tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91540451143701526532024-03-19T01:34:39.979-07:00Cross PromotionMy thoughts on the gospel, music, culture, sports, communities, current events and a few random things in 500 words or less. Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-72784199824852107362018-07-09T21:11:00.001-07:002018-07-09T21:11:14.894-07:00Robert E. Lee and Me<b>Writer's note 1: </b>I don't have all the answers.<br />
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<b>Writer's note 2:</b> The same God who tells me to "do justice" also tells me to love kindness and walk humbly in the exact same verse (Micah 6:8). So I'll offer my perspective and my story here, while promising to keep an open mind, open ears and open heart to those with different perspectives, and acknowledging the dignity of each person, no matter what their conclusion. <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></b>s a writer, you usually pick the topics you write about.<br />
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On occasion, however, the topic picks you.<br />
<br />
Over the last month, I've had the same conversation. The person I'm having the conversation with is constantly changing. The locations have changed, too. <br />
<br />
The question has not changed.<br />
<br />
Everyone in our city is talking about Robert E. Lee and the possible school name change. It's too important of a topic to try to answer quickly, so I figured I tried to write about my experience from the beginning.<br />
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<b>MY STORY</b><br />
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I just remember trying to hold back tears. I was down the street at the neighbor's house, a family that was - and remains - close with my family.<br />
<br />
The radio was on, and the radio announcer had just proclaimed Robert E. Lee had lost a playoff game on a last-second shot. I was heartbroken. This was the mid-1980s. And it was my school. I would have been around 10-years-old (maybe a bit younger), but my connection to the basketball program at Robert E. Lee was already evoking strong emotion out of me.<br />
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By the time I reached Shelburne Junior High as a brace-faced preteen, I had already decided my career path. I was going to be the point guard at Robert E. Lee High School - hopefully winning a state championship - and then I was going to play college basketball.<br />
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In my teenage years, I never deviated from that plan.<br />
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<b>A STUDENT AT ROBERT E. LEE HIGH</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
My dad's family is from Waynesboro. Dad spent his first year of high school at Rosenwald during segregation, and then helped integrate Waynesboro High School in his sophomore year. My dad talked to me about of lot of things growing up, but for whatever reason, we didn't talk too much about integrating Waynesboro.<br />
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Growing up in Staunton, I had tons of family and friends in Waynesboro. I played AAU basketball in Waynesboro, and I spent a lot of time at "Granny Miller's" home. My dad's family was so big that we sometimes ate in shifts.<br />
<br />
I had lots of cousins my age, along with friends my age. <br />
<br />
The waiting time meant plenty of time for jokes. The jokes would often go like this:<br />
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<b>Me: </b>"Cousin, exactly what is a Little Giant?"<br />
<br />
Everyone laughs.<br />
<br />
<b>Them:</b> "We know you are not talking. Your school mascot is a confederate general."<br />
<br />
Everyone laughs.<br />
<br />
That always made me feel uneasy, even though we were all laughing. <br />
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As a 15-year-old, however, I thought more about personal goals than the school name. As a teenager, my thoughts in school usually looked something like:<br />
<br />
1. Is my high school crush in this class?<br />
2. I hope my friends are in my class.<br />
3. I need to think of some better jokes for the daily cafeteria jokefest.<br />
4. I wonder when I'll get a chance to start on the varsity basketball team.<br />
5. I need to do enough classwork to get a basketball scholarship.<br />
<br />
Pretty turned in on myself, I know.<br />
<br />
It wasn't that I didn't have convictions. I just didn't understand - or desire to understand - what was going on with the name Robert E. Lee at that time.<br />
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<b>EVERYTHING WAS GREAT BUT ... </b><br />
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I loved high school. I made lifelong friends. I had teachers like Mrs. Polly, Mrs. Weller and Mrs. Lotts to help shape me and inspire me. Mrs. Cynthia Gray, Coach Willie Gray and Coach Doug Carter made sure I saw minorities in professional positions. And I played for a Hall of Fame basketball coach Paul Hatcher.<br />
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And although I was obsessed with getting a basketball scholarship - my old classmates at the 20-year reunion laughed at the memory of me dribbling my basketball from class to class - I loved learning.<br />
<br />
Except US history.<br />
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I hated the way those history books taught us about slavery. It literally made me sick. Sometimes, I would just leave the classroom.<br />
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If the textbook writer's aim was strip dignity away from black students, it worked. First, it started the story of black people at slavery, as if blacks were never people, only property. And then we just learned how we were beaten, only considered three-fifths of a man, etc. And we never heard from any indigenous scholars.<br />
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I would spend a lot of history class reading indigenous scholars, partly because I hated the degrading lens through which slavery was taught. I couldn't put this language to it back then. I just knew it was wrong.<br />
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One of the goals of a good high school is to inspire students to be a lifelong learners. As many black students begin their own study of black history - usually trying to restore the dignity that felt stripped away in those US history classes - we realize that in many cases we were taught a sanitized version of history.<br />
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<b>BACK TO HIGH SCHOOL</b><br />
<br />
If you made a list of the top basketball players in Robert E. Lee High School's history, my name wouldn't be anywhere on the list. If you turned that paper over and used the back as well, my name still might not appear. Still, I did get to play college basketball at a Division III school, Shenandoah University.<br />
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With a college degree in my hand that used to dribble a basketball, it was time to decide what to do. Ultimately, I was fortunate enough to do two things that I loved so much that they never felt like work.<br />
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The first was writing sports for The News Leader, and the second was mentoring kids at Robert E. Lee High School. I mentored at Robert E. Lee High School from 2003-2015. I loved the kids there so much I tried to get a job teaching in 2004-2005, until I realized I was perhaps the world's worst teacher. I just love Lee High kids.<br />
<br />
I laughed until I couldn't breathe with Robert E. Lee School students. I coached girls' basketball at Robert E. Lee High School. I've cried with Robert E. Lee High School students. Sadly, I've helped eulogize a few Robert E. Lee High School students.<br />
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Outside of starting my own family, I consider my time with Robert E. Lee High School students the most significant thing I've done with my life.<br />
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<b>GRAPPLING WITH THE NAME</b><br />
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I have five kids. For most of their lives, my kids attended some form of private school before transferring into Staunton City Schools recently. Although the "Save the Name or Change the Name," debate is heating up, it's always been a topic of conversation.<br />
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However, when my kids were in private school, I wouldn't speak on it much, and when I did it was with the admission that my kids weren't in that school system, even though I care very deeply about all the kids in the community, not just my own.<br />
<br />
Given my own current circumstances and our community's circumstances - as we move into the community listening series - I thought now was an appropriate time to add my voice to the conversation.<br />
<br />
<b>WHERE I LAND</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>"Biblical justice is doing the right thing for the right people to the right extent in the right way." </b><br />
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I'd vote to restore the original name.<br />
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Even more important to me than a school name is my relationship with Jesus Christ. I'm on a lifelong journey to figure out what following Him means. One scripture that sticks out to me is Micah 6:8: "Do justice."<br />
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Biblically, that means doing our part to help everyone in our community flourish and standing against injustices. The biblical imperatives carry even more weight when it comes to defending the marginalized in society.<br />
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It's my opinion that asking black students to join in a forced celebration even remotely tied to part of their historical oppression is wrong. I want to be clear that I don't speak for all black people, and even within my friend groups of black Robert E. Lee alumni we would not all agree.<br />
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And for my friends looking for an informed Biblical perspective, I would commend to you the following <a href="http://kingdomdiversity.sebts.edu/index.php/2017/09/18/e063-confederate-monuments-and-racial-superiority-part-1/" target="_blank">podcast episode</a> from <a href="http://kingdomdiversity.sebts.edu/index.php/2017/09/18/e063-confederate-monuments-and-racial-superiority-part-1/" target="_blank">Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary</a>. It gives helpful language to the difference between memorializing and celebrating, as well as helpful insight on how to move forward without erasing history.<br />
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<b><br /></b>
<b>WHY SPEAK OUT</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
It's easier just to keep quiet.<br />
<br />
Why risk being misunderstood?<br />
Why risk the possible name-calling and character defamation?<br />
Why open yourself up to those to want to dehumanize you for having a differing opinion?<br />
Why risk having previously open doors in this community close for you?<br />
<br />
Because sometimes convictions cost.<br />
In issues of justice, there comes a point where silence is betrayal.<br />
<br />
There is no greater agenda here for me. I don't want any political position. I do vote every election, but I'm not a card-carrying Republican or Democrat. I'm just a Christian, who believes the Bible would encourage me to use my platform to pursue biblical justice. And to me, I believe the way everyone flourishes is with a name that the whole community can celebrate.<br />
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<b>A FINAL WORD: LOVE THY NEIGHBOR </b><br />
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A quick glance at the yard signs around our city is probably a pretty good indicator that we are not all going to agree on the Robert E. Lee debate.<br />
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But there's this false notion in America that disagreeing has to equal despising.<br />
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That's not an option for the Christian. That's not an option for me.<br />
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Nowhere in the Bible does it say that I can stop loving people because of a sign in their yard.<br />
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Please hear me say this. Following Christ is a lifelong journey. I do not always get it right, so I have to do everything in humility, realizing that I don't know it all. While I've learned that I do have to take steps to guard my own emotional health, I'm willing to sit down and talk with people with varying opinions (hopefully in person and not social media).<br />
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I'm of the opinion that I can love justice and my neighbor.<br />
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. </i><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications in 2013. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. His first kids' book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Grits-Grimels-Chris-Lassiter/dp/099729213X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519248936&sr=8-1&keywords=Chris+Lassiter+Grits+and+the+Grimels" target="_blank">Grits & the Grimels,</a> is out now. </i><br />
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<b><br /></b>Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-4947086110383291032018-04-22T12:29:00.001-07:002018-04-22T12:29:36.060-07:00Four Multicultural Churches Have Offered Me Hope<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have a fair share of conversations about racial reconciliation in the church. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One practical step I always offer to churches, families, individuals, etc. is to visit a church that by God's grace has a ethnically diverse local expression of the body. (Note: I understand sitting in pews together doesn't always mean doing life together.) </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couldn't find the pictures where I was smiling ... </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">While much has been made recently about the racial church
divide – with Sunday at 11 a.m. still being the most segregated hour in America
– some churches are actually making progress on that front.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a Christian, I want to see that. As a husband and a
father, I want my family to see that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And so we travel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">From time to time, we’ll take road trips. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The destination is churches on the east coast with a diverse
leadership and congregation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here are four churches we have visited this far. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->CROWN
AND JOY PRESBYTERIAN, RICHMOND, VA. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We started with <a href="https://crownandjoy.com/" target="_blank">Crown and Joy</a> for a number of reasons.
