Challenging Ourselves

The other night I was watching Oprah Winfrey's LifeClass on OWN.  TD Jakes was the guest speaker.

His topic was on "how passion leads to purpose."  It was a good program.  However, it made me face the things in me that I don't want to challenge because I'm comfortable.  Writing your own story, defining yourself, and pursuing the meaningful things you think are important is what life is all about.  My grandfather, John Berry, use to sit me on his lap as a little boy and qoute Jesus' words, "What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?  Wat will a man give in exchange for his life?"  These are two of the most important questions we must all ask ourselves. Life is precious. What am I willing to exchange (our time is a commodity) for a day of my life?  Is it wasting time on meaningless relationships?  Trying to earn other's approvals?  The fact is, my life and all that's important to me is nobody else's business.  If everyone was doing and pursuing what is important to them then they wouldn't be in my life trying to tell me how to spend my time. I know what I am called to do.  It may not be something your interested in however it's important to me... and I have fifteen years to finish it!  So I am on a project management track to complete what I believe God told me to do in 1988.  Build a great church and conference center in Annapolis, Maryland.  It takes time and is a great vision.  My passion is to win the lost, disciple the found, heal the hurting.  I love ministering prophetically all over the world but more than that I love my family, my church and the place I live and work everyday...  It's a great place that challenges me to grow everyday. I will finish what I started.

An Uncommon Dialogue

    Could "speaking in tongues" as outlined in the Book of Acts be the incarnation of language and thought? Since all forms and modes of human communication are inadequate, is it possible that when The Holy Spirit was poured out on the Day of Pentecost that the new gift of language was a call to believers to a more perfect mode of communication? Was it a call to have a higher regard for language and communicating the Gospel? If so, then why do so many "Evangelicals" object to the practice of speaking in tongues- there are lots of world languages that are spoken and not understood. My dear Kenyan Friend, Mannaseh Mankuleiyo has said, "I have travelled the world over and am almost convinced that whatever is spoken may mean something to someone some where. "La la la la" is no no no no in swahili, "baba" of course means father, "haha haha" means here - in kikuyu "hoho" is a vegetable in mijikenda so what is language and what is not I ask?"  My personal view of those who define incarnational lanuage as "glossolalia" have used this dismissive term to limit the creativity of language.  Incarnational Language is a personal, intimate, and uncommon dialogue with God.  (See I Cor. 14:2)
     So if a person speaks "french" in Canada - should the English population insist on the "french" refraining it's public use because they don't understand it or they should be required to translate everything for them just because they don't understand what is being said? What if the French don't understand English - shouldn't they be required the same? Speaking in Tongues is a God-given gift for all believers. (See I Cor. 13) Shouldn't every believer have access to all forms of communication and "language?". Why do "evangelicals" forbid speaking in tongues, when the Bible says, ‘Forbid not to speak in tongues’ (1 Cor. 14:39)?” Maybe it's because most "evangelicals" are colonial in nature and have their own demand for Evangelical political correctness...  "Political correctness is loosely defined as “avoidance of expressions or actions that can be perceived to exclude or marginalize or insult people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against.”  Maybe that's why the people who gathered around the disciples as they spoke in languages they were unfamiliar with were amazed. They heard them speaking in ways that were inclusive of them. Incarnational language is always inclusive.  I often wonder if those who oppose incarnational expressions as outlined in the book of Acts have forgotten the age old question, "Have you received the Holy Spirit since  you believed?" (see Acts 19).  If not, then there should be evidence in your use and creativity of language.  There ought to be evidence in our everyday experiences with the Holy Spirit's incarnation in our lives - Speaking in new and fresh ways as the spirit gives utterance to us.
     "Language," is an outstanding rant on the absurdity of being a pedant about the English language, that most glorious, reeling drunken bastard of a tongue that has neither academy nor dictator to rule on "correctness" and so has blossomed into a million variegated subforms in every corner of the globe. When people insist on "correctness" in language, we should be urged to speak in ways that entertain and please us, rather than adhering to some rigid, notional code. Imagine  the limitations and restrictions "political correctness would make on the works of Shakespeare, Maya Angelou poems, or Helen Steiner Rice inspirational thoughts.  

