Stories that Form Us - Sermon

(I delivered this sermon on Christmas Eve 2014. It is not verbatim since I use the barest of notes and my memory when preaching)

So many people get nostalgic at Christmas time. Every year, we watch the same Christmas movies. Will George Bailey save the Savings and Loan from Mr. Potter again this year? Will Bedford Falls be ok?  Will Rudolph lead Santa's sleigh this year? Of course we know the answers, but yet we watch them nonetheless. And if we are honest, we still even experience some suspense.

Christmas is a time some of us get with friends and family and share the same stories that we've shared for years...or we may sit alone and remember the private memories that we don't want to share.

Why do we do this?

The stories of our lives form who we are.  They explain who we become. We act certain ways because of what has happened to us in the past. If you listen to a person long enough, you will find out what is important to him or her...just by listening to the stories.

For me, Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. Once the clock strikes 12:00 on November 1, I'm technically allowed to put up the first Christmas tree in the house! (Yes, we have several). It's not the presents...In fact, I only remember a few gifts from when I was young. Christmas means so much more. I remember the experiences.

On Christmas Eve, we would go to my maternal Grandparents' house for supper. The whole family would be there. We kids would play, and then get anxious because that was the one night out of the entire year Grandma insisted on hand washing the dishes and not using the dishwasher. It's not like she used fine china...It was just her regular plates and silverware.

My sister, cousin, and I eventually worked out a spy ring. One would hide under the dining room table, one at the entrance to the kitchen, and another behind the fridge. We had hand signals to let each other know how much longer it would be until it was time to open presents.

On Christmas Day, we'd go to my paternal Grandma's house. She used paper plates! But she always made my favorite mashed potatoes! There was one year that I took it as a personal insult when she wanted to make a "lite lunch" and made potato salad. We spoke again a few weeks later.

But Christmas also meant snow, decorating, making cookies, sledding, and of course, stories!

There was the year my uncle told 5-year old me that he shot a guy wearing all read out in his back yard. I was scared the whole night that Santa wouldn't come. And there was my Grandma's Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. I was young and got to pick it out for her. She saw it and cried because, "The damn thing was so ugly." (My Grandma was not one to use strong language, so it must have been bad). My dad took her to the grocery store and my uncle and I decorated it. She came back and cried again because she had "never seen such a beautiful tree." My kids and wife endure these stories multiple times every year!

I remember the last Christmas with my Grandpa being alive. He had surgery that put him in a coma. After his brain waves stopped, we removed life support, but he hung on a few days. He was in a hospital 3 hours away on Christmas Eve. I remember sitting in HIS chair - the one he was VERY possessive of! I wouldn't leave it. It was the last connection I had to him. He died three days later.

It's normal for people to keep memories alive. It's even Biblical! In the Old Testament, when God did something amazing for the Israelites, something like the Passover, God commanded them to remember this day and do something to commemorate it. Depending on the tone of the holiday, it would be a joyous celebration or a somber remembrance.

The Bible is God's Story. The Christmas story is our entrance into God's story. Jesus came for all people - Gentiles and Jews. This is God's continuing story of God with us - Emmanuel (Hebrew - Im [with] enu [us] el God]). This Christmas story is where we - individually and corporately enter God's story.

We can now be part of God's Family!  In the words of Church Father Athanasius of Alexandria - "God became man so man could become god." He DID NOT mean we would be literally god, but rather we could share in God's promises because of God becoming human in Christ.

And now, with new eyes, read the Christmas Story:

Luke 2:1-20 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Blessed are the Peacemakers - More Reflections on Race

I honestly don’t know how to begin. I honestly don’t know where this is going. Lord, lead me as I write!

People rarely like to talk about race. Many people will say they are “colorblind” when it comes to race. That statement, as well intentioned as the person saying it means it to be, cannot and should not be.

God created us as embodied souls – or souls with a body. Either way, one cannot be separated from the other…at least in this earthly life. Part of our bodies includes our skin. My skin happens to be white.

What is white skin? To look at it, “white” may not even be the best description. My skin is more tan or pink than white, but yet people classify me as “white.” I have some brown hair on my arms, a few moles and blemishes, some scars, but that doesn’t change my classification as “white.”

Some people prefer that I describe my race as European-American because saying that I’m “white” implies that I consider myself “elite” in comparison to others. My ancestors came from Europe. European-American is my ethnicity. But race is different. When I say “white,” I am describing what I see in the mirror – or rather what others have termed my skin tone to be. I don’t use “white” as an inherent descriptor of power, though I will discuss that later.

Race is a human construction. Ethnicity is not. Humans have a need to determine what makes each of us different from others. Ethnicity is a descriptor of our ancestral origins. Humanity invented race to say that one color is better than another color. History has shown that people's minds consider “lighter” skin colors superior to “darker” skin colors.

Obsession with skin colors caused slavery – or at least American slavery. Obsession with skin colors caused colonization of the African continent. Obsession with skin colors caused segregation where blacks were forced into sub-standard institutions to keep things “pure” for whites. Obsession with skin colors is sadly alive and well today.

In just the past few weeks, we’ve seen the Grand Juries failed to prosecute police officer Anthony Baez who used a chokehold on Eric Garner, killing him. A previous Grand Jury acquitted another police officer, Darren Wilson in the shooting death of unarmed teen Michael Brown. 

The issue, however, is not specifically about Garner and Brown – but do not, for one second, think that I am diminishing the importance of these lives!  The larger issue is the obsession with skin colors and the lack of justice in the history of America for black people.  If we could truly say that these were isolated issues, and if we could be assured that both Grand Juries gave full fairness to both cases, and if we could say that blacks were treated equally with whites, then there would be little issue. Maybe there would be some raised eyebrows. Maybe some would disagree with the decisions, but the issues would not reach national importance.

