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  • Politics Is Like Hiring A Hitman
    by Scott Woods inPolitical on2020-08-13

    For me, politics is like hiring a hitman. I have values and things I care about. I care enough about them to at least bother voting for 5 minutes every year for one issue or another. And because I care at least that much, I vote for people who align with the ability to realize the things I care about.

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  • Punching Above Our Weight
    by Roger Madison Jr. inPolitical on2020-07-24

    I believe our vote is the punctuation of our voice. Without that resounding exclamation mark, I believe our voices are just incoherent noise.

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  • BLACK PROGRESS AMIDST SOCIAL CHAOS
    by Roger Madison Jr. inPolitical on2020-06-16

    Recent events have raised the profile of historical injustice and inequities here in the USA. The entire world has taken note of the fact that BLACK LIVES MATTER.   We invite all of our friends to engage in actions that result in the greatest movement for change in our history. It is imperative that we take advantage of this opportunity to affect a positive change by ACTING IN OUR SELF-INTERESTS.

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  • Living in a Black No-Man's Land
    by Roger Madison Jr. inOur Community on2019-10-28

    There are many narratives that define the Black experience in America in this 2nd decade of the 21st century. Our striving over the centuries of our sojourn in this nation is a tapestry of every human experience -- oppression, enslavement, forced assimilation, dehumanization, exclusion, segregation, isolation, struggle, perseverance, achievement, excellence, celebration, mourning, despair, progress, setbacks, lynching, assassination, genocide, terror, self-hatred, low esteem, pride,...

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  • Fighting Racism
    by Scott Woods inOur Community on2018-10-25

    I had a boss who was racist. Not an outright bigot, of course; her toolbox was more subtle than most. We bumped heads a lot over inconsequential things. She frequently couldn’t keep my name out her mouth. Lot of gaslighting. You know…2018 style. I tried a lot of ways to combat or navigate her issues. None of them worked, and that’s saying a lot because I’m really good at fighting racism. But at the end of the day – every day – she was my boss, I had to deal with her, and that was that. Finally I...

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Journey to the Land of Ubuntu -- Days 8, 9, and 10

The last three days of our journey were spent at The Mpumalanga Lectureship of the Churches of Christ in Southern Africa.  This the 27th annual gathering to build a stronger community of believers and expand the kingdom of God in Southern Africa.  The lectureship began on Friday Morning, and continued through Sunday. More than 3,000 participants in the conference hailed from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and Malawi.  We were very proud to represent the USA among these faithful saints.  The theme of the lectureship in 2008 was Building and restoring true and uncompromised faith. 

Mpumalanga lectureship   Cato-3  Nomsa and Choir

We were welcomed to Mpumalanga by the honorable Linah Malatji, Executive Mayor of Emalahleni Local Municipality, which includes the City of Witbank where the lectureship was held.  Among the guest speakers was Brother Ernest Cato and Roger Madison.  Those attending the lectureship from the USA were filled with three days of workshops, sermons, presentations, and wonderful fellowship with our Southern African brothers and sisters in Christ.

                 Mayor and Thuso    Mpumalanga Travelers

There are few words to describe the emersion into the culture of Africa that we experienced during this time of mssionary outreach.  We were welcomed warmly, but also reminded of the great need that still remains for those struggling to uplift a nation.  I am reminded of the passage from 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, where Paul speaks about the Macedonian churches --

"Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.  For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.  Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints."

This is the blessing that we were greeted with, and which shall remain with us as a memory of fellowship with these saints.