back home in the usa …
Eladia, a friend in the Dominican Republic, sent me the link to this video ...
The lyrics are after the jump ...
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quick note from chilly south africa
It's winter here and buildings aren't heated, so we've all been bundled up ... but the fellowship has been warm and the people at amahoro-africa, as always, have been inspiring.
I just saw this piece at Sojourners - and it certainly fits the reality we see here. There are so many amazing women doing amazing things ...
This morning I listened to Maggie talking about how her Nairobi church has been helping bring health care to the poorest of the poor. Then, after getting grass-roots experience, she tries to educate and challenge government officials to get involved. Just a few minutes ago I talked with Delphine who is building homes for returning refugees in Burundi. In between, I talked with Stephen who, in addition to raising nearly 30 orphans in Rwanda, also helps 150+ widows ... who in turn care for their own children. For every sewing machine he can buy (from $150 to $300 each), he can employ a widow who can support a family. And a white Afrikaans pastor told me about a Ghanan woman in his church who single-handedly started befriending Nigerian prostitutes in their city, and is helping them escape the sex trade and find constructive employment. Yesterday, Robert (visiting Africa from the Dominican Republic) told us of a woman in his church who asked if she could use one space in the church parking lot to feed the homeless one day a week. That small beginning has expanded to a full range of services for homeless people. When you see the light of these women shining so bright and true ... you instinctively want to glorify God.
If you want to get a taste of what's going on here, check out futurechurch.co.za ...
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Leaving for Africa …
I'll be at the amahoro-africa conference this week near Johannesburg, RSA. During the flight I hope to finish a longish post on the economy that I'll try to put up here while I'm gone. Otherwise, I don't imagine I'll have much opportunity to blog this week. I encourage you to check out the archives ...
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Open hand, clenched fist …
I was in an airplane today when President Obama gave his speech in Egypt, but I'm one of many catching it online. Here's a link.
Just a few days ago, I wrote a song which has some strong resonances with the President's words today. Hopefully I can get a scratch recording of it together at some point to share. Here are the lyrics.
Clenching fist and open hand
Sometimes we wonder whether God really does exist,
And if God’s way is of the open hand or clenching fist.
And while some preachers argue over doctrines and demands,
Their followers are making clenching fists of open hands.
Open up your hands.
So is religion killing us? Is it tearing us apart?
Does it open space to reconcile, or shrink the heart?
Two paths lie before us. One constricts and one expands.
One is the way of clenching fists; the other, open hands.
Stretch your open hands.
What we hold in mind and heart flows down through the wrist
And is expressed in open hand or in clenching fist
And so we build on solid rock, or else unstable sand;
And so we live by clenching fist or by the open hand.
Reach out open hands.
If we fight and fear and hate, our conflicts will persist
Until we trust the open hand more than the clenching fist
In church and mosque and synagogue, how many understand
The living God is the loving God of the open hand?
Join your open hands.
There were hands that blessed the children, touched and healed and fed
Hands that poured a cup of wine, hands that broke the bread
Hands that remained open even when the hammer fell
Hands that hold us and that open through our hands as well.
Raise your open hands.
(more after the jump)
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