thank you

The Equality Ride stopped at my former higher education institution this past weekend. I'm not sure of the reaction since I had to work at my j-o-b during their visit. However, I did attend the potluck yesterday. It was so refreshing to hear their thoughts and opinions. To be surrounded in a safe environment. The panel involved discussing the "T" in GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender). It was very informative and something in my spirit really resonated with the chosen riders who spoke. You guys are my heroes! Continue to fight against oppression (pertaining to sexuality, class-ism, race, etc).


articles:
city tribune
local news
rider's view

simple living

My school's version of simple living, or living intentionally, has commenced. Bryce and I facilitated the first family gathering and meals will begin after the holiday weekend. I believe this will be an interesting and very relational semester. As we continue, I will be sure to update our status.

freedom of speech

While speaking with friends who write for the school newspaper, the discussion of censorship arose. Because it is a school-sponsored newspaper, opinions or views that could reflect negatively on the school are not heard. I am tempted to start a one page underground bulletin which highlights student written work about anything and everything. The bulletin would contain a short intro paragraph and the rest of the articles could be found online. The major obstacle would be finding authors who would commit to writing on a consistent basis.....

Marriage Paper

To all who participated by defining the terms, thank you. The paper was finished on Friday and much to my relief. It was an intense and mentally fatiguing week, but it is over. If you would like to read the paper about the definitions of love and marriage, in the past and in today's society, feel free to comment or e-mail me with your e-mail address.

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!

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.

Spring Break

Spring break is officially upon us at my small school. Florida seems to be the destination of choice students said when asked their spring break plans. If not Florida, most are working at home or near school. Unlike my colleagues, a good friend and I are spending spring break differently. To empathize with our fellowman and better understand them as people, we're going to a nearby city to experience homelessness.

"Multi-Ethnic" chapel

A friend of mine asked me to read her thoughts before she posted them on the Wittenburg door at our small Christian school. I thought they were really good and want to share them with you:

I am writing to express my opinion about Chapel Service on Monday, February 12th, 2007. The description of this chapel in the given chapel guide was “Unity within Community: Faculty Perspective”. I believe the faculty and staff chosen by the Multi-Ethnic Services poorly represented the diversity of our campus. The faculty/staff presented in the following order: Professor Beth, Professor Derrick, Dr. Christian, and Professor Theodore. If we look closely at this selection, the racial demographics are as follows (and in this order of appearance): Caucasian-American female, African male, Caucasian-American male, and Black-American male.

The question that came to my mind was: Is this campus just black and white? And I pondered carefully, and the answer is: NO. There are students who can be represented by faculty and staff who are not Caucasian-American or Black-American. Here are just a few examples and the cultures they represent:
Professor R...........Finland
Professor M..........Spain
Professor W..........China
Professor M..........Romania
Professor S...........Indonesia
Krista W................Hawaii

Each of these faculty and staff has a story to tell, and they are neither Black-American nor Caucasian-American. They are from Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

This week, we are to “celebrate” unity within community. I urge you that it is not a white versus black issue. This is a campus full of life, of many different people, of different countries, and states within the United States. Skin color does not define culture. For an example: some people are from different countries but do not have that stereotypical appearance. Today's chapel, of a faculty/staff perspective, should have fully represented the diversity of the student body.

I urge you to look beyond skin color and ethnic background, for these two elements are not everything. I urge you to pay closer attention to the way people are inside, not outside. The old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” applies in this situation and we can apply it [here]: “Don’t judge a person by their skin or ethnic background.”

I urge you to get to know other students, faculty or staff on this campus who are seemingly different than you. Look into their hearts. Look to understand what they think and feel and why they think and feel that way.

Here at ******, we have the privilege of experiencing a slice of God’s unique diversity through the many professors, faculty, staff and students represented. Unity within Community is about everybody, no matter where you are from. Every culture and race should be represented.

Motivation

The question of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is one of great debate. The western value of recognition continues to dominate in our society. We recognize those who excel in sports, theater and academics. The media assists by putting athletes, actors, and actresses on (pedistools) for all to see. The eastern value of expectation seems to surface. Students are expected to excel in academics for family honor. Average is synonymous with failure and that's it. One cannot be average because it equates with failure, and failure is not an option. Is there any easy answer? Is one better than another?

Choice or Reality?

In Psychology, colleges and universities teach about the great debate of nature versus nurture. Wikipedia defines the terms like this: Nature vs Nurture is a shorthand expression for debates about the relative importance of an individual's innate qualities ("nature") versus personal experiences ("nurture") in determining or causing individual differences in physical and behavioral traits. With the development of human genetics, many important human traits have proved to be partially or mostly genetic.

The question that comes to mind is: are some issues nature but our actions a choice of nurture?