Send us Fan Mail

The Supreme Court in a 6-3 ruling has ended Affirmative Action, a nearly fifty-year practice of using race as a factor in college admission, hiring and other decisions.  Affirmative Action’s aim was to the “level the playing field” giving previously discriminated minorities an opportunity at acceptance at elite universities, employment, and other endeavors.   

For many including this writer Affirmative Action has been a success.  Minority enrolment and graduation increased significantly in the nation’s colleges. Employment opportunities were expanded, creating a solid cadre of minorities with educational and business experiences that grew stronger families, and increased minority wealth, generating a stronger minority middle and upper class.   

Affirmative Action critics, including a majority of the Supreme Court believe past disclination notwithstanding race should not be a tipping point factor in education, employment, and other decisions.   They view Affirmative Action policies as handouts to “unqualified minorities” taking valuable educational opportunities and jobs away from qualified whites.   

While the ruling guts Affirmative Action it leave intact legacy admissions a tool used by schools to admit the sons, grandsons’ great great grandsons, and other kin of alumni.  So, when my granddaughter Nina applies to Harvard her application will compete with legacy applicants who are mostly white.   

The ruling is a setback, but it is not the end.  I am reflecting on the Jewish experience as I write in the late night of Jerusalem.  Deported to Babylon, God speaking through his prophet Jeremiah told them to prosper in the land they have been sent in exiled. (Jeremiah 29:5-11)   The end of Affirmative Action is not an exile it is an opportunity to excel.  Jeremiah 29:5-11 provides a Jewish road map for what we should do next. 

1. Buildup Our Schools, Businesses, And Institutions:  

Jeremiah told the Jewish people to build houses on the land in Babylon.  We must do everything we can to strengthen our secondary schools giving students greater opportunities to become the excellent students that will be admitted to select and other schools.  While at the same time embracing, our HBCU’s sending our best and brightest talents in academics and athletics to Jackson State, Fort Valley State, Alabama State and Howard, where all types kinds of actions, affirmative and otherwise will be taken to help students succeed.  We must continue our entrepreneur endeavors creating business that will employ ourselves and others.  Building our executive capacity, expertise, and wealth.  Our institutions like The Divine 9, our churches, civic and nonprofit must ramp up our scholarship giving and funding.  Providing the full cost of tuition in our scholarships keeping our students out of the crippling student loan debt that the same Supreme Court that gutted Affirmative Action, said the president lacked the power to curb. 

2. Don’t Be Discouraged 

Folks are discouraged with the loss of Affirmative Action and so were the Jews for being exiled. Jeremiah tells us that the Lord has plans for us.  Plans for our welfare, plans not to harm plans for our future.  (Jeremiah 29:11). It is with this hope that we should not despair.  It is with this hope that we should continue to apply of colleges, jobs, and other programs.  For at the end of the day it is minority excellence that will earn admittance, employment, and success.  

3. Pray 

Jeremiah tells the Jewish people to pray to the Lord for the welfare of Babylon.  We should do the same and pray for the welfare of the United States of America.  For as Jeremiah 29:7 tells us seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its b

For More Great Content Go To  Marben Bland.com 

Send us Fan Mail

Less than ten miles south of Jerusalem is Bethlehem, the biblical birthplace of Jesus.  Located inside Palestine, Bethlehem a major pilgrimage destination for three faiths. 

Manger square features the Catholic Church of the Church of St. Catherine, the Muslim Mosque of Omar and the Christian Church of the Nativity containing the birthplace of Jesus.   

Adherence to the physical rules of biology regarding destiny of women in the church have prevent the full use of all of God’s children in spreading, the Gospel.

Most recently, the powerful Southern Baptist Convention voted to enshrine its ban on female pastors. The action kicked out of its ranks several churches including Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California the megachurch founded by Rick Warren.  

God uses three women with a connection to Bethlehem to prove that the physical rules of biology no role in the destiny of women in His church.  

The first woman of Bethlehem is Rachel, the wife of the Biblical patriarch Jacob.  She was barren, but God having no such adherence the physical rules of biology opened her womb.  Eventually she gave birth to Joseph the most beloved of Jacob’s sons, who later saves the whole house of Israel.  Her destiny intact Rachel continues, defying the biological rules giving birth to Benjamin the head of the tribe along with Judah that from the Jewish people.   Rachel dies during Benjamin’s childbirth and is buried on the wayside near near Bethlehem.  God’s destiny over man’s biology.