     In fact, author John Hicks, has stated, " incarnational language expresses the hope that there will be a growing awareness of the mythological character of this language as the hyperbole of the heart, most naturally at home in hymns and anthems and oratorios and other artistic expressions of the poetry of devotion. Christianity will  -- we may hope -- outgrow its theological fundamentalism, its literal interpretation of the idea of incarnation, as it has largely outgrown its biblical fundamentalism." Use and meaning of words change all the time.  Prayer can be inhibited by limited vocabulary.  Language should be viewed like works of art.  Great artistic works are designed with great expression and wonder. So too should we master our use of language when communicating the wonders of our creator.  The Day of Pentecost was a great day of expression.  The Apostle Paul said he spoke in languages of men and angels.  In other words, his expressions in prayer and devotion to God were not limited to his known knowledge of the Greek or Hebrew languages.  Speaking in an unfamiliar incarnational language celebrates change, evolution, playfulness and the democratizing of the tongue. Every word of this is well-spoken, well-thought-out and absolutely liberating. What a treat!
     Praying in the spirit should be like an artist expressing themselves on canvas.  I have often found that when my english language limits my deepest feelings and communication in prayer, I need to have an uncommon, unfamiliar dialogue with God.  God understands each language of the world but is not limited to the "words" that we speak. His language is in the air that we breathe. Praying in languages that we have not learned or understand should be as easy as breathing air.  It's songs should move us beyond the sounds of music known on earth and captivate our expression of worship. 

     In a time when political correctness seeks to limit the use of language and expression; we should seek to find new creative ways to communicate our faith.  The protestant reformation removed art from places of worship as much as political correctness seeks to limit incarnational language.  Those who claim to be "Baptized in The Holy Spirit" should find no limitations in their intimacy with God because of their ability to exercise their incarnational languages. In fact, if you don't speak in tongues what makes you think you can artistically express the other giftings found in I Cor. 12.  The real truth is anyone who does not speak in tongues is as limited in their communication with God as someone who tries to play music but never took a lesson.  Unskilled musicians limit worship just as limited uses of language in prayer inhibits a dialogue with God.  I'm glad I speak in "Tongues" so that I can enjoy uncommon dialogues with God.  If you are "Filled with The Spirit," you also have the ability to have an incarnational conversation with God in ways, thoughts, and expressions you've never learned if you are open to Him.  Speaking in Tongues gives us an ability to communicate and have an uncommon dialogue with God.  But, maybe you want to excuse yourself by believing "it is not necessary to for you to exercise incarnational speaking (speaking in tongues)" because you just want your relationship with God to remain on Mute.  Just saying... :)

Blowing it!

     We've all had our moments where we've blown it.  We made bad choices, we choose wrong directions, we said things we wish we could take back, and hurt others in each process. Recently, I had one of these moments. I asked myself why I let myself get into this position. As I looked at my motivation I was trying to help a friend not realizing even my best intentions would bring confusion in another relationship and violate their trust.  I take full responsibility... and what's worse is Proverbs 18:19 remains true, "An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city."  I can't believe I let myself get into this position. I am especially bothered when others have used my mistakes as an opportunity to disqualify me totally from being a "trusted" person in projects, opportunities, and other relational networks because they've painted me as a person who continually makes mistakes. Yes, I am guilty but so are they and so are you.  Everyone blows it.  Everyone is guilty... and everyone does it all the time.  Romans 3:23 tells us "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:10 tells us "there is none righteous, no not one." So, how we forgive and rebuild trust all depends not on the guilty party but the injured party's choices to forgive, get up and trust again, allow mistakes to be made and let lessons be learned by those who made the mistake.

