HUMANITY

With fear often comes hatred, and in that is lost our humanity.

Just because some have arrested human development, live out of bitterness, wrath, anger and hatred and hurt others out of it, does not mean that the rest of us should respond by JOINING THEM.

The fear over "not getting mine", "not being loved", "not being recognized", not being "respected", "not being safe", "not being better than someone else", "not having more than others" or "not getting my way/not having control" leads to frustration, bitterness, jealousy, resentment, anger and hatred.

When we start objectifying, vilifying, de-humanizing or judging others out of our reaction to such fears, then we have not only diminished their humanity, but have also lost OUR humanity.

When we become what we do not value, as a reaction to others who do not hold our values, we have lost.

When we victimize others because we have been victimized, we are a part of the problem and not of the solution.

When we begin to assume the worst in others, stereotype, profile or objectify others and then speak, write or act on those inclinations, we have lost our own humanity while addressing the problems around others losing theirs.

Feeling perfectly justified is a dangerous thing.  It victimizes people.  Those who hurt others out of some kind of insane internal justification are wrong, as are those who pick up their torches and pitch forks and go after ANYONE they think might be about that.  Hurt people who become what they do not value hurt people.

We can ALWAYS find other voices of fear, hatred, xenophobia, racism, ethnocentrism, nationalism, classism, religious zealotry, homophobia or other bigotries to lend our voices to, but in doing so we hurt our own souls and diminish our own humanity.

Pastor Jamie

Hubris and Humility

HUBRIS...
   From arrogance, pride, self-centeredness...
   Centered on (A FALSE) Entitlement... a sense of special Expectation for Self above others
   From which GREED, LUST FOR POWER, SELF-INDULGENCE
                       HATRED, BIGOTRY, PREJUDICE... FEAR of LOSING EXCEPTIONALISM
                       XENOPHOBIA, HOMOPHOBIA, SEXISM, RACISM, CLASSISM
                       RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE, ETHNOCENTRISM, NATIONALISM...
        Ruthlessness, Jealousy, Wrath, Manipulation, Exploitation, Corruption... Evil
   It DIVIDES human beings... excludes, separates, ghetto-izes, vilifies, de-humanizes...

HUMILITY...
   From a place of healthy ego, self-love and love of other...
   Centered on Equality... a sense of equitable treatment for all...
   From which GENEROSITY, SHARED POWER, DEMOCRACY, EMPATHY,
                       AGAPE LOVE, INCLUSION, ACCEPTANCE, CELEBRATION OF OTHER,
                      UNDERSTANDING, OPENNESS, RECEPTIVITY, DIVERSITY,
                      COMMUNITY, UNITY, PEACE, JUSTICE, WELL-BEING,
                      SUSTAINABLE LIVING FOR ALL, SOCIAL IDENTITY...
       Compassion, Heroism, Fairness, Magnanimous gestures, kindness, gentleness... GOODNESS
  It UNITES human beings... helps them belong, integrates, includes, values, lifts up...

Our Economics
Our Politics
Our Religions
Our Nation
Our Society
     will go the way of HUMILITY and LIFE
                               or HUBRIS and DEATH

How will YOU live?
Who will YOU vote for?
What ideologies and philosophies will YOU espouse?
What will YOU speak, write, demonstrate and stand for today and for the rest of your life?

"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
"You will know them by their fruits."                                                                       Jesus

... "as for me and my house..." we will live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled...
Pastor Jamie

A Coffee House

People of the Way of Jesus is going to rent an old firehouse in the middle of our community.  We will worship there on Sundays.  We will hold group meetings there.  Most of all, we will offer it as a COFFEE HOUSE a few evenings a week, on Saturdays and on Sunday mornings (our Worship is at 3pm).  It is a community service, partly because this community has been clamoring for a coffee shop for a while.  It is also a community service because it will be here that the community will come together with People of the Way of Jesus.
 
For some, it will be a place to come and have a cup of coffee and have a pastry for a donation.  For some, it will be a place to sit and use WiFi with their coffee.  For others, it will be a place to meet with friends and chat over tea.  The music will be on, the chairs comfy and there will be wisdom sayings, quotes and scriptural passages on the walls to inspire folk who wander into the place.

For some, it will be the Upper Room, where they break bread together and receive Grace.  For some, it will be the house of Mary and Martha or Lydia or Priscilla, who open a place in which folk encounter Jesus.  For some, it will be the place where they hear the Good News and experience the miracle of sharing more than enough.  For some, it will be the kind voice, the unconditional acceptance, the prayer, the good thoughts and the encouragement, the pastoral care and advice that only Agape Love can provide through a few people who care to be available to them.

People from the community will "own" the place.  They will be donating furniture, a few dollars for coffee and pastries and their time and presence for their neighbors.  One young man is already planning the building of a bike rack for neighbors to use when they visit.  The BEING CHRIST with one another will be felt as much as the hearing about Christ is experienced.  The Radical Community of diverse peoples with common needs will be an inspiration to others who witness it, and THEY will want to be a part of it all.  It is where church and community come together, as one people.
 
For some, it will be all about Jesus as Savior.  For others, it will be about obedience to Jesus as Lord.  Yet others, some of whom have had various spiritual experiences or none, will be drawn to Jesus' Way of Agape Love that they hear and see.  They will strive to live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled because it makes sense for their community.  It makes sense for the world around them to have THAT lived.  It is the new, original way of being followers of Jesus.  It is the 1st Century movement in the 21st Century.  THIS is People of the Way of Jesus.

All this and COFFEE, too!  Sounds like the Kingdom Come to me!

Pastor Jamie

I love the Cross

Every faith has its symbols.  They encourage us, inspire us and admonish us to live the principles of our faith.

I love the Cross.

