Serving through work: a christian perspective on labor day
Knowing Freedom, Part 2: The Pursuit of happiness
“What makes you happy, Samuel?” That’s the question I asked my autistic 19-year-old son. “Happy!” he replies. I ask again, “Son, what makes you happy?” “Happy! Yes, happy please!” That’s a typical experience in the Melvin household.
The Inconvenient Truth About Juneteenth
The inconvenient truth about Juneteenth is that Juneteenth is inconvenient. At least, that’s what it seems like. If you’re an employer, you’ve got to consider the effects of a “lost” day of employee productivity and its effect to the bottom line. Since Father’s Day ranks 34th on a recent list of holiday popularity in the U.S., who wants to to further push us Dear-Old-Dads down the list? And then there are those who see this whole “Juneteenth thing” as a political stunt, or something irrelevant to them since they don’t even know what it is or why anybody would care about it anyways. Juneteenth is simply inconvenient, especially when you have other interests or priorities.
Knowing freedom, part 1: life & liberty (juneteenth)
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
paternal instincts (Father’s Day)
John and Carol go to a nice restaurant to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. As soon as they’re seated, Carol heads to the restroom. The waiter comes over while she’s away to see if they’d like to start with an appetizer or drinks. John goes ahead and orders both of their meals. He figures that after 30 years…
Remembering vs. not forgetting
The earliest Memorial Day observations were done by emancipated slaves. What’s the difference between remembering, and not forgetting? That’s the question I started asking myself as I thought about Memorial Day. I forget an awful lot of things. For example: usernames and passwords. Ever forget either of these (don’t say you forget both) to a commonly used website or app? How many times have you tried to change your password as a result, only to realize you’ve already used that password and need to come up with another one? I hate it when that happens!
The need for patience
When it comes to cultivating unity, one aspect required is patience. Patience is the glue that holds unity together. We define patience as “the capacity to tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset (Oxford Dictionary). The first half of that definition seems bearable. It’s the second half of that definition that gives us heartburn.
The Need for humility
Racial unity is a noble pursuit, but it requires more than good intentions. It demands intentional actions and a willingness to learn. One essential quality that fosters unity is humility. Oxford Dictionary defines humility as “a modest view of one’s own importance.” Colossians 3:12 notes “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”
Am I willing to repent?
Racial unity is a powerful concept that transcends cultural boundaries and brings people together. As Christians, we are called to embrace unity and love one another, regardless of our backgrounds. Repentance is more than just saying, “I’m sorry.” It’s a profound change of heart and direction. We are called to repent—to turn away from sin and toward God.
am i willing to forgive?
Racial unity not only requires repentance, it also requires forgiveness. Forgiveness from a Christian standpoint requires us to extend grace and release others from their wrongs. No one says that it’s easy. But it is a necessary component required for unity to occur.
Forgiveness is a gift we receive and offer. Just as God forgave us through Christ, we are called to forgive others. It’s not about condoning wrongdoing but about releasing the burden of resentment. Colossians 3:13 reminds to “bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” It doesn’t mean that the person is innocent of the wrong done. It’s about releasing the burden of resentment that you, the offended, carry with you.
the need for submission
Unity within The Church, the Body of Christ, demands intentional willingness to submit to one another. The present day Church in many ways has struggled with this, especially in the area of racial unity. The apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians provides valuable insights on this topic. In Ephesians 5:21, he writes “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
service: a necessary component of racial unity
When we talk about Racial Unity in the Church, several traits are required. They include patience, submission, and even humility. But what about service? As Christians, we are called to love one another and actively serve in unity. We are called to “serve one another humbly in love (Galatians 5:13).”
sacrifice- a necessary component of racial unity
Racial unity requires more than mere words; it demands sacrificial actions. As Christians, we are called to follow Christ’s example of selflessness. Scripture tells us that Christ “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:2).” We are called to walk in the way of love just as He did.
president’s day and godly authority
On Monday, our nation will observe Presidents’ Day. This holiday gives us an opportunity to honor the role and office of President in our country. It also serves as an opportunity to reflect how we as Christians can pray for those who represent us as citizen servants in government matters.
seeing things through god’s eyes
Racial unity can occur when the Church begins to see things the way God does. Consider this passage from Isaiah 55:8:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Using Jesus As our example
Racial Unity happens when we follow Jesus, our ultimate example. His life, teachings, and sacrificial love provide a blueprint for how we should live.
In Matthew 22:16, the Pharisees were plotting against Jesus and were going to try to trap Him in his words. In an attempt to appease Jesus, they say to Him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.” Little did they know they were providing a blueprint for the present day Church.
The Holy Spirit Shows Us the truth
Jesus left us the Spirit of Truth (Holy Spirit) to lead and guide us into all truth (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit speaks under Christ’s authority. If racial unity is occur, we need the absolute truth. In an age of fake news, conspiracies, people living their own truth, alternate facts, and the questioning of reality, we need now more than ever the Holy Spirit to show us THE truth.
Do I love me more?
We are compelled by God to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:39). But what happens when we love ourselves more than we love others? This is a sign of pride. Regrettably, we find this in the Church, and this pride has impacted the racial divide we experience most Sunday mornings.
SITTING AT THE WRONG LUNCH TABLE
In her book Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria? (New York: Basic, 1997), psychologist Beverly Daniel Tatum discusses the concept of racial identity development. First published nearly 25 years ago, she sought to help readers understand the impact of historic and modern racism on the development of one’s identity. For the school aged, this was demonstrated by where you sat during lunch time. Because of historic segregation, discrimination, and cultural differences, it was common to find Black students sitting together at lunch time since they were commonly rejected by most of their White counterparts. I personally remember experiencing segregation then and now.
BUT WHY, GOD?
During the summer months, my church participates in a Bible reading series, and it was during this summer’s reading in the prophets that I came across the book of Jeremiah in a new light. Jeremiah (also known as the weeping prophet) was a prophet to the southern kingdom of Judah. He served in this role from the time of King Josiah through the time of King Zedekiah, serving over 40 years in that role. What’s very interesting about the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament is that it gives us a glimpse into the personal life struggles of the prophet Jeremiah.