Summer Cast Cloud on Bright Futures

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
-Psalms 119:105

“We cannot always build the future of our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”
-Franklin D. Roosevelt

What were you summers like growing up as a kid? For me, my summers were filled with extended play opportunities and the chance to be independent and self-guided. In the summer, I would determine what I would do each day; which usually included: watching cartoons, playing with friends, visiting relatives, traveling to near-by parks, and of course, vacation bible school. My summer break did not include attending any special summer camps or going on elaborate vacations. It was simply a time to chill and have fun.

However, research spanning over 100 years state that non-stimulating summer vacations can partially erase academic gains that occurred during the school year. This is commonly referred to as “summer learning loss.”

All youth experience some summer learning loss, but some more than others. Lower income youth typically experience greater summer learning loss then their higher income counterparts. The Center for Summer Learning research indicates that:

“Two-thirds of the achievement gap between lower- and higher-income youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities. As a result, low-income youth are less likely to graduate from high school or enter college (Alexander et al, 2007).”

For years, we have read studies that state the importance of early childhood education. There has been significant support behind early childhood education centers to include the creation of Head Start. The Head Start program provided early learning opportunities for pre-school aged low-income children. The goal was to reduce the academic gap that exists between lower and higher income children. According to the research, early academic gap only accounts for a third of the academic gap that is present at 9th grade. The other two-thirds can be linked to the accumulated affects of summer learning loss during elementary school.

What is interesting about summer learning research is that lower and higher income youth make similar gains during the school year, but there are stark differences when it comes to summer activities that build on school year learning. This would indirectly mean that school systems are doing an adequate job in educating our youth. If lower and higher income youth are making similar gains, then public instruction is essential working, right?

Many would say that our schools are failing because they fail to past standardized tests. This is a point in time data statistic that does not measure growth over time. If we look at growth over time, all of our youth are progressing during the school year. What is not overtly stated but implied, is that we expect the schools to close the achievement gap that is present prior to the start of school and that occurs over the summer time. This is not a fair expectation of our schools, especially since they are working with the same resources and an antiquated agrarian school calendar.

Unfortunately, we have engaged in the wrong discussions. We have focused most of our energy on passing tests as a measure of learning. Problem solving, critical thinking and reasoning skills are not often captured on standardized test. We have also focused on more “instruction” time. Instruction has not been proven to be the best mode of teaching new concepts. Experiential learning model have been highlighted as more effective ways to accomplish learning. We have also engaged in discussions and movements that have not added additional days for learning, but extended the school calendar to year round with the same number of school days.

Still we have policy leaders that advocate “achievement should be constant” across all socio-economic groups, but fail the change any other variable. Time devoted to learning has not changed. Methods of teaching have not changed. The way in which we view learning and achievement has not changed. So, why are we expecting our student outcomes to change?

The accumulated affect of summer learning loss is astonishing and there should be more attention devoted to rethinking summer learning opportunities. As a nation, we can not afford to ignore how we view summer vacation. This time is a failed opportunity to keep our youth on track to graduating from college.

Consider the Following:

Everyone
Write a Congressional letter to support the Summer Term Education Program for Upward Performance (STEP UP) Act. STEP UP will create the first federal program to exclusively target the summer months as a strategy to close the achievement gap.

State Department of Education
Evaluate current summer programs and create an Office of Summer Learning to support local summer learning efforts by school, faith, and community based organizations. Summer learning could include remediation and/or enrichment for all levels of academic performance.

School Systems
Develop community-based partnerships to develop fun, non-traditional learning opportunities for parents. Many parents find it difficult to find quality summer programs to enroll their children. The school should take a leadership role in connecting parents to quality programs or partnering with community organizations to offer a school-based program filled that is notably different from traditional school.

Summer Programs
Be intentionally about the type of academic supports your program would like to offer to parents and their kids. Seek methods to measure the academic gains that students achieve during the summer. Develop partnerships with schools to assist with the academic portion of your program. Hire teachers to help facilitate non-traditional academic lessons during the summer months.

Higher Education Institutions
Create Centers for Summer Learning (CSL) at every college/university that has a School of Education. CSL can host summer learning programs on campus, provide support to program facilitators, help identify curriculums and administer student evaluations while connecting student teachers to non-traditional summer learning programs.

