The only time when dark energies, which personify as hate-filled agendas, crime, and evil take place, is when enough good people do nothing.
There is much that you can do in your everyday life to help this world and where you live to lower the temperature of ego-filled and hostile attitudes. Be the first to find the missing empathy, compassion, Love and Light it takes to create a new healing path forward.
You can do this.
It is not about being right or wrong. It is about the gentle touch of your perspective about what all sides of the situation is going through, especially in complicated situations. No amount of retribution, threats, and negative options quells the insanity of perpetual violence. That only creates more, because what you focus on GROWS.
Now in the time to join to find more peaceful solutions to everyday family, work and social life. It is time to lower the hostile temperature that is increasingly spilling out into the world.
It all begins with you.
The wars of the world are only a side effect of the attitudes that each of us fuel every time we chose thought, words, and actions of the lower vibrational frequencies, such as fighting and not repairing all kinds of relationships when humanly possible.
It is so much easier to blame the other guy, but that solves nothing. Every person has the responsibility to create a better world in which to live.
All energy from moods, feelings, thoughts, words, and actions result from the fuel you ignite them with. They can change in the blink of an eye, but first you must be willing to try, or try again, or try again for the hundredth time.
I challenge every human being who reads this post, regardless of where you live in the world, to join me in purposefully choosing to make more empathetic, sympathetic, understanding, and compassionate thoughts words and actions from now on in every decision we make.
This is one way to stop the hate that appears to be running like the wild stallions across the plains. Be the impetus for change, change for a better tomorrow for everyone in the entire world.
This book is a guide transforming a world of chaos into peaceful civil societies.
It is possible to change the contagious tide of aggression, hostility, and blinded egocentric indoctrination where the thinking that might is right when it is not.
Cults and their ensuing indoctrinations come in many forms, not only in religious circles, although the Maga supposed “Christians” do fall into this category. This is a perfect example of claiming to follow their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ while doing the exact opposite of what he preached.
Jesus told Peter to put the sword down, remember?
Anyone boasting of hate-filled aggression, anger-filled hostility, and haughty ego-filled attitudes and agendas against anyone who does not think like them, speak like them, and act like them, tell on themselves as they follow the “god” of destruction, not the Almighty God, Father of Jesus Christ.
Farmers know that you cannot plant tomato seeds and reap corn. Architects know they cannot follow the blueprints to build a house and end up with a car engine. While these examples are common sense, indoctrinated Christians conveniently forget that Jesus never said to pick up that sword and fight, nor horde wealth, nor take unfair advantage of others not like themselves.
How does any society, and especially Christians who claim to follow Jesus Christ, get back to what Jesus Christ taught to humanity?
Continuing the drumbeat of hate and justification for war only serve to keep the steady dirge of dark energies alive.
Inconvenient truths irritate indoctrinated Christians. Christians who follow the laws of LOVE without conditions for every human being as Jesus taught have no problem with loving all humanity.
In not doing so, hate-filled indoctrinated Christians demonstrate by their thoughts, words, and actions that they are not following the teachings of Jesus Christ. They tell on and convict themselves of un-Christian thoughts, words, and actions. This is how to know if you might be following the wrong leader.
No one wants to face the music that they have been following the wrong leader, but recognizing the truth of this situation is necessary to heal a hurting humanity.
TRANSITIONING INTO THE AGE OF AQUARIUS, subtitled, AN ENLIGHTENING JOURNEY, is the book that is shining a brilliant LIGHT in an ever-darkening world. The solution to what every person can do to create a better future is painfully easy. It is the personal ego that needs to be tamed. The human ego boarders on addiction.
Virtues are the key to walking across the bridge from chaos to any civil society. This book paves the path that every human being can take. All it takes is a desire to heal your mind, body, and spirit as well as the world. Whatever you focus on grows. TRANSITIONING INTO THE AGE OF AQUARIUS, subtitled, AN ENLIGHTENING JOURNEY shows how this is possible.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill
Are you tired of being influenced and motivated by fear?
HAVE COURAGE.
There is a constant drumbeat of fear that echoes as an undercurrent in modern-day conspiracy theories and civic and social agendas. It is a way subtle and not so subtle leaders of groups have devised to get you to do what they want you to do.
Pay close attention. They want your mind, your time, and your money.
If you join their club, you will be absolved of your God-given free will, trading it instead for humanly contrived manipulations of your mind solely for their benefit. This happens in many groups such as those in religion, politics, and cults.
It is a gang mentality.
It starts out as a catchy ideology, a contagious new thought promising freedom, wealth, and liberty, while simultaneously enslaving your free will should you care to go further. Promising one thing while handing you another is a re-run by-product of George Orwell’s 1984, called double think.
HAVE COURAGE.
Roars of fear are plainly being played out on the world’s stage today. It is insidiously being indoctrinated into the minds of bible-belt children, and youth of the supposedly religious right-wing thinkers, with the repetitive negative drumbeat of fear, fear, fear with each striking of the drumstick.
Fear of others who are not exactly like themselves strikes at the heart of those with this hijacked mindset.
Fear that there won’t be enough food is shown on social media as if that is the truth.
Fear of water depletion, good, clean drinking water, and water to safely swim in is highlighted, as if there is no possible way to correct human error and waste.
Fear of lack of housing, goods, and clothing all get shined in the spotlight as if there is no way humanity can solve this issue.
HAVE COURAGE.
The reality is that there are numerous wholesome groups already at work in the world, helping the less fortunate, feeding and clothing the poor, and educating children and adults. You have the knowledge and ability to solve the global climate crisis when all the information is allowed to be reported. You also have seen one side of politics attempt to hide facts, such as global warming and climate change. Pretending that this is not happening is not helpful to you or the world. This is also at work in your world today.
Another reality is that all human beings are born with the Light and Life of our Spirits/Souls regardless of your gender, age, race, creed, or any other observation that notices the unique differences between individuals.
This is because all human beings are a Spark of Eternal Universal Life Force Energy which is God-given, not humanly derived. All Life is “God-given” in the religious comprehension, yet Eternal Universal Life Force Energy is not religious, but science based.
HAVE COURAGE.
The mentality of lack and agendas of fear are insidiously being indoctrinated into some home-schooling curriculums promising critical thinking while delivering fear to elementary school youth. I saw these curriculums online promoting that children in the USA need to be cautious against Socialism, Communism, and Marxism in the United States of America.
What they did not promote was the fact that the United States is a constitutional republic with social programs, like Social Security. The US Constitution protects the republic of the United States of America, meaning each one of us.
Let’s not go back to the 1950’s with ignorance at the helm of education, thinking white people with blue eyes are better than better than any other type of human being.
HAVE COURAGE.
Now is the time for you to call out racism, sexism, and all other hate crimes which are based in FEAR, because this is the UNITED Sates of America, the land of the FREE, not the oppressed.
By addressing the unbridled FEAR within you, and your children, you can continue to make the path of Liberty clear. This is something you need to stand up for, not becoming saddled by the FEARS of others manipulated agendas.
Professor Nobis addresses the questions about why some of the most important Bible verses and themes that contemporary “MAGA” and “Christian Nationalist” Christians in America honestly reject by their words and deeds:
What are some of the most important Bible verses and themes that contemporary MAGA and Christian Nationalist Christians in America honestly reject by their words and deeds?
This is a serious and sensitive question that deserves a fair but clear answer. Many MAGA-aligned and/or Christian nationalist figures in the U.S. publicly identify as Christian and appeal to biblical authority. However, critics—both religious and secular—have pointed out that many of their words, policies, and actions seem to conflict with central biblical teachings, particularly those emphasized in the New Testament.
Here are some biblical themes and versesthat many contemporary MAGA/Christian nationalist figures arguably reject or ignore, based on their rhetoric and conduct:
_______________________________________________
1. Loving Enemies and Nonviolence
Matthew 5:44 – “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Romans 12:17–21 – “Do not repay anyone evil for evil… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Conflict: Many Christian nationalists adopt hostile rhetoric against political opponents, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others they view as cultural threats. They often encourage confrontation, not reconciliation, and sometimes downplay or excuse political violence (e.g. Jan. 6).
_______________________________________________
2. Humility and Repentance
Luke 18:14 – “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Matthew 23:12 – “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled…”
Conflict: The movement often glorifies power, dominance, and self-righteousness, with little public focus on humility, repentance, or confessing wrongdoing—qualities that Jesus strongly emphasized.
_______________________________________________
3. Care for the Poor, Immigrants, and Marginalized
Matthew 25:35–40 – “For I was hungry and you gave me food… I was a stranger and you welcomed me…”
Leviticus 19:33–34 – “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born… Love them as yourself…”
James 2:5–7 – “Has not God chosen those who are poor…? But you have dishonored the poor.”
Conflict: MAGA-aligned platforms often support policies that exclude immigrants, reduce social welfare, and stigmatize marginalized groups. This stands in tension with biblical commands to welcome strangers and care for the needy.
_______________________________________________
4. Truthfulness
Exodus 20:16 – “You shall not bear false witness…”
Proverbs 6:16–19 – “There are six things the Lord hates… a lying tongue… a false witness who breathes out lies…”
Conflict: The MAGA movement has frequently been associated with disinformation, conspiracy theories, and repeated false claims (e.g., about election fraud), often spread knowingly or recklessly by Christian nationalist figures.
_______________________________________________
5. Rejecting Idolatry and Nationalism
Exodus 20:3 – “You shall have no other gods before me.”
Philippians 3:20 – “Our citizenship is in heaven…”
John 18:36 – “My kingdom is not of this world…”
Conflict: Christian nationalism often elevates the U.S. (or a certain vision of it) to near-religious status, blending patriotism with faith in a way that many theologians call idolatrous. It sometimes treats political power, the Constitution, or Trump himself with a reverence that appears to compete with devotion to God.
_______________________________________________
6. Rejecting Racism and Ethnic Superiority
Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Acts 10:34 – “God shows no partiality.”
Conflict: Christian nationalism often promotes a white-centered cultural and political identity, marginalizing people of color and supporting systems that perpetuate inequality. Some MAGA-aligned Christians oppose multiracial democracy or speak nostalgically about eras marked by racial exclusion.
Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Titus 3:9–11 – “Avoid foolish controversies… and divisions…”
Conflict: Many Christian nationalist leaders fuel division, encourage fear and anger, and attack other Christians who disagree politically. They often prioritize cultural war over unity, which undermines Jesus’s teaching that peacemakers are blessed.
_______________________________________________
8. Servant Leadership and the Rejection of Power Politics
Mark 10:42–45 – “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant…”
Conflict: MAGA-aligned Christian rhetoric often praises strength, dominance, and authority—both political and military—while downplaying Christ’s model of humble, sacrificial service.
_______________________________________________
9. Concern for Character
1 Timothy 3:2–7 (re: leadership) – “An overseer must be above reproach… self-controlled, respectable… not violent but gentle…”
Conflict: Many MAGA Christian leaders excuse or minimize gross moral failures, dishonesty, or abusive behavior in political figures, especially Donald Trump, often invoking flawed biblical comparisons (e.g., “God used King David or Cyrus”).
_______________________________________________
✅ Conclusion:
The contrast between core biblical values—especially those taught by Jesus—and the priorities and conduct of Christian nationalism is widely recognized by theologians, ethicists, and pastors across the political spectrum.
This isn’t to say that all MAGA-aligned Christians are intentionally rejecting Scripture. But the practical effects of their rhetoric and political alignment often undermine or contradict the ethical teachings that are central to Christian life—particularly those about humility, compassion, truth, peace, and love for all.
