Melt Machine Guns into Plow Shares

2009-09-18T07:29:00.000-07:00

Ramblings
I have become radically disenfranchised with Christianity.
Through this I have discovered my self.
Through this I have let go of Christianity, church, and evangelicalism.
I have embraced the “Good News” for what it is “Good News” to the poor, the oppressed, “Good News” to the people on the margins.
I have embraced a new framing story, one not rooted in imperialism, empire, and white privilege.
The framing story I choose to follow is rooted in Kin/dom, in inclusion, in identifying with the oppressed only, in liberating the captives from the imperial yoke of power, consumption and all other aspects of dehumanizing activity.
I choose…I decide…they do not decide for me, nor will they ever again.
Jesus is not a pill.
Jesus is not a weapon.
Jesus is not a Christian.
Jesus is not co-opted by the state.
Jesus is a revolution
Jesus is the start of the divine peace insurgency.
Jesus is not emergent.
Jesus is not traditional.
Jesus is not contemporary.
Jesus is not safe…

i am breathing

2009-09-04T12:23:00.000-07:00

I have not blogged in a while. I plan on starting again. It is fall and I feel rejuvenated. I have a new found hope in subversive living and community.

I am still living in Chillicothe.

Peculiar People is continuing to go well.

I am still a youth pastor, this is going well.

My wife is well.

2009-01-22T15:42:00.000-08:00

If some of you may not have heard/read Bishop Gene Robinson’s prayer the day before the Inauguration I would encourage you to get a hold of it, as it was not heard. I have some issues with HBO dropping his time slot and also with the speakers malfunctioning when he came to the stage. I hope, I pray, that these were technical difficulties. However, I have a hard time trusting the establishment, an establishment built on shutting up prophets.
Rick Warren just had to mix Jesus and the flag; I was very offended when he ripped into the Lord’s Prayer. I was with some friends at a gathering to watch the Inauguration, some of them were Atheist, and they were very offended. I cannot imagine the thoughts in the crowd. I am sorry to inform you Mr. Warren, NOT EVERY ONE IN AMERICA IS CHRISTIAN. But, I do commend Rick Warren on the great work he has done for the church, not just here in the states but also abroad. I agree with him on pretty much nothing, this does not matter because he will never know, but I commend his social work.
Peculiar People News.

I had meetings all day yesterday with city officials about getting a lot in Linken (not sure how to spell this) Park so that Peculiar People could community garden and create community with those ignored within Chillicothe. I thought this idea to be a long shot, especially to be approved…but, it was approved. We also got lots at Tiffin Towers and Worthington Manner. The lots at Tiffin Towers and Worthington Manner will be strictly for those living within these communities. Peculiar People will not be accepting any money from the city or the Government for this adventure. It is our hope that we can raise all of the needed money through grass roots donations. We have had one donation for 500 dollars. I believe this can sustain us for a while. If you would like to donate seeds, time, sweat, tears, or simply buy us a bottle of wine, then that would be great. We will be doing all of this off of the grid, all by hand. So, needless to say we will be doing a lot of hand tilling. Continue to pray to the “God of our many understanding”, pray that this venture will prosper and lives will be impacted. Pray that apathy leaves Southern Ohio and that we finally accept that the Gospel is not found within individualistic Christianity, the flag, or nationalism... but that it is rather found within community.

2009-01-06T13:57:00.000-08:00

Silence rests on the lips of the broken
Dwelling within the hearts of the kingdom
Being cast off by the worldly empires
Into a just world
Laughing at the marginalized waitresses and whores
We stand at the tops of landscapes littered with lust driven automobiles and racist provisions given out to the cast away
Laughing in the temple
At the money changers
Boot washers
Chastising YHWH
All in the name of a wooden tree