The second woman of Bethlehem is Ruth.  Without question God uses Ruth to prove that biology is not destiny.  Ruth a Moabite woman who after the death of her husband does the unthinkable, for a woman of her time.  She moves to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law, Naomi, instead of remaining with her own people.  Ruth then became the wife of Boaz, a wealthy kinsman of her former husband, and bore Obed, the grandfather of King David.  God’s destiny over man’s biology.  

The third woman of Bethlehem is Mary, a young virgin is favored by God her destiny is forever changed as she becomes the blessed mother of Jesus.  God’s destiny over man’s biology.

My visit to Bethlehem has proven to me that it is indeed God’s destiny over man’s biology is the way we should go.  Let us follow God’s destiny and bring women to the pulpit.  Let us follow God’s destiny embracing the LGBTIQA+ community into complete fellowship with the church. And let us Let us follow God’s destiny in support of full nationhood for Palestine.  

For More Great Content Go To  Marben Bland.com 

Send us Fan Mail

Holy Land Reflections

A pilgrimage has been described as a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place.  It is where a person goes in search of a new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good through the experience. 

Sometimes a pilgrimage can led to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life.   Changed not necessarily in dramatic ways but nevertheless changed.  

I am Marben Bland, a pastor and multimedia storyteller of Jesus.  These are my daily reflections of my second pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  My hope is to provide a brief sense of what it’s like to experience this complicated place.  My desire is to provide these reflections in a clear, concise, and correct way worthy of this wonderful place and your valuable time.  My prayer is to honor God via these reflections as a pilgrim in His Holy Land, in with what I see, with what I experience and with what I feel.   

Reflection: Day One 

A Holy Land Reflection: Jerusalem – The City Of Everything

Situated on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea is the city of Jerusalem.  One of the oldest cities in the world Jerusalem is claimed as a holy city for three of world’s major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.  

Both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital, and Christians like me make pilgrimages to Jerusalem to see the capital where Jesus died and was risen.  

It is in those claims of holiness that has led to conflict.  Throughout its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, captured, and recaptured 44 times, and attacked 52 times.

Through it all Jerusalem a city situated on a plateau still stands.  A city of holiness, a city of conflict, a city where people of all faiths come, a city where people of all faiths worship, a city where people of all faiths live among each other yearning for peace in a land of war.  

Jerusalem a city situated on a plateau still stands still stands because God said in Isaiah 56:7-8 that it would stand.  The Message translation puts it this way:  I’ll bring them to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. They’ll be welcome to worship the same as the ‘insiders,’ to bring burnt offerings and sacrifices to my altar. Oh yes, my house of worship will be known as a house of prayer for all people and nations.  This is the Decree of the Master, God himself who gathers in the exiles of Israel: “I will gather others also gather them in with those already gathered.”   

Today, I am honored to gather with pilgrims of all nations and faiths to Jerusalem the city of everything.  
  
 
 

For More Great Content Go To  Marben Bland.com 

Send us Fan Mail

Afflictions, suffering, misery, and persecution are common in the human condition.  Ailments, calamities, distastes of every proportion will visit us either in person or to someone that we know love or care about.  

 This week a young father who by his own hand ended his life was laid to rest.  Leaving behind a wife and a third grader to a lifetime of wondering why.  

 Psalm 116 is a song of thanksgiving for God’s help in times of distress.  The nature of the distress is not indicated except to say that the psalmist felt close to death.

 Unless you have experienced it no one can know what it feels like to lose a husband and a father to suicide.   The death has produced a living death with the survivors that only lots of prayer, the Word of God, therapy, and love can numb.  

Into all of this there is hope for the psalmist reminds in Psalm 116:6 that “The Lord preserves the simple; for when I was brought low, he saved me.”

 Nothing is simpler than the love of a child, it is unconditional, it is unblemished, it is unabashed.  The Lord will use the simple love of the third grader for her father to power a victory.  As she discovers how the love of God will help her overcome the afflictions, suffering, and misery that her father’s death has brought.  

 Find the simple in your life, embrace it, cultivate it, thank the Lord for it.  For God has promised it is the simple that will save us when we are brought low.    

For More Great Content Go To  Marben Bland.com 

Send us Fan Mail

9,086 that is the number of Wheel of Fortune episodes hosted by Pat Sajak who announced this week that he would be stepping down 41 seasons.  For all his abilities as a host perhaps Pat’s best ability is his availability.   Being there for all those years coming into our homes spinning the wheel as he watched Vana turned the letters.   

