karen horst cobb

New Expressions

2007-06-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

As I promised this post will show you what I'm up to recently. In fact, I am returning to what I was doing before I was “so rudely interrupted” by the world. I was making art! Specifically sculpting in stone. You can see my work at my website
http://cairnhcobb.com

Maybe we can blog about spirituality and art at http://Sharingthesacred.blogspot.com I will not generate much at that blog but will be glad to respond to your questions, comments, and ideas.

Blessings along the path of peace- cairn

My farewell address

2007-06-10T10:52:00.000-07:00

Hello there. I don't know if people check my blog but just in case anyone does I thought I would check in and let you know what I'm up to. Let me explain:

I accidentally came into public awareness in 2004 when I wrote No Longer a Christian which was first published on http://www.commondreams.org/ Because of the overwhelming responses I continued to write.

I always identified in a strange way with Cindy Sheehan. We both accidentally gained public attention at around the same time (mine much smaller is scope than hers). I find it interesting that we both decided to take a break or change our expression at nearly the same time and for similar reasons.

For me, I feel I have said all I have to say with words and I'm tired. Like Cindy, I thought that by now things would be drastically different than they were in 2004. I had visions that Christians would recognize and repent from the violence of war and the exclusion of some people from the family of God.

I think many/most Christians agree with what I write but deep inside are unwilling to make waves, stand up, or take a risk. People want to be accepted and loved by others. For the most part Christians like the church /state religion where they can feel like they can have their cake and eat it too. Our faith requires us to be unpopular, rejected, hated and scorned during times of widespread injustice just like Jesus was. Jesus' true followers can't eat the cake of worldly power.

We are past the time for leaders to show us the way. We know the way! We just need to be committed to it. I can not imagine why in 2007 every church is not a "peace church" I have been preaching to the choir but the choir is more interested in pageantry than in service and worship.

(this blog is getting long so I will post another with information about what I am doing now- It's been good to explain here in this post and I am thinking perhaps I might come full circle and write one more thing for Common Dreams explaining the absence of my voice. )

Farewell address published on http://www.ecapc.org/ (in April or May- I‘ve lost track of time)

Tag, You're It ! by Karen Horst CobbLast in the series: Meditations for God's Peaceful People

I never intended to be a "writer." I just wrote something in 2004 about the Jesus I know and sent it to the Common Dreams website. I didn't expect that my words would be published but when they were I guess I became a writer. To date more than 10,000 people from all over the world responded to that first article and I’ve written many more. Most people who respond say, “I thought I was the only one who felt this way.”The meaning of Christianity is gradually being taken back from the powerful “religious right.” Hypocrisy, greed, self interest, lust for power and the calls for ostracizing and punishing some “sinners” is being challenged. Jesus' kindness, generosity, understanding, and humility are the values the world is craving.I have written weekly meditations here on this space for more than a year. I will be taking a break from that but will continue to write articles for the larger audience of Common Dreams (and perhaps some more in-depth pieces for ECAPC). I know there are many other voices emerging to inspire us with meditations for God’s Peaceful People. Perhaps one of those voices is yours.We have been reading this week about the end of Christendom and the emerging of an enlivened community of believers. It seems the church is being challenged to rethink institutionalized ritual left over from the powerful Roman Empire and to rediscover what it means to live with Christ. The vision I see for the emerging church is not one where we are divided as leaders or followers, teachers or students, speakers or listeners, writers or readers. We can move away from hierarchies of power and prestige and simply be a loving community.The “corporate model” designed to reach goals in efficient ways is not the only way. We all know the shortest route between two points is a straight line and this is how we often approach Christianity. We set goals and then evaluate our progress. My prayer is that instead, we embrace the idea of an inclusive spiral which gathers in many to the centering heart of Christ.I want to thank the gathering community of ECAPC for extending grace to me as I have shared from my heart. I encourage everyone to not remain silent. Take a stand against injustice and proclaim the unconditional love of Christ. Speak out even if your not sure anyone is listening, Take action even if you are the only one, write even if you think you’re not a “writer.” Have confidence in what you know about the love of Jesus. The world is aching for the simple lessons we learned in Sunday School.May blessings abound as we walk together on the winding narrow path where the way is sometimes hard but brings life.“Tag, you're it!”_______________Note of appreciation: Karen has written this column on Saturdays since summer 2005. ECACP is greatly indebted to Karen for the faithful wintness, the passion, the prophetic clarity and the unfailing compassion of her writing. Thank you, Karen. You can express your appreciation to Karen at http://cairnhcobb@msn.com/

Meditation: More than a Knock at the Door

2007-03-30T17:11:00.000-07:00

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Revelation 3: 20-22

Among the first pages of many Bibles we find the familiar picture of Jesus standing at a small arched wooden door . It has a square peephole with iron bars and no handle on the outside. Jesus fist is raised as if in the act of knocking. He looms large in comparison to the small shadowed doorway. The sepia tones and His flowing robes tell a gentle story but the strange hidden doorway with encroaching vines suggests that when inside there might be some discomfort for the occupant. Perhaps this intimidating picture is misleading.

This picture has often been used for evangelism and accompanied by the “sinners prayer” in tracts and pamphlets. A picture’s worth a thousand words they say. Those of us who came to Jesus as children have been influenced by this picture much more than we realize. At the very least it is only one dimension and focuses on the knocking. So what happens when Jesus knocks and we invite him in? That is the real conversion.

Do we seat him in a straight backed chair in the entryway where he waits until Sunday morning or do we invite him all the way in? Does he loom large and intimidating at our table as he does outside the door in this artist’s mind? Does He dominate and control or is he our humble friend who loves everything about us? Do we try to impress him with a fancy meal and tidy house or do we embrace him even in our most cluttered closets and grimy places? Do we freely reveal all of ourselves to him or try to fool him with false piety?

Jesus is not just knocking in this verse he is calling out to us also. We recognize his voice and welcome him in because he is our friend. He promises he will “sup” with us. This word is a humble word referring to a simple meal with small bites and sips. Nothing fancy just a relaxed lingering humble time of sharing. Far from the invading force many have ascribed to him, he is to be a resident in all the places of our hearts. We walk with him in all that we do and in each thing which we face. He says that when we overcome we relate to him as he overcame and passed on to heaven. We share these common experiences.

Hearing the knock on the door and hearing his voice calling to us is just the beginning. Then we begin to know him more and more. We adopt his ideas and his way of life. He does not come in and take over our home and use our things, he comes to minister to us and to serve just as he ministered to and served those he found walking in Galilee or by the seaside. We are changed by love and acceptance. This transforms us with a desire to impact our world for good. By this transformation the world is transformed.

During the worship at the National Cathedral on March 16th we were again and again reminded to “hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” In this passage in Revelation the Spirit is saying go beyond just answering the door and embrace the meaning of Christ in every area of our lives, in our communities and in our world as we learn what it means to overcome the darkness and destructive powers of the world as Jesus overcame.

Prayer: We knew it was you who was knocking at the door of each of our hearts. We heard your voice and opened the door. Teach us more and more what it means to live with you as our friend as you relax at our table and reside in all the places of our hearts. Enlarge our compassion of love and service as we lean from your example. Amen

Action: Meditate on how you depict Jesus knocking at your door? How does it differ from the classic picture we grew up with? What is your response to the knock? Consider what it means to sup with Jesus and think about the purpose of the church to which he is speaking. What is the Spirit saying to the churches? Open your door and share a meal in worship and service. Here is a link to one group which is exploring this form of spiritual community. http://www.emu.edu/seminary/index.html

Among the first pages of many Bibles we find the familiar picture of Jesus standing at a small arched wooden door. It has a square peephole with iron bars and no handle on the outside. Jesus fist is raised as if in the act of knocking. He looms large in comparison to the small shadowed doorway. The sepia tones and His flowing robes tell a gentle story but the strange hidden doorway with encroaching vines suggests that when inside there might be some discomfort for the occupant. The lily on the ground reminds us of death and funerals and seems the antithesis of our classical images of the grim reaper who will one day come for us. Perhaps this covertly intimidating picture of an unenlightened time in history is misleading.

meaning that "Dine"- that's why I used the old language version) I don't know what theologians might say about this.

I just finished this weeks meditation. Clearly this one is to life long Christians but you might enjoy it anyway.

Meditation: Send Me

2007-03-30T17:05:00.000-07:00

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here I am. Send Me!" - Isaiah 6:8

The snow was already falling and the bus was parked in front of the church when we arrived. It would be a seven hour drive to Washington DC where we would worship with other peaceful Christians and walk the four miles to the White House to make a very public witness for the teachings of Jesus.

As the other peace travelers boarded the bus, the driver was receiving reports from truckers and bus drivers on the CB. His reports were increasingly getting worse. We were told that the roads were icing up faster than the road crews could deal with them at the reports from Breezwood Pa were bad.

Our trip was organized by Joanne Lehman of Kidron Ohio. More than once during the trip I heard her say “here am I send me” as she explained to people how she came to organize the bus trip. When all of those who intended to come had found a seat, the driver asked her to make a decision abut proceeding in light of the weather. Those who boarded the bus did not show any signs of being deterred by the weather and there was little question about what to do. We went to Washington as planned.

We made friends, as people usually do who share a common adventure. Some on the bus were in their late seventies. They had stories of traveling to Washington during the Vietnam war for the same reasons and in similar circumstances. I came to think about them as members of VFP ( veterans of foreign peace) Our driver was an older man whom I correctly guessed served in the military. I asked how he felt about taking a bus load of “Christian peaceniks” to Washington.
His only response was “ it’s a good thing you folks are doing but it won’t do a lick of good… the government will do exactly what it wants anyway.” I was sure most agreed with his pragmatic assessment but I tried to explain why we were going.

“We do not do the right thing because we think it will make a difference but simply because it is what we are called to do.” We collectively say “here am I send me” That is the idea I tried to convey to him. I had thoughts about how each of us who chose to go on the trip were willing to take personal risk but our driver was just following orders. What responsibility do we have for our bus driver while we serve the Lord? Yes when we answer the call “here am I send me” things are not always clear cut.

We got to the National Cathedral just as the service was starting. There was little time to take in the massive gothic structure. The service was powerful as we heard from a US soldier, a young Iraqi, and a women in Baghdad. Many were moved by the words of an Abu Ghraib Detainee juxtaposed with the gospel of Matthew which recounts the torture of Christ. Pain is pain and torture is torture. There is no denying that.

We filed out of the cathedral and lit our candles. We began the four mile walk to the White House in blowing snow and fierce winds. The weather drew us closer together as we each know in our hearts that in some way we had answered the call with “Here am I send me.”
It required constant vigilance not to get separated from our group during the trek to the White House so it was a relief when we arrived. The windows were dark. Clearly no one was home.
We sang and prayed.

Some had planned to stop and pray in front of the White House knowing it was illegal. We said our good byes. We prayerfully sang and prayed Dona Nobis Pacem( Give us Peace) as they filed past us. They knew they faced a long night. In this solemn moment I could not help think about the martyrs of the early church and the reformation who went with the same spirit to their death. Would we be willing to make that sacrifice?

The Christian Peace Witness for Iraq was just one of the innumerable Christian Peace Witnesses through out history. Even thought it required air travel from my home in New Mexico to my sisters house in Ohio and then a 7 hour bus ride on treacherous roads I will do it all again and again and again not because it will certainly change the hearts of government officials but because it is part of “the call. “We have just begun to sing God’s praise here in our time on the earth and it all starts with the simple response “here am I send me.”

Prayer: With great love and service we are honored to answer the call with “here am I send me.”
Action: re-commit your life to answer the call with “Here am I send me.” Listen to the still small voice and be faithful.

Article: It's Time for Reform

2007-03-11T17:47:00.000-07:00

Violent Christians do not represent the face of Christ to the world! There are many who share this belief. We do not have paid lobbyists, vast hours of radio and television airtime or personal friendships with the president. What we do have is a passion for community. The time has come to reclaim the meaning of Christ’s message We will be gathering on March 16th at the National Cathedral and walking to the White House. Thousands of us will embrace the White House in a large circle. We are proclaiming the “Christian Peace Witness for Iraq.”

Several years ago when the war cries were sounded Jerry Falwell demonstrated how corrupt Christianity has become. He said “ you’ve go to kill the terrorists before the killing stops…if it takes 10 years, blow them all away in the name of the Lord.” This in no way resembles the teachings of Jesus but serves the goals of Empire by rallying the masses to war. Many of us are refusing to join the Christian war party and want reform.

Popular evangelists preach the “prosperity gospel” of money and power. The mega-church movements teach that Christians are to come to power and will rule the world as they hold themselves up as good seek the punishment of those they declare are evil. Rather than teaching compassion and grace, they lead followers to the economic theories of the free market and capitalism and glorify the empire’s conquests through military force.

The most influential Christian leaders today have joined John Hagee in Christians United for Israel . Hagee calls religious leaders “America’s Generals” and views the European Union as the anti-Christ. Just like the Christian leaders of the 1st millennium who served the empire of Constantine, these leaders are betting on the end times. They are anxious for the battle of Armageddon and serve the goals of worldly empire following nuclear war.

The Church serves the powerful empire and the empire serves the powerful Church. They share common goals. Both are hoping to gain more wealth, power and influence. There are many Christians in America however, who despise this modern form of state sponsored militarized Christianity and we are coming together on March 16th.

The cycle of military state sponsored Christianity and the reclaiming of peaceful Christianity continues century after century. There is always a remnant who remain faithful to the gospel of love. We often remember the causalities of war but the causalities of peace are most often forgotten. But, it is Christian Martyrs of the past who have encouraged and taught us what it means to love as Christ loved. We are nearing the peak of the this cycle of corruption and reform. We will reclaim the real message of Jesus once again. The message of Jesus is love in the face of fear. We are the face of Christ on the earth today.

Much like Martin Luther and the radical reformers of the middle ages the “new age” Christian reformers will do the equivalent of nailing our thesis to the door the National Cathedral. A church or a cathedral should never be the place to pray for the destruction of others and to bless the dropping of bombs. Join us as we stand up on March 16th.

The thesis I want to post on the door of our nation’s cathedral are the following:

Kindness and generosity are the characteristics of Christ
One cannot kill for Jesus,
The new Jerusalem is not real estate
Jesus did not teach capitalism
The free market is not the “good news”
Punishment does not save
The word of God is not a book
One honest person can impact more than a multitude
Comfort is not our birthright

It is time to reform and to reclaim Christianity! Join us- http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.cpw&item=cpw_main

Meditation: God's Just Love Theory

2007-03-09T14:56:00.000-08:00

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man but, the end thereof are the ways of death . Proverbs 14:12

If a criminal broke into your home and was threatening your children don’t you think God would want you to protect them and shoot the intruder? This scenario is a “way which seemeth right unto a man.” It is the kind of thinking that is expanded to our communities and to our nation. It was the way which seemed right to St. Augustine when he created the widely accepted “Just war theory. “ The truth of the gospel reveals that “Just war theory” is - just a war theory.

Many decide life and death issues by applying the human nature argument. They reason “after all it’s just human nature…it’s just common sense.“ We are counseled however that this way (which seems right) leads to death. When we seek peace and pursue it, the end is life. So how do we respond to militant Christians who are driving our national and foreign policies? How do we speak to the fears they reveal in their philosophies and theologies? And most importantly, how do we clearly and unmistakably show the way which leads to life?

The unwise have accepted the false premise that there are only two possible ways of responding to violence. Some are quick in turning to the way which seems right to man. When faced with either becoming a victim or a perpetrator they choose to become the perpetrator. Jesus provides a better way, a creative way, a way which looks at the underlying cause of sin. Jesus responds to fear with love and teaches us to do the same.

Responding to violence with more violence multiplies the enemies. When an Iraqi is killed often several of their family members and friends strengthen their resolve to avenge the death. It is the same for each US soldier who is killed. The friends, family and countryman are embolden and can more easily justify the violence even to the point of nuclear war. In the end “enemies” on both sides are created faster than they can be destroyed. There is no end only cycles of increased and decreased violence. War is a way which seemeth right unto men but the ways thereof lead to death.

Even in individual instances of violence such as a home intruder or violence in our communities there is always a better way than meeting that violence with more violence. The human way is to label people as evil to justify violence against them. This was the emotion George Bush was trying to elicit in the public when he spoke of the “axis of evil.” When a nation or a people can be depicted as unusually “evil“, “good” people can be manipulated to violence against them. The “good” people triumphing over the “bad” people is a way which “seems right to a man but the end thereof leads to death.”

We can not offer a theory of just violence to neatly apply to dangerous situations. Instead we rely on the love of Christ and his love of the human family through us to respond to physical threats. In the end we know that this love we contain is a treasure stored in fragile earthen vessels and may one day be spilled out. There have been many more casualties of war then there have been casualties of peace.

Prayer: Lord of life and love we constantly recommit our lives to your ways. Let us not rely on the way which seemeth right in our own minds but to seek peace and purse it in all situations.

Action: Make your plans to join us on march 16th at the National Cathedral to witness for peace and walk to the White House. Many communities have arranged for busses to make travel easier. Car pool with others as we come together. We are the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq. If we remain silent and invisible who will show the face of Christ to our world?

Meditation: All That Can be Shaken

2007-03-05T22:57:00.000-08:00

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire” Hebrews 12:28

Christianity is under investigation. Months ago the intriguing novel “The De Vinci Code” was at the top of the best sellers list and more recently the movie gained a lot of media attention. This week the morning news reported that the remains of Jesus were exhumed from an ancient tomb. Also found there were the bones of Mary Magdalene and a young child named Judah who is believed to be the son of Jesus. Main stream theologians refute the “evidence.” Rather than nervously reciting the Christian confession of faith we can continue to live out the teachings of Jesus in confidence, unshaken.

It seems that all that can be shaken is being shaken. Television and radio commentators discuss what it means for Christianity if the scientists are correct. They imagine either the destruction of the Christian faith or willful dismissal of scientific evidence. These are not the only ways of responding. The church (committed believers) can have a firm foundation which can not be shaken. As long as we live out the words and teachings of Jesus he remains alive.

The shaking which is occurring within the church is shaking away all that is not eternal. Like dry bones in dusty graves much theology is lifeless and fragile. Those who have focused on Christian magic for salvation can easily be devastated by scientific and historical investigation. When we focus on the words, teachings and example of Jesus we remain unshaken. No matter what “evidence” arises we can know the truth of living the sermon on the mount and continue to impact the world for good.

There is no evidence which can dissuade us from what we experience and what we see demonstrated in our lives. Just because we now know the physics of a rainbow does not mean it is not a promise or a reminder of God’s love. As followers of the teachings of Jesus we never need to fear the questions or respond defensively. Those who focus on the magical Jesus tend to become defensive and fearful of scientific investigation. But we know and have evidence that Jesus is alive on the earth today. He is alive in us.

Jesus was never to be part of religious craft to conjure up an eternal spell. Instead, he taught and demonstrated character traits which save. He is the son of God and he explained that we are his brothers and sisters if we live by his principles of love, compassion and surrender.
No matter whose dry bones are found in the desert we know that Jesus is alive. His spirit is a consuming fire which transforms the heart and his example lived out today transforms the world.

Prayer: We worship the meaning of your word with reverence and awe knowing that you are the consuming passionate fire. As that which can be shaken is shaken, let us remain secure in the wisdom of your loving words.

Action: Make plans to join with us on March 16th in Washington to demonstrate to the world that we believe Jesus is alive and his teachings are as needed to day as they were when he addressed the Sanhedrin.

meditation:Bright Sadness Shining in Darkness

2007-02-23T19:55:00.000-08:00

Then Jesus was lead up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matt 4:1

(The term “bright sadness” is used in Eastern Orthodox Christianity to describe the characteristics of Lent.)

The bright sadness of lent has a fresh meaning this year. Many of us are leaving the distractions of the crowd and have been led into the wilderness. Our faith has been questioned by ourselves and others. Darkness continues to seduce believers into meeting our physical needs, challenging our identity and possessing the whole world in exchange for our loyalty. The temptations and strategies of dark forces have remained the same.

The first temptation of Christ in the wilderness came at the end of forty days of fasting. We can almost hear the salesman of darkness argue the case. He would explain that it is “only natural” to want bread after so long a time with out any. It would seem to be what the father would want for his son and a great way to demonstrate magical spiritual powers. The response of Jesus was simply, “Man can not live by bread a lone but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God.”

Scripture informs us that all of creation is the result of the Word of God. Jesus confessed that both stones and bread (and every thing else) exists because of God’s word and we exist because of it all. Every element of creation sustains us. The temptation was physical and emotional, the response was spiritual and practical. The voice of darkness was saying be comfortable and “put your money where your mouth is” Prove you have power. The voice of light demonstrated there was no need to.

Christ was not motivated by the physical and emotional temptations so the next challenge concerned the nature of his identity. He was chided to prove he is the son of God by throwing himself down from the pinnacle of the Temple. He was being tempted to use power to protect himself from traumatic injury and death and to engage in risky behavior. Jesus simply responded again with the word of God which spoke all things into existence, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” Afterall God established even the laws of physics, such as gravity. Again Jesus referred to the all encompassing Word of creation. There was not need for more than this.

Neither Christ’s bodily desires, emotions nor the source of his identity caused him to fall to temptation. Darkness issued the one last enticement, the one which continues to seduce many-Political power. The voice of Darkness promised him possession of the whole world in exchange for praise and honor. Jesus was asked to compromise dependency on God’s love in exchange for a chance to rule the world. Jesus again responded with the powerful Word of God, …”you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.”

The bright sadness of our day presents us with these same challenges. Many are seduced by physical comforts, demonstrations of spiritual powers and the chance to rule the world. The church has been called away by threats of being left behind and promises of governing an emerging empire. We are told all we have to do is compromise on one little part of Jesus' teaching. All we have to do is embrace millitary force. Many Christians have have decided to name it and claim it, demonstrate signs and wonders, and fight for a new world after a nuclear war.

In this time of bright sadness we can rely on the love of the Living Word which spoke everything into existence.

Prayer: With love and light we seek to shine in this time of bright sadness. We remember you’re example of confident suffering and uncompromising love. Infuse us with every element of the creative Word.

Action: Meditate on the various temptations of
Comfort… Reputation….Identity……..Power.
Make your responses audibly and publicly in this time of bright Sadness.

Meditation: Pro-test-ants and Con-test-ants

2007-02-17T11:45:00.000-08:00

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9

An old Anabaptist once counseled me that “Mennonites do not protest.” I could not help mentioning that even the word “protestant ”came from the radicals of the reformation and some of those were followers of Menno Simons. They became defined by their “protests” over infant baptism rather than baptism with mature understanding. But, they were killed for “protesting” the act of taking up arms against others of God’s creation. They protested the demands of the Roman Catholic Church and the conquests of Empire.

“Pro” means “for” and test means “voice.“ The early Pro-test-ants were a positive voice for Jesus and his teachings. In our time the word “Christianity “ has come to represent patriotic, military, oppressive religion which conquers lands and people. The word “protest” has come to mean crazed fringe fanatics. Good, decent, Christian people have remained silent while the false teachings of empire take hold. Jesus’ name is taken in vain and his reputation is destroyed. This is what happened in Germany while Hitler was rising to power. This is what is happening now.

We do not have a “Hitler” but we do have one who identifies himself as “ the decider“, a “war President“, and one who has shown that killing is easily explained away. His father envisioned a “ New World Order” and the current president surrounds himself with others who have the same vision. During the debate he said that Jesus Christ is his favorite philosopher and he professes to the world that he is “born again.” He is the most prominent face of Christianity to the world.

Mega church pastors such as Rod Parsley, James Dobson, Pat Robertson, Jerry Fallwell and about four hundred other evangelical leaders have joined Christians United for Israel (CUFI). They represent 30 million people from every state and every congressional district. These are many of the same people who belong to the secretive group known as the Council on National Policy (CNP) in past decades. John Hagee founded CUFI and wants to have a “rapid response” to lobby congress to go to war against those who are deemed to be “enemies of Israel.”

The prosperity gospel, moral elitism and glorification of military strength appeal to the masses. They are taught that they will rule the world following the final, earthly, nuclear battle of Armageddon. Leaders entice their audiences with the same incentives Satan used when he tempted Jesus in the wilderness; You deserve comfort, you can have it all, prove your special by demonstrating your powers, you will one day rule the world.

In the past no nation has had the power to “create” Armageddon and set up a New World Order. However, the nuclear arsenal of the United States could create it many times over. The "New World Order" will have the power of unregulated global markets and international corporations which can dole out the earth’s natural resources. All that is needed is a “war president” with an apocalyptic eschatology. That is exactly what we have.

The “fundamentalists” take literally all obscure scriptures with destructive violent imagery but disregard the fundamental teachings of Jesus kindness, generosity, grace, forgiveness, and love of enemies as well as friends. His words and example are dismissed. I think of these mega-church leaders not as Pro-test-ants but as Con-test-ants because they seek to win money and power. They know how to work a crowd and then use them to manipulate elected officials.

When I look back on this time in history I want to know that I took a stand for Jesus and his teachings of love and compassion. I want to know that I did not go along with the mega-crowd. I want to know that I had the courage of my convictions and took risk. If we remain silent while the mega-church lobbyists are in place to massively lobby congress, “the Decider” will be emboldened to again unleash “shock and awe.” More little children and their families will be blown to bits and burned bythe decisions of people who say they are “Christians.“In our hearts each of us will know the answer to the question. Did I pro-test?

Prayer: Thank you for the witness of your life as you stood for truth during the rise of an empire and before oppressive religious leaders. Help us to go and do likewise. Amen

Action: Make your plans now to join us in Washington on March 16 for the Christian Peace Witness. Invite as many as you can to join us. Lend your positive voice as we pro-test and reclaim the meaning of Jesus.

Meditation: We are the Body of Christ

2007-02-08T21:58:00.000-08:00

For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Acts 17:28

We are the living, moving, breathing, body of Christ. We are the Church. As children we sang “ the church is not the building, the church is not the steeple, the church is the people.” But, simple things confound the wise. A lot of things in the Bible are taken literally but the Church being the embodiment of Christ is not one of them. Many believe that Jesus is away. When Jesus’ body was crucified those who remained, and all of those who have followed after him, became the embodiment of his spirit on earth. We are the spirit of the Messiah, the great hope for humanity, embodies “the church“. He is us.

“Christ’s body” in the first century was a diverse group of people. The beliefs varied widely concerning Jewish law and Pagan rituals. One thing they both agreed upon was that there is a power higher than the government and religious institutions. That is why true Christians are always seen as a threat to powers and principalities. The early Christians were pacifists. They were not religious. They were reborn.

Australian Theologian William Loader suggests that transforming faith removes barriers constructed by religion. “The whole world is God’s creation, the playground of the Spirit. The whole world is the object of God’s love, the love incarnate in Jesus Christ. Every attempt by human beings to capture God in images, in a book, in a temple, in a people or culture, in a religious experience or in an institution, is a denial of the Spirit. It is a re-erection of Babel’s tower, another futile assault on God’s power in the name of human power, another desperate bid borne of fear, to define out the unknown, the unpredictable, the unmanageable future God promises us. The serpent’s vision still entices us: we want to be like God.”

Our Babel continually merges the church with the state. St Augustine facilitated this when he developed the concept of “just war theory.” Some might say he saved the Christian religion. The theory was developed in desperation because Christians in Carthage refused to fight when the Visigoths invaded. They were following Jesus, they were pacifists. This merging of Jesus’ teachings with political power has strengthen the religion but has destroyed the faith and brought us to our present condition. The religion has survived but the true Church has been gobbled up by religion.

The Roman Catholic Church was amassing great wealth by exacting outrageous indulgences from the poor in 1517. The crusades sought to further the power of the religion and increase the empire. Martin Luther was compelled to nail his 95 theses to the door. The Church and state were pulled apart and the message of Jesus was more freely available to all. As a result of reading Jesus’ words, pacifism was reclaimed and grew quickly. It seems true Christianity historically is followed by martyrdom.