Yesterday… I realized that I do not follow Jesus, this is rather disturbing. This is not something that I have just come to understand, this has been a process, about two months, as I said, yesterday was the day that I came to terms with it. I am somewhat melancholy now, a little broken, and fearful. I am not fearful of judgment but of the aloofness of my life, the aimless wandering, and the fact that I have blood on my hands.
I am bothered by all of this.
I am so entrenched in Babylonian thinking…
I have blood on my hands…
I do not believe that Revelations is about ancient satanic dragons raping the earth, Jesus coming back to make us disappear, and the anti-Christ having his hay day for about 7 years.
I do believe it is written by a political exile, John. I do believe John is using a form of civil disobedience called “Prophetic Imagination” to critique the Empire. I do believe John is challenging us to envision a new community, a just community, “New Jerusalem”, and that we are to pray for this community in the face of the Empire. Why? Because Empires fall and those of us like me are severely dead to the injustice which we partake in.
I do not believe scripture prophesies about the future, I do believe that we can learn about the future from scripture, in that we do not make the same mistakes and that if we actually follow Jesus we can have the kind of community he describes.
I read Revelations 18 and 19. I encourage you to read it. I do not think Babylon is America, I do not think John was talking about any of the current Nation States. Like I said, I do believe that I can draw truth from this scripture and compare it to the state of America. It is rather scary to read it this way. Especially this, “The fruit which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your dainties and your splendor are lost to you, never to be found again” (Rev. 18:14). Do we really follow G-d? Do we really follow the Gospel? Or do we follow the dollar. Christianity in America is about morality, rule, flag worship, oppression, consuming, and fear. It is a tool at times of the state. It is Constantinian.
I believe we do not understand scripture, scripture was written by the oppressed, for the oppressed. We lose all of the imagery because none of us are oppressed. That is why we freely interpret it into are own understanding.
Not long ago a girl came to youth group who had Lice, it was almost as if she had the plague, parents were severely and still are pissed off that she came. Some of the kids have not come back. This is Babylonian thinking, dirty is bad, and clean is good, this is not Jesus.
Anyways, I am done ranting. Pray for me.

P.S. In Revelations 18 and 19 there is this part where the Merchants, the consumers, begin to mourn because the Empire has fallen, they are so upset because they believed life was found in luxurious living, military expansion, and nation worship. These chapters talk about how Babylon sold Chariots and Horses to foreign countries, which is like tanks and missiles (Rev 18:11-13). Anyways, to counter the mourning of the Merchants the scripture tells us that the Angels rejoiced at the fall of Babylon, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power to our Go, for his judgments are true and just; he has judged the great whore who corrupted the earth with her fortification, and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants ( servants is translated, it really means slaves).

Family Love

2008-12-27T07:52:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas...My present...just war does not exist.

2008-12-25T10:27:00.000-08:00

Prayer I wrote and read at Trinity Sunday Night.

2008-12-22T12:25:00.000-08:00

Abba, Father, YHWH…
I ask that in this moment, those of us here in these pews tonight are able to be aware of your presence.
We thank you God for your scandalous nature. We thank you God for entrusting salvation in the belly of a teenage girl. We thank you God for becoming one of us, for entering the world as a baby, a crying, screaming baby, just like all of us have.
God may we like Mary understand the revolution which you have put within all of our bellies, The revolution of peace, love, and justice, the revolution known as… Jesus.
You dwell in us, just as you rested in Mary. This holiday season, I beg, I plead, that you free us from the commercialization, consumerism, and materialistic ideals which have watered down the celebration of your birth.
May we anticipate you instead of gifts!
May we anticipate your kingdom instead of the world’s kingdom!
May we anticipate your peace instead of the world’s peace!
May we anticipate the gospel more so then the flag!
May we anticipate the cross, the cross which destroys us and reclaims our humanity!
Father God may we, this holiday season… understand the significance of your coming into the world, that we recognize that nothing will ever be the same. That those in power will fall and the lowly will be lifted up, that those without a voice now have voice, that those who are deemed unclean are now clean, that those that were excluded are now included, that the unloved are now loved, that the weak are now strong, that the poor are now rich, that love is possible…may we understand that love is possible.
Father God may we, this holiday season…recognize how you burn with desire for relationship with us, so much so that you were born into this mess, that through being born into this mess you took on the burden of this mess and were nailed to a cross…for us. You became flesh, you got hungry, you got cold, you felt insults, and fists upon your face, you felt a mothers love, you felt abandonment, you felt a hug, you felt tears on your face, you laughed with us, cried with us, ate with us, stood up for us and suffered with us… you… died… for…us.
Father God, we thank you for you.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Read carefully. www.december18th.org

2008-12-17T06:39:00.000-08:00

Free the Shministim

Take time to read this article and then go to www.December18th.org and sign the petition if your comfortable.