Availability is also the greatest ability for a father.  Simply being there in moments large and small for our children.  When God made David his anointed King God said I will be his father and he will be a son when he does wrong, I will discipline him and will be a help to him in the pitfalls and obstacles of life.  But through it all I will never remove my gracious love from him.  

The availability to host Wheel of Fortune will end for Pat Sajak, the availability of David as king ended, and so has the availability of our mortal Dad’s who have or will be taken by death.  But God’s availability to Sheppard us in the pitfalls and obstacles of life will never end.  

So, on this Father’s Day let us honor our mortal fathers as we keep firmly affixed to God, the available Father.  

For More Great Content Go To  Marben Bland.com 

Send us Fan Mail

On Sunday J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell became the first out nonbinary performers to win a Tony, the awards given for excellence on Broadway.   

The wins come at a time when gender identity has become a central element of America’s culture wars.  As reported by the New York Times conservatives in multiple states have press for legislation on a variety of L.G.B.T.Q.-related issues, including gender-affirming medical care for transgender children and teenagers, bathroom access, sports participation and, in some states even performances on stage.  

When Jesus learned about the murder of John The Baptist at the hands of King Herod, he wanted to be alone.  So, he slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place however, the word got around and soon masses of people arrived to be with the Lord.  

Instead of being upset about the interruption of his solitude Jesus showed compassion on the masses.  Healing their sick regardless of who they are, regardless of who they loved and regardless of how they identify themselves.  As dinnertime approached the disciples wanted to send the hungry masses way. However, Jesus said no, he blessed five loaves of bread and two fish that multiplied to feed them all.   

As disciples of Jesus the message is clear everyone straight, gay, trans, nonbinary, whatever the label or name of lifestyle that a person has chosen for themselves is a child of God.   Were nonbinary people in the masses? We don’t know. Were gay people in the masses? We don’t know.  Were straight people in the masses?  We don’t know. 

But what we do know is this for Jesus and for us there should be no culture wars, there should be no church legislation outlawing women as pastors, and there should be no shunning of people regardless of who they are.  Broadway saw J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell including them in their community and so should we. 

Jesus sent no one away, Jesus ministered to them all, Jesus healed them all, and yes Jesus, feed them all.  

The call is clear in times like these we simply need to be like Jesus and feed them all. 

For More Great Content Go To  Marben Bland.com 

Send us Fan Mail

John the Baptist had been murdered, executed by King Herod to satisfy a grudge of his sister-in-law.   When told the news Jesus withdrew to a deserted place to grieve the loss of his cousin.  

 However, when his location was discovered, large crowds showed up.  Instead of being upset that his solitude was broken, Jesus showed compassion healing the sick.  

 In this story from Matthew 14 Jesus teaches three valuable lessons about compassion and grief.  

 First: Jesus Shows That Grief Is Compassion. Jesus proves that it is alright to show compassion as he grieves the loss of a loved one.  In our microwave society folks may show grief at the funeral but not much beyond.  Jesus understood the significance of his loss and that the compassionate thing to do was to grieve.  

 Second: Jesus Understood The Compassion Of Selfcare. In his grief Jesus withdrew for a time of solitude and self-reflection.  Whatever the situation we need to be compassionate to ourselves and practice selfcare. 

 Third: Jesus Demonstrates That In Grief We Can Be Compassionate To Others. Out of grief can come the discovery of that compassion can be of service to others.  Jesus was the first rockstar, and even without GPS tracking it was simply a matter of time that his cone of solitude would be broken. But despite his grief Jesus, understood his mission and in honor of John the Baptist he showed compassion healing those who had come.  

 Grief Is Compassion, Compassion Is Selfcare, and From Grief Comes 

Compassion To Others are three lessons from Jesus about grief and compassion. 

For More Great Content Go To  Marben Bland.com 

Send us Fan Mail

In response to the murder of George Floyd, Congress passed a bill to examine systemic racism in the actions of government.  The law authorized the creation of a commission to rename U.S. Army bases that were named for Confederate leaders.  

Many of the Army’s most iconic posts will gain new names as the raciest past of their previous names have been uncovered.  

Fort Bragg the North Carolina home to nearly 50,000 solders was named for Confederate General and slave owner Braxton Bragg, will now become Fort Liberty.   

Fort Hood in Texas named after Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood, who lost nearly 20,000 men in one battle is now, Fort Cavazos.  Named in honor of Richard Cavazos the Army's first Latino four-star general.   