Richmond is the closest to my hometown in Staunton, VA, and we are part of the
PCA denomination. We would commend anyone go there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The congregation is truly
diverse. They preach the Word, and on the two times we visited the congregation
stayed after and ate a meal together. It really helped us to feel welcomed to
be asked to stay and eat afterwards. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Anacostia
River Church, Washignton, D.C. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When my family asked me what I
wanted to do for Father’s Day, I told them visit <a href="http://anacostiariverchurch.org/" target="_blank">Anacostia River Church</a>,
pastored by Thabiti Anyabwile. His <a href="http://sgm.edgeboss.net/download/sgm/teaching/worshipgod2009/wg09-session4.mp3" target="_blank">sermon at the 2009 Worship God Conferenceabout the Church of Worship</a> forever changed the way I relate to the local
church. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not only did we get to see a beautifully
diverse church body, many members of the church were memorizing parts of
Colossians together and Anyabwile preached a powerful expository message the
day we were there. My friend Jeff attended there before being sent out by that
church as part of a plant. He told us around the corner to get some good pizza,
and then we made a day of D.C. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Hampton
Roads Fellowship, Hampton VA.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We decided to do our back-to-school
shopping at the new outlet stores in Norfolk, and attend church at <a href="http://hrfellowship.org/" target="_blank">HamptonRoads Fellowship</a>. It was great. The worship team and the pastoral team were
diverse. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Sunday we attended, a young man who they were training for
leadership in the church preached, and he did the best expository unpacking of
Philemon that I had ever heard. I left with my heart full and my gaze on
Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Also, something the pastor said that stuck
with me in regards to evangelism: “Every person I meet could be a new brother
or sister in Christ (paraphrased).” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Crossover
Church, Tampa, Florida. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A quick back story is needed here.
Crossover’s pastor, Tommy Kyllonen, had a huge impact me in my early walk as a
believer. I had been wanting to get down for FlavorFest, but when my sister
actually moved to Tampa, I knew I had to check it out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Also, the week we visited was Easter. I’m
not sure what was the norm and what was special for Resurrection Sunday. Here’s
what I can tell you. <a href="http://crossoverchurch.org/" target="_blank">Crossover</a> is incredibly diverse. They do a phenomenal job
engaging visitors, and they do an incredible job incorporating arts in a
Christ-glorifying way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As much as I enjoyed the experience there –
my kids are willing to move to Tampa – my favorite part was hearing them talk
about how they planned to intentionally love their city. That was amazing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>A Final Thought </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have a personal rule that I never try to
miss my home church two weeks in a row, and I don’t let my work or leisure
allow me to miss my own church twice in a month. I want to make sure I have a
healthy commitment level to my brothers and sisters in Christ in my own
congregation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With that being said, it’s important for me
to experience settings that give us a foretaste of heaven, worshiping beside
people of all nationalities. And I want my family to have a vision for that,
too, especially since my kids are biracial. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I hope it encourages you, too. </span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. </i><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications in 2013. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. His first kids' book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Grits-Grimels-Chris-Lassiter/dp/099729213X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519248936&sr=8-1&keywords=Chris+Lassiter+Grits+and+the+Grimels" target="_blank">Grits & the Grimels,</a> is out now. </i></div>
<br />Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-62436682226819616052018-02-22T19:32:00.001-08:002018-02-22T19:32:16.385-08:00Dear Black Church, I Apologize<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUR2KPSwUB3DATf6gXNPE4nGY3t9BuUrqV9OeE0GwDNrsy6zq_LEdvDX-vrxdIg8TQD2egKWmcmvNWvI0DLcE_h6Md8njhm-2G66LeOLifxR_7rNATwNXrkxBuJzCEriZ69mtHz9NSo4m6/s1600/File+Feb+19%252C+9+45+03+PM.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="750" height="357" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUR2KPSwUB3DATf6gXNPE4nGY3t9BuUrqV9OeE0GwDNrsy6zq_LEdvDX-vrxdIg8TQD2egKWmcmvNWvI0DLcE_h6Md8njhm-2G66LeOLifxR_7rNATwNXrkxBuJzCEriZ69mtHz9NSo4m6/s400/File+Feb+19%252C+9+45+03+PM.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">You can’t stick and move in “Sunday shoes.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I learned a lot of lessons growing up in Staunton’s Mount
Zion Baptist Church, including this one: punching and patent leather shoes
don’t mix. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I lost my first fight at church. Yes, you read that
correctly. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll never forget the day.
Some older kids were instigating me and my friend DeMarcus. The issue on the
table: who would win a fistfight between us two? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The answer, as we would learn quickly, was DeMarcus. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Even though we weren’t mad at one another, we fought. It was
even for a moment until DeMarcus
clapped me in both of my ears. It was a brilliant tactical move. In my disoriented
state – along with the fact I had on those stupid “Sunday shoes” instead of my
Nikes - I fell like the walls of Jericho. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s one of many funny stories I experienced with my young
Mount Zion crew, which consisted DeMarcus, Charlie Brown, Little Anthony, the
King Twins and the Watts brothers. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIfGkwXH9CKnrqQmE8nvMBSXQLklJ7RUTq9JkFEWiOCrchcglErTSVmS8j31Bj96hCRfR2hApGNkB1n26ouRKvDohr4FXPeXzd7c_DPXKtMffr-qpNcT-Tff9T6ALdWgf39IaHJhOPdgV/s1600/IMG_6336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIfGkwXH9CKnrqQmE8nvMBSXQLklJ7RUTq9JkFEWiOCrchcglErTSVmS8j31Bj96hCRfR2hApGNkB1n26ouRKvDohr4FXPeXzd7c_DPXKtMffr-qpNcT-Tff9T6ALdWgf39IaHJhOPdgV/s640/IMG_6336.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me in front of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Staunton, VA. I grew up in this church. Photo creds: my daughter Hannah</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Much of my formation happened in the black church.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">It’s where I learned the negro national anthem </span><b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lift
Every Voice and Sing. </i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Page 511 of that maroon-colored hymn book. It
nourished me on fifth Sundays with fried chicken, peanuts in a fancy glass
bowl, some strange church mints and a weird, red punch beverage concoction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">More importantly, it nourished my faith, and I was
introduced to the hope that kept my ancestors through slavery and Jim Crow. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I owe the black church a lot. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Including an apology. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">THE LOST YEARS</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I didn’t go to church in college (although I did send my 10
percent tithes and offerings with some girls who did go to church). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Too busy playing college basketball. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Too busy doing me. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I had grown up in church, but to quote one of my favorite
urban theologians Brady Goodwin, Jr. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“the church hadn’t grown up in me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At least not yet. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After college, I got serious about my relationship with
Jesus Christ. A young adult small group at my cousin Pede’s house played a huge
role in shaping my faith. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That small group led me back to Mount Zion, where I would
meet regularly with then pastor Rev. Glenn Porter Jr. Shortly after Rev. Porter transitioned out to pastor another church, I left, too, and I landed in a larger, more
charismatic black Baptist Church. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After that church, I spent the following 15 years in
majority white churches. In his book <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Reconciliation Blues</i></b>, Christian
author Ed Gilbreath described it as the “only Oreo crumb in the cup of milk.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I can’t think of a more accurate description. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MATURING
IN THE FAITH</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Black church” and “white church” aren’t truly biblical
distinctions, but in a country with a sordid racial past, they are realities. The
old adage about “Sunday morning at 11 a.m. being the most segregated hour in
America,” still holds true. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">In my mid-20s, I had a lot of Christian influences in my life,
such as a Christian radio station that broadcasted sermons by theologians like
John Piper, a pastor referenced by many of my favorite Christian hip-hop
artists at that time (and someone I still hold in high esteem).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mid-20s me also loved the fact that many majority white
churches had relaxed the dress code. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hello Nikes. Goodbye patent leather “Sunday shoes.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Twenty years later, I am beginning to see how I grossly
oversimplified the “leaving black church” decision. I didn’t know nearly enough
of the black church’s history or doctrine to make an accurate assessment of
her. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And while the thrust of this letter is to apologize to the
traditionally black church, I’m by no means here to demonize the majority white
church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(Note:
if you are a minority and thinking about joining a majority white church, there
are a<a href="http://thecrosspromotion.blogspot.com/2018/02/should-i-attend-majority-white-church.html" target="_blank"> few questions that you should ask yourself.) </a><o:p></o:p></span></i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I met some great people there. I did grow in my
understanding of doctrine there. I watched God work there. Was it perfect? Nope.
