Is Racism Still Alive

   
The conversation is one I have heard before, but for some reason this conversation hit me much harder today than it ever has before. Sure, I have been around racism in one form or another my whole life and I even have to admit that I have seen skin color as important at times in my past. I had no hatred of those with a different skin color because you see I grew up with as many people of color around me as I did white people. The racism that struck me today hurt for several different reasons. The first reason being that my dad was the man I was speaking to and my son who happens to be black was in the back seat of the care as he spoke. Please do not misunderstand me, my dad is a great man, loving and caring. I know that he absolutely loves my son, but because he grew up in the deep south, I guess it is a natural thing for him to believe the way he does. It is also difficult because he is 85 and not a Christian and my ulterior motive at this time is to see him come to be a child of God and not spend our final days arguing over something that only God can change about him.  It is also difficult to discuss with him and others like him because it is a type of soft racism. There are no bad words thrown around, just insinuation and prejudice.

      I write this blog today because as I listened to this man talk, this man whom I love so dearly, this man who worked so tirelessly to put food on the table, this man whom I knew would step in front of a bullet and give his life for me or any of the other 9 children in our house who was saying these hurtful things. I knew if this man could believe like this anyone could. I soon realized, no matter how I prepared my son there would be men like my father there to judge him based on the color of his skin before he had a chance to prove himself. I have always heard that if your child is of color you should prepare them for a world that is afraid of color. I guess today it just hit home. The hardest part of all is that it was my own father that brought the truth home.
   
     So this leads me to my original question. Is racism still alive? Or is it just dying a slow death and won't go away quietly? Am I doing my part in ending what is left of this nasty disease that has plagued not only this nation, but also the whole world since sin entered in the Garden of Eden. Imagine a day and place with no racism, no subtle remarks, and no glaring looks from those who do not approve. As I get older and see more of how sin has tarnished this beautiful world God originally created, I long more for the world to come. Come Jesus now, come!

In the beginning!

Hello All,
     This blog is an attempt to connect with others such as I, who have chosen to follow Christ and in doing so believe we should live out Scripture. Most importantly James 1:27. To be brief, our journey started the day when we became Christians and were made new in Christ. With the ever present pull of the Holy Spirit to be more like Christ we began to make decisions based more on others than ourselves. Here is what I mean. My wife and I began to volunteer with a ministry in our church that was dedicated to serving those in the housing projects. I volunteered and worked with youth, while Roberta, my wife was drawn to watching small children and babies, while the parents took GED classes in hopes of starting a new life for themselves. Little did we know that it would soon lead to the first huge change in our lives. His name would be Joshua and he would be our son. Before he would come though we would begin our walk with his birth mother through many dark days. From being kicked out of the housing projects with three children ranging from 10 months old to three years old, no job, and the children's father in jail for several more months. We followed what we knew to be the Holy Spirits prompting and never gave up on her from the bed bug ridden motel to what looked like a crack house she lived in next, we did our best to help her and the children. With her assurance she wanted a better life for herself and the children and with the knowledge the children's father was getting out soon we found and paid for a duplex for them to move into. The people at Roberta's work were so kind and pitched in to help furnish and prepare the duplex. The day we were moving them the birth mother became ill and dropped the bombshell that she was five months pregnant and asked if we would adopt the baby. And so this journey began. So approximately a year after we met this young lady we left the hospital with our new son Joshua. Both of us in our 40's, but knowing we were walking in the will of God. Little did we know there were more adventures to come, but I will save that for another time.

How Much Is Enough?

                                                      How Much Is Enough?
What a week so far. Was it only Tuesday? With two days of a two year old, a ten month old, and a seven 

year old under my belt I hear my wife from the phone say, "Well if it were a boy under three we might be able to adopt him." WHAT?? NO, no, no, what are you saying? Aren't we doing enough, came my reply. Then that small quiet voice that all Christians long to hear, but in all honesty hate to sometimes hear. Because we know He may call us to the carpet and speak the truth we already know. The voice that reminds us that God is real and He is alive and He is saying I have given you everything you need to do more. I have given you a home, friends, a church, and I gave you eternal life through My doing more. He says trust in Me, you can do more. Now I know the other parents who I read about and see do more, if they are Christians. God empowers them to do more. He then blesses us, which He doesn't have to do by reminding us He is here with us and for us. I must remember the ones He 

calls, He equips. Well this post could go on, but the tears are flowing again and while the Holy Spirit continues His work in me I hear faint sounds from the littles waking up. Needless to say, if God sees fit to bless me with 50 more littles, I can do more. He did!! Thanks for listening to the words from a Christ follower who happens to be a Mr. Mom.