It is the symbol of self-sacrifice by the Divine, who needed not offer Godself for my sake, but did.

It is the reminder that my redemption from evil, paid for at great cost, is given freely to us by Grace (undeserved loving mercy given freely).

It is a beacon of righteousness and therefore worthiness, not found within myself (for no matter how much I live the Law, it cannot make me self-righteous), but found in God for me, given freely to me out of Agape Love.

It is the very image of Agape Love (unconditional, active commitment on behalf of the other), given by a God who is wholly other but immanent in our lives and perfectly, actively loving of all humanity.

It is the standard that this Agape Love is to be our way of living in all aspects of life with God and all humanity.

It is the Cross that drives us, guides us and compels us to put this Agape Love out in the world around us in Grace, creating a more loving and gracious world around us.

I love the Cross. 

by their fruits

Do your words lift others up, or tear them down?
Do your actions reflect only love of self or of others even different than you?
Does your spending include buying with justice and equity or is it all about getting the deal for 
   yourself?
Do you support politicians who get the most for you and those just like you, or for everyone, equally?
Does your community involvement only involve that which builds up your property values, or builds
   up the people in the community?
Do your ideologies center around promoting only yourself, or are they about the good of all?
Does your "religion" produce good fruit in the world around you, or does it polarize, punish, exclude,
   judge and attempt to shame someone?
Do your actions reflect your words?
Do your words and actions reflect what is in your heart?
Do you go along with others you want to have like you, or do you stand up for what you believe is
   right?
Do you engage your heart in decisions regarding others, or just your head?
Do you stand with those who are victimized, lend power to the powerless and your voice to the
   voiceless or do you pile on with those who victimize further or blame the victims for their plight?
What are the principles by which you live?
Do your principles hold expectation for you alone, or do you judge others by YOUR principles?
Do your principles reflect compassion and empathy for others, or are they just about getting you what
   you want?
Is your perception of God one who loves all equally, or certain ones better, yourself included among
   them?
Is your belief in God centered on how God directs you to be in the world around you with others, or
   is it centered on you getting all you can for yourself?
Is your faith walk about being more "pure" and "holy" within yourself, or following the teachings to
   love of the one who truly IS God?

"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
"By their fruits you will know them."
"Others will know you are MY disciples in that you LOVE ONE ANOTHER."

Pastor Jamie

self indulgence will kill us...

Self Indulgence

 

… often comes from some past unmet needs, but abides in filling bottomless voids…

 

… originates and stays within self…

 

… ranges from the arrogant to the neurotic and even the desperate…

 

… cannot see the good in delayed gratification, self-control or sacrifice…

 

… gladly trades long-term success, fulfillment and health for momentary pleasure…

 

… routinely sacrifices deep, abiding joy for fleeting happiness…

 

… can be amusing to others, especially those like-minded, for a time, until some deeper need goes unfulfilled because of the self indulgent in their lives…

 

… masks, delays, ignores inevitable truths that one must face, often complicating the difficulty of those truths when one finally does face them…

 

… eventually represents a losing battle with others and within oneself because the sources of pleasure, no matter how they are elevated, cannot bring deep, abiding joy in life for anyone…

Lust for Power and Control backfires on us

Lust for Power

 

… comes from within, but is focused outward…

 

… takes our focus off self-control and puts it on control or power over others…

 

… comes, not from a place of humility, but one of arrogant hubris…

 

… sets up win/lose and above/below, we (I) /they dichotomies…

 

… is an illusion – a costly, hurtful and divisive illusion…

 

… does not draw people together toward a common good, but alienates people from one another out of frustration and defensiveness…

 

… seems to work for others, to get them what they want, but never to work for ourselves fully, which allure draws us into the illusory trap…

 

… takes us out of the realm of equal interaction, cooperation and community…

 

… eventually alienates us from the affection, admiration, cooperation and respect of others around us…

 

Greed will own us...

GREED

 

… comes from within and forces us further inward…

 

… causes us to de-value relationships, because –

That for which we are greedy demands our total devotion…

 

… makes us believe that it is serving us well,

But in actuality demands that we fully serve it…

 

… deceptively makes us believe it can be a force for good,

But it always hurts those around us – there is always

A cost to be paid by those exploited by it…

 

… puts enmity between us and god, others and self –

Because it alone must be served…

… renders us un-thankful, un-grateful and dissatisfied…

… eventually consumes us and everyone around us…

 

COMMUNITY

It is sad, really, what passes for community. I have been present when people came together powerfully to benefit EVERYONE, equally. I have gathered with groups that honored everyone's opinion, where there were no "outsiders" or "insiders", because people were gathered for a common purpose... where people did not see theirs as the only "valid" opinion, but listened to all present in order to come to a concensus that would work well for everyone, equally... I have been with folk who truly believed that the wealthiest and poorest neighbors were equal in value, and that the voices of those who were newest and oldest were ALL of equal value. But I have lately seen a different world, in which some have decided that they are better than others based on one thing or another, and then vilify others in an attempt to discredit them, so that they can get what they want at their expense. I have seen the new group in power, same as the old group in power... the freshman class of the same old clique... run roughshod over the rest of the community, deciding before the public discourse and limiting the public discourse in order to get what they want... bad talking whoever stands in "their way" of benefitting themselves and their personal interests. I went to a neighborhood meeting, not too long ago, at which the people came together "with one heart and one mind" and decided to purchase a piece of land on which a bank had bulldozed their community garden. Eight people put up the almost $10k to buy this land, not for themselves, but so that EVERYONE in the neighborhood could have a garden plot. It astonished me, the SPIRIT in that room when it was discussed... how those who were not of the same opinion were heard with respect, how people verbally offered their respect for folk who did not see it the same way, and how the people rallied to support an effort. That is COMMUNITY. Often today, people want to "be" the best, in whatever terms that means for them. They find like-minded folks who see themselves as being "better" than others, and convince themselves that they are "the best". Others strive to DO THE BEST for everyone, equally, to BE COMMUNITY. My dear friends, it is noticed. People see the dynamic at play. People smell the something rotten going on. People recognize it when they see TRUE community, and see what ulterior motives drive others to set up "fake" communities in order to benefit themselves. The soul of a community gets lost when the selfish, falsely "elite", greedy and power hungry take control over others. Unfortunately it is not only they who are affected by the death of the community's soul. It is the children, elderly, most vulnerable and average folk who want to BE COMMUNITY who are hurt by it most. Pastor Jamie