“Christians” committing violence is the dominant religious force of empires, even the emerging United States empire. Once again fear of an apocalypse and evading Moslem fighters fuel the cry for a “righteous” military force. Many of those who confess Christ help build the United States version of the tower of Babel and fuel the crusading army headed for the Middle East. It is time again for reform. The body of Christ within the churches will emerge. We will rise up, return to the truth of Jesus and his teachings. We will nail our theses to the door for all to see.

Kindness and generosity are the characteristics of Christ

One can not kill for Jesus

The new Jerusalem is not real estate

Jesus did not teach capitalism

The free market is not the good news

Punishment does not save

The word of God is not a book

One honest person can impact more than a multitude

Comfort is not our birthright

Prayer: Living God who embodies us and whom we embody restore your teachings of love, compassion and non-violence to our world. We rejoice that in you we live and move and have our being and as your church we welcome you to live and move and be in us. Amen

Action: Read about the history of the Church and notice the patterns of political power, wealth and corruption. Rent the movie Luther and reflect on the similarities to today. In silence listen to the still small voice and discern how we can better embody the spirit of the Christ in the world. Nail your thesis to the door.

We Are Being Framed

2007-02-02T18:54:00.000-08:00

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Eph 4:29

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Matthew 5:37

When we look at a photograph we often focus on one area. we might even crop it, frame it and discard the rest. This is a good way to think about religious, political and advertising communication. The big picture is often obscured or misrepresented by framing. False impressions and double speak are standard fare on talk radio and television news casts. The public mind is continually being manipulated and shaped. The scriptures remind us of the importance of honest communication and admonish us to be wise and alert to false witness and deceptions.

There are positive uses of reframing as a tool to heal or prevent psychological pathology but many who have ideas or products to sell use the technique to their advantage while obscuring the truth. Words create mental images and emotions which can change perceptions and behaviors without the subject even noticing. By saying, “don’t think about an elephant” you are made to do exactly that. From current headlines we have a great example of carefully chosen words. The use of the word “surge” to describe the President’s plans to send more soldiers to Iraq creates a positive emotion of a fast and powerful fluid force. Those opposed to the plan have reframed the issue and refer to it as the president’s “escalation” which implies that even more will die.

This technique is used when talk show hosts say something like “Most people think that anti-war activists are crazed fanatics.” Even if the commentator goes on to explain that this is not a view the host shares the message was conveyed to the listener that “most people” do think this. The listener considers that they are ordinary too so they join in that opinion rather than be an outcast. A person who is not using critical thinking skills checks for facts will gradually begin to believe and repeat things which are false.

Nearly all of the major talk radio hosts receive “talking points” each morning which lay out the framing of the issues. The result has been that a huge amount of the population has come to accept the framing and sees the issues in the same way. Before long it is not even questioned. Along with the framing comes memorable antidotes such as the “welfare queen” who is driving a fancy car and living in luxury as hard working people pay taxes. No reporter was ever able to find such a person and welfare statistics and demographics tell a very different story. Another example is the urban ledged of war protesters spitting on those in uniform. There has yet to be one documented case of this occurring. The stories are powerful and endure decades on end and manipulate public opinion.

The religious right coined the term “Pro-life” knowing that the implied opposite of that is “pro-death.” (good vs. evil) This was reframed by many as “pro-choice” which implies that those who disagree with them are “pro-force.” (free vs. slave) Another example is the framing “tax-relief” which can be reframed as “tax responsibility.” The term “death-tax” implies that there are “grave robbers “ rather than a larger frame of living people who are receiving income they have not earned. The term “free market” implies that businesses have been imprisoned. Those who want to challenge this idea have reframed the issue as a “fair market” (implying that some are being taken advantage of. No matter where one stands on these issues it is clear that framing is going on.

A reporter or talk show host often asks a guest, “how can you support “retreat ” when many say that the violence against Iraqis will increase if we leave?” The guest is caught in a frame which is not honest and they are trapped in dilemma. Often on programs like these there isn’t enough time to establish an new frame. Usually the best they can do is say “I don’t agree with your assumptions.”

As the calls for “security” of the “homeland” increase and fear of “Muslim extremists”, and “weapon’s grade” everything abound we will again be told not to think of a “mushroom cloud.” The media spin and the pentagon’s framing of those who stand for peace and against the use of weapons will be terms such as “subversives“ , “anti-American“ , “paid outside agitators.” , and “extremists.” Emotionally loaded words and images will be used to discourage people from speaking out. We do not need to be intimidated. These same tactics framed Jesus and lead to his crucifixion. Again in our time he is being framed.

Recently a “conservative theologian” stated this week on Fox, “ You know , Jesus wasn't a bearded lady. He fashioned a whip, threw out the money changers, stood for truth, led in difficult time periods. I think, given the war on terrorism and the aggressive secularism that's trying to ramrod traditional American values out of our nation, I think, we need men to be men nowadays and there is a systematic hatred of males that's going on in our culture." (Notice the subtext and word choices, clearly this is a man with something to sell.)

Many feel overwhelmed by the amount of framing, spin and lies thrust upon us by all of those in power. The tendency for many is to become apathetic but we do not need to give way to despair. Behind all of the framing, spin and manipulations there are facts which tell the truth. As followers of Christ we can speak truth. We are compelled to speak truth about who Jesus is and what he teaches. We can be strong and let our communication be, Yea Yea; Nay, nay: for anything more than this is a lie.

Prayer: May our communion with you bring clarity to our communications with others. Give us wisdom and understanding as we learn to speak in righteousness. Amen

Action: As you listen to and read the media this week listen deeply and identify the framing and sub-text. Consider ways in which you can make honest and clear statements of truth.

Meditation: State of the Kingdom of Heaven Address

2007-01-26T17:08:00.000-08:00

After listening to the State of the Union Address this week I imagined what issues a “State of the Kingdom of Heaven ” speech might address. This is the context of this week’s meditation.

“No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of heaven. Luke 9:62 “The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons (and daughters) of the kingdom….Matthew 13:38

Ladies and Gentleman, we are a people who have pledged our allegiance to a kingdom which is not of this world. We are a citizenry who lives within a borderless land. As we seek first the Kingdom of Heaven we sense her mysteries. We have been taught that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a well plowed field and that anyone who has put the hand to the plow, but then looks back, is not up to the calling of citizenship.

If we remain committed to those things we feel we are losing, we can not walk in faith. Like good seeds we birth, in faith, the Kingdom here on earth. We continue to experience these principles when our spirits pass on. We are not only born of flesh and blood but of water and of Spirit. Our Kingdom is not about eating and drinking but it is of righteousness, peace, and Joy. The Kingdom of Heaven is in the past, the present and the future. We are first and foremost citizens of an eternal kingdom.

The temporal, earthly state of the Union of the United States was addressed this week. But, the state of the citizens of the eternal, spiritual Kingdom of Heaven is seldom addressed. It is unpopular to point out those areas where our dual citizenships clash. Many of us have pledged our allegiance to both the United States and to the Kingdom of Heaven and have not considered the wisdom or the challenges of doing so. The focus of worldly kingdoms is power which uses malice, war and fear to reach its goals but the Kingdom of Heaven is righteousness, peace and joy.

The core of worldly citizenship is a focus on material things which satisfy physical wants and needs. The desire for more (and fear of not having physical comfort) fuels our competition for money and natural resources. Alternatively, the citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven focuses on the things of the Spirit. Love replaces the fear of want. Citizens of the temporal world store up treasures on earth but citizens of the eternal world invest in acts of love and kindness where decay can not destroy.

Rather than asking what else can I get, the Kingdom followers ask what more can I live without? What more can I share with others? The earthly citizen looks to comfort as a measure of success but the spiritual citizen enjoys right living and the bounty of the fruits of the Spirit which are: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There is no law against these things.

So, as we address the state of the Kingdom of Heaven we consider our attitudes and actions. Which things motivate our actions? Are we moved to action by fear or moved to action by love? Are we depressed by what we perceived we do not possess or are we filled with joy for what we can share? Do we support and explain away Christians who support war or do we preach peace and pursue it? Do we look to immediate self-gratification or do we rest in the confidence of our faith.? Do we look to aggression and violence to solve problems or do we bring kindness to all situations? Do we seek relief of our suffering at all costs or are we willing to suffer long? Do we use force to get our way or do we treat all people with gentleness? Do we explain away our bad behavior as “human instinct“ or do we practice spiritual discipline and self -control?

We have put our hand to the plow and desire not to look back to the fallow land of earthly kingdom citizenship. Instead we, the children of the heavenly Kingdom, are to be seeds planted in fertile soil here on earth. The world cries out to us to demonstrate a better way than the way of man-made kingdoms. One modern-day prophet challenges us to “be the change we want to see.”

In conclusion I proclaim in confidence that The State of the Kingdom of Heaven is strong, constant and eternal. The state of her citizens however requires passionate vigilance. As the parable reminds us, weeds have sabotaged the field. Earthly wisdom calls for pulling them out by their roots but Spiritual wisdom knows that those seeds which have deep roots will be produce a bountiful harvest of love no matter what surrounds them.

Those who have ears who hear the still small voice of the Spirit know that we are enlarging the Kingdom of Heaven and bringing forth fruit. We are salt, we are light, we are yeast, we are well watered gardens, we are plowed fields we are living vines. We are the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth. So, with this “state of the Kingdom Address” I challenge each of us to go deep in our fertile earth and bring forth divine action.

Prayer: Creator and Divine Presence we pledge in a fresh way our allegiance to the spiritual Kingdom of Heaven. We are your citizens here on earth. Help us to plow the fallow fields and plant ourselves deeply in your land no matter what grows up around us. In faith we know that living water and your eternal Spirit will spring forth green sprouts and grow to bear fruit. - Amen

Action: Read the verses which describe the Kingdom of Heaven. Read with the heart rather than the mind. Reflect upon them in a new way. In the past the focus has been on escaping this earth. It was about a location rather than a condition of the heart. Consider that we become Kingdom citizens when we are reborn in the Spirit and are eternal. In which fertile fields are your seeds of faith growing?

If you are planting a physical garden this spring consider buying your seeds online from http://www.turtletreeseed.com/ where your money goes to support the special needs communities of Camphill Village http://www.camphill.org/

article: The Truth Shall Set Us Free

2007-01-17T09:31:00.000-08:00

We do not need more military or political experts, more troops, more study groups or more money to solve the problems in Iraq. We need people willing to tell the truth and act on it! If our nation can only think about winning and losing, then we are committed to future participation in mass suffering. Our national mindset seems identical to the mindset of our national past time. The skills of both war and football are trickery, deception, endurance, stamina and brute physical strength. As a nation these skills do not serve us well.

It is time for another way! We need to value different skills. Our mothers, grandmothers, wisest fathers and grandfathers and many others can teach us different skills. Some are good at solving problems so each person knows that they have been heard, valued, understood and their problems addressed. These are not aggressively competitive people who “win” elections or religious leaders who “win” the favor of the masses. Even the religion most of our elected officials profess has reverted into the human default program of aggression. The non-confrontational language and imagery of the lamb, the virgin, the dove, the gentle shepherd, and the kind father have been cast aside in favor of aggression and violence. Instead, we are raising a “righteous” army on the battlefield of Armageddon. Everything is used to further the black and white, good vs. evil, mentality of domination and superiority.

Most admit that there are no good solutions to the problems in Iraq. Therefore, my idea is as valid as any other. It is not a strategy, it is not a tactic, it does not involve domination of others, obtaining objectives, or benefiting the financial situation of myself, my friends or even my country. I suspect it has a good chance of making things better for everyone because it is based on the highest principles, those things we profess we aspire to. The core of the idea is to just tell the truth. I would tell the truth about why we invaded Iraq, how we have kept the war going, and what our true objectives have been.

The idea begins and ends with telling the truth. If the truth had been told from the outset there would have been no invasion of Iraq. If the truth had been told war plans would never have come before the Security Council. After it was brought before them, telling the truth could have prevented the invasion. After the invasion, telling the truth would have resulted in handing over complete control to Iraqis within months. If telling the truth were the policy then war plans involving provocateurs who foment acts of terrorism would never have been implemented. At any point the answer to the increasingly dangerous problem is to simply tell the truth.

In truth we must admit that the US worked along side of Saddam as long as he protected our interests in the Middle East. By 1998 the architects of this war desired to invade Iraq. We need to tell the truth about who attacked us on September 11, who covered it up, and who is using it to reach their objectives. We need to tell the truth about the anthrax attacks on media personalities and political leaders who opposed the invasion. We need to tell the truth about the American “way of life” which we are told is in danger. We need to tell the truth that since the fall of Soviet Union our Pentagon budget has been in jeopardy. A bad guy always can be used to increase military funding. Falling towers were exactly what many needed for a “new Pearl Harbor” and Osama Bin Ladin and Saddam Hussein morphed into a scary composite bad guy to rally the people to war. In our truth telling we acknowledge that we know there has been conflict between Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds since the fall of the Ottoman Empire. We know it was no surprise that the area would become unstable when invaded.

We know that we are not the first nation to covet the resources of Iraq and tell lies to justify it. We also know that invading armies are always met with very determined “insurgents” (in truth they can be called patriots). I can, with certainty, say that nearly everyone in my neighborhood would fight back if a foreign army invaded. We did not invade Iraq to bring democracy because we know that this is something people have to pursue for themselves. No one can decide what cost in human life others should pay to obtain it.

How have we kept the violence alive? The plan from the outset was “Shock and Awe.” We know that many are glad Saddam is gone but we also know that jobs, electricity, and safety are essential. The truth is none of these needs have been honestly addressed. Instead, private foreign contractors using imported materials benefited from lucrative contracts. We know the truth that US contractors and or military personal ordered or carried out orders of unspeakable violence against many people who were not “terrorists” or even “insurgents.” These acts are not strategic mistakes. They are crimes. On the January 14 broadcast of Meet the Press, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley said that it looked like “we were winning.“ just prior the bombing of the Golden Mosque. A little research reveals that the incident was unlikely carried out by Sunnis as explained. Immediately after the incident US press began using the term “civil war.” Iraqi religious leaders wisely counseled that no one should retaliate because they knew this incident was designed in fuel sectarian fighting.

We know about the programs and plans of the US government to pose as terrorists and evoke terrorist‘s acts. Telling the truth means we have to admit that we have covert operators who foment terrorism and then they attack and kill others who “foment terrorism.” There is no oversight of these clandestine programs. We know there were credible reports of British soldiers who killed Iraqi police while posing as Arabs. We know that people in high places know how to keep the violence alive. We know implementation of the El Salvador Option and the appointment of John Negroponte as Director of National Intelligence immediately preceded the emergence of Iraqi death squads. The truth is, death squads escalate local conflicts. Religion, money and power have all been used to keep violence alive.

What are the objectives of invading Iraq? To the winners go the spoils. When Iraqis were warned not to destroy oil fields, the lies about humanitarian concerns and democracy became evident. The president did not advise them how to protect the children and the elderly, only the oil fields. The focus from the beginning was the oil. We have all been lied to. One “tactical decision” after another keeps the Middle East unstable. The final assessment of the Iraq study group calls for the privatizing of Iraqi oil so it is open to foreign investors. Other areas of the globe which are rich with oil and uncooperative with the United States face threats by these same forces. The goals of the oil industry seem to be synonymous with the goals of today’s US foreign policy. This is a truth we must tell.

The populations of both Iraq and the US have been manipulated. Most Americans do not want to spend our treasury on futuristic weapons and killing for foreign oil. The only way to change that is to cause all of the people to be afraid. The “war on terror” diverts huge sums of money from the US treasury into a new war machine by way of contracts to private corporations with global goals. Lies and deceit have been used to polarize Americans. With the “right” and the “left” arguing about how to “win” at war, and the masses gripped by fear, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are being systematically destroyed. As we destroy Iraq we destroy ourselves. All the evidence leads to the truth that there are global objectives carried out by global players who see life only in terms of winning or losing and suffering or domination. This powerful few value money, power, and advanced weapons programs. They are not confined to a single nation they are a nation unto themselves. They reside on every continent.

I am an average civilian yet I knew what the consequences of our actions would be each step of the way. It is simply not possible that those who study the effects of tactical military operations, and responses of the citizenry, could have created what they have by mistake. War is not a game and citizens do not need to be categorized as owners, coaches, players and spectators. The globe is not a playing field. Our lands are part of who we are. They are the elder’s past and the children’s future. There are no winners or losers in war. There is only suffering and loss. Jesus stated it well when he said, “what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world but loses his own soul?” We do not benefit from strategies, deceits, manipulations and conquests. The best hope for us all is to tell the truth and learn to listen. That is this women’s plan for Iraq. The next thing we should do is tell the truth!

Published on the Common Dreams News Center Jan 18, 2007
http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0118-34.htm

Meditation: When the Going Gets Tough the Tough Go Shopping

2007-01-17T09:25:00.000-08:00

…while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, And those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Matthew 25:10

According to a recent Associated Press poll 25 % of those questioned believe that Jesus (the bridegroom) will return in 2007. Pat Robertson has issued dire warnings for the latter part of this year. Scientists warn us of cataclysmic earth changes and weapons developers are creating the most devastatingly violent weapons known to humanity.

The scriptures admonish us to watch for the signs of great earth changes, selfishness, wars, oppression, suffering and great unrest and false prophets. This things are the natural consequences of unloving human behaviors. “People will be lovers of themselves rather than lovers of God.” It is said that the “last days” will be as in the days of Noah when people were “buying and selling, marrying and giving in marriage.” They will be going about their daily lives and trying to acquire that which will make them more secure and more happy. As followers of the teaching of Jesus what is our response to all of these things?

The story in Matthew 25 tells us about 10 virgins waiting for a groom. Five were wise and five were foolish. Half of the virgins were committed to waiting a reasonable amount of time and invest a reasonable amount of their resources in preparation for the wedding. The other five were committed to the wedding no matter how long it took and how much of their oil reserves were needed. They were prepared to shine their light through an extended dark night and be ready at any time. We are told that the foolish virgins missed the groom because they were busy shopping for more oil. The going got tough so they went shopping.

As darkness and crisis occurs in our culture and our world we are advised by the president and the media machine to keep shopping. Buildings crash to the ground and we are admonished to just keep shopping, War plans are failing, people are dieing, many are suffering and we are counseled to just keep shopping. In essence, we are told to forget about it all and distract ourselves from the suffering of others by running after more stuff.

Some preach that very soon the bridegroom (a physical Jesus) will emerge from the clouds to rescue his bride (the church). When Jesus came as a baby many refused to hear the wisdom of his life story because they were looking for their human idea of a savior. God’s ways are not our ways so human ideas of the end time events are no doubt ill-conceived as well. Scriptures explain that The kingdom of Heaven is both “at hand” and “is to come.” The kingdom of the bridegroom is eternal- past present and future.

Some of us are overwhelmed by world events and the extreme suffering we see. We leave the wedding party and go shopping for more because we fear the darkness and our lights are growing dim. Some of us are like the wise virgins and are vigilant in lighting the walkway in the middle of the night. We are walking confidently on the narrow path. Will the “groom” find us advocating for the innocent people of Darfur, standing with the suffering in Israel/Palestine, feeding the hungry, comforting those who mourn, looking after orphans and widows, preaching Jesus’ message of love in the face of fear and sharing with those in need in our own communities?

We are to live in love rather than fear. We do not need to view life as a long stretch of delayed gratification. Our life is not a long horrible trial to be endured. We do not “follow him “ or “believe in him” in hope of one day escaping and being rewarded because we did not break the 10 commandments. Instead, we count it a joy to live the life which stretches before us. We carry with us that extra oil and light the path as we practice living the lifestyle of the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth. Those who “are called according to his purpose” will be found by the lover with our lamps held high and shining brightly along love’s path.

Prayer: We actively wait for a more clear revelation of you , the lover of our soul. Your grace will find us shining through the darkest night. May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We will come to meet you in joy through the darkness of our times for it was for such a time as this that we were born. Amen

Action: Evaluate your commitment to the principles of the Kingdom. Consider how you can use your resources to bring light to the world and ease the suffering of others. Among many other things consider shining the light in Washington DC on March 16th.

Meditation: A New Thing

2006-12-27T23:56:00.000-08:00

Thus says the Lord Who made a way through the sea, A path through the mighty waters. Remember not the former things, Neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing, Even now it is springing to light. Do you not perceive it? A way will I make in the wilderness And rivers in the desert! Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

Loosing the hand which is holding on to the past begins the process necessary to receive new life. In baptisms we confess our desire to move forward, toward the new, and leave the old behind.

When the Israelites went down into the Red Sea they were leaving Egypt and captivity. When they emerged on the other side, the unknown and that which was foreign, is what awaited them. It was a new thing.

When Naaman dipped his disfigured body into the Jordan river seven times he left his leprosy behind. He left behind his pride, his suffering, and his religion. He left behind his royal privilege and exchanged it for faith and the unknown. It was a new thing.

When Noah entered the ark he left behind the familiar. He was leaving the old and accepting something new. The old things passed away and all things became new. When the ark rested on the mount he emerged into a new thing.

There is no newness of life without first letting go of the past. Gandhi said that, “the world does not need a new religion but instead people who are bold enough to live the truth which they already know.” Acting on Jesus’ teachings brings a new thing.

His teachings are simple concepts. The problem is not with a complex spiritual dogma but with the courage to let go of the past and enter the new, the unknown, the unfamiliar, the unusual, the unlikely, the uncommon and the unexpected.

At the beginning of each year we resolve to make some changes. Generally they involve behaviors we whish to change and goals we wish to obtain. Many resolve to lose weight, to exercise, to save money or to put aside some other personal vice. With every resolution comes a letting go of the familiar and an acceptance of a new thing. It can be difficult and threatening to make a change.

It is time for a new thing. Instead of New Years resolutions which are self focused, perhaps it is time to boldly live out our religion. We can resolve to leave behind familiar mind sets and take risks on behalf of those who suffer and are oppressed. We can bear another’s burden and enter into a new thing.

Prayer: Living Spirit guide us to the waters. We pray for courage to leave behind that which is on the river bank and wade into the water where living water flows through desert places. Amen

Action: In solitude and silence listen to the still small voice which calls us to “a new thing.” Consider what you need to leave behind to more fully enter into love. What are you called to?

Meditation: What did we get for Christmas?

2006-12-22T10:56:00.000-08:00

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him how brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tiding of good things, Who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion your god reigns…..The Lord had comforted his people. Isaiah 52:7-9

The children in the living room of humanity are anxious to explore the gift of Christmas. We rise early to unwrap the present we have been hoping for. Year in... year out, humanity always wishes for a savior. Man-made saviors have been a disappointment. They come to power by force and manipulation and they all use the same tools of riches, military might and religion. This model is often placed upon our understanding of God as well. What was the revolutionary gift that came to earth that first Christmas?

People we looking for the kind of savior they had in the past. Perhaps they were waiting for another Moses, an Abraham, a Jonah or an Elijah. Humanity wanted a revolutionary leader to set things right. But, what we received was so revolutionary that many have not been able to embrace it.

That first Christmas morning the sky-god came down to earth (Emmanuel- God with us). The distant unapproachable Zeus-like god who wields lighting bolts from the clouds and punishes evil-doers became brother-God. Rather than a savior reigning with power and dominance his presence teaches that salvation comes to us through relationships. The infant Jesus is dependent, powerless, and needy. His survival depends on compassion, sensitivity and constant care. His presence on the earth establishes interdependent relationships and expands the family of humanity. Our brother-God came to earth to establish the Kingdom of Heaven and enlarge Zion to include all who desire to live in compassion and love.

Citizens of his Kingdom no longer follow the path of dominance, punishment, violence, vengeance, riches, and oppressive religious practices. The ”salvation” is in loving understanding relationships. The quiet word which turns away wrath, forgiveness of an enemy, and values based on simplicity and generosity are built in to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Heaven.
What did we get for Christmas. We got a whole new way of being. If all who claim to be followers of our Savior Jesus were to embrace his teachings and example, the world would be saved from violence, oppression, and greed. We have received this gift every year for the last 2006 years and yet it often seems we have never really taken it out of the box.

Prayer: Innocent lovely Christ child, gather humanity’s children (both young and old) in your gentle humility. Teach us how to love and understand others and to impact the world with your grace. We remember your birth, your life, your death and your re-birth. Quicken our spirits to love courageously and to release into the world the contents of the lovely package left for us this Christmas morning. -Amen.

Action: Open your gift, try it on and go out into the world.
Merry Christmas- Karen Cobb

Meditation: What do You Want for Christmas?

2006-12-15T11:24:00.000-08:00

Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. Isaiah 7:15

If there is only one gift under the tree in humanity’s living room what do we hope it is? We dream and pray and work for peace. In fantasies we envision a “savior” who will set things right. We dream that a brave political person will tell the truth. We hope that powerful religious leaders speak out boldly against war and hold people accountable. We seek out prophets who can encourage a huge ground swell of public opinion to change the will of the president. Perhaps in those moments of deepest despair and hopelessness for relief of the suffering of others we fantasize about help from another galaxy or pray for the rapture. Many of us, as children in the family of humanity, are anticipating change and have hope for the world.

As Children of God we share the hope of a land flowing with curds and honey for all of God's children. When Caesar Augustus was actively expanding the Roman Empire during the first Christmas, humanity’s children were hoping for a savior too. The empire was expanding at a rapid rate and the concentration of power was now held firmly by Caesar. Local governments were dictated by him. People were being identified, counted, and controlled. Quirnius was conducting the census. Historians suggest that the registration in Bethlehem to which Mary and Joseph were complying had multiple purposes including; taxation, military service (Jews were exempt) and special government “ballots.”

The empire required a lot of organization and control of the people. There was a unified currency and extensive highways connecting Rome to far away places. Global free trade was the prize. There was a postal system, bridges, aqueducts and extravagant government buildings. It was a new world order. History has shown us that with Empire comes conquest, oppression, possession, and loss of individual human rights. As worldly principalities expand the powers become more concentrated and Godly human ethics are trampled underfoot.

National ID’s and special passports with implanted micro chips are in the works. Selective service registration keeps the information of eligible young people within easy reach for the reinstatement of mandatory military service. Free trade is changing local economies and traditional spiritual and religious beliefs are being replaced with nationalistically advantageous dogma. The Empire casts a long shadow on the world as land is invaded and conquered and massive embassies are erected to assure dominance and control of natural resources. Innocent people are being killed and cast out as refugees as powers and principalities expand.

We know well the atmosphere into which Jesus “our savior” was born. The children in the living room of humanity anticipate the revelation of the Presence -the Savior who knows goodness and has tasted milk and honey.

Prayer: All wise parent of humanity we anticipate with hopeful joy a new revelation of your milk and honey goodness to the world. We pray that we, your children, will rise early this Christmas to reveal to the world your Presence. -Amen

Action: Reflect on the events in the world today and the promise of Christ for humanity as you enjoy the pleasures of milk and honey with your families. In moments of spiritual reflection ask the following questions:

How far will I follow worldly Empire?
Is there anything I would refuse my earthly government?
What price am I willing to pay for love?

Read the follow up to this meditation next week: What did we get for Christmas?

Meditration: On the Way to Bethlehem

2006-12-08T15:39:00.000-08:00

…give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death…guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:79

Jesus was born in Bethlehem’s darkness surrounded by Caesar’s “shadow of death.” Political forces sought to destroy the way of peace from the start. Today fear and violence still dominates this land. We sing about the peaceful town of Bethlehem and have romantic images of the village of Nazareth but seldom stop to think about the realities of the lives of the people who live in these cities today. We seldom contemplate our own participation in the violence there.

Today Mary and Joseph would have a very difficult time reaching Bethlehem. They would first go to Jenin then Nablus , Ramallah and Jerusalem. In fact, they may not reach Bethlehem at all. The roads to the West Bank and Gaza are now closed with heavily armed Israeli soldiers enforcing the roadblocks. There are huge ditches, Concrete barriers, electric fences and manned machine gun towers. Nothing enters or leaves the area without Israeli military permission.

Perhaps Mary could have had a similar experience as Fatima Nasser Abed Rabbo and her husband. They were on their way to the hospital in Bethlehem. She was only 7 months pregnant and her baby was suffering inside of her. In agony they approached the Israeli check point but the soldiers determined that her condition was not ‘critical” and denied her passage to continue to the hospital.

