BEST POEM IN THE WORLD!

I was shocked, confused, bewildered

As I entered Heaven’s door,

Not by the beauty of it all,

Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven

Who made me sputter and gasp–

The thieves, the liars, the sinners,

The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade

Who swiped my lunch money twice.

Next to him was my old neighbor

Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought

Was rotting away in hell,

Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,

Looking incredibly well.

I asked Jesus, “What’s the deal?

I would love to hear Your take.

How’d all these sinners get up here?

God must’ve made a mistake.

“And why’s everyone so quiet,

So somber - give me a clue.”

“Hush, child,” He said.

“They’re all in shock.

“No one thought they’d be seeing you.”

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Transitional President

 People have been asking me who I will vote for as President this Tuesday. Most people think that I will be voting for Obama because he is Black, like myself. Yes I am going to vote for him, but that isn't the reason. At the moment what I think that this country needs is a Transitional President. Personally, I don't see him being elected again. I do have a small fear that someone will kill him, and I strongly pray that this doesn't happen, but I could see it happening. 

 Not only people in this country making high expectations of him, but so is the world, and that will be his downfall. I think that the man will try and come up with great things for this country, but the country won't work with him to get these things going. By the end of his term, he will be frustrated and simply decide not to run again, but to concentrate on his family.

 

 So who will be elected after him? I think that it will be a woman. I don't believe that the Republican Party (in which I used to be a member,) really doesn't expect to win this election. I think that it will be either close or a blowout, but Obama will win. I think that the 2012 election will come down to Hillary Clinton against Sarah Palin. Gov. Palin is being groomed for the position. Her being nominated now is to get her name out into the public. Over the next couple of years we will really get to find out who she really is. If you saw her on SNL, I think that you saw the real her. The Gov. Palin that we are seeing now is to get the Republican Party excited as to its future. When she runs we will find out her real beliefs and the way that she will do things. Expect her to see her on shows like "The View", 20/20, and other shows after this election is over. I think that the only thing that could stop her is if she is elected to the Senate, then expect her to run in 2016. 

 I think that it's a good thing that Sen. Clinton didn't won the nomination this time. I think that Obama will take this country in a direction to far to the other side, and Sen. Clinton will be the one that will bring it back to a direction that will benefit ALL of the people in this country. Some people will worry about President Bill Clinton being involved in her Presidency, but he has a large number of things that he is doing and I am sure that he really doesn't want to get involved in politics. 

 Now I am sure that this won't happen, but I kind of hope that Obama keeps Dr. Rice in the White House. I think that we really need someone from the current administration to be in his cabinet in order to help us get out of these wars that we are in. I think that she will only be there for a couple of year, and I am not sure how well her and Michelle Obama will get along, but I think that she would be the best person to get us out of Iraq in a way that many in this country would be happy with.

 Enough of Politics.

 My diocese had it's convention not to long ago. I was upset the first night of the convention. Now no business occurs that first night, but a service was held welcoming an Assisting Bishop into our diocese. I have meet Bp. Steven Charleston, and think that he's a great guy. Part of his responsibility will be working and dealing with the MultiCultural and MultiEthnic aspects of the diocese. What I found sad was that Grace Cathedral was only 1/4 full, and the small number of those of us of color was sad. I think that the place should of been full with a large number of people of color there. In a way I wonder how many rectors/vicars/pastors even told their congregation about it. I am glad that Bp. Marc choose him to be the Assisting Bishop, as I think that the two of them will work great together, and a large number of great things will occur in this diocese.

 Make sure that you get out and Vote this Tuesday. 

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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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