But the focus of this blog isn’t whether the white church or black church is
perfect, this blog is about my heart condition. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I need to apologize to the black church, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>because I left romanticizing the white church’s
beauty while ignoring her flaws. At the same time, I ignored the black church’s
beauty and focused solely on her flaws. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And that was wrong. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">RE-APPRECIATING
THE BLACK CHURCH<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Who knew so much conviction could fit inside the 140 characters
of the original Twitter? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On August 22, 2015, I sure did. That’s when Progressive
Baptist Church pastor Charlie Dates tweeted this: <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“To
my young black aspiring pastors, theologians and churchmen, don’t let your
newly found training turn you away from the black church.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This put words to something I was wrestling with but couldn’t
clearly articulate. Maybe everything I had learned was God preparing me to
serve the black church, not abandon it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And that wasn’t all. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With the Charlie Dates tweet still ringing in my head, I had
the opportunity to hear Southesastern Baptist Theological Seminary professor
Walter Strickland. He taught on <a href="https://walterstrickland.wordpress.com/2016/03/30/history-and-theology-of-the-black-church/" target="_blank">The History and Theology of the Black Church</a> at
the Legacy Conference. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here’s what I remember. The Moody Bible Institute classroom
was so packed I had to stand for the entire time. As Strickland began to unpack
this beautiful narrative, many were on the verge of tears and wondering, “Why
has no one ever taught us this?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I learned an important lesson. Many of the beautiful Christian doctrines I thought I could only find in "white church" had been part of the black church for more than a century. </span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NOW
WHAT?<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I made a promise to myself that that I would give my
life, time, talents and treasures to a gospel-centered, good news-proclaiming,
Bible-teaching, mission-minded church that esteems racial reconciliation as a
core value. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In short, I hope my future isn’t in a black church or a
white church. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the immediate present, however, I know there is one
action step I need to take.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">To the black church, will you please forgive me for seeing
only your flaws but not your beauty?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Will you forgive me for my historical ignorance and how
unappreciative I was for the road that you paved for me? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Will you forgive me for not cherishing you for instilling a
gospel hope in my ancestors that allowed them to survive? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was young, stupid, proud and arrogant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Please forgive me. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sincerely, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chris Lassiter </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. </i><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications in 2013. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. His first kids' book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Grits-Grimels-Chris-Lassiter/dp/099729213X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519248936&sr=8-1&keywords=Chris+Lassiter+Grits+and+the+Grimels" target="_blank">Grits & the Grimels,</a> is out now. </i></div>
Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-82442899577748588612018-02-22T19:11:00.001-08:002018-02-22T19:13:46.897-08:00Should I attend a majority white church? <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I love the church.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not everyone feels that way, but I do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We're in the social media age. Everything gets puts under the microscope, and the church gets her fair share of bad press.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm not here to add to that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the book of Acts, we learn that Jesus loved the church enough to shed His blood for her. As we grow in Christlikeness - learning to love what He loved - it stands to reason that our love for the church should increase as our love for Christ increases.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UzqXcRjx8mhqhXOQmYPoZIyVTtasymeaLD4IR1rOrIRweS9vk07-GcR15gAfSljHkiKorzoSObkAymk5g993I_qOPzCSllOfaDyie1tNr6M9rCt-c0fYwBxyB1lGjmEU3mWfTPchyNl6/s1600/IMG_6334+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UzqXcRjx8mhqhXOQmYPoZIyVTtasymeaLD4IR1rOrIRweS9vk07-GcR15gAfSljHkiKorzoSObkAymk5g993I_qOPzCSllOfaDyie1tNr6M9rCt-c0fYwBxyB1lGjmEU3mWfTPchyNl6/s400/IMG_6334+2.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">in front of the church I grew up in ... Photo credits my daughter Hannah</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If anything, I want to help people find healthy church situations. I wrote a whole chapter in my first book <b><i>You're Grounded</i></b> on marks of a healthy church, but today I want to write to people of color considering attending a majority white church (which is my current setting).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There is no canned answer, and this important decision should be bathed in prayer. Additionally, here are some questions worth thinking through.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Is the church healthy? Is the church centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ and using the New Testament as a template for body life in the church?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Has the church shown a commitment to the pursuit of gospel-centered racial reconciliation prior to you being there? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Do you have to assimilate culturally to fit in there, or is there a space for your cultural contributions in the life of this particular church? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Will the church be a safe place for you and your family (if you have one) socially? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Does the gospel preaching have applications for your context? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Will this church be an ally to you doing evangelism in your cultural context? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Will this church clearly call out all ethnocentrism as sin? </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I hope those questions help. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. </i><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications in 2013. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. His first kids' book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Grits-Grimels-Chris-Lassiter/dp/099729213X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519248936&sr=8-1&keywords=Chris+Lassiter+Grits+and+the+Grimels" target="_blank">Grits & the Grimels</a>, is out now. </i></div>
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<br />Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-77917420085556438592017-10-05T07:06:00.000-07:002017-10-05T09:53:46.426-07:00Reconsidering No Religious Affiliation<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Recent studies suggest more and more Americans, classified as the "Nones," are <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/05/12/christians-drop-nones-soar-in-new-religion-portrait/27159533/">claiming no religious affiliation</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MXZ1PCU5KBQOdM3bLNA9S-G-w9tqp-N-W3Ui4x1qjUXapJbFsx8Hzk_tcqS5KlRf6cZNdPpQ1Lc3NkJRJzP6sRugtEDMMPdQxlgDgJD_3dQK4tXOP8f6UUsVoxUCHhiHekP4I52uEmlA/s1600/No+Religious+affiliation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="700" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MXZ1PCU5KBQOdM3bLNA9S-G-w9tqp-N-W3Ui4x1qjUXapJbFsx8Hzk_tcqS5KlRf6cZNdPpQ1Lc3NkJRJzP6sRugtEDMMPdQxlgDgJD_3dQK4tXOP8f6UUsVoxUCHhiHekP4I52uEmlA/s400/No+Religious+affiliation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These aren't just numbers. Each number represents a person. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some of them are people I know and love deeply. They grew up in church, but now wouldn't identify with any organized religion. We've had great, hours-long discussions on this topic. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a Christian, one thing I've taken away from these conversations is that we too often aren't engaging people at the point where they are wrestling through these issues. That's why I was so encouraged over the last month. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My church <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Holy-Cross-Presbyterian-Church-158610540618/">Holy Cross PCA</a> recently did a four-part series examining how the gospel speaks to the main points of contention of people with no religious affiliation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All four messages are well worth the listen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/which-god/id702917899?i=1000392121951&mt=2">Which God</a>? This is a sermon examining the Biblical God versus characteristics assumed to be true about the God of the Bible. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2. </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/not-literally/id702917899?i=1000392458552&mt=2" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Literally</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">? </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Troubling passages? Scientific improbabilities? Impossibly high sexual ethics? Do you expect us to take the Bible literally? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3.<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/facts-and-faith/id702917899?i=1000392688927&mt=2"> Facts and Faith.</a> Do you really believe Jesus rose from the dead? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4. <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/either-neither-or-both/id702917899?i=1000392982048&mt=2">Either, neither or both?</a> The problem of evil. Either God is:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">all powerful but not all good </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">all good but not all powerful</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">not all good or all powerful </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Or ... is there another option? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These are such important topics. If you take me up on listening to any of these messages, I'll treat you to a cup of coffee so that we can talk about it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">P.S. If it's helpful to share your story about why you left the church, please e-mail both chrislassiter540@gmail.com and office@holycrosspca.org. We'd be interested in hearing your stories. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications last year. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. His latest book, Grits and the Grimels, can be purchased <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Grits-Grimels-Chris-Lassiter/dp/099729213X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1507081231&sr=8-1&keywords=Grits+and+the+grimels">here</a>. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-87310379246805595442017-08-04T04:34:00.000-07:002017-08-04T05:11:37.339-07:00<br />
Sixteen thoughts on 16 years of marriage.<br />
<br />
1. We've aged, and I still think my wife is the most beautiful woman on the planet Earth. <br />
<br />
2. My wife and I are open with our problems we have. We're not trying to present a photoshopped perfect marriage to the people that know us. However, we are both wise enough to settle those differences in private. Never on social media.<br />
<br />
3. You don't get married and stop dating. You get married so you can date forever. #NoteToSelf<br />
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4. A wise man once said, "Marriage isn't 50/50. It's 100/100."<br />
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5. Only humility will get you out of what pride got you into.<br />
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6. Being a husband (along with being a father) is the hardest and most important thing I've ever done. This Art Azurdia quote explains why.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>"A husband's life is to be characterized by a predetermined committment to always act in the highest interest and greatest good of his wife.... this love is to be an ongoing performance that could never be interrupted by any imperfection on her part." </i><br />
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7. The importance of the phrase "Will you forgive me?" can't be overstated in a marriage.<br />
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<br />
8. We live modestly, and as a family of seven try to make dollars stretch. It's crazy that Emily and I got to spend the week leading up to our anniversary in the Bahamas, but that's what happened. How it happened could (and may be) another blog in itself, but we are extremely grateful.<br />
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9. If we are too busy to invest in our marriage, we're too busy.<br />
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10. Why is marriage important? Because it shows two people love each other enough to commit to loving a person in the future and not just in the present. For better or for worse. In sickness and in health. On August 4, 2001, I made a commitment to love the present and future version of Emily Lassiter. It's a promise that both of us, by God's grace, plan on honoring until we die.<br />
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11. We've received so much wise counsel from sitting down with others. There's no way to put a price tag on how valuable sitting with wise people has been for our marriage. We all can benefit from having people invested in seeing us grow in the important areas in life.<br />
<br />
12. Evidently, I've had my fair share of second dinner helpings over the last 16 years.<br />
