“Change” is the biggest word in the entire dictionary these days…so it seems...

  For me, 2008 was a year chock full of personal changes:  my family changed homes, I changed employment, and my kids changed schools.  I think most change is good.  Some change is convenient and some is not, but most of it stretches us, gets us outside of our comfort zone and makes us look around.  The United States of America made a historical change this past January 20, 2009.  We inaugurated, Barack Obama, our nation’s first “non-white” President.  My opinion says this change is good:  our country is ascending further out of the pit of white supremacy and is living more deeply its fundamental doctrine that all are created equal.  I keep hearing Galations 3:28 in my head, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  Now we are a leap closer to living this Gospel principle by not only saying but also demonstrating that “there is not black and white”...

For those of you reading this blog…you might be content just stopping here…but for others who want to dig deeper…

All of this contemplation has led me to reflect on democracy and our country’s origins.  There is a question as to whether or not our nation was directly founded on Christian principles, seeing as some number of our founders was Deist rather than Christian.  Regardless of this uncertainty, I rejoice that the acceptance of democracy in our world is effectively an outgrowth of Jesus’ understanding of the Kingdom (or Reign) of God.  By definition, “democracy is a form of government in which power is held by ‘the people’ under a free electoral system.  It is derived from the Greek δημοκρατία (dimokratia), ‘popular government’ which was coined from δήμος (dēmos), ‘people’ and κράτος (kratos), ‘rule, strength’ in the middle of the 5th-4th century BC to denote the political systems then existing in some Greek city-states, notably Athens following a popular uprising in 508 BC” (Wikipedia).  And “dere” you go (My Big Fat Greek Wedding).  Democracy itself originated with the Greeks, but as Christianity became the major spiritual practice in the West, Christ’s emphasis on the integrity and rights of all people made democracy more culturally acceptable.  So, not only am I celebrating the greater fulfillment of our nation’s Declaration “all men are created equal”, but the deepening Reign of Love/God (1 John 4:16) in humanity. What a beautiful thing!...

On a side note…I want to remind you that 100% of the proceeds I receive for downloads of  “Tune of Ignorance” on iTunes goes to Mercy Corps’ relief and development efforts.  99cents adds up quickly and can easily bring new life to the impoverished. A beautiful way your “change” can make a change! Now this is CHANGE we can believe in! Simply click on the banner on my profile and download TUNE OF IGNORANCE today. It’ll make you feel good.

Peace, Love and Understanding-

Greg