Sorry it's been a while since I could get online. Lots of things to do at the job (I pastor a church called Vineyard Xtreme if you didn't know) and I'm out living life so I can have something to write about.

Well I just received a call from Bishop Zachary in Kenya. He is eager to have us come and do some seminars on small groups and other things that are unique to our church in Lomita, CA.

Maybe what we can do is an exchange. Let them teach us and then we teach them. So much of missions is all about the all knowing superior foreigners coming to teach (civilize) the natives. It's my firm belief that God was at work in Africa way before a missionary with a pith helmet even stepped foot on the continent.

BTW Bishop Zachary works with Agape Global Missions which is all about empowering and educating African Americans for cross cultural ministry.

There is dinner discussion group at our church called In God's Company that discusses how God and the different cultures of the world intersect. Each week they eat food from a different part of the world and talk about how some aspect of that countries culture relates to their lives as followers of Christ. This week they will talk about Gabon. If you have never heard of Gabon check it out here

I love this shot! My wife took it on our recent trip to Ethiopia. She is a great photographer. Such beauty and depth.

I haven't posted in a while for many different reasons (busyness being one of them) One big reason is becuase instead of writing about Africa I have been experiencing Africa here in my own backyard.

Two weeks ago I was invited to a dinner party with some missionaries from East Africa (Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Sudan). We had a wonderful time and ate authentic east african grub.

Then two days later I met up with a guy from Ethiopia who wants to pastor a church there connected to ours here in the states.

The best thing about the two meetings is that I got to hear a perspective on Africa and on particular countries in general from the people who live and work there. Not only do they live and work there but their heart is to see radical change on every level especially among the church.

Ok. I just found out that Shaft in Africa was filmed in Ethiopia. It makes me want to run out and get it except for the warning about a stick fighting scene with Richard Roundtree in his birthday suit. That's a bad-Shut your mouth!!!

Okay the next five great African movies......

6. The Power of One. Great coming of age story.

7. Tears of the Sun. I honestly didn't like this all that much but it had some good themes.

8. Coming to America. This one is still funny after all these years. Don't you want to go to Zamunda?

9. King's Solomon's Mines. I saw the 80's one and the dialogue and special effects were cheesy. Still have yet to see the 1950's version. It's a great adventure all the same.

10. Greystoke. Yes it's about Tarzan the white ape and most of it is set in England but the first half is very scenic and I believe it is set in the Belgian Congo.

So there's my list. Some are not really all that great but there hasn't been a lot of movies made in or about Africa.

If you know of any email me and I will post them.

I'm thinking of attending a Hunger Banquet sponsored by Bread for the World, Los Angeles Area Chapter of the ONE Campaign and Hollywood Adventist Church.

Here is a link to more details if you would like to attend LA Hunger Banquet

If you have never heard of a Hunger Banquet and what it's all about click here Hunger Banquet

Here is the first in my series of Great movies about Africa:

1. Shaka Zulu (No joke. He had crazy military strategy. Nobody gives Africa credit for any military genius but Shaka is proof in the puddin)

2. Cry Freedom (This movie moved me to tears. That's when I realized I was black.)

3. Black Hawk Down (soldiers, somalians, action, nuff said)

4. Lion King (yeah it's a kid movie but it's got a deep message)

5. The Four Feathers (great movie about the British Campaign in Sudan)

Stay tuned for my next five tomorrow.