Pastors of the Word

I believe that clergy who value the Word as inspired and authoritative, and particularly the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as the revealed will of God in the New Covenant of Grace, need to stand up, speak out and directly address injustice, speaking truth to power.

 

Ezekiel 3:18-21 has always been a powerful passage for me, in informing me of the seriousness of my prophetic role of speaking God’s Will with God’s people, especially when addressing injustice.

 

When you stand with the oppressed, you inevitably stand against oppression.  It may seem “radical” or even risky to speak out about issues of injustice and oppression, but it is just as risky to be a pastor of the Word and leave it irrelevant in the face of injustice, and just as risky to be a prophet and NOT speak the truth of God to power.

 

We are called to lend our power to the powerless and voices to the voiceless.  Somebody’s got to stand with them, for THEIR sake!  That is a part of living Jesus’ commanded Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other)!!!!

 

It is also for the sake of the oppressors that we speak, in order that they might find or rediscover God’s Grace and Jesus’ command to live Agape Love in the world without judgement.  It may be critical for them to hear or hear again of God’s will that the most vulnerable not be exploited, but necessarily given aid by any who would claim to be people of God.  Somebody’s got to tell them, for THEIR sake!  That is a part of living Jesus’ commanded Agape Love!!!!!

 

Being commissioned with the sharing of the Good News, and as people who responsibly value the contexts of language, literary critique, history and culture in understanding it, it is vital that WE share openly and boldly a FAITHFUL understanding of what God’s Word says and does not say to us. When other believers or pastors selectively use God’s Word to hurt others not like them (i.e. homosexuality, abortion), when they use it to exploit others and get more for themselves at their expense (i.e. church growth strategies, prosperity theology) or ignore very numerous and clear admonishments regarding hurtful behaviors (i.e. Greed, lust for power, hatred), then out of Agape Love, somebody’s got to speak out! 

 

When government, business or church discriminate against children of God or hurt them, especially the most vulnerable among us, out of Agape Love, somebody’s got to speak out!

 

It is the call of people who follow Jesus to live and share the Good News in the world around us, in THIS PART of God’s Kingdom, so…

 

The time for trying to please all of your “constituents” is over, and the time to speak truth to the people of God is here.

The time for disassociating the Good News of Jesus from political, economic and ecclesiastical practices is over, and the time to address them with the Gospel is here!

The time of giving over the Word to those who misuse it for their own prejudices and personal gains is over, and the time to spread the truth of the Gospel is here!

The time of “having itching ears” and “being blown by every wind of doctrine” that pleases us, reflecting the world in the church is over, and the time for addressing the world with the Gospel of Jesus AS THE CHURCH, is here!

The time for pastors, who are also called to be prophetic, being silent and compliant is over, and the time to address this part of God’s Kingdom with the Gospel is here! 

Heritage of Hatred

My heritage is German and Dutch. I no doubt had some relatives who fought under the Nazi flag... I do not embrace THAT heritage... I do not fly a Swaztika flag, which was not a symbol of a nation, but of a normalized movement of economic, military power centered on bigotry and built on hatred and built on the backs of enslaved peoples and was expressed in the genocide of millions.
I am glad that we do not still fly the version of the American flag flown by Texicans who squatted on lands outside our territories and provoked through ramped up aggression a series of battles that created martyrs and ended in us forcing the treaty of Guadalupe hidalgo, so we could steal much of Mexico from that sovereign nation, and so that "our" citizens could steal the lands owned by generations of people who lived there, but who had no legal representation or "appropriate" legal documentation to prove it.
I am glad we do not fly the flag of 1848 also because it was the year that our FEDERAL GOVERNMENT reimbursed mining settlers $1million for BULLETS used to kill native Americans just in the Sacramento Valley... money they collected by producing the scalps of those "barbaric heathen"...
... and the Confederate flag, that is the banner of a movement, considered even a nation by some, a way of life based on an economy built on the enslavement of people, dehumanizing them to be considered chattel, kidnapped and sold... out of a false sense of superiority, entitlement and privilege... wealthy, white landowners getting wealthy for generations on the backs of black slaves through a white construct of race, and some share-croppers because they were easily exploited, who were also turned against others based on race to keep them under the boots of those who "owned them"... it was the banner of a movement, a hateful heritage, because the confederacy is gone... it no longer represents the CSA... but a movement in hearts and minds, where the heritage of hatred continues... a desperate holding on of false superiority, supremacy, entitlement and privilege... based on power over others... which brings memories and images of the "good ole days" for them, and the BAD OLD DAYS for those whose heritage was the victimization of these ruthless folk... I HAD to protest in Columbia on Saturday... we must rid ourselves of these banners of a hateful heritage that further embolden the bigots whose vehement contempt for our President is already unchecked, whose murders of unarmed young black men and women by the police go unchallenged, and whose voter suppression efforts go un-addressed... these are desperate attempts by desperate people to hold onto their false supremacy, privilege and entitlement... a hateful heritage... we necessarily need NOT to let that be displayed... particularly on ANY public land or property...
Pastors - we need to NOT BE IRRELEVANT to the time in which we live (rough quote of Rev. Al Sharpton), the circumstances in which we experience injustice, greed, unrest and gross abuses of power... our silence is compliance, and it SCREAMS of our irrelevance in these situations! The Gospel of Jesus addresses it, when we preach it, teach it and live it... Pastor Jamie

What is the GOOD news?