America suffers from a 400-year problem of obsession with skin color. That obsession is called racism. Racism can ONLY come from the powerful – the white skin.  Minorities can be bigoted, they can be rude, they can be hateful, but they cannot use a tool that belongs only to the powerful. Minorities cannot be racist.

Racism consists of more than disliking someone based on skin color – that is being bigoted.  Racism is a systematic disease. Racism is visible AND invisible. Racism exists in peoples’ actions and in the collective mindset. Racism prevents mobility of the minority that is being targeted – intellectual, spiritual, and physical mobility. Racism kills – it kills the mind, it kills the soul, and it kills the body. 

Jesus calls his followers to be peacemakers in the Beatitudes of Matthew 5.  A peacemaker DOES NOT throw up a “yeah, but…” every time an uncomfortable and tragic situation comes our way. Have blacks committed horrific crimes as well? Yes. All races have. But, such is not the point. The discussion at hand is about justice for God’s black children. Later, if needed, we can have a different discussion. A peacemaker does not use counter-examples to hold to the status quo.

A peacemaker reaches across uncomfortable spaces and extends the hand of peace. Most (if not all) who read this post did not serve on the Grand Juries in question. Most who read this are probably good people who love their neighbors. We don’t need “good people” right now.  We need peacemakers from the white community.  We need whites to stand in solidarity with our black brothers and sisters. We need white people who are willing to say, “I have never felt your pain. I have never had anyone look at me and question whether I am a criminal or not. I have never gone through any of that, and I want a world where you don’t have to either.”

Throughout the Bible, God, without exception, stands with the poor and oppressed. Again, now is not the time for whites to describe how we may be oppressed. It is true that others more powerful than us may oppress us. We will have time to deal with that oppression. If we are true peacemakers, we will be able to deal with all oppression with all people regardless of race.

America is in crisis. Crisis can end in a multitude of ways. People can choose how to handle a crisis. We can sit back and do nothing and let others fight the battle. That option is contrary to being a peacemaker. That option carries unknown consequences.  We can stand for the status quo. That too is not being a peacemaker. It is like one saying “peace, peace when there is no peace (Jeremiah 6:14).” We can be peacemakers. We all have different gifts and talents to do this. We can recognize that our black brothers and sisters are suffering. We may not be able to change every situation, but we can walk to road together. It will be difficult...It will be rewarding...It will be tiresome...It will be loving...

As everyone knows, in suffering, sometimes the best “medicine” is a companion.

Race, Faith, and Reflections on Ferguson

If you are looking for an answer to the "Race Question," I'm sorry to disappoint you. I don't have it. I've been rendered "speechless" since the Michael Brown Grand Jury reached its decision. This, however, in my opinion, is a symptom of a much larger issue.

First and foremost, an injustice was done. An unarmed black teenage boy was killed by a white police officer.  Justice will not be served. The Grand Jury has reached its decision. This, however does not say that white police officers are always in the wrong. It also does not give blanket immunity to law enforcement officers who are supposed to uphold our nation's and states' and localities' justice systems.

I cannot judge who should be punished, but in 2014, I would hope that the gun could be the absolute last resort for law enforcement who ARE NOT attacked with lethal force. There is mace, there are tasers, and there is the reality of calling for backup while pursuing the person in question while staying in one's car or at a safe distance.

I am not the police officer Darren Wilson. I did not make the choices he did. I am not Michael Brown. I did not make the choices he did. But what has ensued is just an agitation of a greater reality of today's United States (and most likely the world - in different forms).

This article will not judge who is right and who is wrong. The evidence speaks for itself. I hope to explore the "why" we got here and "how" we get to a place of redemption.

This case is a symptom of a long and tragic history in the United States. Racism runs rapid in both visible ways and in more sinister underlying ways. This is not the time to speak of "reverse racism." That can be discussed sometime later. The wounds are too fresh.

The great Christian Mystic, Pastor, and Academic, Howard Thurman said, "[The] impulse at the heart of Christianity is the human will to share with others what one has found meaningful to oneself elevated to the height of a moral imperative. But there is a lurking danger in this very emphasis (Howard Thurman, Jesus and the Disinherited, p. 12)." He goes on to say the sins of pride and arrogance can make this "sharing" an instrument of self-righteousness and even racial superiority.  He claims, "there is no basic relationship between the simple practice of brotherhood in the commonplace relations of life and the ethical pretentious of our faith (Disinherited, p. 13)."

Basically, Thurman is saying that our very Christian religion - one that is meant to unite - can be used as a tool to divide.  This division is not just upon racial barriers. In researching a sermon this week, I was astonished to find out that there are and estimated 41,000 Christian denominations in the world.  Denominations are NEVER formed out of unity - they are formed because "I" will not worship our God with "you."  Obviously, many of these divisions have come because of race.

What is race? Race is a human distinction created to divide people. There is very little, if any, genetic difference between any races on the earth. Skin tone is determined by one's mother and father and ancestors. Race IS NOT a sign of intelligence, worth, or capacity.

Being sinful people, humans have confined people of other races to places of despair. For many years before entering the ministry I was a school teacher. My wife and I taught in an inner-city impoverished area. Because of American politics (politics in this sense meaning the way that people work together or against each other), the inner-city was highly segregated (though not officially or legally). Our children - and yes, our students were our children - came from the "projects." I visited some of these projects, and many of them were places I would not raise an animal. Basic services were unheard of.

As much as we want to blame people of poverty, we must look at what put them there. Yes, some have made sinful choices, but the vast majority have no way to "move up."  There are too many barriers. I knew single mothers. They wanted to raise their children to have better lives than they had. These mothers had to work 2 and even 3 jobs to just keep food on the table because they lacked experience and education for a well paying job. Because of their plight, the children spent most of their time outside of school with a grandparent or other relative. This cuts into family relationships and ultimately a child loses (or at least suffers) the parent-child relationship. The mother in most cases did her absolute best to do what she could. The child would act out in school not out of malice but because he or she needed his or her mother. This in turn created hardship because she had to leave her job. It was a vicious cycle.

