Comments on: “Me” and “Mine” . . . or “We” and “Ours”? http://preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours Sniffing out the work of God in the world... Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:29:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Tab http://preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14560 Tab Fri, 08 Sep 2006 16:49:06 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14560 The boundary issue at AISD will never be solved until the school board continues the neighborhood school concept thru middle school. Most people can afford housing within the radius of any of the middle schools. It's a free choice question vs social engineering using demographic data that you have to be a physicist to understand. Only one thing is certain, the last study that redrew boundaries ended up serverly overcrowding Lincoln and leaving Madison and Jefferson severely low on student population. So much for studies. One other thing that many folks don't seem to know, in December the Supreme Court is taking on racial balancing with a decision due by July 2007. Many think with the current court makeup it will be declared unconstutional. So much for lawsuits. Social engineers are now changing verbage to "Wealth Balancing". But even that is subject to manipulation. The wealth balanced plan favored by the board has 80% of the valuable real estate going to AHS, yet the household income median is "balanced"in that plan. I think the only demographic worthwhile is the % of "stay at home moms" in any particular school. I am wrong on alot of stuff, but I believe until we go to neighborhood schools we will keed adjusting every 8-10 years. I am also for one high school in Abilene. The boundary issue at AISD will never be solved until the school board continues the neighborhood school concept thru middle school. Most people can afford housing within the radius of any of the middle schools. It’s a free choice question vs social engineering using demographic data that you have to be a physicist to understand. Only one thing is certain, the last study that redrew boundaries ended up serverly overcrowding Lincoln and leaving Madison and Jefferson severely low on student population. So much for studies. One other thing that many folks don’t seem to know, in December the Supreme Court is taking on racial balancing with a decision due by July 2007. Many think with the current court makeup it will be declared unconstutional. So much for lawsuits. Social engineers are now changing verbage to “Wealth Balancing”. But even that is subject to manipulation. The wealth balanced plan favored by the board has 80% of the valuable real estate going to AHS, yet the household income median is “balanced”in that plan. I think the only demographic worthwhile is the % of “stay at home moms” in any particular school. I am wrong on alot of stuff, but I believe until we go to neighborhood schools we will keed adjusting every 8-10 years. I am also for one high school in Abilene.

]]> By: Memphis http://preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14430 Memphis Fri, 01 Sep 2006 18:23:02 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14430 I find it just as racist and economically biased to insist on mixing as to insist on separation. The point is to evaluate each person as an individual, separate and apart from external indicators of status. This may mean that a parent decides that their child is at school, surrounded by individuals that are not healthy for the child, and it is perfectly permissible for them to respond in order to protect their child, regardless of if the negative influence is from those who are very different, or those who are very similar. This may mean that in order for us to surround ourselves with those who make us better people, all of our friends might just happen to be not so different from us. Then again, they might be completely different. There is nothing inherently wrong with connecting better with those who are most like you; what is wrong is avoiding those who aren't, simply because they aren't. Arguing that our churches are not diverse enough is a pointless argument. Are our churches healthy? Why or why not and what can we do to strengthen them? It's not about race or wealth or any other external factors - just taking what we do have and making it the best and most glorifying to God that we can. I find it just as racist and economically biased to insist on mixing as to insist on separation. The point is to evaluate each person as an individual, separate and apart from external indicators of status. This may mean that a parent decides that their child is at school, surrounded by individuals that are not healthy for the child, and it is perfectly permissible for them to respond in order to protect their child, regardless of if the negative influence is from those who are very different, or those who are very similar. This may mean that in order for us to surround ourselves with those who make us better people, all of our friends might just happen to be not so different from us. Then again, they might be completely different. There is nothing inherently wrong with connecting better with those who are most like you; what is wrong is avoiding those who aren’t, simply because they aren’t.

Arguing that our churches are not diverse enough is a pointless argument. Are our churches healthy? Why or why not and what can we do to strengthen them? It’s not about race or wealth or any other external factors - just taking what we do have and making it the best and most glorifying to God that we can.