The time “for her to be delivered” approached and she gave birth to a son wrapped him in a cloth and laid him on a car seat. She had suffered at the checkpoint for over an hour and after her baby was born in the car it took another hour and a half to get to the hospital. Her tiny son died as a result of not getting the urgent care he needed.

Today if Joseph and Mary safely passed the check point and were seeking a room at an inn they would find many vacancies. Beautiful hotels in Palestine have been bombed or burned out by Israeli forces. The ones which remain are often vacant.

Israeli occupation of the West Bank has gone on now for 39 years. Many in Palestine are Christians, but most are Muslims and Jews. Several generations of non Jewish Palestinians have now grown up in the refugee camps. The brightly shining star in the east is most likely the familiar horror of a well armed Israeli apache helicopter paid for by Americans, many of whom profess to be Christian.

Illegal Israeli settlements are encircling the ancient city. The land is taken by force or by coercion. No one is allowed to live in these new settlements except Jews. The Bethlehem district is surrounded with concrete walls and electric fences. People are prevented from going to work and to school and the Christian sites are not easy to access. Already Rachel’s tomb is no longer the lovely site it once was but instead a fortress guarded by the army and barred to Christians and Muslims. Many Jews, Muslims and Christians want an end to the separation and violence legislated by the Israeli government and enforced by its army. Many also want the desperate Arab retaliations to end.

The route to Bethlehem is dangerous both literally and figuratively. The Shepard can no longer safely graze his flock on the hillside. The manger is empty. Jesus, Prince of peace, was born in Bethlehem but the dark fears within human hearts often choose violence. Those of us who believe in the power of peace can join together. Christians, Jews and Muslims are all calling for an end to the violence in the West Bank and Gaza.

Prayer: We pray oh God that you continue to give light to those who sit in darkness influenced by the shadow of death. Guide our feet into the way of peace. Amen.

Action: This year when you approach a nativity scene, or display your own, make it a tangible prayer for peace for all of our friends in Bethlehem.

Learn more about the militarization of the West Bank and Gaza and the role of the US government in continuing the violence there. http://www.globalexchange.org/countries/mideast/palestine/topTenReasons.html

Read about modern day Bethlehem and leave you message to end the apartheid on the wall. http://www.openbethlehem.org/about_us.asp

Keep up to date on this area which impacts the Middle East and the world.
http://palestinechronicle.com/index.php

Read what President Jimmy Carter has to say on the topic: http://www.israeliwatch.com/2006/11/25/jimmy-carter-palestine-peace-not-apartheid/

Meditation: What Would Jesus Buy (WWJB) ?

2006-12-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35“

Nothing’s ever free. “ “If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.” You get what you pay for. “ “There is no free lunch.” These are all sayings we recognize as everyday wisdom however our actions often reveal that we believe the exact opposite. We have become accustomed to unbelievably good deals from the $10 hand knitted sweater to the $1.25 large can of Columbian coffee. We seldom ask ourselves how the products we buy can be produced so cheaply.

Some have suggested that slavery in America was not ended but just exported overseas. Cocoa and hand knotted carpets are two products directly created by modern day slaves. The trafficking of children from one area to another assures the retail prices of Cocoa will remain low. The selling of children to work in the cocoa fields bleeds over into selling them for sex. A similar condition exists in the carpet industry. There are an estimated 300,000 illegal child weavers in the south Asia. Only a few years ago there was an estimated one million illegal child weavers but activists have greatly reduced this number.

Most Americans are not surprised to find out that other countries use slave labor to produce their products but do not know that United States also commits such atrocities. The Northern Mariana Islands located just south of Guam is a Commonwealth of the United States. The garments made there for J. Jill, Ann Taylor, the Gap, Liz Claiborne, Ralph Lauren and many others legally sport the label “Made in the USA” on their products.Many young girls and women from China, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh pay up as much as $7,000 dollars to move to the islands with the dream of a better life.

Once there they realize they are not protected under US labor laws but instead are considered “guest workers” and are never eligible for citizenship. They are often forced to work 7 days a week and adhere to the requirements of the factory owned housing. Many are forced into prostitution and are required to get abortions if they get pregnant. The US garment industry lobbys to keep this system going. In recent years Jack Abramoff and other politicians have worked to make sure that labor abuses can continue for the benefit of big business. Tom DeLay referred to it as “the perfect petri dish of capitalism. “On September 11, hours after the towers fell, the presidential orders came down to the people. Above all else we were instructed to just keep shopping.

Politicians, economists, and human rights workers will continue discussing and implementing trade policies but as shoppers we have choices. Solving the problem of unfair trade can feel overwhelming but the first step is common sense and awareness. When an intricately hand painted ornament or a hand woven basket retails for a dollar we should suspect that the worker did not receive a fair wage for their work.Perhaps some day Christians will not brag about the bargain they found or shop for the lowest price but will insist that workers be paid a fair wage for their effort. We can begin practicing economic justice by making wise choices. Buying fair trade coffee, cocoa, and cotton and looking for the “rugmark” assurances on carpets is a good way to send a message to industry.

Shopping at Ten Thousand Villages and from individual crafts people assures that the worker is justly rewarded. Other ideas include shopping thrift stores and second hand shops where the money you spend goes to help those in need.Prayer: As we celebrate your birth help us be aware of the meaning of you life. We seek wisdom and desire to be more fully aware of how and what we consume. We pray we will be empowered to influence the world for good.Action: Learn and shop with awareness

at:http://www.antislavery.org/homepage/antislavery/modern.htm

Ten Thousand Villages, fair trade goods: http://www.villages.ca/

Other fair trade sites http://www.shop.com/op/aprod-~Fair+Trade+Product-k24-g1

Meditiaton: Plowing Under Weeds of Violence

2006-11-17T11:33:00.000-08:00

…they shall beat their swords into plowshares,... Isaiah 2:4

Let me tell you about a school which teaches torture, execution, extortion, counterinsurgency, sniper training, psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. The school first opened in 1946 in Panama but in 1984 the former Panamanian President, Jorge Illueca, stated “…(it) was the “biggest base for destabilization in Latin America..” It was dubbed the “School of Assassins.” (http://www.soaw.org/new/type.php?type=8) Since its inception nearly 60,000 people have graduated and they have left a trail of blood and suffering where ever they operate.

What kind of “terrorist training camp” is this and where is it located? Perhaps this is one of those that the US military is seeking to destroy in Iraq or Iran. No, the school I am speaking of is at Ft. Benning Georgia. It is the School of the Americas. The school was closed briefly and then reopened in 2001 after its name was changed to “Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation” (WHISC). Brutal Latin American dictators, assassins and death squad leaders trained in the United States continue to commit crimes against humanity. Among their victims have been human rights workers, Priests, Nuns, farmers, teachers and children.

In June of this year an amendment was voted on to stop funding the school. The bill did not pass but 20 of those who opposed it have recently lost their seats in this last election. There is renewed hope that a similar bill in the near future will be successful. The desire to increase rather than decrease the activities of the SOA/WHISC was reported in an article by Barbara Slavin (USA Today, 11/15/06), “…. concern about leftist victories in Latin America has prompted President Bush to quietly grant a waiver that allows the United States to resume training militaries from 11 Latin American and Caribbean countries…”

As followers of Christ we desire that swords are beaten into plowshares. Some understand this verse in Isaiah to refer to a world beyond earth but others believe we can act “on earth as it is in heaven.” Walter Burgmann wrote about the vision of Isaiah in his book Peace: Understanding Biblical Themes: “That is not simply a vision of a political arrangement nor a disarmament program, but the emergence of a new world, a new situation in which people are able to trust and to communicate enough so that they no longer need to be armed. God wills for the world – for our world – a center of justice and righteousness that will get our minds off our petty agenda and our penchant to protect our little investments. I find that vision overwhelming – and not very welcome, because the things I value most I am reluctant to lose or risk, and even more reluctant to share.

Prayer: Oh Lord who has the power to transform swords into plowshares and soften the human heart, we ask for courage to live on earth as we will live in heaven. We pray that our nation will cease to train foreign dictators and assassins who target the innocent.

Action:
This weekend 20,000 people are expected to be present for the annual SOA/ WHISC protest . The date coincides with the anniversary of the 1989 murder in El Salvador of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter by graduates of the school.

On Sunday, there will be a solemn vigil and procession outside the gates of Fort Benning, Ga. There will be simultaneous, peaceful protests in Ecuador, Peru, El Salvador, Paraguay, Colombia, Bolivia, Chile and Fort Huachuca, Arizona. (http://www.soaw.org/new/pressrelease.php?id=121)

Learn about ongoing efforts to close the SOA?WHISC (http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=100 ) and how you can join in turning swords into plowshares. Contact your newly elected officials to vote on upcoming legislation to stop funding The School of the Americas. (WHISC)
If you are within driving distance consider joining the public witness today and tomorrow.

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Meditation: Who Can you Hate?

2006-11-10T12:25:00.000-08:00

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

She found a seat in the front of the buss and refused to give it up. Rosa Parks changed the world. It will be fifty years ago on Nov.13 that the supreme court ruled that segregation on busses in Montgomery Alabama is unconstitutional. In Galatians we are told that those who have found freedom in Christ will no longer discriminate against others because of their race, national origin, religion, economic status, or because of their sex.

The country has changed drastically since the early days of the civil rights but in the most fearful places in the human heart discrimination still finds a home. In recent articles found on http://ecapcw.org we have come to see that Jesus did away with the need for a scapegoat. However, there is evidence all around us that specific groups are targeted as the cause of our nation’s problems.
Even many Christians identify our economic problems as being the fault of people who live here without proper citizenship. The term “illegal alien” is culturally defined as people who are Hispanic. Hatred and distrust of those who appear to be Hispanic is growing. The individuals are the scapegoat for failed laws and economic fears. Many Hispanic -Americans whose ancestors arrived here before the mayflower are now being treated with suspicion when they cash a check or conduct business. As the economic climate gets worse the discrimination gets worse resulting in violence and race wars.

Our current invasion of Iraq was fueled by religious discrimination. All Muslims were judged by what we were told about those involved in the destruction of the World Trade Center buildings and the resulting loss of life. Again many gave fear a place in their hearts and used it to justify the “shock and awe” on innocent Iraqi citizens. A “Christian” movement in the US seeks to “bring nations to Christ” believing that there is such a thing as a “Christian Nation.“ Jesus taught that only individual hearts can be changed. Jesus would say for the Christian there is neither “Christian” nor “Muslim” but people who are loving to one another. Jesus even befriended Simon the “Zealot” ( the terrorists of Jesus’ day ) . As the cost of war takes its toll on our economy we see the widening gulf between rich and poor and here too we find the fear of discrimination.

Our President demonstrated these subconscious fears when he said, "First, let me make it very clear, poor people aren't necessarily killers. Just because you happen to be not rich doesn't mean you're willing to kill." (Washington DC May 19, 2003) Many see the poor as dangerous, desperate, immoral, lazy and unwise. “They” are the “other” we never want to become. Our values of acquisition of things, money and power over shadow our common human bond. Upon seeing thousands of people crowded into a sports arena after hurricane Katrina Barbara Bush said, “… many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this--this is working very well for them." (Editor and Publisher, Sept. 5, 2005.) Like her, many forget that the poor are just like us and feel sorrow, humiliation and helplessness when they lose their homes and are separated from their families.

Some who profess Christ forget that they are free and let fear remain in their hearts. We have seen a Pastor, who feared being found out, preach passionately against homosexuals (and drug addicts.) National referendums were voted on this past week to limit the civil rights of non-heterosexuals. Some even want to change the constitution to restrict their rights. Again fear is segregating and separating us from one another. In some states it is still legal to fire someone for being gay. Consequently, Some feel forced to pretend. The pretending fuels the fear and separation.

Jesus said that when we are living in the freedom of Christ we no longer relate to people along the lines of race, religion, money or sex. We relate to people as humans and accept them all.

Who can a Christian discriminate against ? - No one.

Prayer: Thank you for your grace which has been poured out upon us. Help us never forget that we are a part of humanity and share the indignities and injustices of all. Then, let us go out and demonstrate the light of your grace which shines in our hearts for others. Amen.

Action: Reflect on your thoughts….deeds……actions……regarding those of other nationalities, religions, economic status, and sex.

Speak up and take action when you encounter people scapegoating others and remind them that Jesus loves us all.

article: What Do You Tell Your Children

2006-11-06T14:59:00.000-08:00

Published on Saturday, November 4, 2006 by CommonDreams.org
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1104-22.htm

Timmy is old, Lassie is dead and parental wisdom is challenged. Many wondered aloud “What do you tell your children when stains on a blue dress and visits to the oval office were the topic of the nightly news. At the time it never occurred to me that these might be the easy topics. Now the reports are of government sanctioned torture, unprovoked war, pedophilia, oppressive work situations and an emerging police state? What do you tell your children?

Our nation’s leaders have sanctioned the use of anal probes, simulated drowning, and the techniques of Tourqamada to maintain the American way of life? Countries with dictators used to be the ones who did horrendous things like this. I am at a loss to explain that hundreds of thousands of people in a far away country needed to die because Americans were afraid. My children were taught about the dynamics of the playground bully and the natural consequences of violence. But now bullying is national policy.

What do you tell your children?

Perhaps we could look toward a minister for direction or to a church group where we might find others challenged by this new America. Maybe here we can refocus and find sanctuary. Sadly, many pastors are silent on torture and war as they continue to preach a lucrative nationalized version of Christianity. The names of church leaders too are added to the growing list of sexual predators and the resulting cover-ups.

What do you tell your children?

The traditional right of passage is announced with, “mom I got a job!” and then the details start to unfold. He will be paid 5.50 an hour but he needs to buy two 14 dollar company tee shirts and a 9 dollar cap with the store’s logo on it. The cost will be deducted from his first paycheck. If he works hard and excels there is a good chance one of his co-workers will be fired and he will be doing the work of two employees for one wage.

What do you tell your children?

Several months from now he may announcement that he made “manager.” only to discover that he is now the “manager “of his mop. The title assures that legally his employer does not have to pay him overtime. What wisdom will I give if my children are offered contracts with pension plans? How should they handle fraud or dishonesty in light of the new whistleblower laws. How long will it be before my last son discovers that no matter how hard he works or how good his monthly evaluations are “corporate” sees him as something easier to replace then a damaged floor tile.

What do you tell your children?

I try to explain that we elect people to speak up for us in Washington who can introduce legislation and vote for change. This hopefulness is tempered when we talk about the power of K street, industry executives appointed to regulations positions, corporate financing of political campaigns, bribery, kickbacks, earmarks and international corporations which benefit form war.

What do you tell your children?

We talk about the free press and the freedom to peaceably assemble. The free speech zones with police in riot gear, men in dark glasses and ear pieces reading tee shirts and bumper stickers suggest this is not really the case. A six year old in his superman pj’s is patted down by TSA officers and his grandma is taken aside for questioning. When my oldest children were this age I told them that they did not need to be afraid of the police if they didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t think I can say that now.

What do you tell your children?

There were many social inequities in the “good old days” of Timmy and Lassie but there was a common dream of a better world. There was a dream of a future without war. Patriotism was a consequence our aspirations to higher ethical standards. We were a community and we cared about each other. Timmy was never strip searched and Lassie was not ordered by the dog catcher to be kept on a leash. No one in his town was “disappeared.” There were no armed guards in fatigues at the Founders Day Parade.

What do I tell my children?
I tell them it is morally wrong to support, order or carry out orders to torture and it is wrong to stand by in silence while others do. I tell them it is wrong to kill or solve problems with violence. I tell them that Jesus came to demonstrate a better way than money and power. I encourage them to seek a spiritual community. I tell them to work hard but set limits so they are not taken advantage of. I teach them to be thoughtful of their co-workers and work as a team. I teach them to make their voice heard and speak truth.

I tell them. “Timmy is old, Lassie is dead and Superman can’t find a phone booth” so you have to do what you can.

Go Vote!

Mediation: Culture wars, Taxation, and Nation Building

2006-11-03T11:49:00.000-08:00

Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:17

Kingdoms always have culture wars, taxation and goals of nation building. In Jesus’ day religious Jewish culture was resisting the encroachment of secular Greco-Roman influence. Herod Antipas came to rule Galilee when Jesus was about 3 and stayed in power for 17 years. Caiphas, the high priest, governed Jerusalem and Pilate ,the Roman Prefect, had oversight over the territories.

Herod maintained secure borders utilizing Jewish rather than Roman troops. The laws, the courts, and the education was Jewish but the government protected the rights of the gentile groups living in the area. . Herod Antipas capitalized on the increasing unemployment problems by engaging in elaborate building schemes in the gentile areas. He built theaters and elaborate buildings dedicated to secular education.

Jesus lived in a diverse community at a critical time in history. There were secular cities springing up close by in Samaria and a new port of Caesarea. The tension between the secular and religious factions in the life of Jesus was inescapable and influenced the focus of his teachings and parables.

Jerusalem was a city in transition. The modern development of the theater and the debate over the display of graven images was an example of the clashing cultures. Modernization and diversity was a fact that all people were beginning to accept. . During Jesus’ adult life Caiphas was appointed by Rome as the commander and Jewish high priests policed the city.

Jesus did not live apart from politics. Galilee and Samaria were at war. Religious disputes and acquisition of territory were at the core of the conflicts. When he went to Jerusalem he was surrounded by Gentiles, Rich powerful Jewish priests, urban dwelling peasants and all the variations found in large cities.

Speaking out against animal sacrifice was a political act. The Jewish law was politics. John the Baptist took a political stand when he publicly condemned Herod for marrying his half-niece Herodias. The question of rendering taxes to Caesar was a political debate. Under Jewish law it was not permissible to have the face of a ruler on a coin. Jesus, well versed in the politics of Jewish law, exposed the hearts of the politicians. In essence he was asserting that if their politics has allowed them to accept the image of Caesar on the face of the coin then they are in violation of Jewish law. If they do not accept the authority of Caesar than they are in danger of execution. It was a conflict of interest they did not want explored and further.

Jesus’ politics were revealed with the focus of his ministry; Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand. The politics of his kingdom addresses the spiritual and physical needs of the sick, the orphaned, widows, strangers and those suffering under oppression. He took the rich, the powerful and the hypocritical religious leaders all to task.

So how does his example apply to us today. We live in a representational government and we can impact the laws which protect the least among us and reign in the power of oppressors. We are, all of us together, the rulers of our national kingdom. The kingdom of God is the embodiment of the highest ethical standards. We are to pray (and act) that his will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus went about doing good in every demographic of his time. He showed mercy to those with little power and commands us to , “go and do likewise.”

Prayer: We honor your wisdom and your teachings. Help us to stand strong in mercy on behalf of the oppressed. Give us wisdom to chose representatives who will protect the powerless and hold to account those motivated by power and greed. As upi went about doing good help us to do likewise.

Action: Find out what your candidates stand for (by their fruits not their words) and then go vote.

Meditation: Looking Up

2006-10-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Psalm 19: 1

Earth’s family is blanketed by the starry comforter as we stand in wonder and awe. This is about to change. The awe of God is being replaced by the fear of men. The stars still shine brightly but many are information satellites. Recent estimates suggest there are over 3,000 satellites in use and over 6,000 pieces of space junk.

On August 31 the President authorized a new National Space Policy. It was signed late in the day on the Friday of Columbus Day weekend when there was very little press coverage. Since 1967 the Outer Space Treaty developed by the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union ( and later signed on to by most nations) has set space aside for peaceful purposes.

Ronald Reagan’s “Star Wars” program opened space to weapons but restricted weapons of mass destruction. That has been changing in recent years. According to a New York times article last year, “ (the) Air force space program, nicknamed Rods from God, aims to hurl cylinders of tungsten, titanium or uranium from the edge of space to destroy targets on the ground striking at speeds of about 7,200 miles and hour with the force of a small nuclear weapon.” This is just one of many programs being considered and developed. The most extreme are classified.

The new policy President Bush signed recently asserts that, “Freedom of action in space is as important to the United States as air power and sea power.” It goes on to say the United States will, “develop and deploy space capabilities that sustain U.S advantage.” In essence it lays claim to space stating that the US “will oppose the development of new legal regimes or other restrictions that seek to prohibit or limit U.S. access to or use of space.” Under the guise of exploration the door is now open to nuclear power in space in to “enhance space exploration or operational capabilities. The use of space nuclear power systems shall be consistent with U.S. national and homeland security, and foreign policy interests.”

The earth’s natural resources have been bought and sold and are increasingly being depleted and destroyed. Even the weather is now seen as a force to be owned and controlled. Weather as a force multiplier: Owning the Weather by 2025 . The reality of the Manhattan Project was demonstrated before most Americans know it was even a possibility. The dissenting voices after the fact could not stop the technology. The reality of owing space, weaponization of space and the controlling of the universe is just beginning.

Aggressive bills will continue to be signed in secret on Friday evenings, the press will continue to be controlled by companies which are involved in weapons development and manufacture. However, we do still have a representational government with elected officials. Some will support space preservation treaties and the preserving of the heavens for peaceful purposes. We have the choice to speak out or to remain silent. Will the heavens continue to “declare the glory of God” to our grandchildren?

Prayer: We know that you have “set a tabernacle for the sun which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber.” We welcome you with love and peace. Give us your simple wisdom which confounds the wise. Empower us to end the power of destruction in the heavens. Amen.

Action:
Learn more at the Union of Concerned Scientists site: http://www.ucsusa.org/global_security/space_weapons/
Make your views known to elected officials http://www.firstgov.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

Meditation: We Just Didn't Know

2006-10-19T23:56:00.000-07:00

To whom much as been given much shall be required. Luke 12:48

The political ads flicker endlessly on our television screens. Most appeal to our sense of justice and decency. Powerful leaders often come to power by professing their faith in God and their commitment to high moral standards. One powerful leader explained his understanding of his duties in the following quotes.

As a Christian I have no duty to allow myself to be cheated, but I have the duty to be a fighter for truth and justice.... And if there is anything which could demonstrate that we are acting rightly it is the distress that daily grows. For as a Christian I have also a duty to my own people....

It matters not whether these weapons of ours are humane: if they gain us our freedom, they are justified before our conscience and before our God.

Perhaps many Americans would vote for such a politician. After all, he says he is a Christian and wants to protect our freedoms. This religious politician was Adolf Hitler and these are excerpts are from speeches in Munich (April 12, 1922 and Aug 1,1923 respectively).

As a child I asked my sixth grade teacher how people could have let Hitler come to power. The teacher responded “We just didn’t know.” I researched that question and realize the parliament passed “The Enabling Act” and Hitler came to power through legal means. The authorization of emergency powers suspended civil liberties and habeas corpus rights. The Decree enabled Hitler to have the Communist Party's offices raided and its representatives arrested, effectively neutering them as a political force.

This week President Bush signed the Military Commissions Act of 2006 which also does away with civil liberties, habeas corpus and legalizes torture in the United states. The fear of terrorist acts have allowed the president to change our laws. Will our children and grandchildren ever question how we could have allowed the Bill of Rights to be destroyed and the Constitution ignored? Increasingly it is easier to understand how people allow leaders to gain dictatorial power.

There were 200 people who protested in front of the White House on the 17th when George Bush signed the bill into law. Pax Christi held the Vigil of Mourning. The protest went unreported and the law remains unquestioned by many Americans. Perhaps many will someday say “we just didn’t know.”

It is true that for Christians this world is not our home we are just passing though but as Jesus explained we are to be faithful and wise stewards for we have been given much and therefore much is required. We can have an impact in upholding laws which prevent others from being falsely accused, tortured and imprisoned.

Prayer: Help us be faithful servants who are holding vigil and waiting for your return. May you find us being vigilant in doing good and speaking truth. We ask for your wisdom and courage to be faithful.

Action: Research state and local 2006 candidates to find out where they stand on support of human rights, peace and social justice.

Listen to Keith Olbermann’s comments on the history of abuse of power in past administration and the dangers of the Military Commissions Act. . http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15321167/

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Meditation: You Came to Me

2006-10-13T19:07:00.000-07:00

…..I was in prison and you came to me. Matthew 25:36

Fawzi al-Odah’s mother is often found in his empty bedroom sobbing. In August of 2001 Fawzi and four others were fleeing US bombing areas and crossed the border into Pakistan. They were exhausted, hungry and tattered when their mountain guide brought them to a village. A tribal leader showed them hospitality but later sold them to Pakistani authorities.

Nearly a year later Fawzi wrote to his mother, "Now I am detained by the American forces and investigations are still going on…I will be established as innocent soon, and then I will return back to you…" It has been four years since she received that letter. Fawzi reports that he was tortured badly by US forces before being sent to Guantanamo. He says the worst part is that there is no hope of ever proving his innocence and no end in sight.

There are many like Fawzi. Some have been victims of civilian interrogators hired by the US and some are tortured by US military. One man reports. "They made me lie on a wooden board. Then they tied each of my hands to a winch. Then they placed me like this. They started taking photos of me. With every question they asked they would tighten the winch. Until I was stretched flat. They threatened to bring my wife and my eldest son and rape them in front of me." Many detainees report admitting to anything their torturers want to hear just to end the pain or prevent the suffering of their families.

Amnesty International has documented specific cases. Current legislation shows that these torture techniques are encouraged and endorsed by our government. This week the passing of the Military Commissions act of 2006 not only legalizes torture but also makes it possible that American Citizens can be identified as “Enemy Combatants” for “supporting” a suspected terrorist. Presidential advisor John Yoo has argued that there is no law to prevent the president form ordering the torture of a prisoner’s child and stated that even crushing the testicles of the child is not illegal under US law.

We are living in increasingly dark times. Christians are now faced with difficult decisions. Will we fear being labeled as supporters of “terrorists” if we try to visit those in prison, speak out against violence done in our name, or when the practicing the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven violates our national laws?

Throughout history honest, brave believers helped to redirect their culture, minister to the suffering, address injustice and make peace. St. Catherine of Siena was one such person in the 1300’s. Although she was illiterate she dictated over 400 letters to people in all types of vocations and circumstances. Many of these letters were to people in power and to those in prison. On one occasion she stood with a young knight sentenced to death for using seditious language against the government. It is reported that his last words were “Jesus” and “Catherine!”

Will any prisoner think of the love and compassion of Christ because of my actions?

Prayer: We kneel before you seeking your mercy and grace for our lack of action on behalf of prisoners. You are in prison and we have not come to you. Give us courage to face the truth of our own inaction and the reality of state sponsored torture. Empower us to make a difference and comfort those who suffer.

Action: Read the stories and see the photos of those who are being held without charges http://web.amnesty.org/pages/stoptorture-reallives-eng pray- for them. Learn more about legislation on torture at http://web.amnesty.org/pages/guantanamobay-index-eng http://www.fcnl.org/issues/issue.php?issue_id=70 Stay up to date with information on the Friends Service Committee website: http://www.fcnl.org/issues/issue.php?issue_id=70 Like St. Catherine we can change the course of history by writing letters to those in prison and to those in power.

Meditation: The Amish Show us a Better Way

2006-10-13T18:05:00.000-07:00

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (NIV, John 13:34-35)

This week the morning news programs discussed forgiveness. Experts gently questioned if it is psychologically healthy for the Amish to forgive the shooter so soon. The unanswered question is still afloat on the airwaves. Few people can embrace the idea of forgiveness because it seems to be the opposite of human nature.

As a nation we choose anger. It is what almost always motivates and inspires us to action. “Righteous indignation “ is what fuels conflicts within our families, communities and our world. We are justified, we reason, to be angry and to respond out of that anger with aggression. This week’s story is showing the world the face of God. It is a model which demonstrates the beauty of forgiveness.

The Amish are showing us a better way when faced with tragedy. They responded with sorrow for all involved, even the family of the shooter. He was their neighbor! Loving one’s neighbor as one’s self is still the most simple explanation of how to live in community. People around the county are wanting to help with medical and funeral expenses. According to the media, the Amish agreed to this only if the money can be shared with the shooter’s widow and children.

The morning news experts on forgiveness explained that the Amish have been practicing forgiveness for generations implying that it is almost innate by now. I am sure that it is as difficult for them as it is for each of us. Perhaps an embracing community makes it a little easier but each of them experiences the gamut of human emotions.