Israeli Intelligence Official’s Daughter Jailed for Refusing Military Service
by Omer Goldman 12-16-2008

My name is Omer Goldman. I am 19 years old. I am one of the Shministim. I need your help.

I first went to prison on September 23 and served 35 days. I am lucky; after two times in jail, I got a medical discharge, but I’m the only one. By the time you read this, many of my friends will be in prison too: in for three weeks, out for one, and then back in, over and over, until they are 21. The reason? We refuse to do military service for the Israeli army because of the occupation.

I grew up with the army. My father was deputy head of Mossad, and I saw my sister, who is eight years older than me, do her military service. As a young girl, I wanted to be a soldier. The military was such a part of my life that I never even questioned it.

Earlier this year, I went to a peace demonstration in Palestine. I had always been told that the Israeli army was there to defend me, but during that demonstration Israeli soldiers opened fire on me and my friends with rubber bullets and tear-gas grenades. I was shocked and scared. I saw the truth. I saw the reality. I saw for the first time that the most dangerous thing in Palestine is the Israeli soldiers, the very people who are supposed to be on my side.

When I came back to Israel, I knew I had changed. And so, I have joined with a number of other young people who are refusing to serve — they call us the Shministim. On December 18th, we are holding a Day of Action in Israel, and we are determined to show Israelis and the world that there is wide support for stopping a culture of war. Will you join us? Please, just sign a letter.

Many have asked me about what it was like for me during this time. Of course I got scared while in prison. But also, it’s frightening that my country is the way that it is, locking up young people who are against violence and war. And I worry that what I am doing may damage my future. It’s hard to go
from being a free girl who can decide things for herself — what to wear, who to see, what to eat — and then go back to having every minute of the day timetabled.

Last time I was out of prison, I went to see my dad. We tried not to talk politics. He cares about me as his daughter, that I am suffering, but he doesn’t want to hear my views. He never came to visit me in prison. I think it was too hard for him to see me in there. He is an army man.

I suppose, actually, we have similar characters. We both fight for what we believe in.

2008-12-14T13:53:00.000-08:00

Be Human

2008-11-27T07:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Turkey Day

Celebrate: Oppression, Empire, and Genocide.

Do something subversive today!!!!

Come to Trinity United Methodist Church and feed the needy.

BUY NOTHING DAY IS BLACK FRIDAY. RECLAIM THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH. BUY NOTHING. YOU DO NOT NEED ANYTHING. THINK ABOUT IT.

Open Invitation

2008-11-12T09:14:00.000-08:00

This is the best description of grace I have ever come across:

You are accepted. You are accepted, accepted by that which is greater than you, and the name of which you do not know. Do not ask for the name now; perhaps you will find it later. Do not try to do anything now; perhaps later you will do much. Do not seek for anything; do not perform anything; do not intend anything. Simply accept the fact that you are accepted! If that happens to us, we experience grace. - Paul Tillich

The church needs to capture this and regurgitate it to the masses. Stop with the fear tactics and begin a new with love, begin a new with Jesus. Grace captures us; it captures us when were in distress, when were broken. Grace embraces us when we crawl through the pits of a meaningless and empty life. Grace embraces us in the moment that we come to the realization that our separation is deeper than we realized, because we have violated another life, “a life which we loved, or from which we were estranged” (Tillich). We are not separated from G-d. Jesus brought us near; the church has made us believe we are unloved, without, and in need. Find the idols in your life and destroy them. Come to understand the dangerous G-d, the one portrayed by Jesus, come to understand her on your terms.

