INJUSTICE Thursday, May 28, 2020 in the early evening, I was directed to view live on Facebook a protest in progress.   Reflecting upon the recent incident in Minneapolis, Minnesota, between Minneapolis Police Officers and a civilian that ended in the civilian’s death, the live footage caught my attention.   “What do we want? Justice!   When do we want it? Now!”   I am all for taking a stand against injustice.   I understand the anger, feelings and the emotions expressed by those victimized by discrimination, by racists attitudes and the abuses at the hands of others.   I understand we need to have a voice, to be heard loud and clear, to be respected as individuals and treated as equals.   All of us, no matter our race, gender, creed, or color have the same basic human needs.   We have the same human rights; with the same basis human rights and needs in common with others, to be treated as equals.   I understand that there is a need for...

Freaked Out?   “I Cannot Dance, O LORD, Unless you lead me.” Dancing was one of those activities I learned to do at an early age.   My Dad would drag us to his friends’ parties, to celebrate Birthdays, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, or any other event that would be conducive to having a great party.   Of course, the dances I learned were those common in the mid 60’s to early 70’s; Boleros and Merengues of which I learned to do well.   Being that I grew up in a Puerto Rican culture, this was the only dancing I did at parties.   I used to watch Lawrence Welk with my Mom on Sunday evenings and would be fascinated by the dancing of the audience.   I did not know any of the “American” dancing until my Mom showed me how to do the Waltz, the Twist, the Box Step and Fox Trot.   Mom also showed me how to do some Cha, Cha.   The dances Mom taught me were always done at home; never appropriate for the parties we went to with Dad.   I enjoyed liste...

Friday to Sunday – Death to Life – Crucifixion to Resurrection Today is Saturday, April 11, 2020 the Sabbath.   I sit here at my Laptop thinking, relaxing and writing down what comes to mind on this day.   Last night, I sat and watched for the second time, The Passion of Christ produced and directed by Mel Gibson.   Watching the Passion of Christ had the same impact on me as it did the first time, I saw the movie in the theater  of Easter 2004 when it was released.   I will share some thoughts with you I collected while watching for the second time (I have the DVD). 1]   I was in tears when the movie opened with Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.   Jesus was struggling knowing what was to come; he had to drink the cup of which was set before him.   Jesus was in great agony and his sweat was like great drops of blood (Luke 22:42-44; John 18:11).   I wrote a brief paper many years ago on the Garden of Gethsemane.   The Ga...

Peace in the Middle of a Storm My room mate is currently listening to Pope Francis address the nation on TV via EWTN (Friday, March 27, 2020).   The passage selected was Matthew 8:23-27; Jesus calms the storm.   The message focused on faith.   Jesus and his disciples had entered a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee.   While at sea in the darkness, a great tempest (storm) appeared threatening the lives of the disciples who struggled to save themselves.   Jesus was asleep in the stern of the boat, the first to sink into the overpowering waves.   The disciples woke Jesus up and cried in fear, “Don’t you care about us?   We are perishing.”   Jesus gets up and calms the storm and turns to his disciples, “Why are you afraid?   Have you no faith?”   The passage concludes with the disciples marveling that the sea and the waves obeyed Jesus.   Pope Francis used the passage to encourage the people; we are in “a storm,” in darkness and whi...

It’s Time to Pray One of the hymns I remember singing in Church had the following lines: It’s time to pray to the God who watches o’er us It’s time to seek His help without delay The world is dark for the clouds of war still threaten It’s time for all America to pray                                                             John W Peterson (1921-2006) In the past few months or more, I have seen disasters in Australia; a large forest fire threatening wild life and homes nearby.   I have seen earthquakes that threatened lives and destroyed homes in south side of Puerto Rico near Ponce and surrounding areas.   There was endless  flooding in Missouri, Mississip...

FAMILY HISTORY When I lived in Philadelphia, I was invited to be a workshop presenter at the Philadelphia Area Sunday School Association’s Annual Convention in November of 1996.   My workshop was titled, Family Systems: Ministering to today’s Families.   I facilitated this workshop three years in a row and each year the classroom would fill with participants.   My goal was to make the workshop interactive, educational and fun; a little humor that captivated the audience and encouraged participation.   The tools used were a colorful mobile (stained glass rainbows) to which I credit Edith Schafer; she mentioned this image in her writings about Family.   Handouts of charts displaying the positions and roles of each family member and their definitions.   Lastly, my favorite Biblical story in Genesis chapters 29, 35 and 37 to which we would draw on the chalkboard a genogram (Family Tree) and brainstorm together what we saw as “red flags” when working with ...

Doors in 2020 One of my favorite songs of the 1950’s is Green Door written by Bob Davie and Marvin Moore and sung by Jim Lowe.   I used to love playing the 45 rpm record as a small boy until it broke.   My brother had a fit because I would not let him play the 45’s Mom gave to me (she divided her 45s between us) so he jumped on my bed and landed on some of my 45’s; Green Door was one of those record that broke that day.   Mom found out what he did and took the record players and the records from us.   It was not until we were in high school that she gave them back. Green Door is about a guy who can’t sleep and is trying to get inside behind this green door.   Behind the door he hears a piano playing, a lot of laughter going on and he longs to know what is behind the door.   The guy tries knocking, tries name dropping that “Joe sent him” only to be laughed at and have the door slammed in his face.   He did not have the “right credential.” ...