Charles Carl Roberts will for ever be identified as “the shooter“. If only he had learned to forgive perhaps this tragedy would never have happened. His suicide letter cited his inability to forgive himself for what he describes as “molestation of minors” when he was 12 (unconfirmed). He also speaks of the loss of their still born child and his anger at God. It appears that the anger he had toward himself became the core of his personality. It was the thing which defined him. He could not forgive himself.

There are many mysteries about the mind and behavior but clearly our identities and the things we focus our attention on contribute to our perceptions and behaviors. He did not love himself, did not forgive himself and therefore could not love his neighbors. His jealousy turned to hatred which resulted in murder.

The power of forgiveness is poorly understood in our society. Our Politicians know how to use anger and fear to gain power. Our national leaders are experts in violence and call us to war. As a nation we train people to kill and destroy and fight back. What we do not know is forgiveness. We do not seem to value it, we do not study it, practice it, or teach it. Our Department of War was renamed the Department of Defense but still the focus is on destruction rather than understanding, compassion and diplomacy.

Imagine if as a nation on 9/11/01 we had responded as the Amish did this week. What if we had mourned the loss of all on that day and reached out to understand the hatred and anger which fueled it. Perhaps there would not be so many unanswered questions today. What if we had been able to realize that none of us are good, “no not one “, rather than set ourselves up as good and identify the “axis of evil”. What if we had refused to give in to our fears, seek revenge, and change our society and daily lives to accommodate hatred.

Forgiveness involves humility, understanding, gratitude and love. In Humility we realize that we are all vulnerable and capable of sin. In Understanding we are able to have empathy for the other and imagine the pain and suffering of their experiences. In gratitude we can overcome jealousy and loss. In love we are embraced by the power of God and know that no matter what happens we are a community. There are some things worse than death because love endures beyond the grave.

Prayer: God of love, we seek to bear the burdens of our neighbors; the Amish of Lancaster County and the family of Charles Roberts. We mourn the loss of the children and the destructive nature of anger, jealousy, and hatred. In this case we thank you for the witness of love, compassion and faith and the example of a better way . Let us go and do likewise. Amen

Action: Take a personal inventory of areas in your own life where unforgiveness resides. Are you holding a grudge against yourself or someone else which separates you from community? Are you angry, jealous , unthankful or insensitive? Learn more about the role of forgiveness in mental health at. http://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=3622 Consider helping to impact our nation by balancing the department of defense with a department of Peace. Learn about the Department of Peace initiative at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Peace

Meditation: Buried Treasure

2006-10-13T18:00:00.000-07:00

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:21

Jesus teaches us to consider the lilies of the field and how they do not toil and spin and yet are beautiful. He explains that the birds of the air don’t worry about what to eat and God lovingly cares for them. We are instructed to invest our time, attention and wealth in the kingdom of heaven rather than in this world.

If we live in faith we can stop striving to accumulate more of the world’s resources for ourselves and instead open our hands and our hearts to the needs of others."If I give this, what shall I have left to enjoy?" Such selfish thinking is the way of the ghosts; "If I enjoy this, what shall I have left to give?" Such self-less thinking is a quality of the gods. (Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life 8.125) Although this is a Buddhist teaching it is more inline with what Jesus taught than the teachings of many Christian preachers in America today.

We are often proud of our “protestant work ethic.” The founders of our nation believed that “idleness was the devil's workshop.” In our culture there is the idea of each man for himself. The focus on capitalism and its rewards have many of us competing against our neighbors rather than loving them. We tend to fill our lives with acquiring material possessions and taking care of them. We are not alone in our desire for material things. People in all countries face the desire for wealth.

This week in Cairo, Egypt a man and his son were digging for treasure because a magician had convinced them that it was buried under their house. The man hired seven workers to help them dig a hole 20 ft. deep. The team stopped to eat before Ramadan but the father and his son remained behind and were both killed when the hole caved in. What a reminder to each of us.

How many die of a heart attack as they work hard to save for retirement, put in a pool or pay off the credit card?How can we know for sure where our treasure is or where our hearts really are? On our money is printed the phrase “In God We Trust” but that does not make it true. It is good to go on a treasure hunt in our own lives and look for clues as to where we are hiding our treasure.

What do we spend our time thinking about, dreaming about, and planning for?Do we have time to speak out against military aggression, weapons proliferation, and racism? Could we share more of our money to help those with untreated medical conditions or who are hungry? Could we buy clothing or heating oil for some who are cold or exposed to the elements?

Generosity is the remedy for covetousness, greed and fear. Giving is an act of faith and an expression of joy.Striving for material things robs us of the time and energy to build relationships, to listen, share and encourage. It takes times of inaction to contemplate and commune with God and seek His guidance. Wherever our treasure is, that is where our heart is also.

Prayer: In gratitude and joy I open my hands and my heart. I will seek for the clues which show where my treasures are being horded. I repent for having been seduced by the greed and arrogance of my culture and desire instead to lay up treasures in heaven as you taught us to do. Open my heart more fully to love and make my life a prayer to you.

Action: Become more aware of where your heart is by stopping now and then to notice your thoughts and the focus of your actions. Seek God's direction in how you can more fully reflect the face of God to the world. Study Matthew 6. Consider supporting Churches Supporting Churches, a response to the Katrina catastrophe http://www.ecapc.org/csc.asp

Meditation: Father Abraham has Many Sons

2006-10-13T17:54:00.000-07:00

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Rev 3:5)

Isaac and Ishmael both spawned great nations as was prophesied. Most Christians are well aware that Isaac was blessed by God. Some also know that when Abraham made a request on behalf of Ishmael, God blessed him as well (Genesis 17:20). This week the brothers will celebrate their holy days at the same time. Both holidays Rosh Hashanah and Ramadan are determined by the new moon.

For Isaac's descendents it is the first sighting of the new moon in the seventh month which begins the new spiritual year. In 2006 that date corresponds to the Gregorian calendar date of September 24th. For Ishmael’s descendents it is the first sighting of the new moon in the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar which corresponds to the Gregorian calendar of September 23. The holiday period for each lasts the entire month.For all the rest of us it is the end of summer and the beginning of fall, the time of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.

The goodness of God is filling our stomachs and our storage areas. Like the religious holidays it is a time for reflection and vision. It is the time for plowing under dead brittle foliage and waste materials with hopefulness for new life in the future.The feast of trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) is also known as the "Days of Awe". The teaching is that God has a great book in which he writes things down and each year at this time he writes who will live and who will die in this New Year.

During Rosh Hashanah, it is taught that One's actions can alter God’s will. Repentance, prayer and acts of kindness can alter the mind of God. This period of grace ends on Yom Kippur when the book is sealed. The traditional greeting of this time is "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year."Likewise Ramadan is also observed with fasting and prayer for the entire month. The purpose is to limit the distractions of material things and focus on relationships to God and to one another. It is a time dedicated to the peace of God and compassion for humanity.

According to tradition it was during Ramadan that the prophet Mohammad read the Quran for the first time.One of the collective prayers of Rosh Hashanah is as follows: "We will celebrate the solemn holiness of this day, how awesome and fearsome it is. On this day your rulership is lifted up, your throne is established in mercy, and you sit upon it in truth. Truly you alone are judge, arbiter, discerner, witness, recorder, sealer, inscriber and reckoner; and you remember all forgotten deeds. You open the book of records and it reads itself, and everyone's signature is there.

The many prayers each day during Ramadan seek mercy and express desire to be fully surrendered to God (Allah). A poet attempted to capture the meaning and the importance with this verse: “Ramadan is the farm where soul-purifying seeds are sown. So water such seeds by good deeds. Bad deeds will cause you loss.’’

We, the descendents of Adam and Eve, are more alike than we are different. It is the same moon which we see at night and by which we calculate our days. Each of us seeks to be a blessing to our Creator and each of us is aware of our need for mercy. We are all tempted by pride and self-interest and forget to be kind to others.Fall is a time for plowing. Let the spears be beaten into ploughshares at the beginning of this New Year of reconciliation.

May we overcome human tendencies to destroy and instead build up one another. Let us reflect on the God of both Isaac and Ishmael and the common bond of humanity.

Prayer: The great one who ordains the rising and setting of the sun and the waxing and waning of the moon look with mercy and compassion on your creation. Give us understanding and wisdom as we learn how to live at peace with one another and care about the welfare of our neighbor as much as we care about ourselves. Thank you for times and seasons where we can reflect on your abiding love. May swords be remade into ploughshares.

Action: Read more about the Peace of Abraham, Hagar and Sarah at http://www.shalomctr.org/node/1117 and consider some of the suggested activities.Join much of the rest of the world this month by increasing prayer and fasting for the benefit of our neighbors around the globe. Pray for the hearts of our national leaders that they be turned away from destruction.

Meditation: The Serpent and The Dove

2006-09-15T11:39:00.000-07:00

I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But, beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 10: 16 &17.

The little dove’s nest is snuggled securely in the corner of the porch posts. Eggs were laid and hatched, babies were well cared for and little doves learned to fly. At the same time the grass snake stealthily traveled in and out of the budding lavender, fragrant sage and dense woody thyme. All the visitors who spent a leisurely afternoon on the porch were pleased to see the now empty nest and hear the story of how the babies took their first flights. Only a few were as eager to hear how the serpent sometimes climbs up the side of the porch and around the benches. It was late in the summer when the snake shed her skin and neatly draped it over the now empty nest of the dove. The afternoon rain blessed them both, the wisdom of the snake and the innocence of the dove.

Like the disciples Jesus sent out, we are empowered to bring peace and healing to people weighted down by laws and rules and religious dogma. The serpent and the dove represent all that we need. The snake in Genesis before “the fall” was the wisest of all the creatures. Throughout history and in every culture snakes are used to convey spiritual attributes. They are associated with wisdom, eternity, healing, mystery, magical (unknown) power and feared by many as a form of holiness.

The serpent is prominent in today’s symbol for medicine. Their healing powers have been used to treat illnesses and even are utilized in some modern drugs. In Babylon the serpents was worshiped. In Indian tradition we often see the serpent as a sign of immortality in the act of swallowing itself which creates a circle. The continual shedding of its skin represent regeneration and renewal. Mankind has always been fascinated by the serpent.

The dove is widely associated with peace, safety, sustainability and blessing. It was the dove which provided Noah with a sign that it was safe to leave the ark. The spirit of God “like a dove” descended upon Jesus at his baptism. The dove is gentle and soft. The sounds the dove makes are soothing and bring a sense of comfort. It represents purity, vulnerability, simplicity and innocence. It is unusual in its sleek beauty.

Some Bible commentators interpret this verse as being a contrast between good and evil but it seems more likely that Jesus was using nature as he often did to explain principles and attributes. Jesus would not be telling the disciples of his day nor us, his modern day disciples, to emulate Satan or evil or to study and learn from it . He is instead teaching us to embrace all the characteristics demonstrated in his creation as we are brought before governors, kings, church counsels and synagogues. Just as he explained that we can consider the lilies of the fields and be assured we already have what we need, we are to learn from the serpent and the dove.

Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Be complete in wisdom and innocence. Walk in the balance demonstrated in nature between reason and faith. Hide in the tall grasses at times, sun your self on the warm stone, be renewed and leave behind that which is dead. Like the dove take flight when needed for safety or for a clearer view. Sing your soothing songs of peace and innocence, teach your young ones to fly. You have all that you need to follow Jesus and proclaim his compassion for the world. Those who use fear to retain power and load people down with laws will never embrace the message of love and grace. Because of that, many have been delivered up before Governors, Kings, and Counsels. The serpent and the dove strengthen and encourage us to use our earthy knowledge and spiritual wisdom.

Prayer: Thank your for the timeless lessons of the serpent and the dove and all of earth’s creatures. Give us the courage to be wise as a serpent and the to be as gentle as a dove. Thank you for the promise that we already have all that we need when we stand before Governors, Politicians, and religious leaders as we proclaim you message to love our enemies as well as our friends.

Action: Meditate on the attributes of the serpent and the dove: wisdom, eternity, healing, mystery, power, holiness, renewal, regeneration, peace, safety, innocence, vulnerability, simplicity and purity. .. Decide today to speak up when you hear someone who professes to be a follower of Jesus advocate violence and war. Do not to be afraid of standing before Governors and religious leaders.

Meditation: Running the Race and Staying the Course

2006-09-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:1&2

Racing is a national past time. We race in triathlons, we race against the clock. We race around finishing errands. We participate in the “rat race” and as we get closer to November we are well aware of political races. As followers of Jesus we have made a choice about which race we are running. Jesus’ words and example of love are at the beginning, sustain us throughout, and greet us at the end of the race of love.

Powerful people around the world try to ensnare the public to gain or retain power. The threat of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, both offensive and defensive, seeks to hold citizens of all nations hostage to fear. Each day children, the elderly and powerless citizens are being destroyed by advanced weapons technology. We can not be a true follower of Jesus and remain silent witnesses of these atrocities.

Most weapons technologies are developed in the US with the monetary, educational, and political support of Christian citizens. They are then bought and sold to enslave us all. As followers of Jesus it is essential we keep our eyes on the author and finisher as we renounce the arms race and stay the course on the race of love for humanity .

This is at the core of political debate and worldly races of all types. We transcend distracting issues by reminding the world through words and deeds of the transforming power of love. Rather than thinking of sins as behaviors which other people do it is good to remember the list of the seven deadly sins and look within. It is sin which entraps us and causes us to lose sight of love.

The scriptures teach that with knowledge comes understanding and with understanding comes wisdom. Wisdom brings peace to all areas of our influence; family, community, nation, world and even informs decisions which impact our universe. By following Jesus’ teachings and example Pride is traded for Humility, Greed is traded for Generosity, Lust is traded for Self-control, Envy is traded for Love, Gluttony is traded for the Faith to be Temperate, Wrath is traded for Kindness, Sloth is traded for Zeal.

With our eyes fixed on Jesus we are laser clear. We have no right or desire to cast the first judgmental stone at another or lash out in fear. The anniversary of September 11 during this election year will not be used to build compassion for the suffering but will be used to activate the sins which "so easily beset us. " We will be encouraged to fear and to respond with anger, hatred and violence. Our support is coveted to “stay the course”. The question we must again explore is which race are we running?

As followers of Jesus we are surrounded and encouraged by the spirit of those who have died professing God’s love, grace and forgiveness. It is now our turn to stand for the perfect love which casts out fear.

Prayer: Thank you for the witness of the great cloud of peace martyrs who stand as witnesses along the path as we run the good race. Let us not become entrapped in a net of destructive attitudes and behaviors. May we resist fear which is at the core of all sin and embrace love which gives courage. Amen

Action:
Ask yourself- What role do I play in the development, manufacture, purchase or use of deadly weapons. (all of us are minimally tied to arms production simply by paying taxes.)

Read accounts this week of peace maryters and remember September 11 of 1906
http://www.swarajpeeth.org/events/051109/index.php and Gandhi's witness to non-violence

Article: It's the Pits...

2006-09-03T14:18:00.000-07:00

Plutonium pit production had ceased when the facility at Rocky Flats, CO closed in 1989. Los Alamos National Laboratories (LANL), operated by the University of California, Bechtel, BWX Technologies, The Washington Group International, and the Federal government wants to change that. On April 22, 2003 LANL announced it’s interest in the pit production program and recently is actively seeking to commence. Plutonium “pits” are essentially the plutonium triggers for nuclear warheads. Currently, the stated goal (according to reference documents available though Nuclear watch New Mexico )is to increase the number of new pits by 80 each year. At the same time, the pit production program will be extended for an additional 25 years.

This will dramatically increase the amount of nuclear waste to be transported on our highways and stored on site as well as in nuclear waste facilities around the country. The citizens of New Mexico are speaking out against the plan in hearings as they try to influence the vote in the New Mexico House and Senate. Like many other issues which greatly impact our lives this story is not being reported on the nightly news. Perhaps if it were many would still not speak out against the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

I sought to understand the motivations behind this plan and find a way to explain how good citizens (many of them professed followers of Jesus) are ambivalent on the topic of nuclear weapons. How can citizens remain silent while nuclear weapons are developed with our tax dollars? These weapons indiscriminately destroy children and the aged and contaminate the environment for generations. On a quest for the answer to this question I traveled up the nuclear mountain, known as Los Alamos, to see what I could see.

The expansive late summer sky seemed to swallow me up the steep ascent. My destination was not far from the summit and promised illumination and insight. The entrance to the sanctuary was quiet this Thursday afternoon. I timidly pulled open the massive doors and stepped inside. Quiet reverence, dim lighting and the soft gentle voice of a women welcomed me. Is this your first visit?” I admitted, “it is.”

Old men stood close together and spoke in low reverent tones as they remembered sacred moments and young students stood in wonderment. Others were reading text with thoughtful expressions and now and then I saw an eye glisten with a held back tear.

This was my first visit to the Bradbury Science Museum of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, a dark shiny edifice honoring the ultimate god of America; the Atomic Bomb. I saw “Little Boy” and “Fat Man” the first nuclear bombs. Signs flashed above theater doors with a “countdown” until the next praise and worship to the powers of destruction “The Lab Today”. The “Stockpile Stewardship Program“ presentation demonstrates how our nation’s physicist/priests care for our nuclear weapons. A well modulated voice explains each weapon in clinical detail.

The shiny capsule which holds the plutonium core is given a special place of honor; an ark of a dark covenant of destruction. These weapons have killed children, mothers, fathers and grandparents. I felt I was in the presence of worshipers of fear, death and destruction.

I asked the greeter where the Nuclear Disarmament Museum is located. She didn’t know. I stood stunned next to a shiny bomb mounted in a large Lucite box. She came to me suggesting that the “Public Forum” in the back might have “something on my topic“. (Perhaps the word “disarmament” is forbidden.) A tiny dark cubical and some photos of the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were pasted together by members of the public who demanded a voice. One was of a mass grave with a sea of skulls (too many to count). It was far beyond any found in Iraq. The text explained that the war was essentially over before the US dropped the bomb. It was immoral and unnecessary! I saw the suffering, the wounded, the orphaned, the homeless, the traumatized. There was a nursing mother with radiation sores seared into her breasts. Her eyes pleaded for her baby’s future. I read again on the pamphlet given to me that the goal of LANL is to “reduce the global threat of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.” What irony!

Two veterans of WWII lingered along the wall chronicling the history of the Manhattan project. They seemed to stand a little taller, their voices a little stronger, as they remembered Groves and Oppenheimer and the others. It was a great war to remember, a war which continues to give meaning to some people’s lives.

I’ve heard of people who practice demonic crafts in secret and worship death, destruction and suffering. But, I came face to face with the enemy of compassion and understanding who openly honors destruction. The atomic city set on a hill continues to strive for equality with God. Bombs of every size and shape have been designed and “improved” here, even the thousands of unexploded bomblets which are littering Lebanon and Iraq. There is no pornography greater than the image of the little Lebanese boy who reports in agony that his “insides fell out” so he “held them and started screaming.” Let this be the Satanic power and pornography we stand against. Perhaps this is “why they hate us.”

The descent from the mountain was slow. There was thunder and lightening . The Father Son and Holy Ghost was not the power at the Trinity test site. Like many cars in New Mexico the message on the bumper of the car in front of me “It Started Here-Let’s End it Here”.

According to information provided by the Los Alamos Peace Project , the US currently has 23,000 nuclear pits which have been proven to be reliable for the next 20 years. Scientists suspect expanded viability for 90 years or more (the upward limits are unknown.) The Nuclear nonproliferation treaty ratified by the US in 1970 mandates that all the nuclear arsenals begin to be dismantled. This current production plan violates the intent of the treaty. It is unclear what the environmental impact will be to the citizens of New Mexico and the rest of the nation.

The US is seeking to go to war against a country which weapon’s experts conservatively estimate is 10 years away from even having one nuclear weapon. The hypocrisy of the US increasing an already overflowing stockpile of nuclear weapons will only substantiate the fears of other nations and increase their desire to follow our example on the nuclear path to national offense and defense.

A total of $6.6 billion (tax payers dollars) is allocated for continued nuclear weapons development in 2006. This would go along way toward a Manhattan style project for renewable and sustainable technologies as many have suggested. We still have a representative government. Make your voice heard before it is too late to stop the increased plutonium pit production at Los Alamos National Laboratories. It started here let’s end it here.

Petition: http://www.lasg.org/DisarmForm/DisarmamentPetitionForm3.htm

Karen Horst Cobb lives in rural New Mexico and is a regular contributor to Common Dreams. Her article No Longer a Christian Oct. 24, 2004 is still circulating with over 10,000 reader responses to date. Her articles remind the world of the ethics and values of the sermon on the mount and proclaim that there is no GI-Joe Jesus. She also writes a weekly column for Every Church a Peace Church http://ecapc.org/ Contact Karen at cairnhcobb@msn.com and find her other articles and speeches at http://karenhcobb.blogspot.com/

Meditation: Worthy of Wages

2006-09-01T11:05:00.000-07:00

The laborer is worthy of his wages. Luke 10:7

The “company town” of Pullman, Illinois owned the lives of their workers. The lowest paid workers were given the simplest shelter, the craftsman had better housing, and the executives and potential customers were provided lavish Victorian homes. The company owned the housing, set their rent, the price of groceries, and even owned the bank. In a depressed economy in 1893 Pullman decreased the workers wages and laid off many while keeping the rent and other expenses the same. Out of desperation and in solidarity the workers demanded fair wages. The members of the United Railway Union all across the nation stood with them.

Executives continued to live in luxury while the workers were facing homelessness, hunger, crime and disease but President Grover Cleveland deployed 12,000 troops to break the strike. US marshals fired on protesters and two were killed. The union leader was imprisoned and the workers were forced to sign a contract promising they would never strike again. Many other industrial unions were disbanded and destroyed until the great depression when workers again tried to organize.

Grover Cleveland sought the growing labor vote in 1894 and created Labor Day. Several years later Samuel Gompers, the head of the American Federation of Labor said it is a day in which “toilers look forward“, when their “rights and their wrongs will be discussed“, when they can “lay down their tools for a day“, and “touch shoulders as they march” with their co-laborers.

Today, for the lowest paid workers, Labor Day only means more people to serve in the restaurants, at the check out counters, hotels, resorts and places of amusement. With the advancement of the “free market” the workers have often been judged to be selfish, lazy, wasteful, greedy and unwise. Even many Christians today praise company executives for being “good managers” as they get more work out of fewer people, hire desperate people willing to work for lower wages and who are willing to live in crowded and/or substandard housing.

Latest figures show that many executives make as much as 500 times that of their workers. As in the days of the Pullman executives, those with the most money have the most influence over government and media. This unfair advantage results in the repealing of hard won labor laws designed to protect workers and restricts worker’s rights to organize.

The contracts awarded to areas hard hit by Katrina last year offer an excellent example of power and worker abuse. The AshBritt company gained a $500 million contract to remove debris. This amounted to $23 a cubic yard. AshBritt sub-contracted the job to a company who bid it for $9 per cubic yard and they hired a company who charged $8. This company sub-contracted to a company who charged $7, who then hired a company who charged $3. Desperate workers did the hard work for almost nothing. When these workers are not paid for their work they have no recourse because they have no resources. In many cases they can be deported or imprisoned.

The Bible has a lot to say about work and the paying of wages. Jesus always stood with those who had no power and took to task those who did. In the United States, where the citizens elect people to make decisions in Washington, we each have a responsibility to stand with and vote for the interests of workers who are oppressed and taken advantage of. A laborer is still worthy of his wages.

Prayer: Today I pray for those who work hard and are cheated out of fair wages by those who seek outrageous wealth and power. Help me to have the courage to stand with those who are oppressed so that they too can live in dignity. Thank you that we live in a nation with a representative government where we can influence the laws which protect the least of these among us.

Action: Learn more about what is happing in the world of work at Corporate Watch http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?list=type&type=166 Commit yourself daily to speak up against worker abuse when you encounter it. Refuse to let your own frustration, while waiting in line or being served, cause you to lash out or speak against low paid employees.

Mediation: Going Up the Nuclear Mountain

2006-08-25T10:10:00.000-07:00

Some trust in Chariots and some in horses but we will remember the name of the lord our God. They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright. Save, lord! … Psalm 20:7-9

The expansive late summer sky seemed to swallow me up the steep ascent. My destination was not far from the summit and promised illumination and insight.

The entrance of the sanctuary was quiet this Thursday afternoon. I timidly pulled open the massive doors and stepped inside. Quiet reverence, dim lighting and the soft gentle voice of a women welcomed me. Is this your first visit?” I admitted “it is.”

Old men stood close together and spoke in low reverent tones as they remembered sacred moments. Young students stood in wonderment and others were reading text with thoughtful expressions. Now and then I saw an eye glisten with a held back tear.

This was my first visit to the Bradbury Science Museum of the Los Alamos National Laboratory. It is a dark shiny edifice honoring the god of America; the Atomic Bomb. I saw “Little Boy” and “Fat Man” the first nuclear bombs. Signs flashed above theater doors with a “countdown” until the next praise and worship to the powers of destruction “The Lab Today”. The “Stockpile Stewardship Program“ presentation demonstrates how our nation’s physicist/priests care for our nuclear weapons. A well modulated voice explains each weapon in clinical detail.

The shiny capsule which holds the plutonium core is given a special place of honor; an ark of a dark covenant of destruction. They have killed children, mothers, fathers and grandparents. I was in the presence of worshipers of fear, death and destruction.

I asked the greeter where the Nuclear Disarmament Museum is located. She didn’t know. I stood stunned next to a shiny bomb mounted in a large Lucite box. She came to me suggesting that the “Public Forum” in the back might have something on my "topic“. (Perhaps the word “disarmament” is forbidden.) A tiny dark cubical and some photos of the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were pasted together by members of the public who demanded a voice. One was of a mass grave with a sea of skulls (too many to count). It was far beyond any found in Iraq.

The text explained that the war was over before the US dropped the bomb. It was needless! I saw the suffering, the wounded, the orphaned, the homeless, the traumatized; a nursing mother with radiation sores seared into her breasts, eyes pleading for her baby’s future. I read again on the pamphlet given to me that the goal of LANL is to “reduce the global threat of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.” What irony!

Two veterans of WWII lingered along the wall chronicling the history of the Manhattan project. They seemed to stand a little taller their voices a little stronger as they remembered Groves and Oppenheimer and the others. It was a great war to remember, a war which defineed them and continues to give meaning and purpose to many.

I’ve heard of people who practice demonic crafts in secret and worship death, destruction and suffering. But, I came face to face with the enemy of Love who openly honors destruction. The atomic city set on a hill continues to strive for equality with God. This is the technology which has created the thousands of unexploded bomblets which are littering Lebanon. There is no pornography greater than the image of the little Lebanese boy who reports in agony that his “insides fell out” so he “picked them up and went for help.” Let this be the Satanic power and pornography we stand against. Perhaps this is “why they hate us.”

The descent from the mountain was slow. There was thunder and lightening . The Father Son and Holy Ghost was not the power at the Trinity test site. The prophetic message on the bumper in front of me read. “It started here lets end it here.” A-men

Some trust in F-16’s and some in nuclear warheads but I will trust in the name of the Lord my God! (Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace) Psalm 20: 7-9 (paraphrased)

Prayer: Holy Prince of Peace, may I have no other gods before me! Forgive me for ever feeling proud of or secure in my county’s weapon’s technology. I renounce idolatry! I will openly resist the proliferation of these weapons at home and round the world. Have mercy upon us and forgive us for what we have unleashed. Teach us to be bold in bringing Christ’s love to our earth as we stand against demonic powers of human judgment which brings death and destruction to your children around the world. We remember Christ’s message that what we have sewn we shall also reap. Forgive us and have mercy!

Action: Watch the video about the proposed nuclear “bunker buster “ the administration has discussed for use against Iran.

http://www.ucsusa.org/global_security/nuclear_weapons/nuclear-bunker-buster-rnep-animation.html Learn more about what you can do at http://www.peace-action.org/abt/abtpa.html

Meditation: Being Salt is a Tasteful Calling

2006-08-18T17:06:00.000-07:00

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Matthew 5:13

The first wars every fought on the earth are believed to have been fought over salt! It held the power for survival as a preservative and flavor enhancer. To ancient peoples it literally meant immortality. It was essential in sacrificial offerings and in burial practices. The Nile River was a rich source of the three salts necessary for mummification. Ancient peoples believed that a preserved body was essential to continue to exist in the after-life or to return in re-incarnation. Jesus was well aware of the importance of people’s desire for salt.
When he traveled from town to town it was on salt trade routes which were established 150 years before his birth.

