No tea for me!

I was watching ABC This Week with Jake Tapper and during the show there is a roundtable portion. Democratic Strategist Donna Brazile was one of the guests. Donna made this statement that resonated with me and I am compelled to speak further on it. “It is ok to disagree with someone but do not demonize them in the process!” This is in regards to the Tea Party movement.




I am trying to gain a better understanding of the Tea party movement. The group is name after a taxation movement against Great Britain. This modern day version seems to be against anything Obama! The more I hear and learn about them the more it sounds like miss information and racial rhetoric! Let me explain further. The tea partiers shouts, “I want my country back!” First off it was never their country to begin with just talk to the Indians!

Secondly they are against the nuclear bill. Well former President Ronald Regan is well remembered for talks with President Mikhail Gorbachev regarding nuclear arms!



Thirdly it is not about territory at all. Truth be told the partiers want the country back out of the hands of President Obama because now the balance of power has shifted! Mr. Obama wants to help the poor, the marginalized and the disfranchised. And because of his compassion to help it appears that the partier’s goal is to dehumanize him. When you dehumanize someone you paint them evil with no soul! Fueling fear into any given situation will bring chaos and terror. Is this movement really reform or a lynch mob? What happen to the days of good old debating and shaking hands afterwards? In today’s debates you must agree if not you are the anti Christ! That makes no sense to me. But for some change is scary. This leads me to Jesus ministry here on earth. It was not always welcome and sometimes met with opposition. In Luke 4:14-30 when Jesus went back to his hometown of Nazareth. He was in the synagogue were he read from the scroll of the prophet of Isaiah. Jesus was expressing his purpose for this ministry on earth! Jesus plans were to preach good news to the poor, give freedom to the captives, recover sight for the blind, and release the oppressed and to declare the year of the Lord’s favor. After this speech the town people ran Jesus to the edge of a cliff but he did not go over!



President Obama is doing what he feels right in his heart and conscience. This is the platform for his Presidency. Helping the poor should not make you a demon but should make you a giver of humanity.



Tea Partiers if you don’t like Mr. Obama’s direction then seek to challenge his opinions but do not kill his character and demoralize him to make your point. Social movements should be based on intelligence, strategies and resolutions. It should not be based on lies, miss information and scare tactics. It is fine to disagree; some of us might prefer coffee to tea! But don’t call me evil because I don’t want to drink your tea!

No Facebook during Lent! Say What???

My schoolmate shared with me that he gave up facebook for Lent. At first I was completely in shock! Why! I demanded to know! I heard of giving up food, drinking or shopping. But facebook is it that serious? He looked me directly in the eye and reminded me that the 40 days of Lent is to rededicate ourselves, do reflection and offer repentance. The fasting is to give up the things that stand in the way of our devotion to Jesus Christ. I know this but I cannot believe that a social network tool has taken control over his life. Don't get me wrong I love facebook and the connection it establish with my friends and family. But nothing will stand between me and my Jesus! Our conversation then turned serious. My friend shared his love for the social networking tool but explained how it has basically taken control of his life. As ministers we must stay focus and used the tool to spread Jesus’ message of love and salvation. We must not let the social networking tool use us in the process. Lent is the time that we prepare for resurrection Sunday. Nothing should be that strong were it interferes with our faith and take away from our God! Now I can understand it, support it and pray with him during this Lenten season. I ended our conversation with one of my bad jokes, and replied that Jesus already answer our friend request and his status is always updated with hope, peace, joy and love! Looking forward to a glorious Easter Sunday!