Fort Benning, Georgia was named after Confederate Brig. Gen. Henry L. Benning, a slave owner who warned that if slavery ended, the nation would see "Black governors, Black legislatures, Black jurors, Black everything,” has been remained Fort Moore in honor of Lt. General Harold Moore who commanded troops in the first major battle of the Vietnam War and his wife Julia a champion for military families who changed the way next of kin are notified when a service member is killed.  

Jesus is a name that will never change, but more than a name it is what that name symbolizes.  The names of those army bases represents the oppression, pain, and racism of what we hope is a bygone era.   

Isaiah 9:6 tell us that the name of Jesus symbolizes the “Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”

As celebrate the rectifying of history with the renaming of the bases let us also take comfort in Jesus and the importance of a blessed name that will never change. 

For More Great Content Go To  Marben Bland.com 

Send us Fan Mail

Set in the segregated South of the 1920’s Uncle Jed’s Barber Shop by Margaree King Mitchell is a book about the only barber in a county of sharecroppers.  

 Uncle Jed goes from house to house cutting hair as he dreams about owning his own barbershop.  But his generous heart coupled with ravages of the Great Depression, and the cruelness of Jim Crow forced him to defer that dream for years.  

 Finally, after years of hard work and savings Uncle Jed opened his barber shop.  His American dream of entrepreneurism had been achieved, with a story worthy to be told to generations of our youth, except in Florida.  

 Uncle Jed’s Barber Shop was banned in in Duval County, as part of Florida efforts to make it easier for parents to challenge books in school libraries they deem to be pornographic, deal improperly with racial issues or are in other ways inappropriate for students. 

 Some 200 books have been banded in Duval County including “The Bluest Eye,” a novel by Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, Dim Sum for Everyone! by Grace Lin, and Berenstain Bears and the Big Question by Stan and Jan Berenstain. 

In Miami-Dade County the poem “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman was placed on a restricted list for elementary students after a parent complained. The reasons for the objection to the poem, which Gorman read during President Joe Biden’s inauguration, were not clear.

 However, what is clear is diversity of thought the opportunity for students to comfort difficult and perhaps uncomfortable parts of our history which is vital for the critical thinking skills of an educated people is under attack.  

 The philosopher George Santayana, reminds us “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  But what happens when the past is never taught?  

 God’s Word the Bible is an historical document filled with accounts that could get it banded in Florida.  However, I would suggest reading the scriptures even by the youngest of minds expands knowledge, creating critical thinking skills while growing our faith. 

 As laws like those enacted in Florida sweep across the nation Paul reminds us in 2nd Corinthians 13:13 that the trinity, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit will be with, us even as the hills that we climb have become steeper.  

Let us climb those hills by becoming our children’s credible teachers of the past.  

For More Great Content Go To  Marben Bland.com 

Send us Fan Mail

Death is the great equalizer of life.  Regardless of position, power, or prowess death is our destiny.   This month three men two you may know one you may not have died.  

Jim Brown, Tim Keller, and Lovett Brown are the men.  They profoundly impacted my life in ways big and small.  

For me Jim Brown who died last Friday was more that one of the greatest players in pro football history, he was an icon.   An icon who became a Hollywood action hero, an icon who used his fame and wealth to fight for civil rights.  An icon tarnished by credible accusations of violent conduct against women.  An icon that I now view in full as a man not to admire but to warn against so that women can be protected from the violent tendencies he and others practiced.    

 The Rev. Timothy Keller also died last Friday. A best-selling author and theorist of Christianity his teachings led me to a greater understanding of the Gospel.  Keller’s book the Parodical God uncovers the essential message of Jesus, which is Christ is for everyone. I was honored to present this message in a Bible Study earlier this year as we examined this stellar book which brought to life the Parable of the Parodical Son.  

Earlier this month Lovett Brown died.  Brother Brown was a husband, father, and community leader in Sparta, Georgia.  A faithful member of Mitchel Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Lovett Brown took a green, untested, and inexperienced pastor named Marben Bland under his wing.   Giving me the confidence to preach, teach and lead people to Christ as a pastor.  

Job 14:16 reminds us that “Man that is born  of a woman is of few days.”   Yes, the earthly days of Jim Brown, Tim Keller, and Lovett Brown are over.  But with God our profound impacts continues beyond death.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine.  So that our good works can be seen which brings glory to our heavenly Father.  

So let us resolve to make profound impact bringing glory to God and to generations to come. 

For More Great Content Go To  Marben Bland.com