The Friend

As I write this I confess that this subject in particular is of great importance to me due to the historical degradation millions have felt at the use of this word.  I will write the word out as it has spelled for the sake of not 'softening' the unpleasantness of racism that exist in every part of our world. Yesterday, I was enjoying the company of one of my seminary friends and we decided to play 'Madden' during our time.  Over the course of the game we had taken a considerable lead and the person we were playing against was cursing angrily.  I proceeded to turn on the microphone so that we could speak to him and understand why he was so upset.  My friend (who is Anglo) then asked him a few questions and our opponent cursed at him and accused him of cheating (which I assure you we did not).  So then, being the compassionate and inquire that I am, I asked him, "Why does he think that we cheated?" Before I could finish my soliloquy he cut me off saying, ...

If someone were to ask me, “Do you like the person that you are today?” I would gladly respond, “Yes, so long as he never finds out (third-person)!” One of the struggles I’ve always had is talking about myself because society has always taught me that speaking about oneself was a form of cockiness. Growing up I was very boisterous and because of my daily environment I became very aggressive, assertive, and dominant. For the first nineteen years of my life I had completely different experiences than the ones I am having now six years later. As a seventeen-year old I remember the Crips burning down the ‘Holly St. Shopping Center’ the day after Michael Ashbury (founded the Crips in Denver in the 70’s) was allegedly killed by a Blood in Parkhill (where I lived). I remember being arrested at twelve for assault and burglary at Hill Middle School after two girls said they were beaten and robbed. In order to find the culprit the school/police called all the black CHILDREN 5’...

Blessed Sunday Friends, I've seen many uses of the rainbow over the years. Unicorns, leprechauns, Skittles, and most frequently a symbol of gay pride. More than likely our experiences with the rainbow have been alterations of its original purpose. I thought it would be refreshing for some believers to hear that even while some things that we hold sacred may be being used for personal deviations we can know that no matter what happens in this life nothing can remove the the ultimate purpose of God in bringing glory to himself in Christ Jesus. All things are made by God and for God. My heart breaks for our world but I am also joyful because I know that at the end of it all love did win. Love won when Jesus laid down his life for a broken and sinful people and was resurrected and seated at the right hand of God. He saw each and every single one of us and he knew that for each lash, for each punch, for each kick, and for each nail that he took that we were worth the sacrifice. In spi...

The Three-Fifths Compromise may no longer prohibit African-Americans to have a full voting right in America by claiming we are only three-fifths of a person. But in light of events surrounds the murders, assaults, and incarceration of African-Americans at the hands of citizens and government officials it seems that we still, perhaps, are only worth 3/5 of the appropriate response of our fellow American citizens. For example there are still roads in South Carolina that are named after confederate militants who fought to keep black people enslaved. In the south there are still churches who have existed since the 1800's who have yet to allow African-Americans to congregate let alone assume leadership positions in their churches. When I hear people say that Dylan Roof's actions were an isolated occurrence of a mentally-ill man and that his actions do not suggest that there is a deeper undertone of racial bigotry in this country (even though he himself said he wanted to start a race...

Cameron Friend April 21st 2015 Summary H.G. Bissinger has captured the essence of a small Texas town named Odessa where cultures are at odds against one another but there seems to be a common language they all share: Friday Night football.  In the United States, one of the great equalizers is sports because it is in the arena that boundaries and prejudices are momentarily laid aside to pursue a common goal. Odessa, Texas is a place of great economic providence for some while being of the more segregated cities in the South.  Bissinger was able to tell the story of small town that would have great implications for how we view sports, racism, and religion.  Fundamental Skill: Thick Description Boobie Miles For many young African-American kids growing up in poverty stricken, disenfranchised communities, there are not many opportunities for advancement.  For a greater part of their lives they are trained, consciously and subconsciously, by their peers to acce...

Fun Fact:  Did you know that African-Americans represent over 40% of the U.S. Prison Population?  Did you also know that African-Americans make up only 12% of the U.S. total population.  Let's crunch some numbers: Estimated people in America: 313.9 million people (2012) Estimated African-Americans in America: 38,929,319 (2012) THIS MEANS AFRICAN-AMERICANS ACCOUNT FOR 12.6% OF THE TOTAL U.S. POPULATION U.S. Prison Population: 2.2 million people are currently in jail.  This is by far the worlds leading number of people incriminated in a country. How many of these people are African-American? 40% of the U.S. Prison population is made up of African-Americans (non-hispanic blacks) Also if we were to take a look at the demographics of CAPITOL PUNISHMENT in the states of California and Texas: CALIFORNIA (73.5 percent White) (6.6 percent African-American) 742 total killed, 269 Black, 257 White, 179 Latino, 12 Native-American, 25 Asian TEXAS (80.3 percent White) (12.4 percent...

Being a Christian can be equated to two lovers getting married and then beginning the real task of living together. There is the euphoria where love is fully found for the first time and a man and a woman have now entered into a new life together. It could modestly be equated to fully witnessing your first spring or catching your first taste of the cold morning dew. We as the Bride have exchanged our vows and promised to be faithful to One Husband. Though, while we conceptual ly may have understood, we did not realize then how strenuous the process of dying to oneself would really be. We now begin the process of riding ourselves of all selfishness (all the while failing miserably) and seeking forgiveness for our wrongdoings, daily. Like the perfect Husband He graciously forgives us and continues to lead us with life-giving leadership but we struggle with accepting that He still perfectly loves us in spite of ourselves. Daily, He affirms us by noting how wonderfully made w...