The Ghetto Monk

1. Raising Girls In A World Where They Are Less Than Human

I have two daughters.
They are little spark plugs of utter joy and complete chaos. They make me laugh. They make me cry. They remind me to view the world through childlike wonder. They remind me that I am not what I do, but who I am. They teach me what selfless love actually looks like … every day … day after day … early morning after early morning … nasty crap diaper after nasty crap diaper. They make me realize how much I have to learn about parenting and our place in the world...continue reading

2. How Can a Fallible Bible Be Inspired?

Over the past several months we’ve been doing a lot of deconstruction work with the Bible on my blog, discussing how an unquestioning reading of Scripture leads to a lot of hurt. It’s an important conversation to have, one motivated by compassion. Because we care about people, and because we love the Bible we need to confront a way of reading that justifies harm as wrong. Still, even so, it’s hard. It takes a toll because, even though we believe we are doing something good, it cuts away at our old beliefs in the process, and that means it cuts us. After doing that kind of hard deconstructive work it can feel like there’s nothing left to stand on...continue reading

3. 4 Reasons I'm Not Going to Heaven

A few days ago somebody gave me a scrap of yellow paper with blue letters on it. Across the top it read: "Am I Going to Heaven? QUIZ!"
Not too long ago, I was the one carrying those papers, handing them to strangers in hopes of altering their eternal destination. So I recognized all the Bible verses, the step-by-step, point-by-point sales pitch. But now, I have no interest in buying what they're selling.
If this is the way to Heaven, I'm not going. Here's why:..continue reading

4. Five reasons to love Sojourners’ 'Summit for Change'

Last week I was in Washington, D.C., for the inaugural Summit for Change, created by Sojourners, to which, incidentally, you really ought to subscribe if you are a person of faith (or even if you’re not) who cares about social justice. - See more at: http://rachelmariestone.religionnews.com/2014/06/24/five-reasons-love-sojourners-summit-change/#sthash.UPGpiGmA.dpuf

Five reasons to love Sojourners’ ‘Summit for Change’ - See more at: http://rachelmariestone.religionnews.com/2014/06/24/five-reasons-love-sojourners-summit-change/#sthash.UPGpiGmA.dpuf

Last week I was in Washington, D.C., for the inaugural Summit for Change, created by Sojourners, to which, incidentally, you really ought to subscribe if you are a person of faith (or even if you’re not) who cares about social justice...continue reading

5. The Forgotten Story of the Freedom Schools

Young people named it the Freedom Summer Project. It was the largest campaign to register voters—in 1964, an election year—and it was the most significant demonstration of African Americans’ political strength in the Civil Rights Movement. Congressman John Lewis, then chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), wrote that the objective of Freedom Summer was to “force a showdown between the local and federal government.” One significant yet overlooked part of this history is the way activists moved beyond the ballot box to politicize the right to an education...continue reading

Over the past several months we’ve been doing a lot of deconstruction work with the Bible on my blog, discussing how an unquestioning reading of Scripture leads to a lot of hurt. It’s an important conversation to have, one motivated by compassion. Because we care about people, and because we love the Bible we need to confront a way of reading that justifies harm as wrong. Still, even so, it’s hard. It takes a toll because, even though we believe we are doing something good, it cuts away at our old beliefs in the process, and that means it cuts us. After doing that kind of hard deconstructive work it can feel like there’s nothing left to stand on. - See more at: http://www.redletterchristians.org/can-fallible-bible-inspired/#sthash.D1z8iyk8.dpuf

Planning is always one of the most important steps in anything we do. Whether it be work related, school related, or in our ministries it is essential. I can't function right unless there's a plan ready for me to follow. Sometimes that's becomes a hindrance when I'm trying to do certain things or start certain projects.

It's always been a problem of mine moving past the plan when working by myself. Often I deter or deviate from the original idea by letting things from within stop me. I let road blocks from the past stand in the way. For instance, it's known to my peers that it takes a lot for me to focus. Some may call it attention deficit disorder. But, I think I allow myself to give in to pressure too easily. Sometimes it causes me anxiety not knowing the outcome of things. Even if I know I can somehow make whatever plan, idea, or method work I still shut myself down by believing the finished product won't be as good as I had hoped.