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13. The church has been wrestling through unique marriage questions for the past decade. Pastor Bryan Loritts presents the most balanced, biblical teaching I've heard regarding some of these questions in a four-part series entitled <a href="http://subsplash.com/fellowshipmemphis/s/e7c23da">The Gospel and My Gay Neighbor</a>. Definitely worth a listen.<br />
<br />
14. It may be another 16 years before we master the art of compromising on dinner plans.<br />
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15. We both brought a lot of brokenness and wrong thinking about relationships into our marriage, but God in His grace has seen us through!<br />
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16. I have good friends whose marriages didn't make it. I hurt for them, but they are by no means second-class citizens to Christ. The gospel is that all who put their hope in Christ alone - whether single, married, divorced, widowed, etc. - are fully loved by God and have his smile.<br />
<br />
<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. His second book, Grits and the Grimels, can be purchased <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Grits-Grimels-Chris-Lassiter/dp/099729213X">here</a>. </i>Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-36400458853118236852017-05-15T18:13:00.001-07:002017-05-16T09:28:47.854-07:00How the Inspirational Keon Scott story should end<br />
<br />
On his double-platinum debut album <b><i>Ready to Die, </i></b>the late Notorious B.I.G. offered the following commentary about life in Brooklyn.<br />
<br />
<i><b>"The Streets is a short stop; Either you slinging crack rock or you got a wicked jump shot." </b></i><br />
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The line is delivered without any hint of boasting. The legendary New York City emcee is simply stating that escaping the poverty and violence of the inner city isn't easy. For those who do escape, from B.I.G.'s viewpoint, it's either by embracing the criminal underworld (slinging crack rock) or being so good at a sport that a coach comes with scholarship in hand and "rescues" you (got a wicked jumpshot).<br />
<br />
The same sentiment, tweaked and reworded, has been echoed for decades by dozens of hip-hop artists.<br />
<br />
When Biggie penned those lyrics, he stated them as a truism, a statement that all things being equal generally holds true.<br />
<br />
Of course, there are exceptions.<br />
<br />
This year, I read Ron Suskind's <i style="font-weight: bold;">A Hope In the Unseen</i>, a fantastic book that follows teenager Cedric Jennings from Washington, D.C.'s Ballou High School to Brown, an academic elite Ivy<br />
League school.<br />
<br />
The book vividly chronicles how Jennings, an inner-city kid who grew up in poverty, pursues academics as a way out of the hood. (Everyone should read this book, or get the audio book from your local library).<br />
<br />
Keon Scott's story isn't exactly Cedric Jennings' story.<br />
<br />
But it's not all that far off, either.<br />
<br />
Scott was a slender guard with a silky smooth game, and the type of jumpshot that the Notorious B.I.G. described in <i>Things Done Changed. </i>A former star at Robert E. Lee in Staunton, Scott was a key cog during the school's 85-game winning streak written about in Patrick Hite's excellent book <b><i>The Staunton Streak</i></b>. Scott was also an all-state performer as a senior.<br />
<br />
But Scott didn't graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University (political science degree) in the winter of 2016 because of his jumpshot. It was because of his brain.<br />
<br />
Stories like Scott's are why I miss journalism.<br />
<br />
But his story is also difficult to tell.<br />
<br />
The difficulty of telling Scott's story well is telling it without telling anyone else's story. <br />
<br />
Scott has a mom (Lynette) and a grandmother (Wanda) that would literally run around the world for him twice, and other family members that form a loving and support group for him. However, not everyone in his circle of friends and family has avoided the traps of the street life, or the consequences that come with those traps.<br />
<br />
You will have to hear that part of the story from Scott, if he chooses to share. That's his story to tell, not mine.<br />
<br />
Scott wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth. And although he did play a little junior college basketball at Potomac State, it was his academics and not his athletics that put him in the position he's in now.<br />
<br />
I've left out dozens of fascinating details about Scott's journey, which includes time at Piedmont Virginia Community College. We'll leave it at an inspiration overview. I want to focus on what I hope, for our community's sake, happens next in the Keon Scott story.<br />
<br />
First, I hope that people in the business of inspiring kids in our community will bring him in to speak to kids. Here's a guy that pursued his athletic dreams with great success, but at the end of the day used education to get ahead in life.<br />
<br />
Second, I hope that businesses in our community will literally fight to see who can hire Scott first.<br />
<br />
Here's what absolutely can't happen. We can't cheer for him playing basketball in a Lee High uniform, and when he does everything we ask of him to be successful, not be a contributor to that success.<br />
<br />
Parenthetically, my good friends Tony Davenport, Kendrick Kier and I have been dreaming of creating a local urban networking group to create a support base for people just like Scott.<br />
<br />
A young man with a great jumpshot, and an even better mind.<br />
<br />
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<br />Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-29475422700869335652017-04-24T19:28:00.001-07:002017-04-25T09:04:31.192-07:004 Things We Need for Breaking Bread<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Community friends, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are a few days from hosting our community talk <i style="font-weight: bold;">Breaking Bread to Build Bridges </i>(how's that for alliteration?). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In case you missed it, I've posted two videos on Facebook explaining our heart behind putting on this event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Just in case you haven't seen the videos, I'll give a quick recap here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We believe sharing meals is a way to forge friendships, and we are hoping that by simply sharing a meal together we can break down some of the political, ethnic and cultural barriers that divide us. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After we left our final meeting Monday, I thought about <i style="font-weight: bold;">FOUR THINGS </i>community members could do to help us pull the event off well. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">1. Bring bread.</b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> We can't break bread together without bread. We're hoping that some people will come with bread in hand, specifically bread that helps tell the story of their family and their culture. It would also be great to know who is bringing bread in advance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>2. An artist (or two). </b>We would love to have an artist come and actually paint or draw whatever comes to mind as he or she attends the event. If you are an artist or know of an artist that would like to help us in that capacity, please let us know. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>3. Technology needs. </b>We are working on making sure we have an adequate sound system, a projector and a projection screen for the event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>4. You. </b>Of the four needs, "you" are the most important by far. We can put all the pieces in place, but what we really need is your presence, your insight, your perspective and your willingness to come and be a learner. This event can't happen without you. If you are on the fence about coming, please hop off the fence and over to our event. We need you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are a few other needs (volunteers anyone?) posted in the <i style="font-weight: bold;">Breaking Bread to Build Bridges </i>Facebook event page. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You can reach out to me (chrislassiter540@gmail.com) or Staunton vice-mayor Ophie Kier (okier@ci.staunton.va.us) if you can assist us with anything on the list. We hope to see you Sunday!</span>Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-26104339282049278042016-11-23T05:50:00.004-08:002016-11-23T05:50:34.435-08:00Enter for win BoxAnd1Podcast Give-Away<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">The Box And 1 Podcast</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%;"> is currently running a give-away in which one person will a pair of HD
headphones, two urban theology books and a signed copy of Andrew Russell’s <b><i>I Am
That I am</i></b> EP. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">The promotion, which is being run
through rafflecopter.com, begins Wednesday, November 23 and runs for two
weeks through Dec. 6. There are multiple ways to enter the contest through
social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">More information can be found on
thecrosspromotion.blogspot.com and the <b>Box
And 1 Podcast</b> fan page of Facebook. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="026123bb3" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/026123bb3/" id="rcwidget_o5nryv3q" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Hosted by friends John C Richards,
Jr. Jeremy Hartman and Chris Lassiter, </span><b style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Box And 1 Podcast</b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> discusses sports, current events and urban culture
through the lens of the gospel. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Richards, the managing director of
the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism, has practiced law and served in vocational
ministry. Author of the book </span><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i>The Tenacity of Hope </i></b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">– one of the
books offered in the give-away - Richards has degrees from Morehouse College,
Howard University School of Law and Fuller Theological Seminary.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Hartman <b><i>(hartmanbasketball.com)</i></b>
is a basketball trainer. He coached a high school girls’ basketball team to a
state championship in 2012. Hartman has a master’s degree in educational
administration from the University of Scranton. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Author of the book <b><i>You’re
Grounded</i></b> and the forthcoming book <b><i>Grits and the Grimels</i></b>, Lassiter
worked bi-vocationally as a sports reporter and a campus ministry leader. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 107%;">Hartman and Lassiter were basketball
teammates at a small Division III school in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. The
two, who both live in Staunton, VA, remained close friends after their
Shenandoah University hoops careers. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">The Box And 1 Podcast</span></i></b><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; line-height: 107%;"> is available on the <b><i>johnrichardsjr.com</i></b>
Website and in <b><i>iTunes. </i></b>The Twitter and Instagram accounts for the podcast can
be found at @boxand1podcast. For interviews or further info., contact Chris
Lassiter at 540-569-0270 or by e-mail at <b><i><a href="mailto:chrislassiter540@gmail.com"><span style="color: windowtext;">chrislassiter540@gmail.com</span></a></i></b></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. </i><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications in 2013. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. His first kids' book, Grits & the Grimels, comes out soon. </i><br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><i><a href="mailto:chrislassiter540@gmail.com"><span style="color: windowtext;"><br /></span></a></i></b></span></div>
Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-84222914884166648462016-06-27T20:35:00.000-07:002016-06-27T20:50:36.122-07:00We started a Podcast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the beginning of 2016, I sent two of my friends an e-mail. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was making my resolutions - because I love resolutions - and I invited them to dream with me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let's create a podcast that replicates the environment of the neigbhorhood barber shop. Mix in story topics from sports and urban culture. Talk about imporant stuff. Talk about funny stuff. And, most importantly, have those conversations shaped by the gospel. </span><br />
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Everything from George Zimmerman to A1 Sauce on this week's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/podcast?src=hash">#podcast</a> with <a href="https://twitter.com/johncrichards">@JohnCRichards</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachJHartman">@CoachJHartman</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/C_Lass">@C_Lass</a> <a href="https://t.co/wY9EeMTdUb">https://t.co/wY9EeMTdUb</a></div>
