Earth Day 2010: ship of fools

This song was released the year I graduated from High School. I loved the band World Party back then. In honor of Earth Day I thought I would play the video below, give it a listen, I think there is a message embedded in the lyrics ... not from outer space or anything like that ... tell me what you think.

... Father, thank You for proving a place for us to live. We ask that You guide us and teach us Your ways. Even the Earth in its current form will not exist forever, but long after the pain of this life has subsided, You will still be loving us. Send Your son quickly Father, In Jesus name we pray ...

American Made

A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave. - Mohandas Gandhi

Twelve years ago in Nashville, Tennessee, I listened to an elderly African American woman, a guest lecturer from predominately black Fisk University, speak about America at predominately white Belmont University.

Her invitation to speak was significant because it was the first year Belmont relented and agreed to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

I’ve forgotten the woman’s name, but one thing she said changed my worldview, profoundly.

She stepped onto the speaker’s platform, grabbed the corners of the podium, and from behind her bifocals slowly surveyed the students from both universities ... then she said: "African American history is American history … "

In the context of the rest of her speech, she was saying that all Americans, white Americans, too, have a claim on the Civil Rights movement.

What she said meant I could listen to Martin Luther King, Jr. speeches with pride and not with a slight tinge of shame. It meant I could resist the urge to be defensive. It ultimately meant I had an alternate heritage I could claim, if I chose.

The Civil Rights movement was not a movement for African American rights. It was a movement for Human Rights. And we are all human, right?

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It is well known that Dr. King predicted his death shortly before his assassination.

Below, listen to an excerpt from his last speech, listen to how he talks about his Creator, look at his eyes, look at how he collapses in his chair at the end of the speech.

What you will see is American history, it is our history, it is your history, too.

Solitary Man

The world is full of empty promises. Lust is ultimately the opposite of faith. We need each other, we are part of the puzzle, but we will learn to love each other only after we learn to surrender to the love of Jesus Christ ...

Emmanuel

Father... How much You love us. Guide our spirits, our hearts, our minds this Christmas. You are our God and we praise You. Thank You for the gift of Your son. In Jesus name we pray...

Veterans Day 2009 - Scouts Out...

To my Cav Brothers. Happy Veterans Day. Especially to Abercrombie and Spoon. We are praying and waiting for you... One Shot, One Kill...