Parents
Demand that thoughtful consideration went into planning summer learning opportunities by summer programs in which your children attend.

For more information, please visit: www.summerlearning.org

America Faces New Savings and Loan Crisis

Proverbs 21:5:5 The plans of(A) the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is(B) hasty comes(C) only to poverty.

"Anything that we can do to raise personal savings is very much in the interest of this country."--Alan Greenspan

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Twenty years ago, America faced a Savings and Loan crisis that resulted in a tax-payer bailout. The S&L crisis of the '80s essentially stemmed from risky lending practices that resulted in high default rates. Today, America is facing a different kind of savings and loan crisis--lack of personal savings and the overall reluctance of banks to lend in general. Both have largely contributed to the our current economic crisis.

Negative Savings Rate Provides Clue to Larger Economic Problems
In 2005 and 2006, Americans spent more than they earned. Economists refer to this as a negative savings rate. Not since the Great Depression has this happened in American history. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) defines savings as disposable personal income less personal outlays. The fact that, on average, Americans not only spent all of their disposable income, but reached into their personal savings, tapped into existing equity or accessed lines of credit to support current needs is a bit alarming. Could this have been a warning sign to a more serious economic problem? Why were we not warned of an impending economic crisis?

In retrospect, a negative savings rate did not make front page news because our economy continued to grow and assets were relatively doing well—the stock market continued climbing upwards and home values continued to appreciate. The average person would have seen their assets (or wealth) increase during this period. Retirement plans, individual securities, cash deposits and home values are all considered assets and appreciated in value while Americans spent more than that made. The appreciation of these assets could have attributed to increase in spending of current income—consumers might have thought that we can spend more now because our wealth has increased. The bible tells us that if we act in haste, it will surely lead to poverty. Right before our eyes, this proverb is unfolding as we hastily spend to maintain lifestyles that exceed our income.

Debt-Financed Consumption Artificially Inflated Market Growth
Asset appreciation is often tied to consumer demand and consumer spending. In a very simplistic example, when consumers restrict their spending, the economy slows. As a result of decreased spending (or demand), asset values begin to fall--having an adverse affect on individual wealth.

The author believes that a portion of economic growth was essentially fueled by debt-financed consumption and tapping into equity from appreciated assets. This trend will need to stop if we are to move forward as a country.

By the end of 2007, household debt represented 127% of annual disposable personal income. Between 2000-2008, household debt more than doubled from 7.4 trillion to 14.5 trillion. In addition, between 2007-2008, publicly traded securities (down 35-40%) and home prices (down 20%) decreased significantly. Today, between 12-15% of homeowners have negative equity, meaning that they owe more than what their home is worth.

It has been said that the greatest threat to our economy is savings. To economist, savings represent the absence of consumption. Consumption fuels the economy. Therefore, there is no wonder why we did not see a public outcry when America reported a negative savings rate because it might have reduced consumption levels.

If corporate revenues and profits continued to increase while average wages remained the same and Americans are spending more than they have in disposable income, than it is plausible to conclude that a portion of economic growth was based debt-financed consumption (credit) and depleting past accumulation of assets/equity (e.g. savings, home equity line of credits).

Subprime Lending--Accessing New Markets Proved to be Risky Business
To achieve growth projections, many companies extended credit to risky consumers (subprime consumers) and increased interest rates (e.g. adjustable rate mortgages and credit cards). In 2006, subprime mortgages represented 20% of total loan origination, up from 5% in 1994. ARMs artificially inflated home ownership growth because it provided cheap capital to risky consumers. Nearly 43% of new homeowners did not even provide a down payment for their new home loans. As interest rates adjust, many homeowners found that they were unable to meet monthly interest payments. As a result, defaults and foreclosures dramatically increased.

Defaults Place Downward Pressure on Leanding, Slowing Debt-Financed Consumption
These business practices were largely fueled by bundling consumer debt and selling them to secondary markets. This practice is called securitization. Historically, default rates of these mortgage backed securities (MBS) were low and therefore MBS were considered good investments. However, as consumers began to become more cash strapped and interest payments began to sharply rise, default rates of debt securities increased while interest payment revenues decreased. All of a sudden, these securities did not seem like a good bet.