     I think sometimes people find themselves blowing it with others because the offended party has not explained the values they hold well enough, have not defined their personal boundaries to others, or explained what the expectations are in the relationship.  This is not excusing the offense - only explaining why it happens sometimes. So everything gets screwed up, relationship failures happen and then the violating party gets punished because they didn't know or understand the rules the injured party had. 
     Relationships are a complicated thing. Especially, when you have so many of them, so many different values, and so many different rules that you have to navigate through. My expectation is that people will fail.  People will blow it. People are people.  Mark 4:24 says "And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you." Too many people have unrealistic expectations of their friends... people are going to fail you.  You are going to fail others.  The scripture tells us "THERE ARE NONE RIGHTEOUS" - so everyone of us will fail in relationship with others.

     So when someone fails you what will do?  Will you follow Matthew 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over." Or will you just ignore the person who failed you and hold that resentment in your heart?  The goal according to scripture is to "win the relationship back."  Gal. 6:1 exhorts, " Brothers and sisters, if a person gets trapped by wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should help that person turn away from doing wrong. Do it in a gentle way. At the same time watch yourself so that you also are not tempted."  The thing that really bothers me these days is how few Christians integrate and practice what the scripture command us to do vs. following their own dysfunctional value systems.  God calls us to restore "relationship failures."  Micah 6:8 tells us that the Lord requires us "TO LOVE MERCY."  I need mercy and grace when I blow it.  I need to be forgiven and reaccepted by others. I need to be valued in the same manner I was valued before I failed others in relationship... and so do you.  But, unfortunately too many people love punishing me, punishing you for our transgressions, our failures, and mishandling our relationship.  Divorce is not acceptable, people talk behind our backs and tell others their offenses toward us, and cut us out of the loop and punish us for blowing it is not acceptable.  We are follows of Jesus I think... God help us!

      Hebrews 12:15 applies to all of us, "Make sure that everyone has kindness from God so that bitterness doesn't take root and grow up to cause trouble that corrupts many of you."  Looking diligently - This phrase implies close attention. It is implied that there are reasons why we should take special care. Lest any man fail of the grace of God; not the free favour and love of God in Christ, which is everlasting, unchangeable, and from whence there is no separation; nor the grace of God implanted in the heart in regeneration, which is incorruptible, never failing, but always remains, as do faith, hope, and love; but either the whole doctrine of the Gospel, which is a declaration of the grace of God; or particularly the doctrine of free justification by the righteousness of Christ, which men may receive in vain, and fall from, 2 Corinthians 6:1 to which these Hebrews might be prone: and such "fail" of it, who either come short of it, do not come up to it, receive and embrace it; or who having professed it, drop it and deny it: now such should be looked after, and such a case should be diligently looked into; because the glory of God, the honour of Christ, the good of souls, and the well being, and even the continuance of the church state are concerned: Lest any root of bitterness springing up - A root of bitterness signifies a poisonous plant. The Hebrews call every species of poison a bitter, and with considerable propriety, as most plants are poisonous in proportion to the quantum of the bitter principle they possess. The root of bitterness is here used metaphorically for a bad man, or a man holding unsound doctrines, and endeavoring to spread them in the Church.  Trouble you - This alludes to the effects of poison taken into the body: the whole animal system is disturbed, sometimes violent retchings, great disturbances through the whole alimentary canal, together with the most fatal changes in the whole sanguineous system, are the consequences of poison taken into the stomach. The blood itself (the principle, under God, of life) becomes putrescent; and probably to this the intelligent apostle alludes when he says, and thereby many be defiled, μιανθωσι, corrupted or contaminated.  Bad examples and false teaching have corrupted thousands, and are still making desolation in the world and in the Church. 

