You are not alone! Many of us are still not okay and wonder if there is a glimmer of hope that we will be okay one day. I'm thankful for the biblical promises we have but it is hard to garner enough strength to even stand on them these days.
I have been wondering if our nation begged for a dictator (king) like the people did when they wanted a king like Saul? And now today, those who wanted "this guy" have been given what they wanted, blindly unaware of the consequences that come with this demand.
I am thankful for you, Jemar and The Convocation Unscripted community. May the Lord continue to draw us together as His people in these difficult days ahead.
Thank you for so clearly explaining how the terms DEI and racial discrimination have been weaponized, the same way "woke" was twisted and misused. And thank you for so candidly explaining why you are not okay. I look forward to tomorrow's zoom session and have become a subscriber.
'Woke' was hijacked and twisted by political right. Let us hijack it back for surviving in Trump America. Lord give us strength. Our help comes from our Lord. WE ARE WOKE by God's grace, mercy, love and protection. 🙏
Initially I was overcome and dissolved in tears as I realized everything I have worked for and supported my whole life will be squashed, suppressed, destroyed. At 83 years old I fear the rest of my life will be spent under MAGA control. Then I remember “The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.” All I can do is keep on keeping on believing in and supporting the things I have worked for all my life.
Thank you for recording your Thursday event. I have a longstanding commitment addressing help for Palestine's Christian community. (Trying to save the starfish one at a time.)
You ain’t the only one. I’ve been struggling since i woke up on November 6th. I just can’t believe we are here again with Trump and his minions. I’m still off social media because all the gloating from the Trump supporters turns my stomach (I have family members who voted for him). I am trying to lean on my favorite scripture, Romans 8:28. I’ve got to believe that God allowed all of this because it is part of his master plan. Do I understand the plan, NO, but I have to trust God.
I am a member of VP Harris’ sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. Some of us in Florida gathered online last night for a prayer service to soothe our troubled souls. The encouraging words from scripture were definitely helpful. I feel like all we can do at this point is pray and stand on God’s word and each other.
Like so many others who respect and admire you, I am grieving with you. And I am exhausted and discouraged. My white, highly educated, Christian siblings voted for Trump, as did the majority of the members and friends of the church I serve.
I will never understand…
Thank you for your willingness to gather and share with this community. My husband and I will tune in tomorrow night.
I'm still not okay either, Jemar. The news this week has been so distressing. White supremacist Stephen Miller being appointment as Deputy Chief of Staff. Fox News host being appointed as Secretary of Defense, shocking the Pentagon. Huckabee, a self-professing Christian Zionist, being appointed Ambassador of Israel, ensuring no Palestinians will be given any consideration. And the list goes on... And yes, that video. What the secular media still isn't reporting on--and doesn't seem to get--is how so-called Christian nationalism grew right out of the SBC "conservative resurgence" and so-called Christian colleges and universities influenced by that. Purges of Christian faculty have been going on quite a while now. The m.o. of Paige Patterson and Paul Pressler and their ilk will be nationwide. Of course, Kristin du Mez in her book, Jesus and John Wayne, connected some of these dots, as did you in The Color of Compromise. But a scholarly study of what's been happening at CCCUs the last decade is sorely needed.
CCCU has a new president. I met him, and he was interested in connecting. I hope I can share some of my perspectives on Christian higher ed and the role of many schools in perpetuating WCN.
I’m with you, Julie. Just the sound of Stephen Miller’s name makes me shudder, such a wicked, soulless individual. I will never forget how during the 2020 pandemic he was the mastermind behind a sudden order from ICE and Homeland Security to deport thousands of international students in the country legally studying in the US on F1 visas. His plan was only thwarted because Harvard and MIT stood up to him and filed a lawsuit in federal court. I still get angry when I think about the heartlessness of kicking these students out of the country in the middle of a pandemic. Knowing that Miller gets to waltz back in the White House with the same cold, xenophobic mindsight disturbs me greatly.
Exactly, Sharisse! Not to mention the fact that he was the chief architect behind the separation of children from their parents at the border....He is an abomination.
I’m lamenting the long awful history of white Christians in this land. I am a white Christian who needs space and time to lament and somehow not give up. I appreciate you so much!
I am not ok either. Sadness overwhelms as I am concerned about my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren - especially those who are Black, Brown and Indigenous and biracial. How one can say the things like "God is in control" and then vote for someone who lacks Christian values and sports all things anti-Jesus is beyond me. I cannot attend this live evening event because I will be honoring a brilliant poet you will love, Jemar. Her name is Camille Dungy. You will relate to her words and experiences. She may be a balm for your soul right now. Sending love to you.
I too appreciate your clear-sightedness in naming this hi-jacking of freighted words and phrases. "Racial discrimination" and other words float about in our imagination untethered to their historical context, and we are robbed without even knowing it. More of this, please (though prioritize your self-care).
"Lament in the immediate aftermath of the election is only the beginning. This is a season of gathering in case of a future drought of justice." Time to break out Prophetic Lament by Soong-Chan Rah. It seems the most timely right now.
