Wow!

Luke 16:8 (New Century Version)
New Century Version (NCV)
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
8 So, the master praised the dishonest manager for being clever. Yes, worldly people are more clever with their own kind than spiritual people are

Over the past two days I saw 8 campaign workers for Barack Obama going door to door. Six were on my mail route and two were in my neighborhood. Out of the eight people, five were women and three were men. Six were white and two were black. Black people only account for 13% of the American population. If only Blacks voted for Obama he would have surely lost.

I have never seen someone from a presidential campaign have his representatives go door to door. So what does it mean? It means that Mr. Obama found a way to connect with people from all walks of life.

For my brothers and sisters of other races, please understand the minority perspective. I have had an elderly white woman clutch her purse as I walked across a grocery store parking lot. I have had a white Pastor justify and explain racism in America by calling it the result of the curse of Ham (which is false). I have seen the anger and frustration in my mother's face as she talked of white customers throwing change at her instead of handing it to her. I have been called nigger by a white classmate in high school. I have read racially insensitive email that was sent to my wife by "Christian friends." I along with other Blacks did not know if this day would ever come, considering the history and legacy of the USA.

So what is the lesson? If Blacks and Whites can unite and campaign for Obama, why can't we see unity in the Church among Blacks and Whites? Indeed it appears that the children of the world are wiser than the children of light.

Shame Shame Shame

Rick Warren made a very powerful statement. He said that nobody cares what you know, until they know that you care. So tell me, what went wrong? When did the Church become consumed with "keeping ourselves spotless from the world" to the point that we want no contact with people that are living without Christ? We are more concerned with our personal comfort than the needs of others. And yes I have been guilty of this myself. The picture above is a metaphor for the church. It is also reminiscent of the Good Samaritan. We will see a problem, but walk by it because we don't have time, we have another engagement, we are afraid of who will see us and what they will think, we think the person brought it on themselves, blah blah blah.
IF you call yourself a Christian, we don't have an option. There are so many people hurting in this world. We sing of God's love and praise him for his goodness to us. We testify as to how he has come through for us time after time. But we refuse to extend a hand of grace to a hurting soul because it is inconvenient. Have mercy Lord.

There is coming a day in which Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats. What is the deciding factor? Whether we help the hungry, the thirsty, the prisoner, the sick, those without clothes, and the stranger. Where do you stand?