I rant and rave often in this blog about what is wrong. 
I believe that we need to expose the works of darkness, and
defend those who are hurt by them...
I believe that loving others means advocating them, standing
with them, lending them our power, our presence, our voices...
I believe that loving "the least of these" children of God is
our call as humans, and especially as people who claim to be
followers of Jesus... and loving them with the Agape Love
commanded by Jesus means ACTIVE commitment on their
behalf and not some warm, sympathetic feelings...
I prefer EMPATHY that does not distance, but rather draws
from within me an understanding and desire to closely
walk with those who God loves and positively affect their
well-being...
The GOOD NEWS of Jesus compels me to live that Agape
Love...
So, the Good News in all this is that when we expose the
works of darkness that hurt others, we ARE shedding LIGHT
on them... and when we clearly see what they are, we are
compelled by Agape Love to first, defend those who are being
victimized by them, and then eliminate them...
The Good News for you is that someone did that for YOU!
The Good News for others is that the someone who did that
for you, compels you to do that for OTHERS...
Instead of requesting supernatural interventions, why not pray
for the kind of strength, commitment, compassion and
endurance it takes to LIVE the Agape Love commanded in the
Good News of Jesus, and CHANGE THE WORLD AROUND
YOU?
That would be living the Good News, indeed!
Pastor Jamie

Part of Loving

It is a natural part of loving to defend those who you love.
It is a natural thing to stand with those who need support,
    to lend one's voice to those who have none,
    to use one's power for the powerless,
    and expose the works of those who would hurt them,
        shield them from lack or harm
        and work to assure their well-being.
If that means speaking truth to power,
    standing up against the prevailing, punishing powers
    standing WITH those who one loves, who God loves,
         voicing truth and justice to the lies and injustice of others...
    then that is what one who loves does.
Prophets love.
Activists love.
Followers of Jesus love.
So we ACT on that love on behalf of others.
   We speak, we write, we demonstrate, we demand, we work
         toward the day when all are treated with justice and
         equity, equality, peace and have well-being...
So when those who would want to profit off the exploitation
    of others complain about "class warfare", we continue to
    work against them.
And when those who hate ANYONE and discriminate against
    ANYONE for ANY reason complain that their religions
    or civic rights are violated when they are kept from doing
    so, we continue to work against them.
When equal education, affordable housing, transportation, food,
    jobs, livable wages, insurance, safety, clean air, water and
    land are withheld from any of God's people for the increased
    profit of a few, we continue to work against them...
because it is NOT what we are against that matters,
    but what we are FOR...
    that we LOVE them... THAT is what matters to us,
    because our protest, our insistence and our action is out of
    LOVE... and love never ends!
Pastor Jamie

Mammon - America's Idol

   Greed is America's Idol. It has led us to hold many among us down, out and back through exploitation, quick profits for the few at the expense of the many, systems designed to favor the wealthy and keep the poor right where they are, keep people from having affordable housing, safe transportation, good schools, healthcare, nutritional food, drinkable water, breathable air, livable incomes, adequate benefits, etc., etc., etc. It has led us into wars, exposed us to the world a...s bullies, opportunists and arrogant, intolerant despots. So when people would tell you that God is not pleased over people being gay, having children outside of wedlock, considering abortion as an option or using birth control, let them know why God is TRULY not happy with our nation, and how we all play a part in a reverence to greed that leads to injustice, inequity, inequality, hatred, intolerance and the unrest that comes with it all.
   Agape Love is Jesus' COMMAND. It does not allow us to give the love that belongs to God and Neighbor to Mammon, but COMMANDS us to active commitment on behalf of the "other", especially "the least of these...". Jesus said that we cannot serve both God and wealth... it is time we stop trying to do so as believers, and start being FOLLOWERS OF JESUS' WAY...
   We CANNOT love God and hate our Neighbor, at least not and be faithful to either.  If we say we love God, then we must love what God loves, and the Law and Prophets, Gospels, Acts and Epistles all share that God loves economic justice, helping the poor and disenfranchised and living thankfully with enough.  Our identity as a nation is wrapped up in "The American way", and centered around an unsustainable "standard of living" that we have set up which means MORE, always MORE.  Those who can make that happen for themselves do just that, at the expense of those who cannot.  Our system of laissez-faire Capitalism is set up to benefit those who already have wealth and power at the expense of those who have little of either.   It is an unjust, unfaithful, unloving and un-Christ-like system. 
   If believers in Jesus will be FOLLOWERS of Jesus and His Way, then there will be a different way with a different system based on His commanded Agape Love.  It will reflect the active commitment on behalf of the other that Agape Love demands.  It will lift people up to having enough, and let those who have more than enough know the self-sacrifice of unconditional love in sharing what they have for their neighbors, even strangers and enemies, as Jesus defines neighbor.  It will shift the settling for fleeting happiness over having more than one needs, into a deep, abiding joy and sense of satisfaction in knowing that others have what they need.  The joy will be in relationships with God and Neighbor, rather than in self with un-living wealth.  It will bring completeness, wholeness and well-being to ALL, including those who re-define the objects of their love. 
   THEN there will be peace BECAUSE there is JUSTICE, EQUALITY, EQUITIBABLE TREATMENT FOR ALL in this newfound WELL-BEING.  THEN God will be pleased with us as individuals, corporations, churches, government and nation.  THEN it will be GOOD NEWS, but Good News for ALL PEOPLE...
Pastor Jamie

It doesn't take a genius to see what's going on.