]]> By: Traci http://preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14399 Traci Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:58:17 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14399 Val and Snapshot- as one who homeschools I have to say that for many of us this is not the issue. Every child is different and some do not profit from public or private school. I admit there are several in our hs community who school their children at home because they want to "direct their thoughts" themselves, but there are many more of us who are trying to direct the children's education, not their thoughts. Don't think that a homeschooling family is just trying to avoid being in the world. Val and Snapshot- as one who homeschools I have to say that for many of us this is not the issue. Every child is different and some do not profit from public or private school. I admit there are several in our hs community who school their children at home because they want to “direct their thoughts” themselves, but there are many more of us who are trying to direct the children’s education, not their thoughts. Don’t think that a homeschooling family is just trying to avoid being in the world.

]]> By: Snapshot http://preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14398 Snapshot Thu, 31 Aug 2006 21:55:33 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14398 We saw that wonderful "answering of the call" come to life in the millions of dollars, time and supplies that churches and families contributed and donated after and since Katrina. BUT (and this is a big BUT) we should never expect the government to do what we as individual Christians are not willing to do. We spend countless hours trying to get our elected officials to do the things we won't do. We rally, we protest, we write letters, we beg, we plead, we blog, but we don't actually do the work. It seems to me that the modern day Christian community wants to be the "air asault" on the war on poverty instead of what Jesus would have been. We want to the the driving force behind the work, but not the actual work. Jesus gave us the example of "boots on the ground". But, we tend to like the hype and the attention that an air asault gives. Lots of hoopla and attention on a big air asault. Rarely do the "boots on the ground" in the war on poverty ever get any attention. They just do the work, day in and day out. Jesus just did the work regardless of what the governments of the day were doing. We expect our schools to be a lovely mix of all types of people, yet we steer away from it in our churches. We even take our children out of schools and homeschool them because of the "influence" the bad people have on them. It's kind of two faced don't you think. We think the government can supply the correct mix of influences on the down trodden and less fortunate but we remove our "Christian" influences from them. We expect the government to supply unlimited resources to needy families when we as Christians will turn a blind eye and never give a dime out of our pocket because, that's the government's job. I am absolutely certain that when the citizens of this United States see that we (Christians) mean what we say...."that we love our neighbor" enough to get in there, work help and be the "boots on the ground" that many problems will be resolved without government help. And it won't even be a topic of discussion any more. But it all starts with one. What will you do? What will I do? There is the heart of the matter. We saw that wonderful “answering of the call” come to life in the millions of dollars, time and supplies that churches and families contributed and donated after and since Katrina. BUT (and this is a big BUT) we should never expect the government to do what we as individual Christians are not willing to do. We spend countless hours trying to get our elected officials to do the things we won’t do. We rally, we protest, we write letters, we beg, we plead, we blog, but we don’t actually do the work.

It seems to me that the modern day Christian community wants to be the “air asault” on the war on poverty instead of what Jesus would have been. We want to the the driving force behind the work, but not the actual work. Jesus gave us the example of “boots on the ground”. But, we tend to like the hype and the attention that an air asault gives. Lots of hoopla and attention on a big air asault. Rarely do the “boots on the ground” in the war on poverty ever get any attention. They just do the work, day in and day out. Jesus just did the work regardless of what the governments of the day were doing.

We expect our schools to be a lovely mix of all types of people, yet we steer away from it in our churches. We even take our children out of schools and homeschool them because of the “influence” the bad people have on them. It’s kind of two faced don’t you think.

We think the government can supply the correct mix of influences on the down trodden and less fortunate but we remove our “Christian” influences from them. We expect the government to supply unlimited resources to needy families when we as Christians will turn a blind eye and never give a dime out of our pocket because, that’s the government’s job.

I am absolutely certain that when the citizens of this United States see that we (Christians) mean what we say….”that we love our neighbor” enough to get in there, work help and be the “boots on the ground” that many problems will be resolved without government help. And it won’t even be a topic of discussion any more.

But it all starts with one. What will you do? What will I do? There is the heart of the matter.

]]> By: KentF http://preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14397 KentF Thu, 31 Aug 2006 21:14:58 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14397 Sure smells like HS football is in the air, it smells like.....victory.... or....pollen - not sure which. Safe travels all. Sure smells like HS football is in the air, it smells like…..victory…. or….pollen - not sure which. Safe travels all.

