On Independence Day
By Jeremy | July 3, 2008
One of the enduring impressions of Envision 08 for me was the impassioned pleas by Native American Christians for Western evangelicals to free our version of the Gospel from its colonial and oppressive past. Most riveting was Randy Woodley’s retelling of the Gospel narrative. He allowed the written words to stand on their own, as the audience silently read them projected on the screen behind him.
The first version is a classic, Western evangelical understanding of the Christian faith.
I believe in God because I am a Christian. I read my Bible and help build God’s kingdom as a missionary, sharing the gospel of salvation with the heathen. I tell them to repent from their sins and to be born again because of God’s great love for them.
The problem for native peoples in the US and beyond is the baggage that comes with each of those bold-faced words. He offered a compelling contrast that’s indigenous and contextualized:
I believe in the Great Mystery because I am a follower of Jesus. I read the scriptures and help build the community of the Creator as an ambassador, sharing the good news of healing to the unversed. I tell them they can turn around from failing and to follow Jesus because of Creator’s great love for them.
(More on Randy’s talk from Al Hsu.)
Woodley elaborated on the reasons for mistrust and lingering baggage in a Sojourners op-ed last fall that John Liotti republished on his blog.
Even though the European immigrants said they were fleeing totalitarianism and searching for economic freedom, they did not all come peaceably or with good intent. Attempted genocide, physical force, coercion, and the imposition of colonial structures in order to establish dominance over Native North Americans became their mode of operation. Even many early American Christians’ values were evident to the indigene by the settlers’ disregard for human life. This supposed Christian witness was evident in their reactions when they arrived on the eastern part of this continent and found that epidemics had wiped out several nations. Such was the case with William Bradford’s infamous statement, “The good hand of God … favored our beginnings … sweeping away great multitudes of the natives … that he might make room for us” (Mann, 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, page 56).
The devout Pilgrims did not weep for the lost Wampanoag, Patuxet, and Massachuset civilizations. Instead, one of their leaders, John Winthrop, made a “legal” declaration annulling any native claims to the land. “The Indians,” he said, “had not ’subdued’ the land, and therefore had only a ‘natural’ right to it, but not a ‘civil right.’ A ‘natural right’ did not have legal standing” (Zinn, A People’s History of the United States, page 14).
Early American immigrants, now well established, may have conveniently forgotten that their ancestors did not come as law-abiding citizens, but were intent on making their own laws and disregarding any laws already established by the original Americans. They often justified the taking of innocent lives and the removal of the original inhabitants by their religion. I could go on … believe me … I could go on.
That we evangelicals would repent from of this history this Independence Day.
Books by Randy Woodley
Topics: envision, ev08, evangelical, history, native americans, randy woodley, repentance | No Comments »
School Satisfaction? Questions about the Survey
By Jeremy | July 2, 2008
Mayor Bloomberg and NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein announced the results of the largest ever school satisfaction survey yesterday. More than 800,000 stakeholders, including students, parents, and teachers responded, a remarkable achievement. As the Dept. of Education noted, 800,000 people represents 1 in 10 New Yorkers, and over 200,000 more people than the entire populations of Boston, Washington DC, and Denver. But City Hall praised the survey results as evidence of dramatic improvements citywide, and exposes itself to criticism as a result.
Most misleading is the bold, italicized headline: “More than 90 Percent of Parents Satisfied with the Quality of Education their Children Received.” Deeper into the announcement, that number is significantly qualified, as only 40% of the eligible parents actually completed the survey. Ninety percent of the 40% who completed the survey is a lot less than 90% of parents overall.
I’m by no means a qualified statistician, but my introductory stats class taught that a scientifically selected random sampling would produce more reliable results than voluntary returns from every parent, student and teacher. Without reviewing the actual survey, it’s a fairly safe assumption that the response rates were significantly higher in well performing schools, where parents, students, and teachers have greater incentives to comply with school requests, than in chronically underperforming schools.
In fairness, school performance metrics have trended upwards the past few years — so much so that the NYC DOE received the Broad Prize for improvement last year.
Critics say the metrics have improved, at least in part, because of funny math that has fundamentally changed what the metrics measure and ignore entire student populations in some cases. For example, literacy metrics used to include ESL (English as Second Language) students’ test results, and now they don’t. Removing their scores artificially inflates the numbers; as a result touting any “improvements” by comparing those data sets is fundamentally misleading.
Another example: In the wake of No Child Left Behind, when schools were threatened with diminished funding after successive years of underperformance, the city began restructuring suspect schools. Specifically, they would take a building that housed a threatened school, “close” the poor performing school and reopen multiple smaller schools within the same building. Often these “new” schools had fundamentally the same students, teachers, and administration, plus an additional layer of bureaucracy to manage the new schools. But because they were technically new schools, their funding was safe as they had no history against which to hold them accountable.
