Showing posts with label humanitarian relief. Show all posts
Showing posts with label humanitarian relief. Show all posts

Saturday, April 17, 2021

Video of the Week: Billy Preston-“That’s the Way God Planned It”

 Video of the Week is from way back. Billy Preston began as a church organist, had a string of pop gospel hits like the one in the video below. He was affectionately dubbed a fifth member of the Beatles and performed as an organist on their hit song “Let it Be” and other notable songs. Here he joins Beatle George Harrison in a performance before an audience of thousands at the historic and hugely successful benefit concert for Bangladesh held in New York City’s Madison Square Garden on August 1, 1971. The concert raised 12 million for the people of Bangladesh who were battling war-related starvation and genocide at the time. Royalties from the sale of the related documentary and album sales continue to this day to fund George Harrison’s Foundation for UNICEF, which was founded with famous Indian musician Ravi Shankar.

If you are reading this blog on your mobile device, go to the View web version link in the footer column at the bottom of this page. It will take you to the desktop version of this blog where you can view the video in its entirety by following the You Tube link or if you are feeling lucky, just Google it.


Enjoy this history lesson which is a segment of today’s podcast. The link will be provided in the near future. God bless your day.

Cynthia Wilson



Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Prayers for Japan



Japan indeed is a wealthy country and the yen has amazingly soared after the worst natural disaster in its history. However, Japan is still very much in need of support in moral,spiritual and financial form. It was reported recently that fundraising for this disaster has lagged behind the last two disasters,including Haiti, Katrina and the Tsunami which all but demolished areas of Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Efforts are underway to raise funds and people from ordinary citizens doing art fundraisers to our national government sending in troops and supplies are all pitching in to save Japan. Please do what you can whether it be one dollar or a million dollars. The important thing is to give from your heart sincerely and with love.


Cynthia Wilson

Monday, September 14, 2009

...But to Do Justice, Love Kindness and Walk Humble: "Go Where the Need Is"







Pictured above: (1) Cynthia Wilson and Democratic Majority Whip, Congressman James E. Clyburn at Florida Ave. Baptist Church reception following sermon ;(2)Dr. Trent, First Lady of Florida Ave. Baptist, Congressman James E. Clyburn and Senior Pastor Trent, Dr. Earl Trent ; (3) Cynthia Wilson with friend and church member Iris Toyer at Florida Ave. Baptist Church reception for Congressman James E. Clyburn; (4) Cynthia Wilson and Dr. Earl Trent, Senior Pastor Florida Ave. Baptist Church; and (5) Cynthia Wilson looks on as Congressman James E. Clyburn greets and talks to reception guests and church members
Photos 1,2,3 and 5-Courtesy of Lonell Johnson-Founder-Director
Technology Playground

Photo-4-
Courtesy of
Gary A. Smith, Senior Partner,
Ivy Planning Group, LLC
__________________________________________________

Today I had the opportunity to attend a special Sunday Worship service at Florida Avenue Baptist Church where the Reverend Dr. Earl D. Trent, Jr., is Senior Pastor. This morning's guest speaker was House Majority Whip for the 111th Congress, Congressman James E. Clyburn Democrat of South Carolina.

The Congressman exuded his usual statesmanship, authority and confidence, as he delivered an incisive and powerful word. He began by making a few clever remarks. He joked and easily broke the ice, warming the congregation prior to the sermon. He continued to lay a subtle foundation for the sermon and reception that would follow. When it was all said and done, the message in my opinion was clear. There are people in need of Health Care. Don't pass them up.
Start writing letters and making phone calls to your elected officials/representatives. Tell your friends to do the same. Pass the word and get the message out. Let your elected representatives and those in the media know that you support the President's Health Care Plan.