]]> By: Val http://preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14396 Val Thu, 31 Aug 2006 21:03:49 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14396 Though it is often the reason behind such things, football was not the only reason for AISD boundary issues in 1992. The urgency was there because of a looming lawsuit. Still, I happen to be related to someone that was on the Board at the time and we had many messages that were incredibly ugly, hateful and even threatening. Who wouldn't want to run for schoolboard? Mike, how do some of your comments reconcile with the homeschooling movement? I am not coming at that with an agenda but it was the first thing that popped into my head as I read your comments since I have friends and family members in both camps. Any thoughts? Though it is often the reason behind such things, football was not the only reason for AISD boundary issues in 1992. The urgency was there because of a looming lawsuit. Still, I happen to be related to someone that was on the Board at the time and we had many messages that were incredibly ugly, hateful and even threatening. Who wouldn’t want to run for schoolboard?

Mike, how do some of your comments reconcile with the homeschooling movement? I am not coming at that with an agenda but it was the first thing that popped into my head as I read your comments since I have friends and family members in both camps. Any thoughts?

]]> By: Mark http://preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14395 Mark Thu, 31 Aug 2006 20:38:04 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14395 I live in greater Detroit, the most racially segregated metropolitan area in the country, a fact largely due to white flight. I can tell you that the long-term effects of white flight are devastating and will require decades to heal, if even then. I know nothing about the racial and economic demography of Abilene or its school district, but if Abilene has an opportunity to prevent the stratification and polarization that has plagued Detroit, please take it! Christians need to be in the forefront on this; it <i>is</i> a spiritual issue. I live in greater Detroit, the most racially segregated metropolitan area in the country, a fact largely due to white flight. I can tell you that the long-term effects of white flight are devastating and will require decades to heal, if even then. I know nothing about the racial and economic demography of Abilene or its school district, but if Abilene has an opportunity to prevent the stratification and polarization that has plagued Detroit, please take it! Christians need to be in the forefront on this; it is a spiritual issue.

]]> By: Teresa http://preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14394 Teresa Thu, 31 Aug 2006 20:02:39 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14394 I live in Little Rock and work at the famous Little Rock Central High School as in the "1957 Crisis". I grew up in Memphis during the time of MLK. I went to a private Christian high school and college. Our oldest son graduated from a Christian school and youngest from Central. The youngest still adores his high school. Compassion - he gets it. He is a senior in college and still talks about his GREAT high school. He feels like he learned so much about life at Central. Also, Central does have a wonderful educational reputation. We lead the state in national merit scholars. Don't hear much about the suburbs of Bryant, Benton and Cabot with that kind of academic record. We have great athletics too! May not be able to compete with some of those "Texas" schools but we can hold our own in Arkansas! So much school spirit. I can tell you story after story of students reaching out to one another. In this school of 2500 we are a very diverse community and celebrate that. I live in Little Rock and work at the famous Little Rock Central High School as in the “1957 Crisis”. I grew up in Memphis during the time of MLK. I went to a private Christian high school and college. Our oldest son graduated from a Christian school and youngest from Central. The youngest still adores his high school. Compassion - he gets it. He is a senior in college and still talks about his GREAT high school. He feels like he learned so much about life at Central. Also, Central does have a wonderful educational reputation. We lead the state in national merit scholars. Don’t hear much about the suburbs of Bryant, Benton and Cabot with that kind of academic record. We have great athletics too! May not be able to compete with some of those “Texas” schools but we can hold our own in Arkansas! So much school spirit. I can tell you story after story of students reaching out to one another. In this school of 2500 we are a very diverse community and celebrate that.

]]> By: Josh Ross http://preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14393 Josh Ross Thu, 31 Aug 2006 20:00:57 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14393 Katy is a powerhouse! Katy is a powerhouse!

]]> By: David B http://preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14392 David B Thu, 31 Aug 2006 19:57:04 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14392 Before my olderst son entered junior high, we moved to the town of Katy on the edge of the giant suburb of Katy near Houston. We moved there because we like the feel of a small town and the diversity of the students. Several of the high schools in our area in the wealthier suburbs have a more elite feel to them. Regardless of where you go to school now in the Houston area, there are students from all over the world. Some great kids and teachers are in those schools, however, we felt more comfortable with the a little bit less pressured environment of a school that has rich and poor and brown, black and white. Of course it didn't hurt that Katy has one of the best high school football programs in the state of Texas! Susan: I hope we get to play the mighty Panthers again for the state championship! Before my olderst son entered junior high, we moved to the town of Katy on the edge of the giant suburb of Katy near Houston. We moved there because we like the feel of a small town and the diversity of the students. Several of the high schools in our area in the wealthier suburbs have a more elite feel to them. Regardless of where you go to school now in the Houston area, there are students from all over the world. Some great kids and teachers are in those schools, however, we felt more comfortable with the a little bit less pressured environment of a school that has rich and poor and brown, black and white.

