MS Blues Marathon

Hey Guys,

SOOO COLD!!!! 20 Degrees at race finish.

The last couple weeks have been really crazy. After a great Christmas break, I came back to Jackson and it was cold. Really cold. In fact, at the start line of the MS Blues Marathon, it was 17 degrees with a windchill in the single digits. So cold. Sam and I ran together. I got shin splints during my training and had to sit out a month, and was only able to run a couple times before the race. Sam was able to complete the training and so I decided to start running with him a little ways into the race, so that I’d be able to finish without risking re-injury. Sam did amazing and finished in 3 hours and 37 minutes. The weather actually caused several hundred breaks in the main waterlines of Jackson and so we were without water for about a week and on a state of emergency: boil water notice. Schools and businesses were shut down and things just started getting going again after MLK day.

Palestinian Christians Release “The Kairos Palestine Document”

A moment of truth:
A word of faith, hope and love from the heart of Palestinian suffering

Introduction
We, a group of Christian Palestinians, after prayer, reflection and an exchange
of opinion, cry out from within the suffering in our country, under the Israeli
occupation, with a cry of hope in the absence of all hope, a cry full of prayer and faith
in a God ever vigilant, in God’s divine providence for all the inhabitants of this land.
Inspired by the mystery of God’s love for all, the mystery of God’s divine presence in
the history of all peoples and, in a particular way, in the history of our country, we
proclaim our word based on our Christian faith and our sense of Palestinian belonging
– a word of faith, hope and love.

Why now?

Because today we have reached a dead end in the tragedy of the

Palestinian people. The decision-makers content themselves with managing the crisis

rather than committing themselves to the serious task of finding a way to resolve it.

The hearts of the faithful are filled with pain and with questioning: What is the

international community doing? What are the political leaders in Palestine, in Israel

and in the Arab world doing? What is the Church doing? The problem is not just a

political one. It is a policy in which human beings are destroyed, and this must be of

concern to the Church.

We address ourselves to our brothers and sisters, members of our Churches in

this land. We call out as Christians and as Palestinians to our religious and political

leaders, to our Palestinian society and to the Israeli society, to the international

community, and to our Christian brothers and sisters in the Churches around the

world .

1. The reality on the ground

1.1 “They say: ‘Peace, peace’ when there is no peace” (Jer. 6:14). These days,

everyone is speaking about peace in the Middle East and the peace process. So far,

however, these are simply words; the reality is one of Israeli occupation of Palestinian

territories, deprivation of our freedom and all that results from this situation:

1.1.1 The separation wall erected on Palestinian territory, a large part of which

has been confiscated for this purpose, has turned our towns and villages into prisons,

separating them from one another, making them dispersed and divided cantons. Gaza,

especially after the cruel war Israel launched against it during December 2008 and

January 2009, continues to live in inhuman conditions, under permanent blockade and

cut off from the other Palestinian territories .

Graphic Composition Class: Neighborhood Sign Project

Rushmore-like Logo: (left to right Walter Payton, Margaret Walker, Richard Wright)

So here are the basics of the sign project: We talked to community members of a blighted community near Jackson State University who asked for our help in designing a neighborhood sign. They wanted the sign to preserve some of the history of the neighborhood, but also pave the way for beautification and new development. They though that blue and white would be nice and the neighborhood association president though that it would be nice to have a Tiger holding a sign.

Talks Presents and Perkins Quote

5th Grader- Martinez Williams

One of my talks’ guys parents contacted me yesterday and asked for my help with Christmas presents this year. She told me how she had some extra bills this month she wasn’t counting on and how she’s really in a bind and not able to afford gifts for her son Martinez. She tried to sign up on the Salvation Army list, but signed up too late to be likely to receive help. He’s one of my mentees in the Talks program and I told her that I would see what I could do. I’m going to get him a gift, but I though I’d publish his wish list in case others would like to help as well. If there is more interest than is needed for just Martinez, I will make sure that some of the other needy families and kids in the community get help as well. Merry Christmas.

Wish list: (Size- 20 Husky, XL shirt)

• Games to play with mom: Monopoly, Uno, etc.
• Remote Control Car
• Good Clothing- (Football or Basketball)
• Socks
• Good Coat

Perkins quote- “The main root of racism is prejudice. We can combat this prejudging through a commitment to get to know one another.”

Harambee Constitution Draft-

I just wanted to post the document that the guys and worked on as guiding principles for the house. This came out of a year and a half living together here in Jackson and was drafted by consensus. There may be changes still to come, but here is the current version:

Harambee Community Constitution

Mission Statement: To equip young men and women to be leaders in family, community and global transformation through Christ.

• Spiritual Growth,
• Leadership Development,
• Discipleship (Mentorship)
• Community Living

House Recruiting

I had an interest meeting with 9 guys last thursday night concerning living in the house next semester. Applications have been out for a couple weeks and we’re just waiting now to see who will turn in the applications for next semester. Please pray that God will help us get the right guys in the house to be building a foundation for a healthy community.

We are also starting up a girls house this next semester. So far, the girls’ house is nearly full. The Perkins’ Center currently has 3 female interns who will be living there in addition to 2 students coming from Grace University in Nebraska. This will be combined with 3-5 JSU girls. So we’re excited to be able to have our first community activities just after the first of the year! We will be having a retreat coming up in January 10th and 11th.

Family Visits Jackson

This last weekend, my parents and brother Alan came to Jackson and joined me for a whirlwind tour. I was so blessed to have them come and see how so many of my friends were blessed to see them. Today was scoop’s birthday, so I took him out to lunch. Over lunch he told me how he just loved to see how my family and I related so positively together. I told him that it hasn’t always been this way, but that it was a huge blessing from God. 

They arrived on thursday afternoon and I’ll try to give some stories soon and maybe have them write a couple entries, but here’s the basic itinerary:

Thursday:  5:00PM pick up from Jackson Airport

            5:30- 7:30 Dinner at E and L  

Good Hair and Multiethnic Discussion

Documentary by Chris Rock

This last wednesday, a group of black and white friends decided to watch the Chris Rock Documentary “Good Hair” together and have a discussion about the film. The movie is about African American Women’s hair and the title is based on the premise that straight hair is viewed as good hair. Chris Rock exposes some deep issues, but doesn’t really play them out, he leaves it for the audience to think about them.