Inner Cities are notoriously lacking in the governmental funds that suburbs receive. Companies choose not to locate there and that drives money and opportunity away from those people. Fast Food chains invade. Healthy food becomes rare to find. Fast food is cheap and easy. Grocery stores with fresh produce are often long commutes away and difficult if not impossible for some people to reach on a regular basis.

Such conditions create an "us" vs. "them" mentality. People say, "We don't want them in our neighborhoods," so the cycle continues. These people as Thurman would say, "have their backs against the wall." There is no where to go.

Yes, there are exceptions, but exceptions do not prove a rule. Personally, I am an exception to many rules, but it is through the grace of God and not through any personal virtue. I could have easily been one with my back against the wall - of course under different circumstances.

I have no solutions. Not at this time. But I do know the ONE who does have the solution - our God! Our God works wonders, but our God expects that we followers do our parts too. We cannot tacitly sit on the sidelines and "cheer God's work." We too must engage in the work - not out of superiority but out of unity. What happens to one of us happens to all of us.

We cannot celebrate the killings of anyone. Every life matters. Even if a police or soldier shooting is "justified," I am pained because it went that far. I hurt because of a multitude of things that affect peoples' choices. But I thank the God who can give us the answers to even this.

What do we say about the riots? I don't know. When a person is confined and sees injustice after injustice, rage takes over. That is not a justification but it is an explanation. I don't know if the riots can be justified or not. I do know that God did not intend for us to be this divided. I hope that I can be a voice of love and peace. I pray that you will join me.

In the quote above, Thurman says that we should ask what makes us come alive. What makes you come alive? Life breeds life. Death is conquered. Shine your light - bring life!

I welcome your comments - both positive and negative. Let's keep the discussion respectable. I believe in the long run, we all want the same thing - "peace on earth and goodwill to those whom God favors (Luke 2:24)."

On Denial of the Rwandan Genocide

Recently the BBC News Network aired a documentary claiming that the Rwandan Patriotic Front committed war crimes in their invasion of Rwanda from 1990-1994 and during the Genocide of 1994.

The Genocide of 1994 officially only recognizes that Tutsis were the victims of this horrific act. It is also a known fact to the rest of the world that the RPF led by now President Paul Kagame (then a rebel group invading Rwanda), also committed atrocities against the Hutu population of Rwanda.

Victoire Ingabire (Pictured Above) is the public face for such a stand. She came from her relative safety to return to Rwanda to open the political discourse of that nation. Upon stating the obvious - that innocent Hutus were also killed - she was jailed, and after a series of events sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The official narrative of the Rwandan Genocide is nothing short of a crime against the humanity of the innocent Hutu victims whose families are not allowed to officially mourn the deaths of their loved ones within the borders of Rwanda - even 20 years after the horrific days of 1994. To do such would be a crime called "Genocide Denial" and/or "Double Genocide Ideology."

Such "crimes" are the ridiculous grasping of a regime that seeks to control the very thoughts of its subjects. Such "crimes" make independent thinking and human compassion illegal. Such "crimes" should not be supported by the international community, but yet they are. Rwanda is undergirded by the United States and the United Kingdom. There are no signs that this alliance of evil is weakening.

In recent weeks, I have been accused of Nazi Ideology for my above statements by members of the Government of Rwanda. Such claims are laughable, and yet they are tragic. People are dying for stating the truth. I was asked if Nazis were killed in the Holocaust. Such a question is flawed.

Nazis perpetuated the Holocaust against Jewish People. Nazis represented some German people - Not all German people. Some Hutus committed genocide against the Tutsis. This is not a question - this is a fact. All Germans did not commit, nor did they support the Holocaust just as all Hutus did not support the Genocide. Innocent Hutus were massacred in unspeakable numbers just as innocent Germans were killed in devastating numbers.

Do I deny a Genocide? Absolutely Not! I can never fully know the horrors of Rwanda in 1994 because I was not there. But I can know that Rwandans were killed. I can know that all Rwandans suffered to some extent in 1994.  I can know that what happened was sinful, disgusting, and tragic.

Until Rwandans themselves - Hutus and Tutsis - can come to this agreement - despite the powers that be, true peace will be but an illusion.

On Michael Brown and Ferguson Missouri

Regular followers to this blog will know that I often write of international injustice. But now injustice is in "my own backyard."

In Ferguson, Missouri, a young black man, Michael Brown was shot 7 times and killed by a police officer. That much is not in doubt. Many claim race was a motivating factor in shooting Brown - others claim that the officer was "doing his job." I've seen "counter-claims" recently where a white person who was unarmed was shot and killed, and complaints that the media was not covering THAT issue.

Of course, ALL lives matter - Black, White, Asian, and so forth! But the Michael Brown incident does not happen in a vacuum. It speaks to the larger societal problem here in the United States. That problem being Racism.

First, we must accept that racism is real and it is ugly and it is sinful. We cannot fall into "straw man" arguments that one group is racist in a different way from another in order to justify racism. Racism exists in the hearts of all people to some degree. We must admit it, and we can then move on to fixing it. Racism against minorities, however, is at a different level - it is oppressive and it prevents real lives from reaching their God given potential. Racism is built into our very systems of life - Government, Families, Churches, Neighborhoods, and Friend Groups. When the majority (whites) recognize this, a major step has been taken.

Second, we need to understand that oppression is real. Yes, slavery has been abolished - Civil Rights Acts have been passed, but the poverty level is a systematic injustice. The counter argument will say that certain "groups" do not work hard enough to get out of poverty. We can find counter examples in any group of people. But the sad reality is that minorities have more hoops through which they must jump in order to reach the social status of whites.