Eventually, the mortgage crisis partially contributed to the slowing of the credit market—banks were less likely to extend credit for risk purposes in general. As a result, credit lines froze, consumption slowed, demand for goods and services decreased, and asset values declined.

We are facing unprecedented times of economic peril. Past performance is not be a good predictor of future success. To get out of our current situation we will have to do a number of things.

Consider the following:

· Return to savings: Savings will have a positive affect on lending by increasing deposits and bank solvency. Individuals should incorporate savings as a method of wealth accumulation and preparing for future goals.

· Explore new markets: Government should boost efforts to access new markets that demand American goods and services. Accessing global markets could off set domestic consumption decline.

· Promote Consumer Protection, Regulate Interest Rates: Increase transparency of credit card and adjustable rate mortgages. Drastic increases of interest payments might cause higher default rates and prevent private investment of debt securities. We might consider limiting the rate in which interest rates can grow in a giving period of time. Drastic increases in interest payments should be regulated and consumers should be fully informed of proposed actions.

· Renegotiate Principle Loan Amounts: Home values are falling, and the asset is not worth the same as previously assessed. Therefore, principal loan amounts should be readjusted to reflect current market values. Banks would not lend consumers more than what the house is worth, therefore, they should not reasonably expect consumers to repay a principle value that far exceeds current home values. Relegation could help in crease consumer spending.

· Expand Business Tax Cuts: Business are considering all avenues to cut expenses. Reducing small business and corporate taxes could provide additional financial relief that equates to less layoffs. Instead of cutting salaries, the business could forgo a portion of its tax liability through tax cuts.

· Provide Individual Tax Refunds: Return income and payroll tax to consumers. Consumers would then spend, save, or pay debt. All of which is important to the economy recovering.

· Support Safety Nets: Unemployment insurance is depleted in most states. Funding social safety nets would help stabilize family situations. Providing access to health care, emergency assistance, food subsidies, and unemployment insurance is essential to recovery efforts of Americans that have recently found themselves out of work.

· Consider Government as a Consumer: The Government could infuse temporary demand into the market until new markets are identified or current markets return to acceptable levels. The Government seems to be capitalizing on current crisis and using this time to develop new industries that will bring new demands and provide new jobs.

Wall Street Stiffs Main Street Investors/Tax Payers

James 4:3 (King James Version)
3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

The business of government is business. There is a misconception, propagated by many, that government has no business in the private sector. Clearly, our economic system could not survive without the active involvement of our government. Government assists the private sector in many ways: investment in infrastructure, protection of private property, mitigation of contract disputes, and regulation of financial reporting to encourage private investment just to name a few. Government has been, and will continue to be, a partner of the private sector.

Today, we are facing uncertain times of economic peril. Government has lent Wall Street over $700 billion and considering an additional $1 trillion in the hopes of jump starting the economy. However, reports have surfaced that Wall Street continues to over compensate top executives while 277,000 jobs have been lost in the month of January alone. In 2008, $2.6 million Americans lost their jobs while Wall Street paid out over $20B in executive bonuses--the sixth largest bonus distribution in history. Economist expect the current recession to be the worst since the 1930s; however, Wall Street continues to pay large compensation packages while at the same time begging for tax payer assistance. James 4:3 tells us that ye will not receive what you ask for because the spirit in which you ask is for selfish reasons of lust. It seems as if Wall Street has asked for help from YOU, the tax payer, for selfish reasons.

Attention All Tax Payers—your tax dollars underwrite the cost of doing business. Businesses rarely realize the true cost of doing business, rather they externalized many cost by relying on your tax dollars for support. When business fails to provide a “living wage” and adequate benefits, the tax payers help support health care and other supports. When business operations damage the natural environment, your tax dollars help protect nonrenewable resources. When you consider investing in a company though your pension, 401K, IRA, 403B and individual securities, your tax dollars regulate financial reporting that allow you to invest in the market with confidence. Tax payers have been good partners to business. Can we say the same about Wall Street?

