Today is my day off, and I decided to watch the movie Amazing Grace, which is about William Wilberforce (apologies if I spelled it incorrectly). If you have not seen this, buy it today. This is a great, inspirational story of how one man took on the British Parlament and overcame.
I think this is a story that has great meaning for today. For many, it is a true story of overcoming great evil singlehandedly, an inspiration to all to be brave enough to fight for what one believes in. When all odds were against him, when he was called a traitor for speaking, he stood on faith alone to fight the evil of slavery.
Where are the Wilberforces of today? Slavery in the British Empire was focused on the production of sugar, unlike in America where we think of cotton. Brits love sugar in their tea. Today, the comparison can be made to choclate in America. Hershery, Mars, and other major chocolate makers grow chocolate in Africa by use of slavery. They claim it isn't, because they pay them LESS THAN A DOLLAR A DAY. How many of you can live on that? They pay them enough to return tomorrow for another 18 hour day of labor, but not enough to live on.
In the movie, a woman tells Wilberforce she and her friends stopped using sugar in their tea. Are we willing to stop buying chocolate? What about the children who work in sweatshops in China? What about the ten year old girls (or younger) who are kidnapped and brought to other countries INCLUDING AMERICA to be used as underage prostitutes? It makes me sick to even write about. So the question is, what are you going to do about it?
Some suggested website include International Justice Mission, Slave Free Chocolate, and many other places. Open your eyes. Search for it. Slavery is around us everyday. The question is, will you stand up like William Wilberforce and fight for basic justice for all humanity, or will you, like many others of his day, allow your own convenience and greed keep others oppressed? Because we cannot say it is not our fault or that it is not our problem. "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Yeah, I know
Sorry it has been busy at work and I have not had time to write. In the mean time, here is a blog entry that, well, I couldn't have said it better myself!
http://heseltonhappenings.blogspot.com/2010/03/demise-of-family.html#comment-form
http://heseltonhappenings.blogspot.com/2010/03/demise-of-family.html#comment-form
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
A calling
I did not intend to ever write this post, but I fell compelled right now. In keeping this blog anonymous, I did not intend to tell specifics about my career. I have said before that I speak on behalf of a non-profit for a living. While that is true, that non-profit organization is a church. I am a minister.
Now in different circles, I hear many different terms used. In the Roman Catholic Church, its a priest. Some churches, its pastor or evangelist, or many other terms. I prefer minister or simply preacher. I work at a somewhat larger church, with multiple ministers on staff. I'm not the senior minister (usually refered to as the preacher), but I still like the terms preacher, even if I don't preach regularly.
Right now, I'm online watching a sermon done over a week ago at Southeast Christian church in Louisville, KY. In the particular sermon I am watching, Dave Stone and Kyle Idleman are discussing their own calls to ministry. A call to ministry is a powerful thing, as I have experienced for myself. I fought the call to ministry, I didn't want to do it, but finally after arguing with God for about six months, I told him that if that was what He wanted, I was in.
Funny thing is, God started to use me as a minister, even in high school. With 9-11 and two wars breaking out during that time, I was often brought into conversations about matters of faith, by both students and faculty. It was amazing how much I enjoyed life once I started following God's direction for it.
Now, after going to Bible college and having several years of ministry under my belt, I still love it. Ministry is hard. If it is only a job, a person cannot make it. But to me, my calling is not about a job. Its a large part of who I am. My boss recently said was discussing salary with out finances commitee and said about me "He would pay us to work here." Its true. I love it.
I love it so much, that it has cost me. I could make more money in a secular field. What I would do, I have no idea, nor do I want to ever have to make that decision. It has also cost me more. I dated a girl who I loved for a year. During that year, I learned that she had no desire for ministry, even to marry into it. That was one of several issues. Suffice it to say, she had built up an idea of who I was and loved that person, but the real me did not match up. It broke my heart and turned me off romance in general for a few years. She could not accept major parts of who I was, with ministry being one of those parts.
The truth is, I would sacrifice more to fulfill the calling my God has given me. I would follow Him to the ends of the earth but for the asking. I have a rare gift. I KNOW what I have been placed on this earth for. I know WHY I am here. That is an opportunity not many have in this life.
I really had to get this off my chest. I had to say how much I love my calling, almost as much as the God who called me. What else will he call me to be? A husband? I don't know, and frankly, I don't care. If I have to give up the prospect of ever getting married, ever having sex in order to keep my calling, I would do that without hesitation. So if God doesn't lead that way, don't be surprised if this knight never claims a lady. In the mean time, I'll stay in the fight, sword and lance.
Now in different circles, I hear many different terms used. In the Roman Catholic Church, its a priest. Some churches, its pastor or evangelist, or many other terms. I prefer minister or simply preacher. I work at a somewhat larger church, with multiple ministers on staff. I'm not the senior minister (usually refered to as the preacher), but I still like the terms preacher, even if I don't preach regularly.