      So my only question I would like to ask of ourselves is: "When others fail us- and they will -  How are we going to handle it?  Will we give them the opportunity to be forgiven, loved and totally accepted as we were in the beginning or divorced, talk about them behind their back, turning others against them so they are not a part of our small world and ensured to be cut out of our little relational network because we are better than them?   Hmmm...  1 Corinthians 13:4-7  "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."   I'm sorry... I've made lots of mistakes. The only thing I can ask of you is to explain to me the rules of engagement when I come into relationship with you and teach me the proper protocol. That's all I can ask - and I will do my best to love and be a good friend to you.  But I am a realist I will blow it sometimes.  Please give me another chance to be a better friend... 

Blogging: A Personal Diary!

Over the last ten years I've kept personal diaries. It helps me record events in my life... what I think about them at the time and challenges I face both internally and in my "world."  I used these diaries more as a way of processing thought.  I've decided to do the same through blogging. In fact, these are my personal thought processes and were not written to indict or be a commentary on any "person" particular. I am interested in all forms of cultural architecture and have opinions too. What bothers me is that some have read my blog and have thought I was writing about them personally or a particular situation... which is just not true. I do write about ideologies I disagree with. I don't write people I may be upset personally with - because I really don't get upset by people. I try not to post anything online that would be a detriment to my relationships with my friends, peers, or family. What a paradox... I am still puzzled by the "protocol" of all these new digital forums and how people read into things.  Let me just say this "the views and opinions expressed here are not representative of the staff or management of the church world or profession I serve."  These views are opinions of my own... I know they are not politically correct, could kill me professionally (I wish), and come from a "post-modern" cultural understanding. I am a post-modern thinker.  I'm abstract, eclectic, and love exploring new things and options toward problem solving.  I am against all forms of heirarchy, uniformity, standardization, and censorship.  I value "dissent."  I am Post-modern American. 

Sorry if you don't get that but it's not my job to be an interpreter for my friends in the modern world culture as to what "post-modern" language and culture means. I know who I am. I have given room for each of you who read my blogs to leave comments...  and your opinion does matter. I believe in dissent. I believe in the Universe Next Door!  I may not share your perspectives, your views, ideology, or theology - and that's okay.  Maybe relativism is okay.... The idea of human rights and freedoms must be an integral part of any meaningful world order. It's all about permission, honor, respect, and personal boundaries... not assuming you have the right to "assert in yourself or opinions" into each other's personal space without asking permission.  I live in a house "not like yours."  I share a theological view which some would consider "Left" of center. I believe in an inerrant, infallible God just not an interpretation or view of the bible that makes infallible "oracles" of God in the pulpit.  The radical reformation ended Papal rule and I haven't been informed that there will be a return to any seat of the anti-christ spirits that prevails in many churches today.  Jesus is still the head of his church the last I checked - not us. Thank God!  

Let's look at this way, there is...

Place

   I grew up in an age of social revolution.  The generation I grew up with was interested in socio-economic change, political change, cultural change. It's mantra was "We can change the world."  Michael Jackson rightly penned the word's of our generation "We can make the world a better place."  So social justice, equality, and economic opportunity to lift up everyone's chances for a better world has always been something we have been committed to.  However, there has always been a resistance to relinquishing power by my parents generation (those born 1930 through 1940 +/- , the world war II generation).  I find it rather ridiculous that anyone over the age of 70 has not gotten out of the way, settled down and enjoyed their retirement.  Instead you have an older generation still trying to be politicians, business leaders, senior ministers, bishops, educators, TV prognosticators, etc. while a whole new generations could be taking vacant job positions, forging ahead, and creating the glocal civilization they want to live in.  After all, each generation has a right to recreate the world they live in.

