Teaching the Truth About America's History: Only the Truth Can Make Us Free | Marian Wright Edelman

Powerful article on the importance of teaching a history that is going to bring truthful information to our children and to our people. Do not let those who want only to focus on the positive, and triumphalistic aspects of our history to high-jack our right to know and understand the truth about OUR history. As you know history is a complex compilation of our past experiences and the drama of the lives that lived through it. Read and share.

Teaching the Truth About America's History: Only the Truth Can Make Us Free | Marian Wright Edelman

Prayer warrior message no. 4 - valentin.castanon@gmail.com - Gmail

At my current appointment in Frederick, MD, we are having our stewardship campaign using a new resource prepared by Jim Harnish. As part of that program we have a team of folks leading our church in prayer as we study Wesley's use of money: Earn. Save. Give. Here is the meditation #4. Enjoy it!



Dear Prayer Warriors



Thank you for your continuing prayers for our Trinity's Annual Commitment to Ministry.  I am invigorated with the thought of our prayers ascending daily to God's attention. We know he hears and ANSWERS prayers.  A successful campaign will be so exciting.  So keep those daily prayers coming.



The topic-- EARN, SAVE, GIVE-- from John Wesley's sermon ("The Use Of Money") is the focus of the campaign for the month of October. His sermon focused on wise management of money and putting it to the best, most Christian use.   Peter Storey said, "By far the most important element of Wesley's engagement with social issues was his development of a Gospel-shaped behavior toward money and riches that was predicated on his commitment to the poor."  The wisdom involved in managing money was a strong emphasis for those early Methodists and provides us a good example.  Harnish reminds us "How we use our money is no small matter.  It goes all the way to the heart of our relationship with God and our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ."



Prayer--Dear Lord, thank you for all the love and kindness you so abundantly bestow on us.  Help us to be good stewards of your bounty.  Open our hearts to the urgent needs of others.  Move us to provide for those needs through our campaign for the ministries.  Be with all those around the world in need of your help, the Christians, the refugees, the poor and sick everywhere.   Give us the loving and giving hearts you deserve. Help us to remember that through your love, you gave us your son to ensure our salvation.  In His name we pray.



"The prayer power has never been tried to its full capacity.  If we want to see mighty wonders of divine power and grace wrought in the place of weakness, failure and disappointment, let us answer God's standing challenge, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not!"

                                                                              J. Hudson Taylor



"In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"  Acts 20:35

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: U.S. Territories (HBO)

Excellent report from John Oliver about the reality of the colonial status of U.S. territories. Watch and share.

Welcome To Church

Great video about the impact of Churches around the world. We have done, as a church, some bad things but we have done some amazing things as a church as well. Like in most cases there are no simple one dimensional responses to complex and challenging questions in the human experience. Enjoy the video.

America's Changing Religious Landscape

This is a sobering report from the Pew Foundation about America's religious landscape. Indeed, looking at the stats in this report tells us something about the general attitude towards religious affiliations in the USA. Indeed, the Report shows that the "nones" are the largest group growing in America's "religious" landscape; meaning by that a group that feels no connection to any particular religion (including the growth of atheist). For those who are constantly decrying the loss of membership in the United Methodist Church, this report shows that we are not alone. This is not to say that lost of membership is not an important matter to address, but I believe that it is a phenomenon that needs to be address with more than gimmicks (i.e., flashy concert style contemporary worship, offering door prices for folks attending worship, the "I am ok, you are ok" type theology, cheap grace theology, etc.). The America's Changing Religious Landscape report I hope will challenge us to think deeper, to go beyond the surface, and really begin to look at ourselves and the challenges of a contemporary society that is not concern with our doctrines and religious ideologies. Reach and share with your colleagues.

Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050

It's been a while since I post anything on my blog so I decided to share some of the things that I have been reading, which I believe relate to the general topic on my blog. The article on this link will shed some light on the growth of different religious groups around the world if their present rate of growth (or decline) continues at its present rate. Check out the information and share with your friends and colleagues. Religious Composition by Country, 2010-2050

Enjoy the reading!

Race Matters

I think that this speech by Cornell West should heard and shared broadly. http://youtu.be/cRZcfEToN-A. Cornell West is one of the preeminent intellectuals in American society, he brings his profound intellectual acumen in the most simple and popular style. He speaks to the intellectuals in the audience, and to the common folk in the audience (I feel I am part of the later). He certainly makes the point on how race STILL matters in American society. Listen and share. You will not be disappointed. There is hope when people do what is necessary to change the world. Enjoy it!