From "Where do we go from here?" by MLK

"What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love."

"And so I say to you today that I still stand by nonviolence. And I am still convinced that it is the most potent weapon available to the Negro in his struggle for justice in this country. And the other thing is that I am concerned about a better world. I'm concerned about justice. I'm concerned about brotherhood. I'm concerned about truth. And when one is concerned about these, he can never advocate violence. For through violence you may murder a murderer but you can't murder. Through violence you may murder a liar but you can't establish truth. Through violence you may murder a hater, but you can't murder hate. Darkness cannot put out darkness. Only light can do that."

"let us go out with a "divine dissatisfaction." Let us be dissatisfied until America will no longer have a high blood pressure of creeds and an anemia of deeds. Let us be dissatisfied until the tragic walls that separate the outer city of wealth and comfort and the inner city of poverty and despair shall be crushed by the battering rams of the forces of justice. Let us be dissatisfied until those that live on the outskirts of hope are brought into the metropolis of daily security. Let us be dissatisfied until slums are cast into the junk heaps of history, and every family is living in a decent sanitary home. Let us be dissatisfied until the dark yesterdays of segregated schools will be transformed into bright tomorrows of quality, integrated education. Let us be dissatisfied until integration is not seen as a problem but as an opportunity to participate in the beauty of diversity. Let us be dissatisfied until men and women, however black they may be, will be judged on the basis of the content of their character and not on the basis of the color of their skin. Let us be dissatisfied. Let us be dissatisfied until every state capitol houses a governor who will do justly, who will love mercy and who will walk humbly with his God. Let us be dissatisfied until from every city hall, justice will roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. Let us be dissatisfied until that day when the lion and the lamb shall lie down together. and every man will sit under his own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid. Let us be dissatisfied. And men will recognize that out of one blood God made all men to dwell upon the face of the earth."

A Breath of Fresh Air

I just got back from ministries retreat, and it was a time of such deep renewal. Soon, I hope to write up more of my reflections but for now this short post will suffice. 

The Spirit is at work. Yes, in moments of exaltation, the spectacular, as the music rises, beauty breaks forth at the dawn, as a mighty rushing wind; but also in stillness, the mundane, as all seems to slip away, the darkness descends, in near exasperation, as a quiet breath; the Spirit is at work.

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
    he will bring forth justice to the nations.
² He will not cry or lift up his voice,
    or make it heard in the street;
³ a bruised reed he will not break,
    and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
    he will faithfully bring forth justice.
⁴ He will not grow faint or be crushed
    until he has established justice in the earth;
    and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

- Isaiah 42:1-4

May I live a of gentleness. May I live a life so that I do not even blow out the dimly burning wick of a candle. Spirit speak in my whispers. Lord, may I rest upon your upholding. Lord, may I know your delight.

thoughts, prayer, outpouring of the storm within me

God is not an idea.

Christianity is not a theory.

Our faith is not in a set of principles and ideas.

God is God.

Christianity is the Way.

Our faith is in this living God as we stumble upon His Way.

Forgive me Lord. I have reduced You to my ideas about You. I have sought answers. I want to start seeking you. I want to know you not as an abstraction, not as an argument, not as an axiom, but as You. I want to know You. But I am scared. I am scared to know to You. But, Lord, You are. And, so, here am I. I have never been more sure of you, and I have never had more doubts. I feel like I am starting over. But, God, You are. God, you are good, you are life, you are hope, you are joy, you are. You know me. You are faithful. Make me anew. May I be less and You be more. I am scared to let go. Take hold of me.

~ ~

As the deer pants for streams of water, 

so my soul pants for you, my God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When can I go and meet with God?

My tears have been my food day and night,

while people say to me all day long,

"Where is your God?"

These things I remember as I pour out my soul:

how I used to go to the house of God

under the protection of the Mighty One

with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.

Why, my soul, are you downcast? 

Why so disturbed within me?.

Put your hope in God, 

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.

...

Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;

all your waves and breakers have swept over me.

Psalm 42:1-5,7