— BoxAnd1Podcast (@BoxAnd1Podcast) <a href="https://twitter.com/BoxAnd1Podcast/status/737485624979165184">May 31, 2016</a></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For a few days, we tossed around ideas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then, nothing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For the next three months, no podcast talk. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Out of the blue, <a href="http://johnrichardsjr.com/">John Richards</a> texted me that he was willing to give it a try. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew John, aka J-Rich, from </span><a href="https://youtu.be/AkhPk6Qcoh8" style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">The Legacy Conference</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> (a conference I would recommend to everyone), and we had stayed in touch ever since. (Click on John's name and read up on him. He's a super funny guy, a great encouragement and one of the sharpest young theologians I know). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My homeboy <a href="http://www.hartmanbasketball.com/">Jeremy Hartman</a> (J-Hart), who was my college basketball teammate at Shenandoah University, agreed to give podcasting a try, too. (Click on Jeremy's name to read about his passion for basketball as a teaching tool for all of life). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In fact, J-Hart and I did a trial podcast around two years ago. Both J-Hart and I are well under 6-foot tall. Another one of our former teammates, the funniest guy on our squad, suggested we call our podcast "Small Talk." Really funny, Ahmed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Once we had our new podcasting team established, we just needed a name. J Rich is tall, so "Small Talk" wouldn't work (Thanks for trying though, Ahmed). </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We came up with a bunch of good names, but The Box and 1 Podcast just seemed to stick. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMic3tCYMmIb1rfy2hfj1hklpOy_QPScw5AqFc5rajFA5JIHstnqN4M8UvPQ9WG_1l1Us-B4VRAtVLC_Otq4taZ3cnHkDGtVkL-qAR0_5s7xpZZUlkz8O0taBVolmjGpMtDEVBNyBDYtq/s1600/BoxAnd1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMic3tCYMmIb1rfy2hfj1hklpOy_QPScw5AqFc5rajFA5JIHstnqN4M8UvPQ9WG_1l1Us-B4VRAtVLC_Otq4taZ3cnHkDGtVkL-qAR0_5s7xpZZUlkz8O0taBVolmjGpMtDEVBNyBDYtq/s320/BoxAnd1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Right now, we're in the infancy stages. Nine episodes deep in a weekly podcast. We have a budget of zero, no advertisers and the most basic of recording equipment. What we do have, however, is humor, ambition, good chemistry and a conviction to help people see things through a gospel lens. Check out the Box And 1 Podcast <a href="http://johnrichardsjr.com/category/podcast/">here</a> or on iTunes and let us know what you think. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. </i><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications in 2013. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. His first kids' book, Grits & the Grimels, comes out soon.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-80865616808799854862016-04-15T06:50:00.002-07:002016-04-15T07:13:03.072-07:00Four Things Christians Can Learn From Baseball's Integration<h2>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One
Christian journalist referred to it as “The only Oreo crumb in the cup of
milk.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">The Oreo crumb phrase is in reference to being the only black person in a room full of white people. And, during my time in church and in campus ministry, this has been a regular occurrence for me. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">On the one hand, it's not that big of deal. What we have in common - the cross of Christ - is so much greater than our skin color that distinguishes us. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">On the other hand, it can be awkward. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">And confusing. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">And uncomfortable. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">Sort of like how 1947 was uncomfortable for Jackie Robinson. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">On April 15, 1947, Robinson broke the color barrier
in Major League Baseball, in large part due to a visionary named Branch Rickey, the Brooklyn Dodgers general manager who helped pave the
way for Robinson.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">When the MLB honors Robinson on April 15 this year, roughly 10
percent of the players in the league will be black. The sport is now so
integrated that the Negro Baseball League ceases to exist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But how did they get there?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And what can churches and campus ministries learn from baseball's integration? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I can think of at least four things. </span><br />
<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-weight: bold; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1. Branch Rickey thought things could
change.<span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">When no one could imagine one united major league
baseball system, Rickey could. I love Rickey's quote<i>. “I may not be able to do
something about racism in every field, but I can do something about it
baseball.”</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.4px; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.4px; text-indent: -0.25in;">We may be not be able to stop all racial division in the body of Christ, but perhaps like Rickey we can change it in our particular sphere of influence. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: 18.4px;"><b>2.</b></span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> </b> </span></span><b style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Branch Rickey invested in
multicultural friendships that were deep enough to shape his convictions.</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">
One can only wonder how much of Rickey’s convictions came from befriending his
one-time teammate Charles Follis, the first black professional football
player. Rickey's front row seat to Follis' sub-human treatment created empathy and sympathy in him. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Here's a tough question. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Do we have multicultural
friendships so deeply rooted that they help shape our life convictions? If not,
can we really expect the dynamics of the room to change? And what are we willing to
do if those answers are no?</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3. Branch
Rickey went scouting the Negro Baseball Leagues. </span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">The Boston Red Sox brought in Jackie Robinson first as a politically correct gesture, but Rickey actually went to the Negro League games in order to find a baseball player that
could help integrate baseball. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rickey had a team of scouts that watched the Negro League players. In other words, he entered another culture and then invited someone from another culture (Robinson) to come integrate baseball. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He invested time, money, talent scouts and resources into it, and he was willing to go where it was culturally uncomfortable. If we're not willing to make make similar sacrifices, we're really just paying the idea of a gospel-centered diversity a lip service. </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4. Rickey was willing to upset the status quo</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">. Jackie
Robinson was as vilified in 1947 as he is idolized in 2016. The Negro Leagues didn't like losing Robinson as a player, and so no one was on board with it initially. Rickey knew
this would happen. And he knew it would take a player with both Robinson's talent and vision to pioneer the way for other blacks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Let's be honest. When areas diversify,
it creates a whole new set of problems. You have to think through a whole set
of cultural questions that you don’t have to think through in homogeneous
settings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The question then becomes: is it worth it? Is having integrated churches and campus ministries more
God-glorifying, Christ-exalting and more consistent with "on earth as it is in Heaven?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In 2016, we'd find the idea of segregated baseball repulsive. I'm hoping we will find the idea of the church being segregated equally repulsive. That goes for campus ministries, too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Do we really want to see multicultural expressions of the body of Christ in our churches and campus ministries? Would we really love to see it "on earth as it is heaven?" Or are we content with "on earth as it was in the Jim Crow South?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">As the world remembers Jackie Robinson, let's let his example remind the body of Christ that what has been isn't what always has to be. </span></span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. </i><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications in 2013. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. His first kids' book, Grits & the Grimels, comes out this spring. </i></div>
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Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-19902795958979228072016-01-23T08:28:00.000-08:002016-01-23T08:28:29.331-08:00The First Book You Should Read in 2016<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jay Hawkins wrote a great book.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwCpi3f07MlJujnpU1zXF4JTUPzf0lGh82j-dIF3OqCvYaercD8aq9RL5YF3FH7CXzdVoNMHyMMUT1nKtVBEt1BrkLY5DZACR_lZj0t-KAJUPkb4_cH5O9Oa88W5ZrXRa869_2fxIo_LW/s1600/IMG_2101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwCpi3f07MlJujnpU1zXF4JTUPzf0lGh82j-dIF3OqCvYaercD8aq9RL5YF3FH7CXzdVoNMHyMMUT1nKtVBEt1BrkLY5DZACR_lZj0t-KAJUPkb4_cH5O9Oa88W5ZrXRa869_2fxIo_LW/s320/IMG_2101.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you want to find out what you are truly passionate about, get this book. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you don't want to waste your life, get this book. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you need a great recommendation for your 2016 reading list, get this book. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If the name Jay Hawkins sounds familiar to you, it's because he's the local operator of the Chick-fil-A in Waynesboro. I've been a journalist for over a decade, but when I met Jay, he was the one asking the questions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And Jay asked great questions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Questions that forced me to ponder answers for hours. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When he first told me he was writing a book, I was a bit nervous. By this point in our relationship, I knew Jay had a brilliant mind. But what if his writing genius didn't quite match his business genius? That would be a weird conversation to have in the beginning of a friendship. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fortunately, that wasn't the case. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>The Pando Principle</i></b> is a really good quick read. I've read it twice, and I purchased one for my boss and another for my best friend. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The book follows a man named Charlie Burns as he watches his father struggle with the idea of retirement. Charlie begins asking himself if he will follow the same path - work a job he didn't love until he was retirement age - or find a different option.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With help from the least likeliest of sources, Charlie starts on a journey. Everything Charlie learns on his journey is sure to help you on your own personal journey. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you get <i><b>The Pando Principle</b></i>, let me know. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">I would love to have a book discussion with a group of people who have read the book. There are also resources at </span><a href="http://thepandoprinciple.com/" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;">thepandoprinciple.com</a><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> that will help you process what you read. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I write these blogs as conversation starters. What books are on your 2016 reading list? What is something in your life you want to change in 2016? </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><i>Blogger's note: This was an unsolicited book review. I purchased the book myself, and I did not receive any financial compensation for this review.</i></b><br />
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. </i><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications in 2013. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. His first kids' book, Grits & the Grimels, comes out this spring. </i><br />
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<br />Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-85244987369098670022015-11-01T16:28:00.001-08:002015-11-01T16:28:33.634-08:00Here's an Idea: Celebrate Thanksgiving By Saying Thank You<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm thankful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><span id="goog_1237004757"></span><span id="goog_1237004758"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">No, my life isn't perfect. Far from it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Despite things I wish I could change, there are still plenty of reasons to be thankful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And plenty of people to be thankful for. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As we near Thanksgiving, here's something we can all do to be thankful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Make a list of people who have believed in you, cared for you, invested in you and have loved you unconditionally. Then find a way to tell them thank you. And not just a generic thank you, but a detailed note that explains why you are so thankful for them in your life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One final suggestion. Do it in a personal way. A phone call, a handwritten letter, etc. Something that shows you took time and didn't opt for the convenience of a text message. If you are super ambitious, try to do one every day until Thanksgiving. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I write these blogs as conversation-starters. Tell me someone you are thankful to have in your life.</span> <br />
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications last year. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. </i></div>
