer to give you some basis of what I mean.
But below is the Tim Wise article in it’s entirety. For whatever reason I was remiss to put him on my blogroll, but since he did such a major snap with this one, in my opinion he will now be added.
For those who still can’t grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this list will help.
White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because “every family has challenges,” even as black and Latino families with similar “challenges” are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.
White privilege is when you can call yourself a “fuckin’ redneck,” like Bristol Palin’s boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with you, you’ll “kick their fuckin’ ass,” and talk about how you like to “shoot shit” for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.
White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative action.
White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan, makes you ready to potentially be president, and people don’t all piss on themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you’re “untested.”
White privilege is being able to say that you support the words “under God” in the pledge of allegiance because “if it was good enough for the founding fathers, it’s good enough for me,” and not be immediately disqualified from holding office–since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s and the “under God” part wasn’t added until the 1950s–while believing that reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.
White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people immediately scared of you.
White privilege is being able to have a husband who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to secede from the Union, and whose motto was “Alaska first,” and no one questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you’re black and your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she’s being disrespectful.
White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the work they do–like, among other things, fight for the right of women to vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child labor–and people think you’re being pithy and tough, but if you merely question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college–you’re somehow being mean, or even sexist.
White privilege is being able to convince white women who don’t even agree with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a “second look.”
White privilege is being able to fire people who didn’t support your political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you must be corrupt.
White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict in the Middle East is God’s punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and everyone can still think you’re just a good church-going Christian, but if you’re black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often the result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism and its effect on black people, you’re an extremist who probably hates America.
White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a “trick question,” while being black and merely refusing to give one-word answers to the queries of Bill O’Reilly means you’re dodging the question, or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.
White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it a “light” burden.
And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world opinion, just because white voters aren’t sure about that whole “change” thing. Ya know, it’s just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more years of the same, which is very concrete and certain…
White privilege is, in short, the problem.
I had been trying to put my finger on what it was, but yup, it goes back to white privilege.
What I think we, as intelligent individuals need to do is to realise that’s facts and reality are two different things. Those are straight up facts for what Obama and Palin have done, but clearly their actions are interpreted through different realities.
Facts are indisputable universally agreeable understandings. Realities are much more personal, LIVED experiences.
What incenses me is that when white folk deny white privilege is that really they are denying the African American reality of life or the Black experience and in turn suggesting that I, or we, understand the facts through a white reality–and I ask why?
Now, because that leads to a hierarchal understanding of realities, placing white reality over that of black realities–is that not the basic definition of racism where the mindset of one race is superior to another and having the ability to institute a culture that purports this idea?
Here are the links to my other posts from this summer:
Let the comments come. I know how black folk feel about this one, but I’m more interested for my white readers to sound off on this one. Why is this issue so prickly for white folk to talk about, much less admit that it exists? Moreover, to echo my own post again, why is it that some whites feel as though blacks must submit to a white lived reality? This doesn’t mean I don’t want any blacks, or Latino’s or Asians or any other ethinic or cultural group that has not been lumped into the aforementioned categories to not comment–I welcome ALL comments.
Keep it uppity and keep it truthfully radical, JLL
P.S. Thanks for those of you that brought me to my all time one day high of over 1,000 visitors–and it was only because I’m an uppity Negro.
I really don’t have much to say, but first let it be known, I don’t like Sarah “I’m entitled to the presidency” Palin.
Real talk, I just need to vent on this one.
I don’t have deep analysis on this one, but that interview just rubbed me the ENTIRE wrong way. I mean, aside from her accent that has officially irked the crap out of me, it was the incessant “Charlie” everytime she wanted to drive a point home making her sound like an extra in the equally northern and diametrically opposed to urban life movie “Fargo” that somehow made it in the top 100 movies of all time.
But aside from me picturing her as Frances McDormand’s character as the sheriff in that movie, I just realised that she was really channeling her inner Hillary “I have first dibs on the presidency” Clinton. From the first interview on Thursday night, and she let the watching public know that she “didn’t blink” when she got the call concerning the vice presidency, immediately something didn’t sit right with me. I didn’t figure out what it was until I saw her make the distasteful comment about Obama perhaps, regretting that he didn’t pick Clinton.
Aside from her stumbles on the Bush Doctrine which after talking with some friends, made me rethink my agreement with David Gergen on CNN because if she’s supposed to be the next in line then I’ma say she needs to know about the Bush Doctrine even if the rest of us don’t know it. Clearly she didn’t know what it was, but I don’t think that was any more of a sandbagging attempt than what happens with Democrats and other liberals somehow get pulled into the gravitational pull that is Hannity and Colmes.
But what really didn it for me was the level of incredulousness with which she spoke. That signaled to me that she felt she was entitled to this position–much the same way Hillary came off during the primaries. Some Republican strategist was on Larry “I still look good wearing suspenders” King last night and he just went on saying how no one treated Obama this way 18 months ago when he was fresh out the gate.
Oh em gee….I had so many problems with that statement.
Eighteen months ago, people could at least point to the 2004 Democratic National Convention keynote address I gave and I remember watching “The View” the next day and hearing the then slimming down Star “I look a hawt mess now” Jones actually say “He’s going to be the next president in 2008.” As for Yukon Barbie we have a small town to point to–Lenox Mall is more crowded than that on the weekends!
