Sunday, January 17, 2010

Wisdom from a Dreamer
















"Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.



“Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.





















“Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.






















"I have a dream..." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

13 comments:

Ebony said...

Yay! The first comment. I already commented on FB about the sermon today, but thinking about it brought me back to this wonderful speaker we had come to the school two years ago to give us a shot in the arm about what we do as teachers as well as give us some strategies, and she used powerpoints in her presentation, well on one of the slides was a line from the film Pretty Woman, one of the most known lines of the film. "What's Your Dream" (still not a fan of the movie overall b/c I think as a woman we can make our own happy endings no "prince charming" required, but I digress). And she went on to tell us that our students have dreams and that it's up to us to make sure that A) They have a dream, B) we keep it alive in them (You also did something similar @ CMS's black History month program, you had everyone tell someone next to them what their dream was, which I thought was VERY Cool). But I think sometimes in our lives we get so bogged down with the day to day existence that we forget to dream, forget that there is something bigger out there for us than our nine to fives. But we also need to remember that dreams need action behind them to come true. "Faith without works is dead", but it could just as easily be said that "dreams without works are fantasies". You've given me a lot to think about Bishop, but I do know this, I had said I was going to make a dream/vision board but never got around to doing it, this year I think I will.

Karl said...

Ebony, some good points there, thanks.

Dreams need action...and need to be WRITTEN down, I believe...a good first work.
"Write down the vision and make it plain".

Something "bigger" than your nine-to-five...nice.
-----
"...the lovers, the DREAMERS...and me". - Kermit the Frog

Anonymous said...

Love the quotes.

This man's dream is the same for all both in his desire for all to share the benefits of it and it is the same dream that all have. Even those who would object to this idea will come to a place where they must reconcile themseves with others if for no other reason than survival. No man is an island.

The fact that this dream was so well articulated by a man who was both recieved and rejected in a free society is more than significant to where this society is today. The destiny of Dr. King is still accomplishing its purpose.

His dream is my dream and mine is his. The more this is realized and acknowledged in our free society, that is closely tied to peacemakers like Dr. King, the sooner that dream will be made real that is within all of us for God's Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.

Brenda said...

Both services were great so happy that I've made the choice to make both. I was thinking during the service of the dream that has been in my heart since I was just a child and all the things that went to bringing that dream to life. It has not been easy and sometimes I wanted to abort the dream but the dream would not abort me. It was like a trick candle that would not go out.

In 2003 I was asked to tell my story at a church in a very small town of Alabama and I do believe they got more than they bargained for but the pastor gave me the mike and told me to tell the truth. Saturday night I decided to look at the tape of it which is unusual for me because I don't like looking at myself speaking for some reason. Anyway as I was looking at it I was surprised to hear my self say everyone has been waiting to hear what my ministry will be so I'm going to share it with you first and I said to them it will be called "IN SPITE OF. (wanted to tell my family first) This was before I ever picked up a pen to write or even thought about writing. I also said to them that I had to go through what I went through because God was taking me to an expected end and I thought about the message you gave us the Sunday before and I thought how did I know that then, nobody said that too me.

"IN SPITE OF" my dream, the one thing that I thought would help many hurting women as I hurt, but I just didn't know how it would materialize, just words on my heart back then. As I worked in shelters talking to women, as I opened up my home to women who had no place to go, little did I know I was working on the dream. When I went to live on the other side of the desert as I call it and I spoke up for women that were afraid to speak (got kicked out of the church for it but it felt good) I didn't know I was working on the dream. Now seven years later and on my mom's 70th birthday part of the dream will come from my heart onto paper as I will finally receive the book that I have written entitled "IN SPITE OF". As I prepare to go out and promote the book, telling hurting women that they can rise in spite of I remember the little church that I first told the story to because "I Have A Dream".

Unknown said...

Amen, Ebony...thanks for the reminder about the Vision boards! You helped me realize I had started one, inadvertently, and want to add to it.

Prince Charming movies (especially when they are big hits) have always translated as "the Love of our life" to me. Although Hollywood uses human love and prince/princesses, the chord that is struck is our inborn desire for God...and His for us.

Karl (from a previous oyster day) I take responsibility for my "follower-ship"...but, funny about "another life form". I see blue people!

Thanks, Bishop, for the reminder about MLKday on. I didn't make any specific plans to be "on" today...but I'm watching for a surprise opportunity to honor, as you said, the only clergyperson honored with a holiday.

Donald said...

Being from Mississippi I have unfortunately had to listen to some people explain how we are celebrating Robert E. Lee's birthday today.
They were aghast when I said that I was celebrating MLK's birthday because he was one of the greatest men to ever walk the face of the earth.
Thank you Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for your contribution to society!

Larry Usher said...

Great message of encouragement yesterday Bishop! Spent hours last night reading MLK quotes and quotes of other great thinkers/doers. One of my faves I put on Facebook last night & today:

"The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: 'If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?' But... the good Samaritan reversed the question: 'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?'"

Ebony- nice meeting you yesterday and excellent post today!

Hi Karl, hi Avatar!

Blessings everyone! Lar

ps- Hey Donald, Robert E. Lee I believe was a tool the Lord used to bring about certain outcomes at that time: "All in God's hands now", he used to say. Didn't know it was his birthday though! I see him almost evey day..........on the rockface at Stone Mountain that is! LOL pss- I lost a great uncle at Gettysburg(Union man)though and am still kinda ticked off about that! ;)

word ver: REDINKIC, Red Ink Ick!(For you accountants out there!)

PattiL007 said...

“Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King's dream had so many more dimensions than we have understood...but as I consider his words, I see more truth of the interrelated structure of which he spoke.

I am grateful for Dr. King and his legacy...nearly as grateful as I am for our Bishop and the other amazing people that surround me---especially my CITN family--they inspire me to become all that I am meant to be...

Today I am thanking God for all the great and important people in my life and looking for more opportunities to help others meet their full potential so that I can meet my own.

Remembering the Dream today...

Larry Usher said...

Saw Dr. King's vision on the mountain today...people from all over the world laughing, pleasant, talking with one another, smiling...one...in the light of the Son on the Mountain of God.

Anonymous said...

Scott Blankenship said...

Thanks for gathering these quotes. King's peaceful revolution is a spiritual model for all liberators of Love's design.

Anonymous said...

Bishop,
I want to thank you, for your concern towards me and my family in Haiti, and for what you did Wednesday and yesterday. And I also want to thank everyone that participated in giving yesterday at church that really let me know that fritz and I are among family and friends.
I thank God for you and Pastor Debye, and for the church family. And I ask Him(God) to send blessings to all of you and to all who stepped in to give their help one way or another. Thank you for helping with all your prayers.
I love you all. And may God bless you.

Joy, Peace, Love
Kettly

Anonymous said...

Someday we’ll find it the RAINBOW connection “THE LOVERS, THE DREAMERS, and ME”
LOVE, HUGS and KISSES,
538854

Erik said...

Hate breeds violence, Love breeds tolerance.

That is a quote given to me in my well spent youth by a great man in my life who assisted me on my best path when many others were available.

hate, cancer, darkness (in spirit, attitude)ignoring the first step all produce the same thing - loss, lack.

I have potentially lacked many things in life but always had gain. I think it is because the first thing I have always been shown and received by/from God is Love for all others and me, and I for God and all others.

That has made all the difference.

PS - Song playing when I logged on - 'Hold on Tight to your Dreams'. A favorite, sang it to my animals (real and toy stuffed) in my bedroom in that well spent youth, using a fake microphone and really cool dance moves -- seriously.