Peculiar People is a ministry I have started, it is a ministry to help others discover the divine, to discover Jesus for the first time. It is a place to help us realize that we are not separated…that we are loved beyond belief. It is a place to have the prophet within you stirred out of slumber. It is a place to rediscover the Holy Scriptures. It is a place to allow the spirit to guide you. It is a place to have a good cup of coffee and cheap red wine. It is a place to cry. It is a place to be changed. It is a place to be angry. It is a place for you.

This is an open invitation to anyone who reads my blog. The first and third Wednesday of every month we meet at my house, 189 ½ East Water, Chillicothe, Ohio, 45601. It begins at 7:00, we usually get started into the exercises at 7:30-7:45….After words we share a common meal. If you have any questions call me at 740-466-9018.

Cobalt Season

2008-10-08T07:48:00.001-07:00

I was looking for salvation, not religion or a nation, where should I go? I was looking for salvation, somewhere birthed from deep frustration, somewhere from below. –The Cobalt Season

As the Empire shakes the world collapses.

Just as the ancient Roman imperial elite drained enslaved countries of resources to supply “bread and circus” for the masses in Rome, so giant U.S. based corporations drain our enslaved countries of resources such as oil and raw materials, and nowadays especially cheap labor, to supply goods to the United States. Cheap gas for SUVs, the fruits of agribusiness, and a plentiful supply of other consumer goods, of course, ensure popular support for imperialism in the United States today; just as comparable goods did earlier in Rome. Of course, the proportion of goods consumed by Ancient Rome never even approached the 75 percent of the world’s recourses currently being consumed by Americans. (This info taken from Jesus and Empire, by Richard Horsley)

The Empire is large and oppressive. We as Christians, who follow the subversive ethic of Jesus, pledge allegiance to a domineering monster who continues to oppress the poor not just within America but also throughout the world. JESUS stood in defiance against the Roman Empire and we should also stand in defiance of the American Empire. Religion and Nationalism are idolatry.

Jesus rebuilt the Temple in three days, the temple is you, the temple is me, the temple is Crack Head Debby, and the temple is in all of us. It is not found in the structure of the nation state or the church. The temple is the people. The temple is the people. The temple is the people. We do not have rulers. We have relationship with God.

Tribal Identity.

2008-09-18T10:21:00.000-07:00

The Church is selling her soul. The Church has lost her “tribal” identity, replaced with the flag and American culture. The Church has adopted a Caesar mentality, working through the state to accomplish her task…this is why the Church is failing. It has embraced Empire theology. This is the danger, the down fall, the Church is still entrenched in Constantine…the nation has been unified by the Empire’s false adoption of Jesus-Jesus becomes a unifying tool to control and give identity to a people. This is dangerous. God becomes safe, is giving form. When followers of Christ identify who their individuality with the State, we begin to water down the Gospel; Christians are ok with war, nuclear weapons, and state sanctioned violence…Why???? Well, the Nation State has become God. Do not question America because one should not question God.

1988 STATION WAGON.

2008-07-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

The music is mellow- dramatic hip hop, with a hint of jazz, and Benedictine chanting. My head is in pain and the humidity is not helping, as this coffee shop is depraved of oxygen. However, a good book fixes these irritations (Jack Kerouac: On the Road).

I bought a car for 500 dollars. It is an Oldsmobile Station Wagon, 1988, with 65,000 miles. I am driving it to Vermont with Kelly tomorrow. We are going to disappear for a few days before we move back to the foot hills. A time collect sanity, enjoy the road and also…read…relax…read…relax…read.

I move back August 3^rd weekend.

I have one class left for MA. It is an independent study on a topic of my own choosing. I just finished Church Theology with Dr. Nuth. Dr. Nuth is a Catholic Theologian, ex-nun, and social agitator. She has a way of making one appreciate the tradition of the church.

We need a place to live in Chillicothe….anyone know of anything in the downtown area to rent.

Emily, Ryan and Cari came up to Cleveland to see us off. It was a fun night, filled with ruckus, dance and redemption.

It is weird, I spent a good part of my time in Cleveland disliking the city…The oppressive structure of it was disgusting. The poverty was over whelming, as was the violence. However, the last few months I have found myself falling in love with Cleveland. I have made some awesome friends and have started to take part in good bit of holy ruckus. I hope to be able to bring this same type of attitude to Chillicothe. It will not be hard as we have a group of committed sisters and brothers in the Chillicothe area ready for a non-violent, Appalachian Revolution. Peace. Kerouac is calling.

