Hey Family,
It’s been a minute since my last post and I know that as this blog has evolved it’s become far less personal and more issue focused, but I just want to reflect on a few things this time around.
May 2006 was a very productive month for me. First, May is my birthday month so on May 6th I celebrated another year of life with my family and friends.
During my birthday weekend, my father also celebrated 20 years of pastoring at our church. Now that’s an accomplishment. When I was a child I used to always say, “When I grow up I’m going to be a preacher just like my Daddy.” That eventually came true, but one thing that I have never said is that I will be a pastor. Uh uh. Aint happenin…well, if I have anything to do with it I won’t. Being a pastor is not easy. It’s selfless, thankless, sacrificing work. You’re scrutinized by some, criticized by some more, betrayed by others, and rarely do you see the fruits of your labor. And I haven’t even mentioned the incalculable time spent away from home and the impact that that has on the family. That’s not something that I’m running towards. So props to Pops for sticking in there that long. My grandfather, Bishop Heber Brown, Sr. preached and pastored all the way to his grave. A marvelous show of commitment, but I pray that my Dad doesn’t follow that model. My Dad is gifted in other areas as well. I pray that he explores other avenues and experiences other arenas whereby he can allow God to use him.
On May 11, Young Clergy for Social Change along with Save Darfur Coalition and Payne Memorial AME Church had the Baltimore for Darfur event at Payne Memorial AME Church. It was wonderful. We had a good crowd and a wonderful presentation by Dr. Gloria White-Hammond (www.savedarfur.org). I’m really thankful for my brother Kamal and his pastor, Bishop Bryan Claxton of the New Creation Christian Community Church. They brought a van full of youth over to the presentation. I am forever loyal to that pastor, that church, and my brother Kamal.
I’m also appreciate of the support received by Pastor A. Qismat Alim of Payne Memorial. She is a wonderful African who truly embodies what it means to be a truly African Christian. Which reminds me. I’ve been doing some thinking about social change (surprised?) and I’m becoming more and more convinced that it will be intelligent and courageous women who make the greater gains in the area of social justice movements and community empowerment. I’ll do some more thinking on this, but I’m beginning to see men as being prone to self aggrandizement and grandstanding. The women that I have met in the struggle are hard-working and selfless. I’ll try to remember to expound upon this a bit more later.
From May 18-21st I was in Portland, Oregon attending an Economic Justice Conference organized by Jubilee USA (www.jubileeusa.org) The conference was informational and motivating. I am more inspired now to be an advocate for economic justice in the world particularly as it pertains to freeing African nations from the bondage of erroneous and/or illegitimate debt. On top of that, the flight in and out of Portland was phenomenal. I realized on the plane that I am a real “city boy” because what I was looking at out of my window was bringing me close to tears. It was the most majestic view of mountains, valleys, and lakes that I have EVER seen. You’ll see pictures soon.
Last week, I was in Ocean City, MD for the kickoff of the Advocacy Leaders Program. I was selected along with about 19 others to participate in this program to instruct, connect, and empower advocacy leaders in the nonprofit arena. The kickoff was definitely a confidence booster. I’m more convinced now than ever that I was created for this stuff – social justice advocacy.
Finally, (for now) yesterday we had our annual Memorial Day cookout at Aunt Mary’s. As it is our custom we had the Family Circle and updated the family on recent accomplishments and upcoming events. After the food we gathered in Aunt Mary’s parlor which has an organ in it. As we do every year, the family – young and old – gathered to sing. I started it off with my grandfather’s song, I Know He’s Mine, and the songs kept on coming from there. After about 45 minutes, Aunt Mary ended our session with a nice down home foot-stomping, North Carolina, hot Black Baptist Church hand-clapping song called “So Much To Live For“. It got so good that Anthony stopped playing the organ and everyone kept the rhythm going by our clapping and house shaking stomping. Every time we tried to stop – we couldn’t. We paused during the song and Aunt Betty shouted, “Wait a minute! I have a testimony!” Aunt Betty gave her testimony about how God had been good to her and that took us right about to the edge. If Anthony would’ve touched one key on that organ we would still be in there huckabucking right now.