It took me a week to get started on this post, mainly because I have been wrestling with the fact that I may not post as well as some other bloggers or even my fellow Ghetto Monk contributors. Bumps in the road of life seem to resurface and cause me to shut down and believe that I can't get something done.

Since the start of the new year I've been reading Tony Dungy's 365 devotional The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Devotional. It's a pretty good read and I recommend it for anyone. Each day has a theme to go along with it. There are seven themes, one for each day of the week (Core, Family, Friends, Potential, Mission, Influence & Faith). They reoccur in the same order every week. This book has become what drives some of my days. One particular day, May 31st to be exact, Tony had a passage called Getting in The Race. It focused on being able to jump into something despite trials and hardships we may face along the way. The scripture he used for the day was Romans 5:3-5.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5 NIV)

This scripture really hit home with me that day. I was trying to figure out what it is I want to be in life (at 24 I feel like you should have some idea). Its always been hard for me to think ahead. Once I get so far into the planning stage I begin to think of all the ways I could fail. That brings my wheels to a screeching halt every time. Like Ryan quoted in his post The Fear of Failure, we miss 100% of the shots we don't take. We never come close to finishing or enduring, persevering through any of the races, hardships, plans, ministries or dreams that we don't first jump into. Following the thinking/planning phase is so crucial. If we don't take that first step of faith and start the process knowing that God has our path blazed out ahead of us we will never find out who we want to be or what God has called us to be.

God is with us the whole way. Throughout the Bible He reminds us of His plans to keep us and grow us. Our hope comes from trusting in those promises and enduring those hardships that ultimately build our character. Planning is step one, but it's crucial to move on and make the second step of action toward our goal.

1. Tone Deaf Leadership: 3 reasons Christian leaders should especially listen to oppressed voices

Within the family of God, members of oppressed groups shouldn’t have to mount a social justice campaign in order to make their voices heard...continue reading

2. The Cross, Predestination, and Emmett Till

The Cross, Predestination, and Emmett Till

One of the interesting things about the academy is in the way Black Theologians strive to engage Hip Hop culture. While I personally don’t do so, I think this move is necessary for a few reasons. Priests and prophets in the Hebrew Bible as part of their vocation were to help God’s people remember God’s story correctly, and live it out faithfully. Unfortunately in the 21st century, “secular” corporate-driven hip hop is used as a tool to colonize children from all backgrounds. One instance was the case of a rap “artist” who made a rhyme sexualizing the lynching of Emmet Till. I believe this is where Black Liberation theology needs to intervene. - See more at: http://politicaljesus.com/2014/06/18/the-cross-predestination-and-emmett-till/#sthash.RuL4umfi.dpuf
One of the interesting things about the academy is in the way Black Theologians strive to engage Hip Hop culture. While I personally don’t do so, I think this move is necessary for a few reasons. Priests and prophets in the Hebrew Bible as part of their vocation were to help God’s people remember God’s story correctly, and live it out faithfully. Unfortunately in the 21st century, “secular” corporate-driven hip hop is used as a tool to colonize children from all backgrounds. One instance was the case of a rap “artist” who made a rhyme sexualizing the lynching of Emmet Till. I believe this is where Black Liberation theology needs to intervene...continue reading

3. A Field Guide for Suffering Well

Many of us don't know what to do when we find ourselves in the spiritual desert. Because our hyper-connected culture provides everything on demand, when we don't get what we want, when we want it, we feel disoriented and cranky...continue reading

4. Fearing Tragedy

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4...continue reading

5. A fresh start at New Life Christian Centre

This month we’re proud to highlight New Life Christian Centre as our “feature partner”. It seems like every time someone from the Forgotten Voices team visits New Life Christian Centre, we get new updates on children and families experiencing life in a new and strengthened way as a result of their contact with the church. Africa Director Remmy Hamapande visited our partnership at New Life last month. Here are a few stories he shared…continue reading

In the wake of Father's Day I have been reflecting on some advice my dad gave me many years ago when I was a young child. Like my dad, I love the game of basketball and growing up I would play every chance I got. My dad would take my brother and I to different parks in Baltimore looking to get a good run in. This often meant that I would have to play with bigger and older kids if I wanted a chance to play at all. I was always a late bloomer, so I was usually one of the shortest kids in my age group. It would feel like I was playing with giants, but no one wants to go to the court to just sit and watch.