Right now, I'm online watching a sermon done over a week ago at Southeast Christian church in Louisville, KY. In the particular sermon I am watching, Dave Stone and Kyle Idleman are discussing their own calls to ministry. A call to ministry is a powerful thing, as I have experienced for myself. I fought the call to ministry, I didn't want to do it, but finally after arguing with God for about six months, I told him that if that was what He wanted, I was in.
Funny thing is, God started to use me as a minister, even in high school. With 9-11 and two wars breaking out during that time, I was often brought into conversations about matters of faith, by both students and faculty. It was amazing how much I enjoyed life once I started following God's direction for it.
Now, after going to Bible college and having several years of ministry under my belt, I still love it. Ministry is hard. If it is only a job, a person cannot make it. But to me, my calling is not about a job. Its a large part of who I am. My boss recently said was discussing salary with out finances commitee and said about me "He would pay us to work here." Its true. I love it.
I love it so much, that it has cost me. I could make more money in a secular field. What I would do, I have no idea, nor do I want to ever have to make that decision. It has also cost me more. I dated a girl who I loved for a year. During that year, I learned that she had no desire for ministry, even to marry into it. That was one of several issues. Suffice it to say, she had built up an idea of who I was and loved that person, but the real me did not match up. It broke my heart and turned me off romance in general for a few years. She could not accept major parts of who I was, with ministry being one of those parts.
The truth is, I would sacrifice more to fulfill the calling my God has given me. I would follow Him to the ends of the earth but for the asking. I have a rare gift. I KNOW what I have been placed on this earth for. I know WHY I am here. That is an opportunity not many have in this life.
I really had to get this off my chest. I had to say how much I love my calling, almost as much as the God who called me. What else will he call me to be? A husband? I don't know, and frankly, I don't care. If I have to give up the prospect of ever getting married, ever having sex in order to keep my calling, I would do that without hesitation. So if God doesn't lead that way, don't be surprised if this knight never claims a lady. In the mean time, I'll stay in the fight, sword and lance.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
New purchases
I'm a natural saver. Some would call me frugal. Some would call me a tight wad. I don't really care. This entry isn't really about that. The point is, when I spend money, it is RARELY on a whim (even that is usually eating out).
So this past week I was on a business trip to Knoxville, TN. While there, I went to one of my favorite stores, located in Sevierville. Its called Smokey Mountain Knife Works. They are the largest knife store in the world, and do sell other things.
It is the other things that interest me. I had been on the website and looked at things that I was thinking about buying. I boought a Gladius, the sword of a Roman soldier. This particular one cost around $80. It has a blunted blade (meaning not sharpened). I also bought a small medieval dagger. I was pleased with these purchases.
This is the same store where I bought my Agincourt sword, named after the famous victory by Henry V, immortalized by Shakespear. This sword is one of my two prized possessions. I have a collection of various similar items (big surpise based on the name of the blog huh?). The sword represented to Knights in the Medieval age much of who they were. The hand guard on the sword even represented their faith (looking like a cross). My sword represents similar to me.
Though I know not to romance what the Medieval age actually was, I like the ideals it was meant to hold to, things like social justice, love, protecting those who cannot defend themselves, and holding to your faith (though I will not do so through violence as they did, because that is not a teaching of my faith).
So this past week I was on a business trip to Knoxville, TN. While there, I went to one of my favorite stores, located in Sevierville. Its called Smokey Mountain Knife Works. They are the largest knife store in the world, and do sell other things.
It is the other things that interest me. I had been on the website and looked at things that I was thinking about buying. I boought a Gladius, the sword of a Roman soldier. This particular one cost around $80. It has a blunted blade (meaning not sharpened). I also bought a small medieval dagger. I was pleased with these purchases.
This is the same store where I bought my Agincourt sword, named after the famous victory by Henry V, immortalized by Shakespear. This sword is one of my two prized possessions. I have a collection of various similar items (big surpise based on the name of the blog huh?). The sword represented to Knights in the Medieval age much of who they were. The hand guard on the sword even represented their faith (looking like a cross). My sword represents similar to me.
Though I know not to romance what the Medieval age actually was, I like the ideals it was meant to hold to, things like social justice, love, protecting those who cannot defend themselves, and holding to your faith (though I will not do so through violence as they did, because that is not a teaching of my faith).
Monday, February 8, 2010
Don't tell
Also from the President's State of the Union speech, the repeal of the Don't ask, Don't tell policy. I'm going to make some people mad, but I hope to make since. However you stand on the issue of homosexuality, that policy makes since to me. Why? Equality. Bottom line is there are biggots who would harass and beat a "faggot," to use their biggoted lingo. But if they don't know, they won't do it. It ONLY makes sense to prevent abuses by not bringing up the issue.
