MLK Day
January 21st, 2008 · Posted in Current Affairs, Practical Christianity, Practical Ministry · 1 Comment
If I can help somebody as I pass along, If I can cheer somebody with a word or song, If I can show somebody he’s traveling wrong, Then my living will not be in vain. If I can do my duty as a Christian ought, If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought, If I can spread the message as the master taught, Then my living will not be in vain. Yes, Jesus, I want to be on your right or your left side, (Yes) not for any selfish reason. I want to be on your right or your left side, not in terms of some political kingdom or ambition. But I just want to be there in love and in justice and in truth and in commitment to others, so that we can make of this old world a new world.
These are the words of a brave man, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was not perfect — but he worked for justice and to give rights and liberties to all people.
I pray that — in some way — I can take the quote and try to live by it. Living in “love and in justice and in truth and in commitment to others, so that we can make of this old world a new world” is not a racial issue — it’s a Christian issue!
Here is a link to a post I made a few years ago about my Dad, his history with the Civil Rights movement, and how my opinion of Dr. King has changed over the years.
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:40 am
I was hoping to be able to move closer to one of the candidates “camp” and further from the “undecided camp” where I now find myself. I was hoping they would give a vision — a plan — and some hope for helping those in need in our country and around the world.
I was disappointed.
What I saw was bickering and arguing — pointing fingers — and very little to hope for.
I am Canadian, but politics is politics. Unfortunately, with many successful politicians too much time is spent stating presently popular opinions, staying popular and/or increasing in popularity and cutting down political opponents. Sadly, truth is often secondary to these other concerns. In many cases, political systems and attitudes need to be changed, as opposed to the parties in power.
Cheers, Bill.
Russ