    However, my generation which is now entering the 50's is still being told by the 70+ crowd to sit down and shut up - they're not done yet.  I don't mean to be disrespectful (even though the 70+ crowd is) but isn't it time for you to grace the doorways of our national nursing homes so we can take our place. You had your time, you are not going to retain power, you're nearing the end of life - you need to give up your addiction to power and let the younger generations - your grandchildren refashion the world you left them.  The world they are apart of is alien to your World War II era.  There are no more boggie men for you to fight.  No commies, no more Cathedral of Tommrow's to be built, no heirarchies, no more Saddams to be killed and certainly no more bombs needed.  In fact, despite your own alarms, the 21st century will be called a "Leaderless Revolution."  Something "Moderns" will not get because they haven't even recognized that the "Post-modern" culture is here.  Change has come. Modernism has ended and it's time for the rapture of "modernistic thinking" and/or "heirarchical leaders"  (which still has it's head in the clouds) to go ahead and be caught into the air.  Jesus has come to create a "place" for me - your time is up.  No more King Eddies needed.

(See.http://www.christianpost.com/news/video-of-bishop-eddie-long-being-crowned-king-leaves-viewers-confused-68423)

     So when you die, you don't have to worry about your legacy - my generation will ensure that it is rewritten. We get to be revisionist too... something you should be concerned about especially when leaving an impression on those of us you've trampled on. When you die, you'll join the thousands of voices who once thought their theologies, political views, individual lives, and personal histories were important but now serve as the fertilization of grassy lawns of their respective graveyards.  What we all think as important - which was not important to the generation that preceded us will be forgotten. Our place, our lives, our thoughts, our ways are a vapor.  Fushia Pickett, Judson Cornwall, Glen Foster, John Gimenez, Derek Prince, Kathryn Kulman, Oral Roberts, Jesse Winley, Martin Luther King, the Kennedy Brothers, Whitney Houston, and many others are dead and so will we be soon. So, Jesus promised "He goes to prepare a place for us."  So what place has he prepared for us - Heaven, Hell,  a place in life or the academy awards?  What place will we have in history?  Let me just make it clear, I don't believe Jesus intended to die to make us the next American Idol or a famous Bishop in an Episcopalian church system. One of the pastors I once served said to me, "Mike, I once thought I'd like to be a John Wesley or Charles G. Finney but I'm not."  I'm glad he said that.  I'm glad he thaught me that it was just okay to be myself.  I'm not Reverend, Bishop, or seeking to become a charismatic infallible pope.  My parents named me "Mike Berry."  I'm happy to be what they called me, "their son."  I'm happy to be what my wife calls me "her husband."  I'm happy to be what my kids call me - "Dad."  what more is there to be in this life.  I have a "place" given to me by Jesus.

    I have a family, a wonderful family history, a place to live (along the beautiful Chesapeake Bay), a wonderful faith community, a great group of friends (from around the world), two great dogs, and plenty to eat and share with those in need. What more can ask for?  In this place....  now I have the opportunity to give others, to help them find their place whether that be a nursing home, assisted living, a grave yard, college campus, a good school, youth group, or a market place or glocal ministry.  Jesus has a place for you... I would like to help you find it.  My future place will be at Third Haven god-willing in about 40+/- years where my family worshipped for over 150 years.  I hope you will take comfort in this scripture "For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong."  What more could we ask for?  

    

Unity Is Not Uniformity!

Over the last few years, I've come to recognize that there is a steady and growing movement within our culture to silence dissent.  Never once do I find in scripture the word "uniformity."  In fact, the scriptures teach in Romans 12: 1-2 Do not be "CONFORMED" but be transformed...  I Corinthians 12 outlines the diversity of the body. A foot cannot be a hand. A head cannot be a heart.  We all have different functions, different callings, and gifts that differ.  This diversity, in fact, underlies, the Apostle Paul's perspective which says, "We know in part, prophecy in part, and see through a glass darkly. In other words, no person has a corner on truth.  

