Shalom Richmond Class #2 & Class #3

Last week Bill Martin gave a fantastic presentation on the history of Richmond. Funny, although I'm a native Richmonder, I learn something new about the city I love each time I hear Bill talk.

Richmond's history didn't begin with the Civil War, though some would like to think so. Nor did it end with the surrender of Lee to Grant.  Richmond is a an incredible city and is sooo much more than the Civil War.  Is Richmond's history, perfect--nope. There is good and bad to every city, but I don't think folks give the City enough credit for the good that she has done and does. I'm not sure what folks think of when the criticize the city.  Are they criticizing the City because the city government was in such mess.  Are they criticizing the City because they had a bad experience there...couldn't find parking, got a parking ticket. Are they telling their friends and family not to go to the city because you know, it's just a little too, um, urban? ethnic? underserved? (which we all know are code words for "black people".)  Just what are folks afraid of about the City.  Crime doesn't just happen in urban areas. Unfortunately, when it does happen in the suburbs, it's residents like to say it's because the "urban" folks have brought it into our neighborhoods. 

Any way, I digress, where was I.... yes, Shalom Richmond, Class #3.  I missed today's class as I was participating as a judge for The Gloucester Institute's Emerging Leaders Program. OH. MY. GOODNESS!  This was the most incredible day. I along with 4 other "judges" reviewed fundraising letters written by the young women and men participating in the program.  The students did a fantastic job given that they have never, ever written a letter asking for funding.   The writing was so top notched that not one but two winners were chosen! You really, really need to learn more about The Gloucester Institute, the Emerging Leaders Program and the other programs of TGI!  www.gloucesterinstitute.org

I did receive the power point presentation from today's class.  John V. Moeser, Senior Fellow, Bonner Center for Civic Engagement, University of Richmond did a ppt on the An Overview of Poverty, Race, and Jurisdiction in Metropolitan Richmond.  Just from reading the slides I can only guess there were some pretty interesting conversations/questions/etc. going on in class.  I was surprised by some of the stats and a few times my mouth just dropped open. 

It just seems all so overwhelming.  How in the world can I make a difference in the City?  It just seems impossible.  I CAN"T do it! But God can! For Pete's sake, he parted the Red Sea!  He gave up his only Son for me!  Impossible?!  With God EVERYTHING is possible!  So I continue to pray and ask God to show me what exactly he wants me to do to make a difference in this City. 

The City I love.

Shalom Richmond, Class #1

"Hurry up!  Let's go!  We gotta get to Sunday School!  I bet you never thought you would hear me say that, huh?",  I shouted to Hubby this morning.

Honestly, I was just amazed at just how excited I was to go to Sunday School.  I even dreamed about the class, really, I did.

Today's class served as an introduction to the class and what to expect.  The class was very full. It had folks attending who were new to Richmond area, some that have been here for years and still others, like myself, born and raised in the city.

We had a chance to do some table work and have discussion with our table to answer three questions (which, I didn't write down). The discussion at my table was great. We talked about where we would take a visitor to help give them an understanding of the Richmond region. We also talked about what the thought was the culture of Richmond.

Next week we will hear from Bill Martin, Director of the Valentine Museum. He'll give us a history of Richmond. I've heard Bill speak before and I am thrilled that he will be at Stony Point. I love history and I really love Richmond history, so to learn about my city, Richmond is very exciting.

I've been feeling a pull toward the city these last few years, but when you marry a "country boy" the chances of moving to the city is 0. Heck, he thinks where we live in the suburbs is not country enough.  But I pray that God will show me, us, clearly where he wants to be and how to serve the city of Richmond.

Meanwhile, here is a a link to our homework assignment., Tim Keller speaks to why cities are important..  adrianwarnock.com/2009/03/why-cities-matter-tim-keller/

Until Next Week!

Andrea

Shalom Richmond - Race, Poverty, and Kingdom of God

Click here for more info on the class

Starting next Sunday, January 15th,  a first of its kind Sunday School class at our church starts and I'm just thrilled about it...now.

At first I was worried that a class like this- that is bound to blow apart folks preconceived or ill conceived opinions about race, poverty and kingdom of God-- would become nothing more than a rehash of stereotypes about African-Americans and a rehash of the civil war and a rah-rah session for Republicanism and conservatism. It wouldn't be the first time that I left a Sunday School class and felt like it was nothing more than an apologetics class for conservatism and the GOP.  I remember telling the Hubster, that I didn't think I was going to go to this class because of this.  But then a change happened.  I talked to the person that is putting the class together. 

Her excitement about the class became my excitement. I am soooo now looking forward to this class.  I pray that I will have an open and discerning mind to listen to the speakers and comments class participants may have, even if I don't agree with them. I pray that the way I think about those that different than me would be changed. Not just racially different, but socio-economically different as well.

To help me process and apply all that I learn, I will blog each Sunday afternoon that the class is held.  The blog post will be about me and me only. It will not be a blog about what others said. It will be about me and how God wants to be involved in his kingdom work in Richmond.  

Shalom, 

Andrea

You "like" me! You really, really "like" me!

So the other day my co-worker got after me for posting a status just to get a reaction from folks. It was fun conversation we had about it and I realized that everyone that posts to Facebook is doing so for some kind of reaction. We post to get the following reactions from people:

1. Sympathy
2. Approval
3. Comfort
4. Encouragement
5. Agreement
6. Make people uncomfortable
7. Prove a point
8. Provoke
9. Stir the pot
10. Disapproval
11. Kudos
12. Jealousy
13. Action--click here, vote here, donate here, buy, sell, help me find, help me get rid of, get advice, sign-up here, believe, pray, laugh, subscribe, unsubscribe, laugh, cry, don't believe, share, etc.

Because really, if we don't want folks to react then why post status updates? Why not just use the message feature to directly communicate with friends? Why not use the message feature or better yet, use the privacy features and limit your information just to friends or even just to certain people or certain groups of friends.

Am I saying it is bad to post update?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

I guess I'm trying to get a reaction out you. My #14 Reason-- Raise Awareness.

What do you think? Am I off base? (reason #2)