I was enthused by the President's State of the Union speech tonight. I was thankful that he talked about unemployment insurance, the minimum wage and healthcare. I was thankful that he talked about the end of our involvement in Afghanistan and the need to get off a "permanent war footing". I am thankful that he addressed alternative forms of energy and climate change. I am thankful that he talked about equality in wages for women and in healthcare costs. I am thankful that he talked about marriage equality. I am thankful that he talked about equal education for EVERY student, and especially pre-school for our children. I am even thankful that he BRIEFLY addressed surveillance of our own citizens and curbing drone attacks.
I wish he had mentioned more about immigration reform, and I am afraid that the claims that he has deported more undocumented aliens from our land is the truth.
I wish he had spoken more about drone use and attacks, and I am afraid that he is allowing more to be done to create more enemies than we know about.
I wish he had spoken more about the NSA and surveillance on American citizens, and I am afraid that he is allowing more of that to happen here and abroad than there should be.
My question, as I watch the divisions across the aisle, is... What kind of nation do YOU want us to be?
Do you want us to be a nation that is controlled by those with the most power and wealth, or a nation OF, BY and FOR THE PEOPLE?
Do you want us to be a nation that makes sure EVERY citizen has EQUAL rights, or that keeps some out of equal rights?
Do you want us to be a nation that benefits only the most ruthless who already have an incredible excess of what they need, or that benefits those who would like to be able to have a stable life for their families?
Do you want us to be a nation that jumps at the chance to get into wars, or that uses every means available to avoid the taking and losing of lives?
Do you want us to be a nation that makes sure a few have stellar healthcare, or that everyone has the ability to have good health?
Do you want us to be a nation that educates some VERY well at the expense of the rest, or offers an EQUAL education to all?
The conservative vision is for the oligarchs among us to have more wealth, more power and more control over the lives of others.
The progressive vision is for the playing field to be truly leveled for everyone to have a chance, not just to survive, but to thrive.
What kind of nation do YOU want us to be?
A ruthless, self-centered, divided, conscience-less, immoral plutocracy, or a nation that regulates the nation's resources so that all have an EQUAL chance?
Should we be a nation of thugs who get all they can at the expense of others, both within the nation and abroad, using our wealth and power to exploit others and then throw them away, or a nation that truly lifts up every human being in whatever ways we are able?
Should we be the "bad guy" in this historical drama, or the "good guy" in how we treat our own citizens and those around the world?
Greed, the lust for power and self-indulgence threaten to steal the soul of America, now more than ever. We are becoming less civilized in how we deal with each other here and around the world. So, what kind of nation will we be? Thug or Hero? The thugs, who beat the unsuspecting sojourner because they can, the priest and levite who are the sojourner's own people but who do not care enough to help, or the Samaritan (stranger, rival, enemy) who does not ask the question, "What will happen to/for me if I stop to help", but rather, "What will happen to THAT PERSON if I do not?"
What kind of nation will we be? Clearly some stand for one way and some for the other. Others stand for nothing, so they fall for everything.
I know what I want, what I will support and work toward.
What will it be for you?
Pastor Jamie
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Saturday, January 25, 2014
"Extreme"
Some say that measures to "redistribute the wealth" are and extreme. Some call it un-democratic and radical. Some call it alarming and unreasonable. Some call it aggressive class warfare.
85 people in the world own 50% of the WORLD'S wealth, leaving the rest of us... 7,142,819,700 with the other half...
1% of Americans (3 million) control over 40% of the wealth of our nation... leaving 99% (314 million) with 60% of it.
Our representative government, OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE...
House - 362 men, 76 women (51% of our population)
Senate - 83 men, 17 women
House - 361 white, 44 black, 25 Hispanic, 7 Asian, 1 Native American (2012 figures)
Senate - 96 white, 0 black, 2 Hispanic, 2 Asian, 0 Native American
15.1% of Americans live below the poverty line = 47.5 million plus
70% of those are women and children
Billionaires pour money into politicians' pockets, SO...
Voter Suppression, especially among black and brown and politically left leaning voters
is actively being waged in numerous states, as if the gerrymandering already
implemented has not already stolen enough votes...
Corporations are now considered as people and given rights a citizens in controlling
the government they have bought, leaving the lives of real people behind...
Lobbyists continue to buy politicians and control their votes for their own favor,
and it is working very well for them in the courts as well...
De-regulation of pollution, waste and destruction of our environment continues
while we deny the effects of climate change due to those assaults on the creation
Regulation over women's own bodies is heightened and rights denied
Drone attacks are done with impunity around the world, creating more enemies for us
Wire taps of our own citizens continue in the interest of "national security"
Unequal Education persists, funded on the basis of property taxes, rather than equal
student needs and rights, so that those from wealthy school districts maintain an
advantage over those who are not...