Third, we must see that minorities are subjects of suspicion whether or not they are guilty. I have many friends of various minority races in the US, and most of them (including those of middle to upper-middle class members) can recount more than one time where they were followed in a store as being suspected as a potential thief. Others have been asked why they were in a certain space when they were causing no trouble. The list continues. Yes, some minorities cause problems. Some whites cause problems. The color of one's skin does not predispose someone to leading a criminal or virtuous life. It is sad that a minority child must learn that he or she will be suspected as a criminal before he or she even becomes an adult. I can't even imagine what pressure that brings to the mind of a child.

I don't have the answers for what we can do to fix all of this. The "fixes" must come from the micro and the macro levels. As individuals we must be willing to cross the barriers and stand with the oppressed. We can't all travel to Ferguson, but we can all do something for race equality in our own areas. At the macro level, our "justice" system must be truly that - a JUSTICE system for all people! This may mean the passing of laws, enforcing existing laws, and doing what it takes to protect the inherent rights of our minority brothers and sisters.

And most importantly, I believe that is the answer. One day, we must stop saying we are "allies," but we must say that we are brothers and sisters. When we say it, we must mean it!

God help us!

Colonialism Redux

Colonialism used to be easy to define. One nation with advanced weaponry would invade another nation (usually a South American or African nation) with less advanced weaponry, enslave the people, and exploit the resources.  Millions of innocent lives were lost to Colonialism, dignity was lost, basic human rights were lost.  What the world is not understanding is that Colonialism has taken another form in today's world. The players are the same, but the tactics are different. Sadly, the results remain just as tragic.

We no longer live in a world where an outright invasion in order to steal the resources of another nation would be tolerated. Of course, that is violated from time to time under the pretension that the nation that is invaded is a global threat, developing weapons of mass destruction, or some other insidious lie.  We saw this when the US and the UK invaded Iraq. Yes, Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator. I will not defend him, but the motives for going to war had nothing to do with weapons of mass destruction. The motives were a form of colonialism. Thousands of US and British soldiers as well as innocent Iraqis and Iraqi soldiers lost their lives in what was based on a lie. Is the world better off without Saddam? That is a question I cannot answer. The Sermon on the Mount does not give me permission to hate even those who hate me. Truth be told, I would rather not have to deal with the likes of Saddam, but to wish his death is equal to hate.

We now see Russia and the United States engaged in a new "Cold War" over Ukraine. Do not be fooled. Neither nation has one bit of sympathy for the innocent citizens of Ukraine who are victims in these battles. Both nations are engaged in a battle of wills for resources and the hearts and minds of the Ukrainian Government that will ultimately feed those resources to either the US or to Russia.

This week, US President Barack Obama held a forum for African leaders. He praised Rwandan strongman dictator Paul Kagame for his leadership and even gave a nod to the ineffective dictator of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila. At the same time, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was not even invited to the summit. As I later found out, Mugabe is not even allowed to travel within the US Border.

If we look at the human rights records of these three African leaders you will see first of all that people who are in leadership of a nation are forced to make decisions that I as a Christian cannot ethically or morally make. The same can be said for ANY nation! But, how can two men (Kabila and Kagame) who are personally responsible for the deaths of at least a very conservative estimate of 6 million innocent people be praised for their leadership? How can a president (Mugabe) who refuses to allow Zimbabwe to be robbed of its minerals be considered a criminal?

This all goes back to "Colonialism Redux." Instead of directly invading nations, the powerful nations install or support puppet governments. It is public record that President Bill Clinton blocked every measure in the UN to send aid during the Rwandan Genocide so that Kagame's RPF could take control of Rwanda.  It is well known and reported that Kagame sends militias into the Congo under the pretext of eliminating the FDLR (an opposition group - or now - a refugee group of Rwandans who cannot return safely to Rwanda). Under this pretext, he is funneling the minerals so rich in Congo to Rwanda and ultimately to the US and UK.

Why would the nations support Joseph Kabila? One could find a rock with more leadership skills than this president. He does nothing, rigs elections, and allows his nation to be raped and pillaged.  That is why powerful nations call him a leader they can support.

Colonialism is far from over! It is time for citizens to demand that other people around the world without a voice be treated as humans created in the image of God.

It is time we stop listening to the xenophobic rants of pundits such as Ann Coulter who says that our concern should only be within our own borders and that the battle is really between liberals and conservatives. This is a red herring meant to distract. God knows no borders. Liberal and Conservative are misnomers (at best) and false labels.

Colonialism must be called what it is. The enslaved must be set free.

Coming Soon to this Blog

The book I authored, Does God Still Sleep in Rwanda?, (available in paperback or Kindle by clicking on the title) is available now from Amazon.com.

Soon, I will be attempting to make a video explaining why I wrote this book and the process that went into this.

This will take me a few days, but be on the look out!

My Book is Published

A book I've been working on for 2 years has been published. It's titled, "Does God Still Sleep in Rwanda?"  The book is a historical and theological look at Post-Genocidal Rwanda with a theology of peacemaking.

You can purchase a copy here: https://www.createspace.com/4911331?ref=1147694&utm_id=6026

In the coming days it will also be available through Amazon.

Kagame's Online Trolls

Once upon a time, a troll was a character in a children's story. A troll was the character who wouldn't let the "Three Billy Goats Gruff" cross the bridge. A troll was a stinky, slimy, green, ugly, monster-like character. 

In the modern cyber-age, "troll" has a new meaning. A troll is someone who stalks online sites with the sole purpose of harassing and bullying others. A troll pretends to be a "real person," while in reality this troll is playing a role. 

Several months ago, users of Twitter and followers of discussions concerning Rwanda and the DRC found out that @RichardGoldston was a troll. There was no person by the name of Richard Goldston. Richard Goldston was made up. This was only caught when the person pretending to be Richard Goldston slipped up while also controlling President Paul Kagame's Twitter account. 