It just struck me that she suffers from WWS or more commonly known as White Woman Syndrome.
It’s more common than ABWS or Angry Black Woman Syndrome and it’s symptoms are more commonly accepted in larger society. This disease is mostly characterised by the sense of entitlement, some psychiatrists may even call it delusions of grandeur which is also symptomatic of other illnesses. But that’s for another post.
I think I’d better be able to deal with this heffa if she wasn’t so damn sanctimonious about the whole thing. I mean her and the Republican operatives have officially made this race between Barack Obama and Palin. Poor Joe Biden and his mullet aren’t getting any attention.
Alas….
Then Yukon Girl has decided to make herself even more uncredible by doing an interview with Sean “I still have just a high school DIPLOMA” Hannity next week sometime. I mean it’s one thing to go on FoxNews, but at least go with a real interviewer like Bill-O. I mean I’d find Obama going on Keith Olbermann or Chris Matthews no more of a credible interview for those parties interested if I was going to be fair.
I’m just gonna daydream about that great coronation…
Do you think I’m on point in my analysis of Yukon Girl, or am I just that clouded by the fact that she’s unqualified and I have to find other reasons to not like her? Do you plan on watching the tiptoe through the tulips interview that Hannity will be sure to give her next week? Anywho, leave your comments.
Keep it uppity and keep it truthfully radical, JLL
I wrote back in April or something about “In Defense of the Black Church: America’s Chicken’s Are Coming Home to Roost” borrowing from the phrase made even more popular from Jeremiah Wright’s rousing sermon following the 9/11 attacks on the previous Tuesday. As I watched CNN do the story digging into Sarah “I’m still picking which animal I am so I can put lipstick on it” Palin and her religious beliefs that fall slightly out of mainstream, meaning that she’s of a Pentecostal persuasion, I really got to thinking just how aware of Pentecostalism is America. Clearly we were shown that the Black Church as an actual communal institution is bout damn near as invisible as it was in the ante-bellum years prior to end of the Civil War because people were like “Oh, this happens in a blaaaack church?” and all of us coloreds who are mainly the descendants of those who suffered forced immigration to this country merely nodded our heads and said “Yeaaaaah….” and scratched our heads as if to say, “Wright was right.”
This prompted me to say that now there needs to be a defense of the church (and might I add a touch of offense as well.)
Prominent in the early 20th century was the idea of a Social Gospel, or rather there was a solidified movement in what many today call the social justice ministry of the Church. A figurehead in this early movement was Walter Rauschenbusch known for his pre-eminent work in 1907 entitled Christianity and The Social Crisis. There has been a 2007 edition published with essays by Cornel West, Phylis Tribble and James Forbes that has somewhat addressed the century gap between the writing. Nonetheless much of what he said a century ago is still valid today.
This isn’t new, just read Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. DuBois (a Fisk University graduate I might add) and see just how relevant ish is a year later.
Well, what am I talking about? is probably what most of my consistent readers are trying to figure out. Back in the day there were the “public theologians” so to speak. These people, such as the Reinhold Niebuhr who influenced other public theolgians such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer and many times the academy and the larger public would look to them to get their opinions on the calamity surrounding World War II for example.
Personally, I take my cue from “The Vernon Johns Movie” when James Earl Jones as Rev. Dr. Vernon Johns makes the sermonic statement that “I am a boat rocker!” meaning that even if I fundamentally disagree with you, such as Jerry “Hell isn’t as bad as I preached to the gays” Fallwell or even John “I know when Jesus is coming back” Hagee, at least they take a stand on their issues and they’re not afraid to get their hands dirty.
Again, I have a point, let me get to it.
Why is it that Sarah “I now really have an action figure named after me” Palin can get up in a pulpit and tell folks to pray for a pipeline in Alaska, but when Jeremiah “God damn America” Wright goes to give an invocation at a church* that it gets dubbed “a victory tour.” Or how is it that when Palin’s former pastor Ed Kalnins who has said much more bombastic claims than Jeremiah Wright.
Per the clips that circulated ad nauseum during the primary season of Jeremiah Wright, save the AIDS comment (although recent evidence has surfaced that would give credence to that claim) Wright not one time made the God-claim that God approved the bellicose nature of any sovereign nation for whatever cause. His “God damn America” was a response to the fact that in the Old Testament from Joshua through 2 Chronicles it was quite clear that YHWH (Yahweh) was one of retributive justiceor in other words, Yahweh was relatively quid pro quo as far as sin vs. punishment was concerned and it was quite clear that the Israelites operated as such.
Huffington Post has an article written by Nico Pitney and Sam Stein that I have pulled quotes from Kalnins for. And we have Kalnins saying that “I’m not going tell you who to vote for, but if you vote for this particular person, I question your salvation. I’m sorry.” Making a reference to Sen. John Kerry running for office in 2004. And if that wasn’t enough he had to comment about Hurricane Katrina and come against the criticism that the Bush administration faced in the following days.
I hate criticisms towards the President,” he said, “because it’s like criticisms towards the pastor — it’s almost like, it’s not going to get you anywhere, you know, except for hell. That’s what it’ll get you.”