These routes of commerce later became known as the “silk road.” Salt and the desire for salt had a huge impact on culture by connecting towns, villages, countries and continents. This impact is still reflected in our language. The English word “Salary” comes from the word salt. We still sometimes hear the expression, “He is not worth his salt.” Roman soldiers were often paid in salt because It was valuable, easy to carry, and in limited supply. People competed for it in the market place and one who had a lot of salt was wealthy.

Understanding the importance of salt in ancient times helps us understand the story of Lot’s wife in Genesis. We are told she wanted to return to her wealthy and luxurious life-style in Sodom. The irony becomes clear , she turned into a pillar of salt. It would be like saying she loved money so much she turned into a huge pile of it. In the end, she was only that thing which she loved. This is a lesson for us all.

The Arabic word peace (salaam) means negotiation (originally over salt). Likewise, the word for war (milah"'ama) was in reference to the disruption of salt sources and delivery. A community cut off from its salt supply would be destroyed. Salt was the ingredient, the nutrient, the life force. Unlike today where it has become the thing many of us avoid in our diets or that little something that makes things taste better. It is little wonder we have not given Bible references to salt more attention.

Perhaps when we read references to salt we can better understand the meaning if we substitute a commodity which symbolizes the same thing in today’s world. Oil! The disruption of its flow represents suffering and death. Those who have it are rich. Those who want it are ruthless. Peace will come when it is negotiated and war is synonymous with the disruption of its flow.

“We are the salt of the earth” takes on a whole new meaning. People who live by the values of Jesus are essential to the welfare of our communities and our world. The presence of truth, love and forgiveness are the values of “salt “. this is what hinders the decay of our societies. It preserves and sustains the people. It is our ability to negotiate, to think about the needs and desires of both sides in a conflict which sustains peace. The message is repeated in Mark 9:50 where we are instructed to “have salt in yourselves and have peace with one another. “ His grace is sufficient for all. We do not need to worry about the preservation of our lives.

Prayer: Immortal Lord who sustains our bodies and our souls teach me what it means to have salt with in myself so I may help nourish, preserve, and bring peace to the world. May I not shy away from inhibiting corruption and decay where it exists. Let me be poured out for you in generous amounts to bring peace.

Action: Be salt this week in some way. Preserve goodness, hinder corruption, and negotiate peace. Do one act which salts the world. Make your voice heard in Washington on war and corruption and at the same time do an act or speak out for goodness in your local community.

Meditation: What Did You Go to the Wilderness to See

2006-08-10T22:08:00.000-07:00

What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, more than a prophet. Matthew 11: 7-9

We go to the wilderness to seek comfort, a source of hope, new insights and how to respond to global wars and unspeakable suffering. Many feel helpless. Some retreat to the austere desert to limit distractions or the hills and mountains for a Birdseye view. Some instead search the pages of books and websites or go to hear a knowledgeable speaker. All seeking inspiration and direction.

The people of Jesus’ day did the same. They sought out a prophet in the wilderness who had strange ideas. They went looking for something different, something with life and hope. They came back from the vision quest angry and discouraged because their beliefs had been challenged. They had found what they were looking for.

Jesus asked if they were expecting a soft reed shaken by the wind? Did they expect to find a man who did not have strong views, who could be easily swayed by their questions and willing to concede to the old ways of the law? Did they really expect to find someone teaching what their priests taught? Did they go looking for a rich political leader who was well dressed and had all the social graces? He explained that they went to see a prophet, a strange man making strong statements, whose wisdom would result in peace. He explained that it was the same spirit of Elijah the prophet who listened for God in the wilderness years ago.

The strange furry locust -eater had the same spirit of one who isolated himself in the cave of depression. Elijah received the compassion of God. Curled up in the earth's womb, he found the courage to face the wind and the fire. Then, in that void, came the still small voice of God. Some had ears to hear and hearts to believe in Elijah John.

Some did not. He was dirty, dressed poorly, ate strange food and did not socialize. Perhaps he had a demon (or a mental illness) they reasoned. Some of these same people did not accept Jesus for just the opposite reasons. He ate fine food, drank wine and was a friend to liars and cheats. Jesus explained that these external characteristics are of no concern. He tells us, “wisdom is justified by her children.”, Or as he said in a different way, “ye shall know them by their fruit.”

Today many return from the wilderness discouraged because there is nothing there except some radical peace activists who say things contrary to the most preachers. They report on false teachings, on war atrocities, schemes, and tactics which the nightly news never mentions. It is confusing and upsetting. Some of them almost seem to have a mental illness. They preach peace yet they seem to cause people discord and distress by the their lament. Some of them go many days without eating and some are even dirty.

The spirit of Elijah John continues to roam the wild places of God’s kingdom. We are called back to our baptism by water, fire and wind so we can stand as Elijah in open mouthed caves and emerge again into the kingdom of heaven ruled by the Prince of Peace.

Prayer: I seek your wisdom in the wild places of my spirit where the reed, which is me, at sometimes sways. Help me to instead stand strong in the wind like the spirit of Elijah. Help me not seek the power of an earthly king or follow those on the wide road of destruction. Cleanse my soul to receive your words from any prophet; The child of war, the beggar, the refugee, and all of those who are not like me.

Action: Read the account of Elijah in I Kings 19:1-15 and the account of John the Baptist In Matthew 11. 7-19. Listen for the still small voice of direction and then -fear not...After all, What did you go to the wilderness to see?

Article- WWIII: Whose Side are You On

2006-07-31T20:01:00.000-07:00

They may have been hit by an Israeli bomb, but they are victims of the Hezbollah. We have to create a reality where those Lebanese children would have been at school today instead of being sheltered and held hostage in that building, and where Israeli children in Shemona could go to school without fear of Katyusha rockets. It is our enemies who specifically target women and children, and when we do it, we apologize. (Dan Gillerman Israeli ambassador to the UN -Sunday on Meet the Press)

What I heard Mr. Gellerman say in response to the killing of the children of Qana was similar to the words of other abusers.
It isn’t my fault I beat my wife. She was asking for it … s he never knows when to shut up. Anyway I am not an abuser because I always apologize afterward . As far as the rape? Well, she was asking for it because of the way she looks .
This is a more easily accessible framing of the forces of evil unleashed in the world. “WW III” is a world war on children and the citizen soldiers in all locations conduct the psy-ops propaganda using blame, excuses and the insistence that the world remain impotent silent witnesses of religious and state sponsored terrorism.

The “precision guided missile” found it’s target just like the manufacturer promised. It was launched by Israel with precision, satellite intelligence, and forethought but the ambassador explained it wasn‘t their fault. Another precisely guided missile hit the UN target a few days earlier killing four innocent peacemakers who had called all day to report their location was being targeted. Sunday’s target was a house where poor children and their families huddled in fear. How can the world be manipulated to support more killing of innocent people and refuse to hold the perpetrators responsible in the court of public opinion.

The US Republicans and Democrats both of whom claim that taking responsibility is a a core value of their party refuse to speak out. Sunday July 30th 2006 I decided whose side I will be on in “World War III“. It became crystal clear. I am on the side of the Children! I am on the side of all children EVERYWHERE! This politically motivated World War III is a war on Children.

As an ambassador for the children I would like to negotiate a ceasefire. It might not be lasting in your frame of reference, it might not be strategic, but if it lasts 6 months that will be half the lifetime of the youngest one who was killed on Sunday. If it lasts four weeks it will be the entire lifetime of the one month old lying in the morgue. It might give some older children a few more weeks to play another game with their cousins, or celebrate one more birthday or learn their multiplication tables all the way up to the twelve’s.

As an ambassador to the world’s children I want to begin by clearly defining the meaning of the word child. Child: a viable maturing fetus living outside of a womb. Perhaps this clarification will cause Christians in the US to value these little human lives whom Jesus referred to as the least of these among us. After all, it was weapons and weapon technology of the US purchased by the tax payers and gifted to Israel which killed the children of Qana this Sunday. Qana the place where we are told Jesus turned water into wine.

The repetitive drip of the media faucet reminds us that Israel has a right to defend herself. If one follows that reasoning then the people of Lebanon now also have the right to defend themselves. If Lebanon has the obligation to disarm Hezbollah then it stands to reason that the US has the obligation to disarms its' contract military in Iraq. They are not official members of the US military but are a violent group who are part of an ancient religious sect who worships the god mammon. This logic also would conclude that the US is obligated disarm all the members of the NRA if our nation is every invaded and occupied.

If the definition of a terrorist is one who targets civilians to create terror then the “shock and awe” perpetrated on Iraq was also an act of terrorism. The daily military activity over Palestine, sonic booms in the middle of the night, and the ominous presence of the heavily armed guards who stand at the checkpoints in the prison known as Gaza is also terrorism. Some can argue that all forms of sanctions which deny food, water, power, and medical care to children are a designed to terrorize the innocent. Some is sponsored by the state and some is sponsored by individuals and rogue militia who are desperate. In Israel this logic would extend to the well-organized group of settlers who dress in black with ski masks and use wooden clubs, chains and rocks to harass Palestinian children on their way to school while the military stands by and does nothing. Recently two members of the Christian peacemaker team who escort the children to school to protect them and offer themselves has human shields were severely beaten in the village of Al-Tuwani in the southern Hebron hills. The police did nothing, the military did nothing and the militia remains to target and terrorize Palestinian children in the future.

In the US the “potential child” the size of the dot at the end of a sentence was protected by the US government last week supposedly by moral Christian republicans. Yet this same lobby denies the call for a ceasefire because it will not be a “lasting” solution. Life is filled with temporary solutions because we are mortal. Life is temporary. The behaviors of the abuser are well known. There are cycles of abuse and profuse lame apologies accompanied by self justifying explanations of why the victim “deserved” it. In the case of Israel and Lebanon we have the US playing the role of the family friend who turns his back and bites his lower lip waiting for the thug to finish his violence. It is similar to the “brown shirts” who kicked and beat an innocent person while a conflicted comrade turned his back. Or perhaps also like the loan shark who has his underling break the knees of a debtor while he enjoys a peaceful dinner with his family.

Jesus explained that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities. (politics and land holders). And spiritual wickedness in high places (political/religious leaders controlled by lust and covetousness). The nature of evil is to dominate, control and possess. There is the test for exposing the evil nature of the abusive spouse as well as abusive national leaders. The test questions are: Does this entity seek to dominate? Does this entity seek to control ? Does this entity seek to possess ?

As an ambassador for the children I implore all kind people in all countries to take the side of the children in WWIII. The Lebanese children, the Iraqi children, the Israeli children, and the children of the Sudan and all other regions where children are being killed and wounded by those who worship power. No religion supports the murder of children except for those who openly worship evil. If Judaism worships an honorable and just God and the Torah teaches righteousness then prove it by your actions. If Islam means peace and a commitment to social justice then prove it by your actions. If Jesus is the Messiah with good news based on grace then prove it by your actions. If religions of the world must engage in competition let them compete in outdoing each other in acts of kindness toward children.

God creates, builds, sustains, regenerates but men are addicted to destruction. In the past men fought the battles with similar weapons. The winner of the competition won the spoils. Today however the men use women and children and disproportionate weaponry. Israel and the US have hundreds of thousands of the most advanced weapons while their opponents have home-made explosives and suicide bombs. If Israeli men and men from the surrounding areas and men from the United States want to continue competing for land and security and use the power of their religious leaders let them do it away from the children. In satire I might suggest a designated area of land set aside for military men and religious leaders to carry out their ineffective violent problem solving . As the male descendents of Ishmael and Isaac wrestle over who daddy god likes best, the women and children are left in peaceful areas where they are free to pray, worship, learn grow, dance, and create. The sign of an internationally accepted demilitarized zone is the presence of a child.

As the ambassador for the children of the world I beg all men to put aside their vengeance, desire for land, and score cards of righteousness. A war on children has been declared. Thousands each day in the world are aborted from the earth. On Sunday many very very late term abortions occurred and US Christians for the most part remained silent. Israeli children sitting in a café may be blown to bits. The lives of Arab and Persian children appear to be of little regard to those who give the commands and carry out orders. People who consider themselves kind do nothing, turn their backs, go shopping and remain silent. Jesus said “a child shall lead them” he also explained that unless you become as little children you can not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Let it be on earth as it is in heaven is my prayer. Immediately After 911 many agreed with the sentiment we are all American’s now. Many American politicians agree with the often repeated sentiment we are all Israelis now. The global cry of all kind people in Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, United States and all other nations of the world can instead be we are all children now!

As an ambassador for the children I call for a permanent ceasefire and an immediate end to the war on children. Blessed are the peacemakers let us boldly stand together for the innocents.

Authors comment: I went on record Oct 25, 2004 as one who is No Longer a Christian due to the substituted GI- Joe Jesus for the Prince of Peace who delivered the Sermon on the Mount. I am a member of the “church in exile.” I can not worship at any church which does not actively oppose the killing of children. With this article I now pledge my allegiance and declare my primary citizenship to the Kingdom of Heaven. My religion has been stolen and increasingly I am becoming a refugee in America as the Constitution is replaced with Imperial power and the Bill of Rights is erased. If I am to remain ethical and committed to kindness I must be willing to stand alone. I know there are many others who are standing alone.

Meditation: Distractions

2006-07-13T08:07:00.000-07:00

Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:33

A pleasant young couple with many friends decided to have a fancy dinner party. The announcements arrived in plenty of time. The hosts were thrilled to share their home and this extravagant gourmet dinner. They spent hours scrubbing, polishing, shopping, chopping, sautéing, roasting, and decorating. There was no expense spared on the event. Fine cheeses, wine, multiple side dishes, succulent fruits, a beef Wellington that was as much a work of art as it was the main course. For desert there was crème brulee and a crowing tiramisu. Every thing was ready and it was exquisite, A lavish labor of love! At the last minute, one by one, the guests each began to call with their excuses.

The first one said, “We would love to come but our real estate agent called and told us that our loan was approved. We want to drive out to the house again and look in the windows to figure out where we’ll place our new furniture. You are such a darling to invite us but we’ll have to take a rain check.”

The second guest called and said ,“I just picked up my new Mazda miata (it’s loaded) I was planning to drive around tonight and see how it handles in traffic. It would be great to come to your party but I really want to try this thing out I‘m sure you can understand that. Talk to you later.”

The third couple called and said, “We were going to come but since we’re still sort of newlyweds we decided to stay home and watch a movie. Sorry we didn’t call you sooner I hope it‘s not a problem.”

The young couple gazed at all the gorgeous food they had worked so hard to prepare. They were sad and angry at their friend’s indifference Refusing to let the evening be ruined, they went out into the street in front of their townhouse and around the corner to the Jiffy Mart and invited all the homeless people who hung around by the dumpster. Many of them had special needs due to their extreme mental and physical disabilities. They brought them back to their home (which wasn’t an easy thing to do). Then they realized that there was still lots of room so they went out again . This time they went further down the street to the freeway bridge and encouraged everyone to come. Everyone was blessed.

After the party the couple reasoned that never again would they invite the first three guests because they were just “too self absorbed ” and not really good friends. Luke 14:13 explains “when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind.” not those who can pay you back.

The young couple’s busy friends were each focused on planning their own futures; a dream of a better house, a fancier car, or a new romance. The scripture continues to explain that neither father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, or even our own life should prevent us from following the example of Christ on the earth. We each must take risks of rejection (take up our cross) in humility. Count the cost of kingdom citizenship. It requires commitment !

Whose are you? What are the things you spend your time and energies on? What are the things which form your identity? What holds you back from taking bold action? Do you fear rejection, gossip, poverty, ridicule, or abandonment?

“So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

Prayer: Rescuer of broken souls like mine, forgive me for false identities and tsocial status. May I not be defined by my possessions or not even by my family heritage. May I find my identity in your loving grace alone. I acknowledge my humanity and the common bond I have with those who are in need. May I share of myself and my resources with the “least of these“. Enlarge my circle of love. Amen

Action: Invite someone to dinner whom you might not normally invite because of their social class or infirmity. Or, spend some time talking to a homeless person this week and listen with an open heart to what they have to say. -Take a risk.

Meditation: Itchng Ears

2006-07-07T19:35:00.000-07:00

I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. 2 Timothy 4:1-4. See also 3:1-5

Itching and scratching is the path to power. Religious leaders and political leaders have always appealed to the desires of the people. Many believe we are living in the last days but we all agree these are perilous times.

The religious “teachers” among us are no longer our local ministers but are mega church leaders, and political operatives who use the name Christian on TV and radio to support their national goals. Jerry Fallwell has said regarding terrorists “blow them all away in the name of the Lord” Pat Robertson has called for the assassination of Venezuela’s democratically elected Hugo Chavez. And Joseph Farrah on the Christian News Network said last year “I will dedicate the next four years of my life to totally destroying Hillary Clinton.”

We have been told that there is a war on Christians but I contend there is a war for the hearts and minds of Christians. Sadly that is one war which has been going well.

I receive many forwarded e-mail messages from well meaning Christians. The topics are always the same: The poor are lazy, liberals want to destroy our nation, our founding fathers wanted our country to be completely Christian, Muslims and others are evil and we are good. Many slander people in the public eye such as Cindy Sheehan, or other peace activists and opposing political candidates. As the election in November nears, the messages and their vitriol will increase. No matter what political views one holds these are not the values of Christ.

Prayer: Help me to be persistent as I stand for the sound doctrine of love, compassion and sacrifice which you taught through Jesus your son. Help me never to seek relief of my fears or justification for my lifestyle from false teachers. May I always seek the truth and be willing to convince, rebuke and encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ to remain faithful to you. -Amen

Action:
commit yourself seeking truth in the words and teachings of Jesus by reading the words in red. (Do you have a red letter Bible?)
Inform yourself about the truth so you can be as wise as a serpent but as gentle as a dove. Research e-mail messages designed to manipulate the deceive. http://www.snopes.com/religion/religion.asp is a good place to start.
Speak truth.

Meditation: Liberty

2006-06-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Gal 5:1

Independence and liberty are words which make us stand a little taller. The gem-toned paintings of our founding fathers, images of spacious skies, amber waves of grain and purple mountain majesties cause our hearts to beat a little faster and ignite our national pride. Some boast we are a “Christian nation” and blessed by God because of our good deeds. Jesus said “no one is good, no not one.” He whom the Lord has set free shall be free indeed.

History is filled with the perpetual cycle of freedom and bondage and of powerful oppressive leaders alternating with more permissive egalitarian rule. The psychologist Erich Fromm in his book Escape from Freedom explains that it is human nature to flee the individual and national responsibilities of freedom. He came of age in Germany during WWI and was influenced by the war hysteria and the claims of the greatness of “German Christians.” at war with England. This lead him to explore the nature of freedom and oppression.

He says individuals escape freedom in three ways. Many seek a strong authoritarian leader or a king to assume responsibly for their welfare. Some, he explains, lash out with destructive acts and seek to destroy themselves or others rather than be free. Most people seek to escape freedom by going along with the crowd and disappearing into the masses.

Citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven requires courage. Modern day Christians like many early Christians, referred to in Galatians, seek to return to religious laws rather than accept grace and freedom. King Jesus rules with love and compassion. We do not need an earthly savior to rescue us from enemies, we do not need to kill those whom we fear. We do not need to hide in the crowd.

“Proud to be an American” is the refrain we will hear this week. Followers of Jesus will remember with awe the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, and the discovery that the flag is still there. Many hearts will swell with pride. It’s unpopular to remind the followers of Jesus that humility is a better indicator of our true allegiance. Rulers and Governments will come and go and citizens of earthly kingdoms will experience cycles of freedom and tyranny but citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven will remain free. Those who the Lord has set free shall be free indeed.

Prayer: Prince of peace ruler of my heart, may I remain free in my spirit and never seek salvation in earthy institutions. Help me to not give way to human fears and join with others who seek authoritarian rule. Help me not to escape freedom with acts of violence against myself or others and help me never to allow your identity on earth to be swallowed up by the crowd. Thank you for liberty and the opportunity to bear the burdens of those who are oppressed. May I remain faithful in love. All Hail King Jesus! Amen

Action: Read the first six chapters of Galatians

Meditation: Fig Trees

2006-06-23T13:11:00.000-07:00

He shall rebuke the strong nations …they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks…They shall not learn war anymore but every one shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree and no one shall make them afraid. -Micah 4: 3-4

I found faith at the farmers market. It was just a stick in a rusty coffee can but now broad leaves and sprawling branches overshadow the garden. Fig trees provided the first clothing, generous shade in the heat of the day, a year round supply of fresh and dried fruit and rich metaphors and parables. The fruitful fig tree represents faith, wisdom, and peace. These are the elements of the kingdom of heaven.

In The closing chapter of Jesus’ life on earth he cursed the fig tree for not having figs. Most think he was looking for lunch but he was looking for hope. The first fruits of the fig tree appear in early spring and are called breba. An abundance of breba predict a bountiful harvest.

He searched one last time within the Sanhedrin, the temple, the religious institutions and the religious government and found no hope. Then he issued the curse; “No man shall eat fruit from you hence forth forever.” The word “curse” did not carry the connotation of a magic spell as in modern usage. It was much more a matter of fact and the prediction of a wise gardener based on what he observed.

The first fruits, the breba were not there. When the disciples discovered the withered tree the object lesson was complete. Fig wood is weak and decays easily so every trace of the tree would soon be gone. A foretelling of the fate of man’s trust in institutions.

Adam and Eve demonstrated our human tendency to fashion, with our own hands, the garments of institutions and governments to cover our vulnerability. Modern day Christian, Jewish or Islamic governments which separate, alienate, dominate and punish bear no fruit. These trees only produce the cane for punishment.

On the other hand, the loving wisdom of the eternal gardener plants us in fertile soil and sustains us with his wisdom. The flowers of all fig trees are buried deep within the fruit and can not be seen just as the origin of the kingdom of heaven is hidden in our hearts. We thrive and produce an abundant crop of spirit fruit.

Prayer: Heavenly gardener, tender of my soul, help me not to give way to fear and seek refuge in church or state governments. May the first fruits of faith bring abundant rewards. Let love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self control issue forth from me to satisfy hungry hearts. I pledge my allegiance to your law of love. Amen

Meditation: Father's Advice

2006-06-16T14:22:00.000-07:00

A card with just the right sentiment is hard to find but Melvin Horst, my father, deserves a worthy tribute. He was a chicken farmer and is forever a sage. He planted corn and planted the seed which became my faith. Two messages he "drove home" (his expression) have served me well. He said, "Just remember who you are" and when I'm criticized for doing the right thing to "Just live above it."

His voice followed me as I left the safety of his house to enter the world, "just remember who you are...." The slapping screen door propelled the truth deep into my sprit. I knew I was to remember what I've been taught, don't go along with the crowd, and don't bring shame to my father's name. These are also the admonitions of our heavenly father.

As a child I practiced living above playground bulling, taunting, and name calling. I tried to turn the other cheek, go the second mile and practice returning kindness for insult and injury.

As an adult I practiced living above comments and accusations during divorce, rebellious actions of temporally wayward children, and irregular church attendance. Some insults are just tantalizing gossip, some are fueled by envy, some by insecurity, and many by misinformation and ignorance. Love is the answer to them all.

I write against war and social injustice and speak for peace and compassion for others. I am compelled to try to "drive the message home" on the narrow path which leads to life. In response, I have been called a "a communist", a "socialist" , a "paid propagandist", a "secular humanist", a "fake", a "phony", a "resident of La la land", "a liberal" and deemed "ignorant", "unpatriotic" and "shameful." Learning to "live above it" is a life long education.

I am encouraged as his words tumble forth, he tosses his head to the side with a shrug and a smile and my father reminds me to , "just live above it... "remember who you are." With gratitude I am forever my Father's child.

Prayer: Heavenly father whose house is filled with many mansions, we honor your love and compassion as we endure the assaults and insults which circle beneath our feet. We thank you for your secure dwellings in spiritual places where we find rest. Thank you for earthy and heavenly father love. - Amen

Action: Read about a father who forgives the greatest transgression of all, the brutal killing of his son Nicholas Berg. Michael Berg’s Father’s Day statement can be found at http://bergforcongress.us/events/FathersDay2006.php Read and prayerfully consider signing the voters for peace commitment at http://www.votersforpeace.us/ and share your commitment to peace with others in your own words and in written admonishments from others. Pass it on. http://www.peacefultomorrows.org/article.php?id=543

Meditation: Cultures and Yeast

2006-06-09T17:32:00.000-07:00

Make me an Instrument of Peace
Meditations for God’s peaceful people

Who Do you say I am ? Matthew 16: 13-18

Who do you say that I am? Each of us must answer this question. In the verses before this Jesus warned the disciples to “beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. “ Their words sound good and are socially acceptable. Then he asked, “who do men say that I am?“ There were various ideas but Peter boldly proclaimed, "you are the Christ the son of the living God.”

Jesus was teaching us to look in our hearts rather than to others for the truth. He blessed Peter for having the courage to take the risk and proclaim what he knew, in his heart, to be true. Jesus continues to ask us “who do you say that I am”. Am I the Prince Peace or the God of War? Did I come to bring judgment and punishment, or did I come to teach love?

Many today who confess to be followers of Christ see themselves as soldiers in God’s holy army literally fighting a holy war. Left Behind: Eternal Forces is a violent video game to be released this October. The player chooses either the identity of a “Christian” or that of the antichrist. Those left behind must make a choice or be blown away by the Christian soldier who is racking up points. This game is set to be marketed through the mega church network.

It would be easy to dismiss this as just a sensational one time event but given the popularity of the Left Behind book series and the growing militarism within America’s churches it should be seen as a warning to the followers of the Prince of Peace.

It is often hard to take a stand. The churches which teach the dominionist end times messages appear to be doing many good works. Some raise money for AIDS, or famine relief. Some operate food banks and shelter homes. All of them are involved in foreign missions. But, the goal is “Christian nations” and an accepted method is “holy wars”.

Again Jesus asks simply, who do you say that I am? Don’t look around you, don’t grab a religious book, don’t try to remember a phrase from Sunday School. Look inside and decide. His sheep know his voice.

Prayer: Help me listen to my heart and not be influenced by my culture. May I never be lukewarm where the leaven of today’s Pharisees can grow.

Action: Learn more about Left behind: Eternal Forces. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11567350/site/newsweek/
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-fi-godgames10may10,1,5216746.story?ctrack=1&cset=true.
Continue the studies on non-violence http://www.salsa.net/peace/conv/index.html
Boldly proclaim Christ’s love for humanity to a Christian who supports war.

This weeks meditation: Graduation Day

2006-06-02T19:07:00.000-07:00

The scripture is given for instruction in righteousness that we may be complete, thoroughly equipped for ever good work (II Tim 3:17)

Commencement often ends with the nostalgic march Pomp and Circumstance written by Sir Edward Elgar in 1901. The march was inspired by the speech in Act 3 of Shakespeare’s Othello. “pride pomp and circumstance of glorious war.” Many who graduate feel they have emerged from battle and are now set free to create for themselves a new life.

A 50 year old person with perfect Sunday School attendance has approximatly 2,190 hours of religious education. This is the equivalent of a doctorial degree. Historians debate the exact origins of the modern Sunday School but no mater which date one chooses it was started to meet the needs of society and to respond to social injustice. Many consider Robert Raikes (1780 Gloucester England) the founder of the Sunday School movement. He was the Owner and editor of the Gloucester Journal and was concerned with the injustices of child labor, debtors prisons and workhouses.

Children forced to work 6 long days a week in factories began to attend Raikes Sunday School to learn to read and write. Before the forming of a Sunday School these children formed gangs and converged in alleys. Other Sunday schools were designed to meet the needs of illiterate women in the lace and hosiery factories who were subjected to abusive working conditions with limited options. The purpose was to address the deep social disparities between rich and the poor. An employee described Raikes as “a good liberal master who paid good wages”.

