tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31097798784358787362024-03-06T03:06:41.107-05:00Leroy LamarJust Trying to Make Sense of It AllLeroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-81175292942813389042014-09-19T10:46:00.003-04:002014-09-19T10:46:55.034-04:00#FLY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMo-ST72OmUrK7WGLaaciICUC4RX_nMkSOuzQ6aMQV1XQ6_OeIorKNXZ2WBndSusvDVAS35nB8Lp8jGe7sKhWI2vDAzaurlcg0F1sMG7I_Lj6YgKkBAY5q-OIueiruc0WTrU5Xv7UzCUz/s1600/photo-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMo-ST72OmUrK7WGLaaciICUC4RX_nMkSOuzQ6aMQV1XQ6_OeIorKNXZ2WBndSusvDVAS35nB8Lp8jGe7sKhWI2vDAzaurlcg0F1sMG7I_Lj6YgKkBAY5q-OIueiruc0WTrU5Xv7UzCUz/s1600/photo-14.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<span data-reactid=".5.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.1.0.$811766120341476847:0.1.2:0.0" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #222222; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span data-reactid=".5.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.1.0.$811766120341476847:0.1.2:0.0" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #222222; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span data-reactid=".5.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.1.0.$811766120341476847:0.1.2:0.0" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">In 1968, while reflecting on the racial plight of African Americans in the South, Paul McCartney penned the words to the Beetles' Blackbird. It's message of freedom from oppression has been an inspiration to me as I think about those remarkable men and women attempting to exit the commercial sex industry. The blackbird has become my symbol and the symbol for our social enterprise, </span><span data-reactid=".5.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.1.0.$811766120341476847:0.1.2:0.0" style="background-color: #f8f8f8;"><a href="http://www.thatgracerestored.com/" target="_blank">That Grace Restored</a></span><span data-reactid=".5.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.1.0.$811766120341476847:0.1.2:0.2" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">. Below are some of the lyrics that moved me to tears.</span><br />
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<span data-reactid=".5.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.1.0.$811766120341476847:0.1.2:0.2" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">"Blackbird singing in the dead of night,</span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".5.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.1.0.$811766120341476847:0.1.2:0.2" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">take these broken wings and learn to fly,</span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".5.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.1.0.$811766120341476847:0.1.2:0.2" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">all your life,</span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".5.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.1.0.$811766120341476847:0.1.2:0.2" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">you were only waiting for this moment</span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".5.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.1.0.$811766120341476847:0.1.2:0.2" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">to arrive."</span></div>
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<span data-reactid=".5.0.0.0.0.0.0.1.0.1.0.$811766120341476847:0.1.2:0.2" style="background-color: #f8f8f8; font-family: proxima-nova, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">- The Beetles</span></div>
Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-82141226448752891002013-07-18T22:55:00.002-04:002013-07-18T22:55:48.436-04:00My Trayvon Martin Challenge<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What does it mean to honor someone or to do something in the honor of another? The day of the Zimmerman verdict, many people blacked out their social media avi's in a show of support and solidarity with the Martin family. A common objection was blacking out one's photo will neither bring Trayvon back nor change the verdict. In short, it will accomplish nothing. In one sense, these people were wrong. What it did was allow people to know that they did not stand alone. It allowed the family to see that there were others who stood in support of them and their son. But in another sense, these people were right. Blacked out photos produce very little change in the world.</span></div>
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Now that some of the passion has died from the verdict and people are putting their original avi's back up, I wanted to suggest a way to honor not only Trayvon and his father, but to honor the relationship between the two that has become immortalized in the photo above. Out of all the photos I've seen during the past weeks, this one moves me the most. I'm not sure how your timeline looks, but it is very rare that I see fathers, especially black fathers, embracing and kissing their sons. A public display of affection from a father to son speaks volumes to both the son and to the world. It strengthens the relationship between a father and son. It allows a man to be vulnerable. For some fathers this is extremely risky because you have never displayed emotion to your son. Sons, this can be risky for you because you have never received physical affection from your father. But if we are going to change the world, one place to start is with changing how we love and show our love to our sons and our fathers. These types of photos do produce change in the world. If nothing else, they allow fathers and sons to connect.</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So my challenge is this:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1) Fathers, go spend time with your sons. </span></div>
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2) Sons, go spend time with your fathers.</div>
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3) Push past the fear, the risk and the pain and, if possible, embrace your son or father.</div>
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4) Take a photo and let the world see it.<br />
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Here's me loving on my boys. I can't wait to get a photo with my dad!<br />