Private schools are being pushed so that for-profit schools can exclude the poor and cater
to those who can pay...
Private, for-profit prisons are on the rise, so that those who are arrested for misdemeanors
will have extreme sentences and be available to farms and factories as the prison
ships out its prisoners for profit...
The unequal prices in the grocery stores, gas stations and in home owners' insurance
continue, to keep those in poverty IN POVERTY
The unequal taxation of those among the working poor and lower to middle, middle class
continue as the highest in income pay a MUCH lower percentage of their wages
in taxes...
Corporate welfare continues at 3x the cost to our nation that public assistance does, yet
when government spending cuts happen, it is for families on unemployment or
on public assistance and not corporate welfare recipients...
The "Job Creators", turned Job Eliminators, still demand help from the government,
while screaming "LESS GOVERNMENT" in regulations and when it comes to
helping the poor THEY have created... actively trying to defeat any efforts to
raise the minimum wage or make it a LIVING WAGE, so that people CAN move
up economically and buy goods from American companies... like them!
The disparity of wages grows, so that executives make 300x what an AVERAGE worker
makes in any company... 100% profit goals have been replaced with 300% profit
goals, and worker lay offs mean bonuses for those who perpetrate them...
Lives lost on Wars means big profit for military suppliers and industries, so we continue
at great cost to the nation's economy and lives to wage them
Healthcare benefits are begrudged by the wealthy, because they have bought politicians
to safeguard their profits over the most sick in the nation
Yet, those who advocate for equality and equity in the workplace, a living wage and help for those with the least in our society are labeled EXTREME and UNREASONABLE... even UN-DEMOCRATIC???? Really?
These are extreme times. If you do not see that, then you are mentally, emotionally and spiritually asleep, deficient or complacent because you have enough for yourself (right now) and don't care about anyone else.
I believe extreme times call for extreme action. Non-violent, assertive action is called for in leaving behind the oligarchic plutocracy and returning to a DEMOCRACY of, by and for THE PEOPLE... ALL the people...
I cannot ignore Jesus' teachings on how we are to be with one another, especially "the least of these" in THIS PART of God's Kingdom... I must advocate for justice, equality, equity and fight greed, lust for power and self-indulgence as an entitlement because of that...
Which is the most extreme?
Pastor Jamie
85 people in the world own 50% of the WORLD'S wealth, leaving the rest of us... 7,142,819,700 with the other half...
1% of Americans (3 million) control over 40% of the wealth of our nation... leaving 99% (314 million) with 60% of it.
Our representative government, OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE...
House - 362 men, 76 women (51% of our population)
Senate - 83 men, 17 women
House - 361 white, 44 black, 25 Hispanic, 7 Asian, 1 Native American (2012 figures)
Senate - 96 white, 0 black, 2 Hispanic, 2 Asian, 0 Native American
15.1% of Americans live below the poverty line = 47.5 million plus
70% of those are women and children
Billionaires pour money into politicians' pockets, SO...
Voter Suppression, especially among black and brown and politically left leaning voters
is actively being waged in numerous states, as if the gerrymandering already
implemented has not already stolen enough votes...
Corporations are now considered as people and given rights a citizens in controlling
the government they have bought, leaving the lives of real people behind...
Lobbyists continue to buy politicians and control their votes for their own favor,
and it is working very well for them in the courts as well...
De-regulation of pollution, waste and destruction of our environment continues
while we deny the effects of climate change due to those assaults on the creation
Regulation over women's own bodies is heightened and rights denied
Drone attacks are done with impunity around the world, creating more enemies for us
Wire taps of our own citizens continue in the interest of "national security"
Unequal Education persists, funded on the basis of property taxes, rather than equal
student needs and rights, so that those from wealthy school districts maintain an
advantage over those who are not...
Private schools are being pushed so that for-profit schools can exclude the poor and cater
to those who can pay...
Private, for-profit prisons are on the rise, so that those who are arrested for misdemeanors
will have extreme sentences and be available to farms and factories as the prison
ships out its prisoners for profit...
The unequal prices in the grocery stores, gas stations and in home owners' insurance
continue, to keep those in poverty IN POVERTY
The unequal taxation of those among the working poor and lower to middle, middle class
continue as the highest in income pay a MUCH lower percentage of their wages
in taxes...
Corporate welfare continues at 3x the cost to our nation that public assistance does, yet
when government spending cuts happen, it is for families on unemployment or
on public assistance and not corporate welfare recipients...
The "Job Creators", turned Job Eliminators, still demand help from the government,
while screaming "LESS GOVERNMENT" in regulations and when it comes to
helping the poor THEY have created... actively trying to defeat any efforts to
raise the minimum wage or make it a LIVING WAGE, so that people CAN move
up economically and buy goods from American companies... like them!