It's also rather strange how many people are proclaiming themselves as some oracle of God.  They see themselves as God appointed "word" police.  You can't say that, you shouldn't say this, because you might offend someone. John 6:60-61 gives us some interesting thought, "When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?"  Jesus didn't concern himself with being politically correct. It's also important to recognize that those who charged him with being a "dissenter" were the religious who demanded conformity to their religious traditions.

Throughout the last few months I've become quite alarmed by people telling me I have no right to blog about my opinions, views, or perspectives.  I didn't know that blogging was censored.  Let me state very clearly, "I will not stop writing, I will not stop fighting, I will not stop deconstructing, or fighting for the rights of liberty of conscience, freedom of worship, and dissent."  This is what America was built on. You and I have been ". . . endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights . . ." (Declaration of Independence)  This governmental philosophy is uniquely American. The concept of Man's rights being unalienable is based solely upon the belief in their Divine origin... which means I don't have to agree with you, share your political views, or your interpretation of scripture, worldview, or view of the future.  I can be a democrat (which I'm not), I can love Obama or Newt, and I can give voice to anything and everything you may disagree with... because I am a "person" - not a slave. I am free - not living under Tyrants... and I refuse to live under Christian Tyrants who have made themselves self-appointed spokesmans for God.  I find it especially abhorrent that some "Religious" people  find it okay to demand religious conformity, oppose anyone who dissents or stands up to them and then do exactly what II Pet. 2:10 says "But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities." (Unless they are republican of course).

This is the same crowd that will tell us to sit down and shut up, try to censor our voices, and try to cut off our influence with others in order to maintain their control over the kind of culture they want.  Instead of the divine right of kings, they think there is a divine right for apostles... who also coronate themselves as Bishops or Kings. Whatever happened to Jesus' words  You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you (Mark 10:42-43a).  

During the Vietnam War, (and My Dad gave his life for this country during this war) "EVERY day in every way,  as things were getting worse and worse. They were, that is, in the angry eyes of those who disapproved of U.S. policy in Viet Nam. As they see it, the very expression of their dissent was getting more dangerous. So it was that to Senator J. William Fulbright, General Westmoreland's report to Congress signaled nothing less than an onslaught of official repression that might silence dissenters altogether by branding them traitors."  Which means "MY DAD fought for my right to dissent... and stand up against "Suppression" in the face of politicians who just wanted to silence American rights while fighting to stop the communist.  That's a paradox.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,843724,00.html#ixzz1mGwpZ1j1  

You have no rights to police my opinions, my views, or try to censor them. I don't have to agree with you politically, live according to your doctrinal views, or be defined as a Christian or not a Christian just because I don't share your fundamentalist views. I am "Free"... who the son has set free - is free indeed. - and you know the beauty of all this is - you're free to disagree too!  Be dissenter... !   William Penn, the cultural architect of our nation, fought for our right to be dissenters.  Thank God I don't agree with the majority most of the time!  Unity is a "code" word for  modern's who espouse "Uniformity" as God's way. I didn't know that the culture of  "Modernist" would fight to maintain their hold as the post-modern world ushers in a new age of "Quaker" values.  Wow. Thank God for that. 


May we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion.  - President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Can the Church in America Lead The Way?

      Over the last year I have been working on a prayer project which has morphed into America For Jesus 2012 in Philadelphia.  The general vision has been developed around the idea that America is divided - culturally, racially, spiritually, economically, socially, and politically.  After thirty years of research on this issue I've concluded that this division began in the midst of the English Civil wars and the introduction of slavery as an institution in this country.  With the planting of the cross in Cape Henry, the English Cavaliers sought to colonize the south in order to preserve their "Wealthy" lifestyles that they enjoyed in England but were losing to the English puritans.  In order to preserve their lifestyle of large estates they needed servants - who they thought would be the First Nations people.  Unfortunate for them, the native populations resisted the colonization, dispossession of their lands, and conversion to Christianity in the face of a gun mentality of the Cavaliers.  Despite the claims that America's English colonialism was a Christian mission - it really was designed to Christianize the First Nations people so that they could bring them into forced labor. They would not be satisfied till they put Pocohanas in an English dress, cut her hair to their liking, and taught how to speak with a proper English accent. Thus began the divisions and Pocohanas was brought to her death.

