Apr 28 2008
Holy Yoga Workshop
Title: Holy Yoga Workshop
Location: Mosaic Life meeeting space
Start Time: 09-00
Date: Postponed
End Time: 12-00—
Popularity: 7% [?]
Archive for April, 2008
Apr 28 2008
why race matters VII - credibilty, race and class
So here’s another set of reasons why we can’t ignore the issue of race if the church is to emerge into something other than refuge a disgruntled white intellectuals. There is a credibility gap in our society and it strains belief. Were it not for the history of race and class in this country it would be unbelievable.
- Last week a judge acquitted NYC police officers black and white people of power in the case of the shooting of a young man fifty times because they thought they were in danger. The witnesses (all black and some of whom were also shot) the judge said were not credible.
- Jeremiah Wright former pastor of Barack Obama’s church has been reviled and called everything from unpatriotic to a loon and even worse. This because he expressed a perspective of the black community on a national tragedy. Remember black folks died that day along with people of other races. While white pastors who support current presidential candidates express their extreme opinions without impunity.
- Hillary Clinton wins a primary based on the notion that she (who was raised with privilege and has been in the highest seat of power in this country) has more credibility with working class folks than a black man raised by a single parent who worked his way through college and passed up a big time law office for working with the very class of people he now has no credibility with.
The thing is that Jesus brought credibility to the incredible. He brought God’s credibility to a poor and oppressed. He brought God’s credibility to disenfranchised. He brought God’s credibility to those who were outside of the status quo. He brought God’s credibility to people on the margins. He brought God’s credibility to an pregnant young girl, a motley crew of twelve followers, an adulterous woman asking spiritual questions. He brought God’s credibility to all human beings by breaking down the barrier between us and calling us to reconcile to God and each other. His first followers though they stumbled initially followed his pattern (after being prompted more than once by the Holy Spirit.)
So how will the church today, the church emerging deal with the credibility gap? I am fast losing hope that the church emerging or has the guts to take on this critical issue. We will tackle gays rights, worship wars, poverty in other countries and gender equality but race and by virtue of our cultural reality class right here in the USA, not so much.
Check out this post on the EV blog
The church not speaking out strains its credibility but then this is the church which increasing has less and less credibility anyway.
Popularity: 8% [?]
Apr 04 2008
40 years
I got this today from someone is concerned as I am about how we continue to live Dr King’s dream
40 years and the church stands mute in acknowledging the assassination of Dr. King.
40 years and we bumble, stumble and mumble about appropriateness.
40 years and we continue to deny the pain and tragedy our nation suffered that day.
40 years and we still can’t talk about race with one another…’uncomfortable’ blankets a smoldering fire.
40 years and our children struggle to graduate from high school.
40 years and our children are judged as underachieving.
40 years and excellence is a theoretical concept.
40 years and we have yet to trust one another to love as Christ taught us.
40 years from now I’ll be gone from this earth.
So what will our grandchildren say about our legacy ?
Will they say again; Why did it take 40 more years ?
Time is forever marching, are we ?
Fronse Pellebon Smith
Check out fronse at
Fishing Without Poles ? see myspace.com/fronsewayne
Popularity: 7% [?]
Apr 04 2008
Remembering Dr King
Dyson Explores How MLK’s Death Changed America : NPR
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89344679
Friday marks the 40th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in Memphis, Tenn. Professor and author Michael Eric Dyson talks about his latest book, which examines how King’s death changed America.
Rev Dr. Mike Eric Dysin is an incredible social historian and theologian check out his talk on NPR about how Dr. King changed America
Popularity: 6% [?]
Apr 02 2008
yoga teacher training
So early last month I completed the training for yoga teacher certification at the Holy Yoga teacher training retreat (check out pictures) It was an awesome experience meeting and working with people of faith who are doing authentic yoga as Jesus followers. A great community and connection was cultivated and I really relished the teaching and spirit of Brooke Boone founder of Holy yoga and the inspiration, motivation, and encouragement of Dawn and Alisa the other teacher trainers. The daily meditation times led by Amy were awesome and brought incredible spiritual focus to the yoga practice that followed.
BTW I haven’t eaten so healthy in ages.
Now I am leading/teaching two yoga prayer practices at Mosaic Life church. Prayer flow (vinyasa) for those who really want to sweat on Mondays @ 5:45 and level 1 on Wednesdays @ 6:30
Popularity: 7% [?]
Apr 02 2008
cross blogging
So had a myspace page as well as my blog for a while now and then I added a facebook and flickr. I start to think this is getting a little out of hand. I have a hard enough time finding time to blog much less keep all these other social networking things going. So I have been experimenting with some applications/plugins that allow me to sync my blog with the social networking sites (currently facebook and flickr) So apologize in advance if things get a little chaotic or should I say chaordic. I’m still trying to figure out which apps work best.
In the meantime I’ve upgraded to the latest version on wordpress for the blog, tweaked the theme and plan on doing more blogging in the days ahead.
Popularity: 7% [?]
Apr 02 2008
The Police concert
OK if you think I’m talking about men and women in blue then you are dating me and you. But anyway I have got tickets to the police concert on May 11 at Van Andel Arena in GR and I am psyched!
I saw the police in concert at Madison Square Garden many many years ago. I bought a $25 ticket from a sclaper for $50 but it was a good seat and an awesome concert and well worth it.
Now I get to see them again on their reunion tour sweet!
Popularity: 5% [?]
Apr 02 2008
Hip hop Culture and the church
Several years ago I sat in a worship gathering with Sally Morganthaler as someone from the Ionia Community lead the gathered body in some “worship songs of diversity” from Africa. At one point Morganthaler asked me where is the hip hop music? The Anglo church including some of my friends in the emerging church and emergent conversation have been slow to embrace hip hop’s place in the church.
Baker Bookhouse is sponsoring a Hip Hop Culture Forum on April 24th and bringing some important people to the table talk about this very issue.
The next night will feature a great line up of Christian hip hip artists including
Local George Moss ( who will moderate the forum
T-Bone
Grits ( a favorite of my son and I)
and many more. This is something worth checking out
Popularity: 7% [?]
Apr 02 2008
why race matters the audacity of restoring hope
In many ways I have resisted commenting on the current presidential campaign. I’m not a US citizen so I don’t get a vote. I don’t want to be misinterpreted as often happens when people blog on politics. But in the light of all the recent hoopla about an African american pastor and presidential candidate Barack Obama, I feel compelled to comment. I never thought that in my lifetime a person much less a man of African descent would be able to viably run for the presidency. Black men or those who are classified as such are at the lowest end of the social totem when it comes to power in the US. This is the American post colonial story. So I did not dare think that a “black” man with a non anglo ( read non slave) name would be in a position to compete much lesss win the presedency of the United States of America. But for some reason I’m unable to quite fathom my hope has been restored.
Maybe I’m inspired by this words of this video that countless people have seen by now.
Maybe I’m convicted by the comments of one of the people interviewd in the movie SIcko that the way to “control the masses” is through fear and hopelessness, and if poeple have hope that they will move for change.
Maybe I’m just struck by the incredible double standard which discounts the way that legacy of slavery shaes the life of very person of African descent in America. thus causing the demonization of Rev. Jeremiah Wright while giving Pat Robertson and others who have made similar comments form seats of power a pass.
Myabe I’m convinced that the Jesus stated mission to hope to the hopeless is joined when we dare to hope for things not yet seen.
So I say yes I can hope again and hope that the church will too
Popularity: 4% [?]