Suicide Prevention Month 2025 occurs during the month of September. During Suicide Prevention Month 2025, government agencies, non-profit groups, and individuals from around the country unite to raise awareness about suicidality and help people learn how they can join the suicide prevention and reduction movement.
IF THIS SPEAKS TO YOU, KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
USE THIS MANTRA DAILY TO RECOGNIZE YOUR TRUE SELF:
“I am made of a Spark of Eternal Universal Life Force Energy animating my Spirit and Soul.
I am a beautiful Spark of Limitless Living Light animating me.
The Light of my Spirit, Soul, Mind and Body is beautiful.
My presence gracing this Earth is due to the abundance of LOVE because I am the manifestation of LOVE and non-judgment in a hurting reality.
I am perfect as I am.
There is nothing I need to do to be a “better” person.
I will not allow the ignorance of others to define me.
I am pure gift.
The world needs me and my gifts much more than I know.
I am precious.
There is only one me.
The ego of the world and immature human beings says more about them than it does about me.
I feel myself rising above the ignorance of others.
It is not my fault that others have been indoctrinated in de-humanizing thoughts, words, and actions, which speaks to their lack of character, not mine.
I am LOVE personified.” by Linda Hourihan, HHCP ~ This is my gift to you.
***
When a person thinks or talks about suicide, it’s called suicidal ideation. Any form of suicidal ideation is a red flag that should never be ignored. Parents, caregivers, friends, and peers should take any type of suicidal ideation in a loved one seriously. The potential consequences of downplaying suicidal ideation are simply too extreme: it can lead to a suicide attempt, and in the worst case, a preventable death.
Talking to a trained professional is the most effective way to prevent a suicide attempt.
Need more information, referrals or support? Contact the NAMI HelpLine.
Join the Conversation
#SuicidePreventionMonth reminds us that talking about suicide isn’t harmful — silence is. One honest conversation can be a turning point in someone’s life. Throughout this month — and beyond — we invite you to share the messages below or create your own about Suicide Prevention Month through the power of courageous community conversations.
Don’t forget to tag us at @NAMICommunicate on Instagram and X and @NAMI on TikTok, LinkedIn, and Facebook. And be sure to use the hashtag #SuicidePreventionMonth in your posts.
In every post, please add language or reply to a comment providing information to 988. This can include but is not limited to:
Call, text, or chat 988 to speak to a trained crisis counselor offering support 24/7/365.
Platforms
Weekly/daily activations will be taking place on NAMI’s social media channels. Follow NAMI to tune in, repost, retweet, and share: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is here. In a crisis? Call/text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24/7. #988 SuicidePreventionMonth
Opening up about your mental health journey—good, bad, or messy—creates space for healing. Let’s make silence a thing of the past. Start a conversation. Be the difference. #SuicidePreventionMonth
Talking about suicide isn’t harmful — silence is. One honest, caring conversation can save a life. Start a conversation. Be the difference. Learn more at nami.org/spm #SuicidePreventionMonth
#SuicidePreventionMonth reminds us that silence can cost lives — and conversation can save them. Start a conversation. Be the difference. Learn how at nami.org/suicidepreventionmonth.
Studies show people who are having thoughts of suicide feel relief when someone asks about them in a caring way. Learn more on how you can support someone through a crisis at nami.org/suicidepreventionmonth.
From Awareness to Action
Join our movement to advocate for a better mental health care system by signing up for advocacy alerts and taking action when opportunities arise in your community.
Explore how your community can #ReimagineCrisis. Find advocacy resources and information to build a better mental health and suicide crisis response system for everyone, no matter who they are or where they live.
Join us in recognizing #988Day on September 8. 988 Day is a national initiative dedicated to raising awareness about 988 and emphasizing the importance of mental health and suicide prevention.
1 in 20 U.S. adults (5%) have serious thoughts of suicide each year.
About 1 person dies by suicide in the U.S. every 11 minutes.
79% of all people who die by suicide in the U.S. are male.*
Although more women* than men attempt suicide, men are 4X more likely to die by suicide.
In the U.S., suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people ages 10-14 and among people ages 15-24, and the 11th leading cause of death overall.
Community Impact:
Annual prevalence of serious thoughts of suicide, by U.S. demographic group:
Non-Hispanic Multiracial: 12%
Non-Hispanic White: 5%
Hispanic or Latino: 5%
Non-Hispanic Native American Indian/Alaska Native: 4.7%
You are made of a Spark of Eternal Universal Life Force Energy animating your Spirit and Soul.
You are a beautiful Spark of Limitless Living Light animating you.
The Light of your Spirit, Soul, Mind and Body is beautiful.
Your presence gracing this Earth is due to the abundance of LOVE because you are the manifestation of LOVE and non-judgment in a hurting reality.
You are perfect as you are.
There is nothing you need to do to be a “better” person.
Do not allow the ignorance of others to define you.
You are pure gift.
The world needs you much more than you know.
I need you because you are precious.
There is only one you.
The ego of the world and immature human beings says more about them than it does about you.
Feel yourself rising above the ignorance of others.
It is not your fault that others have been indoctrinated in de-humanizing thoughts, words, and actions, which speaks to their lack of character, not yours.
It is time to PEACEFULLY, stand up for integrity, truth, and honor, because you matter. You may like to stand in the shadows or not make your voice heard, but now is the time for courage in the face of fear.
To quote from the back cover of my book, IN THEIR IMAGE AND LIKENESS, subtitled, UNIVERSAL WISDOM, “Now is the time for courage. Courage does not mean having no fear. Rather, courage is feeling fear, but peacefully doing the right thing, the moral thing, with integrity, despite the presence of fear.”
Silence is agreement.
Since whatever we focus on grows, if you focus on the dysfunctions you see all around you, that will monopolize your mind. It is a self-sabotage trap. Instead, focus on integrity, truth, and honor as you think, speak, and act in ways that will help, not hurt humanity. This will build up humanity.
Correct lies when you hear them, not with slogans from TV stations that may lie to you. It is possible to find out the truth when you go to all news stations, not just one. Also, your friends may not understand that they have been lied to just as you may have been. Love them, but do not follow the wolf in sheep’s clothing right off the proverbial cliff. Truth may be inconvenient when you find out others have lied to you, but it is still possible to get to the truth.
It is possible to heal this hurting nation. The medicine for the current malady facing the world today is integrity, truth, and honor, all without self-serving spin placing blame on “the other side.” That is a dead giveaway that you might be involved in a cult.
Pay attention to the cult-like indoctrination of political rhetoric, especially if it pits one brand of ideology against another, as mentioned in yesterday’s post, “Today’s Christian Right Are Sheep In Wolves Clothing.”
Reclaim your personal power, the right to have and express your own personal opinion even if it goes against others in your circle of life. You can do this with dignity and grace.
“You can choose to have experiences of Light, joy, and abundance, or you can choose to have experiences of lack, limitation, and depravity.” quote from the back cover of IN THEIR IMAGE AND LIKENESS.
This is the book that just won the INTERNATIONAL IMPACT BOOK AWARDS in the category of SOCIAL CHANGE.
I will not align myself with groups and organizations that I once did because they have turned to “the dark side,” which I do not agree with. If you find yourself in a similar situation, stand up PEACEFULLY by using your freedom and free will to not align yourself with those who will hurt you, your family, your neighborhood, your town/city, state, country or the entire world.
For example, do you agree to cut Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security which you have paid into all of your working life just to benefit the top billionaire wealth earners, or that veterans benefits for disabled veterans who have served this country honorably should have their benefit cut to go into the top wealth hoarders’ pocketbooks in this country?
PEACEFULLY standing up with your thoughts, words, and actions may seem like a small step, but it is not. You matter. Your voice matters. Your actions matter. The changes that you may need to address will pop up in front of you, knocking on your conscience until you recognize that some alignments you may have had in the past no longer serve your highest good. That is what I am doing now.
Following in the footsteps of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), of which I am a supporting member, I will be no longer posting in X (formerly known as Twitter).
I joined Twitter, now known as X, in February 2012. Later I joined SPLC to amplify my and SPLC’s mission: fighting hate, seeking justice and promoting equity. For over a decade, Twitter served as a tool to share our work, values and vision with the world.
However, recent changes at X have ushered in a troubling rise in hate and disinformation, along with a decline in the enforcement of moderation policies. These shifts have resulted in a platform that is no longer conducive to a productive dialogue, and the racism, antisemitism, misogyny and anti-immigrant hate openly dispersed on X disproportionately harms the very communities I and SPLC are dedicated to protecting.
After careful reflection, I, as have SPLC, have made the decision to discontinue active posting and engagement on this platform since it no longer aligns with our core values. While our individual accounts will remain live to preserve access to past content, I am redirecting my energy to platforms that promote meaningful dialogue and prioritize the well-being of marginalized communities.
The following is an important message on CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALISM by James Talarico, seminary student:
Our pastor, Dr. Jim Rigby, is on his writing leave but I don’t know how much writing is getting done. I sent him a text asking for some inspiration for this sermon, and he gave me this. It’s “The Top Reasons Beer is Better than Religion.”
Number One: when you have beer, you don’t know on people’s doors trying to give it away.
Number Two: there are laws against forcing beer on minors who can’t think for themselves.
Number Three: nobody’s ever been burned at the stake because of their favorite brand of beer.
Number Four: you don’t have to wait more than two thousand years for a second beer.
Number Five: and last, if you’ve devoted your life to beer, there are groups to help you.
My granddad was a Baptist preacher. I’ve been a member of this church since I was two years old. And now I’m in seminary studying to become a minister myself. My faith means more to me than anything. But if I’m being very honest, sometimes I hesitate for telling someone I’m Christian.
There is a cancer on our religion. Until we confess the sin that is Christian Nationalism and exorcize it from our churches, our religion can do a lot more damage than a six-pack of Lone Star.
There is nothing Christian about Christian Nationalism. It is the worship of power, social power, economic power, political power in the name of Christ. And it is a betrayal of Jesus of Nazareth.
He told us we would know them by their fruits. Jesus includes, Christian Nationalism excludes.
Jesus liberates, Christian Nationalism controls.
Jesus saves, Christian Nationalism kills.
Jesus started a universal movement, based on love. Christian Nationalism is a sectarian movement, based on mutual hate.
Jesus came to transform the world. Christian Nationalism is here to maintain the status quo.
They have co-opted the Son of God.
They’ve turned this humble rabbi into a gun-toting, gay-bashing, science-denying, money-loving, fear-mongering fascist.
And it is incumbent upon all Christians to confront it and denounce it.
Christian Nationalism is on the rise.
Two years ago, Christian Nationalists stormed the Capitol, killing police officers while carrying crosses, and signs reading “Jesus Saves.”
Last year, Christian Nationalists on the US Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade, allowing states like ours to outlaw abortion even in cases of rape and incest.
And as we speak, two Christian Nationalist billionaires are trying to replace public schools in Texas with private, Christian schooling.
We are closer than we think to a Christian Theocracy.
How did this happen?
The first followers of Jesus didn’t call themselves ‘Christians.’
They called themselves ‘The Way.’
Their crucified teacher taught them a different way of being human.
And they intended to follow it.
The early church was a revolutionary community built on radical love, a ‘peculiar people’ who shared all their possessions and refused to participate in the economy, the military, or the culture.
The Book of Acts tells us that the first Christians were persecuted for ‘turning the world upside down.’
