You’d have to know my ”tongue-in-cheek,” sarcastic side to understand this post.   I have often wondered, in the spirit of those things that make you go “hmmm…,”courtesy of former late night show host Arsenio Hall, if some things are too much of a coincidence to be mere coincidence.   As one example, we have made history this year with the Democratic candidacy of Senator Barack Obama.  Regardless of what you might think of him, and regardless of whether he wins or not, this is a historical point in time.   Is it me, or is it too coincidental to be a coincidence that in the same era, one of the most popular celebrities on pop culture television is Flavor Flav, front man for the group Public Enemy and embarrassment extraordinaire?

Does this brother have to “blow up,” as the kids say, this year?

So, I’m continuing in this vein of thinking when we purchased a new collegiate dictionary on yesterday.    As an aside, not too long ago, our neighbors were in the heat of a marital separation, and I loaned the son our original dictionary after the father left the house with a number of items in order to “get back” at the family.   Thankfully, the couple decided to get back together, but I somehow still remain separated from my dictionary.   I guess I can chalk that up to what I did for love, huh?

Well, there are new words in Webster’s, thanks to these changing times:  wi-fi, phishing, etc.   Our son even looked up frindle from the book we so enjoyed of the same name.   In the book, a kid decides to invent a word, which becomes used so much in his school and then in the larger community, until years later it becomes an official word in the dictionary.    That must have been the case with this new entry. 

Main Entry:

crunk

Pronunciation:

\ˈkrə©¯k\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

crunk, word of fluctuating meaning used during the 1990s in lyrics of the rap groups OutKast and Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz

Date: 2000

: a style of Southern rap music featuring repetitive chants and rapid dance rhythms

If hip-hop is indeed dying, as many in the media say, must we immortalize it by placing these guys in Webster’s Dictionary?

For me:

• thanks that I could get down on all fours and pull weeds—with the number of obesity-related skeletal problems among my sisters (hip replacements, backs, knees), I no longer take for granted the ability to move easily
• thanks that I finally put down the right amount of mulch to not have to weed as much
• thanks for God continually revealing more and more of His purpose in my life, and guiding me to places I would not have dared to go

 For my husband:

• thanks for 16 years of  wonderful marriage
• thanks for a husband who’s shown me God’s love (unconditional) and what is the true meaning of team
• thanks for continued resources to make our lives happen and a willingness to sacrifice and to stand undaunted as we homeschool (I am convinced that we as a people think very differently about women, especially educated women, staying home with children)

 For our family:

• Safe travel on our upcoming trip
• An outpouring of God over my daughter and husband during their missions trip
• That the children would always be lights in darkness
• That the Lord would continue to give guidance and wisdom on our upcoming homeschool year (hide me behind the cross)

 For our extended family:

• Salvation
• That my sisters would grow deeper in Christ (although I know it will challenge us all)
• That all assignments to keep my nephews bound in stereotypes are cancelled and thrown deep into the pits of hell
• That my sister-in-law and her husband be the parents that God has called them to be
• that my brother-in-law be safe and happy in his new job, but not succumb to all the temptations that are presented to a traveling husband
• That my cousins would enjoy their upcoming stay in our area—it will be lovely to have homeschooling relatives near us

 For our church and friends:

• To realize the commitments made as a part of the stewardship campaign
• For marriages to be restored
• Success of VBS—here and overseas
• A special prayer for my blogging friends Tirzah (peace and encouragement), Letitia (wisdom and guidance),  and Keri (peace in times of uncertainty)

 For our community:

• Salvation for our neighbors
• For restoration of marriage for our neighbor across the street
• That foreclosures would not adversely affect the neighborhood

For our nation and world:

• America’s repentance and return to God
• Reminder to the saints that God is in control and to pray for our country (for we wrestle not against McCain or Obama…)
• Restoration and peace for flood and tornado victims, and for earthquake victims across this planet
• Salvation in nations where the Gospel is not free (have any of you read Jesus Freaks?)

May God richly bless you, too.

 Ephesians: 3:16-20,

Belinda

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February is African-American history month.  Each year about this time I see notices from various loops about television programs that will be available during the month focusing on the contributions of our people to this great nation.   I thought some about a conversation I had with a Christian African-American friend a few months ago.   She was questioning whether or not she should teach her children our history as it is so tragic in places and can spark so many feelings of resentment and anger against whites.   I'll share my two cents:

This past week, we celebrated the first time in history that not just one, but two African-American NFL coaches have advanced to the Superbowl.   Since one of them will win, we can also celebrate in advance that this will be the first time that a Black coach brings home "the big one", so to speak.   This week was also a first for the New York Giants, who promoted a Black man into a team management position, and a first for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who now have a Black head coach.   A few months ago, we watched while, for the first time in history, not one but two African-American astronauts traveled aboard a spaceship.   Having highlighted these accomplishments, I totally concur with Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy when he said that true progress will be made when these celebrations are no longer such significant events, but instead become mundane and even boring.    

There were also moments that should shame us as a nation: in Cushatta, Louisiana, on last month, African-American students were forced to sit at the back of a school bus, even sitting in each others' laps, while non-blacks sat at the front, often alone in seats.   More recently, a predominately white college not too far away held a MLK party in which attendees wore lots of "bling" (big, gaudy jewelry for the hip-impaired), Afros, and were served fried chicken and malt liquor.

So, when I ponder all of this, it is no wonder to me that millions, if not billions, of dollars are spent each year on educating our children, both formally and informally, to be proud of being Black.  Even the patience of Job could be tested by the barrage of images and actions that paint us as anything but equal and deserving of the same rights, opportunities, and privileges as anybody else who calls America home.   This is not a victim's mentality; it is a realistic statement from the heart of one who participates in this educational process (see www.blessedheritage.com), and one who is raising the next generation of me to not bow down to racist stereotypes.

So as Christians and African-Americans, should we teach African-American history?  Absolutely.  Not only must we share it with our children, but we must help where we can with teaching it to others.   Similarly, we must learn histories that are not our own.   Is teaching our children their history teaching them to hate?  Absolutely not.  In Deuteronomy 6, God tells the Israelites to pass down their history through generations; He does not tell them to hate Egyptians.   We must educate our children on their history, not as a way of teaching hatred, but as a way of teaching the larger lessons of God's law--love, forgiveness, and faith.  That same faith brought us through a dark past and into an increasingly bright future.    We must teach them their history in the light of Romans 8:28.    We must also educate others, both formally and informally, in order to put a halt to racism (this is how they overcame Satan: by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony).   Stop using the "N" word as it will never be a compliment.   Treat ourselves as descendants of royalty, because that is what we are.  In fact, Biblical history of 2007 years ago tells us what we all are, regardless of color: head and not the tail, above and never beneath, lenders and not borrowers, blessed in our going in and in our coming out, and more than conquerors.  God bless you today and always.