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.