Clyburn's stern leadership qualities I have until this morning admired from a distance on the television screen or imprinted in a story on a newspaper page. I first observed his deft handling of the media during several of those politically charged incidents which transformed last year's Presidential race into one of the most grueling and challenging democratic primaries in the history of our nation. One that tested the soul of the Democratic Party and the mettle of Obama supporters. Somehow Clyburn always managed to inspire confidence and communicate in a manner that assured we were in good hands. No matter how edgy the situation got, our elected officials-- at least in the House of Representatives-- were on the job, aware of the issues and taking care of business. He was proceeding in the same manner today and I felt blessed to be in closer proximity, witnessing the commanding, yet humble presence live and in person from a church pew.

The table was set for his sermon, with a favorite Old Testament scripture Micah 6:6-8, which sets forth what God requires of man. Here is excerpted passage 6:8:

He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?

He also chose Luke 10:30-37, the Parable of the Good Samaritan, his favorite scripture from the New Testament.

The gist of his message: Leaders have to get off of their high horses and go to where the need is. Meet people on their levels. Go into their communities and show them how to apply the word by both precept and example. Giving the word is not enough. You have to follow up by demonstrating it. This provided a segue into the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the gage for determining a good neighbor. A neighbor (1) does not have to be a member of the same church; (2) does not have to be of the same ethnicity: and (3) gets off of their "high horse" and goes to where the need is, demonstrating compassion to those needing help, as the Good Samaritan did. He emphasized that the Good Samaritan and the man in need of help were from different ethnic groups who were warring against one another.

Following the service there was an informal gathering which provided an opportunity to meet Clyburn and to listen to a brief talk about what each of us could do to assist in the Health Care Reform effort. He left the congregants with one last scripture, Hebrews 11:1. " Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen." He urged everyone not to give up, assuring us all that our elected officials would get things back on track. He told us to write in to the radio, television, newspapers and other broadcast mediums and voice our views, showing our support for the President's proposed Health Care plan.
________________

My Views:

(Revised 9.29.09)

I believe that quality health care is a basic human right and as such should be provided on a scale similar to that of public education. If you can afford to go to private school great. If you can't, but you still need quality education, public school is available. Now, substitute "health care" for public education. To make a solid quality public health program available to those in need, should not be up for further debate nor should the issue be vulnerable to continuous manipulation and distortion. Making health care available to all whether by public option or through other similar means is the direction in which the country should be headed.

Because in the final analysis, it is not really about partisanship, being Republican or Democrat. It is really not, or at least, it should not be about race, nationality or national origin. I know the issues are complicated. Some don't want a public option. There is also concern that the Republican movement against it will result in a watered down version of Health Care Reform caused by the big financial interests that stand to lose most. However, Congressman Clyburn in his sermon facilitated my understanding of it to more than a political question. In my opinion, he broke it down to a question of ethics and/or morals. If you follow the scripture parable of the Good Neighbor, its about helping those in need. To some this may seem like an oversimplification. But think about it. Are you going to just pass your neighbor by? The charge has been given in the word delivered.

So friends, I say don't be confused by the misinformation which seems to be flooding the internet and other media nor be intimidated by the number of venomous protests, demonstrations, outbursts and/or Town Hall meetings. Now is the time to ban together and engage in a unified effort to establish a program that many in need will benefit from. It may even save some lives. Giving Health Care Reform the attention it deserves is part of the hard work of which we were forewarned before and after the election. President Obama is not resting on his election victory. Nor can we. He is out there working hard to make affordable coverage a reality for all. So is the House Majority Whip. Now is the time to make your voice heard...once again. Get busy doing justice and loving kindness...

Thanks to my good friend of over 30 years, Iris Toyer. She is a long time member of Florida Avenue Baptist Church. Thanks also to Pastor Trent for keeping the church relevant and engaged.

Acknowledgments to Deacon Lonell Johnson and Gary A. Smith for taking and sharing with me their photos.

Thank God for blessing with friends in high places who are busy raising the bar.