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Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-39647800669196848332013-07-15T18:04:00.001-04:002013-07-16T09:59:46.212-04:00Thoughts on the Zimmerman Verdict <br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">For those tracking with me via social media, it should not be surprising that I was not shocked by the jury’s verdict in the George Zimmerman trial. I've long held that the State did not have the evidence necessary to convict Zimmerman of second degree murder and that a manslaughter conviction, while possible, was going to be very, very difficult to get. Some of the blog entries I'd read </span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">questioned whether this case should have even been brought to court. My personal belief was Zimmerman was most likely guilt of </span><span style="font-size: 12px;">manslaughter due to his negligence by exiting his truck and following Trayvon. As many have argued, if Zimmerman had heeded the advice of the dispatcher and not followed Trayvon, then the altercation would not have occurred. Not being a legal expert though, I was not confident in my position. On July 8th, I read <a href="http://www.westernfreepress.com/2013/06/26/why-george-zimmerman-will-be-acquitted/" target="_blank">this piece</a> by attorney Shane Krauser</span><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> that made me begin to rethink my position on manslaughter. I knew then that if the State did not have a bombshell witness or a piece incontrovertible evidence that proved that George Zimmerman was not only the </span><span style="font-size: 12px;">aggressor in the confrontation, but also used excess force in defending himself against Trayvon, then he </span><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">could not be proven guilty of either charge </span></span><i style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">beyond reasonable doubt</i><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">. The prosecution had already rested its case. I knew that no witness or evidence was coming. It was highly like that Zimmerman would be a free man.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Not only was I not shocked, but I was not disappointed in the verdict. If I'm completely honest, I was a bit relieved. This verdict proved to me that the justice system has not been so comprised as to be swayed by mob justice. It's no secret that most African-Americans believed Zimmerman to be guilty and wanted a second degree conviction. It is also no secret that many people feared a repeat of the LA riots. Given America's racial </span><span style="font-size: 12px;">sensitivities</span><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> and these two well-known facts, it would have been easy to throw Zimmerman to the mob just to pacify them and ensure the safety of our cities and towns. The jury did not do this. They patiently weighed the evidence that had been presented by both the State and the Defense and came to the very reasonable conclusion that George Zimmerman was not guilty. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>How can you say this as a black man living in 2013? Don't you see the huge injustice that has been committed against black people here? Don't you see that this incident proves that America has not fundamentally changed since 1955?</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">My answer to these types of questions are very simple. First, I think this situation proves that America is very different than it was in 1955. If this same incident had occurred in 1955 and legal theorists like </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><a href="http://cnsnews.com/news/article/liberal-law-prof-zimmerman-case-should-never-have-been-brought-first-place" style="font-size: 12px;" target="_blank">Alan Dershowitz</a><span style="font-size: 12px;"> are correct, then this case would have never made it to court in the first place. America would have never heard of George Zimmerman or Trayvon Martin. The Martin family would have grieved together with family and close friends. But that did not happen. The whole world has heard of this case. My aunt in Australia can't believe that this "S.O.B." got off! The President of the United States commented that Trayvon would look like his own son. This would have never happened in 1955. Again, because of our racial sensitivities, we are far more likely to look for the racial element in crimes and address them than we were 60 years ago. We might not always get them right, but cases that have a racial element to them cannot be hidden or swept under the rug by racists and bigots.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Second, While I do think this incident as a travesty, I do not see it as a racial travesty because I do not believe there was a racial element to this case at all. I believe that the media and racial profiteers like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson made this case into a racial one for pure political and financial gain. (F</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">or a great read on why Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are utterly worthless as defenders of civil rights, I highly recommend </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Enough-Dead-End-Movements-Undermining-America--/dp/030733824X/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373901850&sr=1-8&keywords=enough" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;" target="_blank">Enough</a><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> by Juan Williams.) </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">It was the media who first misidentified Zimmerman as a White man. It was the media and Al Sharpton </span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">that created the category "White His</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">panic." As others have questioned, if it is fair to label a mixed person by both races, then why have they never referred to President Obama as a White African?</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> It was CNN that incorrectly reported that Zimmerman called Trayvon a "fucking coon." It was later determined that Zimmerman was actually commenting on the weather and CNN retracted their statements. It was NBC that edited the audio of Zimmerman’s non-emergency call to make it sound like Zimmerman just blurted out that Trayvon was black when the unedited audio showed that Zimmerman was merely responding to the dispatcher’s question about the race of the suspect. NBC claims to have fired the person responsible, but the damage had been done. All these small inaccuracies add up. They all placed small doubts in our minds about Zimmerman's racial motives. We were convinced that this man was a racist or at least racially profiled Trayvon Martin that night. But our thoughts about Zimmerman were all based on a fabrication and not fact. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">In fact, there was much evidence to show that Zimmerman was <i>not</i> a racist. Zimmerman's friend, a black man, Joe Oliver went on several shows to defend Zimmerman's integrity. He told Jesse Jackson that he understood the frustration of African-Americans and would have felt the same way if he had not known Zimmerman personally. Zimmerman's father reported that Zimmerman and his wife mentored two African-American children. There's also the story of Zimmerman defending the homeless black man that was beaten by the son of a Sanford police officer. Finally, there was the 254 page FBI report that investigated the Zimmerman shooting and found no evidence of racism in either Zimmerman or the shooting. While it is true that Zimmerman had a pattern of calling the police on young, black males, it is also true that <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/28/zimmerman-s-twin-lakes-community-was-on-edge-before-trayvon-shooting.html" target="_blank">young, black males were overwhelming responsible for the crimes in his community</a>. But it seems that none of this evidence made its was into the minds of many Americans. All they see is a white man who killed an unarmed black child. There is no other possible motive than racism. I find it extremely sad that our passion and fervor is so great that it </span><span style="font-size: 12px;">prevents us from seeing this evidence. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Does this mean that I think Zimmerman was completely innocent? To be honest, I do not know. I do not have enough information to determine what happened that night. I still think that he was negligent by getting out of his vehicle. I agree with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/judgegregmathis/posts/10151758925815960" target="_blank">Judge Mathis</a> that Trayvon's parents should try Zimmerman in civil court. But I think this is probably where the trial should have been all along. </span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">My heart does go out to Trayvon's family. I am sorry that they lost someone very dear to them. I am sorry that we as a nation dragged them and their pain into a trial that never should have been. My heart goes out to George Zimmerman. His name and reputation were ruined by the greedy bastards in the media and the"civil rights movement." While he may not be completely </span><span style="font-size: 12px;">innocent, there is no evidence that he deserves that has happened to him. </span></span>Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-29779978501972905992013-04-03T09:56:00.001-04:002013-04-03T09:56:50.370-04:00God and RehabYesterday, I had an interesting talk with a friend about God's role in drug rehab and behavior change. Conventional Christian wisdom seems to be that one cannot truly kick a habit without God's help or without becoming a Christian. This is the philosophy of several faith-based rehab and restoration programs with which I am personally acquainted. The theory is that once a behavior devolves to the level of an addiction, it takes God to overcome it. These programs support this claim pointing to the number of addicts that they have seen come to faith, kick the habit and then live productive and meaningful lives. <div>
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But I have two main issues with this philosophy. First, many AA and NA programs have success stories while not requiring their members to become Christians. While they do promote faith as being necessary for successful rehab, they don't specify in which deity one needs to place her faith to be successful. They simply require you to place your faith in something (i.e. a higher power). But this view contradicts the conventional view because on the conventional view, not all deities are capable one producing change. The only deity that can produce actual change in a person is the God of the Bible. It's like trying to get water out of a disconnected water hose. Only water hoses connected to the water supplies produce water. On the AA model it doesn't matter where the hose is connected. It just has to be connected to something.</div>
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Second, there is evidence that many people quit drugs and alcohol without attending any programs or without any specific faith commitments at all. Gene Heyman has been providing <a href="http://www.geneheyman.com/pdf/Is%20Addiction%20a%20Chronic%20Relapsing%20Disease.pdf" target="_blank">this research</a> for years. According to Heyman, addiction is not a disease, but is a choice. Though the choice is hard, people can choose to stop whatever destructive behavior to which they are addicted. Heyman's research shows that the choice to change is usually preceded by a calculation of the pros and cons associated with the addictive behavior. As the addict really begins to realize that a life without this behavior is better than a life with it, she can begin to change her behavior. Behavior change, then comes from within the individual and does not necessarily come from some external source (i.e. God, medicine, etc.) Again, Heyman does not argue that behavior change is easy. He merely says that it's possible.</div>
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So what does that mean for faith-based or explicitly Christian programs? Is there no place for them in the world of rehab and restorative programing? I think there is still space. I think the role of a Christian program is not to show the client that God is needed to overcome addiction or to change a destructive behavior. Instead, the role of the program is to show the client that God is needed to have a complete and full life. According to the Christian worldview, just as a seed needs nutrient-rich soil, fresh water and oxygen in order to flourish, human beings need healthy relationships, proper nutrients and a relationship with the God of the Scriptures in order to flourish. Christian programs, especially long-term programs, should aim at helping their clients develop Christian world-views while at the same time helping them walk through the <a href="http://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0301/p1409.html" target="_blank">stages of behavior change</a>. </div>
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This does not mean that God isn't interested in helping the client with behavior change. I would argue that He wants to help and has promised that His Spirit is here to help us change those behaviors that are contrary to the flourishing life.<br /><br /></div>
Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-30740301481366534172011-07-02T18:48:00.000-04:002011-07-02T18:48:00.569-04:00How Angry Black People Destroy EverythingSince the birth of my sons, I've been rather distant from all forms of media (mainstream, social, right-wing, etc.) so I wasn't aware of the newest global phenomenon -- planking. It's a rather simple and harmless activity (I'm not sure it's a sport even though people seem to be trying to out plank each other). All one has to do is to lie face down with your fingers and toes pointed. Though I think planking is rather silly, it does seem to be a form of entertainment which virtually everyone can participate. One doesn't have to go to planking school or train hard to be a planker. There are thousands of planking photos out there and very few people seem to be getting hurt from planking.<br />
