Where I have been

 You may have been wondering why I haven't posted anything even though some interesting stuff has been going on in the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion. I was going to post about the recent diocesan convention in this diocese, and my experience with our Asst. Bishop Steven Charleston, along with some other stuff, but I've been a little busy. 

 What I think that I may end up doing is posting a Video Blog here instead from time to time. I am trying to figure out the software on a video site that I use (LiveVideo.) I thought about using YouTube, but it doesn't permit me to do it the way that I want to do it.

 A couple of quick things. If you haven't made it to the Conversations About Race & Religion series that has been going on in Oakland, you have missed out on some great and interesting talks. The next and last one will be held at St. Augustine's, located at 29th St & Telegraph Ave. the day after the elections. 

 For you with Youth Groups and/or youth between the ages of 13 and 18. Nightwatch will be returning in January the Sunday and Monday of Rev. Dr. MLK weekend. It promises to be real fun for all youth. 

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ASL Episcopal Congregations?

 I connected with a cousin of mine on Facebook. even though I don't think about it, he happens to be deaf. He wasn't born that way, it happened with a illness that he had as a child. While looking through his profile, I noticed that he is a member of the Oakland Deaf Church. I know very little about his church, but after looking at there website a question came to mind about the Episcopal and Anglican church. Are there any Episcopal/Anglican deaf congregations?

 We have done a lot towards being inclusive towards so many, but I as I watched this sermon from his church I realized that I have never seen or recall seeing any ASL done in any congregation or event. Hopefully some day we will be inclusive towards the deaf in more ways than we are.

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Why should I Support Prop 8?

 Here in California we have a proposition on our ballet that states that we will only recognize marriage as being between a male and a female. Now I have no problem against marriage between two people of the same sex, and actually think that we "straight" folks could learn from them as I think that their divorce rate will be lower.
 I have dealt with people online who talk about how homosexuality is wrong and against the teachings of the Bible. I was at an event the other night, and Father Monrelle Williams of St. Augustine's Oakland pointed out something interesting, in that if we were to really follow all in the laws of the Bible, we would go to jail. I also read someting that got me thinking and I ask:

 If you are against are against same sex marriage, please defend your position without referring to the Bible or any other religious teaching.

 If you think about it, no other animal on this planet has a ceremony or goes through what we as humans do to declare that two are together for the rest of their lives. Yes some animals do mate for life, but most don't. Homosexuality isn't just a human thing, for if you were to do a search you can find it amongst many animals, and in some cases that are together for life. What makes what we do so special?

 Yes I believe in the institution and sanctity of marriage. I believe that when two people get together who fulfill each other, if they choose to get married then they should have that right regardless of their sexual preferences.

 So if you are against same sex marriage, please defend your position without referring to what any religious teaching have to say.

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A Ministry to Support

In the congregation that I am in, one of the ministry programs that some of the people are involved in is Kairos. Of what I have been told, Kairos is a wonderful program that is done in prisons throughout the world. We in the congregation are asked to write letters of support to the prisoners whenever our members are going to be part of a team. We have heard some wonderful stories about the program.

But I want to tell about another program which I feel is as important as Kairos. In several areas throughout the country is a program the is called "Stories From Mom". This is a program that I think that we all most support. What they do is volunteers will go into jails and invite those with children at home to sit and read a story to their child from a selection of books that the volunteers have brought in. These stories are taped and sent to the child of the person who is locked up. Now I know that some people will feel that this is wrong and that the parent shouldn't have any contact with their children, but why should the child be punished for the mistake of a parent? What wrong did the child do?

I want for you to google "Stories From Mom" and check the different programs out. I know that it is apart of the Grace Cathedral Jail Ministry program, and is in other areas as well. Support this ministry in any way that you can, and keep these great volunteers in your prayers.

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A Prayer for a Friend

A few years ago, I went to another congregation on Fridays during Lent because they were doing the Stations of the Cross. The only time that the Stations was done at my congregation was on Good Friday. Now I was and am in the habit of doing the Stations throughout the year. After going to the other congregation one Friday, I figured that it would be a great thing to do at my congregation. I mentioned the idea to my pastor, and he started telling me that this was a Spanish thing to do. I explained to him that it wasn't, as I had been going to an Afro-Anglican congregation where they had been doing it. He was surprise, and after a few weeks he said OK. 

I looked on the Internet, and found that their are a number of Stations that deal with topics other than just the story of the last days of Christ. They were still related to the last days, but also dealt with other things like war, AIDS, and more. We used these except for Good Friday, as I felt that we should use the traditional one. While we were in the process of doing them, the idea of creating one myself came to mind. I wasn't sure what to do it on, but I knew that something would come to mind. 

I was involved in an event in the diocese where I needed to find stories about the Civil Rights Movement. I search the Internet and found some very interesting ones. The event went off great. I was then involved with something else, and while given me a lift home, my pastor mentioned the idea of me putting together a Stations dealing with Racism. That was it, That is the thing that I am suppose to do. I thought about it and looked on the Internet for the stories that I had found, but had put in "Stories of Racism" for some reason. In the list of site, I found a site that I have come to love. It has stories not only of racism, but many other things as well.  Now the social networks like MySpace, Friendster and Facebook are all nice, but if you really want to meet people who have common interest with you, and you can really develop friendships with, give The Experience Project a visit. It's one of those places that is one of the best kept secrets on the Internet. I would really hate to see it become like the the other places, but I want to see it succeed. 

 Anyway, I was looking through a section in there, and someone had written about something that they were currently going through and having a real rough time. As most people know, I am a very shy guy until I get to know someone, but the Holy Spirit lead me to send the person a note to try and help them feel better about themself, and what I felt they should do. We have conversed through PMs since, and I have really enjoyed those conversations. They are beginning to feel better about themself, and I hope that I helped in a small way, but I want for you all to keep this person in your prayers. Please pray for Stronger. Now I don't know Stronger's real name, but I am positive that the Holy Trinity will know exactly who is being referred to. I really want for Stronger to feel like they are surrounded by the Love that I know all that read this have, and the Love of the Holy Trinity.

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A GREAT place to go to for a Hot Dog

 Normally I would write this in what I refer to as my Online Journal, but I just had to put this here. If you ever wanted to have the Perfect Hot Dog, and you are in the Jack London Area of Oakland, go to "O My Dawg" down at 2nd and Broadway. The service is great, and the food is..... WOW!!!... This isn't a place that you bring your kids to, and the prices of the food is a higher than elsewhere, but it is worth it.  I have tried eatting Hot Dogs from elsewhere since I had my first one from here, and they don't compare.

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I may not vote for Obama

 After watching Joe Biden give his speech at the DNC last night, I think that Obama may lose my vote. He's now has a ton  of work to do in order to get my vote now. Oh I'm sure that some are wondering what Biden said that has gotten me to change my mind on Obama, but he didn't say a thing to make me think that Obama has done anything wrong, but he talked about someone who this country and the world needs to lead us. The person that currently is going to get my vote as a write-in.
 During the primaries, I was going to vote for John Edwards. Now I like Hillary and Obama, but Edwards was the only one of the main three who seemed to want to actually talk about the important issues. After he pulled out, I switched back and forth between Clinton and Obama, so I asked the youth group at my church who I should vote for, and in unison said Obama. Obama got my vote.
 But I know that you really don't want to read my views on Obama or McCain at the moment, but you are wondering who I am going to vote for.

MAMA BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT IN '08

With the way that Joe Biden talked about his mother, she is who this world really needs at the moment.

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