Today Sunday School serves many purposes from study of scripture to discussions of current events and informal socialization. We are encouraged, gain insight and personal edification. It is a school from which one does not graduate. Injustice occurs in all nations and communities past and presence. Let us commence….

Prayer: Lord thank you for the opportunity to teach and to learn. May we remember why we assemble together and may we walk in confidence that we are thoroughly equipped for good work. Speak to the quiet places of our hearts and give us courage to face the injustices and to respond in righteousness. Amen.

Action:
Educate yourself about the School of the Americas. http://www.soaw.org/new/ It is a US military school of torture for Central and South America. Among the graduates are Manual Noriega and other terrorists from Panama, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador .The alumni of this school have participated in massacres, assassinations and the overthrow of democratically elected governments. We remember the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero and the massacre of 14-year-old Celina Ramos, her mother Elba Ramos and six Jesuit priests in El Salvador and hundreds of other human rights abuses. Closing the school would send a strong human rights message to Latin America and the world. let your voice be heard.

Next week, the week of June 5, Congress will vote on an amendment to close the School of the Americas (also known as WHINSEC) Rep. McGovern (MA) will introduce an amendment to the Foreign Operations appropriations bill to cut the funding.

Also, Continue with lessons in nonviolence. http://www.salsa.net/peace/conv/index.html

Memorial Day Meditation

2006-05-26T16:36:00.000-07:00

Make me an Instrument of Peace
Meditations for God’s peaceful people

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God. Matt. 5:9

Today’s meditation: Study War no More

There’s never been a good war nor a bad peace. (Benjamin Franklin Sept 11th 1783)

It’s always been a day of discomfort. I stood on the manicured hillside. The sweat ran down my back making the waist cinched uniform unbearable and smelling of wet wool. My physical discomfort mirrored my internal discomfort. It was memorial day and I was an Anabaptist teen in “the 60’s.” I was in the high school marching band. The taps played and my emotions were summoned to attention as I gazed out at the stark headstones. Had the soldiers felt as uncomfortable in their uniforms as I do in mine? Who were these people beneath the memorials and did they die for a noble cause? I had learned that this is a question one should not ask.

I had a lot of questions: Is it true that violence is the cost of freedom? Do others really have to die so I can live? For each soldier buried here how many others are buried in far off neighborhoods? If all wars end in negotiations then why don’t we just begin with negotiations? Is it unpatriotic to speak of the realities of war? What can the living sacrifice so this does not have to happen again?

The decorated Major General Smedley Butler wrote in the 1930’s that War is a Racket: It Always Has Been and suggests the following:

Three steps must be taken to smash the war racket... We must take the profit out of war... We must permit the youth of the land who would bear arms to decide whether or not there should be war... We must limit our military forces to home defense purposes." - Major General Smedley D. Butler - USMC Retired - Two-Time Medal of Honor Recipient

Memorial day has always been a day of discomfort - perhaps that is as it should be…

Prayer: Living God who spoke the worlds into existence, speak to our hearts today. Grant us the power of love to comfort those who mourn the beauty lost to war. Infuse us with your perfect love which casts out fear and enliven your creativity within us to resist the war cry and answer the peace cry. Let us never turn away from those who weep.

Action: Read the very short story The War Prayer by Mark Twain and begin lesson one of A Course in Non-violence

Meditation on Peas

2006-05-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

Make Me an Instrument of Peace
Meditations for God’s Peaceful People

This weeks meditation: Barnyard Meditation on Peas

There is a perfect cycle to growing peas. Vegetable scraps are thrown over the fence and gobbled up by hungry goats and chickens. The treats result in dung, filled with potential. A shovel full well placed in the garden nourishes tender sugar snap peas and results in more scraps to throw over the fence ……. The perfection of the cycle is worthy of worship!

There is a similar cycle to growing peace. Words and actions of peace are distributed across fences. Our efforts always yield results which hold great potential. If lies, violence and war remain in society untouched by the caretakers they become increasingly more offensive, toxic, and repulsive. But, with will and wisdom even the most vile can be used to grow peace and understanding.Today there is a lot of dung and the field is fertile for peace plantings.

We must place love over the fences and the seeds of our will must fall to the ground and die daily in fertile soil. Let the Sun of God and showers of his blessings build strong plants producing fruit. The cycle continues…Prayer:

Oh Lord, let my will die in fertile soil and my love reach over fences. May I never grow weary of planting peace - Amen

Action: Plant a seed of peace today. forward this meditation to those on your e-mail list. Together our small actions can yield a bountiful harvest. This is the first in a series or meditations. Each Saturday ECAPC will provide a peacemaking meditation, prayer and call to action to encourage peacemaking. Print the meditations and pass them along to other church members tomorrow and post them on bulletin boards at church and at work.

by karen horst cobb and published weekly on http://ecapc.org

Jesus Isn't Magic

2006-05-21T07:35:00.000-07:00

Recite the sinners prayer, get baptized, and abracadabra a member of clergy or laity proclaims you are saved. No matter what the magicians of the church have told you Jesus’ words and actions have meaning! He taught us how to live in love in a world dominated by oppressive, possessive and heavy-handed power. Governments seek to use his identity to rally the people but “believing in his name” demands a change of allegiance. To be alive in Christ requires being dead to ego identity. Formerly self -serving, a follower of Jesus now serves him by serving others. When he said believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved he was not referring to the letters of the English alphabet. J…E…S…U…S.

His name is not just part of religious craft to conjure up an eternal spell. Instead, he was referring to character traits. He is the son of God and he explained that we are his brothers and sisters if we live by his principles of love, compassion and surrender.

Many Christians in America prayed the Sinners Prayer in a stadium at a Billy Graham crusade or at a church alter while the choir sang “Just as I am with out one plea…to rid my soul of one dark blot…..I come.” In the prayer the person says, I know I ‘m a sinner, I believe you sent Jesus to die on the cross and rise again so I can be forgiven, I want Jesus in my heart so all my sins are forgiven, help me in my walk in faith. ……Abrahacadabra I‘m in! (I added that last part). The prayer is a good beginning but the core of what it means to take up ones cross and follow Christ seems to have gotten lost with sleight of hand.
Being saved is not about entering into the cosmic magician’s disappearing chamber until the dramatic moment. It is about accepting forgiveness and freedom from guilt by faith. That, however, is just the beginning. Dieing to self-interest, ego and all other identities requires courage and risk. We die to family identity, national identity, racial identity, religious identity. All that is not Love must die. The magic Jesus enters the heart by hocus pocus. The revolutionary Jesus enters the heart in surrender of self interest. Now you see him now you don’t is the reality of the magic Jesus but a steady light shining in the darkness reveals the living god to the world.

In the sinner’s prayer, “lead me in my walk of faith” alludes to some sort of service on behalf of humanity but it is unclear and certainly not the main motivation to become a follower of Christ. The focus again and again is on what one gets in exchange. Let’s see… I just admit I’m a sinner and then in return I get to feel less guilty, I get to be blessed by God, I get to go to heaven where there are streets of gold, I get to avoid eternal damnation and burning of my flesh forever. In many churches now I am promised I will get rich and I have political power. Hmm… seems like a good deal. I’ll take it. Abracadabra A-men!

Rather than the magic Jesus, there is a very real and powerful Christ whose teachings continue drawing the world to his kingdom community from many neighbors. Ironically, many who preach about absolutes and literal interpretations use situational ethics and complicated arguments to explain that Jesus did not mean what he said. The leaders of magical Christianity have a horrible dilemma. How can people be manipulated and controlled if they believe in the radical love of Christ and his forgiveness? Some have said that the opposite of love is indifference and some say the opposite of love is control. What we see in the church today is control and indifference. There is a desire to control others and indifference to their suffering. People who want to be followers of Christ must love their neighbors, love their enemies and love the living God.

Love your neighbor as yourself sums up all the commandments. Every one knows neighbors can be a good source for tools or an occasional cup of sugar. But, where does our neighborhood end? Is it the houses on each side or the whole street? When Jesus was asked how far this loving has to go he wisely told a story of the good Samaritan. He was speaking in Galilee which had continually been at war with Samaria. He selected the clan and class of people who were most hated and despised by the upstanding Jewish community in Galilee.

The first to come by the beaten bleeding man was a priest who did not want to defile himself by touching a dead person. Since he did not know if the man was dead he walked on by, choosing the law rather than love. The second was a Levite whose concern was money and the collecting of tithes. He too looked and “passed by”. The third was the Samaritan who was considered to be an enemy, of a different race and religion. Unlike the others, he had empathy and compassion. He administered first aid and then took the victim to an inn and paid all the current and future expenses. He was not limited in his love by religious law, concerns of risk or the cost. He was a neighbor because he loved and he loved because he was a neighbor.

The teachings of Jesus do still have meaning! It’s not just magic. Our neighbors are everywhere. They are in Iraq, they are in Iran, they are in Israel, they are in Palestine, they are in Mexico, they are in our border towns and in our work places. They are black, white, homosexual, heterosexual, Democrats, Republicans, Christians, atheists, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Pagans…..The neighborhood of the kingdom of God is ever increasing and the command to love our neighbors and our enemies is just as important today as it was in Galilee 5,000 years ago.

The consequence of loving our neighbors around the globe is likely to result in a peaceful neighborhood but that is not why we love. Everyone knows that stealing and destroying the homes of our neighbors will bring retaliation. Magical Christians justify stealing natural resources from distant lands and destroying homes and families while identifying religious and political righteousness as entitlement. Jesus reminds us that our righteousness is as filthy rags. Many caught up in the acts of the magical Christians just remain silent and pass by their neighbors in Iraq, Palestine and Iran like the Priest and the Levite. They have accepted stage magic for the redemptive love of Christ. There are dangerous and fearful people who will stop at nothing to fight for what they want. Jesus taught us how to respond to them as well.

He said that under old testament law you can only do to others what they had done to you. An eye for and eye or a tooth for a tooth. Jesus however, taught a radical risky approach to violence which is the opposite of “human nature. “ God nature teaches us to “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, pray for those who despitefully use you.” Christians who are waiting in the magicians box with the false bottom are waiting to reappear in heaven after Armageddon. They argue that Jesus never meant his words to be taken literally. They explain it would be crazy to take them at face value because it defies human nature. Exactly, it is Christ’s nature- the whole point or redemption. Ironically, the most revolutionary admonition of Christ which holds the key to the Kingdom is dismissed. Which enemies are we to love? Perhaps for magic Christians “an enemy” is just the woman at work who consistently snatches the last doughnut or gossips about them.

Jesus was talking about brutal painful acts of violence (eye for an eye- tooth for a tooth) not the just the office gossip. He clearly explained the cost of following him. Sometimes a soft word turns away wrath but history has also shown us that sometimes it doesn’t. The outcome does not determine the righteousness of the action. Magic Christians clearly have hidden the meaning of this command up their sleeves. Today they justify violence against enemies explaining that we are dealing with good verses evil and never in history has there been such a battle as the one which rages today . They explain we have “evil” people who be-head others, and suicide bombers who kill innocent people. They quake in fear saying our culture is debased and sinful unlike any in the history of human kind.

This is blatantly false! Be-headings are as old as time. Magical Christians throughout history beheaded many and thought they were righteous. Brutal attacks on Jesus’ followers were common and many were killed for sport. Domination and control of others is as old as time. The “culture wars” have been waging since the word of God spoke the world into existence. Women have always known which herbs and interventions end pregnancies. All societies have had interests in managing the populaton. Homosexuality also has always existed in societies. At times there were homosexual prostitutes in the temples as in ancient Canaanite ritualistic practices. There have always been territorial disputes, religious fighting, and someone is always threatening the annihilation of others. Jesus said “do not fear those who can destroy the body but be concerned about those who can destroy the soul.“ The sleight of hand stage magic Christianity has done a lot of hocus pocus with Jesus’ commandments to love our neighbors and our enemies and distorted what it means to love the living God.

The love of God is gone from the hearts of those who call themselves by his name. Magical Christians are nervous when fiction writers question the church, when archeologists announced they found the book of Judas, or scientists claim to disprove long held details of Christian belief. If Jesus is just about a magical carpet ride to heaven to escape damnation then it really matters what people say or science proves. Their lives depend on it! But, if Jesus is about character and the meaning of his words and life are written on our hearts we remain unshaken. A million “discoveries” could be made about his life but the truth and power of his words and actions remain. If Christian magicians believe they possess absolute truth why do they fear the questions?

Loving God, loving our neighbors and loving our enemies is the only way to respond to power, fear and oppression. It is not a strategy but a commandment. The powers of this world seek to divide us from one another and foment fear and hatred between us. Radio and television personalities who carefully chose their words are increasingly choosing words to outrage, stir up vitriol, and foment race wars and religious wars. Followers of magic are led along by emotion and succumb to the situational ethics and justifications for violence and hatred . Those who seek to manipulate through fear to dominate, control and wield power promise to safeguard our race and our people and the freedom and independence of our homeland. These are the same promises Hitler made to the good German people. Those who seek to save their life will lose it and those who lose their life for Christ’s love will find it. (Matthew 16:25) Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. (Matthew 10:28)
Jesus isn’t magic. His love and teachings are revolutionary.

TV Interview by Hesham Tillawi

2006-04-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

Author's comment:

I am committed to speaking the message of Jesus whenever and wherever I am welcomed. It is the cry of my heart that the Church which professes to be built on the lordship of Jesus Christ come back to his teachings of love, compassion and forgiveness. When I discovered that some of Dr. Tillawi's other guests and contributors to his website are names which are now, or have been in the past, linked to extreme racism of various stripes I took pause and questioned if I should participate.

Then I remembered how Jesus acted and reacted to the people and issues of his time. He went where he was welcomed and taught about the kingdom of heaven which is at hand. A kingdom where the weak are strong, the poor are rich and the servant is the master. An upside down kingdom which is the antithesis of power, strength and domination of others and agression. In his kingdom his followers lead the way by being servants and loving their enemies and by standing steadfast in love in the face of oppressive power.

It is ironic but it seems the last place today anyone wants to hear of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control, and how that can be manifested in our world is America’s Churches. The Church, for the most part, is now the government and does the government’s bidding or remains silent while we go to war in the name of good vs. evil. The call to return to a sold out faith in Jesus and his words and example is only welcomed on left wing websites and programs like Current Issues who present views I do not hold.

Jesus commands us to go where we are welcome and to shake the dust from our shoes when his message is rejected. That is what I believe I have done.
The guest interviewed just before me was introduced in the following way:

"Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi (MD, MSc.) is an active participant in the building of a democratic Palestinian civil society and is one of the most prominent leaders of the Palestinian struggle." http://www.palestinemonitor.org/nueva_web/

Dr Mustafa Barghouthi (MD, Msc.) , an elected Palestinian peace activist, shows us that even in the worst violence there is a rational for peaceful actions. In fact, peace is the only hope for the oppressed.

The words and teachings of Jesus are included in the Koran and true Muslims are well acquainted with love, compassion and forgiveness. We all believe in a living God who made heaven and earth and a God who cares deeply for his children. This is a good place to start to heal the pain of war. Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi Said, “Respect…..there is no other way” when speaking of Palestine and Israel. He is calling for an "international peace Conference" to help the Palestinians. I was pleased to follow this hopeful, peaceful man.

Dr Tillawi was kind and respectful and the interview was a pleasant experience. I tried to convey the character of Christ in what I said. The internet audience for this program includes those who have been ravaged by war and who are seeking alternatives to violence. Clearly I do not support hate speech of any sort and condemn all forms of racism and violence and I made that very clear in the interview.

The plight of the Palestinians is seldom addressed in our media. The suicide bombers are revealed but the politics which helped to create this level of violence and desperation are not discussed. When it is, accusations of anti-Semitism are made. Conversely, most know of the political power of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the newly formed Christians United for Israel (CUI).

Unfortunately, uniting with Israel in a military way will result in the killing of more Palestinians and other Arabs who have been displaced from their land and are currently living in the largest prison ever created and guarded by armed Israeli soldiers. This is a reality Christians must face if they accept the commonly held beliefs of end time events as interpreted in popular fiction novels. Jesus would never justify the killing of an Arab or a Jewish child (or any other). He came to set us all free to live together in peace not returning violence for violence. Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword.

Please be reminded of these facts as you listen to the interview or if you explore the Current Issues website. I am an ambassador for Christ wherever I speak.

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE INTERVIEW

Here is a link to the Current Issues website

Divine Mushroom cloud: Come let us worship

2006-04-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

Divine Mushroom Cloud: a Call to Worship
By Karen Horst Cobb
On June 2nd the god of America will be paraded before the people of the earth causing them to tremble in fear. Americans will again marvel as they worship the god of their own creation. Just like the restless Israelites in the desert who grew inpatient with god and fashioned a golden calf to protect them we have grown inpatient with god and fashioned a shiny idol of power. Southern Methodist University are working with the new clergy of death who have named it Divine Strake.
The 700 tons of explosives designed to simulate the effects of a nuclear weapon will create a glorious mushroom cloud. The goal of the ammonium nitrate and fuel to be detonated on Shoshone land will cover Las Vegas with a mushroom cloud and will measure 3.5 on the Richter scale. Some believe it is in violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation treaty which banned all testing for nuclear weapons. This simulated explosion will show the “enemy” and the war planners how the real thing will impact the ground and the air in which a nuclear bomb is detonated. Specifically, it is designed to simulate using a tactical nuclear weapon on underground facilities like the ones we are told exist in Iran. If this were the real thing the death toll would be huge, people would be incinerated in a flash with no chance to “duck and cover”, much of Nevada would be contaminated with radiation. For any who might survive in the surrounding area they would experience a curse of cancers and deformities which may effect their children and their children’s children. The evidence of America’s idolatry is clear. We have named it Divine, worship it in our churches and trust in its power.
The names for our God used to be the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace but the names of America’s idol are Divine Hates, Divine Helcat, Divine War Hawk and we practice nuclear stockpile stewardship. Many people who identify themselves as being born again , who profess to be dead to self and alive in Christ, now put their trust in and honor the development and use of nuclear weapons. It seems that a massive shell game of mass destruction has occurred. The wizards of treachery have taken away the love of Jesus while his worshipers were distracted by politics. They have been manipulated by fear but Jesus said, “ perfect love casts out fear.”
Perhaps it is because many are unhappy in their daily lives due to relationship problems, economic difficulties or feelings of being disconnected. Perhaps they fear some impending doom and want to quickly alleviate their discomfort with the belief that there is a mighty force which can prevent more harm from reaching our shores. Perhaps they want to just “bring it on” so there are no scary surprises in the future. Perhaps they have an emotional need to believe they and their families are more valuable to God than those of other lands and cultures.
The Israelites who experienced the same human anxieties responded in the same way. They fashioned a golden calf which represented their need to find security against hunger, poverty and attack. They gave of their wealth to create it and celebrated their ingenuity and their ability to make a god. We read that God was angry with the people for corrupting themselves and for forgetting his promises to them. They trusted in the golden calf as they made peace offerings to it and believed it would protect them from the evil doers. After they had given their resources to the effort and confessed their faith in its ability to protect them they continued to party. Much as today’s Christians supported invading the middle east after September 11 and then went shopping.
Clearly when the nuclear genie was first summoned from the bottle the nation gathered round and worshiped the power of their ingenuity. The Israelites began to follow the pillar of cloud after they repented from idolatry . We however, are following the mushroom cloud of our false god of divine hate and testing its power in the Nevada desert. Each year at tax time we contribute our wealth just like the gold smelters in the desert did when they took off their gold earrings to fashion the shiny calf. We sign our continuing pledge on our tax returns and offer our resources to our devouring nuclear god. As a nation we look for aggressive leaders who are able to bully the rest of the world. We bring out our god and parade it before our enemies and boast of its power.
Just like the Israelites in the desert we beg for a god to go before us so no harm comes our way. The actions of the fearful and proud calf worshipers of ancient times resulted in the Ten Commandments. The first and greatest is “you shall have no other Gods before me” (Exodus 34:12) and the other nine Jesus summed up as loving your neighbor as your self. Clearly many Christians in America have broken the first and greatest commandment which results in the breaking of all the rest. We can not embrace our neighbors with mushroom clouds. The nuclear god is a jealous god who will consume us all. We clearly have named our idol divine and support its worship in many of our churches.
Some leaders of America’s churchesremain silent on the topic of war while others proclaim its glory. Most embrace the writings and teachings of St Augustine. When Rome was sacked by the Visigoths, the non-resistant Christians were blamed. Just war theory provided a way out of adherence to the peaceful teachings of Christ. It was a way to merge Christianity and nationalism. The church in America conveniently applied and mis-applied the principles of Just war to rally the political Christians to support the war in Iraq. This embracing of violence works well for most church leaders since many of their parishioners work for companies who have military contracts, or have family members in the military as our state religion advances.
The trust in military might by many religious leaders is obvious. There are many blatant examples among political Christians. Jerry Falwell stated on CNN, Blow them all away in the name of the lord.” He and others like him are Zion’s Christian Soldiers. The Council for national policy (CNP) is the group of America’s political preachers and leaders who worship the divine weapons and meet in secret. These efforts are fueled as the parishioners of mainline denominations are influenced by the para-church organization Promise Keepers. These well attended meetings are held in stadiums and attended by thousands as they support and honor the common perception of men as military aggressors. There are smaller para-church organizations which are drawing believers of all demographics into idolatry of military might. We named it Divine, we worship it and we give it power to protect us from evil.

As you have been told over and over,” All options are on the table when it comes to Iran. Our president has told us he is the “decider” of who the evil doers are and who deserves to be killed. We are trusting in a man to use our man made god to destroy a perception of “evil”. If the president’s war planners carry out their plans many agree it would be the active beginning of WWIII. The nations of the world are already choosing sides and will contribute their own divine weapons to the efforts. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO) gives us an idea of how the two sides of a nuclear war will shake out.
Will we use a nuclear weapon against a threat which does not yet exist and call upon the god of this world the god of power, dominance and military might. Robert Oppenheimer called the atomic bomb the destroyer of worlds. It has become our source of wealth, power, and the focus of our technology. We have made a deal with the devil and worship at the feet of destructive power. Many Christians won’t publicly say they put their trust in our nuclear arsenal but secretly they breathe a sigh of relief that we have a national god of our very own and possess Divine weapons. Our trust in this powerful entity makes it easier to pursue the American dream and just keep shopping and owning more stuff to fill the love shaped hole in our hearts.
There are some Christians who have renounced the god of war, but more of our church leaders just remain silent. Is there any act of violence that our government could do which would cause church leaders who profess their love for the teaching of Jesus to make bold statements of love?. There is tortureand they remain silent, there is imprisonment without chargesand they remain silent, There are anal probesand sexual humiliation and they remain silent, there are children and women taken hostages, and they remain silent. There is the use of depleted uraniumweapons which cause heinous birth defects and they remain silent, there are bomblets which children think are toys but which blow off limbs and kill them and the Christian leaders remain silent, There is the hell fire use of white phosphorousand they remain silent. There are proud boastful leaders who use Jesus’ name while committing acts of extortion, thievery, and domination and falsely hold themselves up as martyrs for the false Christian god. Yet, most church leaders remain silent.
If the nuclear god is called upon to save us will they continue to remain silent? Will they continue to worship the power of the mushroom cloud in our churches? Is there any thing of Christ’s words and example for which church leaders will take a stand? Is there any egregious act from which they can not look away? Those who live by the bomb will die by the bomb! This statement is not some sort of esoteric spiritual magic but is a result of natural consequences and the wisdom of the Living God. Sin is sin because the natural consequences are sure destruction. Death and destruction has been pronounced divine, churches preach it from the pulpit and look away from it’s hellish fire destruction and human suffering.
Some want to ignore the issue and wash their hands of responsibly by repeating statements concerning the inevitable destruction of the “last days“. Some repeat sentiments of old time hymns, “this world is not my home.” Some voice the belief that we are to honor our leaders whom Christ placed in power. Or overwhelmed by the immensity of the situation, some acknowledge it’s bad but just sigh, " what can you do?" There still is time to return to the peaceful message of Jesus. There is a Christ -like remnant, a church in exile and strong peace churches. Begin today to speak out.
Perhaps these are the “last days” but do you want to be on the side of love and compassion or on the side of death suffering and destruction? Will you be found worshiping the power of the living God or the power of the idol of death? Like it or not, for now this world is our home. Maybe you do not value your earthly existence but your earthy family members will suffer and die without you speaking a word of protest. In fact you will have contributed to the mass destruction. In a representative government the citizens are the leaders and responsible for influencing the laws. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't but it is our responsibility to try. Yes it is bad but you can and you must do everything in your power to speak out to prevent the use of nuclear weapons.
The test on June 2nd , the trial run of the use of a nuclear weapon is still six weeks away. Perhaps we can make a difference and change the course of history. Everyone has three people representing them in Washington where the powers are unleashed. We each have two US senators and one US representative. If you don’t know how to contact yours find out.. Start by speaking out and shaping the actions of our representative government. Then ,work to make every church a peace church and live out of love and compassion. Chose ye this day whom you will serve.

Karen Horst Cobb wrote No Longer a Christian and No Longer a Christian - Part II published by CommonDreams.org in the fall of 2004. She is a mother and a grandmother, and with God’s grace, tries to follow the example of Christ as she speaks Christ’s message to the world that there is no Government Issue Jesus (GI-Joe Jesus.) cairnhcobb@msn.com

IF THE WAR GOES ON

2006-03-26T14:57:00.000-08:00

2006-03-26T14:29:00.000-08:00

Above is an audio clip of a new song I just came across. I sang it into the phone which explains the quality of the recording. At least you can get the idea.
The words and the music are at
http://peace.mennolink.org/resources/ifthewargoeson.html

How true are these words?

IF THE WAR GOES ON

If the war goes on and the children die of hunger,
and the old men weep, for the young men are no more,
and the women learn how to dance with out a partner,
who will keep the score?

If the war goes on and the truth is taken hostage,
and new terrors lead to the need to euphemize;
when the calls for peace are declared unpatriotic,
who'll expose the lies.

If the war goes on and the daily bread is terror,
and the voiceless poor take the road as refugees;
when a nation's pride destines millions to be homeless,
who will heed their pleas?

If the war goes on and the rich increase their fortunes,
and the arms sales soar as new weapons are displayed;
when a fertile field turns to no man's land tomorrow,
who'll approve such trade.

If the war goes on, will we close the doors to heaven?
If the war goes on, will we breach the gates of hell?
If the war goes on, will we ever be forgiven?
If the war goes on...

SPEECH:Just Remember Who You Are

2006-03-25T20:55:00.000-08:00

Christians:Just Remember who you Are
Speech 3/19/06 Gainesville FL
By Karen Horst Cobb

Introduction
When fascism comes to American it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross. Sinclair Lewis 1935 (from- It Can't Happen Here)

When I was a child I wondered if I would have been brave enough to hide Anne Frank in my attic but, I never considered I could some day be the one needing to be hidden.

Lindsey Graham (R. SC) recently appealed to the attorney General:
“The administration has not only the right, but the duty, in my opinion, to pursue Fifth Column movements,” (Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on Feb. 6. 2006)

Radio personalities have suggested that all the war demonstrators and “liberals who hate America” are giving “aid and comfort to the enemy “and should be rounded up. It looks like those who refuse to believe that all Muslims are extremists, or who want the US to follow the Geneva Convention, or want to preserve the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. or want the Red Cross to visit our prisons, or want the U.S. to adhere to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, all might fall within the definition of the 5th column.

Just weeks before, KBR was awarded a $365 million contract by Homeland Security to build new detention camps for an unexpected influx of immigrants, to house people in the event of a natural disaster or for new programs that require additional detention space.”

-This artist needs to know-Do FEMA camps have arts and crafts?-

I don’t know if I have quite risen to the 5th column status but I have written a few things that have gained some attention. Someone once warned that I have “risen above the media radar and I will never be able to go back “ So be it. My message is simple and clear. Just remember who you are.

My father used to say that when I was ready to leave the house. “Just remember who you are!” I knew exactly what that meant. It meant remember what you’ve been taught, Be bold and have courage to resist peer pressure, and don’t bring shame to my name.