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According to several internet sites, planking began in England by two guys who thought it would be a cool way to jazz up their travel photos. Those crazy Aussies popularized this fad and dubbed it planking. Recently, American celebrities have taken to planking, but the angry black people are warning against it. According to <a href="http://www.theblackurbantimes.com/2011/06/30/planking-has-roots-in-slavery-and-the-middle-passage-african-americans-please-read-before-you-ever-plank-again/">The Black Urban Times</a>, planking is rooted in slavery as slaves were "planked" in the hulls of slave ships. I don't know whether to laugh at this assertion or to cry because I see assertions made like it frequently. Not everything that white people do is connected to some past sin against black people and not every fad black people participate in is a scheme hatched by white people to keep us down. Just because two things are similar does not mean that one is the cause or the root of the other. Arguments like these are just silly. Happy planking...Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-5622741667652968592011-04-27T20:37:00.000-04:002011-04-27T20:37:06.164-04:00Are the Birthers Racists?So today President Obama released his long-form birth certificate proving that he is a natural born American citizen and thereby eligible to be the President of the United States of America. Of course, the reaction from many people is that the only reason this was an issue in the first place is because Mr. Obama is the first black president. They didn't do this to any other president. Why have they chosen Mr. Obama? In other words, those brining these charges are racists. First, let me say that I am a conservative and I thought the birther thing was absolutely stupid and should have never been made an issue in the first place. There are far more important issues on the table than this dude's birth certificate. We are fighting multiple wars, we have an economic crisis on our hands and <a href="http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/04/25/am-coffee-prices-on-their-way-up/">the price of coffee is at a thirty year high</a>. I would rather focus on getting my americano back down to a reasonable price than rummage through documents in the state offices of Hawaii.<br />
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With that said, does this mean that I agree that the main motivating factor behind the birther movement is racism? No. I think the main motivation behind the birther movement is political. It is an easy target at which to aim to discredit Obama as a political opponent. Yes, there probably many birthers who are racists. But that doesn't mean that the movement itself is racist. Just a thought.Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-70064750198151957432010-11-28T21:58:00.000-05:002010-11-28T21:58:30.399-05:00Thanksgiving ThoughtsOne of the things that continues to amaze me about my Uncle Mel is his ability to enjoy the simple things in life. I took him to the dock at the beach house where we were staying during the Thanksgiving holiday and he was on cloud nine. He enjoyed sitting on the dock's bench just taking in the breeze and the view. While I enjoyed both of those, I was thinking about how to buy the property! How can I make this mine forever! I think that cheapened the experience for me. I should have been living in that moment like Uncle Mel was, instead of trying to find ways to have more of those moments.Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-58781710859334764212010-11-19T19:19:00.000-05:002010-11-19T19:19:52.567-05:00Emails from Jericho<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Cl-Fd_Saint-Eutrope-vitrail1.jpg/218px-Cl-Fd_Saint-Eutrope-vitrail1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Cl-Fd_Saint-Eutrope-vitrail1.jpg/218px-Cl-Fd_Saint-Eutrope-vitrail1.jpg" width="116" /></a></div><br />
Dear Winston,<br />
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I am sending this email to update you about the first night of the "Lord, Make it Rain" conference. Let me just tell you! I am so deeply sorry that you are not here because tonight was off the chain! Tonight we had Bishop Jenkins from Arizona and he was on fire! The sanctuary was teeming with people waiting to hear what the man of God had to say to us. I was nervous because we've never hosted a conference this big and there is a huge risk that we would not meet our financial responsibilities. But we collected enough money tonight to settle all our accounts for the next four nights! You can't tell me this isn't a God thang!<br />
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Anyway, Bishop's message was about our place in the kingdom as heirs to the throne. Since we are sons and daughters of the King, we have access to all the King's resources. To get these riches, we just have to ask for them. You just have to speak into the natural what is already yours in the spiritual. Man, people were running around claiming all kind of stuff. It was something to see. You know I have been sensing in my spirit that God was calling me to start my own school so I went forward and just claimed that thang!<br />
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Anyway, the only bad part about the night was that my car stalled out two blocks from the Dome. You know that's not a good area. The wrath of God was unleashed over there years ago and the people who live there might as well have 'Ichabod' written over their doorposts. As a matter of fact, they should have that tattooed on their foreheads! I was about half a block from where we used to have our evangelistic rallies. I remember the time you were preaching on the corner near the barbershop. You laid into them something serious! But let's be real. That's what those people need. The need to be told that they are sinners and they need to get it together! God is not putting up with their foolishness any longer. You cannot make a mockery of God and not expect Him to blast you. Let me quit. You got me preachin' that thang!<br />
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So, I was trying to get my car started when this nasty, bum-looking dude stumbled past me. He actually fell onto the hood of my car. I looked down, saw some blood and tried my hardiest to get the heck out of there! Praise God that as soon as I got back in the car, it started up immediately. It was obvious that God was trying to get me outta there! Somebody from the conference might have driven by, saw me talking to that bum and thought I was buying crack or something! Remember, you gotta abstain from the appearance of evil. I wasn't trying to let my testimony get soiled over some drunk, crackhead. I should have told him to walk away from that thang!<br />
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Anyway, it's almost midnight and I have to be up in the morning at six because I'm an armor-bearer for Bishop Popoff tomorrow. I'll talk to you later.<br />
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In Him,<br />
LeviLeroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-68505850736964016582010-11-15T11:43:00.002-05:002010-11-15T11:43:56.475-05:00On MeIn reading my RightPath Profile, I learned that I have a tendency to start things and not finish them. So, I'm going to try toLeroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-90882582251916392072010-11-09T11:36:00.000-05:002010-11-09T11:36:32.909-05:00Does 'Jihad' Have to Several Meanings?While in India, President Obama was asked his thoughts on jihad. According to <a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=8189">one source</a>, the President said:<br />
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<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">“Well, the phrase jihad has a lot of meanings within Islam and is subject to a lot of different interpretations,” the president responded. “I think all of us recognize that this great religion in the hands of a few extremists has been distorted to justify violence towards innocent people that is never justified. And so, I think, one of the challenges that we face is, how do we isolate those who have these distorted notions of religious war.”</span></blockquote>Is this true? Does the term 'jihad' have many different meanings within Islam? The short answer is sorta. The President is kinda correct. He's just not as precise with his terms (and for that I won't fault him.) The term 'jihad' has one basic meaning in Islam. Jihad means to strive or to struggle. The question Muslims ask themselves is, "With what or whom are we striving or struggling?" One possibly is that we are to strive and to struggle against sin. This is how is it understood, we are told, by the majority Muslims. Allah calls all devout Muslims to eradicate evil from their lives and to live in pure, holy devotion to him. Another option is that Muslims are to strive and to struggle against those who are opposed to Allah. This is holy war and is, according to the President, how the term is used by "a few extremists."Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-23114812279661540962010-11-03T21:04:00.001-04:002010-11-03T22:03:01.062-04:00Why I Am a Conservative (Part 1)<a href="http://www.ideasinactiontv.com/tcs_daily/2006/01/the-metaphysics-of-conservatism.html">Here</a> is a link to a piece Edward Feser wrote titled, "The Metaphysics of Conservatism." It examples the ontology of my conservatism. Read it slowly.Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-68160821168885909172010-11-01T19:02:00.000-04:002010-11-01T19:02:36.263-04:00Should Everyone Vote Simply Because They Can?Before I get blasted for what I'm about to say, just remember, this blog is a place for me to work out my thoughts.<br />
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Last week I had a very brief conversation on Twitter on why black people are not excited to vote in the upcoming elections. The person with whom I was tweeting said that many blacks feel as though they have not been heard or that their situation has not improved over the past two years. This answer baffles me because most black people voted for President Obama (and the House and Senate Democrats) and he has done many of the things that he promised to do. According to the President, these policies are having the effects he thought they would have, it's just moving a little slow. Like he told John Stewart, these things take time. (I personally disagree with the President's chosen path and I believe the effects of his policies merely reenforce my belief that these policies were bad ones.) When I tweeted similar remarks to my online interlocutor, he somewhat agreed, but commented that many people are ignorant of politics and economics and therefore they do not know where to properly place the blame for their current misfortunes.<br />
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It was this last statement that I found intriguing. If people are ignorant about the basics of politics and economics, is it really a good idea for them to be voting on economic and political matters? It would be like the time Balki (from Perfect Strangers) placed bets on football games by judging the strength of each team's mascots. He didn't know anything about the game of football. All he knew was that a dolphin was no match for a bear. This is clearly no way to determine who is most likely to win a football game. One must know the rules and objects of the game and then see which team has the components necessary to beat the other team.<br />
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Something similar seems to be needed in voting as well. I should know something of how economies are run in order to know whether the House and Senate candidates are offering good economic policies. I should know something about the mindsets and belief systems of our enemies in order to accurately assess a candidate's position on the current war in Afghanistan. In other words, it seems to me that we should be encouraging people to get educated in the areas necessary to make good voting decisions before we encourage them to get out and vote. This proposal might sound elitist, but doesn't it make sense?Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-60280909602606190052010-10-29T15:30:00.000-04:002010-10-29T15:30:23.247-04:00Why Jay-Z is not IlluminatiI was having breakfast with my students this morning when one of them started singing a Drake song. I asked her if she was a fan of Drake and she responded that Drake was okay, but she doesn't really like him because he is part of the Illuminati. The charge that rappers are part of the Illuminati is a baffling one to me. If there were such a society, why would they choose people like Jay-Z, Drake, Kanye, Rhianna and Willow as members of their organization.<br />
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Here are my main reasons for thinking they wouldn't. First, the Illuminati is supposed to be a <i>secret</i> society. Now, there seem to be two kinds of secret societies. There are those like the Masons and the Black Greek Letter Organizations whose membership is public knowledge though the practices and rituals are not. It's easy to find out that Langston Hughes was a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., but it is not easy to find out what Hughes had to do, say or believe in order to become a member of this society or what his duties were. The second kind of secret society is one in which the beliefs, practices, rituals and membership are private. An example of this kind of society is found in the works of Dan Brown. According to Brown, Leonardo Da Vinci was a member of the Priory of Sion whose mission was to protect the secret of the Holy Grail. This was done though symbols, ritual, etc. No one knew that Da Vinci was part of such a group nor did people know what this group was supposed to do. (I suppose there is a third possibility. There could be a secret society where the members are secret, but the rituals, etc. are public. This just seems weird.)<br />