Perhaps this is the type of rhetoric that this country likes, and I’m frankly a bit concerned. Yet again, Wright never called for anyone to die unlike Kalnins. As a follower of Christ, I do believe that there is something in martyrdom which has its koine Greek roots meaning witness.But making the jump that Jesus has called us to die in the Iraq war.
What you see in a terrorist — that’s called the invisible enemy. There has always been an invisible enemy. What you see in Iraq, basically, is a manifestation of what’s going on in this unseen world called the spirit world. … We need to think like Jesus thinks. We are in a time and a season of war, and we need to think like that. We need to develop that instinct. We need to develop as believers the instinct that we are at war, and that war is contending for your faith. … Jesus called us to die. You’re worried about getting hurt? He’s called us to die. Listen, you know we can’t even follow him unless you are willing to give up your life. … I believe that Jesus himself operated from that position of war mode. Everyone say “war mode.” Now you say, wait a minute Ed, he’s like the good shepherd, he’s loving all the time and he’s kind all the time. Oh yes he is — but I also believe that he had a part of his thoughts that knew that he was in a war.”
Not to mention that her current pastor, Larry Kroons recently introduced Jews for Jesus executive director David Bricknerto their pulpit and this guy was quoted as saying
Judgment is very real and we see it played out on the pages of the newspapers and on the television. It’s very real. When [Brickner's son] was in Jerusalem he was there to witness some of that judgment, some of that conflict, when a Palestinian from East Jerusalem took a bulldozer and went plowing through a score of cars, killing numbers of people. Judgment — you can’t miss it.”
Well damn. That’s anti-Semitism for ya aint it.
Yes, I do agree fully with the understanding that Jesus was Jewish and not a Christian and yes, some Jews have a problem with that, oh well. As far as this is concerned, Brickner was just wrong for that.
Last time a pastor simply compared a presidential candidate to the life of a biblical character growing up somewhat underprivileged, in a nation-state occupied by an outside empirical force (the Romans) or made the statement that God, more or less doesn’t like ugly, then he was forced to give three speeches, one that “distanced” himself from his pastor, the other that “disavowed” his pastor and a third that resulted in him leaving the church altogether.
I see the argument that both Wright and Brickner are arguing judgment, but judgment on behalf of whom? God? Perhaps, I’m not the best judge of that. Clearly Wright was damning America, a country in which he was born and still resides and Brickner was damning a country that was nothing more than a distant thought in his brain.
Meh, I don’t know, but you be the judge as to who was being more self-righteous in that instance.
I still agree with Wright in his sermon following 9/11 that in this country we justify our own aggression and take a page from Plain and Tall herself by saying “Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God. That’s what we have to make sure that we’re praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God’s plan,” but yet and still we get indignant when ish comes back to bite us in the collective ass.
Then we start hollering we’re all Georgians Americans.
Frankly, all of this would be put to rest if there were a collection of about five theologians who the media could call up and ask their opinion.
I mean just look at the size of that display board behind him!
Not some John “I keep Kinko’s in business with my display boards” Hagee wannabe, but someone who’s actually been through a seminary or a divinity school currently holding a Masters of Divnity and a Ph.D. from a credible institution with some published works. Yeah, I know it doesn’t make for good television, or should I say entertainment, but at least it would make us an informed nation.
Right now we’re operating off of half-truths. Most of us today still don’t know what Liberation Theology is let alone Black Liberation Theology. Even after all the crap that was displayed on the networks, even after watching Obery “I’m boring on TV, but educated” Hendricks who penned The Politics of Jesus who was on the Bill “I Bloviate and Palter Daily” O’Reilly show and yeah, it was dry as dust, but at least he was qualified to speak on the issue. I’m sure they asked James Cone [whom Jerome Corsi's ignant @$$ called James McCone in his swift boat special book entitled The Obama Nation] to come on the show since he’s considered the founder of Black Liberation Theology and he prolly promptly told them where they could go.
We’re still operating on half-truths because I’m quite sure that the majority of this country couldn’t give the pneumatological doctrines surrounding the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the Pauline understanding of glossalalia versus that of the Day of Pentecost experience in Acts 2, not to mention the remainder of the Lukan account of the Apostles and where they stood on such things.
Not to mention that the Day of Pentecost was the founding of theChurch. Not just the Pentecostal one’s but it was from this biblical account that THE CHURCH was established. (So yes, all of y’all denominations need to be running around speaking in tongues.)
The reason is because we don’t have any public theologians on whom to call upon. Clearly Rick “I stil believe Holiness is right” Warrenquickly dismissed Liberation Theology as Marxist when in an interview on Nightline following his Saddleback Church interviews with Cynthia “I wanna be the next Barbara Walters” McFadden.
We have economists to speak on the economy, and we have Bill Nye (the Science Guy) to come in a speak about the nuclear particle accelarator that was launched today, why is it that we don’t get people who went to school when it comes to all things religious?
Religion is a social construct, why not get someone who studied it to discuss it.
Do you think that Palin will endure the same amount of scrutiny that Obama had concerning her religious beliefs? Because MSM did a very good job of scaring the public into thinkin that Obama espoused EVERY single belief that was preached from the pulpit resulting in white fear that Obama was going to enslave the white race because of the theological God-claims made by Jeremiah Wright. Do you think that there is a need for a public theologian or have a just completely gone off the deep end thinking that this is an impossible task?