But three hundred years after Jesus was executed by the Roman Empire, Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official state religion of that very same empire.
Constantine was the first Christian Nationalist.
And ever since, the powers that be have been taming Christianity, domesticating it, diluting it into something more palatable.
Pro-war, pro-wealth, pro-white supremacy.
That original counter-cultural movement became a tranquilized, privatized, weaponized religion the official sponsor of western civilization.
A religion of sharing became a religion of greed.
A religion of peace became a religion of violence.
A religion of forgiveness became a religion of judgment.
A religion of ego transformation became a religion of ego affirmation.
Today, Christian Nationalists obsess over people’s private parts while the planet burns.
Eight men own as much wealth as 3.6 billion people and Christian Nationalists are boycotting Barbie.
The Bible doesn’t mention abortion or gay marriage.
But it goes on and on about forgiving debt, liberating the poor and healing the sick.
Christian Nationalists like to say this is a Christian nation.
Not only is that historically inaccurate.
Not only is that theologically blasphemous, but it is just not true.
Look around us.
If this was truly a Christian nation, we would forgive student debt.
If this was truly a Christian nation, we would guarantee healthcare to every single person.
If this was truly a Christian nation, we would love all of our LGBTQ neighbors.
If this was truly a Christian nation, we would make sure every child in this state and in this country was housed, fed, clothed, educated, and insured.
If this was truly a Christian nation, we would never make it a Christian nation, because we know the table of fellowship is open to everybody, including our Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and atheist neighbors.
Jesus could have started a Christian theocracy. But love would never do that.
The closest thing we have to the kingdom of heaven is a multi-racial, multicultural democracy where power is truly shared among all people, something that’s yet to exist in human history.
Christan Nationalism is not only a threat to the American experiment in democracy. It’s also a threat to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
When someone asked Jesus to name his most important commandment, he cheats and gives two – two that he says are related. The first is to love God. The second, he said, is like it: “love thy neighbor as thyself.”
It’s like it because when I recognize the divine image in myself, I can’t help but recognize it in my neighbor; whether they’re Christian or not, whether they’re religious or not.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus specifically defines neighbor as someone different from us, racially, economically, politically, religiously.
God loves diversity.
God loves variety. Just look around this big, beautiful planet of ours.
Do we really think that God would make all these beautiful people with all their beautiful traditions for no reason at all?
There are so many pathways to the sacred.
The Islamic mystic Rumi said, “Every religion has love, but love has no religion.”
God is so much bigger than our human categories.
God is not a Presbyterian. God is not a Christian. God is not a noun at all. God is a verb.
God is not a being. God is being Itself.
God is love.
And that’s why Jesus is against anything that gets in the way of that love between neighbors, including religion.
That’s why he’s always breaking religious rules.
That’s why he’s always getting in trouble with the religious authorities.
That’s why he says sinners will see the kingdom of heaven before religious people do.
Sorry to everyone here. (parishioners laugh)
I knew you came all this way.
Religious supremacy is antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jesus didn’t come to establish a Christian nation.
He came to reveal ultimate reality, which he called the kingdom of God.
But it’s not like any kingdom we’ve ever known.
Instead of a throne, Jesus sits at a table.
Instead of a warhorse, Jesus rides a donkey.
Instead of a sword, Jesus picks up a cross.
The kingdom of God inverts the power dynamics of “all the kingdoms in the world.”
True strength is vulnerability.
True stature is equality.
True wealth is sharing.
And we as Christians are called to realize that kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven,” not by force, but by faith.
Jesus asked us to have the faith of a mustard seed, trusting that by living and dying for love we give birth to a better world.
That’s not easy to do.
In a world full of fear, Jesus knew we would put our trust in something other than God, something other than love.
As a Jewish rabbi, he called those things idols: money, status, and the most dangerous idol of all, power.
When Jesus was tempted by the devil, when he was in the wilderness, one of the things the devil offered was power, “all the kingdoms of the world,” and Jesus rejected it.
When his disciples ask who will be the most powerful in the kingdom of God, Jesus said, you know the lords of the earth push their people around, “but among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be a servant.
And when they still didn’t get it, and they ask who will be the greatest in the kingdom of God? Jesus said, “Little children,” the least powerful, but most trusting members of any human community.
That’s the kingdom of God.
I think Chance the Rapper said it best, “Don’t believe in kings. Believe in the kingdom.”
Jesus knew, in the words of Dorothy Soelle, “There is only one legitimation of power and that is to share it with others. Power that is not shared, that is not turned into love, is pure domination and oppression.”
Christian Nationalists are more committed to the love of power than to the power of love.
And it exposes a lack of faith because the opposite of faith is not doubt. Doubt is a healthy part of any faith. The opposite of faith is control.
When we stop trusting God, when we stop trusting love, we start taking control ourselves.
Christian Nationalists want to control what we read, who we marry, where we travel, when we have children.
They want to control our minds and our bodies.
“O Ye of little faith.”
Christian Nationalists trust domination because they think domination is what works.
But Jesus revealed that the true power of the universe is not domination, but love.
In Daoism, they teach that over time the soft overcomes the hard.
The water wears down the rock. The wind takes out the mountain. The grass upends the concrete. “The meek … inherit the earth.”
Violence may win in the short run, but in the end, love always wins.
Jesus said this kingdom of God is in our midst. It’s hiding in plain sight. Heaven is already here inside of us. Above us. All around us.
On my mom’s side my granddad was a Baptist preacher. But on my dad’s side, my Grandpa Talarico never went to church, but he was one of the most generous, compassionate, moral people I’ve ever met.
He was an immigrant from Italy whose family saw firsthand the dangers of mixing church and state.
He settled in the Texas hill country, and on Sunday mornings he would take these long walks through the wildflowers and the live oaks, and he would take me with him.
He said it was the best chance to see G.O.D., the Great Out Doors.
Biologists tell us that everything in nature is connected and evolving toward greater union.
Anthropologists tell us that our ability to share and corporate is humanity’s superpower.
And astrophysicists tell us that the universe is just gentle enough to make our existence possible.
This universe of ours is nothing but gratuitous grace.
Teilhard wrote that the very physical universe is love.
We see it in the harmonies of music, the principles of mathematics, the patterns of nature.
We are all expressions of that creative power.
We are the universe becoming aware of itself.
As children of God, children of the cosmos, we are loved unconditionally, indiscriminately, infinitely.
No achievement can add to it.
No mistake can take from it.
No amount of church going or church missing can change it.
That’s truly deserving of the title, “Good News.”
We are made by love, with love, to love.
I call that love God. You may use a different word, and that’s okay.
“There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the ground.”
We can cure the disease of Christian Nationalism.
We can protect against the virus of religious extremism with healthy religion.
The great faith traditions of the world have so much to offer us in this time of global crisis.
Hinduism’s ahimsa provides an alternative to the logic of violence.
Buddhist meditation provides an alternative to the abuse of our attention.
Judaism’s Sabbath provides an alternative to the demands of capitalism.
And in a world where everything can be bought and sold including the earth itself, Native American traditions provide an alternative to ecological extraction.
It’s hard. It is so hard to protect your spirit in a world trying to kill it.
That’s why we need faith communities like this one.
That’s why we need stories and traditions and practices that heal our soul and transform our mind.
Every time on this sanctuary that we say the prayers, sing the hymns, sprinkle the water, eat the bread, drink the wine, we’re tuning our hearts.
Our Buddhist friends tell us that it takes practice.
Neuroscientists tell us that we can become kinder, more empathetic if we work at it.
Things like love, peace, and hope, they require strength training, a gym for the heart.
So every week we gather here to sing our songs and tell our stories just for the opportunity in the words of Thich Nhat Hanh, “dwell in the ultimate.” Together. Just for a moment.
And that’s almost better than a cold glass of beer.
I invite you now to your own reflection on these words.
This is a territorial map of 1763. Many people of Spanish and what would be considered Mexican ancestral lineage were already here prior to the current Mexican border. Did you know that?
Most current Americans are not descendants of the original immigrants who settled in the thirteen colonies. Most of modern families at some point in their genealogy are all immigrants who did not go through the complicated, lengthy, and expensive means to become citizens taking place today.
Emma Lazarus wrote The New Colossus, the foundation of principle on which stands for what the United States of America stands. It reads:
NOT LIKE THE BRAZEN GIANT OF GREEK FAME, WITH CONQUERING LIMBS ASTRIDE FROM LAND TO LAND; HERE AT OUR SEA-WASHED, SUNSET GATES SHALL STAND A MIGHTY WOMAN WITH A TORCH, WHOSE FLAME IS THE IMPRISONED LIGHTING, AND HER NAME MOTHER OF EXILES. FROM HER BEACON-HAND GLOWS WORLD-WIDE WELCOME: HER MILD EYES COMMAND THE AIR-BRIDGED HARBOR THAT TWIN CITIES FRAME, “KEEP ANCIENT LANDS, YOUR STORIED POMP!
CRIES SHE WITH SILENT LIPS. “GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, YOUR HUDDLE MASSES YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE, THE WRETCHED REFUSE OF YOUR TEEMING SHORE, SEND THESE, THE HOMELESS, TEMPEST-TOST TO ME, I LIFT MY LAMP BESIDE THE GOLDEN DOOR!”
THIS TABLET, WITH HER SONNET TO THE BARTHOLDL STATUE OF LIBERTY ENGRAVED UPON IT, IS PLACED UPON THESE WALLS IN LOVING MEMORY OF EMMA LAZARUS, BORN IN NEW YORK CITY, JULY 22, 1849, AND DIED NOVEMBER 19, 1887.
The Statue of Liberty stands for freedom, liberty and justice for all, not just for those who later arrive here and wish to live in patriarchal, oligarch, and authoritian countries from which they and their parents came and chose to leave.
“Close-up shot of the Liberty Bell with Independence Hall in the background at dusk. Located in downtown Philadelphia, this monument to liberty continues to draw crowds on a daily basis.You might also be interested in…”
The United States of American is one country, united in principles of freedom, liberty and justice for all law-abiding citizens. This is not the country that prejudiced and racist individuals can turn so quickly into the chaos they wish to spread in maligned hopes of overthrowing our government of one nation. They are seeking your power, fame, and fortune in favor of their own. There are many who wish to do so, shown in the hate map below made by the Southern Poverty Law Group:
The desire of countries run by oligarchs and authoritarian figures would like nothing more than to deal with one ruler for 30 years or more. Finances would be much easier to the big money at the top of financial paradigms. Of course, these ones want to establish top-heavy leaders. But have you noticed that these at the top horde their riches? Trickle-down economics has proven to be a bust.
In the course of human development, spiritual maturity often trips on its way out of the sandbox of childish and greed notions. Now is the time, if any of us do claim to be any flavor of Christian, to actually follow Christ and the principles he taught, none of which include treating other human beings as less than human.
We are one United States of America.
This is what the United States really looks like, United Humanity, not only white Americans.
Rudyard Kipling said this poem was inspired by the exploits of a British officer in South Africa, but today it transcends our world.
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”;
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!”
~ Rudyard Kipling
Obviously, this poem was written about the inner “Man” of all of us, the inner “Person” within the Individual, a Being of substance, honor, integrity, truth, magnanimity, valor, and strength. It is not the strength of the brut bully which defines strength of character. That would be the mask of the fool.
Rather, at any given moment we can choose to rise to our higher selves for the good of all humanity, which plants the seeds for us to bloom into the better beings it is possible to become.
