Summertime

I'm writing this in systematic theology class--my last class at Wesley 4 eva. Kendall is looking up a scripture somewhere in 2 Cor to talk about the constantly-renewing promise of Jesus. He's talking about how the axis of evil is inside each of us. I think I've read that somewhere before...

This summer I'ma get married and get a job in Minneapolis as my wife pastors a church. We're gonna take walks along the lakes, go to folk music open mics, argue about money and going out, and have a hell of a time living the life God continually calls us to!

What are you doing this summer?

Do you care about your school?

Are you a member of a struggling degree program that often butts heads with Wesley administrators?

Do you want to have a say in the way our school develops?

Are you frustrated 'cuz there's no pressure in the basement water fountain? No change machine in the laundry room? No straight cues for the pool table?

Do you wanna do something about it?

Student Council nominations end this week on February 24th. We are looking for people who feel called to run as President, VP, Secretary, Treasurer, or as a regular old representative (though it's worth nothing that the first four positions come with stipends).

Please nominate yourself or somebody else for one of these offices by filling out a form, getting the nominee's initials on it, and sticking it in the ballot box we've placed in the dining hall on the buffet table.

Personal Testimony

Having been selected for Council my first year, serving as VP my 2nd, and being a rep on this, my 3rd, I can say that it is a great platform for folks with vision. Being on Council I have been able to solicit donations for, and finally move a 9' pool table onto Wesley's campus whereas before we'd only had a warped ping-pong dealie.

Through Council I had access to student activity funds that would have paid for contemporary Christian artist Derek Webb to come to campus (if he hadn't cancelled), that have paid for Rev. Donald Messer, and that helped pay for Dr. Tony Campolo, on various World AIDS Day (week) commemorations. Many of these were joint Plumb Line/Council activities.

I have also been able to stop the waste of thousands of dollars that might have been spent on a bench or some such memorial gift (just because we had money) when student organizations could actually use the funds in their ministries.

Thanks to folks on Council this campus has wireless internet access in many areas. This happened because of our work and effort--not initiative on the part of our busy administrators.

I list these things in part to brag, but also to demonstrate that PARTICULARLY if you've ever thought "This place would be so much better if..." then a spot on Student Council is right up your alley.

Please consider nominating yourself or a friend.

Homily from National Prayer Breakfast

As you're by now no doubt aware, I am a Minnesotan. Our senior (and Republican) Senator, Norm Coleman, was this year the first Jew ever to chair the National Prayer Breakfast. I don't know what the decisionmaking process is, but somehow Bono ended up giving the homily.

You can find the text anywhere, including in this week's Wesley Journal. If you want to watch it, here's the link to the CNN streaming video.

The man is concerned with AIDS in specific, and Africa more broadly. He proposes an "additional 1% of the federal budget being tithed to the poor." That, of course, would bring our total foreign aid to 1.014% of the budget--a drastic increase. I think other ways to act in the same spirit include debt relief for certain nations and a reduction in domestic agricultural subsidies.

In between he talks about how important the poor are to God (see Isaiah, Luke, and Jim Wallis' talking points), how Americans are good at charity but how we suck at justice.

It's good and thoughtful, maybe a bit too detailed for a homily, but if it got those issues on the agenda, which are also near and dear to my own heart, which were emphasized again by Kristen Foley's wonderful sermon this past Wednesday at the Of Sacred Worth chapel service, and which were brought up in this community last year by Rev. Tony Campolo and Rev. Donald Messer, then I am convinced God's work was done.

What an active freaking campus!

I've sat in on planning meetings where students were asked for suggestions about how Wesley should change in it's architectural makeover and been reminded that "Wesley does not seek to become an institution unto itself." The administration is very keen in operating a Pastor farm and serving the greater church (which is good, IMHO, although tough to do when so many students live full-time on campus this year).

Some student groups try to make up for that. I would like to shout out to groups like Student Council, Plumb Line, the Tuesday night praise and worship crew, and the Association for Black Seminarians. We had a wonderful open mic event 7 days ago in which all sorts of auditory pleasures were presented, from bluegrass to American folk to spoken word to slam-style poetry, to Korean pop to storytelling to Chinese traditional to instrumental. That night was truly a blessing.

Tonight, love him or struggle to love him, the President gave his state of the union. Ingrid organized a whole discussion session to follow, the questions in which (if not all of the responses) seemed appropriate for a bipartisan setting. It's awesome to go to school with people who have such a passion for understanding things and being involved in stuff. My first year, when there were only 12 of us who lived full-time here, events like these were unheard of.




And ABS is about to begin, for its second year in a row, what will likely be a sweet series of chapels in commemoration of Black History Month, made the more poignant by Coretta Scott King's passage last night.

Again, thank God for so many passionate students and so many opportunities to participate with and learn from each other! Though this school has often offered much by way of frustration, our community of seminarians is irreplaceable.

And aren't other good things on the horizon? I know Plumb Line is planning another March Potato Drop, where the whole campus will try to move 24 tons of potatos to local foodshelves and needy families...

Mishonda Baldwin, Wesley student, runs for Congress!