Keep it uppity and keep it truthfully radical, JLL
Hmmm, round about January 3rd, at about 10 o’clock Central Time, I did hear a symphony. It wasn’t the same symphony that Keith Olbermann was talking about following Sen. Barack “I Shoot Threes Only” Obama acceptance speech, but it was from the same man nonetheless.
I’ve already written how much that speech sent me over and just the high that I experienced following that first speech following the Iowa Caucuses, the same night that Sen. Hillary “I Eat Nails For Breakfast” Clinton made a run to the local drugstore to buy Immodium AD because she starting to shit in her pants because she actually saw this thing slipping away from her. And I guess the Immodium AD had a side effect that resulted in watery eyes hence her crying at some local dive in New Hampsh!%.
But as my friends were sending constant text messages during Obama’s speech that cold night in Iowa, I was receiving texts from my other church friends “Cue the Hammond B3″ and “SAYYYYY YEAAAAAHHH!” and had officially sermonized his speech.
Well, that got me to thinking….how would Inauguration Day 2009 look if Sen. Barack Obama was to be sworn in.
So in my sanctified imagination, I came up with the following.
Choral Introit:
First, just because it’s Howard University and my love for all things Washington, D.C. includes Howard, and most people who know me personally know that if I had to do it all again, I’d prolly go to Howard, but the Howard Gospel Choir, known as HGC would haveto get the gig. After the crappy Sousa sounding song of “Hail to the Chief” played for the president was done, we’d commence church. I see HGC singing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” God knows what arrangement this is, but it sings and it’s the same one most HBCU concert choirs sing from.
Invocation:
This is where it gets tricky because this was supposed to be the time when Jeremiah “I Say What I Wanna Say When I Wanna Say It” Wright was suppsosed to be in primetime.
Well, that didn’t work out right.
**scratches his head**
And it can’t even go to Rev. Otis “I Wanna Leave Trinity, But I Can’t” Moss III because Rev. Michael “F*&% tha Police” Pfleger just made sure of that with his dig at Hillary Clinton back during the primaries prompting, as AB says, that Beige Negro to leave Trinity. So, it would of course have to go to some random pastor.
Among my nominees are:
Cynthia Hale of Ray of Hope Church out here in Decatur “Where It’s Greater,” Georgia because I heard very good things about her invocation at the Democratic National Convention. My friend informed me that she prayed down the Holy Ghost, but that the delegates really weren’t all that saved in the first place and they just didn’t know how to react to the indwelling of the Holy Ghost so, Rev. Hale just prayed until she got done. (Let the record show she’s preached NUMEROUS times at Trinity United Church of Christ)
Bishop Charles Blake who’s the presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ and is also the pastor of West Angeles Church of God in Christ as well. He’s a well known pastor and preacher, and he’s credentialed as well by none other than The Interdenominational Theological Center here in Atlanta as well. I think it would interesting to see him “go in” as those who indulge in their Pentecostal proclivities say and “tune up” in the middle of the prayer.
[Editor's Note: By the way, there MUST be a Hammond B3 set on the stage of the Capitol Building and I would require at minimum TWO Leslie speakers one on the opposite end of where the organ is sitting.]
Among other names, there are the usual suspects such as Vashti McKenzie, but perhaps we could spice it up and add someone like Floyd Flake from New York or a Charles Jenkins of Clay Evans old church back in Chicago. Or get a woman such as Claudette Copeland or a Gina Stewart.
Although it would just tickle my fancy if they got a super Baptist or Pentecostal person like Jasper Williams or Jackie McCullough who beyond the shadow of a doubt would start tuning up with the prayer.
Announcements
“We welcome you once, we welcome you twice, we welcome you three times in the name of Jesus Christ!”
HAHAHAHA!!
Seriously, I guess this would be the point in the service program where all of the State formalities would take place and I’m quite sure they’re numerous as all get out. So, this would be the point where the non-colored folk would get their chance to wax on poetic about “such a historic day.” And I’d be standing WAYYYYYYYYY back almost to 7th Street waiting for them to wrap up so I can hear more from HGC.
Offering
Every once in a while, the preacher at a special service kind of lets loose, and this would be the time that Obama would randomly walk up to the pulpit podium and inform the saints citizens that he was giving out $500 automatic tax refund checks to all who was present. And then we’d see the following:
HAHAHAHAHA!
Hopefully everything is going on time per the Constiutional Amendment that moved it from March 4th to January 20th at twelve noon, but the said “praise break” may have disrupted the time. And prolly most white folk there would be wondering “What the hell is going on here?!”
Sermonic Selection
Here, HGC would just wreck the church Mall and sing Thomas Whitfield’s “I Shall Wear a Crown” and just slay everyone in the Spirit. The song has a high point where people would hopefully would have started going in the gate, and then it comes down with the “Soon as I get home.” That would be calm enough for Biden to walk up to the podium with said Supreme Court Justice.
Then after the worship chords come to an end after Sen. Joe “I Still Wear A Mullet in 2008″ Biden will officially be Vice-President of the United States of America.
But, I’m sure the organist’ll know his or her [Hmmm, could we get Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark to be the organist? I don't care, just as long as it's someone who got some COGIC roots] cue as to when to come out of the worship chords and start playing the block chords, pulling out all the drawbars and just ready to go in as Obama walks up to the podium. Prolly by now it’s past twelve o’clock, making this whole aggregation unconstitutional, but who cares? Black church folk usually aint worried about the time if the Holy Ghost is present.
