Definitions

For all who read this, please take my "survey" (for lack of a better word).

Define the following words as completely as you are able. Post or send your answers to cramerk@gmail.com:

- love
- marriage
- relationship
- commitment
- sexuality

And in advance, thanks for all your help!

I Am

spoken word by Eric Mata... I am; who are you?

A Prayer for Lent

O God, you are near as my heartbeat.
You know my pain.
You know my joy.
I want to open my whole life to you.
Grant me your peace. Amen.

Christian Subculture

You can answer this one or not...why is it Christians feel this urge to produce things that must be labeled as such?? And why is it that these "Christian" things are mostly of sub-par quality?? How can these people even think this would, and I assure you it doesn't, cause "non-Christians" to look into Christianity? If Scripture is the basis for this argument of having "Christian" things, one might use the passage where Jesus urges his followers to be in the world but not of it. However, I don't interpret this same passage that way. The American society and culture can be used to point "non-Christians" to truth (being somewhat obnocious about using labels and quotations...FYI: I HATE labels!! Labeling tends to create an us vs. them phenomena). And for Christians, Jesus is that truth. Randy Woodley emphasizes in his book, Living in Color, that anything that points others to truth is a good thing.

response to Cylest's xanga

In response to Cylest's xanga this morning:

It is disheartening when doctrine overshadows the persona of Jesus Christ and instead of love, the world finds religion. One day, may those claiming to be Christians become a united body of Christ putting aside the differences we have let Satan entangle us in.

Big Brother is a PAIN

I went to look at a friend's blogspot. My computer received this window message:

You are not authorized to view this page. You do not have permission to view this directory or page using the credentials that you supplied.
Please try the following:
* Contact the help desk if you believe you should be able to view this directory or page.
* Click the Refresh button to try again with different credentials.

HTTP Error: Unauthorized: Access is denied due to server configuration.
Internet Information Services (IIS)

My first thought was lovely. I only wanted to read my friend's reflections and thoughts. To do so, I'll need to find an off-campus location with free wifi and free speech.

sins of the US

I received this forward a while back. If more Christians were this genuinely honest, how would our world be a better place?
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When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We confess that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and call it Pluralism.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.

We have abused power and called it politics.

We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.

Amen!"

The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest…In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively.

Just Like Me

Last night, I attended a Soulforce event in the area. We had pizza, hung out, and were able to attend an informational "seminar" entitled In God's Image. It was an enjoyable evening and I had a good time getting to know the different riders. They are a talented group of thinkers, students, writers, and singers.

When I finally returned to my apartment building, there was a sign hanging outside the door and I just had to chuckle. My small school had held their own events pertaining to the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual) community. And I continue to chuckle. Because try as they might, my little conservative school only presents this group from one side, their narrow-minded side. And I guess that is their right as a church-affiliated institution, but it does a disservice to students and continues to widen the gap between the church and the LGBT community, which is really a shame.

"ching chong"

More recent than Michael Richard's rant was Rosie O'Donnell's "interpretation" and the consequences of her "comedic" act on The View.

Beau Sia responds to Rosie O'Donnell's "ching chong" comment on The View with "An Open Letter to All the Rosie O'Donnells".

the "N" word

This happened last year and seems to prove racism is still alive in America. I found Michael Richard's actual rant quite offensive, but I'm providing a link for those interested in what he actually said. You don't need the volume on; his words are highlighted in red: Richard's actual rant.

On the optimistic side, the Red Eye published this article:

N.Y. council backs n-word abstinence in resolution
By Emi Endo
Tribune Newspapers: March 1, 2007

NEW YORK -- The City Council on Wednesday approved a resolution urging New Yorkers to stop using the n-word, joining a nationwide movement seeking to reject the notion that the racial slur can be redefined and reclaimed.

The symbolic ban, which carries no legal weight, was approved 49-0.

The chief sponsor, Councilman Leroy Comrie, said that especially during Black History Month, it was important to discuss "the real history, the problems, and the embarrassment or hurt and pain that people feel when they hear this word misused and abused."

Comrie and other supporters contend that young people, who have grown up hearing the word in rap lyrics and movies and consider it acceptable slang, fail to appreciate its historical underpinnings.

Some in the black community argue that the term is not offensive, especially when pronounced and spelled with an "a" at the end, rather than "er."

Backers of the ban, including winners of a middle school essay contest, filled the council chamber balcony, sporting buttons with a white letter "N" slashed in red.

Comrie also honored the founders of a Web site called abolishthenword.com for bringing attention to the issue. Freelance filmmakers Kovon Flowers and his wife, Jill, started it about 10 months ago.

Comrie also supports pressuring entertainment companies not to use the word, except for historical context.

"I make an appeal to all people, and particularly in the hip-hop culture, that they respect who we are and where we've been, and that they no longer use that N-word," Councilman Albert Vann said, adding that derogatory terms for women ought to be avoided.

www.redeye.chicagotribune.com

School Newspaper Article

Jesus Wrecked My Life

South Shore Train tickets: $18.00
Chicago Transit 7-Day pass: $20.00
Housing before and after: $10.00
Walking in someone else’s shoes: definitely a God-thing

Sometimes being a Christian just doesn’t make sense. It’s not logical. And we’re called to experience things that aren’t a trip down sunshine lane. For most students, spring break is a time of rest, relaxation, and warm weather. However, I was compelled to something different. For me, spring break was spent in Chicago…homeless. One may ask “Why on earth would you want to experience homelessness?”