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It is my understanding that the Illuminati is supposed to be in the second category. While many believe the Illuminati to be comprised of the world's powerful and wealthy, no one is supposed to know who the actual members are or what they do. Now, Jay-Z is definitely not being secretive about his association with this organization. If the "all-seeing-eye" is supposed to be a secret symbol of the Illuminati, then Jay-Z might as well do a <i>60 Minutes</i> confessional right now. He would be the only member of this organization to brand the symbol and sell it! If I were a member of the Illuminati and saw Jay-Z wearing our symbol on his extra, long white tee, I'd get one of my paid goons to slip him a few extra ambiens. That's playing too close to the line for the safety of the organization.<br />
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Second, if there is an Illuminati, I can't see them allowing Jay-Z to be in charge of new recruits. I would want someone who is going to recruit not only people of power, but also people who will keep the organization's existence a secret. So far, Jay-Z hasn't chosen very good people. Willow is nine years old! If she is Illuminati, she's already told her little friends at her last sleepover! (Of course, her parents have to be Illuminati too so they probably stop her from spilling the beans.)<br />
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But maybe Jay-Z isn't in charge. Maybe President Obama is in charge and he recruited Jay-Z. Pres. Obama is definitely influential and wealthy. He looks like he can keep a secret. If so, then Obama is not as astute as he appears to be because he has allowed Drake et al. to be members thereby threatening to expose the existence of the organization.<br />
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Or maybe the Illuminati is looking to transition from the second kind of secret society to the first kind. Maybe they are tired of living in the shadows with their super lame parties. Who wants to hear orchestras play Wagner and Mozart all night? Who wants to see stuffy old ladies in sequin dresses eat cucumber sandwiches and drink Moet? Jay-Z and Co. definitely know how to get that thang crunk! Gone are the sequins. Here come the g-strings! Good-bye <i>Das Rheingold</i> and hello Das EFX! Let's make it rain!Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-77593740266528355762010-10-29T11:46:00.000-04:002010-10-29T11:46:01.794-04:00Judge Not? <object height="344" style="background-image: url(http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/Y1oRYQyGOlE/hqdefault.jpg);" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y1oRYQyGOlE?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y1oRYQyGOlE?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br />
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"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Georgia, Garamond, 'Times New Roman', times, serif;">He who is without sin among you, let him</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Georgia, Garamond, 'Times New Roman', times, serif;"> be the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Georgia, Garamond, 'Times New Roman', times, serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Georgia, Garamond, 'Times New Roman', times, serif;">first to throw a stone at her" (John 8:7).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Georgia, Garamond, 'Times New Roman', times, serif;"></span>"Judge not least ye be judged" (Matt. 7:1).<br />
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Both of these statements were made by Jesus and both of these statements have been used to argue that people (or Christians, at least) should not judge the actions, lifestyles and belief systems of others. I however, do not think that Jesus is forbidding judging. If anything, he is cautioning against making quick and improper judgments.<br />
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The first quote comes from John's account of a test of Jesus. A group of Jewish, religious leaders try to test Jesus' knowledge of the Jewish law by bringing a woman before him that had been caught in adultery. According to Jewish law, the punishment for her actions was the death penalty. When Jesus responds with the above quote, the Jew leaders drop their stones and walk away. Jesus then turns to the woman, tells her she is free to go, but admonishes her to change her behavior.<br />
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What is interesting about this passage is that Jesus agrees with the Jewish leaders' judgment against the woman. By instructing her to, "go now and leave your life of sin" (John 8:11), he is agreeing with the Jewish leaders that she has done something wrong. He passes judgment on her as being a sinner.<br />
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The second quote is found in Jesus' famous, Sermon on the Mount. Our quote is located in the middle of the sermon and is the introductory statement on the issue of judging. Here is the passage in context:<br />
<blockquote>Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive. Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while there is a beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs; otherwise they will trample them under their feet and turn around and tear you to pieces. (Matthew 7:1-6, NET)</blockquote> When one sees the first statement in context, it becomes clear that Jesus is not condemning all judging. Jesus tells us to first judge ourselves so that we can clearly judge others. In fact, Jesus divides people into two groups-- 1) the those who possess that which is holy and 2) the dogs and pigs. Jesus excepts us to know the difference between the two groups. We should be able to say, "that dude is a pig" or "that dude is good." But doesn't this sound like judging to you?<br />
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Incidentally, Jesus makes another statement about judging which is also record in the book of John. Jesus says, "Do not judge according to appearance, but make a righteous judgement" (John 7:24). Here, the Jewish religious leaders and a crowd surrounding Jesus were making bad judgements about who he was and about the source of his miracles. They were particularly upset because Jesus had healed a man on the Sabbath, a sacred day set aside for the worship of God. Jesus rebukes them, not for judging him, but for making a judgement based on the wrong criteria. They were judging him based on how Jesus appeared. Jesus does not explicitly say what the correct criteria for judgement is here, but I suspect it has something to do with comparing his acts and message against the Messianic teachings of the Old Testament. Jesus expected those present to judge him correctly (i.e. righteously, properly, etc) as the promised Messiah. So, it seems like Jesus wants us to not only make ethical judgements, but we are also supposed to make religious ones as well.Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-23755202254390183492010-10-27T11:00:00.000-04:002010-10-27T11:00:17.665-04:00The Path to SimplicityMy life is definitely too complex. I am constantly checking email, facebook, twitter, text messages, smoking signals, skywriting, etc. I am so busy with these tasks that many other, more important tasks go undone. So I'm thinking of some ways to simplify my life.<br />