Of course it didn’t hurt that Katy has one of the best high school football programs in the state of Texas!

Susan: I hope we get to play the mighty Panthers again for the state championship!

]]> By: preacherman http://preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14391 preacherman Thu, 31 Aug 2006 19:53:27 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14391 Did you see what Tiger's cadee is making? Couple hundred thousand for carrying clubs. Not bad. Not bad at all. Did you see what Tiger’s cadee is making? Couple hundred thousand for carrying clubs. Not bad. Not bad at all.

]]> By: David B http://preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14390 David B Thu, 31 Aug 2006 19:33:51 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14390 Mike writes, 'I read where Tiger is making over $2500 per stroke this year. At that rate, he ought to start hitting more shots each round." PDUMP PDUMP TSST Mike writes, ‘I read where Tiger is making over $2500 per stroke this year. At that rate, he ought to start hitting more shots each round.”

PDUMP PDUMP TSST

]]> By: Josh Ross http://preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14389 Josh Ross Thu, 31 Aug 2006 19:02:44 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14389 Mike, Thanks for your words! As a new and young minister near downtown Houston, I am seeing the great effects of the "white flight" of the past few decades. Consequently, many of the churches that prayerfully decided to stay near downtown have greatly suffered. (As for churches that have been formed in the suburbs, I pray rich blessings upon them. No hard feelings.) What I have discovered (through Tony Campolo, Shane Claiborne, and first hand experience) is that most Christians have a care for the poor, but they just don't know the poor. Most Christians would not consider themselves racist and they believe in integration, but they don't have any minority friends or acquaintances. So, people sometimes ask me if I am afraid of living near the Astrodome in Houston. My response is usually that I would be just as afraid of living in the suburbs. There is a reason to fear living close to neighborhoods where the crime rate is sky high, but there is also a great fear of living in a place where materialism and greed is lurking at every corner. The problem I have with this entire issue is when we throw Jesus into this conversation. There is the text that disturbs me, because I have never seen it lived out and I want to join in the life of the text. In Luke 14:1-24, Jesus sets forth a new form of etiquette for Sabbath observance and for throwing parties. As for the Sabbath, it is okay to do good things on that day. As for throwing parties, Jesus says to invite those that will never be able to invite you back. Disturbing text, but maybe it speaks to this issue!? Mike,
Thanks for your words!
As a new and young minister near downtown Houston, I am seeing the great effects of the “white flight” of the past few decades. Consequently, many of the churches that prayerfully decided to stay near downtown have greatly suffered.
(As for churches that have been formed in the suburbs, I pray rich blessings upon them. No hard feelings.)
What I have discovered (through Tony Campolo, Shane Claiborne, and first hand experience) is that most Christians have a care for the poor, but they just don’t know the poor. Most Christians would not consider themselves racist and they believe in integration, but they don’t have any minority friends or acquaintances.
So, people sometimes ask me if I am afraid of living near the Astrodome in Houston. My response is usually that I would be just as afraid of living in the suburbs. There is a reason to fear living close to neighborhoods where the crime rate is sky high, but there is also a great fear of living in a place where materialism and greed is lurking at every corner.
The problem I have with this entire issue is when we throw Jesus into this conversation. There is the text that disturbs me, because I have never seen it lived out and I want to join in the life of the text. In Luke 14:1-24, Jesus sets forth a new form of etiquette for Sabbath observance and for throwing parties. As for the Sabbath, it is okay to do good things on that day. As for throwing parties, Jesus says to invite those that will never be able to invite you back.
Disturbing text, but maybe it speaks to this issue!?

]]> By: Susan http://preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14388 Susan Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:51:38 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14388 Sorry Charlie, Lufkin is winning state. Sorry Charlie,
Lufkin is winning state.

]]> By: luther http://preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14387 luther Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:48:56 +0000 http://www.preachermike.com/2006/08/31/me-and-mine-or-we-and-ours#comment-14387 beware of any conversations or comments that begin with "...I overheard..." beware of any conversations or comments that begin with “…I overheard…”

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