Faith & Imagination

LOVE GOD. LOVE OTHERS.

[dtadventures]

The truth about justice.

“We are so concerned with our freedom of speech that we forget that our speech should bring freedom” Pastor Joe Smith.

The truth is, we as American Christians spend so much of our time fighting for our freedom to practice our faith rather than resting in our freedom in Christ to love others. In my opinion that is a dangerous place to be. What would it look like if we fought for our liberty as much as we fought for justice of others. We as American Christians have assumed the role as “freedom fighters” when it comes to prayer,leaving the “Christ” in “Christmas” or gun control. We hold our crosses high when faced with what we perceive to be an attack on Christianity, while ignoring one of the biggest calling God has for the church.

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

What are we gonna do with that word, JUSTICE? How are we going to fight for it? Is there a wrong or right way to fight for justice?

The truth is, the world doesn't need more sermons or cool music or even at one week missions trip. What world needs is real people who are sold out for Christ really reaching out and fighting for others. Hashtags won't solve anything. Tweets and blogs (like this one) are just a stepping stone to making awareness.

I believe the reason that injustices and tragedies hit us hard is because we know deep inside that, that isn't the way the world is suppose to function. We all know that when something is unfair or wrong that, that isn't purest condition that world is suppose to be in. Whether you believe in God or not, God is the author of justice. It is very close to His heart. Being completely just is a part of God’s character. And since He is the author and the ultimate source of justice shouldn't those who carry the banner of His name also carry the responsibility of providing that justice.

“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17

If you are Christian you have a RESPONSIBILITY to fight for justice. You honestly can't be a loving person and not desire justice for all people. After reading the book of Amos and  I began to understand how serious God takes this. Amos 2:6-7 states

“This is what the Lord says:“For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not relent.They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed...”

The first time I read this I was surprised. I have always been told that the God of the old testament really focused on rules and the law. However, He is loving as He is just. I do agree that these things are true, however,  the verses in Amos, some in Proverbs, and other parts of the entire Bible actually holds serving the poor at a high value. The value the God has placed on the least of these is so high that He punished those who refuse to do it.

I believe that church should be a place of safety and refuge. My hope is for your church to be dedicated to healing hearts and discussing issues. If not, that is a problem. Going on with business as usual is damaging to both the congregation and the gospel. I kept reading comments about people not wanting to discuss politics or social justice issues in church. Jesus understood the political climate affected his people's everyday lives. He didn't ignore politics and just focused on the gospel but he matched his words with actions of love. He understood that the political climate affected how people interacted with each other. He spoke up when necessary. He dove into the uncomfortable situations and sometimes illegally loved people. Jesus broke the law a bunch of times in the name of love. Jesus’ actions not only were a vibrant sign of love but they were also political statements (not intentionally ). However, issues concerning race, inequality, etc aren't merely political, there are people are actually dying because of our refusal to speak up. Let that sink in. Yes, people make awful choices, however, we as a church aren't called to be silent while others are being oppressed.

If the American church fails to show up at the table and step up in our country, then God won't be apart of the conversation or solution. I hear time and time again, “Jesus is the answer,” and it is getting to the point where people are no longer believing it because they never see Jesus through our actions. That to me scares me. Hashtags only do so much. Reposting other people’s words provide no sympathy. Changing your profile picture isn't going to provide food or shelter for victims of domestic violence or end world hunger or even provide for your friends and family in need.The fact that so many people who aren't believers are disgusted with the events that are took place in Charlottesville means that God's fingerprints and heart is in all of us. We all inherently know that our world isn't suppose be a place a of violence, hate, hunger, and death.

It breaks my heart that the church is claiming that we need to come together and seek unity when in the same breath criticize others for risking their lives for the sake of others. It also frustrates me to read people insult people who are asking and are trying to answer the question, “what should we do?”, and are looking for solutions. Even if you don't agree with how they do it, I recommend just supporting those people because they are  brave warriors that are reflecting God's heart. If you are not a protesting type, that's fine, then call your senator. If you hate politics, support and volunteer at non-profits.You don't have to be a person who goes to rallies and protests but you have to be a person who stands for what's right.

God is the deliverer and restorer. God is in the business of delivering His people from awful situations. Throughout the Old Testament He worked tirelessly to restore the Israelites back to the promise land even when then go astray. Even more so, He is in the business of restoring the entire world back to order. God also used people like Jonah (when he finally got over his hatred) to deliver the Ninevites out of sin. With that in mind the question is, are you going going to join Him?