"Richard Goldston" was vile. "He" was vulgar. "He" was threatening. "He" made sexist and misogynistic claims about women. "He" was racist. 

Of course, the Rwandan government claimed that they knew nothing about this account and the person who was the "troll" would be punished. That is quite interesting and undoubtedly false given the amount of trolls coming from the Pro-Kagame camp. 

There are two types of Pro-Kagame defenders. There are those who are politically aligned with Kagame. They stand to benefit financially or politically from his war crimes being swept under the rug. They are real people who are in real positions who do not want to acknowledge the truth that Kagame is directly responsible for at least 6 million deaths. They perpetuate the lie that Kagame only used his Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF - once called RPA) army to attack the genocidaires and never attacked innocent citizens despite quotes from Kagame himself to the contrary. They only recognize that Hutus killed Tutsis (a fact no one disputes), but they refuse to recognize that Tutsis also killed Hutus. (This is not termed "genocide" for political reasons because the Tutsis were a rebel army and the deaths they caused were "war deaths" and "collateral damage"). 

The other type of Pro-Kagame defenders are the trolls. They are paid by the Rwandan Government to harass and bully. They are paid to threaten. Let me be very clear. As a person who has been harassed by these trolls, I will give examples: I have had my life threatened for questioning the Kagame narrative. I have been called an instrument of Satan because MegaChurch Pastor Rick Warren sides with Kagame (an entirely different discussion in itself). I have been called a "nothing." I have been accused of having various sexually transmitted diseases (how that applies to anything, I have no idea). The list goes on. 

Again, these trolls are paid by a government to carry out this work! I have to ask, if the narrative the government is telling is true, then why the need for the trolls? Why the need for the threats? Why the need to harass? 

If your side is correct, why do you have to work in secret to intimidate others?

Obscene Picture at the Border

This week, I was confronted by a picture that I found to be obscene. It were taken  the US-Mexico Border.

This photo was not sexual, nor was it provocative in any manner. In fact, when we say, "obscene" the fact that our minds gravitate towards sexual images speaks volumes of the culture of this world. These pictures were inhumane, and they were violent.

The picture at the US-Mexico Border was taken by a journalist for humanitarian reasons. This journalist was exposing the obscene in order to elicit a response. In this photo were teenagers and children from Mexico and Central America who had been detained by United States Border Patrol Agents. They were being held in Dog Kennels - locked behind wire fences with only blankets. Maybe they had some food and water, but it was not in the image. I would hope that my own Government were not THAT sadistic. The youth were sleeping on the concrete, others were playing with make-shift toys of rocks or sticks or dirt. Some had toys that they had brought with them.

Proponents of this handling of these children will point out the fact that they are "illegal immigrants" to the US. They entered the United States without a valid passport or Visa, and they did not enter through a legitimate check point. I will not contest those issues. Such is the truth. However, WHY did these young people enter our country?

First and foremost, these people are entering the United States in order to gain a better life - to have money, food, and stability. "It's not our fault that their nations are in the shape they are," some contest.  That statement is extremely flawed. When the United States, Canada, and Mexico entered into the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), something that was promised to provide jobs, and better opportunities for all three nations, what in fact happened was highly different. United States jobs moved to Mexico. At first thought, one would think that jobs moving to Mexico would create a better life for Mexicans, however the reality is false.

Of course what I am making is an overarching generalization. Some US companies most likely did make better lives for Mexican Citizens. The overwhelming majority, however, did not. The are concerned with bottom line profits. This is the exact reason they pulled out of the US to move to Mexico. Mexico has no "minimum wage" law. A worker in a US owned company in Mexico can work for whatever the Company Executive feels like paying - most often cents on the hour. This obviously leads to abject poverty. The cost of living does not follow the wages.

So, as Large Corporation Executives make Billions of Dollars, their Mexican workers can barely feed themselves let alone their families. What happens when people can't eat? They have to get the food somehow. Drug Cartels took over many areas of Mexico. We are not talking about corner drug dealers - These are multi-million dollar organizations. These are murderous organizations.

Because of NAFTA, Mexican farmers could not sell their produce at reasonable prices to make enough profit. Farms were destroyed.

Because of NAFTA, the fence between the US and Mexico was built to the standard it is now. Because of NAFTA, people just trying to survive come across the border to make any kind of living they can.

What is happening at the border has been called a "humanitarian crisis." Even Sarah Palin agrees! Something MUST be done. It is OBSCENE to lock children in rooms and dog kennels. It is obscene to create a situation where people leave home because they have no opportunity to be self sufficient where they live. All of this is immoral!

Our God does not know what international boundaries are. All people are God's people. There is no "us" and "them." "We" do not need to work to keep "them" out. Instead, we all need to work together to create a situation where people do not have the need to flee their homes to survive. The United States can work with the Mexican Government to create solutions to this crisis rather than blaming the victims - the people.

The cause is much larger than the individuals crossing the border. The cause is Legion - Babylon - Evil! The solution is not out of our reach. The solution, however, must be desired by the Children of the Living God. The solution is for all of God's Children to stand in solidarity and not allow such obscenity in the world that God gave us!

Iraq - War or Peace?

As reports come in about ISAS, the "Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant," the radical group that is attempting to take over Iraq, we hear renewed calls for war and renewed calls blaming the Bush administration, namely Dick Cheney for this situation. 

There are those who are quick to say that the US needs to go to war with this group to liberate Iraq and what was done in the Iraq war, and there are those who say we have no business in such a war.  

One side will place the blame on President Barak Obama. They say this happened under his watch and blame his foreign policy. Others place the blame on the Bush administration saying that we had no business in Iraq and that the war was based on a lie.

I am deeply disturbed by the rhetoric this nation is taking towards this situation, and all situations that involve wars in recent times. The "finger pointing" and "blaming" is the first step of this process that leads down a road, and unfortunately, once down this road, it is difficult to come back.