So, round about twelve noon, we’ll hear the repeated words of President-Elect Barack Obama say:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Apparently there’s some other crap that’s supposed to happen that includes a ceremonial 21-gun salute and ruffle and flourish from the Navy Band and “Hail, Columbia.”
I guess…
But they’d have to wait until we got down shouting.
I know it’d be wishful thinking, but it would be nice if Barack would grab the podium and rare back one good time and let out a good holler, but oh well, I know that’s just wishful thinking.
Invitation to Discipleship Citizenship
I guess this is the equivalent. I guess you could go real country and have the Mississippi Mass Choir come in and sing “They Got The Word” but it would turn it into a real Baptist service, lol. Aint nun wrong with that, I have my own Baptist proclivities as well. But, seeing as how that’s the only song I know of that fits the liturgical bill of the service, might as well go for it!
Benediction
After the closing remarks from whomever, we’d have to close out on “Fare Ye Well.” That’s another HBCU concert choir tradition. I don’t know if HGC does it, but I know we did it in Dillard University Concert Choir (under the auspicious and propicious leadership of the pre-Madonna himself, none other than that graduate of Hampton Institute S. Carver Davenport).
And then we’d have someone, whomever at this point cuz we tired shouting, to give a benediction–actually, I would love have Jim Wallis to come and do the benediction. He’s quite saved in my opinion.
And then the After Party in DC will commence.
Just imagine a joint homecoming for those of us that went to an HBCU–it would be that type of atmosphere in DC for the rest of that week.
I plan to save about $300 dollars just so I can drive, take OFF from school, just to be there in DC on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 come hell or high water just to be there to see that great coronation. I know it’s a bit of a messiah complex to make Obama all that comparing him to “Lord of Lords” but we all know that’s a bit of hyperbole being employed. Nonetheless, it will definitely be a great coronation.
They got the word,
They got the word,
Oh I’ll be at the great coronation
It’s gonna be held in the middle of the air.
They got the word,
I’ll say yes to Jesus, they got the word,
Then I’ll meet Him in that city built foursquare hmm.
There’s a great coronation coming up
filled with joy and gladness,
there are special guests attending,
it will be all the children of the Lord.
I’ve got a standing invitation,
with all the saints from every nation.
We’ll be there
be there,
be there,
be there,
be there when they crown Him Lord of Lords.
We are our Father’s children,
one, united, in God, Jesus Christ;
we are on our way to that great coronation,
Where we’ll crown Him Lord of Lords.
Wait ’til I get there, wait ’til I get there.
Wait ’til I get there, wait ’til I get there.
Wait ’til I get there, wait ’til I get there.
Curtains fall, roll is called,
world of sin, marching in.
Crown Him, crown Him,
crown Him, crown Him,
Be there when they crown Him Lord of Lords.
Wouldn’t all of this just be a big and interesting spectacle if it were to take place? Stay tuned for a future blog to listen to my imaginings to what Obama’s afterparty would look like, or the George “I Don’t Like Black People” Bush’s “Black Tie ‘N Boots” Ball. Actually, what do you think Obama should name his afterparty?
Keep it uppity and keep it truthfully radical, JLL
For those of you who have been consistent readers, you all know I don’t have internet in my dorm room.
Arrrgh.
And I don’t have MSNBC.
Arrrrrgh.
Well, it seems as though the two main champions of liberalism from MSNBC named Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews have been demoted from anchor positions during special coverage of events. I found the following except from an AP release from Yahoo!
The tipping point appears to have come during the GOP convention when Olbermann criticized MSNBC for showing a Sept. 11-themed video prepared by the Republicans.
MSNBC executives, who had publicly defended their anchors’ roles while privately monitoring them throughout the political season, made the change over the weekend after discussions with Olbermann. Despite the controversy around him, Olbermann has been a hero with left-leaning viewers and keyed MSNBC’s growth among coveted young viewers.
During her acceptance speech last week, Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin talked about the “Washington elite” not accepting her qualifications for the job. Some delegates on the convention floor began chanting, “N-B-C, N-B-C.”
Olbermann began to have difficulty keeping his opinions in check, or simply stopped trying.
He sarcastically dismissed GOP pundit Pat Buchanan on the air after Buchanan said the Republicans had been enlivened by the entrance of a conservative Republican.
“Those reading US Weekly with the picture of her and her youngest daughter with the word `scandal’ written across it won’t be so happy,” Olbermann said.
He expressed little sympathy at another point when GOP anger at rumors over the Internet about Palin were being discussed.
“We’ll see if people feel sorry for unfounded rumors on the Internet,” he said. “If that’s the case, Senator Obama‘s probably standing up and cheering and waiting for people to feel sorry for him.”
Perhaps most embarrassing, Joe Scarborough was discussing positive developments in John McCain’s campaign at one point when Olbermann was heard on an offstage microphone saying: “Jesus, Joe, why don’t you get a shovel?”
Sorry, I thought this was so wonderfully written.
As I sit next to my friend, he informed me that clearly, “Liberals have a conscience. They aint made no changes at FoxNews?!!?!” And of course that echoes my sentiment exactly.
