Yesterday I had the great honor of having lunch with a pastor of African descent. For most of my life I have had significant relationships with “brothers of another color” but since I came to live in Campbell County (98% white) I have not made the effort to develop one of those relationships. In not doing so not only have I done wrongly but I now remember what I have missed by not being in such a relationship.
My new friend was quick to laugh, easy to relate to, transparent about his struggles and full of hope for his future, the future of his children, and indeed for the future of our nation. His world view is different from mine, but not incorrect. He sees what I see, but from a different point of view. His love of our Lord is passionate and his face radiated with the light of Christ as our conversation turned to spiritual things.
He took time to introduce me to his extended family and to speak of his history, both relationally and spiritually. Hanging on the walls of his office are not the certificates of accomplishment that many pastors use to make themselves feel a little more qualified, but 8 by 11 portraits full of faces related to him, gathered together for their biennial family reunion. I felt more than a little embarrassed that my own family heritage is so lean.
He talked at length about the pastor who discipled him, about his “home church” and the close community he still feels with those who helped him grow up.
In a day when we have seen and heard the screams of a man mad at his world, it is good to see the strength of a man not only connected to his world, but living well in it. This man who desires not only for political wrongs to be made right, but even more so for what is wrong in the hearts of humans, regardless of their color, to be made right with God.
This is the only true hope of our nation and the only thing that will bring about real change.
TheNarrowRoadPursued 
Robert, Friday nite I watched the interview with “a man mad at the world ” Rev Wright I guessed. I got from the interview a man of God , who has changed his community and really cares about the lives of his congregation. I beleive i judged to Quickly from little imformation and to few words taken out of a complete sermon. I guess I got caught up in all the hype. This year should be full of it and will be hard to filter out the truth.
Rev. Wright is but one of the men “mad at the world” we have been exposed to these past months. Having lived in several communities where being white did not put me in the majority, I have long heard the screams of those who felt they had been served large helpings of injustice; many times they were correct. I would love to see the interview with Rev. Wright. To be honest, after seeing his rants I prayed that I had not, nor will ever use the pulpit for that kind of rhetoric. The “God damn” America did not really bother me at all. The “USKKKofAmerica” did. I have attended black churches. I have had the honor of being considered for a staff position at a black church and of preaching at a black church. The justification that whites just don’t understand the culture of a black church is not completely valid. Is black church radically different from a white church? In some ways, yes. Are the differences significant enough to justify the behavior viewed at the UCC church? I have taken the time to search the TUCC website and have not found anything that would concern me about their stated theology or position statements. Again my point is not about Rev. Wright or the political arena, but about the blessing of meeting with a black man who has borne his sufferings with good grace and who looks to our Lord for his joy and strength. A man who is passionate about seeing the presence of Christ make the change in the hearts of men and women necessary for us to really love each other.
Pastor Bob……….looking at Uganda location/info. on web. to get a feel of your trip. Interesting!! Praying for you as you travel so far from home. Ready to give quick HELP if needed by your familyl…pass the word.
Change in pocket…….interesting. I too do not like change in my pocket. I have a huge plastic container in the closet and toss the change there each day. Enjoy your blog entries……..take care!!HC
Of all the lines in your blog, of course this reader would pick up on the “lean family tree” line. You don’t really have a lean family tree. Your heritage is rich with real, live, blood relatives…those who stick closer than a brother. Our faith may have separated us from the human blood relations but the blood of Jesus Christ provided you with a far richer and deeper family bond than you have recognized or enjoyed. Just as the dear children who are your “adopted ones” are your heritage, and ours…there are so so many who pray, love, and associate themselves with you. Hang those pictures on the wall son. And remember the wonder of being part of the family of God. It was the best, greatest, family that we could provide for you. And this is for you, not for public view if it would embarass you.
I used the word “heritage” very intentionally. I know my relatives (especially in Christ) are many, but my parents were first generation Jesus freaks and I am (along with my siblings) now a second generation Jesus freaks and I pray my children (both here and in Uganda) will take that growing heritage of being full-out followers of Christ and make that into a rich and full heritage of what it means to be a Franklin-follower of Jesus. It is my prayer and the intention of my life that my grandchildren will point to my parents and give testimony to a heritage of leaving all behind to just being with Jesus and in turn will be passionate to pass that along to the generations that follow them.