Now the possibility of removing the come out and your kicked out, that maybe a possible move, but there's still the thing of men that go into the military usually consider themselves to be macho. And macho men usually tend to be more bigotted. I'm not calling all military men bigots. I have FAR too many military friends to say that. I'm just saying, they're out there. Where I grew up, we called them Rednecks. I wish they weren't, but there's not a lot we can do about that.
What do you think? Leave your comments below.
Now the possibility of removing the come out and your kicked out, that maybe a possible move, but there's still the thing of men that go into the military usually consider themselves to be macho. And macho men usually tend to be more bigotted. I'm not calling all military men bigots. I have FAR too many military friends to say that. I'm just saying, they're out there. Where I grew up, we called them Rednecks. I wish they weren't, but there's not a lot we can do about that.
What do you think? Leave your comments below.
Accountability and the State of the Union
Ok, it been a while, but I have to address some things from the President's State of the Union address. I didn't mean to watch it. I wanted to go to bed, but I turned it on for a "few minutes" and next thing I new it was over. President Obama is an excellent speaker who managed to annoy me with his political rhetoric. He's just as partisan as the last president and showed he's also just as disconnected from the people.
Let's start with accountability. We live in a world devoid of accountability. Its a tragic thing. Obama believes he is above accountability (as did Bush, as does both houses of congress). He promised "change" as has only done what has been done before, only he did it bigger. He's inherited a big hole, and his solution was a bigger shovel. He blamed Bush for the economy. True, but he's only repeated the "solutions" that created the problem. "If you do what you've always done, you will get WHAT YOU'VE ALWAYS GOTTEN." That quote doesn't originate with me, but its no less true. He blamed Republicans, despite the fact he had a supermajority and yet did NOTHING. He blamed his own party (his "Progressive friends") for not just doing what they're told. He even blamed the Supreme Court and the Constitution!
The closest he came to holding himself accountable was saying about health care the reason people don't want socialized health care was he didn't explain it enough. Let me translate. "I underestimated just how stupid the American people are." He told them to push through because we don't know what's good for us, so our Daddy has to make us eat our vegetables and pay insane taxes to get crappy health care that doesn't cover children and senior citizens and gives government officials the right to determine what care you get (including aborting babies without consent of the parents. So much for "choice.")
Here's the solution. Start by holding YOURSELF accountable. Take responsibility for the things you do wrong. Then if it is within your power, fix it. Offer no excuses, only apologies. Second, hold the politicians accountable. I know people who vote for who they think will win. That's stupid. Vote for who YOU think SHOULD be there. If it is a Democrat, vote blue with no regret. If it is a Republican, vote for them. I would also emphasize, if it is third party, don't think you're wasting your vote. "They don't stand a chance." Not if you won't vote for them. Hold Washington and your state responsible.
Let's start with accountability. We live in a world devoid of accountability. Its a tragic thing. Obama believes he is above accountability (as did Bush, as does both houses of congress). He promised "change" as has only done what has been done before, only he did it bigger. He's inherited a big hole, and his solution was a bigger shovel. He blamed Bush for the economy. True, but he's only repeated the "solutions" that created the problem. "If you do what you've always done, you will get WHAT YOU'VE ALWAYS GOTTEN." That quote doesn't originate with me, but its no less true. He blamed Republicans, despite the fact he had a supermajority and yet did NOTHING. He blamed his own party (his "Progressive friends") for not just doing what they're told. He even blamed the Supreme Court and the Constitution!
The closest he came to holding himself accountable was saying about health care the reason people don't want socialized health care was he didn't explain it enough. Let me translate. "I underestimated just how stupid the American people are." He told them to push through because we don't know what's good for us, so our Daddy has to make us eat our vegetables and pay insane taxes to get crappy health care that doesn't cover children and senior citizens and gives government officials the right to determine what care you get (including aborting babies without consent of the parents. So much for "choice.")
Here's the solution. Start by holding YOURSELF accountable. Take responsibility for the things you do wrong. Then if it is within your power, fix it. Offer no excuses, only apologies. Second, hold the politicians accountable. I know people who vote for who they think will win. That's stupid. Vote for who YOU think SHOULD be there. If it is a Democrat, vote blue with no regret. If it is a Republican, vote for them. I would also emphasize, if it is third party, don't think you're wasting your vote. "They don't stand a chance." Not if you won't vote for them. Hold Washington and your state responsible.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Apologies audience
Sory I haven't posted for a while. Work is extremely busy. I have 3 meetings this week after normal work hours. I mentioned I speak for a non-profit. I have a speech coming up on finances, a class I'm preparing to teach, and two trips coming up this month. I haven't forgotten about this!
In the mean time, if there is anything you would particularly like to hear me address, leave a comment on this and I'll get to it when I can.
In the mean time, if there is anything you would particularly like to hear me address, leave a comment on this and I'll get to it when I can.
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