My political affiliations are open - I hold no party affiliations. As a Christian, I feel that I cannot hold loyalty to one party over another. Blind loyalty would only allow me to support both good and bad decisions. Therefore, when a politician makes a decision I feel is appropriate, I will give him or her credit. In the same way, if that same politician makes a decision I feel is inappropriate, I feel it is my job to do my part to call him or her out on it. True, my voice isn't always heard, but still, in a free nation, I refuse to be drawn into political partisanship. 

As cities in Iraq fall to the ISIS militia, I continually hear these calls for war or for ignoring the situation. Both calls are equally disturbing to me for a few reasons. First, we cannot just ignore the situation because there are innocent Iraqi lives at stake. There are Iraqis who have absolutely nothing to do with war, violence, or any such matter. They go about their days, trying to do the best they can, make the best lives for their families, and then such a tragedy happens.  Second, while no one can assume to know "what if" questions, I still assume that the lies that led to the Iraqi invasion by the US and allies ultimately led to this insurgency. It's no secret that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction. Yes, Saddam Hussein was tyrannical. Yes, he was dictatorial. Yes, he was oppressive. But there were diplomatic ways to deal with him. He was contained. There was no threat of a "mushroom cloud." 

When we hear calls of war or complete ignoring of the facts on the ground, we are entered into a false dichotomy. War and Pacifism are two ways. War says we must fight with violence. Pacifism says we cannot be violent - and one very strong brand of pacifism says that the world will be more violent because we are pacifists - but that is what God wants from us - to expose the forces of evil.  There is, however a third way.  I believe it is fully in line with the teachings of Jesus - especially the Sermon on the Mount. 

We are called to be Peacemakers. We are not just called to be peace livers or peaceful. We are Peacemakers. Notice that this is an active stance.  But what does it mean? It's not clearly defined in the Sermon on the Mount. However, in the entire ministry of Jesus, Peacemaking is demonstrated. 

For each of us, how to be a peacemaker is different. We all have different talents and gifts. We can't all go to Iraq and negotiate or make contacts. In fact, for some of us, that may be detrimental to peace. There are people with whom I can make peace and people with whom I clash. That is part of being human. If I clash, that means it is for someone else to go in my place to make peace. We all have some peacemaking gift. We can write, we can paint, we can reach out to our neighbors, we can discuss, we can open our homes and our lives to new people and experiences, we can sing, we can advocate. These are just some ideas. In other words - I can't list every peacemaking opportunity. When you act, ask yourself, does it bring peace? 

None of us will have THE answer. But all of us will have part of the answer. The problems are caused by humans, and through human to human contact, we can begin to solve them. Yes, even in areas of war! Our governments have made ordinary citizens feel insignificant and useless. They are lying to us. They would not be in power if it weren't for us. Governments are not our protectors. We are their protectors. If we stopped paying taxes, government would cease to exist. So do not believe their lies. Please note I am NOT advocating a revolution. That is against peacemaking. I am advocating the fact that we have the power we have been told we don't have.

True, we most likely cannot negotiate with ISIS. But we can pressure our government to do so. We can tell our government that we want peace. We can elect peacemaking officials. We can run as peacemaking officials. 

Peace is not a sign of weakness. It is the ultimate sign of strength! To coexist with another is to show God's love. To destroy another is to destroy God's creation. Peace takes time. But Peace is not passive. It doesn't just happen. We have to make peace - not just expect it to happen. We all have a calling in this. Some of us are called locally, some of us are called globally, but all of us are called! 

Out of My Hands

There are sometimes when things are out of our hands. Tonight is one of those times for me. I've been working on a major writing project. It began as a thesis for an independent study at Duke Divinity School. It turned into a project I hoped for publication.

Tonight I turned it into a group to look it over and give me their thoughts. It deals with the Rwandan Regime and their atrocities. It is the culmination of the work I've done so far and the work others have inspired me to do.

To be honest, I am not looking for any serious personal "gain" in this work. The only "gain" I would like is to be credited for writing this and have it distributed. I hope that it would do some good, though I realize it takes more people than just a few of us to do God's Work. The only reason I want credit is because in our day and age, any future writing projects depend upon the author's credibility and past record.

I am not called to be an author - I am a pastor, but I am a pastor who writes. This is my outlet where I can say things I have difficulty putting into speech. Writing is not a career for me - it is a hobby and even a necessity. I have no desire to become famous, though I would like to be authoritative enough to be taken seriously - not for myself, but for the issues and people I write. Sadly, it is often determined by the person who writes - not the issue at hand. Maybe this is my step into the "published" world - no matter how small.

Whatever happens, I trust God has a plan and hopefully the people of Rwanda and the Congo will be helped no matter how small it may be. It is time to pull our resources together and work together.

"Dirt" - Reflections of Current Events

The pictures above are from my visit in May 2014 to Zimbabwe. They were taken near the city of Nyanga, just on the outskirts. The carvings are handmade soapstone carvings. The artists pictured above go to the fields and find the soapstone. Using files and chisels, they tediously make these amazing pieces of art.

Stone is nothing more and nothing less than "dirt." It is dirt that has gone through a geological process that I am not qualified to explain, but if you break down stone to its very raw material - you find dirt. The same can be said about the humans who made these amazing carvings. If the human body is broken down into its chemical components, much of the body is made of carbon - the foundation of dirt.

When God made the first human, God took the "adamah" (earth - dust - dirt), breathed life into it, and made "adam" (Adam, human, man, mankind). We are all at our physical cores; dirt. We are special dirt! We are dirt with life.  Maybe, the next time someone thinks they are insulting me by calling me a "piece of dirt," I should say, "Thank you! God made me like that!"

I've been reading a book edited by Robert Ellsberg that is a collection of Dorothy Day's writings entitled, Dorothy Day: Selected Writings. Generally, I am quite a fast reader, and these writings are short, but each is packed with so much that I am taking well over a month now, and I haven't even made it through the first 100 pages. There is so much to digest. It is not difficult reading, but it is like devotional reading.