I looked up to my brother and I always wanted to play with him and his friends. I was also very competitive so I didn't mind playing with the bigger and older kids as long as they passed me the ball. I remember a time where I was playing timid and was scared to drive inside the paint because of the towering figures that guarded the rim. My dad noticed my apprehension and pulled me to the side and told me, "Ryan, you can't be scared of getting your shot blocked."

As a kid who was younger and smaller than my competition, I constantly had to prove myself. Getting my shot blocked was very embarrassing and it amplified the insecurities I already felt by being at a disadvantage because of my size. I was afraid of humiliation, I was afraid rejection, and I was afraid of failure. But I heeded my father's advice and the result was I became a craftier player, a stronger finisher at the rim, and most importantly I became fearless.

Those words have resonated with me throughout the years. My dad was teaching me to have confidence in myself and to see that failing didn't make me a failure. Just because I got my shot blocked didn't mean that I wasn't a good player or that I didn't belong out there. Not being afraid of having my shot blocked meant that there were no shackles on my game and that I was willing to take chances even if the odds weren't always in my favor.

I've lived with that mentality ever since then, not just on the court but off it as well. You cannot let your fear of failure paralyze you from taking chances in life or from challenging yourself. Most of us have heard the famous quote by Michael Jordan, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Our fear of failure sets us up for a life of mediocrity.

As Christians, this fear of failure is often the result of a lack of faith and obedience. Throughout the Bible God is constantly reminding His people that He is on their side and that He is faithful to His promises. One of my favorite verses that illustrates this message is Isaiah 41:10 which reads, "do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." In the New Testament Jesus removes our anxiety about the future by reminding us that God is concerned about the least of His creation (in our eyes) so of course He will provide for us (Matthew 6:25-34).

We must learn to trust in God and to overcome our fears if we are to enjoy the fullness of life. It is okay to fail as long as you keep an attitude of an overcomer. Failure brings wisdom and is the stepping stone to success. Don't let your fear of failure hold you back.

1. To Serve, We Must First Nourish Our Own Souls

When you truly experience the love of God, there is nothing you won’t do for God. When you are truly thankful for salvation, no place is off limits to share the gospel. When you read Matthew 25, you are willing to dwell in any environment to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Our compassion compels us to love without conditions and work beyond the hours of Sunday morning... continue reading

2. Top 10: Conversation Deflections

Recently, my friend Grace Sandra wrote a risky article for CT on the vulnerabilities faced by black women. In it she discusses the links between her personal experiences, current events and statistics. Grace explains how this trifecta weighs on her personally, and by extension other black women as well. She ends by requesting that the Church not shy away from but instead engages the hearts of black women who feel as weighed down as she...continue reading

3. Go and Make Disciples — Not Converts

I have never really understood personal evangelism. Maybe it’s because I have never really been good at sharing my faith — at least not with complete strangers. I have never stood on the street corner preaching to all within earshot. I’m not the guy with numerous stories about how I shared my life story with the person sitting next to me on the plane, inducing a tearful admission that he needs Jesus. (I am not condemning these types of encounters, nor am I condemning these practices altogether.) To be completely honest, I don’t think I have even one story like that...continue reading

4. To be gay, Christian and black in Harlem

NEW YORK — As a gay man in Togo, where homosexuality is punishable by up to three years in prison, Rodrigue (who asked that his last name be withheld because of concerns for his family’s safety) felt in danger. Though the law is rarely enforced, violence against gay men is perceived as a viable and available option among the general public. Rodrigue speaks of young men he has known who have been attacked by acquaintances on the street after school. He says that he was never physically threatened in Togo, then he reluctantly adds, “except by my family.”...continue reading

5. Reasons for Seminary

Today’s (re)post offers ten reasons for going to seminary, and I know full well that many today both find seminary irrelevant and contend they are “successful” ministers without seminary. I’ve heard not a few of said contenders say that they think seminary would have hurt them. I disagree mostly… and, yes, the MDiv or a seminary degree is the union card or accreditation level for many churches … so here then are ten reasons to attend seminary:...continue reading

womanist theological perspectives: biblical inerrancy - See more at: http://politicaljesus.com/#sthash.2nwpXNL2.sLf1WuGQ.dpuf

1. Reparations and the Church?

Ta-Nehisi Coates's recent article, 'The Case for Reparations' opens with scripture:
"And if thy brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee. And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him."
If you haven't yet, read Coates's treatise--much of what appears here builds on the groundwork he lays there. Coates argues for the importance of reparations in the United States, not just for the enslavement of millions of individuals, but for the legacy of profit from disparity that has been with us ever since...continue reading

2. Something's Wrong for Our Sisters

Rahiel Tesfamariam writes that black women act as if there is a war being waged against us. Yes, yes and more yes.