It is arrogant to ask for YOUR money, but continue to shell out excessive compensation to executives. While the tax payer is struggling to hold on to their jobs, Wall Street continues business as usual. Without the tax payer, there would be no business…tax payers are a business greatest asset--human capital. Tax payers are also consumers of goods and services provided by business. However, tax payers are not considered as partners to business. I wonder why?
Tax payers have invest trillions each year to help support the private sector.

Consider the following:

• Corporate Citizenship Tax: If business wants to move operations over seas, consider “recouping” what was invested from tax payers. Whether this be reimbursement of tax credits to billing companies for infrastructure investment that associated with the development, planning, and implementation of business operations.

• Executive Compensation Reform: If a company experiences large layoffs, executives should forgo corporate compensation due to poor performance. In addition, executive pay should be equally reduced by the percentage of staff that is laid off.

Government establishes monetary and fiscal policy. Monetary polices control the amount of money in circulation while fiscal polices address the collecting and spending of money by the Government. If there is too much money in circulation, we could experience inflation. Inflation adversely affects the purchasing power of tax payers and reduces the currency value of US dollars held by businesses. Strong economic systems benefit from proactive monetary policies that prevent large fluctuations of currency values.

In addition, strong fiscal policy refers to the spending and taxing activities of a given country. If a country does not prudently apply taxing powers and/or incurs huge deficits, this could discourage the investments of foreign domestics—those companies that are headquarter in foreign countries but have significant operations and employ workers in the US. Countries that incur large deficits might send a message potential investors that a country could be insolvent and less apt to invest in infrastructure or business development.

Government has allowed for individuals to collectively negotiate standards for healthy work environments and equal pay.

Without the government intervention, the average consumer would have limited choices to purchase goods and services due to the development of monopolies.

Therefore, neither the government or its tax payers should be considered enimies of business. Without the success of American business, the Government's ability provide for the public good would severely limited due to the decline of tax revenue from consumers, workers, property owners, and businesses.

Pulpit Pimpin’: Promoting Prosperity and Perpetuating Poverty

Matthew 21:12-13 (King James Version)
12And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
13And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Weather you attend, watch or listen to religious services, it is difficult to escape the promise of prosperity that resonate from the pulpit of African American churches. Prosperity preaching can be specifically traced to two verses in the Bible:

Malachi 3:8-10 (King James Version)
8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

The crux of prosperity preaching states that if you tithe (bring all ye tithe into the storehouse) then God will bless you; conversely, if you do not tithe (or rob from God), you will be cursed.

Prosperity preaching (along with churches application of new technology) has given birth to “mega” and “super-mega” churches at the expense of low to moderate income families that attend these sanctuaries of great promise. Today, I ask the simple question of: “What impact does prosperity preaching have on the African American family and community.” Is prosperity preaching a viable business model for the 21st Century church or is it simply “pimpin from the pulpit?”

During the civil-rights movement, the African American church played an integral role to help bring about positive social change. The church was one of few places African Americans owned and served as gathering places fro grassroots organizing and motivating the community towards social action. The church provided a means to disseminate information to the masses in addition to raising financial resources to support the civil rights movement.

Today, the African American church is staring at new challenges—the institution of religion and family are severely being threatened by louder secular voices and changes in social-demographic behaviors. Considering marriage is becoming less of the norm, more are choosing never to get married, divorce rates continue to climb, and many children are being raised by only one parent, we must ask “Where is the Church?” Changes in the American economy has affected the functionality of the family—it is now expected, if not required, for two parents to work outside of the home to provide for the basic needs of the family. Therefore, if single parents continue to comprise of a signification percentage of church goers, a significant percentage of church congregations will find themselves in need of additional services to maintain the family unit.

In many respects (not all), the African American church has not mounted an effective response to the challenges that the African American community face. However, they have been very effective in raising resources to support the establishment of mega-churches.

Consider the following:

Compensation: Preaching has become as much of a profession than it is a calling. Compensation can be based on the amount of revenue that is brought into the church—which creates the incentive to raise additional dollars, rather than addressing core social ills. Some churches have established “franchises” and receive a percentage of affiliate churches' revenue. In addition, many ministers require payment to perform sacred ceremonies to include marriages and funerals. It will be interesting to see how the preaching profession will fare in a down economy.