“The church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the state, but rather the conscience of the state,” [Martin Luther] King wrote in Strength to Love, a sermon collection. “It must be the guide and the critic of the state, and never its tool. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal, it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority.” -Pastor Erwin McManus.

[dtadventures]

Racism.

The following post is directed to the American Christian church.

RACISM IS A SIN.

Let’s start there. Every person I asked about this topic, whether it be a college professor or a college student, said that racism is, in fact, a SIN.

So for the duration of this post, I am going to treat it as such.

Let’s define what sin is. Sin is basically anything that goes against God’s law. Sin also goes against God’s ultimate design for humanity.

Let’s define what racism is, according to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities, and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.”

Basically, it is believing that there is a hierarchy of racial superiority, and taken to its extreme conclusion, it’s believing that a particular race should dominate and control all other races. Racism essentially is dehumanizing, stripping the value of people who God already declared to be made in His image.

While most of us would deny being racist, we probably have racial prejudices.  The definition of prejudice, according to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, is “ a (1): preconceived judgment or opinion (2): an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge.”

BOTH are sins. BOTH are harmful.

Since the fall in Genesis, our relationship with God has been severed, as well as our relationship with the Earth and with each other. We now rely heavily on our own understanding of the world in order to make sense of everything. We organize ourselves into groups. Race, which is supposed to be a representation of God’s workmanship and creativity, has been used to oppress individuals. So much of our modern society links race, culture, and identity. Despite the progress made by Civil Rights groups around the world, we still deal with the issues of race and identity.

In light of the seemingly continuous stream of racially charged hate crimes seen in the media, what is the American church’s response?   After all, when topics of abortion, sexual orientation, prayer in schools, gun control, or Starbucks cups are brought up, we are very vocal about our stance. However, when the subject of racism arises, churches too often choose the “color-blind approach”, which can dismiss the pain and actually aids racist attacks through silence.

Racism can appear in so many forms, whether it is a deliberate comment, an unintentional joke, a law that is passed which penalizes marginalized individuals, a tv show that relies on stereotypes for humor or only casts Caucasians in lead roles, or a tendency to make assumptions about others. Racism is a sin, plain and simple. It not only pushes people from God, it creates a divide between groups of people.   Shouldn’t we be fighting right against it? Shouldn’t we be champions for unity and pioneering peaceful talks between races? Shouldn’t we be the model after which other institutions develop their diversity departments? Shouldn’t racism disgust us so much that we have sermons on it or training on how the congregation should handle racism on a daily basis?  We as Christ-followers have the Holy Spirit in our lives, which gives us insight into how God sees people and how this world was intended to be.  As Colossians 3:10-11 states, “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.” (NLT)

Unfortunately, the church is virtually silent on this issue. I once heard someone say, “[Christians] say a little about what God says a lot about, and a lot of what God says a little about.” We are too afraid to talk about race, to which I say, “God did not give us a spirit of fear.” If your fear as a leader is that people will get offended and leave your church, well that fear wasn’t given to you by the Lord. Currently, people are being murdered in cold blood solely due to their race. Humans are being harassed and beat up because of what they look like. Humans are being kicked out of restaurants and coffee shops based on the color of their skin. For crying out loud, the KKK and other white supremacy groups are parading themselves as ‘victors’ on tv and on magazine covers, while minorities who protest our own oppression are condemned as whiners or being told we are protesting wrong and so don’t deserve to have their voices heard. To be honest, if those examples I just listed don’t shake you in some way I have to suggest that maybe we as a church aren’t dealing with this issue head on because we struggle with racism ourselves. Or even worse, we don’t actually think racism is that big of a problem. We currently have an opportunity to speak out about this issue. Don’t think that because under the law of the land everyone legally has equal rights, that we are over this issue. Let’s be honest, we are far from “over it”.

According to an article in Christianity Today (linked at the bottom), “But at its corresponding core, race is not a matter of law; it is a matter of the heart. Forced legislation cannot reform a wayward heart, it is only the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And it is because the church has been entrusted as the stewards of this sacred gospel that we must pick up where Dr. King and his lieutenants left off. Our battle is not ultimately with structures (though there is a systemic injustice, which the church must address), as much as it is with the reformation of the heart.”