Dorothy Day, along with Peter Maurin, was the founder of the Catholic Worker Movement. During the Great Depression and the years following, Day worked for social justice through the lens of Christian faith. She lived and worked as Jesus literally taught. She lived with the needy, she worked with the poor, she gave up everything and followed Christ. The Catholic Worker Movement is probably a "Marketing Disaster," but a "Religious Miracle." There is very little organization, but yet this movement has impacted and aided countless people. Day believed in "living a life that wouldn't make sense if God didn't exist." That is evident in the Catholic Worker Movement, even to this day. If God didn't exist, this movement would have toppled long ago! There is no formal hierarchy nor formal budget. Each group exists independently yet is connectional. The Movement prints a newspaper yet maintains no computerized mailing list. There is no fundraising scheme except to ask for donations on occasion.

Dorothy Day just may be the model of the type of witness we need in the world today. She wasn't afraid to get dirty. At the same time, she worked to make the world clean while still seeing the beauty of the dirt. She didn't pass the obligation of bettering the world to someone else or to a large organization, but she took the burden onto herself. Yes, she got frustrated - she writes about it often! But she knew that she shared Christ's pain - and she was also a cause of Christ's suffering as we all are.

In Zimbabwe, I met some of the most friendly people I have ever met in my life! I hesitate to say, "friendly" because I felt more like family! I would dare say that they would say the same thing about me. I went as a stranger and left as family. Zimbabwe has been in my heart for many years - ever since the day my wife and I met a couple who went to our church in the US who had moved from Zimbabwe. I began researching and learning about the country that very day. Zimbabwe will always be in my heart, and I know that one day - and most likely several times - I will return!

I don't want to overemphasize any suffering in Zimbabwe because I don't want to project a negative image of a beautiful country! Zimbabwe is modern, safe (safer than the USA!), and beautiful. However global politics play into the everyday lives of the people. Whatever the world and the Zimbabwean government think of each other, the innocent people are the ones who are hurt when rich global politicians make their decisions. "The dirt suffers when land developers decide to pollute."

People in Zimbabwe are very resilient and strong. God has blessed their faithfulness. I didn't see anyone going without basic needs - though obviously, I did not see all people. I'm sure that there are many who are suffering just as there are many suffering in every nation. People were self-reliant and could rely on family and neighbor.

Global politics hand them a disgusting hand when it comes to what people should have. Most hospitals lack basic supplies. Schools cannot get enough books or paper. Money (the actual paper currency) is in shortage.  Why? Because the "clean" of this world is afraid of the "dirt." Income inequality is real! This is not income inequality of 1 person driving a limo and another driving a 2nd hand car. This is income inequality of limo vs. bare feet.

Why does the discussion of "income inequality" make so many so nervous? Because those who control what we watch on TV, listen to on the radio, read in magazines, see on the internet, and so forth - Those people hold the vast majority of the wealth. There is nothing wrong with working hard and being rich. This, however is not working hard. This is legal thievery and legal slavery. The governments of this world (in the vast majority of cases) are run by people so disconnected from the dust of the earth that they would deny water to the garden so they can fill their Olympic sized swimming pool. The only word for this is "greed."

Of course, this isn't limited to Zimbabwe. We see this in the USA - Why are inner city children dying of shootings and dropping out of school, at such a high rate? One or two success stories does not make this reality null and void. People can break free from this evil, but to do so is extremely difficult.

We see the evils of power. Just yesterday (June 9, 2014), there was a report that 302 Rwandan Forces entered Kinshasa, DRC "secretly" under the invitation of DRC President Joseph Kabila. Why? That is a good question, but power seems to be a possible answer. He wants to have a 3rd illegal term as the Rwandan/US/UK Puppet President. Is Rwandan President Paul Kagame involved? If this is true, most likely he is pulling the strings. How is the US involved? Right now, the US is publicly saying that Kabila should not have a 3rd term. Privately, the US is most likely continuing to rape and pillage the minerals of the DRC with Kabila's tacit support through corporations or 3rd parties.

I could point out the evils of this world all day, but anyone with eyes already sees them. But we CAN do something about them. What we can do involves getting dirty. But we cannot be afraid - we are already dirt! God has called each of us in the Gospel to follow Christ. This is not complicated. Love God and Love Others. That is what we can do.

The answer is Love. Love is active - not passive. Love requires action and doing. How each of us love is different. Dorothy day loved by forming the Catholic Worker Movement that fed and housed countless (and continues today after her death). Love requires us to give ourselves - not as a sacrifice that destroys us, but because we can't imagine doing otherwise. Love requires us to give and to receive.

On giving and receiving - In closing - While I was in Zimbabwe, I met 2 orphan girls who were sisters. 1 was 13, the other was 8. They are being taken care of by a church, but they still need help. I'm trying to find a way to give to them - distance and communication is an issue. But while I was there, we spent time together, talked, and I gave them some money. They also gave back to me. They were on their lunch break, and had to go back to school. The 13 year old had to be back sooner, and she gave me a hug and left. The 8 year old did the same. I thought the 8 year old was gone, but 5 minutes later she was back. She had a few more minutes to be back to school. She didn't want to be rude or to beg, but I knew what she wanted. I had some candy and she wanted more. I took a handful and gave it to her. Her eyes shined. She gave me the biggest hug! I think I received more that day than she did.

Was the world changed? I think it was.

Blog Update (June 4, 2014)

Dear Readers,

It's been quite a while since I've posted.

First of all, let me express my thanks for so many followers and readers! I receive a high number of site-hits per day, and for that, I thank you all!

I have several works in process right now, and they should be available in the coming days and weeks.

The first will be concerning a recent trip I made to Zimbabwe. Words cannot adequately express the honor I had to visit these wonderful people and this wonderful nation! You can enter Zimbabwe as a visitor, but you leave as family. I have so much to discuss, and I'm currently organizing this by themes.