       In my final conversations with Dr. Peter Marshall and recently with David Manuel, authors of the book "The Light and The Glory," I've raised the question as to why 'King Phillips' War' was not presented as an "unrighteous" move of the puritans of New England.  New England's puritans were not interested in toleration, inclusion, or views which challenged their calvinism. They killed the Natives, hung the Quakers, ran out the Baptist, and charged people with witchcraft when they disagreed with their vision of a city on a hill. After all puritanism was about purifying.  So my question was where is the righteous root.

       I found it in Philadelphia.  William Penn, who many believe is the real cultural architect of our nation, came to the shores of America seeking a place of refuge where persecuted Christian groups could practice their faith with liberty of conscience and freedom of worship.  In England, the National Church leaders demanded conformity.  The entanglement of the government and church polity did not allow liberty of conscience or freedom of worship. If you didn't conform you went to jail or you were killed.  These are the people who forced the puritan's out of England into Amsterdam and then to the shores of America. But the puritan's were just as intolerant as England with William Penn's faith - Quakerism.  So William Penn took the opportunity and the king was very happy to rid England of his Quaker problem and other dissident groups by granting him a colony named Pennsylvania.  

       William Penn, was a revolutionary just as all his faithful friends in Quakerism. They believed there was "that of God in every person."  Man was not totally depraved. God created humanity, breathed the breath of life in him, and the light of God was within him - even after his fall.  Romans 1 explains that there is something in every person, it's called conscience, that bears witness to God.  So this inward light in every person was to be regarded, nudged forward by our testimonies, and treat others as you would want to be treated. Quakers believed in "honoring one another."  There were not male, female, Gentile, or Jew - all were one in Christ.  So they sought to build a culture of honor.   In fact, William Penn came to America and met with the natives with no weapons in his hands.  He came to honor them, purchase their lands, and not invoke a sense of "his rights" as the proprietary leader. He wanted to be inclusive and give them the same rights as he sought for his fellow Quakers and other friends of faith. This is what America is about!  Liberty and justice for all. However, this vision was lost.  The English would not have it their own country nor did they intend for it to happen here. Thus the Revolution!

         So all division began in our country over class warfare, rich against the poor, white against the First Nations, the Africans (who were defined 3/4 human), and political division over the right of the individual vs right of communities.  There are those who want to nullify the right of dissent. Quakers fought for the right of dissent.  Today, The right and left demand conformity and "political correctness." What ever happened to free speech? Many people are scolded because they have an opinion that differs - with the right or left.  Then, to top it all off - today we still have slavery - in fact we have more slaves in America today than we had before the civil war. But abortion and the policing of other peple's sexuality is more important than ending slavery for good. Did you know that corporations own people for $90.  They are domestic workers, field workers, nannies, and sex slaves.  While the religious right is fighting gays, abortion, birth control issues and claiming their religious rights are being denied - they are seeking the rights of others to be denied.  Yet,  200,000+ 9 to 12 year old kids are being abducted off the streets of America and exported as slaves overseas... and now what will the vision of this Philadelphia event be about... Christian triumphalism or "coming to each other with hands free of weapons" and "trying what love will do"?  

          So far, all I've witnessed is people positioning themselves for a place on the program - or trying to define the program. Is a program that important or asking God to forgive us more important.  Can you imagine Bishops, pastors, church leaders of all races, liberal and conservative coming in brokenness, tender-heartedness, forgiving one another, crying and humbling themselves and becoming one body?  What will this event be all about?  I hope we can all overcome the iniquity that runs in us and return to the old ancient reliable paths given to us by William Penn. See Jeremiah 6:16  Is it possible to "Try what Love Will do?"