Too Blog or Not Blog
5/13/10
It has been awhile since I've updated this blog. Alot of research into the blogs of others has occurred and it is clear, if this blog is to be, its got to be one of the best in the whole world (LOL. It's going to take work. There's much learning to occur. Yet I consider the limitless possibilities of blogging...People can become famous as a voice which normally could not be heard under normal circumstances. So the trick is to generate many hits in order to be well read by others. It's not that I seek fame for the sake of being famous. Instead, my goal is to enlist others in the war for the minds and souls of urban youth. This is what I call, bridging the gulf that has developed between the normal and abnormal...For instance, it used to be normal that young people didn't go to jail or die early. Now the things once clearly abnormal has become normal. In other words, this blog has to stay true to its purpose of bridging the gulf. All things written in the blog must conform to that overriding purpose.


I notice my Facebook updates usually reflect my experience as a mentor and youth worker. So it is clear, this blog should do the same. One of my updates spoke of a name that I heard on the news... I am almost one hundred percent certain that this name was one of my former students of a mentoring program called Young Champions. I feel bad for the student and wonder is it fair to consider the failures instead of the successes. It seems that he was one of four involved indirectly with a homicide involving three other youths. Mentoring is a tough field. Its bad when the one you mentored goes astray. It's worst when the church and society really doesn't acknowledge the good a mentor brings.


And so, will this blog be ignored or will it generate motivation to act...Jesus was concerned about the lost sheep. Focusing on the failures is sort of like the action of the shepherd that went in search of the one lost sheep. Oh, one closing note, they just showed a photo of the alleged killers on the news. It was my old Young Champion.

the value of a mentor

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The value a mentor has to society should be measured, acknowledged and rewarded. Shouldn’t society rather see young African-American males employed instead of being tempted to live a life of crime? So today, I took on the role of mentor.

I remember how hard it was as a young man to find employment. I had nobody to help me understand or walk through this process. I even had education and a strong family support system in place. Those passed on a daily basis without these advantages are too many to count. Today, the least I could do was take Rich and Rob to various employers, places that would hire felons.

Both Rich and Rob started the mentoring process very early. Now they are in their mid twenties. Both have spotty employment records. Both were real knuckleheads as youth. Neither finished high school on time. One still has no G.E.D. Both went to church as youth and raised hell both inside and out. Rich blames me for being a Christian. Let me correct this, he acknowledges me as the one responsible for introducing him to a relationship with Christ…Rob never really embraced that "Christianity thing." Neither was old enough to have been written about in my book, Understanding and Ministering to Hip Hop Youth. Neither have children.

I am writing about today’s experience for two reasons. The value of a mentor needs to be recognized. Secondly, there needs to be some good news to report about when dealing with urban and "hip-hop" youth. Neither Rob nor Rich are locked up with extensive criminal records. Given their background as young black men, that is an encouragement. I can check on past youth and students in two ways. If they are on Facebook, this means that they are doing relatively well. At least they have computer skills. Otherwise, I can check the Department of Correction web site and find usually find the rest.

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Highlights of Bridging the Gulf: Understanding and Ministering to Hip Hop Youth

Today there are about three articles swelling in my head. I'll deal with one. Usually, my method is to relate all things to my mission in life, Bridging the Gulf that has been generated especially within the African-American community. There has always been a generation gap. But the influence of hip-hop culture as taken this gap to a "whole, other level." What do I mean? Hip hop is teaching our youths a lifestyle and belief system that is contrary to many of the traditions, belief and teachings of the Christian church. The Bible says there is a blessing in meditating on the law of the Lord both day and night. Well, Hip Hop youths do and can meditate on the destructive words and thoughts of gangster type lyrics. It is possible to meditate on lyrics leading to death both day and night.
As they say, Garbage in, garbage out. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. In other words, we must "guard our hearts." I have given many Biblical references and would tell you exactly where they could be found if it mattered. Hopefully, like me you know that we can bank on the Bible. Just some thoughts for your consideration. Check out my book Bridging the Gulf @ publishamerica. com. Leave me a comment

live in booty

Have you heard of "live in booty?" This is a term to describe the countless high school students that find nothing wrong with living with their mommy (perhaps daddy too) like man and wife. As an author of Bridging the Gulf, Understanding and Ministering to Hip Hop Youth available via publishamerica.com, I realized that this is one of those issues that needs bridging.
One the one hand, there are those that would be shocked that this sort of behavior is allowed…On the other hand, too many people, especially young ones, feel as if there is nothing wrong with this strange, unacceptable and unprecedented behavior. What has happened to the family structure that would have strictly forbid this kind of behavior? What will happen to the family especially as this phenomenon applies to the African-American community? On the one hand, many young people have been desensitized to live in booty. To some, it has become a common occurrence. Yet if asked, these same youths believe that it is best for a child to be raised by both mother and father. As long as "live in booty" prevails the traditional African-American, two-parent household might be on the verge of extinction.