Community Involvement: Many churches are oblivious to the social improvement strategies that are taken place in their community. They are separate from secular activities that aim to improve the social conditions of their congregation.

Charitable Giving: Churches often report to their congregation that they set aside 10% (or tithe) to charitable causes. I argue that 100% of all resources that are given to the church, should be directed to service and improving the conditions of the community. If churches are stewards of “Gods” tithes, then all of the tithes (not 10%) that are collected, should go to assist those in need.

Capital Projects: Mega churches often build campuses to support large crowds on Sundays. This seems like an inefficient way to use God’s resources since church buildings are only utilized less than 20% of the entire week. What is the building being used for beyond services and should the congregation support such inefficient use of capital?

If Jesus was to visit his temples today, would he consider them houses of prayer? Or, would he encounter money changers and a den of thieves?

The author attended a New Year’s Eve ceremony and visited the church's book store. There were only three small bibles in the entire book store. There were, however, multiple books and taped sermons by the Pastor of the church. In many respects, the church has become a place of commerce as oppose to a house of prayer. Sometimes I wonder if the church would rather charge a cover for Sunday service and Wednesday Bible study to circumvent the uncertainty tithes from the “cheerful giver.”

Today, I call upon the African American church to assume a new role in our community—one that meets the needs of the congregation, not the needs of the cloth.

Things your church can do:

Publish the Pay of Key Staff: It is often required to report the pay of key staff on charitable tax returns, IRS 990. Your church should practice full transparency so that there will be less of an incentive for church leaders to reap excessive profits at the expense of parishioners and church ministries.

Partner to leverage resources for Social Change: Your church can partner with other churches and community-based organizations to help address many social ills, to include: poverty, homelessness, hunger, unemployment, illiteracy, violence, child abuse and neglect, divorce and inadequate health care.

Provide Basic Needs Assistance: Create a system in which members of your congregation could access aid in the form of low- or no-interest loans and temporary emergency assistance.

Prepare Children for School: Early childhood development and literacy are critical to the success of an individual. Your church could partner to establish or support quality early childhood education programs, tutoring services, and college preparation assistance.

Promote Volunteer Engagement: From mentor programs to foster care families, people are volunteering to make a difference in the lives of young people. Instead of creating your own program, churches could help recruit mentors and foster care parents that might help address youth displacement and development issues.

Praise Excellence: Establish scholarships for young people that are achieving at high levels. This could help create a culture of excellence.

Preserve the Sanctity of Marriage: Develop specific programs and services to help preserve and support the sanctity of marriage. Develop programs to teach individuals how to develop healthy relationships and manage conflict.

This article is not an attack on the church, rather a call to action. It is easy to be a critic and condemn, rather than be critical and non-condemning to encourage a new approach to solving old problems.

National Security Policy Should Include Children

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it

Anonymous
"Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate."

Herbert Hoover, 31st U.S. President
"Children are our most valuable natural resource."

Andy McIntyre
“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance!”

In the post 9/11 era, Americans awaken daily to headlines that caution against threats to our national security. Less obvious are the headlines that highlight a more potent foe of the American way—the inability to prepare our next generation for leadership.

The greatest assaults to our way of living might not be from Al-Qaida and their quest to arm themselves with weapons of mass distraction…nor may it be from OPEC and its global control of oil resources. Rather, it should be debated if the greatest assault on America is taken place not abroad, but right here in our homes, schools, playgrounds, daycares and institutions of worship.

Local Indianapolis Star headlines provide a testament to this fact as reports of children being held-up at gun point while waiting for their bus to transport them to school serve as its top story. The story serves as an ironic metaphor that adults are robbing our children from their ability to reach their full potential.

What accompanied the “Bus-stop Bandits” story was another report of a “Pedophile Priest.” This begs the question of: "Are we unintentionally mortgaging our future by not identifying child rearing as a national security issue?" Sure, most of us can make a valid claim for other issue to be re-defined as a national security issue; but, if we are not aptly raising the next generation of Americans, what will America be in the next generation?