Did you know that it was once said the most segregated hour of the week was Sunday mornings at 11 am? Martin Luther King jr said this in an interview on Meet the Press in the 1960s. Racial segregation and racism were a huge part of American Church history. Many pastors used the bible to promote this sort of behavior and we still seeing the consequences of that today. The issue that we are dealing with right now is bigger than just laws. We have certain stereotypes and prejudices have been ingrained into our mindset and our day to day lives. Or as some like to call them, “opinions and point of views.” One of the biggest problems in America today is “institutional racism”

Definition from Chegg.com

“Institutional racism is a pattern of social institutions — such as governmental organizations, schools, banks, and courts of law — giving negative treatment to a group of people based on their race. Institutional racism leads to inequality; sociologists use the concept to explain why some people face unequal treatment or occupy unequal statuses. One historic example of institutional racism is the barring of African-American students from attending certain public schools, which limited the students’ educational opportunities and helped prevent them from achieving a status equal to that of others. Institutional racism need not involve intentional racial discrimination. For example, individual judges might intend to impose similar sentences for similar crimes; yet if Caucasian people tend to receive lighter punishments, plausibly institutional racism occurs.”

When actions and policies justify and support negative stereotypes of a racial group, that’s when we have a problem that will take more work than just passing some laws. I know the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission were wonderful and huge leaps in racial equality. We still have to change mindsets and our hearts from the inside out from both the top-down and bottom-up. It will take personal responsibility from every person to acknowledge and fix this problem.

A lot of people in power are benefiting from institutional racism. Even you reading this, to some extent, may benefit from it - or some of you are suffering because of it. Businesses, government offices, churches, schools, to some degree gain from other people’s suffering. Some of those institutions have a ton of influence over our entire lives and have succeeded in convincing part of the public that there is no real problem.

To those who believe this isn’t a legitimate problem, I have a question which was asked by educator and activist Jane Elliott: “would [you] be happy to be treated as this society in general treats our black citizens”  Feel free to replace “black” with any person of color or marginalized group. If not, then part of you must realize that there is a problem and that you might be benefiting from other people’s suffering. Or how Elliott puts it, “…You know you don’t want it for you. I want to know why you’re so willing to accept it or to allow it to happen to others.“

SO what are we going to do about it? Are we going to just continue to not talk about the racial inequality that is within the very fabric of our country? Or when we do, are we going to continue to dismiss it as merely a problem from the past? Are we going to be vocal about this issue that ACTUALLY matters?

Here are some things we can do right now:

1. Have conversations about race. Both on the pulpit and while we sit in the pews. Talk about it and ask POC about their experience and be willing to listen. There should be events where we as a church tackle difficult subjects and brainstorm ways to serve the community.

2. Have speakers who are white, black, Asian, latino, pacific islander, etc, because a new point of view is refreshing to hear. A different point of views reaches different types of people. Isn’t that the goal of the gospel, to reach EVERYONE?

3. Change up the style of worship. There are so many different styles of music, why not get creative and try some out every once in awhile? I personally loved when my university would change up the worship style. I loved hearing new arrangements of old favorites alongside new songs.

4. Diversity in leadership. Much like my last point, having not only racial diversity but gender, and generational diversity is imperative to a thriving church. Look out at your congregations or your surrounding community your church’s leadership team should reflect the diversity both inside and outside these walls.

5. Commit to making a difference in how we approach race and race relations in our everyday lives. As Christians, we are called to be set apart and that means we have to stop accepting what the world does. That means stop engaging in racist talk- including jokes, memes, tweets, WHATEVER (those things don’t bring people to God, so why to participate?). Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Become aware of your own prejudices and work to fix them.

Look, racism is destructive and is as much of a sin as any other sin. We need to fight it now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO1PcovTk90 - One of my favorite videos on racism.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2015/january/most-segregated-hour-of-week.html - Article from Christianity today

http://www.alternet.org/video/professor-poses-one-perfect-question-about-race-stumps-her-audience 

Written By Dekontee (Me) 

Nearly all edits were done by Laila @twentyfirstcenturyvagabond

[dtadventures]

This week’s thoughts/questions

- Being bold means jumping into the unknown not knowing if God will catch you but also trusting that He will.

-How does a person practice being a good steward of the Earth while not believing that global warming isn’t a product of abusing the Earth?

-How can I more understand the LGBTQ community during Pride month?

-The world sometimes is black and white but since we have fallen short God choose to meet us in the gray.

- I am more than who I am going to marry. Marriage isn’t an achievement. It’s a beautiful moment and then a series of moments. 

-Why is it that the church views women as less even though it’s clear that God sees us as equal.

-Honestly, I just don’t like the president. Stop pretending you represent Christ. Starting asking for forgiveness from marginalized people.  

