NorCalUrban

I'm sitting in my office listening to the Democratic National Convention. Whatever the politics, I think it's truly amazing that today, 45 years to the day after MLK's "I Have A Dream Speech" we now have our first African American major party presidential candidate. In a big way, 'the Dream' is being fulfilled.  I cannot help but stop and recognize the significance of this event. It really brings hope to many of the people I love and serve. 

I enjoyed this post from the God's Politics blog. about Gold medal-winner Tommie Smith and bronze medal-winner John Carlos in the iconic image from the 1968 Olympics. Honestly, not know the back story, I didn't realize the faith connection and deeper implications of the athletes' actions. The post quotes MLK: "There are some who still find the cross a stumbling block, others consider it foolishness, but I am more convinced than ever before that it is the power of God unto social and individual salvation."

I always have about three books going at once, one devotional, one for work related issues and one for recreational reading. My recreational books usually are history, biographies or novels. I wish I could say I finish every book I start - but I think I do a pretty good job of completing them... Here's what I'm reading these days: "A Knock At Midnight" - A collection of sermons from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Truly inspiring work. Go and buy this now... "The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy" by Rick Atkinson. A great historical account of the battles in Sicily and Italy. I'm especially intrigued by the generals Eisenhower, Patton and Montgomery. How dysfunctional they were but still did amazing feats. "Class Matters" by various New York Times correspondents. This is a truly fascinating book speaking to the issues of poverty and class differences in America. Is the 'new' racism and segregation based on class? Does cla...

If the church does not recapture it's prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority. If the church does not participate actively in the struggle for peace and for economic and racial justice, it will forfeit the loyalty of millions and cause men everywhere to say that it has atrophied it's will. But if the church will free itself from the shackles of a deadening status quo and, recovering its great historic mission, will speak and act fearlessly and insistently in terms of justice and peace, it will enkindle the imagination of mankind and fire the souls of men, imbuing them with a glowing and ardent love for truth, justice and peace. Men far and near will know the church as a great fellowship of love that provides light and bread for lonely travelers at midnight. - Excerpt from Dr. Martin Luther King's sermon, 'A Knock at Midnight'. I truly love the Church. My heart resonates with what Dr. King says here. I truly beli...

CDI presents “The Other America,” a film by Allen Willis of Dr. King’s April 1967 speech at Stanford. Discussion to be facilitated by Brandon A. Smith of the Martin Luther King Jr. Research & Education Institute, Stanford University. A discussion of how our own economic success as a diverse and growing community is integral to building a sustainable and economically just community as envisioned by Dr. King. Thursday, June 28, 2007, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Faith Baptist Church, 835 Runnymede, East Palo Alto