Continued prayers for your strength. My wife and I will join you on Thursday evening. We are still committed to speaking out against injustices even in this new world we enter. 🙏🫶
I find it interesting and amazing that so many of us are going through the same roller coaster of emotions. The only thing that gives me peace is planning for what I, as an individual, can do. I’m very much looking forward to any insights I can gather during Thursday’s Zoom.
You are the more public facing version of many of us who do not have a similar platform -- and do not suffer the same level of abuse. Appreciate that you continue to share with us, despite the difficulty.
Spoke with a friend yesterday who has shut down. His response to the election was fatalism, but I hope he will come out of it. One definition of fatalism is: "The belief that all events are predetermined and therefore inevitable." I further read that, "Fatalism can breed indifference and a submissive attitude."
Praying for my friend and will circle back later to check on him. My hope in Christ and conviction is based on Isaiah 54:17, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord. (I suspect the Christian Nationalists might claim the same text for their self-serving purposes.)
I don't believe in platitudes like "God is in Control" and "God is Sovereign" (which He is), when it causes Christ followers to back down and become "submissive" to ungodliness and self-serving people.
We cannot feel what our ancestors felt when they faced heart wrenching setbacks, betrayals of "false brethren," and the elevation of evil over good, but maybe we are not as far removed in this 21st Century as we supposed
I have apologized to my grown children for them having to go through things we hoped our generation had overcome. A friend of my who is a Ph.D. history professor teaching in Europe on the Department of Defense contract has already received indications that his days are numbered because he has both taught and authored books presenting history in its true light. He was removed from a panel because someone did not like his conclusions to a historical topic.
If we did not possess the "power of the pen" and capabilities to produce and disseminate our own messages and media, we would have no hope.
Dislike that the only choice is to "like" your comment. More accurately, I hear you and support you--and your friend. I hope he can find a new position in a more supportive institution.
You are not alone! Many of us are still not okay and wonder if there is a glimmer of hope that we will be okay one day. I'm thankful for the biblical promises we have but it is hard to garner enough strength to even stand on them these days.
I have been wondering if our nation begged for a dictator (king) like the people did when they wanted a king like Saul? And now today, those who wanted "this guy" have been given what they wanted, blindly unaware of the consequences that come with this demand.
I am thankful for you, Jemar and The Convocation Unscripted community. May the Lord continue to draw us together as His people in these difficult days ahead.
Yes. It certainly seems as if some got the "king" they asked for. Unfortunately, all of us have to live with the consequences.
Lord, have mercy! Christ have mercy! And come Lord Jesus!!
(Sorry about misspelling your name, Jemar - I have edited it now! :-) (it autocorrected!)
Thank you for so clearly explaining how the terms DEI and racial discrimination have been weaponized, the same way "woke" was twisted and misused. And thank you for so candidly explaining why you are not okay. I look forward to tomorrow's zoom session and have become a subscriber.
'Woke' was hijacked and twisted by political right. Let us hijack it back for surviving in Trump America. Lord give us strength. Our help comes from our Lord. WE ARE WOKE by God's grace, mercy, love and protection. 🙏
I appreciate your support, Barbara. Looking forward to "seeing" you online!
Initially I was overcome and dissolved in tears as I realized everything I have worked for and supported my whole life will be squashed, suppressed, destroyed. At 83 years old I fear the rest of my life will be spent under MAGA control. Then I remember “The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.” All I can do is keep on keeping on believing in and supporting the things I have worked for all my life.
Thank you for sharing the long view with us, Jeanette.
Thank you for recording your Thursday event. I have a longstanding commitment addressing help for Palestine's Christian community. (Trying to save the starfish one at a time.)
Good and hard work.
You ain’t the only one. I’ve been struggling since i woke up on November 6th. I just can’t believe we are here again with Trump and his minions. I’m still off social media because all the gloating from the Trump supporters turns my stomach (I have family members who voted for him). I am trying to lean on my favorite scripture, Romans 8:28. I’ve got to believe that God allowed all of this because it is part of his master plan. Do I understand the plan, NO, but I have to trust God.
I am a member of VP Harris’ sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. Some of us in Florida gathered online last night for a prayer service to soothe our troubled souls. The encouraging words from scripture were definitely helpful. I feel like all we can do at this point is pray and stand on God’s word and each other.
So glad you have a community of sistas to lean on.
Me too! One of our mottos is that "we help each other."
Good morning, Jemar,
Like so many others who respect and admire you, I am grieving with you. And I am exhausted and discouraged. My white, highly educated, Christian siblings voted for Trump, as did the majority of the members and friends of the church I serve.
I will never understand…
Thank you for your willingness to gather and share with this community. My husband and I will tune in tomorrow night.
Family is the hardest, isn't it. This isn't just about headlines; it hits close to home for so many people.
I would highly recommend reading Prophetic Lament by Soong-Chan Rah.