-Also, spell check is important. 

-Dear White people is a great show, but I could do without the sex. Seriously. 

-Love will always win. 

-Seeing the value in others starts with seeing the value God has already placed on you. 

-Elegant speeches can often mask true intentions. Check Twitter for examples. 

-I literally miss all the protests. like ALL OF THEM. Every weekend there is a new one. 

-ALSO, why are people who have voted for Trump a) still so angry? b) insist on proving to the world that he is a great president. like can you just sit in your confidence? Let the rest of us be sassy online and protest. or better yet allow people to not agree with you. 

[dtadventures]

Tuesday Thoughts.

Life is a process.

I am currently nearing my mid-20s and I feel like the clock is ticking towards thirty. I think to myself constantly, “Why aren’t I most successful?” “When will I actually get my finances in order?” “I should be married by now!”.

I keep forgetting that life in itself is a process and things don’t happen overnight. Certain things CAN’T happen overnight. We want to so desperately rush into the most delicate of spaces at full speed, but what we don’t realize is that we may ruin it along to way. We won’t cherish it or appreciate the beauty that this journey is. 

I see this a lot in relationships. We want to love, security, cute photos, and title without putting in the hard work to get to that point. Once we feel something about someone we run full force towards them leaving no time to relax with them. To some extent, this cheaps a priceless romance. I still struggle with this. I want the romance but none of the hard work. I want to long marriage but none of the painful moments that build a solid foundation. 

In our careers, we want to six figure income but complain about having to cultivate a consistent work ethic to get there. As an actor, I want money and notoriety but I loathe the sacrifice day in and day out. 

With social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, it's hard not compare ourselves to others. It’s hard to resist the need to appear like we have it all together. That desire mixed with an “I want it now” society has totally warped our view of time. We think everything needs to happen now, but guess what? It doesn’t. 

Being patient and intentional with every step we take in life is such a wonder gift. A gift that will one day reward us with more of what God has for us. Give yourself grace and enjoy the ride. 

[dtadventures]

The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling, a scrubby plant in a parched field. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing to cause us to take a second look. He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at him and people turned away. We looked down on him, thought he was scum. But the fact is, it was our pains he carried— our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing him for his own failures. But it was our sins that did that to him, that ripped and tore and crushed him— our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through his bruises we get healed. We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost. We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way. And GOD has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on him, on him. He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn’t say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, he took it all in silence. Justice miscarried, and he was led off— and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people. They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man, Even though he’d never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn’t true. Still, it’s what GOD had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he’d see life come from it—life, life, and more life. And GOD ’s plan will deeply prosper through him. Out of that terrible travail of soul, he’ll see that it’s worth it and be glad he did it. Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant, will make many “righteous ones,” as he himself carries the burden of their sins. Therefore I’ll reward him extravagantly— the best of everything, the highest honors— Because he looked death in the face and didn’t flinch, because he embraced the company of the lowest. He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many, he took up the cause of all the black sheep.” http://bible.com/97/isa.53.2-12.msg

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53:2-12‬ ‭MSG‬‬

THIS VERSION SO MUCH LIFE. GOOD GOOD FRIDAY. 

[dtucrkile]

@cardedwlove launched today! Follow that Instagram to find out more about donating and follow the journey of the show 📸: @brodyryan #hollywood #losangeles #march17th #pink #gold #green #fabolous #singing #gig #causes #charity #theatre #music #paulsmithpinkwall

[dtadventures]

Truth. #shepersisted

I have so much respect for the King family and their sacrifice. Naturally, as a history junkie, I tuned to the Jeff Sessions debate last night until about 10pm PST. I was so disappointed this letter wasn’t taken seriously. I am appalled that Sen. Warren wasn’t allowed to speak. This will ruffle some feathers but I have little respect for those senators who voted for Jeff Sessions. Especially when I hear quotes of the late Dr. Kings used to oppress protesters. Not okay. 

“...She Persisted”

“She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future”

[dtadventures]

Tuesday’s Thought

On Sunday, I watched an old message from Joe Smith of Mosaic.  His sermon was based off Mark chapter 2 where the paralyzed man is healed. His friends made a hole in the roof just so his friend could get to Jesus when the place was packed.  Here are some questions I challenge you to ask yourself this week if you consider yourself a Christian. I challenge you to be VERY honest with yourself!

1. Do I fight for others? or Do I spend more time fighting with others? ie, FB posts or tweets.

2. Do I have faith where others lack? Do I believe in others when they can’t? Do I believe in God on the behalf of others?

