Denzel Washington: “Put God First”

Christianity,

The following blog post is by Family Council staff member Deborah Beuerman.

Each spring there are thousands of commencement ceremonies all around the country, and thousands of addresses to graduates.  One of the memorable ones this year was given by the actor Denzel Washington at Dillard University in New Orleans.

Mr. Washington offered four main points:

“Number one:  Put God first in everything you do. Everything you think you see in me.  Everything I’ve accomplished, everything thing you think I have – and I have a few things. Everything that I have is by the grace of God, understand that. It’s a gift. I didn’t always stick with him, but he stuck with me.”

“Number two:  Fail big. . . . Do what you feel passionate about.  Don’t be afraid to fail. . . .  Have dreams, but have goals. . . . To achieve these goals you must apply discipline and consistency. . . Hard work works.”

“Number three:  You’ll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse. . . . You can’t take it with you. . . .  It’s not how much you have, it’s what you do with what you have. . . . That’s where the joy is—in helping others.  That’s where the success is–in helping others.”

“Finally, I pray that you put your slippers way under the bed tonight, so that when you wake up in the morning you have to get on your knees to reach them.  And while you’re down there, say thank you.  for grace, thank you for mercy, thank you for understanding, thank you for wisdom, thank you for parents, thank you for love, thank you for kindness,  thank you for humility,  thank you for peace, thank you for prosperity.  Say thank you . . .

Mr. Washington intentionally made his speech short.  You can watch his speech below.

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Unpacking Pew’s New Study on Religion in America

2 CommentsChristianity,

This week the Pew Research Center released its latest study on America’s changing religious landscape.

The survey polled Americans in 2007 and 2014, asking them their religious affiliations along with questions about the importance of religion in their lives. The survey is making headlines primarily because it shows an increase in unaffiliated Americans (what some call the “nones”—people who do not identify with any religion) alongside a decrease in Christianity.

But are the stats really that simple? And what does this survey reveal about religion in America?

Not as Simple as it Seems

There is no doubt Pew’s survey is extensive. There is also no doubt the findings are troubling; Christians ought to be troubled by any evidence that people are leaving the faith. However, many are portraying these findings in very simple terms—as if people are simply ceasing to go to church and are turning to atheism. The truth is much more complicated.

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Open Season on People of Faith in Eureka Springs

Religious Freedom, , , ,

Eureka Springs may be the toughest place in Arkansas for people who want to practice their Christian faith in the public square. Tuesday’s passage of a so-called “anti-discrimination” ordinance has made it a lot harder for Jews, Christians, Muslims, and anyone else of faith to exercise their religious beliefs. Now, it’s open season on people in those groups.

Rather than preventing bias and discrimination, this ordinance makes discrimination the law in Eureka Springs. People of all faiths have always enjoyed religious freedom in Eureka Springs. Under this ordinance, citizens can be forced to choose between obeying their faith and obeying the City of Eureka Springs.

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