I Voted... I Cried

Early voting began in Houston, Texas last week, and over the past few days I have received text messages from an assortment of friends and acquaintances who have my cell phone number (about 2,400 folks have that number) with messages celebrating their vote like “I Voted” and many more versions. The one message that struck me the most was the one that came to me via a text message a few days ago saying “I voted…I Cried.” I thought for a moment that I have never in my entire life connected the act of voting with the response of tears. But these are not normal times. I reflected on what must have triggered such an emotional response, I imagined the voting booth and what must have gone through my friend’s mind the moment the ballot was cast but I still thought to my self “what an extreme emotional response for such a routine act.”  It was time for my own experience on Sunday afternoon so I stopped at an early voting place in my neighborhood, got in a line of voters about a quarter mile long, inched along for about an hour, walked through the certification process, step up to the new fangled voting booth and scrolled through the long list of candidates and pressed the big red button marked “cast”. I voted… then I cried.

I cried as I reflected on the sacrifices made by countless men and women of all races for the right to vote in America. A right that came to pass in spite of barking dogs, water hoses, nightsticks and armed militias.   

I cried as I recalled the murder of voting-rights activists in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and the unprovoked attack on March 7, 1965, by state troopers on peaceful marchers crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama that ultimately led to the Voting Rights Act.

I cried as I remembered my Auntie Mae Mae’s commitment to the right to vote as she and her friends stood on street corners campaigning for their candidate of choice ultimately managing elections at “colored only” polling places under the close scrutiny of poll watchers.

I cried as I thought about the power my mother most have experienced in the old days when the thick heavy curtain of vintage voting booths closed around her, protecting her privacy as she picked me up allowing me to turn the levers for her candidates of choice giving me my first glimpse of what freedom really meant in America.

I cried some more as I reflected on a recent phone call from my two daughters who shared their youthful enthusiasm regarding participating in this years election.

And finally, I cried because my dad loved the political process but died four years ago on the 4^th of July before having an opportunity see, discuss, experience, debate, curse, complain, and vote in this years monumental election.    

I had an experience with inequality when I was nine years old that left a large scar on my spirit until now. On last Sunday I voted and that scar began to heal.  

What Do Words Really Mean? (Starbucks)

I love the Small is Tall video which I found on You tube. Its a wonderful satirical commentary on Starbucks and its ability to get people to conform to what in effect is nonsense when it comes to ordering. Why do people willingly let their brains stop working when they make their orders? Here is an effort to make sense of it all.

First, people like to feel special. Knowing the secret language makes you feel superior. I remember the first time I went into Starbucks and I felt like an idiot because the lingo didn't make any sense. Tall is small, Grande is medium, and so on. I've ordered a large so I don't know the right spelling of V........ But once you "get it" you can become a real Starbucks officianto by ordering a Grande Chai on the Rocks with No-Fat.

Second, people like to be seen as individuals who have their own style. Thus, Starbucks lets you create your own concoction of flavors that uniquely becomes your own. I remember a story of a customer who broke out into a fight with a Barista (that's right, isn't it!) because the Barista kept playing with the order of her ingredients. When the woman asked for a Mocha Green Tea with Honey the Barista said something like Green Tea Mocha with Honey. The woman couldn't stand it. Someone was messing with her identity!

Third, the language and decor of Starbucks makes you feel affluent. Even if you're down to your last 5 bucks, you can be one of the club as you settle down in a plush chair with your latte'. In our consumer driven culture, the pursuit of affluence on the cheap in vogue.

Of course, Starbucks is now showing some signs of strain as it prepares to close a number of stores around the country and as it says it needs to get back to its core business of providing a great coffee experience. In March the company reported a loss of 28% compared to sales of the previous year. Much of the blame can be placed on the downturn of the economy as people look for ways to save.

Much of Starbucks' success is because they create a distinct alternative in the community. They also have marketed themselves as the Third Place, where people gather outside of work and the home.

The challenge for leaders of churches is how do we create spiritual alternatives that stand the test of time while at the some time connecting to people in our culture? Are we creating places where people find their identity in Christ? Does our language make sense? Do we speak in a way that both communicates the truth of the gospel and gives people room to mature in knowledge, practice, and faith?

So next time your at Starbucks ordering your fancy drink remember that you are special because of who God has made you to be!!!

Dinner With Brian

A couple of weeks ago, our L3 Leadership Incubator was meeting in Baltimore when one of our members invited a surprise guest to our dinner table, Brian Mclaren, one the foremost writers and thinkers about contemporary spirituality and the church. In the midst of our conversation he made this rather generous and hopeful remark: "United Methodists have the theology and message that best connects to today's culture." These words have reverberated in my mind since then and it connected with one of the reasons why I wrote 7 Myths of the United Methodist Church along with the many contributors to the book. So picking up on the theme here are a couple of supporting comments:


1. Wesley fought against the concept of pre-destination and embraced free will -- that God instilled in us the ability to say yes or no to faith in Jesus Christ. This is a message that invites searchers for spiritual truth a reason to hear the message of Jesus Christ. It also leaves room for doubt and in turn a desire to go deeper in faith and commitment. If you are born saved or unsaved what reason do you have to pursue a relationship with Jesus? If you have no choice in the matter, just get baptized and hope it sticks. But if you have choice, then all the more reason to seek God and discover the grace of Jesus that forgives and gives life for eternity.