The disparity of wages grows, so that executives make 300x what an AVERAGE worker
makes in any company... 100% profit goals have been replaced with 300% profit
goals, and worker lay offs mean bonuses for those who perpetrate them...
Lives lost on Wars means big profit for military suppliers and industries, so we continue
at great cost to the nation's economy and lives to wage them
Healthcare benefits are begrudged by the wealthy, because they have bought politicians
to safeguard their profits over the most sick in the nation
Yet, those who advocate for equality and equity in the workplace, a living wage and help for those with the least in our society are labeled EXTREME and UNREASONABLE... even UN-DEMOCRATIC???? Really?
These are extreme times. If you do not see that, then you are mentally, emotionally and spiritually asleep, deficient or complacent because you have enough for yourself (right now) and don't care about anyone else.
I believe extreme times call for extreme action. Non-violent, assertive action is called for in leaving behind the oligarchic plutocracy and returning to a DEMOCRACY of, by and for THE PEOPLE... ALL the people...
I cannot ignore Jesus' teachings on how we are to be with one another, especially "the least of these" in THIS PART of God's Kingdom... I must advocate for justice, equality, equity and fight greed, lust for power and self-indulgence as an entitlement because of that...
Which is the most extreme?
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, January 12, 2014
the Law is Agape Love
Jesus made it very clear that He came to fulfill the Law and Prophets in Agape Love.
Agape Love is not a feeling, but active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, according to Jesus (Luke 10:25-37).
If we claim to follow Jesus, we MUST follow what Jesus taught, exemplified and COMMANDED.
If we actively commit to neighbor, even stranger and enemy...
We will not promote an economic system that lifts some far above what they need while keeping
others with less than what they need. We will make sure our neighbor has what our neighbor
needs.
We will not better educate those who have more wealth than we do those who do not.
We will not exploit workers at home and abroad so that we can get what we want cheaper, at their
expense.
We will not take away whatever economic safety nets are in place for those most in need, while
allowing those who have much more than they need not to pay their taxes.
We will not allow some to go broke and lose everything, or die in the streets because we have
withheld basic healthcare, while those with means can afford concierge medical services delivered
to them.
We will not allow some to have sub-poverty wages while others make 300x what the average worker
makes.
We will not pollute for profit, destroy for profit or waste for profit anything of God's creation.
We will not keep people from participating in their democracy, so that we may continue to corrupt
politically and economically.
We will not deport the resident alien in the land that we have exploited for generations, for cheap
labor.
We will not legislate to keep people from openly living their loving relationships, while de-regulating
the industries that pollute, destroy, exploit and oppress.
We will not glorify the culture of violence by glorifying the ownership of unlimited weapons
designed to take lives.
If we Agape Love, as Jesus COMMANDED, we will no longer live like we have been living or make
decisions like the ones we have been making that promote the idolatry of greed, power and self-
indulgence over Agape Love for others around us. The law of unlimited Greed, Power and Self
-Indulgence flies in the face of the Good News of Jesus.
Yet, MANY who CLAIM to follow Jesus, continue to do these things.
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord', and do not do what I tell you?" Luke 6:46
"This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. In vain do they worship
me..."
"By their fruits you will know them."
"Others will know that you are MY disciples, in that you LOVE ONE ANOTHER."
It really IS that simple.
Pastor Jamie
Agape Love is not a feeling, but active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy, according to Jesus (Luke 10:25-37).
If we claim to follow Jesus, we MUST follow what Jesus taught, exemplified and COMMANDED.
If we actively commit to neighbor, even stranger and enemy...
We will not promote an economic system that lifts some far above what they need while keeping
others with less than what they need. We will make sure our neighbor has what our neighbor
needs.
We will not better educate those who have more wealth than we do those who do not.
We will not exploit workers at home and abroad so that we can get what we want cheaper, at their
expense.
We will not take away whatever economic safety nets are in place for those most in need, while
allowing those who have much more than they need not to pay their taxes.
We will not allow some to go broke and lose everything, or die in the streets because we have
withheld basic healthcare, while those with means can afford concierge medical services delivered
to them.
We will not allow some to have sub-poverty wages while others make 300x what the average worker
makes.
We will not pollute for profit, destroy for profit or waste for profit anything of God's creation.
We will not keep people from participating in their democracy, so that we may continue to corrupt
politically and economically.
We will not deport the resident alien in the land that we have exploited for generations, for cheap
labor.
We will not legislate to keep people from openly living their loving relationships, while de-regulating
the industries that pollute, destroy, exploit and oppress.
We will not glorify the culture of violence by glorifying the ownership of unlimited weapons
designed to take lives.