Drums of War

2008-07-10T12:25:00.000-07:00

Can you hear them…the drums of war beating, so loud, so deafening... The rich white males, stained in oil, at the top of Capital Hill are getting excited. The Empire is expanding…Wealth and Domination… The few control the masses. Look out Iran… the Empire is coming. So, so, sorry… Jesus… I am not sure what happened along the way…Christendom maybe… the religion of the Empire… It is not mine...oh well...the new IPhone is coming out.

Howard Zinn is a Prophet of Old.

2008-06-27T15:41:00.000-07:00

I am in the process of being deeply disturbed by reading: A Peoples History of the United Stated:1492-Present.

Good Old Ohio

2008-06-21T10:54:00.000-07:00

Below is an article I found on CNN.COM. This guy may have a screw or to missing in the brain area.

(CNN) -- School administrators in Ohio voted Friday to begin the process of firing a middle school teacher accused of burning a cross into a student's arm and refusing to keep his religious beliefs out of the classroom.

A middle school student in Ohio says his teacher branded a cross on his arm.

The Mount Vernon School Board passed a resolution to terminate the employment of John Freshwater, an eighth-grade science teacher for the past 21 years.

Freshwater, according to an independent report, used an electrostatic device to mark a cross on the arm of one of his students, causing pain to the student the night of the incident and leaving a mark that lasted for approximately three weeks.

According to the Ohio Department of Education, the student's family has filed a lawsuit.

Freshwater was also reprimanded several times for refusing to move his Bible from his classroom desk and teaching creationism alongside evolution, according to the 15-page independent report. The report also cites evidence that Mr. Freshwater told his students that "science is wrong because the Bible states that homosexuality is a sin and so anyone who is gay chooses to be gay and is therefore a sinner."

The Board of Education of the Mount Vernon City School District met in special session Friday to address the case.

Freshwater has the option to contest the process by requesting a formal hearing before the Board of Education. Neither Freshwater nor his attorney could be reached by CNN for comment.

Justice may exist.

2008-06-12T16:25:00.000-07:00

Major Guantanamo setback for Bush

Foreign suspects held in Guantanamo Bay have the right to challenge their detention in US civilian courts, the US Supreme Court has ruled (BBC News).

I must say.... It is about time. Praise God...The God of Prophetic Justice, the God that exists in the margins with those that are without.

Empire Building

2008-06-03T13:12:00.000-07:00

It is odd. I have been in the process of catching a lot of slack for my views toward homosexuality. I believe it to not be sinful in anyway, that one is born into this lifestyle, and is completely accepted by God. I also believe that those in the homosexual community are to hold themselves up to the same sort ethical code as those in the heterosexual community. I do not think it is good for anyone to be promiscuous, to have multiple sex partners. For one, it is rather dangerous, especially with the problem of sexually transmitted diseases and also, continually sleeping around can lead to a lot of head aches for everyone in both participating parties…for example, jealousy, unwanted children, which more often then leads to abortion, depression, and future issues with partners.

I was reading Jesus for President today while I was monitoring some intense study halls. I came across this beautiful part that was written by Gary Wills in his book, What Jesus Meant. I believe that this dialogue summarizes the dangers of fundamentalism in humorous light. But, it also shows how so many Christians pick the scriptures that fit his/her needs without taking the entire text for what it says. It reads as follows (Number 5 is my favorite).

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s law. I have learned a great deal from you, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination-end of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God’s laws and how to follow them.

Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?
I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is: how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor to the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), is it a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this? Are there degrees of abomination?
Leviticus 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
Most of my male friends get their trimmer, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Leviticus 19:27. How should they die?
I know from Leviticus 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
My uncle has a farm. He violates Leviticus 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton-polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them (Lev 24:10-16)? Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair, (like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws (Lev. 20:14)?

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging.