All that said, Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Klein deserve credit for staking much of the legacy of his administration on the success, or lack thereof, of their education reform initiatives. The results remain mixed, but efforts to give voice to stakeholders — like this survey, flawed though it may have been — give us reason for hope.
20/20 Vision anyone?
Topics: 2020 vision, doe, education, education reform, joel klein, michael bloomberg, new york, news, politics | No Comments »
A Glimpse of Forever
By Jeremy | July 2, 2008
Last week, Judah had a crisis of faith.
Tuesday or Wednesday night, he jumped out of bed hysterical, tormented by the thought of forever. Worse, he was struggling to understand how being anywhere “forever,” even heaven, could be viewed as anything less than a trap, or a prison. “What if I want to go somewhere else, or do something different? If I have to stay forever, then I’m stuck.”
Diana and I calmed his fears by assuring him that being with God forever means participating in his creative process forever (”In the beginning God created…”), which we interpreted means that we too will be creating new places to explore, people to meet, relationships to love, and adventures to have, forever. That made sense to him, and peace returned for the evening.
Then Friday night at the Challenge 2008 retreat, Judah sat with his buddies John and Josh in the fourth row, without any adult supervision. Mostly they played during the entire retreat, but I wanted them to join us for this session, about loving God. They sat in rapt attention throughout, without talking or fussing. Then during the altar call — the only traditional altar call of the weekend — I looked up to find them kneeling, along with thirty or so teens, at the altar.
We transitioned out of the service to a 30 minute prayer meeting. Since I had talked about Mary and Martha, I encouraged the students to sit silently in Jesus’ presence, listening rather than speaking so we could practice hearing his voice. Judah walked to the stage and, whispering in my ear, asked if I had paper and a pen. He wanted to practice hearing God’s voice, and journaling what he heard.
At the close of the session, I asked Judah how it went. He handed me the paper where he wrote what God told him and his prayerful response:
“Judah, you are very smart, but you need to think a little about other people to, like your friend. OK? OK. I love you god. Stay with me forever.”
Unrelated Judah News
+ On Sunday, Judah and Seth received their 2008 baseball trophies. Judah also got trophies for basketball and soccer. Pics here.
Topics: baseball, challenge 2008, cousins, eternity, faith, family, judah, photography, prayer, retreats, seth | 3 Comments »
Wednesday Weekly Webcast - Bonus Video
By Jeremy | July 2, 2008
Truth 4 the Streets
My friends Craig and Zola Allen at BNB (Beats-N-Blessings) just produced a documentary about their innovative, music and arts-based youth development efforts in Queens. Enjoy the 10 minute preview here, and then rate the video at Youtube.
Topics: beats-n-blessings, music, webcast, youth development, youth ministry | No Comments »
Wednesday Weekly Webcast
By Jeremy | July 2, 2008
The Secret to a Healthy Marriage
I’m thinking Diana and I should reprise this when we renew our vows. (Ha!) Enjoy.
Topics: dancing, marriage, videos, webcast | No Comments »
Challenge 2008
By Jeremy | July 1, 2008
Last time Judah and I were at the Water Gap Resort for a retreat (2006), this is what we found.
The Delaware River had flooded the town 100 yards or so down the hill from the resort and power outages plagued the facility for most of the first 24 hours of the retreat. This time we found perfect weather and a dry town.
The similarities both years were great hosts (especially ten-year-old John; photos: then and now) and wonderful ministries. Last time it was Student Venture New York. This time, it was the Challenge 2008 joint youth retreat of the Council of Korean Baptist Churches of New York. Their theme — “Vision Ignition: Equipped to Affect Others” — fed wonderfully into the kinds of things I like to teach/preach about, so five sessions and a prayer time were tremendous fun. Many thanks to Challenge 2008 director Daniel Lee, The God Squad worship (and rock) band, and all thirteen host pastors and youth pastors for being so gracious to Judah and me, and making us feel like part of the family. We had a wonderful time and look forward to collaborating again in the future.
More Challenge 2008 photos here.
Topics: challenge 2008, photography, retreats, schedule, speaker, water gap resort | No Comments »
Monday Morning MP3
By Jeremy | June 30, 2008
Deep Justice in a Broken World
A panel discussion at Urban Youth Workers Institute 2008 about righting the wrongs around us features Deep Justice in a Broken World book contributors Kara Powell (Fuller Seminary), Noel Castellanos (CCDA), Lina Thompson (World Vision) and yours truly.
Courtesy: UYWI
Topics: UYWI, books, deep justice, justice, kara powell, lina thompson, noel castellanos, podcast, speaking | No Comments »
“It’s not about left or right, but going deeper.”
By Jeremy | June 30, 2008
“Rabble-rousing misfit” and evangelical Shane Claiborne is driving around the country in a veggie oil powered school bus touting “Jesus for President.” CNN’s got the story covered. HT: Rudy.