I watched, painfully, Sean Hannity interview Elisabeth “Miz Liz” Hasselbeck (nee Elisabeth DelPadre Filarski) of “The View” while at the Republican National Convention and she just went on and on about Governor Sarah “Yukon Barbie” Palin and I just couldn’t believe the level of ignorance that was displayed on both sides.
Well, one just has a high school diploma, so I’m quite sure where the majority of the ignorance was coming from, but the other was sho’ nuff giving him a run for his money.
Anywho…
Hannity and his ilk have heaped praises upon Sarah “Plain and Tall” Palin as though she’s the second coming, clearly setting her up to run in 2012 and Hannity has been quoted numerous times as saying “This is unprecedented media biased…” referring to Yukon Barbie.
Did Obama not have to give two seperate speeches explaining his relationship to Jeremiah God Damn America” Wright after FoxNews tried their damnest to discredit Obama?
I mean in the wider scheme of things, Olbermann and Matthews are no more outspoken than their diametrical opposites at FoxNews. Why is it that liberals are always caving in and succumbing to pressure from the Right and never “sticking it to” conservative thought? They don’t call us “bleeding heart” liberals for nothing–the conservatives are constantly stabbing us through the heart and we sit and ask “Why are you doing this to us?” The equivalent of bringing a knife to a gun fight.
Sadly, Olbermann, even more than Matthews to me, was what made MSNBC so interesting. He was no more outspoken with America’s favorite individual who wishes we could go back to the glory days of the 1920′s Pat “Let’s Take It Back” Buchanan than Hannity over Colmes or Bill-O over his guests.
Shame on MSNBC.
What do you think about liberal media paling in comparison to their condemnation of Sarah “I’m Hotter Than Tina Fey” Palin than they were with Jeremiah “God Damn America” Wright and aiding in the questioning of Obama’s what they then called paper thin resume. Did MSNBC make a right move in demoting Olbermann and Matthews or is it going to come back and bite them in the collective liberal @$$?
Keep it uppity and keep it truthfully radical, JLL
First of all, yes, uppity is a racial term and for U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland from rural Coweta County in Georgia and I really don’t buy the argument that he’s never heard it as such. The man was born in 1950 in Atlanta, Georgia. I’m quite sure that he heard more than once that uppity was a word used to describe blacks, well, Negroes who whites felt were trying to move above their current caste status.
Well, let the record show that since this space is about all things Uppity and where they intersect with things Negro therefore forming a Network.
Westmoreland was recorded by The Hill a Capitol Hill newspaper that is known for covering the more mundane aspects of the Hill, but clearly this was no longer a mundane news story:
Westmoreland was discussing vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin’s speech with reporters outside the House chamber and was asked to compare her with Michelle Obama.
Just from what little I’ve seen of her and Mr. Obama, Sen. Obama, they’re a member of an elitist-class individual that thinks that they’re uppity,” Westmoreland said.
Asked to clarify that he used the word “uppity,” Westmoreland said, “Uppity, yeah.”
I mean damn.
But guess what, at least white folk still know what uppityis.
Real talk though, if a white person is calling a black person uppity then that means simply that the black person is doing their job. As I’ve said more times than once that an uppity Negro is the one that challenges the status quo. I’m always striving to maintain my uppity status, but trying to not be elitist. Elistism puts you in the snob category (not against you or anything Black Snob), but elitism is when you look down on someone else, being uppity requires you to turn around and help those who are in a lower social status and moreover the ones who don’t have the same opportunities that have been afforded that you have been.
Being labeled an uppity Negro, trust me, is a compliment. Although it really comes off as hatin’, this is definitely a “negative” that we as blacks should embrace as a positive, not “nigger” and interpret it as “nigga.” Of course the old Kat Williams adage about needin’ more hatas connotes that one is doing the right thing.
I could go on with a list of Negroes that were labeled uppity over the years, starting with Rev. Martin Luther King, Ph.D. and go down the list going back all the way till the late 18th century and ending with Sen. Barack Obama and I don’t think it would make much of a difference, so I’m going to do something different.
For those reading this, could you give a personal experience about yourself or a family member deceased or living where you possibly had been labeled an uppity Negro or perhaps had called someone uppity. Also, what do you think about Westmoreland’s comments? Do you accept the reason he gave for saying what he said, moreover the fact that he offered an apology.
We wrestle not against flesh and blood but agains powers and principalities and rulers or darkness in high places.
That is a scripture from Ephesians 6:12 and I think it’s apropos given the turn that this election has taken. A little while back on July 28th, 2008 actor Jon Voight wrote a very incendiary and vitriolic op-ed piece to The Washington Post that was fraught with lies and rumors based on the fear-mongering that was evidenced in former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Governor Sarah Palin’s speeches last night at the RNC.
He said:
This is a perilous time, and more than ever, the world needs a united and strong America. If, God forbid, we live to see Mr. Obama president, we will live through a socialist era that America has not seen before, and our country will be weakened in every way.
Obama is a socialist.” he said. “I want less government control. I don’t believe in national health care.”
Well, call me a socialist then and put me at the first of the line because I most certainly believe in national health care. I mean that’s a COLD man to say something like that, and then to go on the record to say something that cold. I mean is that compassionate conservativism? Hell nah.