3. How do I come alongside others and hold them up when hope is lost?

4. Do we as a church create space for more people?

One of the quotes that stuck out to me was (paraphrased) “If we focus on when we can get from God, we miss out on getting others to Jesus” 

[dtadventures]

NEW POST COMING SOON!

I working on at new post stay tune friends!

[dtadventures]

A Prayer.

On 12/20/2016 I wrote the following prayer in my journal. This prayer is still relevant today. 

“Dear God,

Right now I am feeling a lot of heaviness. So much had been happening in the world. I am so confused [I keep asking why] and I feel powerless to stop it. It is so frustrating. I just want this nightmare of a situation to end. I want people who know you to be willing to reach out and love people. We [as your church] have to stop putting political party and advancement before running after your will. I am filled with more anxiousness for myself and for others who are minorities. My view of the church has changed so much because of this. I am watching scary things and I pray for strength. I pray for you to reveal your plan even if it is a small piece. I pray for endurance in this fight for equality. I pray joy that only comes from you. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.”

I also pray discernment. Between the fake news, alternative facts, and censorship. I need God’s eyes in order to see the truth.   

[dtadventures]

Racism.

The following post is directed to the American Christian church.

RACISM IS A SIN.

Let's start there. Every person I asked about this topic, whether it be a college professor or a college student, said that racism is, in fact, a SIN.

So for the duration of this post, I am going to treat it as such.

Let's define what sin is. Sin is basically anything that goes against God’s law. Sin also goes against God’s ultimate design for humanity.

Let's define what racism is, according to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities, and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.”

Basically, it is believing that there is a hierarchy of racial superiority, and taken to its extreme conclusion, it’s believing that a particular race should dominate and control all other races. Racism essentially is dehumanizing, stripping the value of people who God already declared to be made in His image.

While most of us would deny being racist, we probably have racial prejudices.  The definition of prejudice, according to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, is “ a (1): preconceived judgment or opinion (2): an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge.”

BOTH are sins. BOTH are harmful.

Since the fall in Genesis, our relationship with God has been severed, as well as our relationship with the Earth and with each other. We now rely heavily on our own understanding of the world in order to make sense of everything. We organize ourselves into groups. Race, which is supposed to be a representation of God’s workmanship and creativity, has been used to oppress individuals. So much of our modern society links race, culture, and identity. Despite the progress made by Civil Rights groups around the world, we still deal with the issues of race and identity.

In light of the seemingly continuous stream of racially charged hate crimes seen in the media, what is the American church’s response?   After all, when topics of abortion, sexual orientation, prayer in schools, gun control, or Starbucks cups are brought up, we are very vocal about our stance. However, when the subject of racism arises, churches too often choose the “color-blind approach”, which can dismiss the pain and actually aids racist attacks through silence.

Racism can appear in so many forms, whether it is a deliberate comment, an unintentional joke, a law that is passed which penalizes marginalized individuals, a tv show that relies on stereotypes for humor or only casts Caucasians in lead roles, or a tendency to make assumptions about others. Racism is a sin, plain and simple. It not only pushes people from God, it creates a divide between groups of people.   Shouldn’t we be fighting right against it? Shouldn’t we be champions for unity and pioneering peaceful talks between races? Shouldn’t we be the model after which other institutions develop their diversity departments? Shouldn’t racism disgust us so much that we have sermons on it or training on how the congregation should handle racism on a daily basis?  We as Christ-followers have the Holy Spirit in our lives, which gives us insight into how God sees people and how this world was intended to be.  As Colossians 3:10-11 states, “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.” (NLT)

Unfortunately, the church is virtually silent on this issue. I once heard someone say, “[Christians] say a little about what God says a lot about, and a lot of what God says a little about.” We are too afraid to talk about race, to which I say, “God did not give us a spirit of fear.” If your fear as a leader is that people will get offended and leave your church, well that fear wasn’t given to you by the Lord. Currently, people are being murdered in cold blood solely due to their race. Humans are being harassed and beat up because of what they look like. Humans are being kicked out of restaurants and coffee shops based on the color of their skin. For crying out loud, the KKK and other white supremacy groups are parading themselves as ‘victors’ on tv and on magazine covers, while minorities who protest our own oppression are condemned as whiners or being told we are protesting wrong and so don’t deserve to have their voices heard. To be honest, if those examples I just listed don’t shake you in some way I have to suggest that maybe we as a church aren’t dealing with this issue head on because we struggle with racism ourselves. Or even worse, we don’t actually think racism is that big of a problem. We currently have an opportunity to speak out about this issue. Don’t think that because under the law of the land everyone legally has equal rights, that we are over this issue. Let’s be honest, we are far from “over it”.