2. The vision of the early Methodist to see personal piety and social justice as two sides of the same coin. As major companies like Starbucks promote a desire to change the world, United Methodists do so at a level that can sustain change. Faith in Jesus and the using of one's spiritual gifts for the greater good is the fuel for transformation.


3. The United Methodist Church is the largest denomination to ordain women. This is one that separates us from Baptists, Roman Catholics, and many other denominations. In a time where women are now leaders in many different fields, its hard for the greater culture to understand why women are not good enough or holy enough or capable enough to pastor and lead congregations. As a denomination we have pretty much answered that question as women are found in all places of leadership throughout the church.

4. The recovery of the spiritual disciplines as a way to shape faith and values. Brian McLaren in his new book, Finding Our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practices challenges Christians to move away from a belief centered faith to a spiritual practice centered life. Everyone can profess a number of beliefs, the issue is whether anyone can discern you live a Godly life because of them. (see my review on Amazon of McLaren's book -- see link below) As United Methodists we have a long tradition of this -- The Upper Room Magazine has been consistent guide for daily devotions for years and resources like Disciple Bible Study and Companions in Christ have challenged people in our congregations to go deeper in their connection to God and each other.

Why we are far from perfect, and most of us have a great way to go in these areas, by embracing our historic values we find a message that connects to today's world.


I invite you to consider these questions as well: Does being a United Methodist make a difference for you? What about its approach to faith and spirituality attracts and challenges you? Be sure to comment below and share your thoughts on this important topic.


Link to Mclaren's new book: (click customer comments to find the review)
http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Our-Way-Again-Practices/dp/0849901146/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211634131&sr=8-2

Hey team I am TDMaverick!

Tyrone

United Methodists at a Tipping Point

As United Methodist leaders gather in Fort Worth, Texas for the 2008 General Conference they will focus on a number of key issues related to the ongoing vitality of the denomination. While the number of United Methodists has grown outside the United States, the U.S. Church has continued to decline in numbers. In a paradoxical way, this ongoing loss of members is bringing leaders to a critical juncture in the life of the largest of the mainline denominations with just under 8 million members and over 34,000 local churches in the United States. In order to connect with a younger, more diverse population it will need to have a major focus on starting new churches and revitalizing existing congregations.


If you already have thousands of churches, why would you need more? Because the population of the United States will grow by over 100 million people by 2050 and without new churches the UMC will not have an opportunity to offer ministry to a population that increasingly lives in urban America.


In 7 Myths of the United Methodist Church, I point out that in the best-selling book, The Tipping Point, the strategy of the John Wesley is highlighted. Wesley realized that in order for people to grow in faith and practice as followers of Jesus Christ you have to create a community around them that would nurture them and encourage them in their faith journey. Because of his strategy the Methodist movement exploded in the 1780s from 29 thousand to 90 thousand in the course of six years. This principle holds true today. Whether we are talking about Christian discipleship or educating our young people, without a community of people who care individuals easily get lost in our rapidly changing society.
The UMC is at another tipping point in its history. While it is still strong and has great resources, by focusing on sharing the gospel to new generations of people both in the United States and around the world, it can create communities where individuals can flourish and mature in faith. A choice for the future means focusing our efforts in a way that creates new faith communities that embrace newcomers with the grace and love of Jesus Christ.



For additional resources go to http://www.gbod.org/7myths

Nothing but nets

This summer I stumbled upon the "nothing but Net's" campaign to deal with the challenge of Malaria in the world.

The UMC is a partner....

So my church sold the shirts "Buzzkill" and we encouraged offerings, and sent over $6000.00 to the Nothing but nets fund. Then other than wearing our shirts... we kinda forgot about it.

then...last week the washington post and new york times both ran articles stating:

“We saw a very drastic impact,” said Dr. Arata Kochi, chief of malaria for the W.H.O. “If this is done everywhere, we can reduce the disease burden 80 to 85 percent in most African countries within five years.”

The report was done by a team from the World Health Organization for the Global Fund, the chief financing agency for combating malaria. It looked at programs in four countries that tried to distribute mosquito nets to the families of every child under 5, and medicines containing artemisinin to every public clinic.

In Ethiopia, deaths of children from malaria dropped more than 50 percent. In Rwanda, they dropped more than 60 percent in only two months.

Zambia, Dr. Kochi said, had only about a 33 percent drop in overall deaths because nets ran short and many districts ran out of medicine. But those areas without such problems had 50 to 60 percent reductions, he said.

Ghana was a bit of a mystery, according to the report. It got little money from the Global Fund, Dr. Kochi said, and so bought few nets and had to charge patients for drugs. Malaria deaths nonetheless fell 34 percent, but deaths among children for other reasons dropped 42 percent.

Rwanda, a small country that handed out three million nets in two months in 2006, had 66 percent fewer child malaria deaths in 2007 than in 2005.

Ethiopia, much larger, took almost two years to hand out 20 million nets; it cut deaths of children in half.

God uses us little by little around the world to make differences.... amazing...less than 6 months after we gave...God continued to do a miracle...amazing...

Duane

A movement is grass roots...the good news! That means that life can be brought to our systems on the cellular (local) level. I'm most interested in what is happening in the local churches...where are there signs of new life? What are they looking like? Where is Jesus showing up in the unexpected places?
Dottie