Usually Democrats are the one who are told that we’re too liberal and too open just letting everything go and the conservatives usually are the one’s who act as though they have a God mandate on their side. Well, I for one am calling them the evil ones and part of the rulers of darkness in high places.
First we’re up against the Cult of Fox News.
Yes there are those that actually believe that FoxNews is a real and credible news outlet. Don’t get me wrong I’m not one to drink the Kool-Aid of MSNBC and the profusive praise that Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews but, hell, at least I know it. Some folks actually think FoxNews is a real news source.
First there is the Almighty and Dark One Dick Cheney. I kinda already had done a post on Dick Cheney prior to O’Bama’s announcement of Biden as I was trying to really figure out the office of Vice President. I mean, really Dick Cheney is a god in the eyes of FoxNews, but most of them really don’t know it. But most of the policies that have solidified the Bush presidency were mostly forced through by Dick Cheney and by Dick Cheney being the president and tie-breaker of the Senate. (Sidebar: Republicans have had control of the Senate and the House of Representatives for the better part of the last eight years that Bush has been in office, just not recently. Not to mention almost having a Supreme Court on his side.)
Secondly there is the papal equivalent of the Archbishop of Darkness Karl Rove, Of Many Chins who has found himself running the Church Cult of Fox News. He’s one of the main guest who’s usually spouting something that supports the ultra-right policies of Cheney and trying to make it more palpable to the American public–more or less doing the main brainwashing. I mean the spin’s that Karl Rove puts to the crap that comes out of the mouth of Republicans and the level of refute that he gives to the Democrats, particularly in the midst of these conventions. Particularly in light of his more than questionable political tactics that have included over the years rooting through opponents trash cans.
Thirdly there’s the President of the Bishop’s Council Newt Gingrich. It’s kind of a figurehead position in many episcopacies especially in the face of the position of Archbishop being present. And I think that it’s apropriate for him because he’s really kind of washed up. Let’s not forget his ethics sanctions that were leveled against him back in the mid-nineties. Not to mention that his public image was more or less tarnished in the nineties. I mean even I remember him being a mess back in the day and I was kid.
Of course FoxNews would snatch him and put him up as a source. To his credit, I can appreciate him and his POV because he’s really not about to give you no stupid stuff like other members who attend Fool Fest 2008.
Then there’s Jurisdictional Prelate William “Bill-O the Clown” O’Reilly. You see, O’Reilly has a little more going for him just because seniority which has moved him up over the years from Inside Edition and the know-nothing start up network FoxNews gave him a job–or rather a place to bloviate ad infinitum about conservatism that just irritates the hell out of me.
Honestly, I have so much aught with O’Reilly it’s not even funny. I first heard about him when he went off on Ludacris wayyyy back in the day. Of course as of late he’s drawn my ire because of Jeremiah Wright. The biggest problem is that he along with the other one fighting for his job on another show is that these fools fail to get qualified people to speak on issues. I mean don’t hire political pundits to speak about the economy no more than get some run-of-the-mill talking head to speak on issues of theology which were at the center of that with Jeremiah Wright.
Of course the main pastor of the flock cult is Pastor Sean Hannityof The Hannity and Colmes Church Show and I might as well add Co-Pastor Alan Colmes who is clearly under a mindspell of only Rovian preportions.
Till this day I don’t see how this man has the number one cable news show in the country.
This clearly shows that he has a following where the Deacon Dick Morris who I swear ‘fore Jesus Christ hisself that I’ll kick his ass for being a snieveling little twerp! My main charge against FoxNews comes against the H&C show and mainly Sean Hannity because of the absolute FOOLS that he has on his show. Among the likes are:
This is from a man who has a high school diploma from St. Pius Prepatory Seminary which he threw in the face of Jeremiah Wright during Wright’s one of two national interviews, the other being with PBS and Bill Moyers, informing Wright that he spoke Latin and had been to seminary–LIES! It it because of this fool why we have a nation of idiots. There is absolutely nothing engaging about Sean Hannity. He doesn’t even bring intelligent people on his show half the time. I am convinced that if one were to show the list of credentials from talking heads on Fox versus those of MSNBC I believe that we’d see more qualified people falling in the column of MSNBC.
**************************************
Well, this was kind of a filler post. I really don’t have a lot of original thoughts right about now. I’m relatively preoccupied with getting back into the groove of things with school and trying to wait until our refund checks come, praying that nothing happens to my car between now and the check arriving, not really affording money to put gas in my car, some financial problems back home with my parents nearing retirement.
Whew….
Not to mention that things are a bit foggy when it comes to me being in school. Ish poppin’ off left and right that’s got me wondering what’s going to happen when I get out in two years—YUP two more FRIGGIN years of this…
So do you all have any more nominations for Fool Fest 2008Awards in any other category? Do you all think I’m more or less on point with this assessment of FoxNews Network?
Before I get to the meat of this story, let me just update my readers.
First I realized not posting everyday reall leads to a significant drop in readership, or else it just means that a lot of my consistent readers live in Louisiana and have evacuated because of Hurricane Gustav and are unable to get internet access. The reason for me not posting since Friday is because I don’t have a WiFi signal in my dorm room.
ARRRGH.
We’re going to have to do something about that–and quickly. No internet is a blogger’s krpytonite. I have cable, but no MSNBC–a liberal bloggers equivalent of crack and heroin.