Remembering right from wrong
Many of us do remember what we’ve been taught in Sunday School. Exodus 20- the law given to Moses -gives a checklist of what is right. We know the 10 commandments. Not long ago the battle to allow a giant block of stone with the 10 laws in the center of the Alabama Courthouse caused quite a stir. Political Christians demanded it was their right while constitutional scholars said it violated Article Six of the constitution -barring religious tests for public office.

The Christian- reconstructionists want to establish a government ruled by God- a theocracy. Some of them seek to hold all of culture to the letter of Old Testament law. Dr. James Kennedy says in his book "Christians did not start the culture war but...we are going to end it. That is a fact, and the Bible assures us of victory." Rousas John (R.J.) Rushdoony with ties to the forming of the Rutherford Institute have gone as far are to call for public executions and public participation in stoning homosexuals, disobedient children adulterers and many others. They suggest stoning is a good way to enforce the law. Many people love the law just as rich religious leaders did during Jesus time. It makes them feel good to check off the list and make sure their not sinful or evil.

The religious power brokers never argue about the fruits of the spirit which result from the law of the New Testament- the New covenant-the New Promise! The New Contract. Now, that would be a contract with America. Imagine a monument constructed with the character traits of a a follower of Jesus- the fruit of the spirit. They are Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self control-imagine that- in our publics buildings. Jesus said “against such things there is no law” Better yet, imagine if all those who sat in judgment in our courts demonstrated the fruit of the spirit.

It would be hard to punish poor women who believed they can’t care for another child or sentence the retarded to lethal injection. It would be impossible to rule that inflicting pain to get information is not torture until it reaches the point of organ failure (that is the current ruling of the attorney general- anything short of organ failure is not legally torture.) It would be impossible to take hostages, hold innocent people prisoner, inflict economic sanctions which deny people food, water and medicine to coerce them into doing what is in our best interests.

Jesus said all the laws are summed up in just two. Love the lord your God with all you heart soul mind and strength and love your neighbor as your self. He then went on and told the story of the good Samaritan just so there would never be any question . We are to love everyone on the planet. The good Samaritan had a different language, skin color, and religion. Samaria and Galilee were in constant battle. Their citizens were considered enemies of one another.

The religious men of the day were not willing help. They were afraid of being defiled because they feared he was dead and the law insisted that they not touch a dead person. Their adherence to the letter of the law kept them from having compassion and taking a risk. It was the “heathen” the one considered to be spiritually inferior who was moved to compassion.

Those who love the law gaze lovingly at their own glory and righteousness. These are the ones who want to punish people severely for sexual sins and identify who is deserving of God’s love, protection and support. Many say the bible is unclear about war but is very clear about sexual sin. They say that there are “just wars” that killing evil people is a Christian duty and sexual sins are an abomination to god.

The same people who take many other things literally disregard Jesus command to , “Love your enemies, Bless those who curse you, Pray for those who despitefully use you“. You know -the hard stuff! The stuff that involves personal sacrifice. They disregard Jesus commandment and warnings about even harming the hair on the head of a little child. These Followers of the old covenant actually use the name of Christ -Christ-ians to not only harm the hairs of little children but to use daisy bombs, depleted uranium weapons, rocket launchers and white phosphorous to blow off arms and legs and faces and burn the flesh until there is nothing left but blackened bones lying in the desert. Jesus said don’t harm a hair on their head. It was very clear!

Many today who use the name of Jesus use it in vain. (remember that was something we were commanded not to do) Most of our political leaders identify themselves as followers of Christ. They have judged who is good (that would be them) and who is evil (that would be anyone who does not cooperate with them) Our enemies were told by a “christian” that “the American lifestyle is not negotionable” At that point followers of Jesus should have taken to the streets, sent letters and e-mails and loudly proclaimed to the world that American Christians are willing to negotiate our life style if it means that others could live. Sadly perhaps this might not be true. As a nation we have not been the good Samaritan in the world today. I was willing to negotiate. I could give up one car, coordinate my trips to town. Wear more sweaters this winter, put solar panels on my house…..I would have done anything to prevent the “shock and awe” and the harming of the hairs on the heads of little Arab children.

Those who disregard Jesus’ very clear statements are saying that Jesus did not mean what he said or that he wasn’t a very clear communicator. He meant what he said! He was very clear! and THEN just in case his words weren’t enough he demonstrated what it looks like to love us to death. There is no way to miss what he is saying unless one wants to miss it. -Being a follower of Christ requires sacrifice of lifestyle, being willing to endure hardship, taking personal risks and responding to terror with love. That is what it means to be a Christ-ian. It is understandable that a president or government leader would feel a need at times to defend a country or to go to war but it should never be blamed on Jesus or attributed to his desire.

I wish the name of Jesus had not been dragged onto the bloodied battle field. I wish I did not have to speak publicly against the defaming of Jesus name. I wish I didn’t have to take a political stand but since his name has been dragged onto the battle field, his character defamed, his name taken in vain, I’m compelled His name is now associated with death and destruction of men women and children, communities and culture. I have no choice but to take a stand.

We do know right from wrong because Jesus gave everything he had to communicate it to us. We have his words, we have his stories we have his example of unconditional love and forgiveness. We had the old law written in stone but we have the new law written on our hearts. We had the old law which is enforced with stoning and animal sacrifices and the new law which is encouraged with love, compassion and Jesus’ death. We have the old law which condemns and we have the new law which sets us free. We have the old law which has passed away and the new law which will remain forever. It is simple, it is clear, it demands taking a risk and loving in the face of fear. It takes not going along with the crowd.

Be bold and couragous
Be angry and sin not! What a challenge. Jesus’ clearing the money changer from the temple is often used to support Christian’s use of violent force to intimidate and bring fear. -to terrorize. When I read this scripture I see a much different picture. It encourages me to be bold.

Imagine the temple-no doubt built of bricks -perhaps like adobe buildings in New Mexico. Usually buildings in desert regions have very few windows, thick walls and stone floors a heavy door which is opened in the afternoon. There is little ventilation and high temperatures. Imagine a courtyard close to the entrance filled with goats and sheep and foul, hundreds of temple sacrifices each day.- day in and day out. -The humid pungent smell and stains of fresh blood and burnt and burning flesh. The bleating sheep and goats, the squeaking foul all facing eminent death. Fresh manure baking on the stone pavement and bird droppings mingling with the smell of burning sins. The commoners standing in line spending hard earned money to buy the animals so they can kill them and become free from the guilt the rich pious merchants rabbis loaded them down with as they added on to the torah and created the Talmud of impossible laws to observe. The senseless killing of animals while hungry worshipers who go home feeling only a little less guilty.

Imagine the heart of Christ.- Knowing he was to be the sacrifice to end all sacrifices. He the -once and for all- sacrificial lamb. No more needless animal sacrifices to assuage the guilt inflicted by impossible laws. No more standing in line, giving ones last dime to the golden coffers of the temple. The manipulations of the Sadducees and Pharisees would be over, their religious empires would be toppled. The people and the animals would be set free for noble purposes.

I’ve read this passage in several bibles. Depending on the translation or version one gets a different picture. In my grandpas Self-pronouncing ss teachers combination bible (showing in simple form all changes, additions, and omission made by the revisers in the king James Version - copyrighted in 1895) It looks like Jesus just picked up a few cords (I suspect used to transport the animals or tied around the legs of the foul) It just says cords laying near by. He tied a knot in the end of each and chased out the animals then he came back and over turned the tables of the money changers. I can’t see that he whipped any people. We have to realize that many things we just take for granted are really a result of the imaginations of renaissance painters. who came out of a very dark time. I remember the pictures in bible story books showing the money changers with terror in their eyes and their fore arms extended to protect their faces from a mighty whip. Some even show bloodied victims of Jesus wrath or Jesus with hate filled eyes. I find no evidence he committed any act of violence.

If God sees the sparrow fall, if he leaves the 99 to look for the little lost sheep how could it be possible he would inflict violence on other human beings. And if I can feel compassion and empathy for the people who stood in line and the animals whose death was certain I am sure that the source of all love and compassion -Jesus himself- was responding out of love.

Here is a little aside concerning animals: I am an animal lover and since I have goats and chickens (and a few pigeons who came to live with them,) And, I’ve been around sheep and will soon be caring for several alpacas - I sit up and pay attention when animals are mentioned in the bible. Goats and sheep especially are part of desert culture and used as metaphor to explain spiritual principles. Jesus is the good Shepard and his sheep know his voice (they know whose they are).

I have to admit I am always bothered to read that the sheep and goats will be separated and the sheep will go to the right hand of God and the goats will “burn in hell when Christ returns.” I always thought that sheep were identified as more virtuous than goats because they just follow along and don’t cause trouble. This doesn’t seem right to me as a follower of Christ because I seem to be getting into a lot of trouble these days just by repeating his words. So last time I went to visit Tammy the rancher who has herds of both sheep and goats (and admits she knows nothing about the bible) I asked her what she saw as the main difference between the herds. She quickly responded that Sheep are much more peaceful but goats are always competing for dominance. I suspect this is the reason Jesus uses the sheep analogy -they are peaceful and live in community well - they know his voice. But sheep are not easily startled and fearful.

How do we find the courage to stand against the religious money changers of our time? How do we love so much that we are compelled to speak out? To set the captives free from the weight of religious fundamentalism which demands seed faith money, sells magic cloths, and rugs and fancy boxed sets of books and tapes and cartoons and Jesus junk. Or those who tell people that God is punishing them for their sins in hurricanes and heart disease and is calling for assignations.

Following my recent article America‘s moral Decline and the Rise of False Christianity in which I identified the overflowing coffers of today’s megachruches someone responded saying it is necessary to have big budgets and elaborate electronics and studios because they are competing for the minds of children for video games and cartoons. I hadn‘t thought much about it but I replied that one of the best ways to teach a bible story is while it is happening. When you stop to help the homeless man or give a ride to someone who is stranded. That makes an impression our children tell to their friend and they will never forget the principles.

How do we find courage in a world which loves to promise security. Financial security, social security, homeland security. We have used our fears to wall us off from loving, from community, from taking risks, from speaking truth to religious dominionists.

Even in our good deeds we are not bold. We take the safest way out. I have often thought that if Matthew 25 were written for 2006 it would read. I was hungry and you gave me a map to the food bank, I was thirsty and you gave me lemonade powder so if I find water I can really enjoy it. I was a stranger and you reported me to the nicest INS agent. I was sick and in prison and you called your minister to drop off a pamphlet to let me know that God cares.

It takes boldness and courage to follow the narrow path. The gate is narrow and the path is hard.-If you noticed that the gate you went through was massive and that there are a lots people traveling with you on the easy way it is a good Idea to turn around, go back and then -find that narrow gate. This path is not a path of safety or security just ask Tom Fox and Rachel Corrie. There are steep edges, stumbling blocks. low hanging branches, twists and turns, there are homeless people along the way, there are loud hate filled preachers who stand in your way. There are dieing people, there are starving people there are people with illness and disease, there are prisoners, detainees, Republicans and Democrats and government agents who try to deter you from the narrow path. Just remember whose you are! Don’t go along with the crowd and bring honor to my name.

Bring Honor to Christ’s name
For many of us (especially Mennonites) our last names are held in high regard. Who is you father, who is your mother, who are your brothers and sisters and uncles, aunts and cousins. What is your family legacy? Have you brought shame or honor to your family? This is the question followers of Christ need to ask.

How have our actions or lack of actions reflected on the name of Christ. What do people know about my heavenly father after having met me? What do people around the world think of those who say they are imitators of Christ? I wonder if Moslems are wanting to convert to Christianity these days? Is there really a war on Christians? (If there is -it is just getting started ).

It is not because America’s Christians are acting too much like Christ or loving too much that people hate them, or that they are too generous, or too empathetic. It is because they are not acting like Christ at all. They are using his name to condone greed and violence and hasten Armageddon. Why do they hate us? I wonder----

Let’s remember whose we are, discern right from wrong and take bold action! Then we will bring honor back to his name. I challenge you this week to read the words in red and be courageous for Christ. ………….“just remember who you are”

Up coming events

2006-03-10T16:14:00.000-08:00

I have several speaking engagements in FL in the coming week. I will be in the Sarasota/Pinellas area from the 14th to the 18th. On the 19th I will be speaking at Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Gainesville and participating in a vigil in the afternoon We will be remembering the anniversary of the Iraq invasion.

ARTICLE:America's Moral Decline and the Rise of a False Christianity

2006-03-10T13:41:00.000-08:00

Published on Thursday, February 16, 2006, by CommonDreams.org
America's Moral Decline and the Rise of False Christianity
by Karen Horst Cobb

“This is the year God wants to make you a millionaire.” The visiting evangelist stomped back and forth on the stage of the rented school building. His “hallelujahs” and “praise God” crescendos were followed by jumping up and down. Sweat ran down his face as he proclaimed that the church members would not need to be afraid if the economy collapses and their neighbors houses are foreclosed upon because they are blessed and will have all of their needs met. The service ended with the explanation that the first step to becoming a millionaire is to pledge $200 of “seed faith money” to the church .
Just prior to the introduction of the evangelist the young single minister with spiky hair introduced the beginning of fellowship “life groups," explaining that the “free market” will decide which ones succeed. Recently, Ted Taggard of mega church New Life Fellowship in Colorado Springs explained that Spirituality is a “commodity “ to be bought and sold. The writings of Milton Friedman are recommended for all new converts. This young minister must also be a free market convert . His small group is a satellite of World Harvest Church. The sermon themes of the mega churches are all very similar and reflect the cause of America‘s moral decline. Christianity is getting a makeover using the classic trappings of Money, domination and military aggression.
It looks like the 50 million dollar Bible theme park which was to be built in Israel by evangelicals will not happen now that Pat Robertson insulted Ariel Sharon. Imagine a 50 million dollar Bible theme park protected by nuclear weapons in the holy land and off limits to Arabs. The harvest of the mega church is ready; welcome the gleaners, the seed faith money has matured.
According to a 2003 article in Forbes Magazine big churches are big business. Researchers found that in 2003 there were 740 mega churches each averaging 6,876 participants. The average net income of each was $4.8 million at the time of the study. The Forbes article states, “[the] entrepreneurial approach has contributed to the explosive growth of mega churches“.
Is it the entrepreneurial spirit or the Holy Spirit which is enticing the converts to this new religion? Some used to say that the love of money is the root of all evil and the rich man (like the camel) will forever be outside the kingdom. I guess that is just “too first century” for the modern believer. The millennium church makeover is all about Christian capitalism, he who the free market has set free shall be free indeed! Remember, this is the year God wants me to be a millionaire.
Some might think that putting your last hundred bucks in the offering satchel as “seed faith money” is a lot like gambling or buying a lottery ticket. Perhaps James Dobson and Ralph Reed can explain that to the Indians (and the rest of us.) A Washington Post article explains that Ralph Reed (former head of the Christian coalition) “received $4 million to whip up public sentiment against expansion of gambling in Louisiana and Texas." He did this by mobilizing evangelicals to take a stand against the immorality of gambling.
The buildings and technologies of the mega-fellowships are edifices to capitalism, free market economics, and the entrepreneurial spirit. The lexicon is slightly different but the concepts are exactly the same as those of CEO motivational speakers or a slick late night infomercial promoting real estate schemes. You can do it! You can win! You can be a success! You are smart! There are no limits to what you can achieve. Just send me some money and get started today. A quick internet search reveals sources concerning the personal life styles of the pastors of many of these churches. Their seed faith has been harvested into private jets, extravagant cars, multimillion dollar homes and much, much more. The storehouses are overflowing and with this wealth comes power.
Like Ted Haggard’s New Life Fellowship in Colorado Springs, World Harvest Church is a very politically active mega church. Rod Parsley is the pastor , “co-laborer“, as he puts it. He is also founder and president of the politically active “Center for Moral Clarity." In a few weeks he is scheduled to speak on the topic “the War on Christians and the Values Voter in 2006” at the Vision America Conference Other speakers scheduled for the event are Alan Keyes, Senator Sam Brownback, John Cornyn, Gary Bauer, Phyllis Schlafly, Janet Parshall, Rick Scarbrough, and Tom Delay. (yes that’s right - the multiply-indicted Tom Delay.)
I have not listened to Pastor Parsley’s CD set “Injustice in American Courts” nor have I purchased the shiny “King Arthur style sword” for $41.10 to display in my home. I have not considered taking courses at World Harvest Bible College where I can learn to "shape the culture” nor have I spent the thousands necessary to learn how to “walk in Dominion power to advance the kingdom of God through the earth” [italics added]
In his Ohio Community, religious leaders exposed the use of Pastor Parsley’s religious tax-free status to support Gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell. Yes, the same Ken Blackwell who was the co-chair of the committee to re-elect Bush/Cheney in 2004 while at the same time responsible for overseeing Ohio’s election which ended up with many irregularities.
Parsley and Blackwell launched a voter registration campaign but only to register Republican voters. Money leads to power and power leads to war.
It seems today there is a need for a tougher, meaner Jesus, a government issue Jesus (GI-Joe) who comes complete with state of the art Kevlar tunic, two edged sword, and secret code book (the book of Revelation). Evangelical Christians are organizing and conspiring to manipulate governments to use weapons if necessary to kill some of God’s children so that prime real estate goes to people whom they believe God likes best.
This immoral clarity was reported recently in the Jerusalem Post. Rev John Hagee is the organizer and leader of the Armageddon war cry and has now created the powerful political lobby, Christian s United for Israel (CUFI). Christians untied for Israel (CUFI) includes Jerry Falwell, Benny Hinn, Jack Hayford, George Morrison, Rod Parsley and Steven Strang and many other media evangelicals. According to Hagee, “ The goal is to be strategically placed to successfully lobby Washington on behalf of Israel… Every state in the Union, every congressional district will be accounted for.” Reportedly, this lobbying group represents 30 million evangelical Christians. As we know, congress alone has the power to declare war. Will it be Christians who pressure elected officials into war? Will it be people who declare themselves to be Christ-like, who use his name to sound the collective war cry which unleashes the deadliest weapons on earth? George W. Bush said recently that “all options are on the table” when it comes to Iran.
The Evangelical Christian right is working to insure a manmade apocalypse develops in the Middle east. This powerful political faction runs parallel to the economic foreign policies of the slightly more secular neo-conservative “republican” party which has visions of empire and military rule as outlined in the Project for a New American Century's "Rebuilding America's Defenses: Strategies, Forces And Resources For A New Century" [pdf format]. It was written a year before 9/11, and, prophetically, the plan to put bases throughout the Middle East is right on schedule. John Hagee’s latest book is Jerusalem Countdown which can be viewed on his website. Evidently, it presents Iran as a horrible nuclear threat to Israel and the United States. Just for a quick check with reality here is the score on nuclear weapons: Iran-0, Israel-200, US-10,600 (as of 2002). Please explain to me who are these "people of faith” and what do they put their faith in? Experts agree that Iran is at the very least ten years away from obtaining even one nuclear warhead.Ten years is a lot of time to wage peace.
Theocratic capitalism appeals to human lust for money, power, and military rule. Conversely, simplicity, service, and humility belong to the divine. Confusing fables are taught to itching ears. (Timothy 4:3 paraphrased). The first century followers of Christ did not entertain the entrepreneurial spirit, market competition and accumulation of wealth or organized to lobby Caesar.
For some, generosity is a strategy to gain wealth to purchase political power. Christ-like generosity however results from empathic compassion and a longing for the welfare of others. This is the core of moral clarity and makes it impossible for true believers to horde wealth. The rich man and the camel are both unable to kneel low enough to pass through the eye of the needle. (Matthew 19:24).
In the upside down kingdom Jesus taught that the poor are rich, the weak are strong, and the servant is the master. It is a change of heart rather than a change of legislation and circumstances. The new Jerusalem is a community governed by the golden rule, not ancient real estate governed by religious politicians. A person living in love does not need PowerPoint seminars, CD boxed millennium sets, ornamental swords, or novels written in code. It’s all summed up in a sentence and a sacrifice- Love the lord and love your neighbor.
Warriors lust for more powerful weapons. If the Christians Untied for Israel are successful in lobbying Washington on behalf of Israel they will insure that more living souls will be destroyed. God is not an angry real estate broker who uses extortion and violence to get his way. He does not think of suffering and dying children as “collateral damage”.
The charred bodies in Fallujia incinerated by white phosphorus were living souls. Deformed babies fused together or born without limbs because of the use of depleted uranium weapons is beyond depravity. It is estimated that 150,000 living souls have been extinguished directly or indirectly as a result of the war in Iraq. Many of these are women and children.
Beautiful news models and impressive military strategists describe “magnificent” weapons and manipulate us into pride and patriotism brought to us by companies with military contracts. With deadened empathy we watched the “shock and awe” as whole families explode before our eyes. What families values support this behavior? The American dilemma remains unspoken. If I become aware, how can I remain comfortable and keep shopping?
The lust for money, dominance, and military power is at the core of America‘s moral decline. It is imperative that church leaders and laity boldly proclaim that violence, torture, hostage taking, conquests of land and resources are actions Christians can never condone. Killing for Christ is an abomination leaving us with blood-stained hands and darkness in our hearts! Every church must be a peace church or it will become a state church and then it will be… no church at all.
[Note from the author:] Some might read this article with a spirit of anger and hatred toward those mentioned. If so please re-read it in a spirit of extreme sorrow, compassion and utter despair for the loss of the Gospel of love. You may direct comments to me at cairnhcobb@msn.com.
Karen Horst Cobb wrote No Longer a Christian and No Longer a Christian - Part II published by CommonDreams.org in the fall of 2004. She is a mother and a grandmother, and with God’s grace, tries to follow the example of Christ as she speaks Christ’s message to the world that there is no Government Issue Jesus (GI-Joe Jesus.)

ARTCLE:Ye Shall Know the Truth: Profits of the New World Order

2006-03-10T13:40:00.000-08:00

Published on Friday, July 29, 2005 by CommonDreams.org
Ye Shall Know the Truth: Profits of the New World Order
by Karen Horst Cobb

The cry of many Christians today is a cry to return to the teachings of the Bible and to have a society which is righteous. I am in total support of a righteous society and have tried to imagine what it would be like. One of the first changes we would need to make is at the foundation, our banking system. Exodus 22 says that if you lend money to poor people you can not extort money from them in the form of interest. In Proverbs 28:8 the message is very clear, He says that getting rich by charging interest is wrong and that God will take his wealth and give it to the poor. Psalms 15 says that Yahweh will dwell with those who are righteous and do not charge interest on their loans. In Deuteronomy 15 it describes how all debts are forgiven every 7 years in the year of Jubilee. There are 22 times in the Old Testament which speak of the sin of charging interest on a loan. The sweat of one's brow is to be the measure of one's wage.
Jesus talked almost constantly about power and wealth and how the righteous are to relate to the poor. He explained that you can not serve God and mammon because you will love one and hate the other (Matthew 6:24. He made it clear that it will be very hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19: 23-24). Then there is the prayer which he taught us to pray where we ask for our debts to be forgiven in the same way we have forgiven other’s debts (Matthew 6:12). The recent issue of the ten commandments being displayed in court rooms was interesting but as Jesus said there is no law against the fruits of the spirit of Christ which are Love, Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control. I doubt anyone would object to any member of our government living out the ten commandments and no one would ever legislate against the first and greatest commandment which is to love the lord your god with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.
I am surprised that so many Christians who are fighting to keep the commandments on the wall are not fighting as hard to have them implemented. It takes a lot of searching to find scriptures which relate to homosexuality and abortion but one can hardly turn a page without reading about how to be a blessing to those in need. Today’s rich young rulers preach about the advantages of usury and exploitation. While they give lip service to moral issues they are preaching from the prophets of the free market. Upon reading about their social views, it seems that Ayn Rand and Milton Friedman are the messianic visionaries who they believe will redeem the world. Self interest and compound interest are the way to salvation according to them. From Friedman, Pastor Ted says he learned that everything, including spirituality, can be understood as a commodity. And unregulated trade, he concluded, was the key to achieving worldly freedom. Is spirituality a commodity to be bought or traded? I thought that God’s love was free and his grace is unmerited favor.
What ever happened to the words and example of Jesus? How can these Christians belong to the CNP and the CFR and secret societies all of which are dedicated to wealth and power. The Christian leaders of today live in multimillion dollar homes, have questionable financial dealings in other countries and extort money from the well meaning people who watch their television programs. They preach the “name it and claim it “gospel of exponential growth and reciprocity to itching ears. They explain to their followers that if they are righteous, God will reward them with riches. Interestingly many gurus of the new age movement also promise wealth and power as evidence that the “Universe” is on their side. Both are proponents of the new religion of privatization.
As a prominent preacher of privatization, William Garvey, stated “non-profit organizations and the private sector might render the cumbersome machinery of representative government obsolete.“ This is what he wrote to Ronald Reagan as he expressed his gratitude for turning the public lands over to ranchers. This letter was published in a media promotion for an international conference on Family choice and Educational vouchers . The speakers for this were all members of the Council of National Policy (CNP) - James Dobson, Tim LaHaye, Phyllis Schlafly and Milton Friedman and then secretary of education William Bennett. The brochure promoted the conference as “Where the Future Begins.“
From many other sources and membership lists it is clear that the neo-Christians who are driving our national policies are championing privatization both here and abroad. These same people are all in lock step with the Zionist movement. They preach that they know the meaning of The Revelation and preach a very literal ideology of the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem and the return of Christ for his church. Current events are slammed into the revelation mosaic often by manipulation. Recently Arthur Blessett, who carried 12 ft cross around the globe has just completed his mission with his last countries being Iraq and North Korea. Upon completion he carved a small cross from it and sent it into space so that one more prophesy can be fulfilled…“and the sign of the son of man shall be over all nations.” (you can go to his website and see when you are under the sign of the cross and read about how he led George Bush to Christ in Midland TX in the 70‘s) Indecently there is not one word about helping the poor or not dropping bombs which kill families, but plenty about a $1000 a plate fundraiser he attended so he could reconnect with George W. Bush.
God will not be mocked! His ways are not our ways! (Isaiah 55:8) we can not manipulate him into returning by fulfilling the prophesies ourselves at the direction of political think tanks. It seems that the free-market Christians are seeking to hire the masons to complete the temple. The bulldozers will crush whomever gets in the way. The water from Babylon will soon be surging through the privatized pipelines through Iran and Syria right into the promised land. The land, the air, the water and the labor will be in the hands of the ruling elite. The rich will determine how much uranium and radiation is enough. The rich will determine how gray the sky can be. The rich will determine who gets water and the rich will be the ones to discover the magical wage which allows for a laborer's maximum productivity just this side of starvation.
Let it not be followers of Christ who usher in these abuses. How far will the charlatans go to deceive. Perhaps they will project a hologram of Christ returning in the clouds to rally the Christian soldiers. Certainly the technology exists. In the last days we are told that many will be deceived. (II Tim. 3:13) There will be signs and wonders and they will do miracles in the name of Christ, but the love of Christ is not in them. I suspect many Christians are being used by the powers and principalities in high places to obtain massive resources for the rulers of an empire. So while the neo-Christians talk about decorations in our courthouses, the sexual identity of cartoon characters, and preach the good news of the free market. Let us pray that Christ will tarry until the church is no longer holding the banner of privatization and riding the beast of the free-market into the New World Order.
Now is the day for repentance.
Karen Horst Cobb wrote No Longer a Christian and No Longer a Christian - Part II published by CommonDreams.org in the fall of 2004. She is a mother and a grandmother, and with God’s grace, tries to follow the example of Christ as she speaks Christ’s message to the world that there is no Government Issue Jesus (GI-Joe Jesus. ) contact: emailto:cairnhcobb@msn.com

ARTICLE:Left Behind and Right Ahead

2006-03-10T13:39:00.000-08:00

Published on Thursday March 2, 2005 by CommonDreams.org
Left Behind and Right Ahead
by Karen Horst Cobb