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Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-88490571826157549852015-09-07T20:31:00.001-07:002015-09-08T04:31:35.006-07:00Am I "Incredible" (Part 2 of 2) <div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Remember the movie, <i>The Incredibles</i>? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As the film opens, Bob Parr is doing what he does best. Serving his community by fighting crime. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However, it's only minutes into the movie when a rescue attempt gone wrong forces Bob out of his super hero gig. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Still, Bob has a wife and kids. And bills have to get paid. Bob takes a job with an insurance company. It's clear that what made him great at being a superhero wouldn't make him a great insurance agent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Can anyone relate to Bob Parr? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You know you were made to do one thing. However, either responsibilities or circumstances of life force you to do something else. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Don't get me wrong. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being an insurance agent ... unless you weren't made to be an insurance agent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I remember talking to a friend about this topic. He described his Bob Parr situation using a boat illustration. The yacht represented the security of his current job, and his dreams were represented by a raft. In my friend's analogy, he spent every free moment on the yacht trying to make the raft secure enough for him to launch out off of the yacht without drowning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe that illustrations resonates with you. How do we balance between dreaming big and handling responsibilities? How long should you sell insurance if you were made to be a superhero? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is something me - and a group of my peers - are currently working through. One exercise, recommended to me by a friend, was extremely helpful. I'd encourage you all to try it as well. </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First, make a list of life-giving passions in a job. Think of it as things you love to do so much that it doesn't even feel like work. Try to come up with four of five things. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Second, think of any restrictions. For me, those restrictions include geography and ethics. I won't move just anywhere with a wife and kids, and I don't want to work a job where I feel like I have to compromise my ethics. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Third, think of limitations. I'd love to do a job with a bunch of things on my list of passions, but I need to make this much money to take care of my responsibilities. Even if the job was a dream job, I'd have to say no if I couldn't feed my kids. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After working through this list, I had a pretty good idea which jobs best fit me. The friend who introduced me to this exercise </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">wrote a really good book about this, and when it's actually released, I will tell you more about it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the meantime, a good resource if the book I recommended in <a href="http://www.thecrosspromotion.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-lebron-decision-we-must-all-make.html">part one of this two-part blog.</a> The book is called <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1607745550/ref=s9_psimh_gw_p14_d5_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=1FAQ91K0M6KQCSKS2D32&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop">What Color is Your Parachute?</a> </i>The book helps you ask yourself a bunch of critical questions, which enable you to determine how you would truly define success. The parachute book then helps you map out a path to your goals. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I write these blogs as conversation starters. I would love to hear from you. What is your dream job? What is stopping you from pursuing your dream job? </span></div>
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications last year. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. </i></div>
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Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-55731920555051709622015-09-01T10:26:00.001-07:002015-09-01T11:00:06.959-07:00The LeBron "Decision" We Must All Make (Part 1 of 2) <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"Can I succeed in my hometown?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is a question we know LeBron James has wrestled through at least twice, as evidenced in his journey from Cleveland to Miami and ultimately back to Cleveland. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In fact, the most criticism the NBA's most famous and physically gifted player has faced was for the "I<i>'m taking my talents to South Beach</i>" comment and everything that ensued afterward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That was a mess! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However, most has been forgiven after 'Bron returned to help the Cavs try for a championship that has eluded the city since the legendary Jim Brown was in the backfield for the Cleveland Browns. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I can sort of relate to LeBron. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not with the fame, finances, championships or basketball skills. (Maybe the hairline.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But with the question. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Can I succeed in my hometown? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Like LeBron, I love my hometown. I'm as thankful to have grown up in Staunton as he is to have grown up in Akron. Like LeBron, I have dozens of ideas to leave my city better than I found it. And, just like Cleveland isn't exactly known for winning championships, my city isn't known for a lot of the things I want to achieve. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is what brought LeBron - as well as me and countless others - to the point of decision. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"<i>Should I be a pioneer in my hometown? Or should I just move wherever I need to move to make sure the dream gets achieved</i>?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although I once had dreams of sports achievements, my passion now is more theological. I want to be part of a gospel-preaching, multicultural church. I want to work with urban kids through a faith-based initiative. I want to write a few more books, and I want to create a sports, faith and culture podcast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And ... I want to feed my kids and pay the mortgage. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Do I have to "take my talents to South Beach?" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Or do I try to pioneer those things here? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ordinarily, this is the part of the blog where you give five points, but this is something I'm still figuring out myself. In addition to praying about it a lot, I've also been helped greatly by a book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Color-Your-Parachute-2015/dp/1607745550/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1441127126&sr=8-2&keywords=What+Color+is+Your++Parachute">What Color is Your Parachute</a>, given to me by a friend at church. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The book helps you ask yourself a bunch of critical questions which enable you to determine how you really define success. The book also helps you outline a map to achieve career goals. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I write these blogs as conversation-starters. I would love to know how you've wrestled through moving or staying to find success. I also want to know what you've read that has been helpful to you in figuring out your career path. </span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications last year. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. </i></div>
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Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-7906022047426752992015-07-20T09:27:00.002-07:002015-07-20T09:38:17.526-07:00An open letter to churches in Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear local churches in the Valley, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For the past two years, much of the narrative in America has centered around race. From Trayvon Martin to Sandra Bland, it's been a constant theme in our news media. With the rest of the nation talking about it, I figured we should, too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First, please know I am with you on this. I love the church. I am passionate about Christ and His bride. I've given my life to serve her with my time, talents and treasures. I agree with pastor Art Azurdia when he says, <i><b>"Any quarrel I have with the local church must be a lover's quarrel."</b></i> (P.S. The entire sermon, embedded below, is worth the listen) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We've inherited a problem. Most pastors under the age of 60 more than likely attended integrated schools. Yet, our churches remain largely segregated. The message it sends to both our Savior and a watching world is unmistakable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our color trumps our cross. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To any person in our community who has trusted Christ alone for reconciliation to God, this should be hard to read. But here's the problem with inherited problems. It's easy to not feel the responsibility for fixing it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We can say things like: </span><br />
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<i><b>"<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was like this when I got here."</span></b></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>"There's no way to undo what's done." </b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's why this is problematic. As our culture tries to figure out race relations, we can't lead the way with the gospel. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thus, the dilemma. To Christ, this is grievous. But to us, the divide has grown comfortable. Certainly more comfortable than the thought of trying to integrate. Even for those who recognize this as a huge problem, the problem can seem so insurmountable that we just throw up our hands and don't do anything. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As a father of five, I'm pleading with my generation to begin at least taking baby steps toward reconciliation, and not put this all on the shoulders of my kids and their generation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What steps can we take? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are seven thoughts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>1. We can repent.</b> Individually and corporately, we can acknowledge that we haven't pushed against the idea of "white church" and "black church," when scripture would only support the idea of Christ's church. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>2.</b> <b>Read scripture.</b> Let's be honest. It would be hard to imagine Paul condoning "white church" and "black church" if he didn't give a "Jew church" and "Gentile church" option to the church in Rome. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3. Pray together. </b>We all have our theological and doctrinal distinctives. However, one thing we should be able to do together is to call out to our God to heal our church together in this area. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>4.</b> </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Read books by authors with hearts for reconciliation.</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Oneness Embraced</i></b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> by Dr. Tony Evans might be a great starting place. (Watch the last two minutes of this video if you don't have time for the whole thing!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>5.</b> <b>Lay down our preferences at the foot of the cross.</b> This could be a whole book in itself. The principle is don't let our pragmatics - "how would we do music?" - outweigh our theology. What does a racially divided church say about our gospel? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>6. Have conversations cross culturally. </b>If all of us today were thrown into a congregation that was 50 percent black and 50 percent white, we'd have some emotions to work through. And that's OK. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My guess is one of the greatest fears would be the idea of racially reconciled churches producing more interracial marriages, and other situations that are similar. These are real emotions that people have and need to work through. As believers, it seems like the gospel would have us engage in hard conversations and extend grace rather than to remain separated and avoid the awkwardness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Side note: If your cross cultural friendships can only hold surface conversations, but can't discuss what happened in Ferguson and South Carolina, you have every right to question the depth of that friendship. We need friendships that can discuss and even disagree freely without having to worry about jeopardizing the friendship. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">7.</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Plant new churches with gospel-centered racial reconciliation in mind. </b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am encouraged to see several churches in our community planting new churches in hopes to reach more people. Reversing course on centuries of racial division in existing churches is difficult but doable by God's grace, but churches that begin with the idea of a multicultural staff and gospel-centered reconciliation won't have anything to undo. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Two quick notes: First, if there is any way I can serve Bible-believing, gospel-proclaiming churches in our community with this topic, please reach out to me (lassiterfam7@gmail.com). I don't want to just blog about it and not roll my sleeves up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Second, I hope this can help us all to have healthy, Christ-honoring dialogue. I'm inviting all discussion that has the end goal of more Christ-likeness for the church . I'm asking that anyone who just wants to argue race to kindly do that some place else. </span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications last year. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. </i><br />