Peace,

Cynthia

Listening to: Yes We Can:Voices of a Grassroots Movement


Reading:

The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better,Cheaper and Fairer Health Care by T.R. Reid

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

What's Happening in N.O.L.A Now?


Photo Source

With all the hoopla about Presidential hopeful,Republican candidate John Mccain's recent trip to New Orleans... " McCain has been touring poor neighborhoods where the likelihood of his winning votes is nil. In New Orleans, devastated by Hurricane Katrina, he stood with the new Republican governor, Bobby Jindal, and pledged to the residents of the 9th Ward, "the people of New Orleans, and the people of this country that never again, never again will a disaster of this nature be handled in the terrible and disgraceful way it was handled"(more). Today there have been reports of New Orleans residents being required to pay money back to the government which was received for rebuilding efforts(more..).

In light of all this,and my desire to bring to light the perspectives of eyewitnesses to the "big mess",I am lifting these series of blogs which I wrote as a rescue worker and minister back in 2006 as part of documenting the mission trip of over forty(40) scholars and students from Union Theological seminary and Columbia School of Social Work.

I hope today's story is not true.If any of the resident's have to pay anything back,I trust that equitable measures will be taken so that further insult is not added to injury.The residents of New Orleans have suffered enough. Don't you think?

Katrina has been called the worst disaster in U.S. history.It seems to be turning into the worst human fiasco as well.

By the way, take a look at some of the related blogs with accompanying photos and articles below. I also recommend reading the book "Katrina:Listening With Our Hearts" to which I was a contributor.

Here's an entry from the Heavier Octaves blog dated January 13,2006:












Photo Credits:(1-5) Lower Ninth(9th) Ward-New Orleans,LA.
All pictures taken by Michael Lee, except #5.

As our time in New Orleans progressed we saw and experienced more devastation.
Above are some pictures of what we saw.Members of our team did what we could to help in whatever way was possible. Some team members either talked with residents or helped to strip drywall. This area of the city is uninhabitable. Many of the residents are living in other cities and states along the Gulf Coast. Some have moved as far away as California and North Dakota.
More to come...


___________________
Let's keep the residents of New Orleans lifted in prayer.Also,write stories,call and email your congresspersons and stir up some concern on this matter.I am not Republican nor am I planning to vote that way,but I appreciate the attention Senator McCain is bringing to the matter.

I also want to lift up the musicians who are currently appearing at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival including:

Stevie Wonder
Irma Thomas
Aaron Neville
Carlos Santana

and

John Mayer at the Jazz Festival on May 6,2008 at the fair grounds


Related Katrina Blogs






Sunday, June 3, 2007

Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope (click here)

Since today is technically a "day of rest"...I thought I'd send you some more music to chill by.Most of my minister friends are probably laughing or "snarling"(and,I mean that in the best possible sense of the word). No, not like the phrase "friendly fire". Stop kidding around.

A few are probably still at church basking in the ambience of the morning worship experience,while finally getting the opportunity to fellowship with the trustee board(fun,fun.fun...). As the saying goes, "no rest for the weary". I'm referring to the long day on Sundays and then you still have to be there for that family emergency or prayer call while displaying eager and fresh enthusiasm.

I thought I'd top this update provided in sister blog "Heavier Octaves" about the Tsunami Aid :Concert of Hope benefit concert that was held over two(2) years ago. This was really the first or should I say, "the" inaugural benefit concert playlist for "Heavieroctavesradio". Yes,the words did run together.And,yes. You can find it like that if you google it. We were a part of the Live 365 internet station server back then,but have since relocated.

There was some really great music that came out of that concert.As a bonus to you,you can find it on my playlist of pics from that show entitled the same. Click on my iLike page.

Now, get some rest. I know,the pot calling the kettle black in a sense. Here is the link to the original posting:

http://heavieroctaves.blogspot.com/2005/01/tsunami-aid-concert-of-hope-click-here.html


Peace and love,

Cynthia

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