In policy areas of education, juvenile justice, child welfare and mental health, we see failures in these systems to adequately care for youth and prepare them for productive citizenship. In social institutions of the family and church, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to instill proper ethos (belief systems) or provided adequate supports to promote the full potential of a young person. Certainly, we have many youth that achieve their full potential, the proportion of youth is what's more concerning. We need to be able to prepare a greater percentage of youth to assume their rightful place of participation and leadership in tomorrow’s America.

Essentially, youth development has reached the level of National Security Crisis ! As adults, we are not doing our part to ensure that our youth are ready to address tomorrow’s challenges.

Consider the Following:

· Responsible Parenting: Pledge to engage in the lives of all your children and set high expectations for their development.

· Mentoring: Assist with the development of a young person in your family or community by modeling effective interpersonal skills that will lead to success.

· Foster Parenting: Nurture the development of youth that lack a functional family by becoming surrogate parents.

· Teaching: Enlist your skills as a teacher (formal or informal) to encourage the full academic, social, and personal development every youth in your community.

· Community Service: Volunteer your time to assist with special programs that diversify youth experiences and contribute to their full development.

· Social Change Agents: Commit oneself to devoting time to help change key institutions.

· Faith Belivers: Reaffirm the values and beliefs of individual faiths in your life, family, church, and community.

President Obama's Inaugural Message of "Collective Work" is Ordained by GOD

Less than 48 hours removed from the 44th Presidents inaugural address, the collective consciousness of Americans is arguably imbued with the spirit of a shared purpose and a call for collective action. In his address, President Obama acknowledge that we are a great nation amidst great peril; he rebuked the politics of the past and pressed for new policies—ones that bind us to a common cause and renews a spirit of democracy…a sprit that reflects the creed that this government is of, for, and by the people. The new president firmly warned enemies of peace yet softly embraced nations of paucity. These were all resounding themes that provided many comfort in an age of contention. Yet, no theme resonates more strongly then the President’s call to WORK.

Consider the following 8 statements rooted in the inaugural address:

· “In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned.”

· “Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.”

· “Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life.”

· “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.”

· “For everywhere we look, there is work to be done.”

· “All this we can do. And all this we will do.”

· “To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.”

· “But those values upon which our success depends — hard work ..."

On this day, the call towards action with courage was heard from coast to coast. Let America heed this call, and be transformed by the holy virtue of work. Let us begin rebuilding this country one person, one family, one community at a time. The president calls for each one of us to share in the plight of the nation and rejoice the profit of labor. Let it be known that this call to action is ordained by GOD.

· The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work and keep it.
Genesis 2:15

· Commandment: Six days you shall labor, and do all your work
Exodus 20:9

· Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings, he will not stand before obscure men.

Proverbs 22:29

· Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

Delight in the tasks that require your attention in your home, at work, and in your community…for your work is ordained by God and know that whatever you sow sow or reap, it is in accordance to HIS plan. Indifference breeds laziness and stagnation, find your passion and enlist your skills to support "Operation Rebuild America" as a soldier for freedom, fairness, fruitfulness.

We are not prisoners of the past

Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. –Phillippians 3:13

Today we remember the greatness of King and rejoice in the promise of Obama. The bible tells everyone not focus on things of the past, but concern oneself with the present--what is before us now.

Behold, we are at the dawn of a new era in America that certainly reflects a tumultuous past. Thus, it is difficult not to focus on the past and ask—“How did we get here?”

Undoubtedly, slavery gave birth to freedom, civil rights nurtured tolerance and Obama personifies the resilient nature of African-Americans to grow from both. This rich history burdens the consciousness of America but the bible guides all Americans not to focus on the past—things which are behind. We are to celebrate and remember the past accomplishments of all our fore-fathers/mothers…yet we shall not dwell on that which is behind.

Today, we call upon every American not to be prisoners of their past but patrons of the great promise that the present holds. If you were indifferent in the past, find passion in the present. Rejoice in the gift to shed the old and become anew.

Obama will inspire a whole generation domestic and abroad. He could not accomplish such monumental achievement if he had focused on what had been. Today, everyone has the choice to change and rewrite history. Obama has and so can you.

If you have not been true to your commitments…chose to honor fidelity today
If you have failed to sing the praise of the lord, compose a sweet meldoy today
If you have deferred to chase a dream, begin your distant run today
And remember, what gets done, starts with what is done today.

---RDS Wheeler, 2009