If we Agape Love, as Jesus COMMANDED, we will no longer live like we have been living or make
decisions like the ones we have been making that promote the idolatry of greed, power and self-
indulgence over Agape Love for others around us. The law of unlimited Greed, Power and Self
-Indulgence flies in the face of the Good News of Jesus.
Yet, MANY who CLAIM to follow Jesus, continue to do these things.
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord', and do not do what I tell you?" Luke 6:46
"This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. In vain do they worship
me..."
"By their fruits you will know them."
"Others will know that you are MY disciples, in that you LOVE ONE ANOTHER."
It really IS that simple.
Pastor Jamie
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Values
Me, mine and those just like me... or ... what is best for ALL of US?
Look out for number one... or ... see that I am my brother's/sister's keeper?
Profit over People... or ... People over Profit?
Grab for all the Gusto for self... or ... Make sure others have enough?
Less for them means more for me... or ... Less for them means I am lessened?
If I can, I should... or ... Is this the RIGHT thing to do?
I don't care how I got it for me... or ... is someone else suffering for my gain?
I got mine, let them get theirs... or ... what can I do to help like I was helped?
Might/Wealth makes right... or ... do the right thing for the right reason?
So what if others suffer, as long as I have MY rights... or ... how are my "rights" affecting others?
I should be entitled to this... or ... shouldn't all be entitled to this?
Why should I help someone else who doesn't have what I do... or ... why NOT me?
It's not my fault or responsibility... or ... what can I do to help?
Scapegoat others not like me for our problems... or ... how is it that I contribute to the problems?
Withhold what people need... or ... work to make sure all have what they need?
Give lip service to Jesus as Savior... or ... follow Jesus' teachings as our Lord?
Do whatever it takes to get what we want... or ... consider the needs and rights of others?
Destroy the creation for our own gain and convenience... or ... preserve the creation?
Waste our natural resources for our convenience... or ... conserve our natural resources?
Pollute the environment for profit or convenience... or ... use clean energy and live more simply?
Judge others who are not like us... or ... accept others for who they are?
Legislate others' lives out of self-righteous arrogance... or ... allow others to make their own choices?
Manipulate God's children with the Word for our own gain... or ... preach/teach Jesus' Good News?
Discriminate based on race, class, sexual-orientation, gender... or ... respect and uplift all, equally?
Keep some down so the rest of us can have more... or ... work to make it equal for ALL?
Contribute to the darkness out of fear... or ... be a part of the light out of Agape Love?
Let fear create hatred in our hearts... or ... stubbornly refuse to be afraid, hate or judge?
Jesus' values? ... or ... The world's values?
Agape Love values? ... or ... Selfish values?
God's values? ... or ... Laissez-faire Capitalism's values?
Yes, it really IS that simple...
Pastor Jamie
Look out for number one... or ... see that I am my brother's/sister's keeper?
Profit over People... or ... People over Profit?
Grab for all the Gusto for self... or ... Make sure others have enough?
Less for them means more for me... or ... Less for them means I am lessened?
If I can, I should... or ... Is this the RIGHT thing to do?
I don't care how I got it for me... or ... is someone else suffering for my gain?
I got mine, let them get theirs... or ... what can I do to help like I was helped?
Might/Wealth makes right... or ... do the right thing for the right reason?
So what if others suffer, as long as I have MY rights... or ... how are my "rights" affecting others?
I should be entitled to this... or ... shouldn't all be entitled to this?
Why should I help someone else who doesn't have what I do... or ... why NOT me?
It's not my fault or responsibility... or ... what can I do to help?
Scapegoat others not like me for our problems... or ... how is it that I contribute to the problems?
Withhold what people need... or ... work to make sure all have what they need?
Give lip service to Jesus as Savior... or ... follow Jesus' teachings as our Lord?
Do whatever it takes to get what we want... or ... consider the needs and rights of others?
Destroy the creation for our own gain and convenience... or ... preserve the creation?
Waste our natural resources for our convenience... or ... conserve our natural resources?
Pollute the environment for profit or convenience... or ... use clean energy and live more simply?
Judge others who are not like us... or ... accept others for who they are?
Legislate others' lives out of self-righteous arrogance... or ... allow others to make their own choices?
Manipulate God's children with the Word for our own gain... or ... preach/teach Jesus' Good News?
Discriminate based on race, class, sexual-orientation, gender... or ... respect and uplift all, equally?
Keep some down so the rest of us can have more... or ... work to make it equal for ALL?
Contribute to the darkness out of fear... or ... be a part of the light out of Agape Love?
Let fear create hatred in our hearts... or ... stubbornly refuse to be afraid, hate or judge?
Jesus' values? ... or ... The world's values?
Agape Love values? ... or ... Selfish values?
God's values? ... or ... Laissez-faire Capitalism's values?
Yes, it really IS that simple...
Pastor Jamie
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