It doesn't take a genius to see what is going on...
    and, no, it is NOT a conspiracy theory thing...
It is CLEAR from words and actions (by their fruits you will know them),
    that there are those who would BUY government because they do not value democracy...
    what they value is HAVING IT ALL... what they are working toward is HAVING IT ALL...
    their only value is that... (where your treasure is, there will your heart be also)...
    having all the wealth (of which the 1% already control 87%)
    having all the power (which they are currently buying - LEGALLY - in government)
    having all the prestige and position (which their propaganda wing is working on)...

It is all toward the establishment of a new GILDED AGE,
    in which, as in the 20's before the crash, the 1% controlled it all...
    worked people to death or near death and fired them at will for unforgivable behavior
         like being sick or needing time off to care for their children...
    worked children in the farms and factories, because they had no future in the schools...
    shamelessly exploited, ignored the needs of and murdered minority citizens...
    used the army to violently quell any expressions of citizen rights...
   
We are heading in that direction again, folks... because we have been duped in believing their
    rhetoric and/or lulled into believing things are not extreme in their minds...

So, we already have RIGHT TO WORK (for nothing states) that also have FIRE AT WILL policies,
   actively killing organized labor that balances the power of owners and corporate management...
      we are moving toward FOR PROFIT SCHOOLS, so those who cannot afford school will
          be left out and available to go into the fields and factories again...
      we already have FOR PROFIT PRISONS that will gladly take in more prisoners who serve
          LONG sentences for small crimes, and who will be shipped out to farms and factories
          for cheap labor - the proceeds to go to the prisons... the new SLAVERY...
      we already have few taxes on the wealthy and the bulk of taxes being paid by everyone else...
      we already have efforts to take away affordable healthcare from those who finally got it...
      we already see efforts to eliminate social security and Medicare/Medicaid from our elderly and
           most vulnerable...
      we already have the new red-lining in the cities, to eliminate poor populations for the
          sake of those who want to take over...
      we already have less affordable, public transportation available...
      we already have food and fuel, insurance prices higher in areas of poverty than in areas of
          affluence...
      we already have public assistance being ripped from those most struggling, while those who are
          rich get tax breaks and incentives - WELFARE
      we already have the new NAFTA (TPP) that will ship more American jobs overseas and
          incentivize corporations once again to move where cheap labor, cheap resources and
          fewer regulations mean more unchecked profit for them at the expense of others..
      we already have our environment being destroyed for the profit of a few...
      we have already seen the CRASH, and have been in recovery, only to hear that some who would
          be elected want to go back to doing what brought the CRASH all over again...

The gerrymandering, voter suppression laws, lack of campaign finance regulations and secretive PAC money collections are all aimed at one thing - a return to the GOOD OLD DAYS for the 1%, which marks the BAD OLD DAYS for everyone else...

You watch the signs of the weather... you have seen this before, too... for some reason, WE THE PEOPLE have stupidly let it go on and on... fighting it at the last second, when it threatens our very existence, and then slumbering while this movement builds again...

It is unconscionable, IMMORAL, reprehensible ... and anti-Christ, whose teachings and commands DEMAND concern and committed action on behalf of the most vulnerable...

It doesn't take a genius to see what is happening, or to act to stop it.  VOTE, speak, write, demonstrate, protest, call an elected official... VOTE as people who follow JESUS - His teachings and commands... looking not only to your own interests, but to the interests of others... VOTE!  While you still can!  Before they take that away from you!  VOTE!

Pastor Jamie
   

New Life

So, I know that Jesus took my sin's death to its death, became sin and took it to its death on the Cross, and gives me HIS resurrection. I know what a gift that is to my soul - what deliverance that means. I know that it is about personal salvation. I also know that dying to sin and rising to new life, DAILY, because I am baptized into His death and resurrection, means that I can and should live differently, as one who has been given new life. I am committed, by Jesus' command to live Agape Love, to see that others have deliverance in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, so that they can live a new life, too. If I am to follow Jesus, then I must follow Jesus' way of not judging, of forgiving, of showing compassion to the most vulnerable and in need, of reaching out to stranger and even enemy in Agape. If I do anything other, I am not following Jesus. I can no more want harm or want come to a neighbor (defined by Jesus as stranger and enemy), than I want that for myself, if I love my neighbor as myself. If I love God, I can no more focus only on my own desires, but also on the needs of others who God loves, and work to make sure they are cared for. I am SAVED from selfish, self-centered, greedy, ruthless, power-hungry, controlling, intolerant, judgmental, unforgiving, bigoted, irrational, unloving, apathetic and complacent living. I am CALLED to a life of self-sacrifice, thankfulness, compassion, love, peace, joy, kindness, acceptance(even celebration), actively committed solidarity with my neighbor (stranger, enemy). I do that because Jesus taught, commanded and modeled that life for me in THIS PART of God's Kingdom. I do it because I am redeemed and saved from sin and its death. I do it as a RESPONSE of gratitude and thankfulness to Jesus. THIS is my prayer, my praise and my offering to God... to LIVE as a living sacrifice for the one who sacrificed for me. So, others may keep any empty worship, praise and tithing that are devoid of active Agape Love. They may keep any focus on personal salvation that comes down only to belief toward pie in the sky when we die. I will LIVE my Faith by Grace in Agape Love here and now. Pastor Jamie

