I equip people to serve God and others in a way that is both fruitful and sustainable. I do this through teaching, writing, and coaching. This newsletter is part of that work.
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1. Personal Update
2. FEATURE ARTICLE: Lament in a Time of Rage and Despair
3. Video: How we Grow Spiritually
4. Quote of the Week
5. How to Share -- and Sign Up for this :-)
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It's hard to imagine that any news story would eclipse the rampaging coronavirus, but here we are. Another horrific story about the murder of an unarmed black man in police custody lit a spark of protest which has led to violence, looting, and destruction in many cities around the nation.
As I'm writing this, the story of civil unrest is still unfolding. I just finished an article with perspectives about these current events, and what they mean for the church. I took a long time to write this, and tried to provide links -- especially for my fellow white brothers and sisters -- that would give us a broader perspective on issues of racism, violence, and what they mean for Christianity in America.
I'm also going to share a video I recorded and sent out to members of my church -- before the protests and civil unrest broke out. If watching this video does nothing for you other than to encourage you check out " Abandonment to Divine Providence," it will have served a good purpose. :-)
Be blessed!
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“If you feel like it's time to level up your game, and make a bigger difference -- this book will show you how. Mark is someone who knows what he's writing about. He's lived it, and he's helped equip leaders around the world to maximize their impact.”
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- Paula Rizzo
Media consultant, former Fox News producer, author of "Listfully Thinking"
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2. FEATURE ARTICLE: Lament in a Time of Rage and Despair
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“And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it America has failed to hear? ... It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice and humanity."
- Martin Luther King
“This is not in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. This is chaos.”
- Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
"I understand having anger and grief during this time. But this is not that. This is wanton destruction and violence."
- Minnesota Governor Tim Walls
"This is what it looks like when justice has been denied for a long time." - Ben Jealous (former NAACP president)
Our nation is now dealing with two crises: the ongoing COVID19 pandemic (current death toll in US is 109,000 at the time of this writing) has been eclipsed by civil unrest in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police. Peaceful protests across the nation have turned into violent clashes with police and National Guard, along with a rampage of looting and destruction.
There is a simmering rage in our cities, like the dry tinder of a forest just waiting for some spark to be lit and explode into a raging fire. The horrific murder of George Floyd -- in broad daylight, at the hands of callous police officers, who knew they were being filmed, with bystanders begging them to stop -- has proved to be that spark.
As a white pastor living in a predominantly white community just North of Minneapolis, with many friends in the areas affected, I've been thinking a lot about what's happening. I know that many voices are weighing in on this situation. I'm adding to that cacophany today because I think that members of my congregation should hear my perspective on this, and I offer it in the hope that it might help them, and maybe some others, as we think, pray, and work together on this.
In the article I make and develop four points:
1. The explosion of violence and looting we are seeing is not just about racial tensions.
2. White people should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and careful to judge about issues related to race.
3. We can no longer tolerate racism and abuse in our police force.
4. It's not enough for followers of Jesus to "not be racist" ... we must be anti-racist.
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3. Video: How We Grow Spiritually
"It doesn't cost much to show love,
but it costs a fortune not to.
Lack of love is the root cause
of pandemonium and unrest in this world."
- Olawale Daniel
4. How to Share ... an Sign Up for This Newsletter
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Please feel free to send this newsletter along to someone who might like it. Obviously you can just forward this email ... you can also send someone a link to the newsletter archive:
Or ... here's a link to a quick sign-up form:
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I write and speak at events as director of Renew Resources. I also am leader and teacher at Bethel Church in Princeton, MN. If you're ever in the area, come join us on a Sunday morning! Places to find my writing:
The Recovery Journey
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