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There is no question that the recent comments made by veteran radio talk show host Don Imus were unacceptable!

As I followed the story of Don Imus and his firing and as I heard the comments made by all sides it raised a few questions in my mind:

Spokespersons for both networks (CBS/NBC) mentioned that Don was known to have made offensive remarks on the air before in his career.

That raises the question:

In what moral mindset were the executives at that point in Imus’ career?

It seems hypocritical to react as a network to a demand not by the offended, but by self-proclaimed spokespersons . . . namely Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson. Can we conclude that if advertisers hang in there; nobody in the audience complains, and ratings are up it is “OK”?

-Racism is an industry!

That brings me to the self-proclaimed spokesperson Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jackson. In an interview by the “Today Show” host, Rev. Al Sharpton was NOT willing to forgive Don Imus. (Even though Don apologized several times and asked for forgiveness). Looking at Rev. Al Sheraton’s career as a civil rights activist, I remember the following incident:

In 1991a Hasidic Jewish driver in Brooklyn's Crown Heights section accidentally killed Gavin Cato, a 7-year-old black child, and anti-Semitic riots erupt. Sharpton raced to pour gasoline on the fire. At Gavin's funeral he railed against the "diamond merchants" -- code for Jews -- with "the blood of innocent babies" on their hands. He mobilized hundreds of demonstrators to march through the Jewish neighborhood, chanting, "No justice, no peace." A rabbinical student, Yankel Rosenbaum, was surrounded by a mob shouting "Kill the Jews!" and stabbed to death.

It seems that this former Presidential candidate is the equal of a David Duke in his attitudes. Neither one of them seek reconciliation between races or people, but pour gasoline on hurtful moments that divide us. Individuals like Rev. Al Sharpton need these moments, because it offers them a lifestyle, and financial support as a career civil rights leader.

- Racism is an industry!

Then there are the advertisers like P&G, Staples, American Express, etc. who pulled there ads from the Don Imus Show in response to “ ? “. Well, I really do not know the answer! Because, as mentioned before, Don Imus made unwarranted remarks before and I guess it was OK then, but it is not OK now. Hypocritically their ads run on networks like BET, etc., where women are depicted in music videos with (sexual) words that I do not want to repeat on this Blog. The same advertisers sponsor shows on TV that portray adultery as a common part of our society.

- Racism is an industry!

Finally, there are those who produce music videos that have crossed far beyond the lines of decency and common respect for gender and race. Those responsible, like Russel Simmons (who I watched recently on the Oprah Show), explain the artist’s behavior with stories like: “It reflects the upbringing of the artist and the expression of needed change.”

WHAT???

Mr. Simmons [Russel], you make a living from these artists. You make a living by allowing those artists to proclaim words of degradation, sexual obscenity, violence and promote and reinforce racism.

- Racism is an industry!

I say: “STOP!”

We as Christians need to live our values! What Don Imus did was wrong, and there should be an appropriate punishment. What he said should not be forgotten, but must be forgiven. We as Christians must step in and tell Rev. Al Sharpton that he also needs to ask for forgiveness, and that he should set his path on reconciliation. The Gospels tells us of the love God has for us. The Gospel tells us that we are forgiven, once we understand what brought us to the place of needing forgiveness. The Gospel tells us that we must seek peace. Peace in our families, and our communities.

We, as humankind (not as divided races) must bring the industry of Racism down with love and compassion.

Labels: Racism is an industry

    

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A pastor recently received a call from a young woman who wanted to get married in the church he served. The young woman explained that years ago, she had attended the church and that it was her and her future husband’s desire to have their wedding performed where their parents got married as well; and where their parents attended.

The pastor asked if both of them were believers (meaning if they believed that Jesus Christ gave them eternal salvation), and a after brief pause the young lady answered: “I am a believer, but my future husband is not.”

The pastor asked, if they would be willing to meet with him, especially since one of them is not a believer, and that he requires counseling before any marriage.

The woman became somewhat upset and replied that all she wanted was a wedding in the church.

You would think the story ends here, but not so. Soon after, the pastor was reminded by some Deacons of the church, that he should give in and marry them, since the parents, who were attendees heard about the conversation from their daughter and were very upset. The Deacons concern was that the entire family may leave over this “hard-headed” behavior of the pastor. The parents of the young couple also told the Deacons that another (willing) pastor should perform the wedding in the church if their pastor was not going to do it.