When opportunity knocks at the doors of our choices, let us take that precious moment to elevate our thoughts, words, and actions with pearls of wisdom that builds up all humanity, fosters world peace, and generates the most love, light, and peace for the good of All.
Turn, Turn, Turn by Roger McGuinn, formerly of The Byrds. at The Marty Stuart Show
Pete Seeger’s original song, “Turn, Turn, Turn” written in the 1950s and first recorded in 1959, took a page out of the book of Ecclesiastes, specifically the first eight verses of the third chapter. It was originally released in 1962 under the title, “To Everything There Is a Season” on the folk group, the Limelighters’ album, Folk Matinee, and then some months later on Seeger’s album, The Bitter and the Sweet.
The folk rock group, theByrds, turned into an international hit in late 1965. The single entered the U.S. chart at number 80 on October 23, 1965, before reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on December 4, 1965. In Canada, it reached number 3 on November 29, 1965, and also peaked at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.
It is just as relevant today as it was the day it was written, in approximately 1,000 BC.
It is time to let go of the 1800’s. The stench of prejudice and systemic racism was not completely eradicated by the Civil War. When asked why some people can’t seem to move on, I have heard, “Y’all won.” Yet the war continues, not on the battle ground lines dividing north and south, but battle lines drawn in the hearts of men and women in every city and state in the United States of America.
How ironic it is to hear some groups of people who claim to be religious, or who say they believe in God, only to continue to feed off fear and hate mimicking those who do not believe in God.
How does a person who wants to leave such a limited belief system transform their heart, mind, voice and actions into someone with a deeper comprehension of what it means to be fully human? One would think that by this time in human history we would be further along the process of healing divisions of race, color, creed, gender, age, and any other distinction we human beings come up with to separate ourselves from one another. Still, here we are in the thick of it.
It starts with each individual and the realization that all human beings are made in the image and likeness of God. We all, regardless of our gender, age, belief system, race, height, eye color, or skin color, belong to the human race.
It means letting go of false notions of being better than other people. Pride has an ugly stench and can hold a person back from moving forward in maturing. Growing in character development takes a lifetime. No one is ever at the end of learning something new about themselves. This is also not a group think-tank process. It takes courage and conviction to stand up for yourself and against principles that are less than human, even if these principles you once adhered to held by the group no longer fit your paradigm.
How free it is to get out from under the burden we either place upon ourselves, or accept from others. We are not limited by the restrictions of the group we find ourselves in, the religions of the past, poisoned politics, manipulated markets, gender judgments, nor racism propaganda. These are the dog whistles of past prejudices of the antebellum ghosts of winds whipping through the willows.
Recognize your past programming. We all have it. We are indoctrinated with it one way or the other in our upbringing and life situations. Also recognize that you are unlimited. You are a free person, free to think independent thoughts not railroaded by any group or leader. Never allow any person or group to usurp your free will. Charismatic groups have a contagious quality, but look outside of the self, rather than inside the self, for the Christ Jesus talked about in Luke 17:20-21, where he clearly states the “Kingdom of God is WITHIN you.”
Wake up to your Christ self, God dwelling WITHIN you. When we accept this truth, we will see that all things are ours, like 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 says, “Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And you are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.”
Christ is in each and every one of us when we wake up tp this fact, and act on good conscience with our free will. Freedom is necessary for all human beings everywhere, without exception.
“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
Allow yourself to leave any group that espouses hate and fear. The fear mongers stir the pot to boiling, fueling dysfunctional flames of sabotage. Instead, replace fear with love, empathy, and understanding. Education, history, and social awareness also helps to crack open the door of ignorance, greed, and arcane thinking.
God did not call you to be manipulated. God called you to free will and freedom, peacefully. No one has the right to threaten you. Stand in your personal awareness of who and what you are, a child of God, your Christ self. This means connected to Christ, not independent from Christ.
I do not see any white supremacy, racism, lies, conspiracy theories, hate and fear mongering, poll tampering, crime on the U.S. Capitol. Nope, I don’t see a thing. If I stay silent, I can get your vote, right?
You cannot claim to be Christian and spread lies. That would be against the Ten Commandments which Christians believe in.
You cannot claim to be a sane person and believe in lies and conspiracies as if they are real. That would just be mentally unbalanced.
You cannot believe that lasers shot from outer space by Jewish bankers are what started wildfires in California and expect to be taken seriously. That would be such a prejudiced diversionary tactic.
You cannot believe that people are killing and eating babies. If so, you need to be committed into an insane asylum. No really, this is crazy.
If you sell your soul to the devil for money, votes and political fleeting fame, the weed seeds you plant will grow to take over your once noble goals. Anyone with common sense knows this.
Silence is agreement. Silence is acceptance. Doing nothing when obvious and outrageous crime flagrantly takes place on your watch, means you agree and accept the beliefs and behaviors of your base. If this is the case, you are as guilty as they are.
And no, you cannot believe that the Democrats are deep-state lizard people. People are laughing at you.
The fat man on the bed playing alien, deep-state video games has infiltrated government. What are you going to do about it?
You either believe in democracy or you don’t. In Russia, people are fighting tyranny for democracy. In the United States, people are fighting democracy for tyranny.
When Jesus taught us to pray, he taught us to pray for God’s kingdom, not a physical, man-made kingdom on earth. The kingdom of God we are to pray for is not brought on by ego, pride, guns, nor strife. Those are the dark tools of sinister forces whose insatiable appetites for power, money, and domination blind the brains of would-be good people, even Christians, who through misguided allegiance to God find themselves obeying man.
We are not to mix the kingdom of man with the kingdom of God. That is not how this works. We already had the battle of Jericho. Calls sent out today to reenact the battle of Jericho at the United States Capital, as well as all other state Capitol buildings is pure evil, not the will of God.
STAND DOWN.
Do you feel called to act in good faith? Then pray. Pray for the Holy Spirit to enter your heart. Jesus told us all how to think, speak and act. You will find none of his words incite any of us to violence.
If, when you pray, you feel intense anger, frustration, and hatred, then you are listening to and following the wrong god.
This is the time for repentance, humility, and trust of God, not the arrogant boast and folly of humans. This is a time of introspection, considering the roles we are living in our lives, based on the choices we make. Are we living in the love, hope, peace, and truth that the kingdom of God promises? If not, you are promoting the illusion that lies, conspiracies, evil, death and destruction are good.
Jesus said, “Because of the increasing lawlessness, the love of the greater number will grow cold.”
That is what we are seeing today in the belligerent manipulation of man usurping the will of God in place of his own.
The kingdom of God is coming, in fact is already here. The profound peace and love of the kingdom of God is already within us, as Jesus told us in Luke 17:21.
How do you know if the kingdom of God is within you?
The fruits of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit will be abundant in your life. If these fruits are missing from your life, you will know you have chosen the wrong road to follow.
If gentleness, faithfulness, self-control, meekness, peace, joy, love, kindness, patience, goodness, temperance, and faith are missing in your life, stop whatever you are doing and pray. Pray for the love of God, Father of Jesus Christ, to enter your heart.
It seems the Republican political party in the USA has been hijacked by so many hate groups that they fear standing up for the right thing for losing their voters. But now, more than ever before, all citizens of the United States of America need to stand up for facts, not fiction; truth, not conspiracy; and honor and integrity over selling out the country. Truth matters.
There are so many other gods out there today, masking as the One, True God. You will know which god (God) you are following by the fruits of your labor.
Today, January 15, is a national holiday, Martin Luther King, Jr. Enjoy this inspirational tribute in the walk toward social justice and human equality.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
While evil seems to dominate the minds of many these days, do not forget that good conquers evil every time we focus on the good thoughts, words and actions that constructively solve problems, restore justice, and foster peace.
No relationship of any kind is made better by unrest. Problem solving requires listening, understanding and kindness. We can listen and understand without being cruel.
We need to trust the systems we have in place to restore civility in the society our Founding Fathers provided. They knew tumultuous times and planned for the failings of humankind. They were not perfect, neither are we.
The military of the United States of America have all sworn an oath to serve and protect the Constitution of the USA, which they will do to protect the democracy of the USA from any and all foreign and domestic terrorists.
How do we peacefully cross the ravine between our incredible hurt, wanting to fix the things that seem impossible to fix?
It is interesting to observe that many of those promoting evil would be hurt economically, socially, and personally by the very thoughts, words, and actions they are promoting. There is more involved here. So many do not know they have been lied to by the current President and his media who promoted his fake news as if it was real. Irresponsible fake news reporting is just as culpable for the violence at the U.C. Capitol as those who acted on these reported words, in my book. It would be the same thing as if someone yelled, “Fire!” in a crowded theater when there is no fire. That person would be arrested and punished. Those promoting fake news are equally culpable.
It will take education, observing historical news clips from reputable news outlets for ourselves what really happened each day in the past four years, not what someone told us. Facts matter. Truth matters. No one needs to die learning the truth, nor accurate history. It what it is.
You can either be on the side of democracy or not. It is impossible to do both at the same time.
As ordinary citizens, we can fix this by allowing ourselves to learn, to understand, and to grow in the awareness of truth. This also means that sometimes we can be wrong. We make mistakes. We are human beings.
Take a breath. Stop the drama and the chaos. This is fixable. Get away from those stirring up hate.
In order for good to win over evil:
Choose good over evil.
Choose education over ignorance.
Choose peace over unrest.
Choose love over hate.
Choose kindness over cruelty.
Choose empathy over selfishness.
Choose compassion over self-serving goals.
Choose peaceful resolution.
It might seem obvious, but tyranny and authoritarian dictatorships are not the same thing as preserving our precious democracy. Democracy in the USA has peaceful ways to solve problems. Refuse to be part of hate-filled agendas that will soon turn against you. Use thoughts, words, and actions to promote democracy peacefully, with altruism, and love.
It is up to you and me to preserve our democracy, proven to the world in the peaceful transfer of power to the next President of the United States, which has been done for 244 years.
I have a copy of The Constitution of the United States and The Declaration of Independence at home, well worn from use. Nothing in these documents of guiding principles condone the actions of the mob of domestic terrorists that was demonstrated during the counting of the electoral votes.
What an amazing time it is in the world to be living, when we can say we promoted peace over discord, love over hate, as we all do our best to rebirth empathy, compassion, peace, love, altruism, and kindness. You and I have a choice of our actions, of which we are all accountable.
Let’s be honest. Law and order are not lawbreaking ideals with renegade disregard for the law. Not all, but many of the mob of domestic terrorists claim to be Christian.
Democracy is a living, life-changing aspect of a civilized society today, evolving from past generations of autocrats, oligarchs, tyrants, dictators, and would-be kings. But the life blood of democracy does not reside in one president only, or any particular group of politicians. Democracy’s pulse remains alive within the heartbeat of you, me and everyone else in democratic countries.
Our country and ourselves are in a symbiotic relationship. Our democracy lives or dies by the will of us, the people.
Remember, as the Appendix of the Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men (and women) are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men (and women) deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. …
“… But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necesssity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present king of Great-Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. …”
Today, as the final results pour in from this year’s presidential election, more than 150 million voters have done this very thing, changing the tone of the United States of American from becoming victim to another would-be king, based on the promotion of the Lame-Duck President as an autocratic oligarch, to a truly democratic government run by the people and for the people, who have chosen liberty and freedom over tyranny and despotism.
You and I are in charge of keeping democracy alive. It is in the words we say and actions we take. It is up to us to create fairness and kindness within our homes, work places, schools with empathy and compassion at the top of our minds. Democracy begins with us.