more or less

There are those who say they want LESS Government, so that MORE power is concentrated in the hands of fewer people, LESS gets done to protect citizens' rights, and LESS gets done for the most vulnerable. There are those who say they want LESS Government regulation over business practices, so that MORE money is made for the few, and Greed becomes MORE the norm, so that the many can be more easily fleeced by them, and the economcy for the many is shot, while the few make more. Many of these same folks say they want MORE legislation over people's love lives and bodies, while adding MORE legislation to allow LESS restraint on those who would like to make discrimination a part of their religious freedoms. They also want MORE War, LESS responsibility for the lives of those who fight them for us, MORE profit out of war and LESS restraint in the inhumanities committed in War. They want MORE freedom to profile, harrass and openly kill young, black men. They want LESS participation by all citizens in the voting process. They want MORE profit and privitization of schools and prisons, so there is LESS education for the poorest among us, but MORE room for them in prison and the free labor they provide to farms and factories. They want LESS freedom for people to love who they love, and MORE freedom to openly hate them. They want MORE freedom to buy weapons with not limits, amd LESS affordable healthcare for our citizens. I believe that these attitudes, behaviors, philosophies and ideologies are MORE hurtful and therefore LESS Christ-like than those of the folks who oppose them, so I am one of them. Pastor Jamie PS - it was suggested by a good friend and doctor, that you look up "We are the many" by Makana on YouTube..., that it speaks to this very well... I agree!

I've got an idea...

How about...

Those in business who profess to be followers of Jesus
     pay their laborers their wages... all of them... in a timely way
     feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, give benefits for their employees who
           might get sick...hire those who were in prison...
     do not pay women 77% of what men in comparable positions/experience get
     do not find ways to keep from paying a living wage for your own bonuses and greater profit
and make ENOUGH... be satisfied with ENOUGH so that ALL can have enough...

Those in politics who profess to be a followers of Jesus
    feed the hungry and not take away their food stamps
    clothe the naked and not take away their assistance
    welcome the stranger and do not deport them
    keep ACA so the sick can get cared for, yes, even the poor ones
    create one justice system for ALL... the same for ALL...
    make sure that the penalties AFTER someone gets out of prison do not
          further marginalize them and limit their legal options
    do not kill the creation for the sake of more profit for their friends...
    do not take away from the poor and most vulnerable so the powerful rich have more
    do not jeopardize our nation's security by undermining our President
    do not do whatever it takes to rush off to war for more oil, profit
    do not create bogus scandals to misdirect folk from seeing the truth of their works of darkness
    do not make up lies to scare voters so that they will vote for them
    do not intentionally work to make voting impossible for the young and minorities AGAIN
    do not crush labor so that management can exploit people at will
    do not claim to be job creators and then lay off millions for the profit of a few
    do not claim to be "right to life" and Pro-death penalty
    do not claim control over women's bodies on some bogus claims of righteousness   
    do not claim that you love democracy when it is only laissez-faire capitalism that you love
    do not claim patriotism when you willingly sacrifice lives on trumped up wars to make profit...
    do not obstruct every progressive, caring, logical, reasonable, responsible bill or appointment
        because a. you HATE our black President, and 2. you HATE progress for others
    do not dupe the elderly into voting for you and then take away their financial support
    do not sell your votes to the highest lobbyist bidders...
    stop being duplicitous about EVERYIHING
    and
GOVERN all the people equally... represent ALL the people equally...

... and those regular citizens who profess to follow Jesus...

PATRONIZE ONLY BUSINESSES WHO TREAT THEIR EMPLOYEES WELL,
    PAY A LIVING WAGE... PROVIDE BENEFITS...
    DO NOT EXPLOIT WORKERS/RESOURCES OVERSEAS,
    PAY A FAIR PRICE FOR GOODS HERE AND ABROAD,
    KEEP PEOPLE EMPLOYED, EVEN WHEN TIMES ARE HARD...

VOTE FOR POLITICIANS WHO WILL TRULY FOLLOW JESUS
    IN THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE, ACTIONS THEY TAKE AND
    LAWS THEY WRITE...

Pastor Jamie 
   

work to do

The Good News of Jesus demands that Agape Love be lived. That brings about Peace, Justice and Equitable treatment of all God's children. In the world in which we live, the powers and principalities operate on a different system of values. Driven by greed and a lust for power, they seek self-indulgence at the expense of others. That runs contrary to Jesus' Good News. It is Anti-Christ. But how do we make a difference is a world that has this far gone down that path? 1. Know the Good News of Jesus. Read, learn, internalize and apply what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled, as we have it in the Gospel witnesses. 2. Expose the works of darkness. When something is inconsistent, even or especially with what the church is doing, point it out, and remind folk of Jesus' more excellent way. 3. Be persistent in holding folk accountable for practicing what they preach. Hold anyone who claims the name of Jesus to the standard of His teachings, even (or especially) the church that bears His name. 4. Demonstrate Jesus' Good News Kingdom Values. LIVE Jesus' more excellent way of Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other) in the world around you, absent of judgment or intolerance, willing to forgive. 5. Speak, write and march out of Agape Love for Peace, Justice and Equitable treatment for all. The First Century believers lived Jesus' Way, and it changed the world by changing the thinking of those who witnessed His Agape Love in action. Let THAT be our mission today, here and now. Pastor Jamie