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Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-63583033200843322412015-05-27T10:36:00.001-07:002015-05-27T10:36:55.534-07:00Telijah's guest blog: Back to the Bahamas<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Help me go back to the Bahamas this summer with Young Life Expeditions! </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear friends and family, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last year I had the opportunity to go to Young Life camp in Eleuthera, Bahamas with my family. I got to hang out with Bahamian teenagers, help illustrate the gospel, and visit some beautiful beaches while I was there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was the first time I had ever been out of the country, and I am so thankful for the people who donated money so our family could go. My parents were the camp speakers last year, so my siblings and I got to tag along as a vacation, and I didn't really have to help out as much as people who go to run the camp. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This year, I am actually going back to serve with Young Life as work crew. My parents will be the camp speakers again this year, but as work crew, I will be staying apart from them, and I will be doing things that they are not expected to do. Instead of just going and hanging out with the kids, I will also be helping serve meals, cleaning up, and helping to run the camp. While I will still have the chance to relax and hang out with some amazing teenagers, I will be expected to do more work so that camp runs smoothly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In order for me to go, I need to raise $1,700 by June 15th. This means I need people who are willing to sponsor me. Will you consider helping me as I set out to help Bahamian teenagers have the best week of their lives? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can <a href="https://ylx.managedmissions.com/MyTrip/telijahfitch1">donate online here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-65495859595516507512015-05-22T06:57:00.000-07:002015-05-22T06:57:52.051-07:005 Things I Learned Running a 5K<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It started as a simple conversation at lunch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When my cousin Kendrick told me that a portion of the proceeds from the Larner 5k would benefit Brayden Kier (you can read <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/bradystrong">Brayden's story and support him here</a>), I told him my cousin I would to the 5k with him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With my pledge to participate secured, my cousin took the challenge up a notch. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Let's not just do it. Let's run the 5k!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I couldn't remember the last time I had ran a mile, let alone three. However, I agreed to run with my cousin. That began a four-month journey for me getting off my couch and getting ready for a 5k race. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are five things I learned in the four months where I went from couch to 5k. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1. I. Hate. Running. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>2. Distance running is a great metaphor for life. </b>A 5k is just over a three miles. My first day in training, I could barely do a half-mile. And as bad as I felt, I felt even worse the next morning. Midway through the training, I started suffering from "Runner's Heel." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I see so many parallels to life in this. There are things I want to do that seem too hard to start, or once I have started them the obstacles in front of me seemed too challenging to overcome. Whether it's running a 5k or life circumstances, you have to keep pressing on, even if it's with a limp!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3. You need people in your life that challenge you to do better.</b> I would probably still be on my couch if it wasn't for my cousin Kendrick. His simple challenge, "Let's run the 5K!" was all of the motivation I needed to get off the couch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Every time I'm around Kendrick, my dreams get re-fueled. It makes me want to be around him more, and it makes me want to be that person who challenges and encourages the people around me to reach new heights. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>4. I need goals.</b> I probably won't keep running (refer to point No. 1), but I will no longer go to the Y, lift a few weights, and leave. Before the 5k, any old routine I did at the Y was good enough. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I rarely challenged myself on go up in weight, get in better shape or improve. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It wasn't quite wasting time, but it was close. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It felt so much better to push myself to higher heights that I could never go back to underachieving. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>5. Things that you sacrifice for are more rewarding.</b> I'm more of a (semi-retired) basketball player than a runner. Running didn't come naturally, and my miles were basically 10-minute splits. In other words, not fast. I may have gotten lapped by a speedwalker or two. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, I went from not being able to stand up after a half mile to running a 5k easily in a matter of months. It was worth every hour I invested in training to feel that type of reward. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I write these blogs to encourage discussion. What is one goal you have for yourself? How will you achieve it? Who in your life most encourages you and challenges you to grow? </span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications last year. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. </i><br />
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Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-63180442238572230832015-03-27T07:23:00.002-07:002015-03-27T07:23:28.076-07:003 Things Being a Point Guard Taught Me<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love March Madness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I like sports, but I love basketball. I was fortunate to play for Robert E. Lee High School under hall of fame coach Paul Hatcher. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After high school, I had the opportunity to play four years at Shenandoah University. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's been well over a decade since I've played competitively, but I've learned that point guards really never stop being point guards. Here are three lessons I've learned from the point guard position that have helped me in the "game" of life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>1. Success comes with sacrifice.</i></b> Growing up, I literally ate, slept and breathed basketball. Reaching my potential as a basketball player meant saying yes to lots of hours in the weight room and in the gym. It also meant saying no to things like soda and television. Every decision on how to use my time and resources was filtered through whether it aided to worked against me reaching my goal. As I've gone through life, I realize that everything worth succeeding at follows this formula. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>2. The best leaders are the ones people willingly follow.</i> </b>There's a huge difference between the leaders people follow because they "have" to follow and the leaders people follow because they "want" to follow. As the point guard, I was trying to make sure I was someone my teammates wanted to follow. That meant being first to the gym and last to leave. Most importantly, it meant never doing anything that put myself before the team, which usually meant I willingly made the most sacrifices to make sure the team flourished. That philosophy has helped as a husband, father, employee and a Young Life leader. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>3. An assist is better than a score.</i> </b>This is the true magic of the point guard position. You learn that setting up others for success feels better than achieving that success yourself. Every pass that set up a teammate's basket was a chance for me to say, "I care more about your success and our team's success than my stats." An unselfish point guard can set the tone for everyone else to follow in his or her footsteps. This realization has also served me well in family life, ministry and at my places of employment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I would love to hear from you. What's the biggest life lesson you ever learned from sports? </span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications last year. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. </i></div>
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Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-46238136097410812612015-03-23T09:06:00.000-07:002015-03-23T09:06:24.108-07:00Summer Road to Chicago Anyone? <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Save the dates: July 23-25</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Planes, trains or automobiles? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The question isn't whether you should come with me to the Legacy Conference in 2015 - (read <a href="http://thecrosspromotion.blogspot.com/2014/08/5-reasons-i-go-to-chicago-every-summer.html">my blog here</a> on why I go every year) - it's how we should get there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Kyle Bumgarner, one of my really good friends and a co-laborer in a campus ministry called Young Life, is prayerfully planning on going to Legacy this year with me. As we begin planning out the trip, I thought I'd see if either Kyle or I knew others who would want to go to Moody Bible Institute for three days this summer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If it's just Kyle and me, we may plan to travel one way. Perhaps by plane. If we each had two friends that wanted to go, we might plan the trip another way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As you decide, here are a few things you can know. </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You can stay in the Moody Bible Institute dorms for pretty cheap. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You can eat most meals at the Moody Bible Institute cafeteria for pretty cheap.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You can sign up for the conference for pretty cheap. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The theological depth (listen to one gen. session </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSTKoqj_TRk" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">here</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">) is amazing. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's worth every dollar you spend. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You need try deep dish pizza and other Chicago foods at least once. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I snore. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you have any interest in going, please let me know. Also, follow @LegacyDisciple on Twitter for more info. on the conference. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications last year. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. </i></div>
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Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-6531560726591573572015-03-11T15:04:00.003-07:002015-03-11T15:07:09.490-07:00Dear Scott Hamilton <br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Scott, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sometimes as a writer you feel something so strongly that you have to write about it. Even if you want to write about other things, your mind and your heart keep steering you in another direction. Sometimes things demand to be written. I feel like this was one of those things. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was trying to think about why the news of your current health circumstances was hitting me so hard emotionally. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the reasons were all things I wish I would have told you personally a long time ago. I think the core of those sentiments can be summed up in two words. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First, thanks for constantly encouraging me not to waste my life. You are not the only person who has taught me to live with eternity in mind. John Piper has written books about it. LeCrae has rapped about it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But they did it from a distance. They are not people I know personally. You looked us in our eyes and told us live a life that matters for the gospel. And just so you know, I listened. And even when I would lose focus, there would be some place where our paths crossed. You would begin to talk about ministry, teenagers and eternal hope. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You'd choke on your words. And you'd tear up. And I'd remember. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I needed every one of those reminders to live in light of eternity. Thanks for encouraging me to give my life away rather than waste it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Second, thanks for sending me out to Bermuda. And then the Bahamas. I always thought you were playing pranks when you called me and told me to go to these places. I feel alive - not just breathing but really alive - whenever I am helping urban kids process the gospel. I know that is what I was meant to do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm not even on Young Life staff, but you've entrusted me to take the gospel to two different islands. And those trips are some of my family's most cherished memories. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And, finally, you have watched me struggle through seasons of trying to be family man, financial provider for a large family and a volunteer Young Life leader. On more times than I can count on one hand, you've gone out of our your way to help financially. You know what I'm talking about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I just wanted to communicate to you how much I look up to you. If you've taught us in the Young Life Commonwealth Region anything, it's to pray. And then pray. And then pray some more. And we count it our privilege to pray for you now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Get well soon! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We're praying! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In Christ</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chris Lassiter. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-48992041843024037532015-02-26T06:50:00.000-08:002015-02-26T06:50:38.944-08:00My Mom's Dream ... And What You Can Do To Help <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Calling my mom ambitious would be an understatement! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Growing up, my mom would occasionally stay up late at night just to surpass all of our high scores on Frogger. Yep, she's that competitive. However, most of her ambition was saved for more serious things such as education. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That hasn't changed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After teaching for decades in Staunton City Schools, my mother started a school called King's Academy. The school, which is grades k-5, has existed for five years, and it's currently where my youngest three kids go to school. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the end of this school year, the school will be undergoing significant changes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My mother is looking for: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">churches that would support that vision</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">financial donors for the school </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">people who would serve in a support and advisory role to the school</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">a possible location change </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">students interested in enrolling in the school</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For more information, please e-mail me at lassiterfam7@gmail.com or call me at 540-569-0270. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications last year. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-65050184319395219362015-02-17T09:25:00.000-08:002015-02-17T09:25:58.361-08:00So ... When are We going to start Talking about Sex<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"Sex is the cure. Sex is the problem."</i> - one person's journal entry. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Haven't blogged in a while. Other writing assignments have had me busy. However, two things have had me thinking about sex a lot lately (not that guys need any help in thinking about sex a lot). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The first is obviously everyone is sharing their opinion on the book-turned-movie <i>50 Shades of Grey</i>. The second, coincidentally, is a book I just finished reading called <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/God-Loves-Sex-Conversation-Holiness/dp/0801015669">God Loves Sex</a></i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The book is an exposition of the Song of Songs in the Bible. The plot is wrapped around a fictional Bible study group. It's co-written by counselor Dan B. Allender and Old Testament scholar Tremper Longman III. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By way of application, the book has some points on masturbation and boundaries in dating that I would think need further explanation, but it's a book worth wrestling through. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the main points in the book is the graphically erotic nature of the poetry found in the Song of Songs. When the man speak of his lover's "garden," he is not speaking of vegetables. And she speaks of his "member," she's not encouraging him to join a club. Yep, the book is that graphic. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's where I'll put all my cards on the table. I'm not a church-basher. Never will be. I agree with pastor Art Azurdia when he said <i>"Any problem I have with the church must be a lovers' quarrel." </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But here's the disconnect. How can the Bible be so graphic about a subject - a very important subject - and we as the church be so silent about it? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the arguments of the book is that we've created a false holiness that doesn't factor in from the time we are born that we are sexual beings. As Christians, we are sexual beings and God's holy people. And, as the book argues, this is not an either-or scenario. We are both. To discount either is to error biblically. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are three devastating effects of the church's silence on the beauty and greatness of sex. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1. God goes from the creator of sexuality to the killjoy of sexuality. If the Bible is to be believed - and I believe it - then God is the author of sex. God is a great gift-giver. But our silence about God's delight in creating us sexual beings has opened the door for Him to be portrayed as the enemy of sexual fulfillment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Many people reject the God of the Bible. That's sad to me. However, what is even sadder is when people think they are rejecting the God of the Bible based on false notions of the God of the Bible. One of these notions- that God is the killjoy and not the creator of sex - is the most frequent that I hear. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2. Everyone keeps their sexual struggles in the dark. And we ALL have sexual struggles. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've heard some of my friends say they felt liberated sexually when they left the church. I understand part of this means that they were free to pursue sexuality on their own terms, but part of it also means that they were finally free to talk and dialogue and struggle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This freedom to talk and dialogue and struggle should happen inside of the church. I'm saddened by the thought of how much hurt has occurred by people feeling like the church isn't a safe place to discuss sexuality. I would love to hear my friends says they felt liberated sexually inside the church. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3. Our faith doesn't seem to address real life issues. Think of the irony. Sex is God's idea, yet Christians are often pictured as prudish, embarrassed by sex or restricted sexually. If anyone should be leading discussions on sex - and enjoying sex - it should be the people who say their God created it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Many churches are already getting this right. My prayer is to see an increasing number join them. We need churches that preach the gospel consistently, that Christ alone is our only hope of salvation. Our merit before God is not based on anything else, including our sexual purity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And we need those churches, by way of application, to be safe places for people to wrestle through what it means to be both a sexual being and part of God's holy people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I would love to hear your thoughts on the whole topic of sexuality and the church or sexuality as depicted in <i>50 Shades of Grey</i>. </span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications last year. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. </i>Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-9098336514098945062015-01-15T16:03:00.001-08:002015-01-15T16:03:41.301-08:00Why You MUST Come by Opportunity Knocks This Saturday<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For all of my flaws, one thing that can be said truly of me is that I love the kids in this community. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Over the past two years, I've had the great privilege of sitting around a table on "the new wing" of Robert E. Lee High's first floor with a group of dreamers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The goal of those meetings? Figuring out how to give ALL of the students in Staunton City Schools the tools they need to flourish both now and in the future. It's been fun, and it's been challenging. The best part is being surrounded by people that share my passion to see young people in this community succeed and flourish. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My favorite part of this diverse group - which is made up of teachers, administrators, counselors, concerned citizens and even recent Lee grads - is that they don't just dream. They take action steps! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The <a href="http://staunton.k12.va.us/cms/lib03/VA01000591/Centricity/Domain/108/Opportunity%20Knocks%20flyer%202015.pdf">Opportunity Knocks Fair</a> at Booker T. Washington this Saturday is one such action step. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The event, which is for entire families, is set up to show Staunton City School families many of the opportunities available in this community. (Read last year's News Leader article of the event <a href="http://www.newsleader.com/story/news/2014/01/18/a-chance-to-focus-on-the-future-at-shelburne-middle-event/4639357/">here</a>. ) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's a quote from the actual flyer of the event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>RE Lee is partnering with local businesses,</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>in-demand industries, churches, community</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>colleges, and technical schools to</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>provide current and future Staunton City</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>School students and their families with a</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>variety of information and lots of fun!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Opportunity is Knocking... </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The fair provides amazing food catered from several local restaurants that caught a vision for Opportunity Knocks. Transportation can even be provided as well (call 540-332-3926 by Friday at 3 p.m. if you need a ride). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With free food, free transportation, tons of door prizes and give-aways, as well as tools to help families improve their present and their future situations, there's no reason not to come. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">WHO: A group of people that love Staunton City School kids a whole lot</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">WHAT: Opportunity Knocks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">WHEN: 1 -4 p.m., Saturday, January 17 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">WHERE: Booker T. Washington Community Center, 1114 West Johnson Street</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">WHY: Because we love this community and want to see it flouish</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">COST: Free </span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications last year. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. </i>Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9154045114370152653.post-49235810483268562722015-01-10T12:06:00.001-08:002015-01-10T12:18:53.341-08:00Watching a good friend's dream come true: My man Black Boo. <div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of my college teammates - as well as one of my favorite people - has a chance to do something amazing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And we have a chance to help him do it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Black Boo, aka Alfred the MC, was a teammate of mine at Shenandoah University. He's featured as an artist on an album that has been nominated for a Grammy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of his own band Mambo Sauce's most most recognizable songs, <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU6J0xCi69Y">Welcome to D.C.</a>, </i>has been a hit among the professional hockey, football and basketball teams in the nation's capital. ( Watch video to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU6J0xCi69Y">that song</a> above). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anybody who knows me at all has literally heard me tell thousands of stories about my college days, and that's because I sincerely love my old teammates and the group of friends I met at Shenandoah. </span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wcLU3Yhps4ZXLXCXDsoUlFDuYKgr4DhXvGY9IcZpyJcas0sa3C05QOuxWn-wwQca5q3ZKzIAavJJzw77B3DRLjLt3NgLZzjHc8fR-hk8Ow7mGi0gDwfWMiz67hNzjBHu2PxjvT9AKpWZ/s1600/Black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wcLU3Yhps4ZXLXCXDsoUlFDuYKgr4DhXvGY9IcZpyJcas0sa3C05QOuxWn-wwQca5q3ZKzIAavJJzw77B3DRLjLt3NgLZzjHc8fR-hk8Ow7mGi0gDwfWMiz67hNzjBHu2PxjvT9AKpWZ/s1600/Black.jpg" height="292" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Black, left, me and Last Born at my wedding</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I could entertain you for an entire day with stories of Black Boo, including the times that: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He ordered everything on the menu when our professor took us to dinner.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He and Last Born started a hip-hop cypha on our tour of ABC News in New York. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He decided to take out his cornrows in the warm-up line at VMI</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He freestyled an oral presentation on the Pacific Rim. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He challenged an opposing player to a game of one-on-one ... and was serious! </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And none of these would come close to cracking the top 10 funniest things he did at college. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But Black didn't just provide entertainment. He also provided inspiration. He dreamed of being a musician when we were in college. Now he's got a chance to experience the Grammys. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Grammy organization covers the cost for the actual band, but Black can go if he pays his own way since he's a contributor to the Grammy-nominated album recorded by the reggae group Soja. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And that's where we have a<a href="http://www.gofundme.com/grammybound"> chance to help</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Black is trying to raise $2,500. I would love for everyone who reads this and has any ties to Shenandoah University to give $10. For Black's old teammates, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I want to challenge us to give at least $25. We have a chance to help one of our boys watch his dream come true. <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/grammybound">Visit his GoFundMe page here.</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog <a href="http://elassiter.blogspot.com/">here</a>), a father to five kids and a freelance writer for Young Life Relationships, HipHopDX.com, JamTheHype.com and other publications. His first book, You're Grounded, was published by Moody Publications last year. You can order the book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Grounded-Rooted-Truth-Shallow/dp/0802408761/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405653493&sr=8-1&keywords=You%27re+Grounded&dpPl=1"> here</a>. </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
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Chris Lassiterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553657352830909432noreply@blogger.com0