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One of the things I am seriously considering is getting rid of my cell phone. Not only would this give me more time to myself (solitude and contemplation are two goods currently missing in my life), but it would also save Janelle and I money each month. I'm also thinking of getting rid of twitter and facebook. Of course I can hear all of my tech-saavy, marketing friends, "How will you ever stay relevant? How will you keep up with your friends and what's going on in their lives? How will you push your apologetics ministry?" Well, my apologetics ministry is virtually non-exist right now so I'm not too worried about that one. I'll still have my blog which will be an outlet for my ministry ideas and thoughts. Staying relevant isn't that difficult because I won't give up the internet. I'm just giving up two of the websites that suck most of my time. I'm not the guy that has tons of self-control and can keep to a schedule. The best course of action, for me, might be to ditch the whole thing. As some dude said, "Know thyself." As far as staying in touch with my friends, I guess I'll have to do it like I did in 1995. I have a home phone with a voicemail. I also have an email account (something I didn't have in 1995). I'll just check my email and voicemail at night when I get home and return phone calls. Also, this would give me a great excuse to meet with people face-to-face which I like doing way more than I like talking on the phone.<br />
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Anyway, this isn't a rant against technology. Technology is amazing and I love it! Technology's awesomeness is part of the reason I'm in this situation right now. In my case, technology has added to my happiness (in the Aristotelian sense), but it seems to have taken much more than it has added.Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-62556673442316614262010-10-24T21:16:00.000-04:002010-10-24T21:21:53.099-04:00Avoiding the "Appearance" of Evil? <a href="http://bible.org/article/1-thessalonians-522%E2%80%94-sin-sniffer%E2%80%99s-catch-all-verse">A great article</a> on 1 Thessalonians 5:22--the verse commonly thought to say, "Abstain from the appearance of evil." I posted back on the other blog, but I thought it needed reposting. In short, Daniel B. Wallace argues that this verse does not say that we should abstain from the appearance of evil, but we should stay away from 1) false doctrine and 2) every kind of evil. If it is not inherently evil, then there is no biblical mandate to stay away from it. This does not mean that there might not be good reasons to avoid some acts (i.e. looking out for the weaker brother, etc.), but to just condemn an act because it appears to be evil is unjustified.Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-74995272606007490112010-10-20T18:43:00.000-04:002010-10-20T18:43:51.328-04:00#ThingsIWouldLove2Own<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><object style="background-image:url(http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/CJXTBZLRfR4/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CJXTBZLRfR4?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CJXTBZLRfR4?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="480" height="295" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><div><br /></div><div>Those who know me, know that the VW Type-2 is my dream vehicle. But there are several reasons why I don't currently own one. First, it is difficult to find one in good condition these days. Many of them are so old that they are beginning to rust and deteriorate. Second, even though there are companies that make parts to repair Type-2s, I am the least handy person in the world (well, maybe not the world, but you feel me). It takes me forever to fix things. If the directions suggest a 30 minutes repair time, it will take me a minimum of four days. Third, they don't have air conditioning and I have to have air. I rode around this summer with one of my good friends who didn't have air. I wanted to stab him every time I glanced his way. Finally, my wife isn't keen on the idea and she makes the rules. But if VW came out with this camper, I'd sell everything to buy one. I absolutely love this design. I might just start a car company and build them myself. Hmmm...Where did I put my dream journal? </div>Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-9317718901603645102010-10-19T23:38:00.001-04:002010-10-19T23:38:41.006-04:00Jay-Z and Jesus Christ<div style="color: #333233; font: 13.0px 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So I was thinking the other day about Jay-Z's song "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UjsXo9l6I8"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #191aa3; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Empire State of Mind</b></span></a>" and all the controversy it caused in the Christian community. For example, there is a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dApiC2-l04"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #191aa3; text-decoration: underline;"><b>video</b></span></a> which castigates Jay-Z for "dissing" Jesus Christ. Many people were appalled that Jay could just flip his lid and start talking crazy.</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 13.0px 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 13.0px 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The lines in question say:</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 13.0px 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Mommy took a bus trip/ Now she got her bust out/ Everybody ride her/ Just like a bus route/ Hail Mary to the city/ You're a virgin/ And Jesus can't save you/ Life starts when the Church ends</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 13.0px 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 13.0px 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It seems pretty clear that Jay-Z is denying one of the core beliefs of the Christian faith. He is saying that Jesus is not capable of saving us and that real life happens outside of church. But while I think Jay's critics are on to something here, I want to suggest a way to defend Jay-Z's statements. I want to propose that Jay might not be as crazy as his critics make him appear.