It truly was an AMAZING May and I am so thankful that I have SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR!
Perfectly finished! Really experienced looking at by your report simply because of its amazing concepts and special views.
My wife and i felt so thrilled that John managed to conclude his analysis out of the precious recommendations he had when using the weblog. It is now and again perplexing to just find yourself handing out secrets that many many others might have been selling. We understand we have got the website owner to appreciate for this. All the illustrations you’ve made, the easy site navigation, the relationships you can aid to engender – it’s all amazing, and it is facilitating our son in addition to us recognize that that content is thrilling, and that is really serious. Thank you for everything!
It’s wonderful that you are getting thoughts from this post as well as from our argument made at this time.
Amazing blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog shine. Please let me know where you got your design. Many thanks
I basically desired to value you once again. I am not certain the items I would’ve sorted out without those techniques contributed by you on this sort of predicament. Unquestionably was an exceptionally terrifying situation in my belief, nonetheless looking at this professional mode you resolved it forced me to leap with happiness. I’m thankful for this advice and in addition have substantial hopes you come across out what an excellent position that you are receiving into instructing the majority of people via a web-site. Much more than likely you haven’t appear across all of us.
There is noticeably a bundle to learn about this. I assume you made certain good points in options also.
This actually answered my drawback, thank you!
Super Cheap Yankee Candles…
[...]we like to honor other sites on the web, even if they aren’t related to us, by linking to them. Below are some sites worth checking out[...]…
dancing with the stars results…
[...]listed below are several references to online websites I always connect to as we feel there’re well worth checking out[...]…
Super Cheap Yankee Candles…
[...]we like to honor other sites on the web, even if they aren’t related to us, by linking to them. Below are some sites worth checking out[...]…
hid headlights…
[...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]…
Red Bottom Shoes…
[...]right here are a couple of references to sites we connect to as we think there’re worthwhile visiting[...]…
Websites worth visiting…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
Red Bottom Shoes…
[...]following are a couple of links to internet pages we link to as we believe there’re worthy of visiting[...]…
ann romney…
[...]below are several web links to sites we link to as we feel there’re worthwhile checking out[...]…
I’d should test with you here. Which is not something I often do! I enjoy reading a put up that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
Gems form the internet…
[...]very few websites that happen to be detailed below, from our point of view are undoubtedly well worth checking out[...]……
cabin in the woods…
[...]following are a couple of urls to internet pages which we connect to as we feel they will be worth browsing[...]…
Cheap Yankee Candles…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]…
[...]The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available [...]……
[...]The information mentioned in the article are some of the greatest available [...]……
I discovered your blog website on google and test just a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the excellent operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to studying more from you later on!…
TkoJo9 Thank you for your blog article. Much obliged.
It is my very own beginning i really click here. I found lots of entertaining junk with your blog, particularly a talk. Out of the a ton of information with your content, I assume Objective, i’m not on your own developing the many excitement here! Compete monetary management give good results.
basketball drills…
[...]just below, are some totally unrelated sites to ours, however, they are definitely worth checking out[...]…
Read was interesting, stay in touch……
[...]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[...]……
[...]The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available [...]……
[...]The information mentioned in the article are some of the greatest available [...]……
Thanks for the article.Really thank you! Cool.
Thanks again for the blog post.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
Very informative blog article.Thanks Again.
Thanks-a-mundo for the blog post.Much thanks again. Will read on…
I really liked your post.Much thanks again. Much obliged.
Major thankies for the blog article.Much thanks again. Much obliged.
Thanks-a-mundo for the post. Great.
Really informative post.Much thanks again. Great.
Im thankful for the blog post.Thanks Again. Much obliged.
I appreciate you sharing this article.Really thank you! Will read on…
I really enjoy the article.Thanks Again. Keep writing.
Fantastic blog post.Thanks Again. Will read on…
Aw, this was a very nice post. In thought I wish to put in writing like this moreover – taking time and actual effort to make a very good article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and under no circumstances appear to get one thing done.
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Cool.
Very neat blog article. Cool.
Great, thanks for sharing this article post.Thanks Again. Keep writing.
A big thank you for your article. Keep writing.