I'm also working on a work that I hope will be published for print. I'm in the last stages of editing, and it should be ready within a month. This work is a history and theology concerning the Kagame regime of Rwanda. I'm in contact with human rights groups who may possibly be able to use this in their work. The time is now for everyone to band together as citizens of the world and Children of God! We must put our own self-interests aside and work for the greater good.

Updates may be slow for a few weeks as there are some pressing issues in my "day job" as well. All is well, but after some time, things will be settled again and I will be resuming regular updates and writing. Such is the life of a pastor.

Thank you for your patience and your support!

God Bless You!
Tom

Myth of Mental Strength and Weakness

Just the other day, a post came onto my Facebook newsfeed. It was from an organization that partners with the church to help foster strong and positive leadership.  I won’t mention the name of the organization, nor will I give the exact details of the message they were promoting, but what I saw caused me to have some concern…and some anxiety!

Now, let me be the first to say that this organization is extremely beneficial! This organization did not post this article to cause anyone anxiety – in fact – their point was to promote ways to avoid feelings of mental weakness. I believe that is very good thing to do – to help others to overcome what holds them back. But, I have some concerns about the way these points were presented.

First of all, I have issues with the terms “strength” or “weakness” being used with someone’s mental state. I have more trouble when that is promoted from within church culture. I will assume that this article is NOT discussing mental illness – a very serious and very real problem that can only be handled through medical and/or professional counselor intervention. What makes a person mentally “strong,” or mentally “weak?”  As humans, are we all at one point on the graph-o-meter of “weakness to strength?” No, we are constantly in flux. Our day changes, second by second. It’s impossible to have the same “strength” for an extended period of time.

Compare mental strength to physical strength. Even those who are in the best physical shape have their “good days” and their “bad days.” To complicate matters, what is a “bad day” to someone may be someone else’s “best day” if we are talking about physical strength.  If we only use ourselves as our own comparison, we see that our strength changes throughout the day – it never stays the same. Try this experiment: Take 2 cans of soup or veggies. Hold them straight out away from your body (like you are making a letter “t”). You’ll see soon enough that what started out as easy will end in exhaustion if you hold them as long as you can.

The second aspect that bothered me was the absolutist language. “People who are mentally strong don’t…”  Well, that’s just plain untrue. Life is not a dichotomy of dos and don’ts.  People don’t fit neatly into categories. We are human. The “strong” person today may be the person needing help tomorrow.

Third, I was plain upset that this article allowed no room for grieving, lament, fear, or feelings of being cheated.  Why is a person considered “weak” for grieving over the anniversary of a loved one’s death, though that death may have happened years ago? Is that weakness, or is that love? Why is a person considered “when” change is coming faster than he or she can process it and he or she feels fear? We can both embrace and fear change. We don’t have to pick one feeling over the other. Why is a person “weak” who laments the things of the past? The last time I checked my Bible, there is a whole Book called Lamentations. And it’s dedicated (basically) to lamenting over a temple. I’m not trying to trivialize the Temple, but rather to say that people lament – Get over it! Quit making them feel guilty!

So, what is the solution? The article did present very good points. I can’t argue with the basic overall points of the article, except to say that it is unrealistic to expect anyone who is being honest to feel those ways all the time. It is possibly damaging to those who are struggling because this article alienates those among us who are feeling “weak.” 

I would suggest the following as a solution:  First of all, rather than using absolutist language, change it to language that suggests patterns of “strong” people. For example, “Strong people usually…” Second, I would make sure to distinguish between “weakness” and Mental Illness (including, but not limited to depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, phobias, and so forth). I would make sure to point out that Mental Illness is real and requires professional help and there is no shame in seeking that help!  Fourth, I would suggest that there be resources for “strength.”  What I got from this article is that I am a “weak” person.  That is not true! Given what I have gone through and what I am currently dealing with, I am very strong! I am having to rely on my support system more than usual. But that’s what a support system is intended for. This article should have suggested the use of a support system and how to form one – friends, family, doctors, clergy, etc. Finally, I would suggest that the article be clear that all people go through “ups and downs” in life. This is normal and to be expected! If Jesus experienced it, why should we feel immune?

Self-help is a good and beneficial tool, but it is just that – a tool. When self-help is portrayed as an “absolute,” it becomes problematic. God put us in this world to be in community. We are to rely on one another and we are to rely on God. We have feelings. Yes, negative feelings can be destructive, but we still have them. We can’t just erase them. We can learn to deal with them, and we can learn to minimize their damage to our lives.  We can’t, however, always be a “strong” or “weak” person. We will always be on the sliding scale between the two. This is why we need God’s help and the help of our community and support system to help us in life’s journey.

Poem in Memory of the Rwandan Genocide

Where was God on those days defined by maniacal violence?

            I was being slaughtered by my neighbor

The political words of humans give false meaning to the worth of the death of a human

            War Genocide Murder Eradication Conquest

Dead is Dead

            Mourning is Mourning

Blessed are those who mourn the Savior said so many years ago

            But those words ring eternal today

The Savior Lives and so do the memories forever etched in the brains of the victims

            Victims of a people gone mad with the taste of blood

            Victims of an army gone mad with the taste of power

            All victims yearning that somewhere in the sea of death would be life

Lies do not bring life

            Lies are death - Lies are Babylon

Cry Weep Wail

            A voice is heard in Ramah – Rachel still weeps for her children

            Will she ever know solace? Will she ever know justice? Will she ever know peace?

Sing Songs of Praise

            These bones will live again

            They will join together to form a new body – a new hope

Resist the evil that is among us

            Do not give it power – Do not give it authority

Tell the truth

            Or the Truth will tell itself

Our God will not be mocked said the prophets of old

            Our God will not be mocked say the prophets of today