According to an article in Christianity Today (linked at the bottom), “But at its corresponding core, race is not a matter of law; it is a matter of the heart. Forced legislation cannot reform a wayward heart, it is only the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And it is because the church has been entrusted as the stewards of this sacred gospel that we must pick up where Dr. King and his lieutenants left off. Our battle is not ultimately with structures (though there is a systemic injustice, which the church must address), as much as it is with the reformation of the heart.”

Did you know that it was once said the most segregated hour of the week was Sunday mornings at 11 am? Martin Luther King jr said this in an interview on Meet the Press in the 1960s. Racial segregation and racism were a huge part of American Church history. Many pastors used the bible to promote this sort of behavior and we still seeing the consequences of that today. The issue that we are dealing with right now is bigger than just laws. We have certain stereotypes and prejudices have been ingrained into our mindset and our day to day lives. Or as some like to call them, “opinions and point of views.” One of the biggest problems in America today is “institutional racism”

Definition from Chegg.com

“Institutional racism is a pattern of social institutions — such as governmental organizations, schools, banks, and courts of law — giving negative treatment to a group of people based on their race. Institutional racism leads to inequality; sociologists use the concept to explain why some people face unequal treatment or occupy unequal statuses. One historic example of institutional racism is the barring of African-American students from attending certain public schools, which limited the students' educational opportunities and helped prevent them from achieving a status equal to that of others. Institutional racism need not involve intentional racial discrimination. For example, individual judges might intend to impose similar sentences for similar crimes; yet if Caucasian people tend to receive lighter punishments, plausibly institutional racism occurs.”

When actions and policies justify and support negative stereotypes of a racial group, that’s when we have a problem that will take more work than just passing some laws. I know the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission were wonderful and huge leaps in racial equality. We still have to change mindsets and our hearts from the inside out from both the top-down and bottom-up. It will take personal responsibility from every person to acknowledge and fix this problem.

A lot of people in power are benefiting from institutional racism. Even you reading this, to some extent, may benefit from it - or some of you are suffering because of it. Businesses, government offices, churches, schools, to some degree gain from other people’s suffering. Some of those institutions have a ton of influence over our entire lives and have succeeded in convincing part of the public that there is no real problem.

To those who believe this isn’t a legitimate problem, I have a question which was asked by educator and activist Jane Elliott: "would [you] be happy to be treated as this society in general treats our black citizens"  Feel free to replace “black” with any person of color or marginalized group. If not, then part of you must realize that there is a problem and that you might be benefiting from other people’s suffering. Or how Elliott puts it, “...You know you don't want it for you. I want to know why you're so willing to accept it or to allow it to happen to others."

SO what are we going to do about it? Are we going to just continue to not talk about the racial inequality that is within the very fabric of our country? Or when we do, are we going to continue to dismiss it as merely a problem from the past? Are we going to be vocal about this issue that ACTUALLY matters?

Here are some things we can do right now:

1. Have conversations about race. Both on the pulpit and while we sit in the pews. Talk about it and ask POC about their experience and be willing to listen. There should be events where we as a church tackle difficult subjects and brainstorm ways to serve the community.

2. Have speakers who are white, black, Asian, latino, pacific islander, etc, because a new point of view is refreshing to hear. A different point of views reaches different types of people. Isn’t that the goal of the gospel, to reach EVERYONE?

3. Change up the style of worship. There are so many different styles of music, why not get creative and try some out every once in awhile? I personally loved when my university would change up the worship style. I loved hearing new arrangements of old favorites alongside new songs.

4. Diversity in leadership. Much like my last point, having not only racial diversity but gender, and generational diversity is imperative to a thriving church. Look out at your congregations or your surrounding community your church’s leadership team should reflect the diversity both inside and outside these walls.

5. Commit to making a difference in how we approach race and race relations in our everyday lives. As Christians, we are called to be set apart and that means we have to stop accepting what the world does. That means stop engaging in racist talk- including jokes, memes, tweets, WHATEVER (those things don’t bring people to God, so why to participate?). Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Become aware of your own prejudices and work to fix them.