</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 13.0px 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 13.0px 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">One of the most popular theories for how proper names relate to their subjects is called the descriptive theory of proper names. On this theory―a theory developed by Bertrand Russell―proper names refer to the person who satisfies a set of definite descriptions. Definite Descriptions are phrases like those found in definitions. For example, if I asked you who is Jay-Z, you might respond, "he is―'the writer of the above lyrics,' 'one of the founders of Roc-a-fella Records,' 'the owner of 40/40 club,' 'Beyonce's husband,' 'one of the greatest MCs of all time,' etc." The list of definite descriptions needed to describe him is practically infinite so to simplify things, we just call him 'Jay-Z.' Another way of looking at it is, proper names stand in the place of a list of definite descriptions and refer to the person who fits those descriptions.</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 13.0px 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 13.0px 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Now what about Jay-Z's statement about Jesus? I think one could argue that it is plausible that the definite descriptions Jay-Z attributes to the proper name 'Jesus' might be descriptions which make his lyrics true (if there was a person in history who fits Jay-Z's list). For example, let's agree with <a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/anselm/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #191aa3; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Anselm</b></span></a> that only a being that is both God and human is capable of satisfying God's justice and thereby provide salvation for all humanity. Second, let's say that Jay-Z does not believe that Jesus is divine. He believers that Jesus was merely a good human being. Jesus was only one of God's prophets. Then it follows that Jay-Z shouldn't believe that Jesus is capable of saving us. In other words, if Jay-Z does not have "Jesus is the God-man" as one of his definite descriptions, then he could logically believe that Jesus couldn't save us. So when Jay stands on stage and says, “Jesus can’t save you,” he is right. The Jesus in his mind is not capable of saving us.</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 13.0px 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 13.0px 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Now the next question would be, "Is it reasonable for <i>me</i> to believe that Jay-Z could fail to have 'Jesus is the God-man' (or any of the other necessary and sufficient conditions for Jesus to be savior) as one his definite descriptions"? I would answer yes. Given the weak education programs at many churches, it wouldn't surprise me that someone like Jay-Z could reject many of the truths of the Christian faith. As a Church, we have done a very poor job of communicating what it is we believe and why it is we believe what we do. I have had ministers, deacons and elders argue with me that while the Bible does claim that Jesus is the Son of God, it does not claim that Jesus is God. These are the leaders who are supposed to be feeding the flock. If the leaders don't have the necessary definite descriptions, then it makes sense why someone like Jay-Z wouldn't have them either.</span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 13.0px 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #333233; font: 13.0px 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 18.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So, I don’t believe that Jay-Z is crazy or has lost his mind or any of the other claims made about him. I simply believe that Jay-Z is wrong in his beliefs about who Jesus was. </span></div>Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-11686548632997194672010-10-12T22:00:00.000-04:002010-10-12T22:02:11.270-04:00The Truth Behind "The Truth Behind Hip Hop"<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One of the things I promised myself I would do when I got my blog back up was to analyze the book titled, "The Truth Behind Hip-Hop," written by G. Craige Lewis. I was introduced to Lewis' work a number of years ago by my friend Shawn Hayes. Shawn called me and told me that there was a dude going around the country preaching that Hip Hop was an evil spirit and that God had called him (Lewis) to warn the Church about this spirit and to drive it out of the Church. I asked Shawn where I could read what Lewis had written and Shawn told me that Lewis' main form of communication was his DVD set and that these DVDs were $25 dollars each, but if I didn’t have access to the DVDs, Lewis had some articles on his website that I could read. I went to the site and read some of his pieces and was not impressed. They were filled with poorly developed arguments and tortured hermeneutics. I couldn't see myself paying $25 a pop for something I wasn't sure was even legit.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Well, last year Lewis published a book which contains his main argument against hip hop. I waited a few months so that I could get it used on amazon.com and my copy arrived at the beginning of the summer, but since my summer was hectic, I didn't have a chance to read it. To be honest, I don't have time to deal with it now, but analyzing this book is doing double duty. I've decided to study it as my devotions as well. Since this book is written for the Church, it will mostly likely deal with a lot of Scripture as well as theological themes on which I can meditate and apply (if applicable of course) to my personal walk.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anyway, my goal is to move through this book chapter by chapter on this blog. This might not happen but this is may goal. So, I’ll be reading the first chapter tonight and commenting on it tomorrow. If you have the book, please read it with me and please comment. Like I said in my very first post, fill free to help me work through these issues. </span></span></div>Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3109779878435878736.post-57779736635196235382010-10-11T10:29:00.000-04:002010-10-11T10:29:00.995-04:00Trying this Blog Thing...for the Third TimeWelcome to the third iteration of my blog. My first attempt ended because some dude hacked my service and I wasn't smart enough to stop him even though I have seen the movie "Hackers" about six million times. Where are Zero Cool and Acid Burn when you need them? My second attempt was so weak that I don't think it should be called an attempt but it was an attempt so I'll call it one. Anyway, this third attempt is simply a place for me to get my thoughts and ideas out there and have you good people help me process them. I can't promise that they will all make sense. You will probably find some ill-formed theological and philosophical arguments. I hope you will also find some well-formed arguments too. You will see the other stuff that gets posted on blogs( i.e. videos, photos, etc.). I don't know what else will be here. You just have to wait and see. Some of you will stay. Some of you will never return. Some of you will call the police on me. Whoever you are, you are welcome.Leroy Lamar IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03272650313860934081noreply@blogger.com10