Democracy is hard fought for. The aspiration of any ruler in any country to take over the liberty and freedom of the people they rule is the misuse of their own personal free will.
We retain and continually stand up for democracy when we peacefully live in the liberty and freedom with which the United States of America was born. We do this in our neighborhoods. We do this in our daily coming and going. We not only care about ourselves, we care about other people, too.
Free will is a gift of God given to every human being born on the planet, regardless of what country in which you live. Our political ancestors of the fledgling 13 colonies fought long and hard for the freedom we have today, to govern ourselves, to vote for our leaders void of the abuse of all forms of voter suppression, all written down in the Constitution of the United States of America.
One of the reasons our country thought it important enough to later write in term limits for the presidency of the USA is that we wanted to get away from would-be kings such as King George III.
Do not fear. Fear is the fuel of hate and hate groups; fear of others, fear of different thoughts, fear of different religions, fear of different races, fear of different skin colors, fear of different languages, fear of anyone or anything who/that is different from ourselves.
Rather, be the light. Shine the light of inspiration and knowledge of what can be when we work together for the common good. Focus on positive, life-affirming solutions. The darkness of fear is what happens when enough good people think, say and do nothing. That is the definition of evil, when enough good people think, say and do nothing. Find the good. Work for the good.
Learn more about our heros and heroines who stood up for all human justice. Speak out and correct racial slurs when they are heard. Explain when misunderstandings arise.
For example, “Defund the Police” does not mean to financially demonish the police departments. “Defund the Police” means to help police departments by adding counselors where situations call for diplomacy rather than police with guns. Guns are not the only answer to every problem, which also does not mean we never need a police woman or man with a gun when the situation for that is called for. Also, all good cops agree that bad cops need to go.
We need to recognize all our prejudices in order that we can evolve into better people, better neighbors, and better government officials.
Democracy stands firm against all political leaders who do not choose to work across the isle with government leaders from a different party affiliation for the good of the citizens they represent.
Democracy also stands firm against all hate groups which have sought, and still seek, to destroy democracy by pitting one human being against another, or one political party against another. Do not fall for the undemocratic antics of those who seek to destroy democracy.
We continue to stand up for our precious democracy in our every thought, word and action. Democracy has not won by the vote of one person to the presidency. Let us never again come this close to losing our democracy, which is possible to do when we forget that it is you and me, and all individuals in our UNITED States of America.
Southern Poverty Law Center Hate Map shows the undercurrent of racism alive and well. Anyone who says they are not racist, but can vote for politicians known to be racist through their words and actions, hiding behind “fake news;” treating refugees fleeing for their lives, putting men, women and children in cages; separating children from their parents and “losing” 545 parents in the process; red-line voting districts; allowing the COVID-19 pandemic to run rampant while killing a quarter of a million American lives; living misogynist lives without repudiation; and not wanting all votes to be counted in the democracy of the United States; then all people need to reassess if they are in fact racist.Closing your eyes to racism is in and of itself, racist.
Now is the time to look closely in the mirror and see what we allow in our lives.
What is the real problem at the root of the separation of democracy?
What is at the root of not wanting to count all the votes of all citizens in the United States of America?
Is it tolerable to encourage hate groups to roam the streets of our cities and towns, then blame the trouble they cause on the Black, Latino, and all disenfranchised groups?
Is it lawful to incite hate groups to form bullish “trains” of vehicles to pour out onto roads onto the USA in intimidation moves?
Do you find yourself needing to ignore pangs of conscience?
Does choosing to ignore the needs of others in order to continue to financially profit personally supersede their needs?
Southern Poverty Law Center
Speak up when you hear slurs. Let people know that biased speech is unacceptable.
Cross social boundaries. Seek out opportunities to interact with people who are different from you.
Encourage your local police force to identify bias-motivated criminal acts as hate crimes.
Complain to media outlets when they promote stereotypes.
How many people have said, “This is just my opinion. I have a right to my opinion. That’s just the way I am.”? Everyone has a right to their own opinion. However, prejudice is not an opinion, nor is it “just they way I am.” Prejudice is a mental disease, a value of hate that is taught through families, friends, and society.
Prejudice is taught. Prejudice is an ignorant teaching. No one is born with a prejudiced mindset. It is also part of the poverty “rich vs poor” mentality, which includes the “us vs them.” It also infiltrates to the “we are better than them,” no matter which side of belief we are on.
The problem occurs when we atttempt to make prejudice be normal, or just another thought or value system someone has. Society never does well when we pretend any form of mental illness is normal.
How close to mental illness do you choose to get? Prejudice is a choice. No matter what our parents, friends or people in our circle of life believe, we always have the choice in what we believe as an individual.
I have had people tell me they have a right to be prejudiced, that the only crime is to act out in harmful or criminal ways. This is faulty reasoning. What you think about, you bring about.
If you encourage others with words full of prejudice then they commit a crime because they are emboldened by your words, you are culpable in their crimes. Charles Manson was.
A white person told me that they carry a gun and could shoot a black person with no problem. This is the form of mental disease that prejudice takes. It shows the beginning of thinking, speaking and acting out in hate, not simply “believing what I want to believe.”
I could be bipolar, which used to be called manic-depressive, and say, “I was born like this. It is in my DNA.” That would be an accurate statement. But since prejudice is not in our DNA, it is a mindset that shapes how we choose to lives our lives, to say “I was born like this” is not a true statement.
Prejudice is an ignorant, deformed mental concept. It serves no one, except the most ignorant and un-Christian among us. Jesus never taught nor practiced prejudice. This mental illness has been with humanity since people populated the earth. But prejudice has not been recognized for what it truly is, a mental disease.
Some of us fall into the weakness of prejudice by becoming victims of it, or by becoming bullies by it. Neither side is healthy. Both sides can heal, but only with the truth that all human beings work together, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, age and any other difference which makes us human. Our variety as human beings is what makes us unique and lovable, not deplorable.
If we only look at the crimes and outrage taking over cities in the United States these days, while not looking at what sparked this in the first place, we would be willfully ignorant of the facts ourselves. Facts are not opinions.
The spin of liars in the world is to call true facts “fake news.” That is the tip off, the red flag that someone is lying to you. Those who tell the truth never call the other side “fake news.” Only liars use those words.
Changes obviously need to be made. Staying relatively quiet since the days of Martin Luther King, Jr. has not stopped the sinister wave of hate prumulgated through the United States and the world under the subculture of white supremacy including prejudice in all its hideous forms.
We need to take off the blinders to the reality of how we treat all people in all situations, stop red-lining districts, stop political and willful conniving to scam the system, and stop pretending mental illness is normal, and stop putting prejudiced lawmakers and judges, all of whom are examples of the mental illness of prejudice in public office.
Prejudice has nothing to do with being educated, it has to with a deformed mental understanding of humanity. That is why prejudice is a mental illness. It is deformed.
The solution to the mental disease of prejudice is to call it what it is, mental illness. Mental illness is treatable. We as a country as well as the world can heal from every form of prejudice. Some people are prejudiced against the mentally handicapped, or people from other lands or beliefs, not just against people who are not exactly the same color of skin that we have. Still, all prejudice is a mental shortcoming, a defect that ought not to be treated as normal.
While systemic racisim has blinded many people, it is not a disease that is incurable. We need to deal with the core issue of racisim, which is prejudice, which erroneously thinks that one brand of people is better than another.
We are all the same in the eyes of God.
There is only one race of people, the human race.
It is time we mentally heal, and educate ourselves to all the goodness diversity has to offer.
It is time we mentally heal, and choose empathy and compassion over mental illness, including narcisism.
It is possible to heal with our very next thought. Reach out to help others. Use words of kindness.
It is possible to heal mental illness through counseling, support, and prayer.
It is just as easy to build each other up as to tear each other down.
If we start with a positive solution today, we can live in a better world tomorrow.
40 Tips for a Happy Health Life has circulated on the internet, and has wonderful pearls of wisdom for your happiness health. It is interesting that the first tip is to drink plenty of water. Did you know if your brain gets two percent dehydrated, you can easily get muddled thinking and forgetful memory? We can choose to be happy, it helps to keep us healthy on many levels.
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Make time for prayer and reflection
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did last year.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
Personality:
10. Take a 10-to-30 minute walk every day —- and while you walk, smile.
11. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don’t over do; keep your limits.
14. Don’t take yourself so seriously; no one else does.
15. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Community:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
32. Do the right things.
33. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. Forgiveness heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, don’t take it for granted – embrace life.
39. Your inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
It’s easy to get caught up in drama and outrage addiction. Drama and outrage strike a cord. We have opinions. Our
Drama and outrage addiction did this to me. How do I stop it?
egos love drama and outrage. But are drama and outrage good and healthy for us?
Absolutely not.
Think about what happens to our chi, our life force energy, when drama and outrage take over our peace and serenity. Our blood pressure goes up, we get out of balance, we can even get caught up in the emotion of it all and not know how to stop it.
There is a time to stand up for our beliefs, and vote our conscience. Good conversations that influence and inspire groups of people are necessary in this world. That is just and right, and liberating. Drama and outrage addiction are something else altogether. It is easy to recognize this when insults fly as opposed to intelligent conversation, with fact-finding in place of alternate realities including lies presented as truth.
The onus is on you and me to find out if what others tell us is the truth. It is important not to go by just one side of an issue. We have a duty in our personal, civil and religious lives to find out the truth for ourselves, not just swallow hook, line and sinker what others tell us as truth. It is not that hard to find out in these days of video and audio capturing every moment of our lives.
Often we do not give ourselves enough credit for getting to the bottom of an issue, as if news reporters and political leaders themselves know more than we do on any given subject. If we get our news from television, we at least owe it to ourselves to watch channels with different points of view.
What hurts democracies across the globe is the propagation of news from only one source. That is the sign that government is no longer a democracy.
Whether it’s religion, education, or politics, one side of an issue says a point of view, often meant not just to say their point, but with the intention of ruffling the feathers of the opposition. After a while the spiral of drama and outrage is so out of control, the point is lost to the spin.
Don Miguel Ruiz, author of “The Four Agreements,” has one of his four points on which the book is based, “Be impeccable with your word.” That is a fantastic point. If we simply and consciously say what we mean, rather than use our words to attack, we are better heard by the people we want to hear it. Another point he makes, “Don’t take things personally,” is one that personally changed my life. No matter what issue is being discussed, if we do not choose to take things personally, the drama and outrage drop away, and clarity of topic remains and solutions can be found.
But solutions are far away when drama and outrage keep going around and around. Where is the end of the circle?
“Don’t make assumptions,” is another agreement Ruiz suggests. Understanding gets a whole lot better when we actualy listen to the other point of view without the hair raising up on the back of our neck like a cat just before it attacks something.
Imagine a world, a country, a state, a neighborhood, a family, where we attentively listened to what was being said before we stopped listening and verbally (and sometimes physically and emotionally and spiritually) attacked the other person, group, country, religion, or army. What would happen to the drama and outrage of the situation?
Before we can heal our minds, our issues, our families, our countries and the world at large, we need to acknowledge we have drama and outrage addiction. Without acknowledging drama and outrage addition, like every other addiction we have, we cannot begin to heal it, and pave the way to peace.
Imagine what it would be like to have world peace.
LOVE is the only answer to the cords of self-hatred that are manifesting upon the world today in the insideous forms of greed, selfishness, bigotry, and superstition, which are deforming the minds of many. It is one thing to reign in the renegade, insane ego. It is quite another thing to diminish our selves into little balls of hate.