So, as classes start this semester (and I have some heavy hitters such as NT Greek, Church History I and African American Church History) bear with me as I may be blogging intermittently until I get a rhythm down. However, if I had internet in my room that’d solve a good chunk of my problems.
**calls the Maury Show**
I wonder if they’ve seen Bristol Palin’s baby daddy. Yeah, the daughter of socially conservative presumptive Republican vice-president nominee Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Yeah, the same lady that’s pro-life, an NRA carrying lady. Yeah, the same one we saw at the gun range with the assault weapon. The same one who’s parents had to cancel a caribou hunting trip in order to pay attention to the announcement of their daughters VP announcement.
Well, Focus on the Family James Dobson (of the same Focus on the Family group that prayed for rain during Obama’s acceptance speech during the DNC, but insted got their own party rained on by Gustav–come on somebody!) was quoted as saying
We have always encouraged the parents to love and support their children and always advised the girls to see their pregnancies through, even though there will of course be challenges along the way. That is what the Palins are doing, and they should be commended once again for not just talking about their pro-life and pro-family values, but living them out even in the midst of trying circumstances.
Being a Christian does not mean you’re perfect. Nor does it mean your children are perfect. But it does mean there is forgiveness and restoration when we confess our imperfections to the Lord. I’ve been the beneficiary of that forgiveness and restoration in my own life countless times, as I’m sure the Palins have.”
Actually I have no qualms with that statement, the only problem is that all of these conservatives and Republicans run around hollering about pro-life this and that and do nothing to provide for these childrens lives once they’re born. It’s one of the biggest oxymoron’s of out time.
Real talk, the Palin’s can afford to raise a sixth child, but how many other thousands of girls in this country are afforded the same privileges and opportunities to do so.
As I know I’ll lose some of my readers, perhaps, I’m clearly pro-choice.
And a follower of Christ at the same time.
I also think it’s real sanctimonious and self-righteous that many of these “first families” when it comes to politics are. If the truth be told, I wonder how many of their daughters were forced to get abortions just to protect the family image.
Now I don’t know what got taught in the Palin household, but mom is Assemblies of God and that just doesn’t bode well for daughter Bristol and sex education. Although she is for conceptions she’s against explicit sex education in the classrooms. Well, although Wikipedia has changed her religious affiliation from “Assemblies of God” to “non-denominational.”
Problem number one with that for Sarah Palin.
1. Assemblies of God is an offshoot from the mostly black Church of God in Christ denomination. And yes, they split over the fact that Bishop Charles Harrison Mason was the presiding bishop and they weren’t going to be able to run much of anything. This wouldn’t have been a story even in the least bit, but I just thought this was a bit of historical information worth noting.
2. Historically, at least as far as doctrines in word are considered the Assemblies of God has been pacifists which would clearly go against her ability “to lead” on the basis of her son being enrolled in the armed services. The Assemblies of God viewpoint prior to 1967 was that
We, as a body of Christians, while purposing to fulfill all the obligations of loyal citizenship, are nevertheless constrained to declare we cannot conscientiously participate in war and armed resistance which involves the actual destruction of human life, since this is contrary to our view of the clear teachings of the inspired Word of God, which is the sole basis of our faith.”
The 1940 Pacifist Handbook listed AF as the third highest “peace church.” It was in 1967 that their position changed, perhaps noting a change in the politics of the 1960′s and and conservative move which, perhaps, many of their members shared belief. The 1967 statement read
As a Movement we affirm our loyalty to the government of the United States in war or peace. We shall continue to insist, as we have historically, on the right of each member to choose whether to declare their position as a combatant, a noncombatant, or a conscientious objector.”
3. It doesn’t bode well that from a Pentecostal denomination, and a conservative one at that, that they did much sex education even at the home. After talking over the weekend to a friend who is associated with Pentecostal Assemblies of the World an Apostolic (oneness theology) denomination and she informed our group that if her daughter told her “Mom, I’m having sex and I’m going to continue having sex” that she would respond with some scriptures and inform her daughter that “Abstinence is all you need to be worrying about.”
Of course she was against handing out condoms at the church or any form of sex talk to be done at the church.
Is this really who we want “one beat away” from the presidency if McCain were to be elected?
Meanwhile, I want to know who Bristol’s baby daddy is. Where’s he from? What’s his mother and father saying about all of this? Are they even still together?
**still on hold waiting to get through to Maury**
I agree with Obama saying that we should lay off of family affairs, but sorry, this was like manna raining down from the heavens for those of us in the liberal blogosphere. Was this even a news story? Does it make a difference where Gov. Palin stands on the issue of abortion and other socially conservative ideas? What are conservatives trying to conserve in first place anyway?!?
Keep it uppity and keep it truthfully radical, JLL
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Has the church lost it’s mind or am I just going crazy.
And if that wasn’t enough, I also got word, during the same 5:30pm news broadcast that there’s a new reality show called “I Want To Be A First Lady” or “I Love Tommy” or some crap yet to be named starring Bishop Thomas “I look ridiculous wearing bowties” Weeks the former husband of Profitess Prophetess Juanita “I didn’t see that fist coming at me” Bynum who’s divorce was finalized today. Check out this other AJC article:
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