I'm still not okay either, Jemar. The news this week has been so distressing. White supremacist Stephen Miller being appointment as Deputy Chief of Staff. Fox News host being appointed as Secretary of Defense, shocking the Pentagon. Huckabee, a self-professing Christian Zionist, being appointed Ambassador of Israel, ensuring no Palestinians will be given any consideration. And the list goes on... And yes, that video. What the secular media still isn't reporting on--and doesn't seem to get--is how so-called Christian nationalism grew right out of the SBC "conservative resurgence" and so-called Christian colleges and universities influenced by that. Purges of Christian faculty have been going on quite a while now. The m.o. of Paige Patterson and Paul Pressler and their ilk will be nationwide. Of course, Kristin du Mez in her book, Jesus and John Wayne, connected some of these dots, as did you in The Color of Compromise. But a scholarly study of what's been happening at CCCUs the last decade is sorely needed.
CCCU has a new president. I met him, and he was interested in connecting. I hope I can share some of my perspectives on Christian higher ed and the role of many schools in perpetuating WCN.
I’m with you, Julie. Just the sound of Stephen Miller’s name makes me shudder, such a wicked, soulless individual. I will never forget how during the 2020 pandemic he was the mastermind behind a sudden order from ICE and Homeland Security to deport thousands of international students in the country legally studying in the US on F1 visas. His plan was only thwarted because Harvard and MIT stood up to him and filed a lawsuit in federal court. I still get angry when I think about the heartlessness of kicking these students out of the country in the middle of a pandemic. Knowing that Miller gets to waltz back in the White House with the same cold, xenophobic mindsight disturbs me greatly.
Exactly, Sharisse! Not to mention the fact that he was the chief architect behind the separation of children from their parents at the border....He is an abomination.
I’m lamenting the long awful history of white Christians in this land. I am a white Christian who needs space and time to lament and somehow not give up. I appreciate you so much!
We're glad to have you here, Theresa.
I am not ok either. Sadness overwhelms as I am concerned about my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren - especially those who are Black, Brown and Indigenous and biracial. How one can say the things like "God is in control" and then vote for someone who lacks Christian values and sports all things anti-Jesus is beyond me. I cannot attend this live evening event because I will be honoring a brilliant poet you will love, Jemar. Her name is Camille Dungy. You will relate to her words and experiences. She may be a balm for your soul right now. Sending love to you.
You have chosen the better portion, Twila. Thankful for your support. And the recording will be available to you.
I too appreciate your clear-sightedness in naming this hi-jacking of freighted words and phrases. "Racial discrimination" and other words float about in our imagination untethered to their historical context, and we are robbed without even knowing it. More of this, please (though prioritize your self-care).
Thank you, Susie! There's so much to talk about it always helps to hear what you are interested in.
"Lament in the immediate aftermath of the election is only the beginning. This is a season of gathering in case of a future drought of justice." Time to break out Prophetic Lament by Soong-Chan Rah. It seems the most timely right now.
Absolutely. Great book and great reminder.
Continued prayers for your strength. My wife and I will join you on Thursday evening. We are still committed to speaking out against injustices even in this new world we enter. 🙏🫶
Appreciate your support and prayers. Looking forward to you joining us!
Electing Trump is and will be complex, complicated & compounded trauma/grief.
Very true. Thankful for your wisdom and solidarity.
I find it interesting and amazing that so many of us are going through the same roller coaster of emotions. The only thing that gives me peace is planning for what I, as an individual, can do. I’m very much looking forward to any insights I can gather during Thursday’s Zoom.
Thanks, Doug. I'm very interested to hear more about what you're planning to do as an individual. We could all use ideas.
Yes, we still need time to scream and grieve. And when it is time, we will flight. Like you have always said, racism adapts.
It's taking more time for me than it has in the past. Probably because the issue is even graver than before. Onward.
I'm not okay either.
You are the more public facing version of many of us who do not have a similar platform -- and do not suffer the same level of abuse. Appreciate that you continue to share with us, despite the difficulty.
Spoke with a friend yesterday who has shut down. His response to the election was fatalism, but I hope he will come out of it. One definition of fatalism is: "The belief that all events are predetermined and therefore inevitable." I further read that, "Fatalism can breed indifference and a submissive attitude."
Praying for my friend and will circle back later to check on him. My hope in Christ and conviction is based on Isaiah 54:17, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord. (I suspect the Christian Nationalists might claim the same text for their self-serving purposes.)
I don't believe in platitudes like "God is in Control" and "God is Sovereign" (which He is), when it causes Christ followers to back down and become "submissive" to ungodliness and self-serving people.
We cannot feel what our ancestors felt when they faced heart wrenching setbacks, betrayals of "false brethren," and the elevation of evil over good, but maybe we are not as far removed in this 21st Century as we supposed
I have apologized to my grown children for them having to go through things we hoped our generation had overcome. A friend of my who is a Ph.D. history professor teaching in Europe on the Department of Defense contract has already received indications that his days are numbered because he has both taught and authored books presenting history in its true light. He was removed from a panel because someone did not like his conclusions to a historical topic.
If we did not possess the "power of the pen" and capabilities to produce and disseminate our own messages and media, we would have no hope.
Dislike that the only choice is to "like" your comment. More accurately, I hear you and support you--and your friend. I hope he can find a new position in a more supportive institution.
Oh wow. Sorry for your professor friend. I'm thankful to be at a private faith-based HBCU right now.