Shane is a colleague and occasional collaborator. He contributed to one of my chapters in Deep Justice in a Broken World and we’ve been panelists at Urban Youth Workers Institute and most recently at Envision 2008. He likes to stir the pot, as his new book and tour reflect. Enjoy.
Topics: books, jesus for president, politics, shane claiborne | No Comments »
Two more urgent prayer requests
By Jeremy | June 30, 2008
1. A close friend and ministry colleague lost his 21 year old younger brother last week to tragedy. He was called to identify the body and has had to make all the arrangements while also helping to comfort his family. Please keep him and them in your prayers.
2. Bill Henderson, a family friend and ministry colleague, was in a near-fatal motorcycle accident June 19, sustaining head injuries, a fractured C7 vertabrae in his neck, a fractured shoulder and blood on the brain. Miraculously, he was released from the hospital 24 hours later — the only known patient to go from ICU - Trauma Center in Colorado Springs directly home. Recovery updates here.
Topics: friends, prayer alert | No Comments »
Friday Foto Finish (Monday Edition)
By Jeremy | June 30, 2008
Two years ago today, Abuelo arrived at the Cattle Finca in the sky. Here he is with toddler Judah and la vaca India at Uncle Dave’s backyard in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, about five years ago.
More Abuelo pics here.
Topics: abuelo, family, felipe del rio, foto, judah | No Comments »
Urgent Prayer Request
By Jeremy | June 26, 2008
Please continue to pray for my cousin Kristi. She’s in the hospital again with another chronic infection. A kidney biopsy on Tuesday revealed Stage 1 kidney failure, which the doctors hope is treatable through an intense course of medication. Given that this is Kristi’s fourth transplanted kidney in the last 28 years, another failure would be a major blow. Kristi has been a fighter her entire life and her spirits are high, but she could use another dose of prayer from the rest of us. Please.
Topics: family, kristi brattli, prayer alert | 2 Comments »
On the Road with my Traveling Companion
By Jeremy | June 26, 2008
Last time I spoke at a retreat at the Water Gap Resort:
1) The surrounding town was flooded (pictures here);
2) Judah made friends with the facility directors’ son; and
3) Abuelo passed away.
Judah and I return today for the Council of Korean Baptist Churches of New York’s Challenge 2008 joint youth retreat.
Their theme for the weekend is “Vision Ignition: Equipped to Affect.” To that end, my talks will be partly evangelistic (”What must I do to inherit eternal life?”) and very missional (”What does the gospel mean for my life at home?”) with the following themes and scripture passages:
+ Love Self (Luke 10:25-28, Romans 12:1-9)
+ Love Neighbor (Luke 10:25-37)
+ Love God (Luke 10:1-24, 38-42)
+ The Gospel of the Kingdom: Jesus’ Mission and Values (Luke 4:14-20, Matthew 5-6)
+ The only thing that matters (Amos 5:21-24 - The Message; Matthew 25:31-46).
Please keep us in prayer.
Topics: challenge 2008, judah, retreats, schedule, speaking | 1 Comment »
Give us your Black Sheep
By Jeremy | June 26, 2008
Brad Bird, Academy Award-winning director of The Incredibles and Ratatouille, on spurring innovation at Pixar:
I said, “Give us the black sheep. I want artists who are frustrated. I want the ones who have another way of doing things that nobody’s listening to. Give us all the guys who are probably headed out the door.” A lot of them were malcontents because they saw different ways of doing things, but there was little opportunity to try them, since the established way was working very, very well. We gave the black sheep a chance to prove their theories, and we changed the way a number of things are done here.
More of Bird’s insights on innovation (from McKinsey Quarterly) here. HT: Charlie Wear.
Topics: brad bird, creativity, innovation, pixar, quotes | No Comments »
Wednesday Weekly Webcast
By Jeremy | June 25, 2008
Storytellas Present “The Blood is Real”
From The Man, produced by Crossroads Tabernacle
On Sunday, Crossroads reminded me why I appreciate them so. Hip Bop, Storytellas style, is another reason. Notice Pastor Joe on drums, and the (Alvin Ailey and Broadway) dancers. Wow.
Related
+ Pictures from Sunday (courtesy of Pastor Joseph Henry Cortese)
Topics: crossroads tabernacle, culture, dance, josephy henry cortese, music, photography, speaking, storytellas, videos, webcast | No Comments »
Targeted Advertising
By Jeremy | June 24, 2008
Perhaps Myspace saw this, or just received lots of disgruntled emails from Christians subscribers. But today I noticed a different kind of advertising when I logged into Myspace. Instead of the usual underwear clad teenage girl urging me to be “naughty,” I saw this:
Myspace’s targeted advertising department got the Christian part down. But the single thing … not so much.
Topics: culture, internet, midriffs, mooks, myspace, youth, youth ministry | No Comments »