Love, in a world ignorant of Love, is the only answer. Be the LOVE. This is not a LOVE that reaches out to grasp something or someone; no, it is a LOVE that reaches out as the angelic hand of Charity, both giving and receiving, according to the heavenly polarities, that we have become identified with the nature of the Holy Spirit of God.
LOVE is the answer to the COVID-19 response.
LOVE is the answer to climate change.
LOVE is the answer to global warming.
LOVE is the answer to sustaining the rainforests, the lungs of the planet.
LOVE is the answer to feeding the hungry.
LOVE is the answer to humanitarian efforts.
LOVE is the answer to immigration.
LOVE is the answer to caring for the poor.
LOVE is the answer to homelessness.
LOVE is the answer to social justice.
LOVE is the answer to racial injustice.
LOVE is the answer to gender equality.
LOVE is the answer to social unrest.
LOVE is the answer to political guidance.
LOVE is the answer to political gaming.
LOVE is the answer to religious intolerance.
LOVE is the answer to every problem in every country.
What is the nature of LOVE?
God is LOVE. God is Spirit, not an entity.
The nature of the eternally, living God is Spirit, Holy Spirit, as John says in John 4:24, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
There is no difference in the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, nor the human comprehension of the Maha Cohen. God cannot be dissected. God is ENERGY. Energy cannot be created not destroyed. Energy can only change its form. God is spiritual. God IS LOVE. Holy Spirit is LOVE. Since God’s LOVE is spiritual, it blankets humanity with the fulfillment of the essential needs of soul and body. You and I are made by and with the Holy Spirit infused in the “Spirit” of each of us. It is our God Particle, our I AM Presence, that keeps us alive.
We have work to do. The loveless world is in need of your self-sacrifice to LOVE when all seems lost.
We have free will to acknowledge, use and share the Loving Energy, the Spirit of God in our lives. We also have free will to not acknowledge, use and share the Loving Energy, the Spirit of God in out lives. How we use our free will in this life determines how many times we will reincarnate in order to manifest the glory and perfection of God, which Jesus taught us about in Luke 17:21, when he specifically told us “nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ for the kingdom of God is within you.” The Hebrew-Greek-English Interlinear Bible says the original words say “WITHIN YOU,” not “among you,” as some bibles say today, although most bibles are changing this back to the original words, instead of only mentioning this fact in the footnotes.
Notice Jesus does not call the world, with its warped sense of free-thought, nor liberty (for some and not for others), nor human-inspired justice, a peaceful and LOVING world. Jesus tells us to “be no part of the world.”
We are to transform the world, We have work to do.
We are told in Matthew 5:48, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” New Intertional Version (NIV) These are the words of Jesus. He would not have told us this if it were not possible.
Where does the nature of God reside?
The nature of God resides in all of nature, including WITHIN you and me. The nature of God is the flame and breath of the very life WITHIN you and me. It is ever-expanding, LOVE.
Who and/or what is Maha Cohan?
Maha Cohen can be thought of as the Holy Spirit of God; also known as the Ascended Master of the Power of LOVE. Picture LOVE coming into your heart on the Ruby Ray, direct from God into your heart. Meditate on this Ruby Ray as it melts away all that is not made of LOVE in your life.
How do you manifest into physical form something that is spiritual in nature?
How can you manifest LOVE in your life?
How can you touch LOVE?
What does LOVE look like?
What does LOVE feel like?
How can you manifest Holy Spirit, the Loving Presence of Maha Cohan in your life?
Today we see huge voids of LOVE in the world, in our countries, in our families and inside our personal selves. These pulsating voids of LOVE make their presence known in personal relationships, political arenas, financial institutions, business models and the thinking that fuels them.
Lack of LOVE is a dark energy which is self-serving, without regard for people, places and things that it adversely affects. Lack of LOVE is self-hatred. It is an example of the Law of Karma, where previous seeds sown of misqualified greed, selfishness and power manifest in realities that mirror the seeds. This should come as no surprise to anyone.
LOVE is mutable, changing and transforming along with our focus and intention. When we do not pay enough attention to LOVE within ourselves, our families, or our countries, we and they fall apart.
There is only one way to correct the lack of LOVE in our perception and our reality, and that is to begin to LOVE again. LOVE more. Rather than tear down, build up. In place of destroying the reputations of others, build up the good that you see in those people who you use your free will to help support.
Stop destructive thoughts, words and actions. We can all do this. We make mistakes. The more we recognize our failings, even in the midst of them, we can stop. Take a breath, and begin again with LOVE as the driving force to create a better life for ourselves and everyone around us. It all begins with you and me. It is an easy cop-out to point fingers at the other guy. Deflection and diversion never solve the problem. Deflection and diversion only make the problem worse. Problem solving is what solves problems.
It is not necessary to spend precious time ripping apart the character of a person or a country that is lacking in LOVE. This is simply a complete waste of energy. Positive energy, LOVE, is life affirming and energy building. Lack of LOVE is depleting. When we see greed, selfishness, power hungry individuals, the answer is to invite the Energy of LOVE (Maha Cohen), which is the Invincible Holy Spirit into the equation. Greed, selfishness and unrestrained power wreak havoc over every situation where LOVE is not present.
“Those who have not penetrated the spiritual realms sparkling just beyond their enjoyment of this earthly existence with its everyday montages of life and death – these have not truly lived.” taken fromLost Teachings on Keys to Spiritual Progress
There is more to life than earthly mansions, exotic vacations, physical wealth, pleasures, hoarding food and goods, and every other form of dominance over others.
“Jesus warned us of covetousness in the human spirit, as if we can duplicate the abundant life, fair and free and God-given by oneself unto oneself. And this, too, is karma.” taken from Lost Teachings on Keys to Spiritual Progress
I encourage us all to LOVE more, beginning with ourselves. YOU ARE WORTHY. YOU ARE LOVED, even if you think you are not. Know that you are LOVED! You are LOVED by Maha Cohan, the LOVE of Holy Spirit, mirrored WITHIN YOU since you have the Spirit of Life keeping you alive at this very moment. You are not only LOVED, YOU ARE LOVE. Realize this truth.
If your thoughts, words and actions have not reflected that you are LOVE, you can change this in the blink of an eye. Your free will is all powerful. You are in control of your free will. The will of others is not in control of you. It is not the will of others that determines what you choose to do in your life. Even if you are presently limited by a situation where you are not free to roam about as you please, you still have the God-given freedom of your mind to think your own thoughts, and pray your own prayers, that are always heard by the author of LOVE.
Life situations change all the time. The only constant in life is change. Not all change is pleasant or helpful to us. What is in our control is how we deal with change. We need to learn how to act rather than react. That helps us move forward, regardless of our situation. Plan positive solutions begin right where you are.
What is the next positive thing you can do?
You have the God-given gift of free will, given to you as part of your humanity. You can choose to use free will in any way. I suggest you use your free will for good, for the abundance of all good things, and for LOVE. Use your LOVE as the answer to any and every problem that faces you, personally as well as for socially, politically and in every other situation that requires your input.
We are more alike than the differences we profess. There is nothing to be afraid of. Stop shaking in your boots. There is no reason to fear people of different ethnic backgrounds, different genders, different ages, different religions, nor any difference in skin color. There is nothing we cannot handle with peaceful negotiation.
Truth matters.
Spanish/Mexican land greatly exceeds the land mass of the 13 colonies in 1763.
The United States of America is founded as a nation of immigrants. We welcome everyone, not just white people from Eastern Europe. As a matter of fact, people from assorted backgrounds were already here and settled within the current borders of the USA prior to the westward push to the opposite sea. The indigenous people of our great and wonderful land are still here. We love them. They are all part of the American Dream in this beautiful melting pot of humanity.
There is no reason to demonize people. We associate with groups of people who are different from our own. In these
Just 249 years ago, most of the central and southwestern USA was Spanish/Mexican.
days before the November 2020 Presidential Election, including the Presidential Conventions and TV shows, differences in the beliefs of the parties are being highlighted. There is a palpable undercurrent of fear that is present. Fear of others, how they think, and how they look, is not the way to make the best decisions, nor is lack of understanding the actual history on which this great nation is founded.
This present and palpable fear between political parties has infected the base of each within this country. It is important to separate fact from fiction in order to make common sense decisions based on love for all of humankind, not hype, hate or spin of the truth. This is not like rooting for your favorite sports team. We need to make decisions not based on the popular opinion of others, but based on our own research with input from more than one credible source.
I am writing to you as a former newspaper reporter and feature writer for three large newspapers. I needed to get real facts from three corroborated and credible sources, not friends who thought the same way I did. When I covered local Town Hall meetings, which are the heartbeat of the town, I could not misdirect the information to any particular target audience. The news I wrote had to apply to all townspeople. It was their tax dollars that funded the government of their town. I did not have any right to distort the truth of my own personal opinion. We all need to investigate further than what one side of any issue is before jumping on any bandwagon that may take you in the wrong direction, simply because you negelicted to navigate the precipice just around the corner.
How important is it to you that other countries with autocratic and oligarch leaders not interfer in the elections of the United States of America?
How important is it to you that factions of other countries not put bounties on the heads of our American soldiers?
How important is it to you to have your vote counted in the next Presidential Election?
It is easy to see the fear instigated by those with fear-based agendas.
What is the best way to make decisions not based on fear, but instead on intelligent investigation?
Is money the bottom line?
STEP OUT OF FEAR. STOP THE HATE. STOP SPREADING THE FEARMONGERING.
It is possible to stop the runaway train of fear by switching tracks to the path of love, empathy, compassion, justice and liberty for all, as we profess to believe in our Pledge of Allegiance.
Let’s see, who are really illegal immigrants in the USA?
Who are the people we count as illegal aliens?
Who counts as legal residents of the USA?
Should we determine who is legal by what they look like?
Is the USA still the country who welcomes the tired, poor, huddle masses yearning to breathe free, homeless, tempest tossed, as the Statue of Liberty lifts her golden flame of welcome?
How far back should we look, to the Native American Indians? Well, no, we should not go back that far because then we would all be illegal aliens. Looking back at the history of the United States of America it is easy to see why the USA border with Mexico is such a hot spot. However, Mexicans were here long before we were, and many of them and their families never left. They still live on their original homestead. Some Americans think these people are immigrants when in fact, they were here for generations before we got here.
Spanish/Mexican land greatly exceeds the land mass of the 13 colonies in 1763.
Shall we count the Spanish/Mexican people who lived here in 1763, prior to all our wars with them?
Shall we include those people in the land before we arrived in all the conquests and purchases?
When you think of it this way, who are really the aliens?
There has got to be a better way for people of conscience, to resolve our current humanity and immigration dilemmas, that do not include a gun to someone’s back or face, and deportation of this nations’ children who are in this land of “freedom” trying to make a better life for themselves and their families, like we all are.
We can be so short-sighted. For Americans living here now legally, it was not that long ago, not even 200 years
Maps of the USA from 1776-1866, just 146 years ago.
ago, when our very own grandparents and their grandparents were immigrants to this country. Most of them simply walked through Ellis Island, signed their name, or an “X” if they could not write, to get in. We do need smart immigration reform that does not include inhumane treatment. The scarcity mentality based on fear, fear of others, fear of their beliefs, fear of how they look, fear of how they think, fear, fear, fear is the pinacle problem of our time. We are smarter than this.