Lenten Repentance

The first command of Jesus, in the first chapter of the first Gospel written was “Repent, and believe in the Good News.” This imperative to “change one’s mind” (metanoia) or “change one’s thinking” is especially necessary for any who would consider living God’s Kingdom values of Agape Love and Grace that Jesus taught and modeled in His ministry, according to the Gospels. We must change our way of thinking in order to be people of Agape Love and Grace, for then we will be able to change our way of living Agape Love and Grace. But of what must we repent? I believe that Greed, Lust for Power and Self-Indulgence are preclusive of living the Good News of Jesus in the world. Agape Love is active commitment on behalf of the other, and these “values” are centered in self and not “other”. If these are core values in one’s life, then living Agape Love will be difficult at best. Despite our best efforts, we cannot truly be duplicitous in our values and faithful to Jesus’ teachings and examples of Agape Love. I believe that Apathy, Complacency and Hatred are also preclusive of living Jesus’ Good News in the world. Apathy, being the opposite of loving, does not allow for concern or commitment on behalf of the other. Complacency, being focused on one’s own satisfactory situation in life, does not often allow for the dissatisfaction necessary in order for us to be actively committed to another’s plight in life. Hatred leads one to anything but active commitment on behalf of the other, and may indeed lead to our commitment to actively hurt the other. Agape Love is rendered impossible from any of those orientations to the world. If we learn anything from the Gospels regarding Jesus’ teachings and examples around Agape Love, we learn that we must think differently in order to live it. The Rich Fool of Luke 12:13-21 faced grave consequences for living his greed in utter complacency. The Rich Young Man of Luke 18:18-30 willingly chose to hold onto his established value for greed and the consequent sadness, rather than repent, live Kingdom Values and ultimately be happy. The unnamed rich man of Luke 16:19-31 was slow to learn even while facing the fruits of his apathetic greed and self-indulgence. But the lesson of repentance in Zacchaeus’ story was different, as we find it in Luke 19:1-10. Zacchaeus changed his thinking and embraced a different value than the greed, power lust and self-indulgence he once held as his core values. His encounter with Jesus replaced the complacency of his station in life with Agape Love, actively lived in the lives of those who were once exploited in order for him to have what he had. Zacchaeus was transformed. And we find that the greed and hatred of the robbers, apathy and/or complacency of the priest and Levite are countered by the Agape Love of the “Good” Samaritan in Jesus’ teaching of Luke 10:25-37, changing the life of the stranger/enemy who was healed, and perhaps the life of the Samaritan and of listeners to the story. Repentance leads to transformation. When we embrace the Kingdom Values of the Good News of Jesus, we necessarily change how we think about things in this part of the Kingdom and how we live in it. Then the Good News of Agape Love and Grace come out from within us and into the world around us, also then transforming other individuals and whole communities. When we think differently than the normalized ways of greed, lust for power and self-indulgence, it makes us better within and has a positive effect on the world around us. When we leave apathy, complacency and hatred behind us in order to live active commitment on behalf of the other, we find within us a deep, abiding love for others that transforms us and them. The poverty, hunger, violence, injustice, inequity, inequality, discrimination and exploitation that are now commonplace in the world, could be things of a dark past if we could bring ourselves to shed our values for wealth, power and self-indulgence, leave behind our complacency, apathy and hatred and live the Kingdom Values Jesus taught and modeled of Agape Love and Grace. A world of well-being, peace, justice, equitable treatment and equality, adequate sustenance, mutual respect, acceptance and benefit is possible with different thinking. It starts with one heart and mind at a time. As you encounter Jesus this Lenten season, consider how repentance (changing your thinking) may bring about transformation that starts from within you and is manifested in the world around you. Pastor Jamie

Lenten Sacrifice

As I am a follower of Jesus' Way, one who values the message of the Cross especially, and one who relies fully on the redemption message of Grace and Agape Love...

I suggest to all who claim Jesus' name that THIS LENT... on our way to the Cross...

we sacrifice our attitudes that keep Jesus on the Cross,
that we sacrifice those baser, darker corners of our spirit that relegate us to being part of the mob,
that we sacrifice those ideologies that preclude Agape Love,
that we sacrifice those philosophies that put us at enmity with those whom Jesus loves,
that we sacrifice those behaviors that come from "us" vs. "them" thinking,
that we sacrifice those instincts to judge others who are different,
that we sacrifice those bitterest feelings that keep us from forgiving,
that we sacrifice those most gut-wrenching, vengeful emotions that would bring us to violent
    words or actions or both,
that we sacrifice those personal guiles that would keep us from being Gracious,
that we sacrifice those norms that keep us locked into selfishness, greed and ruthlessness,
that we sacrifice those classist outlooks which are born of our sense of entitlement and that
    give us disdain for or license to exploit those poor who Jesus loves,
that we sacrifice those arrogant, self-serving, destructive leanings toward destruction of the
    creation we are charged stewardship over for some short term and personal profit or
    convenience,
that we sacrifice those racist residues that persist in how we view sisters and brothers that
    allow us somehow to see ourselves as "superior",
that we sacrifice those urges to find reasons in scripture to point fingers of self-righteous and
    arrogant disgust at our LGBT sisters and brothers,
that we sacrifice those temptations to engage in self-indulgence at the expense of anyone else,
that we sacrifice those stirrings within that would drive us to unfaithfulness to God, to
    spouse, to children, to humanity,
that we sacrifice ALL that is Anti-Christ, ALL that is Anti-Agape, ALL that is Anti-Grace...

THIS LENT... on our way to the Cross...

Let us unburden ourselves of these things,
sacrifice them at the Altar of Agape Love, Grace, Equality, Equity, Freedom, Justice and Peace,
out of devotion to the one whose going to the Cross means those very things to us...

Pastor Jamie

submission

I submit to you...

that those who have the most power and wealth would love for the rest of us to submit to their power and wealth,

that they would like for us to give them the nod of superiority and submit to their will so that they may gain more power and more wealth,

that our silence is seen as compliance to their superiority and entitlement to have more power and wealth than everyone else,

that our submission to them through our silence means that not only we, but others who are not them are hurt, exploited and held down, held out and held back,

that every time we have the opportunity to vote, speak, petition, demonstrate, write, march or rally and we do not do so for justice, equality and equitable opportunities for all, it is seen as submission to their will and compliance with/approval of their actions and methods,

that if someone came into our work place or home or neighborhood and tried forcibly to make us submit to their will, we would do what we needed to not to let it happen, '

but that because we mark success by how much power (over others) and wealth (at the expense of others) one has, we instead submit to these predators and aspire to BE them someday.

