Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Odyssey

Check out Odyssey Networks blog....there are countless interesting stories.

None of the Above: Religious Implications

None of the Above: Religious Implications



So many goodies from Religion and Ethics News Weekly!! Enjoy. paz.

Mark Burnett and Roma Downey on “The Bible”

Mark Burnett and Roma Downey on “The Bible”

J. Daryl Byler: Bound by Hospitality

J. Daryl Byler: Bound by Hospitality

Same-Sex Marriage and the Supreme Court

Same-Sex Marriage and the Supreme Court

None of the Above: Political Implications

None of the Above: Political Implications
Free at Last

Joshua 5:9

The Lord said to Joshua, "Today, I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt."

Kenneth L. Samuel

How long does it take for a victim of rape to recover from that single act of violence and violation? How long does it take for a neglected child to garner a healthy sense of self-worth? How long does it take those who commit crimes in the recklessness of their youth that carry mandatory sentencing to become fully reinstated into society? How long does it take a woman, who has been treated for most of her life as a man's co-dependent to step into her place as a man's co-equal?

It's one thing to be released from an abuse or an imprisonment; it's quite another thing to be free from it.

In her seminal work, Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome, Dr. Joy DeGruy argues that every African American person needs to be in therapy because we have never recovered (psychologically, economically or socially) from the multi-generational oppression and the institutionalized racism associated with chattel slavery in America.

Some forty years after the Israelites made their triumphant exodus out of bondage in Egypt, they come to a place in east Palestine where God confirms God's covenant with them through the rite of circumcision. After marking the children of Israel as God's own, God says to Joshua: Today - forty years after your liberation from Egyptian bondage; Today - a generation after Moses led you out of captivity with signs and wonders; Today – after decades of wandering in the wilderness and countless days of anxiety regarding your identity and your destiny; Today – I am redeeming you from the profound damage of your oppression and bringing you out from under the chronic pains of your past.

We know from Old Testament history that Israel's healing did not end with this event. Israel's history, like our own histories, is a continuing saga of recovery.

The bad news is that our healing is still in process. And the good news is that our healing is still in process.

Prayer

Gracious God, give us the wisdom to recognize and participate in the processes of our own recovery. And give us sufficient care and regard for the healing processes of others. Amen.

Empathy

Check out the Teaching Tolerance blog at the Southern Poverty Law Center....

It's a great site for teachers, pastors, Christian educators, mothers, fathers......We can all play a part in reducing hatred in our communities. It's how we can move closer to God's Kingdom.
This is a sample of the information you can find there:

My Way Is Not the Only Way

Objectives:

Students will:
  • Learn about different belief systems.
  • Appreciate the benefits of living in a country with many different religious beliefs.
  • Identify similarities and differences of different belief systems.

Essential Questions:

  • What do religious traditions and beliefs say about people? What can I learn from the religious traditions and beliefs of others?
  • How would our nation be different if there was only one religion?
  • What connections can we make between different religions? What can we learn from the uniqueness of different belief systems?
My yoga instructor at Focus Yoga in Brookfield read this to us as we rested in some peaceful postures. I was so moved.  It applies to so many other areas of our lives. Let us choose life and optimism, strength, and courage! paz.
I'm sorry I don't know the author.....let me know if you do.

Yoga is not about being bendy….

It’s about showing up to your mat consistently not knowing what is going to happen and being ok with that. 

It’s about rehabilitating yourself and not believing the “experts” when they say you are too injured or too old. 

It’s about believing that you can do anything even if it’s the most scariest impossible thing you could ever dream of. 

It’s about uncovering who you really are. 

It’s about being kind to yourself so that you can then be kind to others. 

Yoga is about discovering that most of the crazy thoughts in your head are not true. 

It’s about being healthy without pushing yourself to your limit. 

It’s about slowing down to get strong. 

It’s about breathing and moving and smiling on the inside. 

It’s the hardest thing I have ever done, but also the best.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

WRETCHED NO MORE: THE BLOG IS HERE!By demand, Dr. Cooper-Lewter has established the Wretched No More blog to keep everyone updated about the status of his upcoming book and related events.

His first post, What is a Recovering Ugly Duckling?, features a 22 minute video of his keynote speech for the Black History Month reception hosted by the University of South Carolina's Athletic Department. We encourage you to share it!

Upcoming posts include that of other Recovering Ugly Ducklings. So stay tuned!

You can go to the blog by clicking here or pasting this link into your browser:

http://www.wretchednomore.wordpress.com

*I heard this gentleman speak at a conference I recently attended and it was life-changing. I hope you are moved as well.
paz.