Comments for Consuming Jesus

Comment on Why Aren’t There More Black People in Oregon? by Paul Louis Metzger

Paul Louis Metzger — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:25:37 +0000

Hello Maloish,

I am sorry for not getting back to you until just now. I was away from email and web work for much of the holiday season. I appreciate you sharing your honest reflections, and look forward to opportunities to talk in person at The John 17:23 Network gatherings. We need to keep pressing into these issues with people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. I am encouraged that there are more leaders from diverse ethnic communities getting involved in the Network. I would be honored to introduce you to African American pastors who I believe would share your burden and do whatever they could to affirm and support you in your journey. The same goes for some white pastors I know and with whom I work. I do not say any of this to dismiss your concerns, your honest reflections, and your pain. I write this to think about how we might go forward together as a movement, where you do not have to bear your burdens alone.

Comment on Why Aren’t There More Black People in Oregon? by Maloish Wilson

Maloish Wilson — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:35:54 +0000

dear Sir, their are so many things I would like to say, but for now I will be brief. One if you are a Black Man like me here in Oregon, and you don’t have any friends, you will not get a job. It so hard for me to get a job here, I tell people, you can put all the Black preachers, in Portland together and pray for me, and I still can not get a job. Althought that is funny it is true, being Black and looking for work in Oregon, it is easyier for the Camel to get through the needle, and I know because I’ve been here for 37, years. Now in 2011, it’s not just the White people who will not give you a job, but their are a lot, if not all the Black people who could give me a job will not, and all the Black people in the church, discriminate against other Black people. Two it is hard to get housing, because of discrimination, so you can’t get a job, and you can’t get a place to live. Three if you are a Black person like me, their is no church for you to go to, in the pass 20, years I’ve been to just about every church you can think of here in Portland, only to be rejected by the church Pastors, and the church people, matter of fact if you want to met some people who are not christian, and I’ll take you in and out of these churches and introduce you, now some would say that I’m taking about the White church, and no I’m talking about the Black church. And their are many other small issues I could touch on, but I’ll stop here. The one thing I like to say before I go, I do like the Ideal that you are reaching out, because I am a Black man here in Portland Oregon, and I first came here on Sep, 8th 1974, so their are many little incendents I can tell you about, but I have to admit, because of racism from Blacks, and Whites I had to stop going to church, and I’ve been going to church since 1966.

Comment on Why Aren’t There More Black People in Oregon? by Maloish Wilson

Maloish Wilson — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:10:31 +0000

Sir, it is good to see that you are still working towards a better future. All I can say is Thank God for people like you.

Comment on Urban Renewal, Negro Removal by Bruce Ruffin

Bruce Ruffin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:58:06 +0000

I found the article sobering but not surprising. I find the African-American and voices of other people left out of the conversation. Portland is a city of many different views and ideas, but it seems the white liberal is the only one heard. If you do not fit within the confines of those belief systems, you are often shunned and isolated.

If Portland is to be the city of diversity, it must listen to the voices and interest of other groups not just cater to the white, liberal, and upper-class. Ultimately, I do not think the city really wants diversity.

Comment on The John 17:23 Network – November gathering by Bruce Ruffin

Bruce Ruffin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:46:53 +0000

This was my first meeting with the John 17:23 and found the meeting very exciting. These issues are very important in ministering and sharing with the city. At the same time, I am very disappointed. I am not against nice little discussions but it must be action behind those words.

I look forward to the January meeting. I hope blacks and whites can work together. It is sad to see people living in such close proximity to not talk with each other.

Comment on The John 17:23 Network – December gathering by Cornelia Seigneur

Cornelia Seigneur — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:56:06 +0000

I look forward to this event as we honor the life of Rob Ingram- Here is a link to a blog post I penned for the Center for the Theology of Cultural Engagement on Rob and his life and the John !7:23 gathering.

http://theologyofculture.org/2011/12/john-1723-network-sunday-dec-11-remembering-rob-ingram-christ-follower-father-of-5-working-tirelessly-to-curb-gangs/

Comment on What the Gospel Means for Portland by Cornelia Seigneur

Cornelia Seigneur — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:55:04 +0000

Great story by Paul! I am so enjoying the This is Our City blog which highlights the many creative ways believers are making a difference in Portland!!

Comment on The John 17:23 Network – November gathering by Cornelia Seigneur

Cornelia Seigneur — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:35:15 +0000

Looking forward to this evening discussing an important topic. May God continually show us how to engage and make a difference.

Cornelia

Comment on Urban Renewal, Negro Removal by Rachel O'Brien Halbach

Rachel O'Brien Halbach — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:55:10 +0000

Thanks Paul Louis Metzger. I live very near where Vanport used to exist. My community is economically homogeneous but ethnically diverse. Basic things keep the families divided, language barrier, culture and religion. I worry someday the land I live on will be deemed valuable and sold and my friends and neighbors will be displaced. I don’t like it but its true that that wouldn’t really negatively affect me, but others who I live with. I worry that every time we pay our rent, we draw that reality closer because we can afford to live here and afford to pay when our rent goes up. Our hope is to be with people, not outside their lives, looking for solutions to someone else’s problems, I want to own the issue, and have buy-in in my neighborhood with my neighbors, not over and against them. If our house is nicer and some one else has to move, that is a small failure. One thing I have noticed is how much pride my neighbors have in their home and neighborhood. Iit might not look like something to me worth caring about, it might seem worn out or cheap, but its theirs and that’s valuable. I appreciate the post, it encourages and convicts me.

Comment on The John 17:23 Network – October gathering by Cooky Avlakeotes Wall

Cooky Avlakeotes Wall — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 23:00:33 +0000

Regarding Sunday night’s John 17:23 Network, it was such a privilege to gather around the table to hear from Robert Richardson as well as the four profound men who were willing to share their stories. Clearly, God is using them all to touch the lives of so many young people desperately in need of the love of Christ. We have so much to learn together and my prayer is that the John 17:23 Network would grow as a multi-ethnic network of churches and active participants who intentionally desire
to continue the conversation in the context of relationship.