Hear the call to live a just life in this address delivered by Jim Winkler at the Social Justice Speaker Series in Manchester, MO, on September 19, 2007.

The General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church joins with other organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch in urging Governor Kathleen Blanco to ensure that the office of the State Attorney General and the Board of Education appropriately address the racially charged atmosphere that led to the racial violence between African American and White youth in Jena, Louisiana.

A "half empty" philosophy keeps us focused on shortcomings of people and situations - truly a contradiction to faithful discipleship. A vision of a glass half full allows space for God to work as a partner to realize the Kingdom on Earth.

Issues such as poverty, inequitable education, proliferation of handguns, drugs, and gambling all contribute to the increase in violent crime. It is time for the Body of Christ to make a transforming difference in the world! Now is the time for all of us to pray, act, and advocate together to transform our communities into peace-filled havens of God's Kingdom.

We continue to move further away from a cleaner and healthy Earth and more towards the inevitable destruction that our future generations will have to deal with. Where does the healing process begin?

Christians in the United States need to remember the call of God to care for those who are the least among us. This call is central to the law recorded in scripture, but we have strayed from this call and have chosen the way of pride and selfishness.