The four horseman of the apocalypse are fast approaching. Recently I heard a radio interview with Tim LaHaye (one of the authors of the wildly popular Left Behind series - LaHaye & Jenkins ) In their books the authors define details of end times theology which seems to have an influence on many on the Christian Right. Lis Winstead & Rachel Meddow on the Air America radio program Unfiltered, invited Mr. La Haye to present his views and to talk about his popular novels. Although the hosts and the guests hold very differing world views the interview was respectful and informative on both sides. I listened intently since I am trying to be a follower of the teachings of Christ. I want to understand what is happening to the Church today.
One of the things which Mr. LaHaye said sparked my thinking about the characteristics of the long anticipated and prophesied antichrist. LaHaye said that , in his latest book, the nature of the antichrist is further revealed. He explained that he is using the account of the temptations of Christ in the desert as a test which the antichrist fails. He suggested this is a model for how the antichrist makes his motivations clear to the reader by accepting the deals presented by the devil , the deals which Jesus refused. I remember much about this account but as a result of this interesting and insightful criteria for identifying evil in the world I went back and looked at the essence of the test. The account is in Matthew 4 and as I meditate on this passage I also am reminded of Ephesians 6:12 where I read that “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” So I wanted to look again at the temptations Christ faced in the desert so I can understand what contract the powerful “evil -doer “ signs with the devil. When Jesus took this test he was physically at his weakest (as he had not eaten for forty days), he was without human support (alone in the desert) and was vulnerable to the elements (no home or city walls). So, he was hungry, alone, and unprotected. Below are the 3 basic test questions presented to Christ and (according to LaHaye ) the coming or residing evil ruler of the world empire.
Test to Rule the World
1. Will you use your power to get the resources you need to survive even though they are not in your Environment ? The Devil said prove your power by turning stones into bread to save yourself.
2. Will you use your power to protect yourself from painful traumatic death even though you engage in risky behavior ? The Devil said prove your power by jumping off this cliff
3. Will you compromise your dependency on God’s promises and His love in exchange for a chance to rule the world ? The Devil said worship my worldly power and govern an empire.
Of course we know Jesus passed the test with flying colors. His faith in God was greater than his human needs and the love of the living God cast out the fear of his temporary human condition. So, now I can look for clues as to who is a follower of Christ and who is governed by the powers of darkness as I evaluate the current and emerging world powers and apply this test.
It is clear that in the past 2005 years the forces which dominate our planet have not changed at all. Rulers today seek resources which are not in their natural environments to offset their discomfort and to assure their survival instead of trusting in Divine guidance to meet their needs. We know from the example of God’s care for the Israelites wandering in the desert that the living God is capable of serving a feast of manna when bread is not available. Today governments stockpile grain from various locations and divert water to make deserts into fertile fields while their neighbor’s gardens wither in the parching sun. Worldly leaders import the fuel to bake the bread and eke out oil to transport it so they will never experience the discomfort of hunger.
Rulers today travel into unfriendly environments and maintain foreign policies which logically result in their citizens being attacked in retaliation by angry hordes. They seek dangerous powers of weapons of mass destruction and the technology to harness the complicated powers of nature to dominate and control. They strive to show off their superiority. They demonstrate their powers by rising high in sky from the outermost regions of the known universe and desperately seek to go beyond so that the power of mans knowledge can rain down on command to destroy those who stand in the way or threaten their dominance.
The most powerful rulers today appear to have made the deal with the devil to rule the world. There have been discussions across the globe about the need for one world government and the establishment of a global empire. Various leaders utilize the fundamentals of exclusive religious practices to justify theocracies which dominate and control others. They manipulate their populations making it look like they rule with the mantle of God. They all preach the gospel of nationalism and speak of the Motherland, or the Homeland, or the Promised land as well as many other expressions of superiority and separateness. They arrogantly proclaim they are empowered by God Himself to rule the world.
So who will be left behind and what is right ahead? The followers of the example and teachings of Christ may not all agree on end time events. There are those who believe the righteous will be gathered up in the loving arms of the living God before the darkest days and there are those who believe that the righteous will be gathered up after demonstrating Divine love during great suffering and others know that God often uses the simple to confound the wise.
Some remember that the ways of the Divine are far above the ways of man. They remember that a child shall lead them to the peaceful kingdom. As I try to understand the end of time prophesies and to watch for the signs of the closing of this global chapter of eternity, I look to the wisdom of Christ when He was presented with this three questioned test proctored by the destroyer of love. I am determined to be gathered up in the arms of the living God no matter how and when the tribulations come. It seems obvious that it is not the rightness of our logic, or the qualities of our moral values, but the completeness with which we love the living God, our next door neighbors and those around the globe that impacts the world. This is what honors the Creator and His creation. I will remember the temptations of Christ as I hear other people’s ideas about who will be left behind and observe what is right ahead.
Karen Horst Cobb is a writer, artist, and public speaker addressing issues of peace, social Justice and the environment. She has a MA in Counseling and lives in rural New Mexico mailto:cairnhcobb@msn.com
This article was recently published on the Every Church a Peace Church website.

ARTICLE:Peace On Earth: Cairns of Hope

2006-03-10T13:38:00.000-08:00

Published on Thursday, December 23, 2004 by CommonDreams.org
Peace On Earth: Cairns of Hope
by Karen Horst Cobb

Peace on earth. The empty words bounce off department store walls and dribble from mailboxes translating themselves in the lexicon of consumer language as - let’s go shopping. Now more than ever “Peace on earth” ought to be our collective prayer. It is a prayer which crosses all religious, ethnic and social boundaries. Who among us does not desire peace? This seems a rhetorical question but sadly there are those who fear peace and desire war. In the United States we have seen that mammon and the sword are the capital being spent to buy an empire. This is a small powerful minority but, around the globe there is a mighty majority who call for peace. Power and greed fuel war and consumerism distracts from the simple message of “peace on earth .“ How can we humbly unite and stand in solidarity?
Some of us connect on the internet through various forums as the world wide web links us and allows us to understand how similar we are. All of us value our families, our traditions, our landscapes, and our understanding of the Creator. Mothers stay up at night nursing their ailing children, fathers are concerned for the safety of their families, children are learning to walk and talk and become members of their communities. We laugh, we cry, we pray, we dance, we bury our dead and we seek peace on earth. So how can we come together across the globe to publicly proclaim our desire for peace? We need a way to identify ourselves to one another, a way that transcends our differences , a movement that does not rely on media or politics and can not be bought or manipulated. A movement of simple people with a common goal of living daily in support of peace.
Historically symbols have been used to transcend language and culture and to communicate volumes with one simple icon. There is the crescent, the cross, the vine, and various animal images each representing a reality. There are the modern universal symbols we find at airports and other public facilities . We have icons which show our support for a myriad causes. We have yellow ribbons, pink ribbons, rainbows, lapel pins and an endless list of other shorthand ways of identifying ourselves and our allegiances. What people of peace lack is an icon of identity. The best we have is the symbol of the dove and the olive branch but because it has been in the popular culture for so long and has religious significance its use may be problematic. Global citizens of peace need a fresh symbol. I propose we adopt a universal symbol which will transcend our various flags and religious symbols which have been used to separate us from one another. The simple cairn is an icon I am proposing. A way marker on the path of peace.
A cairn is constructed by stacking one rock upon another to mark a path which has become lost due to lack of traffic. Although cairns appear on every continent I am most familiar with the Gaelic form . I have often hiked high in the mountains and have come to a place where the path is unclear since it is traveled so seldom or where there is such aggressive vegetation that it has become overgrown. I glance ahead a little in one direction and see a cairn constructed by a fellow traveler on this path and know my next steps will lead me to the overlook where I can see where I have been and where I am going. The infrequency with which humanity travels the path of peace has caused this path to be obscured from view. We have become reliant on language and sadly language is limiting and can be divisive . Truth communicated through an icon can transcend these misunderstandings. It is true that a picture is worth a thousand words and that it’s meaning is more clear. This is the communication we need as a diverse community of people of peace. The prophets have served as living cairns to us all and we likewise can be living cairns to one another. We can symbolize this commitment to the path of peace by constructing cairns near our homes.
Waymarkers are present in societies around the globe from the native peoples of Northern Canada, the high Himalayas. and in the Middle East. They are referred to in ancient texts and we continue to marvel at the Stonehenge mysteries. The stone marker is a symbol written on our hearts and deep within the collective consciousness. Rocks are plentiful in almost all locations and remind us of the ancient dust from which we came. The humble cairn can be a marker, an identifier, a reassurance along the path of peace. We, carbon based forms, are entrusted with the care and nurturance of the beautiful creation.
So may I humbly purpose that we profess our prayer for peace and our commitment to making it a reality by building cairns by our mailboxes, our walkways, or our front doors and that these cairns come to be the universal symbols of havens of peace along life’s path. As we travel we can find one another and share the vision of a kingdom which transcends our religious and political boundaries. In our own communities these cairns can help us identify and unite with those who are working for peace and as we travel we can find our common family. Perhaps one day the internet will not be available to us and each of us have only a few addresses and telephone numbers by which we can connect but rocks will always be plentiful and cairns simple to construct. They can serve as silent witnesses at sites throughout the world where war is waged, planned for, or celebrated. As the army of peace, we can make our universal mark on the earth and construct humble markers on the humble path. There is no need for expensive monuments or edifices as the simple continues to confound the wise.
This is just a simple proposal but it may help us to become a community. May the hollow consumer driven sound of “peace on earth” be transformed this season to a reverberating echo around the globe as we transcend theologies, doctrines, national identities and proclaim our commitment to peace in our homes, our communities our nations and our universe- Peace on earth witnessed by cairns of hope.
Karen Horst Cobb is a writer and artist and has contributed to Common Dreams with her articles No longer a Christian (Parts I and II.) This article is a continuation of part II in answer to the question, where do we go from here? She can be contacted at cairnhcobb@msn.com

ARTCLE: No Longer a Christian:Part II

2006-03-10T13:36:00.000-08:00

Published Tuesday, November 30, 2004 by CommonDreams.org
No Longer a Christian - Part II
by Karen Horst Cobb

Follow up from an article published October 25, 2004
For over a month my inbox has been filled with responses to my original article "No Longer a Christian." The total of emails is well over 2550. I have read them all and have responded to those with questions, or who wanted permission to reprint. The article has become part of some college curricula in the US and in Europe. It has been taped to refrigerators, copied and saved to give to grandchildren, sent to right wing relatives, placed on car windshields, posted on numerous sites, discussed in blogs, and read and preached from pulpits.
The backlash is also evident. I've been called a communist, a Marxist, a humanist, and a baby killer. I have been accused as one who has never attended church, never was born again, has no knowledge of the Bible, is naive, idealistic, immature and hateful. The most amazing of all was the person who responded saying that the leaders of his denomination say that Karen Horst Cobb does not exist and is merely an urban legend. Imagine my surprise.
The majority view my words in the spirit they were written, (a mixture of “love and sorrow”), and then others reading the same words reference my “hate filled rhetoric and judgmental attitude.” The condition of the heart interprets what we see and hear. This is why the scriptures say “Those who have ears to hear let them hear. ” We are not wrestling against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities, and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). The majority of the responses were words of gratitude for having expressed what they had wanted to say or have been saying. There were also those who supported much of what I said but had specific questions concerning war. The article appeared on some Muslim websites and Muslims in the US, the Middle East and other countries commended me for speaking peace and recognized the creator in my words. The last category of responses is something that can only be identified as christian hate mail.
I am humbled beyond comparison and honored to give voice to the heartfelt cries of at over 2500 people who responded positively to the message I gave. There is a great movement that is forming behind the scenes, and the results can be a resurrection of the simple message of Christ that extends to all people. We can live and speak the message of love. We can proclaim publicly the morality of social justice, thoughtful environmental practices, racial equality, and economic justice. One can not be a Christian and worship mammon and the sword. It is Christ’s grace that allows us to extend that grace to others as humble servants. Jesus explained that where two or more agree, our humble prayers will be answered (Matt. 18:19) Many of us are in agreement concerning the misuse of Christ’s message in the world today. As we simply make our request to him we can know that our prayers are heard if they are with the sincerity of a child . It is the heart of the child who holds the keys to the kingdom of heaven (Matt: 18:2)
The second category of responses are those who agree with much of what I wrote but had questions which they could not reconcile. Many asked “But what about Hitler?” or “What if someone breaks into my home?” They mention the teachings of theologians who support violence. It is true that Hitler was an evil man who did evil things. The larger view of that situation is that if all the good people of his time had refused to give way to fear and had refused to believe that communists bombed the Reichstag or resisted the lies presented about their own Jewish neighbors, then Hitler could never have come to power. He would have been marginalized and scorned rather than looked to as their savior. Giving way to fear always leads to violence and oppression. When people keep their eyes on Christ and continue to follow His example they will not be so easily lead astray by political powers. St Augustine’s Just War Theory, Francis Shaffer’s recommendations of how we should live, and the modern day televangelist’s interpretation of the Book of Revelation are not my final authority. My authority is the example of Christ. The message is simple and His communication clear.
Many present the idea that those who believe in non-violence need the violent to protect them. I want to be very clear that I will never expect someone to kill or die for me. Some have suggested that the pacifist stance is helplessness, but pacifism is powerful, brave and just. Some make the mistake of thinking that one can only be a victim or a perpetrator. The reality is there are always many options in any situation. As a crisis therapist I have seen how force escalates violence whereas a calm presence addressing fear brings almost instant calm. I have had many life experiences where pacifism has been tested and it has never failed. In the end I would want my last act on earth to be an act of love and forgiveness (if God grants me that grace) rather than an act of violence.
Many question the right to defend themselves and their familes using violence and force. Each of us must answer that question for ourselves, and in the end must know that God’s grace is sufficient to heal and restore one in such a situation. This is a different thing than killing the innocent of another land because of a fear of what some of their fellow countryman might do in the future. Many have mentioned Jesus’ act of throwing the money changers out of the temple as a way to justify war. This can much better demonstrate the anger God has when money and power corrupt His message, and it is this same message that motivates me to speak His truth in a sea of deceit. Some of those who responded referred to the Old Testament accounts of battles as justification for the current war. This is a difference of theology. I believe the old Testament is a Divine history book showing how incapable humans are at keeping the law and living free of guilt. It also shows the linage of Christ (and also Mohammad Gen: 17:20). The New Testament presents itself in a better way. It is here that Jesus is the sacrifice once and for all. Humans are incapable of following all the laws. Human nature usurps authority while lording it over others with excessive man made laws. Jesus said the ten commandments can be summed up very simply: Love your neighbor as your self. (Galatians 5:14). Christ is the fulfillment of the law. The point was that the law said “an eye for an eye” but Jesus presented a better plan-- Love.
The third group of responses were from Muslims. One person said that they were living in a country where they were taught both the Christian faith and the Muslim faith. They chose to become Muslim because they understood it to be a message of peace but now they are in the Middle East and see beheadings on the nightly news. They see the destruction of the US bombing knowing that those in power are “christian”. In agony, this person asked me, “Where should I go for help, dear sister?" Other Muslims have said that the same article could be written about the evil that is done in the name of Allah. It is safe to say that in every culture there are leaders who seek to divide humanity for the purposes of money and power. The sincere follower of the prophet can gradually begin to believe in a justification that twists His teachings. It is interesting that those who keep their eyes on His example do not engage in violence against the innocent no matter what justification is given. The true message of Christ unites, but the false message of those who claim His name divides and destroys. It has become clear to me from the many responses from Muslims that this is also true of the prophet Mohommad. He teaches love and peace and denounces the killing of the innocent. It is the powers and principalities which seek to destroy.
The final group of responses are from people that are sure I missed the mark.. Some showed general concern for my soul but made many wrong assumptions about what I said rather than actually reading my words. I am born again. I am saved by grace through faith and the good deeds I might do in this life are not anything for me to boast about . I have not renounced Christ but the false religion of media christianity. There were several fine examples of christian hate mail which referred to my head being “chopped off” and making the clear statement that I do not have to worry because I am not a christian of any sort because I am a liberal and I will burn in hell where I belong. To the leader of the denomination who is saying that I do not exist, I want to say that the reports of my non-existence have been highly exaggerated and I will gladly accept his apology for bearing false witness against me if he chooses to do so. Some have mentioned that clearly I am quite young and idealistic, have not read my Bible, never belonged to a church, and am a “yellow dog democrat” So let me set the record straight: I am a grandmother. My beliefs have been well tested in life. I have read the Bible several times cover to cover, was a member of a church for 40 years, and for much of my life was a registered Republican. Some have suggested I am uninformed and have not studied the scriptures or read the works of various theologians. The truth is I have several letters after my name and have read more than most in the areas of Christian theology, philosophy, and ethics, but none of these facts have added to the very clear admonition of Christ to Love and shine His light in the darkness. To borrow from another writer, "Everything I needed to know I learned in Sunday School."
So the final question is "Where do we go from here?" I am now aware that there are many like me who have left the church or who have been asked to leave due to religious/political views that are in opposition to the “christian right” and government policies. For those who remain in the church, I urge you to continue to speak out against the false christianity which is seeping beneath the doors and sliding over the airwaves. Many have mentioned the desire to have a spiritual leader like Martin Luther King, Jr. However, the times we are living in might call for a different form of leadership. A figurehead or public voice can be easily silenced and an organization can be infiltrated and corrupted. I did receive several responses from people who desired to co-opt my message for their own purposes. I am sure that a public movement would be targeted. The tactics to which some of these people will go are surprising . A popular "christian" religious radio personality responded to me pretending to be a woman, but when I replied to what I thought was a woman’s a sincere question, the “undelivered mail “ message on my computer showed his real name and e-mail address. He is one of the main media personalities I was thinking of in the original article, and evidently he recognized himself in that first paragraph. We are dealing with many public personalities who call themselves Christian but will not hesitate to deceive. I was reminded by one reader that the wolves don’t even bother with sheep’s clothing anymore. In this case the sheep suit was at least partially in place but not well zipped.
So where do we go from here? We need a spiritual movement addressing the largest of moral issues. A spiritual movement of individuals living in community can not be stopped. Hierarchical groups can be manipulated and changed to do the bidding of the powerful, but the diffused power of a people committed to peace will be a sweet smelling gift pleasing to God. Just as there were house parties, and grass roots efforts on the political front I suggest that each person invite others to their home to meet this spiritual disenfranchisement or find un-compromised churches in their communities. My prayer is that those of faith would flee the churches that do not preach love. The Church is not a building; it is in the hearts of believers. Some suggest that liberal Christians should take to the airwaves in a battle of theology, and perhaps there are those who are being raised up for that purpose. Let us not, however, be scheming and plotting, but let us just boldly proclaim the truth in love. It is in this way we can address the individual needs of our communities and can encourage one another to follow the radical message of Christ. It is in a community such as this that we can find the power to resist the excesses of consumerism, gluttony, and personal gain that comes at the expense of others and our environment.
We can reclaim the message of Christ and show His face to the world. In this way we can gain strength and courage from one another and face what lies ahead. We are sure that there will be wars and rumors of wars, and we know that this is more true now than ever before. If the media Christians are the supporters of these wars then it will be more and more important that the true church of Christ’s love support, encourage, and enrich our spiritual understanding. The simple fact is that when it is darkest the light shines brightest. This can be our comfort. Let our homes be a haven of peace in this warring world.
Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise a serpents and harmless as doves. (Matt. 10:16 .) This verse is good to remember as we continue to reclaim the meaning of the life of Christ. The simple truth exists: Perfect love casts out fear.
Karen Horst Cobb is a freelance writer and artist and can be contacted at Cairnhcobb@msn.com.

ARTCLE:No Longer a Christian

2006-03-10T13:32:00.000-08:00

Published on Monday, October 25, 2004 by CommonDreams.org
No Longer a Christian
by Karen Horst Cobb

I was told in Sunday school the word "Christian" means to be Christ-like, but the message I hear daily on the airwaves from the “christian ” media are words of war, violence, and aggression. Throughout this article I will spell Christian with a small c rather than a capital, since the term (as I usually hear it thrown about) does not refer to the teachings of the one I know as the Christ. I hear church goers call in to radio programs and explain that it was a mistake not to kill every living thing in Fallujah. They quote chapter and verse from the old testament about smiting the enemies of Israel. The fear of fighting the terrorists on our soil rather than across the globe causes the voices to be raised as they justify the latest prison scandal or other accounts of the horrors of war . The words they speak are words of destruction, aggression, dominance, revenge, fear and arrogance. The host and the callers echo the belief in the righteousness of our nation's killing. There are reminders to pray for our “Christian” president who is doing the work of the Lord: Right to Life, Second Amendment, sanctity of marriage, welfare reform, war, kill, evil liberals. . . so much to fight, so much to destroy.
Let me tell you about the Christ I know. He was conceived by an unmarried woman. He was not born into a family of privilege. He was a radical. He said, “It was said an eye for and eye and a tooth of a tooth, but now I say love your enemies and bless those who curse you.” He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5: 3-9) He said, “All those who are called by my name will enter the kingdom of heaven." He said, "People will know true believers if they have the fruit of the spirit--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self control.“
He knew he would be led like a sheep to the slaughter. He responded with “Father forgive them.“ He explained that in Christ there is neither Jew nor gentile, slave or free male nor female. He explained that even to be angry is akin to murder. He said the temple of God is not a building, but is in the hearts of those are called by his name. He was called "the Prince of Peace." His final days were spent in prayer, so that he could endure what was set before him, not on how he could overpower the evil government of that day. When they came for him he was led away and didn’t resist his death sentence.
This is a stark contrast to the call of the religious Christian right, who vote for war and weapons, and suggest towns and villages be leveled to bring freedom and peace to the people. They proudly boast this country’s superiority, suggesting God has blessed our nation. Today, as I listened to a popular Christian news network, I was reminded that in the last days, even God’s elect will be deceived, (II Timothy 3:13). When the religious media moguls preaching prosperity spout their rhetoric, I am reminded of the difficulty Jesus described of a rich man’s ability to enter the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19: 24) (http://www.4religious-right.info/rr_economics.htm) Some who believe they are fighting evil will cry to the Lord, and he will say “I never knew you.“ (Matthew 22). They will have a form or godliness but will deny the power (II Timothy 3:5) to move mountains through prayer. (Matthew 17:20). Jesus explained that he has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. (II Timothy 1:17) I wonder if the innocent moms and dads, brothers and sisters, and aunts and uncles, and grandmas and grandpas who were the victims of US military weapons (the never reported collateral damages we are protected from in the “liberal” nightly news) felt the love of Jesus with the shock and awe. I wonder if the surviving family members now understand His radical love and that they no longer have any need for weapons or defense.
The solutions to the social issues used to manipulate good, decent people have no resemblance to how Jesus responded to the social concerns of his time. He never once mentioned the “right to life” the year he was born King Herod ordered the execution of all babies. (Matthew 2:16). He knew that passing laws does not change the heart. As a follower of his teaching I believe in the right to life, including the children in Iraq who stumble onto land mines, cross the street at the wrong time, or who are snugly tucked within the warm bellies of their wounded or grieving mothers as US fighter jets fly overhead. These are living, breathing children. The killing of these little ones are never even reported, and our tax dollars pay for these bombs. I believe in the right to life for those in the United States who are unwanted and impoverished. I believe in the right to life of the naive kid who was promised by the recruiter they could choose a desk job and still get their education paid or could see the world or could accelerate their life or could play a very realistic video game from a cockpit.
I've worked at a shelter, and I know first hand the reality of unwanted children. I know the reality of this right wing rhetoric when week after week I begged and pleaded with people to give up only one night every three months to sit with these unwanted living children for a few hours while the overworked house parents had a night off. Of the few I found, many changed their minds when they discovered that they would need to wear rubber gloves to change the babies diapers. These “believers” stand on the street corners holding right to life signs and then vote against medical assistance for the mothers and their unwanted children creating an impossible existence for them. The few of these abortion activists who might adopt some of these unwanted children generally want the white and the healthy. The ones with hydrocephalous, tracheotomies, emotional/ mental problems and communicable diseases along with their life long medical expenses can be someone else’s problems.
I cringe as many christians vote for policies that deny help to the poor in our own county, who vote to support the war and military strength, assuring the latest weapons are developed and that the heavens will be dominated by the military of the United States. We develop electromagnetic weapons to shatter skulls , split the earth (http://www.raven1.net/emr13.htm) and silently destroy a body as a thief in the night. Studies are even now searching for the frequencies to override the freewill. These unbelievable technologies are a reality and DNA specific weapons can or soon will target a specific nationality (http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/981116/1998111619.html ).I weep as the waters Jesus walked on become contaminated with uranium. (http://www.greendove.net/resources3.htm) I grieve as the missiles fly through the atmosphere on the continent where Jesus rose into the sky, defying death and the grave and where the Holy Sprit first descended. I cry out at the horrors of war and the indignity of the prisons so close to where He took captivity captive. So I am no longer a Christian if Christianity has become what is presented to us by our Christian president and Christian media. I cannot support the right of the United States and Israel to develop and use the most heinous weapons ever imagined. I want no part of a temple built on the blood of the innocent. The sheep have been lead astray by the teachings of prosperity and misinterpretation of the final battle between good and evil. Many no longer can recognize the voice of the good Shepherd.
Some “good Christians” even work at weapons facilities. It is not a stretch to say that a woman who tightens a last rivet on a shiny new missile just off the assembly line might be the same woman who licks the gold star on the attendance chart in morning Sunday school. The missile could be launched by the kid in the youth group who reads the invocation and it will find it’s destiny at a “target of interest” which might or might not have been a result of good intelligence. The collection plate circulates children are taught to love their enemies and bless those who curse them.
The statements and lifestyle of Jesus are difficult for me to understand. What would he say to evil dictators? This God would not justify 15,000 or more deaths. Even the wrathful jealous God of the old testament spared whole cities for a few righteous souls. For Christians, to support mass killings as a way to prevent future deaths is not at all like Christ. He would not say,"When I am talking about war I am really talking about peace," like the self professed Christian President proudly states. Who but God has the right to determine what price a people should pay for their freedom? The religious leaders on the airwaves today respond to the voices of the few brave peacemakers who dare to speak out. They say that pacifism is insane, and that it doesn’t make sense, but what is forgotten is that logic and faith are separate entities. I believe in the example of Jesus and his admonition to love your enemies and bless those who curse you . Do I understand how this works on the global scale? Do I know what Jesus would say to all the world’s leaders? No, nor do I totally understand how the example of Christ’s life and his message of love works in the world today. That’s why I need faith. Am I always correct in my assessments and actions? No, that’s why I need grace. Am I brave and unafraid? No, that’s why I need the perfect love that casts out fear. Some put trust in Chariots and some in horses but I will remember the name of the lord our God--the Prince of Peace. Perhaps politics has no place for imitators of Christ.
Who will show the face of Christ to the world? Who will speak His radical message? I hear from these so called imitators of Christ that the pacifists are a collection of kids, hippies, socialists and communists who haven’t got a clue. Some of us, however, have come to our beliefs as a result of careful and prayerful study of the scriptures and admonishment from our elders. Many are Mennonite, Amish, Quaker and other Anabaptists, whose ancestors did not resist their torturers and were drowned, burnt at the stake and flogged for their pacifist stand. They truly followed the example of Christ, and their resistance against the catastrophic effects of the merging of church and state cost them a great price. Churches today have signed onto the government plan and have agreed to look the other way in exchange for tax free privileges. The true message of Christ still exists to some degree in the quiet of the land to peacemakers, but sadly these good people have been deceived by the angry words from a righteous sounding religious media majority broadcasting in cars and trucks and tractors all over our land ironically preaching the “good news of war for peace“ and convincing 24-7 “liberal“ bashing. I suspect there are many who share my sorrow at the loss of what it means to be Christ-like, but our voice is seldom heard. The blaring rhetoric drowns out the still small voice of the mighty God. Peace used be the opposite of war, Conservative used to mean the tendency to conserve resources. Liberal used to mean kind and generous, and Christian used to mean like Christ.
So I am no longer a Christian but just a person who continues trying to follow the example of Christ. I’ll let him call me what he wants when I see him face to face. Until then, I will pray that someday people like me will be able to reclaim the meaning of Christ’s identity, and the world will see the effects of the radical message of Christ‘s love--the perfect love that casts out fear.
Karen Cobb is a freelance writer and artist in Santa Fe, NM and can be contacted at cairnhcobb@msn.com.