That’s a good question. Last semester, Wheaton in Chicago (my study “aboard” program) students read From Brokenness to Communion. In his lecture, Jean Vanier defined communion as two-fold. The first half of his definition for communion is “to be with someone and to discover that we actually belong together” (16). The second half of communion is “to walk with them” (16).

Since returning to campus, these concepts continued to intrigue and pursue me. For me to only possess sympathy for another’s condition wasn’t good enough anymore; God had bigger plans. He challenged me to empathize with my fellowman, my brothers and sisters of the human race. He challenged me to desire to care on a much deeper level for the overlooked, the marginalized, the forgotten, and the outcasts.

He challenged my outlook of urban ministry from a one-way attitude of “help [us] bring Jesus to the people we are serving” to one of partnership. I was given the belief that ministry happens with people, not to them. It shouldn’t be a “minister to others” type of thing but a “ministry with others” type of thing.

So, why did I spend spring break experiencing homelessness? Because I believe communion happens when you are you and I am me, and we decide to walk alongside each other. God prompted me to walk alongside my homeless brothers and sisters. And I said “Yes.”

As I engaged in the homeless community by living in an overnight shelter, the layers of misconceptions and myths came falling down. One of the most obvious misconceptions is that homeless people look a certain way or have a certain appearance. They don’t; they dress just like you and me sometimes in name brand and sometimes not. Another misconception is that homeless people smell bad or are dirty. This misconception is true of those who drink or smoke heavily. However, the overnight shelter where I stayed required that the women shower at least every other day.

A third myth is that homeless people are lazy. Not true. One of the women at the shelter was my age and studying to get her GED. She aspires to be a hygienist. Another is turning her life around and starting new. Three of the women are currently employed and saving to be able to afford their own place. A number of the women have case managers and are learning the skills needed to get hired for a decent paying job.

The women I came to know over a week’s time have goals and aspirations not that different from you and me. The woman studying to complete her GED to become a hygienist has been alone since the age of 17. She had lived in Chicago before with her mother until her mother left her. She moved to Georgia to have a fresh start and things didn’t work out; so she is back in Chicago trying to get back on her feet.

The second woman I encountered came to know Christ as her savior and he is why she is making a new start. She was a drug addict, alcohol drinking, prostitute who bore six children. None of her children live with her; they’ve all been adopted and one day, she wants to reconnect with them. Her hope and faith in Christ is what gets her through each day and gives her hope for the future.

A third woman and her husband became homeless after he lost his job. Because they are an older couple, it was difficult for him to find another job. So, they moved from Kansas City to Chicago because it offers a better opportunity and assistance to help them back onto their feet. He is getting assistance finding a job while she is working to gain access to low-income housing.

These are the faces and people I found behind this issue we call homelessness. These are the stories and lives that touched my own for a week. These are the women who showed me how many luxuries I take for granted on a daily basis: a place to call my own, a comfy bed with oversized pillow, a refrigerator full of food, a warm shower that can last more than ten minutes long. I went to Chicago to experience someone else’s condition and in the end, I discovered my own.

LINK Program

While in Chicago, March 1st was a day of enthusiasm for the women at the shelter. Some were going to get a check on that day and some would get LINK. Back in the luxury of free internet access, I researched what LINK is and how it is used.

"The Illinois LINK card allows food stamp recipients to receive this benefit electronically, via the use of a card that looks like a credit card as pictured on the left. Every month a pre-set amount of funds are available to the eligible individual or family via the Illinois LINK card.

Getting access to the funds is similar to the way someone uses a credit card or ATM card. The Illinois LINK card holder swipes the card through a machine at the grocery store and enters his or her PIN (personal identification number). As the LINK card is used, the amount of the purchase spent on food is deducted from the card holder’s account. Of course the purchasing limit of the Illinois LINK card is the amount of credit available in the card holder’s account.

There are benefits to this system including the money saved by eliminating paper food stamp coupons. There also may be some real benefits to the LINK card recipient such as no more lost or stolen food stamps (of course recipients will have to keep the card safe). Also, since every recipient has their own personal identification number, it should make unauthorized use of LINK card more difficult.

Many senior adults have been very reluctant or have downright refused to use paper food stamp coupons because of embarrassment even though they are in need of the benefits. The Illinois LINK card should help alleviate this embarrassment as the LINK card is a more low profile way to use benefits.

Every time the account is used, the recipient gets a receipt which lists the amount left in the recipient’s LINK card account and a there is a toll-free number that recipients can use to check their account balance." - http://egyptianaaa.org/IllinoisIL-Link.htm

Bi-cultural Identity

Being bi-cultural is an interesting thing. Perhaps it could be equated to being bi-racial (but I would have to ask to be sure). Since this is a new part of myself that requires exploring, several new menus have been added to the sidebar (by the way, I am an Asian adoptee with Caucasian parents). It has been noted that Asian-Americans lack role models who have been successful; so I felt the need to add a list for my Asian-American brothers and sisters. The second addition is one of Asian/Asian-American films that give insight into the cultures of now and of the old country. Come to think of it, the second list will be expanded to include other worthwhile films as well. Let me know if I've missed any that are worth mentioning.

Skewed View of Homeless

It's shocking the views these young people have of homeless people. Where did they learn these distorted things? How can you and I combat the ignorance?