A fellow Wesley Seminarian whose intelligent and lively presence many of us have enjoyed in class discussions is answering another call on her life--to run for Congress in Maryland! Those of us who know Mishonda have a sense of how great she would be in Congress and can't help but be excited by her run. Below is a fundraising letter. I encourage you to check out her website, Baldwin for Congress, and to donate or volunteer as you are able. (FYI, I'm a volunteer.)

January 3, 2005

To my fellow American,

Today, we are facing some serious challenges in this country. The turmoil and issues we face range from corruption to poverty and are clearly evidenced by everyday news reports. Times like this require a special kind of selfless service and dedication focused on the good of all instead of the good of a few. My name is Mishonda Baldwin and I am running for United States Congress to represent Maryland’s Third District in 2006. Maryland has never elected an African American woman for Congress so this campaign is not just another election. This campaign speaks to a true America that invites and includes everyone at the table to make difficult decisions. As a long time Maryland resident, I have experienced, first hand, the issues facing this community and realize that the time is now for me to be proactive and become a resounding voice for the needs of real people.

I am running for Congress because I feel a sense of urgency to act as a catalyst for moving our community in the right direction. At a very young age, I learned the value of standing up even in hard times and to advocate for the needs and interests of others. Around the age of seven, I stood on the picket lines with my mother as she advocated for the rights of her fellow workers as a health care union delegate. When I was 19 years old, like many other Americans, I was enjoying my second year of college. Well my youth was cut short because I answered the call to serve my country during Operation Desert Storm. I packed my bags and headed to Saudi Arabia to free the people of Kuwait from an oppressive invasion. That sense of service continued on as I ascended the ranks of the military from private to Army Intelligence officer. Like then, I now feel a similar call but this time it’s focused on my own country. We are in desperate need of leaders who understand that no American should be left behind because of poor education or lack of health care. We all deserve the same opportunity to realize our God-given potential. I believe in the age-old adage that “to whom much is given, much is required.” I know that I have been blessed to see and to accomplish many things. For me, however, that is all the more reason for the mandate that I have on my life to help make the way easier for other people. I am a lawyer, seminarian, war veteran and, most importantly, a real person with real experiences. I understand and will work for the needs of the people because they are my needs.

To push this country in the right direction, I need your help. I cannot run a successful campaign on idealism alone. Financial support is critical to ensure victory in 2006. We need money now to get our message to the voters so they can be well-informed on Election Day.

My desire is to continuously touch the lives of people, starting now. Even if you do not live in the Third District, this campaign still affects you. Congressional representatives make legislation with the ability to impact the lives of the entire nation, not just those of their constituency. I am asking for 3,000 people to make a monetary donation to the campaign. I need contributions in the amounts of $1,000, $500, $250, $100, $50 or $25. However, I will accept any donation you feel in your heart to give.

You can read more about the campaign at www.BaldwinForCongress.com. In the coming months we face an uphill battle but with the help of people like you, I know that we will win! E-mail me at mishondabaldwin - at - verizon.net. I very much hope that I can count on you for your support. Thank you in advance!

God Bless,

Mishonda Baldwin

Real Leadership Working for Real People

Please make checks payable to: Friends of Mishonda Baldwin, P. O. Box 6548, Columbia, MD, 21045.

Note: Contributions to Friends of Mishonda Baldwin are not tax deductible.

Raccoon's Coattails

For two years in a row volunteers at Wesley Seminary have moved two tons of potatoes to needy families and hunger organizations in the District of Columbia and surrounding areas.

For two years in a row we have turned our hill into a sublime memorial to the tragic decision, and the subsequent loss of life resulting from, our invasion of Iraq.

Recently we have hosted the internationally renown speaker, Rev. Tony Campolo, as a World AIDS Day exhorter.

Paul, from Peter, Paul, and Mary, is teaching a class here and living on campus next semester.

This all has received little to no media attention. What's it take?

For a raccoon to bite a student, we get near-top billing in the news.

At NBC4, WTOP radio, Fox 5, and ABC 7.

peace be with you

didn't get a chance to greet everyone personally, so forgive the shameless use of public space to say
BLESSINGS on the rest of finals!
...and i'll miss my wesley community dearly, but i pray everyone has a safe and joyous break.

peace~

Look what I can do

For a Bib Interp class, here's a pseudo-devotional resource based on Mark 1:1-8. A travel blog of some dude and his betrothed on their way to get baptized by John the Baptizer. With small group questions!

Journey to Baptism

why im still up at 3 am

a fear of being anything short of profound stopped me from posting anything on this blog, but that ends right now! ahh i feel so empowered!!!

mmm...okay i'm done.

this has been a really good night...true, papers and finals are taking a lot of my time and energy...but man, some nights it's worth it to stay up past 3 am talking to good people about things that matter...or maybe just things that matter to you..either way, i'm gonna miss this place when i go back home for christmas.

thank you Lord for good people in my life~

happy birthday jerad!!!

Death and the Finals Maiden

Dudes, this thing's dead. Tony Campolo came today. Messer came last week. Finals are happening. Take a break and celebrate my 27th at the Prez's house on Sunday! 9 p.m. Games and beverages--bring 'em.