Look, racism is destructive and is as much of a sin as any other sin. We need to fight it now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO1PcovTk90 - One of my favorite videos on racism.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2015/january/most-segregated-hour-of-week.html - Article from Christianity today

http://www.alternet.org/video/professor-poses-one-perfect-question-about-race-stumps-her-audience 

Written By Dekontee (Me) 

Nearly all edits were done by Laila @twentyfirstcenturyvagabond

[dtadventures]

This is my favorite song from Mosaic MSC. On my way home from a long audition day I was reminded of God’s infinite love for ALL of his Creation. 

HE SEES YOU and LOVES YOU. 

[dtadventures]

Saw this on Facebook. Thought this was fitting. 

[dtucrkile]

My new theater motto...

…is YOLO. I know what you are thinking, that is the stupidest motto ever. But, don’t tune out just yet. Let me explain.

Until this last semester I was too  scared to go for my dreams to be a professional actor/singer/dancer. I was too scared to take risks in auditions and performances. I played it safe. The thing is I was too afraid of failing that I just settled for okay rather than push myself to be great.

So this past semester I told myself to just go for it and push myself to be okay with where I am as a person instead of trying to be perfect. I learn to allow myself to have fun on stage and even at times “fail.” I realized that God gave me gifts and I should share them with people even when I don’t think they are “ready” to be shown. Thus, opening  me up to the concept of YOLO.

Here’s how it works when you are picking a song or scene that you feel that is too hard or overwhelming. DO IT. because YOLO. Audition for EVERYTHING you can find… why not? YOLO. At callbacks  be prepared and go for it because YOLO. Attend a networking opportunity or workshop. YOLO. You get the picture.

The thing about being a theatrical performer is that you got to keep working and growing and be willing to push yourself to the next level. Especially as a Christian artist, YOLO is so true. Life is short you have make the best of it.

 So,  like me and my lovely friend Kristina says, “YOLO it up" (  that is last time I will say it, promise)

-Enough Said.

[dtucrkile]

To my fellow young actors....

 Fall in love with auditions its your chance to perform (plus you can get a job out of it) . You can’t change the opinions of the auditors in the room, your job is to come perpared and have fun!

YOLO as much as possible (read mah blog). Dream big and work hard. Every opportunity you have to learn new stuff take it ( workshop, masterclass, etc). Learn from your fellow actors in you BFA or BA program, don’t put them down  just to bring yourself up. AND most of all

Remember the reason you started doing this in the first place because it will be all worth it in the end.

-Enough Said.

[dtadventures]

That thing called Marriage.

 *Disclaimer*

Most of this list is non-negotiable, especially the stuff about God. I don’t think I am in the place to train or force someone in that area. I have tried it so many times, and believe me it DOESNT WORK. I want to be fully myself with them and I want them to be fully themselves with me too. So I have to be real about talking about the spiritual stuff.  Okay, here we go!

I want to marry someone who: 

 can make me laugh until I cry.

 is willing to go on late night donut runs.

is willing to dance with me anywhere and anytime. 

is actively pursuing a relationship with God through prayer, Bible reading, serving in ministry

has a desire to reach the world for Christ and not just making themselves famous

is surrounded by men who encourages growth as he seeks God

intentional with every set of our relationship

takes ownership over OUR purity, not just his own

is an honest person

is a leader for other men/women 

is a mentor for younger people

is willing to love Broadway show tunes and shows as much as I do

is honest with me even if I don’t want to hear it

will pray with and for me 

isn’t afraid of shout/singing in the car together

challenges me to be more and more of the woman that God wants to me be 

will be “woke” (because, duh)

is my partner in spreading kindness

is my partner in crime

is spontaneous but understands my desire to plan ahead (ima freak.)

can take care of himself, ya know adulting (money,food,shopping…)

is chill and who I can just do life with

is intentional about getting to know my friends and family (if they don’t already)

There might be more but here is the start. 

Basically, I want to marry my best friend. Someone who compliments my crazy and I compliment theirs. Not a knight in shining armor, not a superhero, not some guy who claims he can sweep me off my feet. Those things are great and will happen in due time, however,  that isn’t my goal. I want to be with someone who I can see myself being with every single day of my life. That means I have to enjoy their company on a regular basis.  I love romance as much as the next girl but, I feel like people get so caught up in the feelings rather than building a long lasting relationship. Building a lasting marriage takes time. Strong relationships go through seasons of ups and down. It takes a while to gain trust and really move past the feelings of love into putting love into everyday action. 