Tesfamariam recognizes that the U.S. still doesn't know how to deal with the "angry black woman," whether she's Solange in an elevator or a woman lamenting the life of her dead son. She goes on to say, "We wouldn't have to fight so hard if our minds, bodies and spirits weren't constantly in danger of harm or threat of misuse."...continue reading

3. Jesus Wasn’t A Slut-Shamer or How Conservative Theology Harms Black Women

I’m a feminist who believes in God. Raised Christian, I still attend church. But what I am not is a person who will willingly check her brain, political convictions, or academic training at the door in order to enter the house of God or to participate in a community of faith. Express homophobic views, tell me that God requires me to let a man rule my house because I have a vagina, or spout a prosperity theology premised on the idea that poor folks are poor because they lack faith, and you are likely to see me get up and walk out...continue reading

4. Publishin'

So there has been a recent rise in discussions regarding authors of color and the world of publishing, particularly of Christian publishing. I have been extraordinarily hesitant in giving voice to my thoughts and concerns on this topic because-- you know--- ramifications. One day I want to be a published author, preferably with a Christian publishing house. So lending my voice to anything that would critique said body, just doesn't seem very wise. And yet, this is my voice, these are my thoughts, and I "attack" no specific house, group, or person. I only want to explore some of the ideas fueling the conversation. So basically, I'm doing this scared. Here we go. Well, here I go...continue reading

5. [Re] Defining Evangelicalism:

I, am an evangelical.
There, I said it.
Though, when I call myself evangelical, I do not mean it in the sense that I am this anti-science, homophobic, “God-fearing,” authoritarianistic conservative. I think we all know that this is not Christianity, nor is it representative of the Jesus who is the central figure of Christianity. When something is said to be “good news for all,” but the only people who preach it and believe in it are the only one’s who benefit from it, it’s safe to assume, it’s bullshit...continue reading

1. For Maya

I was a vorascous reader. I loved anything written by Judy Blume. The Babysitters Club, the Boxcar Children, and the silly Amelia Bedelia had my loyalty. I was always on my best behavior when we went to library (yes, it was an event, not a class). I wanted to be the first chosen so I could grab any new books our librarian bought. I was so in love with books, my father knew never to send me to my room for punishment. I would happily read for hours longer than my punishment required...continue reading

2. The Real Origins of the Religious Right

One of the most durable myths in recent history is that the religious right, the coalition of conservative evangelicals and fundamentalists, emerged as a political movement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion. The tale goes something like this: Evangelicals, who had been politically quiescent for decades, were so morally outraged by Roe that they resolved to organize in order to overturn it...continue reading

3. 15 Things You Need To Stop Doing… Right Now!

We live in a world of to-do lists, goals and New Years Resolutions. Everyone is looking forward to starting something, going to the gym, starting the conversation, starting the journey… Instead of focusing so much energy and attention on what you need to start, you should try a different approach. How about focusing on the things you need to stop and awesome life results will be the natural by-product...continue reading

4. 3 Avenues To A Richer, More Vibrant Worship

My brother is an athlete.
I don’t use that term lightly, either. When he is not competing on a sports team, he is watching it. When he is not watching it, he is working on his fantasy league. When he is not working on his fantasy league, he is hitting the gym. The guy is nearly six feet tall and looks like he has been cut from granite. Needless to say, this is all a far cry from his bookworm brother, the writer/theologian currently sitting behind the keyboard punching these words out...continue reading

5. More Guns, More Shootings?

Recently, Richard Martinez, father of a student who was killed in Elliot Rodgers's rampage in Santa Barbara, California, lashed out at politicians, "I don't care about your sympathy. I don't give a s--- that you feel sorry for me…. Get to work and do something. I'll tell the president the same thing if he calls me. Getting a call from a politician doesn't impress me." ...continue reading

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