GLENN'S PODCASTS!

PREJUDICE BEYOND COLOR-
Years ago I wrote lyrics to two songs for Rez Band, "Afrikaans" and later, "Zuid Afrikaan". Both dealt with aparthied, the horrible racist laws of the white minority regime in power there at the time. A dear S. A. friend of ours heard us play and me speak in the largest (majority white) church in Jo'burg some years later, and came up in tears afterwards asking how we could possibly have understood their feelings as in his view, we had. My response was basic: though white, my best friend from 3rd grade (9 years old) until we graduated happed to be African-American. We played together as kids, played in bands together as teens and lived for the same drugs, sex and partying that most all of my friends did in that era. I also replied that my family lived on "the dole" ("welfare" in U.S. terms) for years due to my father's illness. Our family were "the black sheep" in our "neck of the woods" and so I lived in poverty, an undercurrent of shame (95 % undeserved) and hand-me-down clothes. But I learned invaluable lessons. My upbringing was in Wisconsin, just south of several Native American reservations, and with my father, I drove through them often, seeing the poverty, pain and misery that whites had most certainly helped create in our nation's past and yes, present. Further, I've often felt the emotional sting of rejection due to my own culture/subculture, clothing and/or music choices, even ministry approach though I and those in ministry with me are often far more biblically conservative than those judging us liberals! But I've also learned to forgive, to walk and to stand regardless of those who wag their tongues more than produce lasting spiritual fruit. I've learned to genuinely pray for God's blessing on my enemies or simply those who believe they have good reason to disagree with myself and my friends and co-laborers. My righteousness is as filthy rags, and I have no "earning power" regarding my own salvation anymore than anyone... and God knows I need more humility. Yet this I have realized: "prejudice" is from a Latin word literally meaning "lack of information with which to accurately judge"... and yet a judgment is made. Ignorant judgment. Prejudice regarding race is one thing, ethnicity is another, but what about pure prejudice toward the economically poor or simply on the basis of culture or subculture? What about prejudice along "religious" lines, as in "I'm of Paul, you are of Apollos"- Baptist vs. Lutheran vs. Catholic vs. Methodist vs. Pentecostal and etc.? The sad reality is that prejudice happens among Christians all the time- and in all of these areas, not merely in the area of spiritual differences or perspectives. God help us repent and grow up- for loving my neighbor as myself can never be reconciled with prejudice- in ANY form!

ENJOY THE RIDE-
Life is too short to move from chaos to chaos, drama to drama, being bummed and sharing the same with those around you. Having said that, the Cubs just lost the pennant tonight. Well, life indeed goes on! My fave soccer team (Chicago Fire) won the U.S. Open Cup tonight and I expect great things from them in MLS Cup playoffs, so there you go! I don't often allow my emotions to rule my life, but I've often thought of a little event that happened a few years ago. I was feeling and talking fairly negatively one day in the presence of a good pastor friend of mine. After stating my case, he simply said, "Ya know, some people focus on the hole and others on the doughnut". Just like that... I repented and began feeling better. Keep your eyes on Jesus and His Word (see Romans chapter 8 for details)... and enjoy the ride!