I submit to you, that this is NOT moral, loving, healthy, sustainable or sane.  Our silence is our sin.  Our compliance is our sin.  Our submission is our sin.  It hurts, not only us, but many around us who we love and who are loved by God.

I submit to you, that our lack of speaking out, acting out and VOTING in the church, in our neighborhoods and in our society, is a sin of omission in the face of this injustice, corruption, tyranny (buying government in order to hurt many for the sake of a few) and immorality (GREED, LUST FOR POWER).

I submit that it is time NOW for us to speak, write, demonstrate, march - to ACT against this and submit to the AGAPE LOVE command of Jesus that demands that we actively commit ourselves to the well-being of others...

I submit that it is the only way to restore our souls as individuals and the soul of our nation.

I submit to my Lord and His Good News of Agape Love and Grace -

Pastor Jamie

the inherent right to hate?

Many are claiming now that infringing upon their right to discriminate is to limit their freedom of religious expression.
Many of the same people are very sensitive to others' critical statements about their hypocrisies in practice as compared to the content of their sacred texts.

I believe that those of us who profess to follow JESUS and claim HIS Gospels as Kingdom teachings, should be careful about how we treat people who do not believe the way we do.  We need to be cautious about how we hurt others around us.  We need to be aware of our propensity to publicly scandalize people, support the legislation of our view of morality and create climates of intolerance of any others who do not believe or live the way we think they should.

Have you READ the words of Jesus, as we have them in the Gospels?

Do you believe that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament Law and Prophets in Agape Love, as HE said He does?

Do you believe that Jesus is not only Savior, but LORD of your life?

Do you recognize that Jesus identified with those who were hated, those who were marginalized and those who were judged by society and the religious leaders of His time?

Do you see that Jesus has a great love for the poor, sick and most vulnerable in the world?

Do you understand what it means not to judge and not to refuse forgiveness, for the sake of your own soul, according to Jesus?

Do you follow Jesus... are you a disciple of Jesus... or are you an adherent to the pharisaic manipulation of the Law and Prophets, like those whom Jesus confronted?

Hatred is contrary to the Agape Love that Jesus COMMANDED!

Claiming that one has the right to discriminate against ANYONE (even those who do not believe in Jesus), because of one's faith in Jesus, is ANTI-CHRIST. 

Pastor Jamie

at liberty to offend????

I Corinthians 6:12-20 offers us a vision of how our "Christian Liberty" has limits, especially regarding how we might "use or betray people for our own pleasure", according to Paul.
I Corinthians 10:23 - 11:1 offers us a vision of how our "Christian Liberty" does not trump our need to be accepting of others' traditions and beliefs and respectful with them.

I do not believe that we should shy away from speaking the truth in love.  I also believe that we should not seek to provoke conflict with the truth.

I do not believe that we should flaunt our "Christian Liberties" or "American Freedoms" just because we can do so.  If it distances us from another person, and we do so, it is our sin.  If it offends someone else, and that is our aim, then it is our sin.

I am not easily offended.  If someone purposely provokes me by baiting me with our differences, I do not feel the need to strike out at them.  I also do not actively, purposefully provoke others because of our differences.  I believe it is contrary to Jesus' command that we live Agape Love, even with stranger and enemy.

My God is greater than having a need for me to defend my God's honor. 
My faith is greater than to believe that everyone needs to have the same belief.
My love is greater than putting enmity between me and others who are different from myself.
My integrity is greater than to purposefully and intentionally provoke others or offend them.

I believe that Jesus' Greatest Commandment trumps sophomoric expressions of liberty.  As an adult, I understand that. 

Jesus' Greatest Commandment also prohibits me from starting to believe that I have some inalienable right to discriminate against others, keep them back, down or out, or raise questions about their humanity.  To do so would lower MY humanity and relationship with my Lord of the Greatest Commandment.  To do so would be my sin.

We are NOT at liberty to purposefully, intentionally or consciously offend others, according to Paul and Jesus.

Pastor Jamie

Giving Thanks this year...

for all those who DO NOT GIVE UP...

For those who persevere through the negative, to have a positive impact on the world around them...

who press on in the living of principles that positively affect others around them...

who persist in doing what is good for all in the world around them...

who patiently work for the good for the long haul, regardless of set-backs or defeats...

who proactively seek ways to benefit the people around them, instead of only reacting in anger...

who positively see the future...

who profoundly continue to affect that future...

who produce good fruit in the world around them, here and now...

who selflessly practice what they preach, walking the walk of justice, peace and equity...

who prefer to live in a world of equality, respect, love, joy, peace and generosity, so they live it...

who offer painstaking effort to stubbornly refuse to judge others, but rather accept and include...

who participate in community and offer themselves freely to others around them...

who, if they show partiality, do so for the downtrodden, disenfranchised and marginalized...

who pave the path of following Jesus with their words and actions, shared out of Agape Love...

who pattern their lives on the standard of those who have gone before in loving legacy...

who persuade others of a better way, by the witness they leave in the world around them...

who pierce the thick walls of hatred, not with more hatred, but with Love...

who pledge themselves to living the life that most positively brings others to well-being...

who powerfully live to empower others around them...

who prudently keep their tongue in some circumstances, in order to have a long-term effect...

I admire and value you.  You inspire me.
Though I have been told that I can be provocative, pugnacious and even verbally pugilistic,
     I will strive to be like you.  I hope to be prolific at living a more positive life!

Pastor Jamie.