Thank you, Keith, for posting this! Living in the far Northwest corner of the US, which was populated by the Scandinavian & German people, we don't see many different colored faces. But what I've learned through the years is God is color blind! Personally, I believe "God's image" stamped on each of us is not one with a certain color face, but an inward one. (Could this be why He always looks at the heart and not outward appearance??) If we were to look at the “inner image” of God, what would we find? Some things that come to my mind are the ability to love, to show compassion, and to be merciful and offer forgiveness when wronged. This inner image is attainable by all of us, no matter what the color of our skin.

I'm thankful for the friendships Bert & I have formed over the years through the Acapella Company. . .ones with a variety of skin colors! Even having grown up in a place where skin color is for the most part white, it has never been an issue causing a barrier for us, and we have come to know so many special people as we look to their hearts and not their outward appearance.

As I think about the inaugeration of President Obama, I question why so much talk of him being the "first black President". After all, his mother had white skin, which makes him just as much white as black. Hopefully our nation can realize the beauty of his rise to the presidency was not that he was black, but that he was someone with a goal in mind who worked hard to achieve it. . .something we all should realize is possible when we are blessed to have been born in the United States. My prayer is God can use President Obama to bridge our nation together to the point where we look, as God does, on inward appearance.

May hearts be turned to God in an amazing way in the days to come. "Jesus IS the answer for the world today" is a great song. May that answer be found in hearts here in the United States as we seek God's direction for our country!! "If my people who are called by name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face. . .then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin & HEAL THEIR LAND!" (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Blessings!
~Diane

I twittered about this video, Keith, and was delighted to see that others picked it up with RTs. Wonderful video, wonderful memories of the singers.

Latayne C Scott
www.latayne.com
novelmatters.blogspot.com

Do you really think that churches are still segregated? It's really all about location isn't it? And some of our neighborhoods are still 'little communities' of their own. Think of the bigger cities where they have blocks of Little Italy, or Little China. We tend to do that in a smaller scale in other places and so I think it's all about location. I've visited in several congregations where I did not 'look' as the others whether it be my dress or skin tone but I was accepted and NEVER turned away at the door. Isn't that the difference? Or am I way off based? If someone is not allowed some place based on a difference they have from others, then it's segregation right?

I know the community that I grew up in was pretty plain. Just hardworking country people... with little diversity. But as the area changes from farm based to 'burb' of a bigger community then our neighbors will change as well. Therefore the church population will reflect that change. THEN our congregation will have more diversity in it.

With that said, should we really be concerned with the colors represented there in the pew OR the life experiences that bring those people to the pew. My life experiences are very diverse from some of the people I sit next to...we each have experience to add to the overall community of our congregation. :-)

I do not think our congregations are segregated by anything but choice of individuals likes and dislikes.

I have attended an all black congregation on several occassions, and it is quite different in many ways than
the white congregations I have attended. There is a cultural difference in the passion, spirit, and length of the
service. Nothing wrong with it at all, in fact it is very inspiring. The people have always been very welcoming and
gracious, friendly and loving to all. My daughter attends this congregation on a regular basis, she calls it home, she is very involved, and she loves the passion in their worship.

So why do I not want to attend there all the time? It is a matter of taste, what I am comfortable with, and what I have been
brought up with.
Same goes for my black brothers and sisters in Christ. They feel like my white congregation is dull and lifeless, but I like it just fine.
I have never attended a white congregation where the ladies decided we should all wear red on the Sunday of Valentines.
There is a difference, that is all I am saying.

I do not think it is an issue whether we are segregated on Sundays or not. I do not think it is a color issue. I think it is the same reason I do not attend the other white congregations across town or a few blocks away. This is the one I enjoy right here right now. We are all worshiping the same God, although with a few different twists and turns.
did that make sense? I hope it came out right. You can tell I have an opinion on the matter, and you may have opened up a whole can of worms.
BTW - I absolutely loved seeing the Acappella video. It warmed my heart today!

I see I have us living in the northwest corner of the US. . .as you well know it should be ND!! My bad!! I don't get to your blog every day, but it's fun to catch up on it on the week-end when I have more time. Sounds like you've been busy like the rest of us!! As long as we stay "busy for the Lord" we are in good hands!! My love to you and Sharon!!

Keith,

I was just browsing through your older entries and saw this one. I share your desire to see the church take the lead in race issues. I went to the Promise Keepers rally in Washington D.C. back in 1999. At that time they announced their plan to end racism in the Church. They encouraged all Christian men to meet on the steps of their respective state capitol buildings and declare racism in the Church dead on January 1, 2000. I was very pleased and ready to go. However, when the Y2K scare got going, they canceled the effort and it was never picked back up. What a shame. Of course, we can all declare racism dead in our own lives, and if everyone did that the world would be a better place.

The greatest thing about Obama's election, in my opinion, is that no one will every be able to tell a black child that they cannot amount to anything in this country because of their race or background. That is a lie that has been told on both sides of the race barrier for too long, and hopefully no one will buy it anymore.

God bless,

Timothy