I recently ended a relationship  and I have to say, the scariest thing about the aftermath of a breakup, is allowing yourself to love again. I thought I would never think about dating relationships ever again. I thought that somehow God wouldn’t heal the parts of my heart that hurt. I thought it was too much for Him. I am wrong, He has done more than heal my heart, He has placed an awesome group people in my life,  built a renewed purpose and fire, and provide some bomb food in my belly along the way *praise Him*. He is working in ways that are beyond anything I could imagine. Don’t get me wrong, I am still hurting. Some days are hard and I am reminded of my singleness as if it is a curse of some kind. You see, I don’t want to be in another relationship for a  while unless it is with a person God wants me to be in. My self-worth isn’t dependent on whether or not a guy asks me out or hits on me. God has already declared beautiful things over my life and I intend on living in that true. 

Until the day I meet “the one” or whatever,  I am just keep living my life. I am going to do cool things. I am going to explore fun places. I am going to chase after my dreams. I am going to continue to fall in love with Jesus and serve the world around me. I am going to do things that scare me. I am going to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. I am going to pursue social justice for all people. I am going to explore and go on random weekly adventures (seriously I do). I will continue meeting interesting people on my train rides. Through my journey of life, I might run into him. And when I do it will fall into place and God will be the center of it all. We will be a couple of cool cats and our Instagram photos will be fire.

[dtadventures]

That thing called Marriage.

 *Disclaimer*

Most of this list is non-negotiable, especially the stuff about God. I don’t think I am in the place to train or force someone in that area. I have tried it so many times, and believe me it DOESNT WORK. I want to be fully myself with them and I want them to be fully themselves with me too. So I have to be real about talking about the spiritual stuff.  Okay, here we go!

I want to marry someone who: 

 can make me laugh until I cry.

 is willing to go on late night donut runs.

is willing to dance with me anywhere and anytime. 

is actively pursuing a relationship with God through prayer, Bible reading, serving in ministry

has a desire to reach the world for Christ and not just making themselves famous

is surrounded by men who encourages growth as he seeks God

intentional with every set of our relationship

takes ownership over OUR purity, not just his own

is an honest person

is a leader for other men/women 

is a mentor for younger people

is willing to love Broadway show tunes and shows as much as I do

is honest with me even if I don’t want to hear it

will pray with and for me 

isn’t afraid of shout/singing in the car together

challenges me to be more and more of the woman that God wants to me be 

will be "woke" (because, duh)

is my partner in spreading kindness

is my partner in crime

is spontaneous but understands my desire to plan ahead (ima freak.)

can take care of himself, ya know adulting (money,food,shopping...)

is chill and who I can just do life with

is intentional about getting to know my friends and family (if they don’t already)

There might be more but here is the start. 

Basically, I want to marry my best friend. Someone who compliments my crazy and I compliment theirs. Not a knight in shining armor, not a superhero, not some guy who claims he can sweep me off my feet. Those things are great and will happen in due time, however,  that isn't my goal. I want to be with someone who I can see myself being with every single day of my life. That means I have to enjoy their company on a regular basis.  I love romance as much as the next girl but, I feel like people get so caught up in the feelings rather than building a long lasting relationship. Building a lasting marriage takes time. Strong relationships go through seasons of ups and down. It takes a while to gain trust and really move past the feelings of love into putting love into everyday action. 

I recently ended a relationship  and I have to say, the scariest thing about the aftermath of a breakup, is allowing yourself to love again. I thought I would never think about dating relationships ever again. I thought that somehow God wouldn’t heal the parts of my heart that hurt. I thought it was too much for Him. I am wrong, He has done more than heal my heart, He has placed an awesome group people in my life,  built a renewed purpose and fire, and provide some bomb food in my belly along the way *praise Him*. He is working in ways that are beyond anything I could imagine. Don’t get me wrong, I am still hurting. Some days are hard and I am reminded of my singleness as if it is a curse of some kind. You see, I don’t want to be in another relationship for a  while unless it is with a person God wants me to be in. My self-worth isn’t dependent on whether or not a guy asks me out or hits on me. God has already declared beautiful things over my life and I intend on living in that true. 

Until the day I meet "the one" or whatever,  I am just keep living my life. I am going to do cool things. I am going to explore fun places. I am going to chase after my dreams. I am going to continue to fall in love with Jesus and serve the world around me. I am going to do things that scare me. I am going to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. I am going to pursue social justice for all people. I am going to explore and go on random weekly adventures (seriously I do). I will continue meeting interesting people on my train rides. Through my journey of life, I might run into him. And when I do it will fall into place and God will be the center of it all. We will be a couple of cool cats and our Instagram photos will be fire.