We need to stand on principle, not fear of others. We need to be fair, not self-righteous. We need to empathetic and compassionate to the plight of humanity caught in the midst of inhuman actions in these extraordinary times. We need a clear mind not infected with the plague of inhuman actions to solve the problems facing us today.
This fear and demonization of others has infiltrated the small minds, greedy hearts and loud voices of a few of those among us. We need to broaden our horizons and find creative solutions that do not include the destruction of the soul and spirit of human integrity, that place all non-white Americans, as well as non-American people, in the same category as crimminals and drug lords. We need to address crime issues, but often it is the illegal immigrant who is the victim of the crime, not the perpetrator.
How balanced is your life? Are you balanced between home, work, school, relationships and everything else? What are the signs to watch out for that you are out of balance?
Picture a seesaw with one side up, the other side down and the fulcrum, that balance point between the two in theLever with globe of Earth and small ball. simple machines by Archimedes. lever is a machine consisting of a beam or rigid rod pivoted at a fixed hinge or fulcrum. middle. Jesus Christ is the fulcrum of all of our lives. We choose whether to live with Him in our lives, or without Him; or with or without God His Father in our lives. The same goes for the Holy Spirit, the love of the Father and Son. We choose each day whether or not to include this Love on our lives. But without Jesus as our center point, there is no point.
Jesus Christ, Son of God Almighty, is the balance point in all of our lives, our true fulcrum. Each of us decides when enough is enough in our day-to-day living. The determining factor of who we are, what we believe, and what we will allow into our lives is all up to us. But there is an unnecessary problem we create for ourselves when we exclude Jesus Christ, who came to earth to show us how to live in this world, presently ruled by Satan.
Think of this for a moment. Jesus was led out into the desert wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by Satan. For forty days and nights Jesus fasted. Then Satan tempted Him to get food by changing stones into loaves of bread.
Jesus answers, “No! For the Scriptures tell us that bread won’t feed men’s souls; obedience to the word of God is what we need.”
Then Satan took Jesus to Jerusalem to the roof of the Temple, and said, “Jump off and prove you are the Son of God …”
Jesus responds, “It also says not to put God to a foolish test.”
Lastly, Satan took Jesus to the peak of a very high mountain, and showed Him all the nations of the world and all their glory, and said to Him, “I’ll give it all to you, if you will only kneel and worship me.”
How could this last test of Jesus been a real temptation is Satan were not the real ruler of this world?
Would the temptation of Jesus in the desert after His baptism really have been a temptation if Satan were not the present ruler of this world? (Remember Satan and one-third of the angels in heaven were cast out of heaven and sent to earth. These are the fallen angels of old.) Jesus goes into the desert where Satan tempts Him that if Jesus would bow down before him, Satan would give him all the kingdoms of the earth.
Jesus Christ, Son of God, remained faithful amid great temptations. How hungry are we after only missing a meal or a day or two of no food? Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights. He was most certainly at the point of starving, and still chose to do God’s will, not his own.
We get that same choice to make each and every day. Who’s will do we follow?
Sometimes we act as though we are not in charge of ourselves, or our government or situations like global warming or world peace. But everything we think, do and say show us if we are in our out of balance, and what principles are important to us.
Policies and strategies can also be balanced on government fulcrums perfectly, or miss the mark entirely. When governments are out of balance, it is possible to not only fail as a nation, it is possible to harm the citizens who live there, cauterizing the hearts of rulers who treat people as less than human. Governments are the fulcrums within their own administrations as well as meeting their responsibilities globally. When governments are out of balance in their duties, it is possible to put an end to the one planet we all live on.
Each day we make the choices in our lives, to live by God’s will each day, or by our own will. Then there are times we freely give our own God-given will away to others or to situations. Those are the times we play the victim of our lives. Sometimes we act as if we are not in control of our lives, or that we are ignorant of what is really going on so that we do not have to deal with it. This is when we step out of our own power, as if someone else will make these decisions for us. This has a side benefit. When we play the victim in our lives, or abdicate the responsibility for our lives, we then begin to blame other people and other circumstances for everything we think is wrong. But this is not the truth. We are deceiving ourselves.
We need to peacefully take back the God-given power of our free-will that we gave away, individually, in our families, in our states and in our countries in the world, of which we are all a part. We can do this with calm integrity, no need for rash behavior. If we want things to be better, we have the power to make them better by making better life-giving decisions, and being better people. Let’s admit it. Sometimes we do not do our best because of a host of other reasons and/or justifications.
However, all of us in every country in the world, are at a tipping point of more people choosing bad over good, evil over good, or sin over virtue, not only in our own lives, but in the world at large. We can change this if we want to, but nothing will change unless we consciously decide to choose more good over bad, good over evil, or sin over virtue.
If money is the bottom line, as most people say these days as to what they determine to be the most important reason for decisions made, then humanity is doomed to fail, cities and states are doomed to fail, and the ecological health of the world will fail. In all cases, we can have all the money in the world and die of a disease; Flint, Michigan can have the biggest bank account to save money but unless money is spent to fix drinkable water there, the drinking water will remain toxic; and the world’s economy matters little when global warming is completed and the earth is no more.
There are many factors that affect our decisions, like greed, envy, sloth (laziness), lust, wrath (anger), gluttony and pride. We know these seven pitfalls as the seven deadly sins because they hurt us individually as well as collectively. Each of these negative or bad traits, sin, has a positive or good remedy, virtue.
Rather than be motivated by greed, we can think, speak and act generously. Perhaps money is not the bottom line after all.
Instead of envy we can practice genuine love.
To improve on sloth (laziness) we can take vitamins and invigorate our dreams, renew our goals, and begin yet again.
To combat the addiction to lust we can welcome purity and modesty in our thoughts, words and actions.
Addressing wrath and uncontrolled anger, a bad habit and often an addiction, requires taking a few deep breaths and allowing understanding, listening to others, improving communication and peaceful solutions to be possible. We may feel justified in our wrathful, renegade emotions, but unless we deal with them with integrity we may have regrets as time goes by.
The solution to gluttony is moderation in food and drink, or any other addiction we are over-indulging in.
Finally, the answer for pride is humility. Being proud of our accomplishments at a job well done is not a bad thing. The problem with pride arises when we go overboard, becoming vain, arrogant and haughty. We do not even like ourselves when we don this puffed up attitude, if we are being perfectly honest.
As strong as the negative traits, more accurately known as sins are, the positive virtues can become just as strong or stronger. It is simply a matter of focusing on good over bad, choosing good over evil. Practicing these seven virtues is one way we can make good shine in our lives.
What is wrong with the world starts with you and me, and the priorities we live by. You and I are each responsible for the conditions in our lives, our neighborhoods, cities and states, and in all countries in the world. Each day you and I get to decide for good, or for bad; for virtue or for sin. We each decide on this very day whether we will choose good over evil, evil over good or virtue over sin. We can build ourselves up or we can tear ourselves down. Likewise, we can tear our neighbors down or build them up; like tearing down or building up policies and actions that benefit the entire world.
Why does this matter?
It matters to you as an individual person to mature in integrity and honesty. It matters in order to create the neighborhoods we want to live in. It matters to stand up for the scientific facts that tell of how to fix broken systems in the world. Integrity and truth matter.
Thinking of our failings only as bad habits or negative traits keeps us is a downward cycle of “that is just how I am.” But acknowledging our failures as sins, something we can repent and be forgiven for, give us hope. We can make amends and build the broken bridges we have caused in our relationships. Try as we might, we will sin before the night is through in our thoughts, words and actions today. We are not perfect. But we keep trying. God the Father will always forgive us, through the Love of Jesus our Savior, and the Love of the Holy Spirit. These are the gifts promised to us by Jesus. Each day we have this hope. There is always hope.
Isn’t it our own business how we live our lives?
Yes, it matters. Yes it is our own business. The point is that we look at the world, then point fingers at what is wrong with it, when you and I are the snowball that started it all. There are things we can do to fix the problems of personal and global greed, envy, sloth (laziness), lust, wrath (anger), gluttony and pride, as mentioned above. We must start with ourselves if we want our countries to be better, for the sake of the world.
We have to start with the beginning of the problem, not just the middle or end of the problem.
Things never stay the same. Change is the only constant in life. Choosing good over bad, good over evil, or virtue over sin, however you look at it, will create a healthier, kinder, more humane world in which we all can live and thrive. This also creates a new beginning in our relationship with God, which might need our attention at this very moment.
Start right where you are. Are you in government? Then make the most honest, best decisions you can for the life of all the people under your jurisdiction, and for the life of the planet, not just self interest. Otherwise, you can be the fulcrum that tips towards destruction not only of you personally, but the entire earth. We are very near tipping towards the point of no return. Presently this is possible to fix. Try to be part of the solution, not exacerbating the problem. Things never stay the same. You can be the instrument to save the world as opposed to demolishing it. Ask for God’s help, through the intercession of Jesus Christ, with all the Love the Holy Spirit has to give.
The same goes for the financial crisis erupting in all countries across the globe, and all other matters of importance. Remember this when things get so complicated we cannot see the forest for the trees, think PEOPLE BEFORE THINGS. To have balance, prioritize people by helping where and when you can over taking care of things. Financial matters are things. Things matter, but people matter more. Money is not always the answer for problems people have. Yes, it all matters. You matter. Again, do not forget to include God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Love of the Holy Spirit in all your decisions for the best results possible.
All people matter, not only the rich, the top one percent of the wealthiest among us; not only the milky white people, but all people represented by the 203 countries including territories and protectorates of the United States of America, most of which are not milky white. God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, created Jesus His Son as His first Creation before any and everything else, in which Jesus took part in every other Creation known to us. We were all Created in Love, and with free-will.
We live in a global society. Our friends and families live all over the world. The planes we fly land in most all countries in this one world we share.
We are one race, the human race, here on this planet.
Education matters. Are you in education? Encourage your students/children with critical thinking skills in order that they include compassion and common sense as a problem solving process they can work with, including not mindlessly following the mistakes of some of the prejudiced generations before them. Show them by example how we all can be better people. Pray again. Pray through Jesus Christ, in the Love of the Holy Spirit, to the Father of All Creation, for the minds of all of humanity to continue to grow and learn as we were intended to grow and learn.
Educators, how do you handle bullying, hungry students, students at risk, students compromised in a wide variety of situations, and students standing up for themselves? Education is a priority in every person, family, neighborhood, state and country for the success of the world. Teachers are the shining light, the good that can help so many students in need of empathy, compassion, and understanding to be better citizens of the world. Never stop praying, through the intercession of Jesus Christ, who Himself endured numerous injustices in this world.
However we think of it, and whatever we think about, we bring about. Let’s make the world a beautiful place to live, within ourselves, with our families and friends, neighborhoods, states, countries and the entire world. Let us include God our heavenly Father, Jesus Christ His Son and our brother, and the Love of the Holy Spirit in our greater families since that is truly what we are, one global family.
Picture a seesaw with one side up, the other side down and the fulcrum, that balance point between
Lever with globe of Earth and small ball. simple machines by Archimedes. lever is a machine consisting of a beam or rigid rod pivoted at a fixed hinge or fulcrum.
the two in the middle. Individually, we are the fulcrum of our lives.
Jesus is the balance in our lives. We use our God-given free will to decide when enough is enough. The determining factor of who we are, what we believe, and what we will allow into our lives is all up to us. But if it is not based on the firm foundation paid before us by Jesus Christ, it will not stand the test of time.
