Sharing the Dream

It has been over thirty-five years since Martin Luther King, Jr. was cut down by an assassins bullet. Many things have changed for the better since that day. Most schools are integrated; restaurants no longer send African-Americans to the back door and only a few churches would dream of defending racism on the basis of the “curse of Noah’s son, Ham” or post deacons to “keep those people” out.

Looking back we can only be embarrassed and ask for forgiveness for such open evil. Even worse, the church should hang its head in shame that it took a secular government rather than a Spirit-empowered church to lead the way for the changes we see today.

But as we enter Black History Month, I wonder if we have changed enough since Dr. King’s dream speech in 1963? The answer is not at all clear. It is true we don’t have lynchings or overt segregation, but some believe that racism is deeper and more entrenched than before. Laws have forced open doors but they haven’t changed hearts.

Hearts are changed most effectively and permanently only by the power of God. The ability to respect and love – not just “tolerate” – people who are somehow different than ourselves comes only from one empowered with God’s Spirit. Dr. King understood this and wrote: “Evil can be cast out, not by man alone nor by a dictatorial God that invades our lives, but when we open the door and invite God through Christ to enter. ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me.’ God is too courteous to break open the door, but when we open it in believing faith, a divine and human confrontation will transform our sin-ruined lives into radiant personalities.”

Dr. King was murdered for the sake of a dream that people would someday be known for their character rather than the color of their skin, for their goodwill rather than their race. Every real Christian has a large stake in this dream for it did not originate with Martin. Rather, it is from God himself who said all people are created equal and in his image, that there is no such thing as race in Christ.

Pursue the dream. Intentionally build a relationship with someone unlike yourself. Love them in deed and not just words. Invite them into your home for supper. Play a game together. Become friends. For people who love God the dream of fostering love for our neighbor is not an option – it is a matter of obedience.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Tagged Twice.

Do you remember playing tag as a kid. There was always one person who was faster than the rest of us. If that person got tagged and was "it"; they were so fast that they suddenly tagged you right back. So I am still "it." Bill Williams is that fast. He has posted a tag with the following rules:

Here are the rules: Here is how it works: 1) Grab the book closest to you 2) Open to page 123, go down to the fourth sentence 3) Post the text of the following three sentences 4) Name the author and book title 5) Tag three people to do the same.

This tag is easy so I will hop right to it. The book that is nearest to me is A Theological Introduction to the Book of Psalms: The Psalms as Torah by J. Clinton McCann, Jr. When I open to page 123 and look at the fourth sentence this is what I read see, (part of an exposition of Ps 82)

"The inadequacy of such behavior is also clear in another context, in which God commands the people of Israel to 'do no injustice [awel] in judgement [misphat]' (Lev 19.15). Such behavior is grounds for the conviction of humans as well as gods, and again the rationale centers on the nature of divinity. Leviticus 19, part of the Holiness Code, is governed by the opening exhortation, 'You shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy" (19.2); and the recurring motivational phrase is "I am the Lord your God" (19.4,9,12,14,etc). In short, injustice among humans and certainly among gods violates the very nature of who God is and what God wills for humanity."

Psalm 82 is certainly a powerful call to live out misphat as God's people. Certainly those who are called to assure justice (judges, politicians, etc) should have the psalm emblazoned upon their hearts.

Well who can I tag? I could be quick and tag Bill back! But no, I will not do that. How about Vonnie Phillips, Sherry Lollar (newer readers of my blog) and Dee Williams.

Shalom,
Stoned-Campbell Disciple

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Tag ... You're It

Tag ... You're It!

My good friend, and fellow blogger, Wade Tannehill recently "tagged" me on his blog. As I understand the rules of tagging you are supposed to share a few items of "interest" about yourself. Follwing Wade's example I will concentrate on trivia.

1) I have had a variety of jobs in my short life. My first job was working for Krystal's, a hamburger chain in the Southeast. Shortly thereafter, I worked for McKinny Lumber Company and made the huge sum of 4.75 dollars an hour. I worked for FMC in Orlando, Fl and made De-Icers. And I was turned down for a job because I was overqualified. And, ironically, I had an elder once tell me I was "unqualified" for a position.

2) My favorite comic book is Spider-Man. In fact, in the spirit of irrelevant factoids, I confess that I have a Spider-Man toothbrush. And I have a SpongeBob ball and bat in my office.

3) When I was a teenager I did not like preachers. Ithought you had to be dumb for that ... and besides I wanted to be the new lead guitarist for KISS. But who was I to talk about being dumb. When I was "little" I was so dumb that I picked up a jelly fish and it stung the blazes out of me. Talk about dumb!

4) I am stealing this from Wade, but it is interesting, there was a song written about me once. It was called the "Ballad of Bobby V." It is true that the head of that small Bible college I attended did take me into his office one day because he was concerned about my "influence" on the student body. He informed that I was a "guru" (I have never forgotten that word) with some on campus and thus needed to not lead them into the dark side (his thought, my image).

5) I once preached in the same pulpit that Martin Luther King Jr did. It was in the Belle Flower Missionary Baptist Church in Grenada, MS. Belle Flower is the oldest African-American church in Grenada and was a key church in the civil rights struggle for justice. The church was bombed after King preached and there are still black marks on the ceiling from the flames. It was a great honor to be asked to preach there during Black History Month.

6) Finally, I was dating another girl when I met Pamella. But as Great White sang, I was "Once Bitten, Twice Shy." But she thought she did not like me. But I asked her and the rest is history. I did not coldly "dump" ??? but we came to an understanding that we were simply not right for each other.

There you have it. Some very uninteresting and unimportant little known facts about Bobby V. I suppose that I will tag a couple of folks too: David Cook, Ancient Wanderer (who really is a good friend), Steve Pucket and Mommy Ham.

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

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Snow in Tucson!

Snow InTucson!! Yep the Arizona Daily Star claims there was "up to two inches" in some places. But at my house it barely covered our pepple lawn. The newspaper also said that "few disruptions are noted." I laughed because I read that sitting in a "Carl Jr's" because it took me over an hour to travel one mile and I decided to pull into the burger joint when they refused to let me cross the bridge over the wash. That is where I encountered the newspaper! :-) It was all slightly humorous.

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Photos from the Trek

Photos from the Trek

This picture is the end of the journey at our new home in Tucson, AZ. We are next to the Tanque Verde Wash ... a dry river bed for most of the year.

Pray for us.

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Somewhere in NM

Some where in New Mexico at a "pull over." It was very windy. Poor Jody, our dog, got a splinter in her paw and became an even bigger baby than she already is.

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Proof we WERE in Texas

Proof we were in Texas. Not much to see here ... except the world's biggest cross. Indeed the cross (not far from Amarillo) is a "mecca" for those doing the Stations of the Cross as a spiritual discipline.

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