. . . I will leave you in suspense how the pastor reacted, but maybe this Blog is the place where we can raise and ask the following questions:

1. Is marriage a sacrament in the church you serve?
2. Will you as a pastor marry individuals, who are not saved?
3. Do you have a church policy in place? Could you spell out the key issues and points?
4. How would have you reacted to the Deacons response to the problem?

    

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Pat Robertson said Tuesday God told him a terrorist attack on the United States would result in "mass killing" late in 2007.
"I'm not necessarily saying it's going to be nuclear," he said during his news-and-talk television show "The 700 Club" on the Christian Broadcasting Network. "The Lord didn't say nuclear. But I do believe it will be something like that."

And that raises the following question for me as a Christian: How does Pat know God speaks to him? I am not judging Pat, but what will happen if there will be no attack as prophesied by Pat?

What will be the conclusion for the rest of us? Did Pat or God lie to us?

    

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There are many heated discussions in our churches about evolution vs. creation. I recently was introduced to a book published by Fortress Press, which I found very interesting:

Darwin and Intelligent Design by Francisco J. Ayala. In this short piece, world-renowned biologist Francisco Ayala addresses the notion of intelligent design—the notion that individual species are too complex to have developed through evolution and therefore must be the work of an intelligent designer, God.

Ayala shows first just what the theory of evolution claims, and the range of questions it can answer. He then turns to the notion of intelligent design, as it is expounded today, and its weaknesses as a scientific or even a theological explanation of the complexity of the universe and all its creatures. Fully affirmative of religious conviction, Ayala’s treatment is especially valuable for its clarity about the respective roles of science, faith, and theology and the questions they pose.

Fortress Press made six FREE copies available.

If you are one of the first six church leaders to respond to the topic "Evolution vs. Creation", on this Blog . . . and define what your position is and why . . . . I will send you a free book.

Just write me a note, with your name and address, after you published your thoughts about the subject on this Blog, and I will mail it off to you.
(Sorry I will only mail it to you if you live in the USA)

    

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Yesterday I watched a very interesting documentary on ABC. On that show they analyzed the AIDS epidemic in the USA.

Here are some statistics that should send chills down your spine:

(1) There are currently ONE MILLION people in the USA living with HIV

(2) HALF MILLION of them are living with AIDS


(read on . . . )



(3) Approximately 15% of the US population are black Americans

(here is comes . . .)

(4) 50% of all HIV infected people in the US are black Americans

more info at: http://www.avert.org/statsum.htm


In the documentation the interviewer talked to several black church leaders like T.D. Jakes (http://www.thepottershouse.org/), Jesse Jackson, etc. and their response (in almost unity) was: "Since there are so many issues in the black culture/community it is not worth honing in on this issue in worship, etc."


( . . . say what?)



Now, there were other pastors of black churches who indeed addressed the issues in their congregation, but why in the world would spiritual leaders. like T.D. Jakes not address this issue in his mega conventions as he has the ears of those who see him as a true spiritual leader for the black community?


(I will send this Blog entry to T.D. Jakes . . . and we'll see if he responds.)


So . . ., what do you think the obligation of the (all) church is, what actions should we take and most of all, what should the message be in repsonse to the statistics?

    

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Well, I trust you all had a good summer. And as the summer slowly comes to an end, I will start the Ministry Staffing Blog back up.

How important, in your experience as a church or pastor, is it to have previous work - life experience before entering the ministry?

Having been in the ministry for over 15 years, I was an entrepreneur before I entered the ministry. And coming to the ministry in my late thirties, I thought has helped me to understand life situations, relationships and situational issues much better . . . so I thought.

I recently met with friends who were all pastors and went straight from college/seminary into the ministry and their argument was, that being in the ministry from the beginning (without any life -work experience) offers an untainted journey.

So, what do churches look for in your pastoral experiences? How do you feel about the issue?

    

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The hottest topic in all of the media is currently the topic of immigration. You can read letters to the editors, listen to call- in-shows, and listen to the opinions of varies politicians.

The topic is indeed debated everywhere . . . but the debate is missing in our churches. And the voice of the church in any media is missing. Is the general consensus of the churches and ministers that this issue is not a social justice issue?

Do we have a right (in this century) to determine that people belong where they were born and that those who are born in the wealthiest nation, who enjoy (and demand) cheap products and are more then happy to use the cheap labor, also have the right to deny them the benefits of the wealth they gave?

Make no mistake, we all understand the financial hemorrhage on our social system and infrastructure, but we as the church have to be prepared to give answers to our parishioners and more important to our God.

What do you think?

    

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