Policies and strategies can also be balanced on government fulcrums perfectly, or miss the mark entirely. When governments are out of balance, it is possible to not only fail as a nation, it is possible to harm the citizens who live there, cauterizing the hearts of rulers who treat people as less than human. Governments are the fulcrums within their own administrations as well as meeting their responsibilities globally. When governments are out of balance in their duties, it is possible to put an end to the one planet we all live on.
Each day we make the choices in our lives. We know this, but sometimes we play the victim of our lives. Sometimes we act as if we are not in control of our lives, or that we are ignorant of what is really going on so that we do not have to deal with it. This is when we step out of our own power, as if someone else will make these decisions for us. This has a side benefit. When we play the victim in our lives, or abdicate the responsibility for our lives, we then begin to blame other people and other circumstances for everything we think is wrong. But this is not the truth. We are deceiving ourselves.
We need to peacefully take back our power that we gave away, individually, in our families, in our states and in our countries in the world, of which we are all a part. We can do this with calm integrity, no need for rash behavior. If we want things to be better, we have the power to make them better by making better life-giving decisions, and being better people. Let’s admit it. Sometimes we do not do our best because of a host of other reasons.
However, all of us in every country in the world, are at a tipping point of more people choosing bad over good, or evil over good not only in our own lives, but in the world at large. We can change this if we want to, but nothing will change unless we consciously decide to choose more good over bad, or good over evil.
If money is the bottom line, as most people say these days as to what they determine to be the most important reason for decisions made, then humanity is doomed to fail, cities and states are doomed to fail, and the ecological health of the world will fail. In all cases, we can have all the money in the world and die of a disease; Flint, Michigan can have the biggest bank account to save money but unless money is spent to fix drinkable water there, the drinking water will remain toxic; and the world’s economy matters little when global warming is completed and the earth is no more.
Any balance point that does not include Jesus Christ as its foundation is doomed to fail.
There are many factors that affect our decisions, like greed, envy, sloth (laziness), lust, wrath (anger), gluttony and pride. We know these seven pitfalls as the seven deadly sins because they hurt us individually as well as collectively. Each of these negative or bad traits has a positive or good remedy.
Rather than greed we can think, speak and act generously. Perhaps money is not the bottom line after all.
Instead of envy we can practice genuine love.
To improve on sloth (laziness) we can take vitamins and invigorate our dreams, renew our goals, and begin yet again.
To combat the addiction to lust we can welcome purity and modesty in our thoughts, words and actions.
Addressing wrath and uncontrolled anger, a bad habit and often an addiction, requires taking a few deep breaths and allowing understanding, listening to others, improving communication and peaceful solutions to be possible. We may feel justified in our wrathful, renegade emotions, but unless we deal with them with integrity we may have regrets as time goes by.
The solution to gluttony is moderation in food and drink.
Finally, the answer for pride is humility.
As strong as the negative traits are, the positive virtues can become just as strong or stronger. It is simply a matter of focusing on good over bad, choosing good over evil. Practicing these seven virtues is one way we can make good shine in our lives.
What is wrong with the world starts with you and me. You and I are each responsible for the conditions in our lives, our neighborhoods, cities and states, and in all countries in the world. Each day you and I get to decide for good, or for bad. We each decide on this very day whether we will choose good over evil, or evil over good. We can build ourselves up or we can tear ourselves down. Likewise, we can tear our neighbors down or build them up; like tearing down or building up policies and actions that benefit the entire world.
Why does this matter?
It matters to you as an individual person to mature in integrity and honesty. It matters in order to create the neighborhoods we want to live in. It matters to stand up for the scientific facts that tell of how to fix broken systems in the world. Integrity and truth matter.
Isn’t it our own business how we live our lives?
Yes, it matters. Yes it is our own business. The point is that we look at the world, then point fingers at what is wrong with it, when you and I are the snowball that started it all. There are things we can do to fix the problems of personal and global greed, envy, sloth (laziness), lust, wrath (anger), gluttony and pride, as mentioned above. We must start with ourselves if we want our countries to be better, for the sake of the world.
We have to start with the beginning of the problem, not just the middle or end of the problem.
Things never stay the same. Change is the only constant in life. We already know this. Choosing good over bad, or good over evil, however you look at it, will create a healthier, kinder, more humane world in which we all can live and thrive.
Start right where you are. Are you in government? Then make the most honest, best decisions you can for the life of all the people under your jurisdiction, and for the life of the planet, not just self interest. Otherwise, you can be the fulcrum that tips towards destruction not only of you personally, but the entire earth. We are very near tipping towards the point of no return. Presently this is possible to fix. Try to be part of the solution, not exacerbating the problem. Things never stay the same. You can be the instrument to save the world as opposed to demolishing it.
The same goes for the financial crisis erupting in all countries across the globe, and all other matters of importance. Remember this when things get so complicated we cannot see the forest for the trees, think PEOPLE BEFORE THINGS. To have balance, prioritize people by helping where and when you can over taking care of things. Financial matters are things. Things matter, but people matter more. Money is not always the answer for problems people have. Yes, it all matters. You matter.
All people matter, not only the rich, the top one percent of the wealthiest among us; not only the milky white people, but all people represented by the 203 countries including territories and protectorates of the United States of America, most of which are not milky white.
We live in a global society. Our friends and families live all over the world. The planes we fly land in most all countries in this one world we share. We are one race, the human race, here on this planet.
Education matters. Are you in education? Encourage your students/children with critical thinking skills in order that they include common sense as a problem solving process they can work with, including not mindlessly following the mistakes of some of the prejudiced generations before them. Show them by example how we all can be better people.
Educators, how do you handle bullying, hungry students, students at risk, students compromised in a wide variety of situations, and students standing up for themselves? Education is a priority in every person, family, neighborhood, state and country for the success of the world. Teachers are the shining light, the good that can help so many students in need of empathy, compassion, and understanding to be better citizens of the world.
However we think of it, and whatever we think about, we bring about. Let’s make the world a beautiful place to live, within ourselves, with our families and friends, neighborhoods, states, countries and the entire world.
It’s easy to get caught up in drama and outrage addiction. Drama and outrage strike a
Drama and outrage addiction did this to me. How do I stop it?
cord. We have opinions. Our egos love drama and outrage. But are drama and outrage good and healthy for us? Drama and outrage addiction did this to me. How do I stop it? Absolutely not. Think about what happens to our chi, our life force energy, when drama and outrage take over our peace and serenity. Our blood pressure goes up, we get out of balance, we can even get caught up in the emotion of it all and not know how to stop it.
There is a time to stand up for our beliefs, and listen to our conscience. Good conversations that influence and inspire groups of people are necessary in this world. That is just, right, and liberating. Drama and outrage addictions are something else altogether. Even if there is an honest point to be made, it gets lost in the hysteria.
Whether it’s religion, education, or politics, or any other hot topic; one side of an issue says a point of view, often meant not just to say their point, but with the intention of ruffling the feathers of the opposition. After a while the contrived spiral of spin concerning the drama and outrage is so out of control, the point is just as lost as the spinning top toy.
Don Miguel Ruiz, author of “The Four Agreements,” has one of his four points on which the book is based, “Be impeccable with your word.” That is a fantastic point. If we simply and consciously say what we mean, rather than use our words to attack, contort and manipulate, we are better heard by the people we want to hear it.
To be impeccable with our word means we speak truth. We speak truth to power. We speak truth without spin. We speak truth without ego and/or agenda. A fact is a fact. But when we use the fact in a situation where we do not say or hide some of the facts so it appears to mean something other than the fact at hand, then we are no longer being impeccable with the facts.
Another point he makes, “Don’t take things personally.” No matter what issue is being discussed, if we do not choose to take things personally, the drama and outrage drop away, and clarity of topic remains and solutions can be found. Imagine if the President and all those serving in politics in every country did not take things personally. Imagine if all world leaders seriously worked for the good of the people and the countries rather than for themselves and their top one percent. This is something to pray for.
The Bible says there are other, non-human forces affecting our politicians these days. This is seriously a time to pray to God, Father of Jesus. I specify who exactly to pray to since the “God” of this world is not God, the Father of Jesus. God, Father of Jesus would not put neither children nor adults in cages, for example, but the “God” of this world would.
The “God” of this world instigates hate, war, lying, cheating, stealing and the like. Solutions are far away when drama and outrage keep going around and around. Where is the end of the circle?
“Don’t make assumptions,” is another agreement Ruiz suggests. Take time to understand, to see the picture clearly. Understanding gets a whole lot better when we actualy listen to the other point of view without the hair raising up on the back of our neck like a cat just before it attacks something.
Understanding does not mean agreement. Understanding is comprehending the whole point being made without jumping in the middle to change or add to the current conversation or explanation. Once we fully understand, only then can we rationally approach the situation to be addressed. In order for two different sides of an issue to resolve a common problem, both sides need to listen and understand. Understanding has no room for grandstanding, fist pounding, yelling, nor monopolizing conversations until the time runs out.
We need to find common sense again in order to work together. We teach this to our children. But when world rulers find their way to the top, so often they become like tyrannical, two-year-old children again, monopolizing the world like a game of Monopoly. But life in this world is not the game of Monopoly. Unfortunately then again, maybe it is.
Imagine a world, a country, a state, a neighborhood, a family, where we attentively listened to what was being said before we stopped listening and verbally (and sometimes physically and emotionally and spiritually) attacked the other person, group, country, religion, or army. What would happen to the drama and outrage of the situation?
Before we can heal our minds, our issues, our families, our countries and the world, we need to acknowledge we personally have drama and outrage addiction. Without acknowledging drama and outrage addition, like every other addiction we have, we cannot begin to heal it, and pave the way to peace.
Imagine what it would be like to have world peace.
* PLEASE REMEMBER TO JOIN IN THE JULY-AUGUST 2019 MEDITATION AND PRAYER INTERVENTION FOR
Love is the answer
HUMANE TREATMENT OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WORLDWIDE. Read how meditation and prayer reduced crime in Washington, D.C. by 48 percent in a controlled study in the preceding post.
At a time when the world is in need of loving and common sense solutions to every problem afflicting every country in the world, it is helpful to remember the words of John, the beloved apostle of Jesus. He wrote letters (also known as epistles); letters of inspiration, hope and guidance.
Whether it is the “religious right,” or spiritual believers of all denominations in all religions, the truth of John’s message is the same. Truth is recognized by all who hear it. The following are verses on how we are all supposed to treat each other if we dare claim to be religious or spiritual at all, since we are all brothers and sisters of one race of humanity on this one earth we share.
The following are verses from The First Letter of John:
1 John 4:18“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear is tormenting. He who fears is not made perfect in love.”
1 John 2:9-11 “He who says he is in the light but hates his brother is therefore in darkness even until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for displeasure in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because that darkness has blinded his eyes.”
1 John 2:21 “I have written to you not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and are aware that no lie comes out of the truth.”
1 John 3:11 “For this is the commandment that you have heard from the beginning, that you must love one another.”
1 John 3:15-16 “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer; and now you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know his love for us, because he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for our brother.”
1 John 3:18 “My children, let us not love one another in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
1 John 3:23 “And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another as he commanded us.”
1 John 4:7-8 “My beloved, let us love one another; for love is from God; and everyone knows love is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.”
1 John 4:11 “My beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
1 John 4:16 “And we have believed and have known the love that God has for us, God is love; and he who dwells in love abides in God.”
1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear is tormenting. He who fears is not made perfect in love.”
1 John 4:20-21 “If a man says, I love God, and yet hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have received from him, that he who loves God ought to love his brother also.”
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