2008-05-19T14:19:00.000-07:00

Submission is hard for me. I find it hard to follow a God that desires for me to submit to a set of laws. I find it rather hard in all actuality to submit to the God of America, the God of greed and wealth. I find it hard to submit to the list of chores my wife leaves me some times. I find it hard to be human. I find it hard to fit in anywhere, especially in the church. I find it easy to keep my mouth shut, especially to injustice. I find it, oh so easy, to watch Jesus downtown starve, while I get upset over dinner. I find it easy to allow those around me to walk over me while I never speak my true feelings because I respect their God giving dignity.Why is it offensive to the Christian Community when one may think a bit different....

Why is it offensive when someone does not believe in hell?

Why is it offensive when one is passionate about respecting the dignity of the homosexual community?

Why is it offensive when one finds fault in the “just war theory”????????????????????

My family was hit by a bus. They came up from southern Ohio for my little sisters MA Graduation. Aunt Lisa-Uncle Ted- Darby-Grandma. All hit by a RTA bus. All of them, still filled with the compassion they carried within them before the accident. I actually think they may have more now. My aunt –uncle-grandmother-have never quit believing in me. When they have all the reason in the world to, they cease to. If it were not for them driving me up route 23 every Sunday to listen to Steve my life would have been so radically different. It is in that church I came to know the Peasant Revolutionary, my wife, and freedom…….thanks.

About time

2008-05-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

California ban on same-sex marriage struck down!!!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/15/same.sex.marriage/index.html

About time more begin to respect the dignity and rights of all Gods creation....

Maybe Ohio will be next????? probably not.

Silence

2008-05-07T19:57:00.000-07:00

Silence....

I have been discovering G-d in intense silence.

I have theories about this, answered prayers about this...

Taize...powerful.

G-d is the infinite nothing, so far transcendent, so loving, so incomprehensible, slipping from ones grip just when they think they have a hold of him . Why would G-d not be found in silence, as silence is nothing...at least nothing I am able to comprehend.

Silence can be so loud.

I recall standing on top of a mountain in Colorado, Kell and Emily were lost...I was alone...It was a silence I had never experienced. It was frightening yet comforting...Intense...crushing...I cried...

Good poetry.

2008-05-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

My favorite poem...by Wendell Berry

Manifesto:
The Mad Farmer Liberation Front

Love the quick profit, the annual raise,
vacation with pay. Want more
of everything ready-made. Be afraid
to know your neighbors and to die.
And you will have a window in your head.
Not even your future will be a mystery
any more. Your mind will be punched in a card
and shut away in a little drawer.
When they want you to buy something
they will call you. When they want you
to die for profit they will let you know.

So, friends, every day do something
that won't compute. Love the Lord.
Love the world. Work for nothing.
Take all that you have and be poor.
Love someone who does not deserve it.
Denounce the government and embrace
the flag. Hope to live in that free
republic for which it stands.
Give your approval to all you cannot
understand. Praise ignorance, for what man
has not encountered he has not destroyed.

Ask the questions that have no answers.
Invest in the millenium. Plant sequoias.
Say that your main crop is the forest
that you did not plant,
that you will not live to harvest.
Say that the leaves are harvested
when they have rotted into the mold.
Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.

Put your faith in the two inches of humus
that will build under the trees
every thousand years.
Listen to carrion - put your ear
close, and hear the faint chattering
of the songs that are to come.
Expect the end of the world. Laugh.
Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful
though you have considered all the facts.
So long as women do not go cheap
for power, please women more than men.
Ask yourself: Will this satisfy
a woman satisfied to bear a child?
Will this disturb the sleep
of a woman near to giving birth?

Go with your love to the fields.
Lie down in the shade. Rest your head
in her lap. Swear allegiance
to what is nighest your thoughts.
As soon as the generals and the politicos
can predict the motions of your mind,
lose it. Leave it as a sign
to mark the false trail, the way
you didn't go. Be like the fox
who makes more tracks than necessary,
some in the wrong direction.
Practice resurrection.

-Wendell Berry

Home

2008-05-02T14:21:00.000-07:00

Were moving home in July or August, I am done with everything in Grad School accept a week long course and a thesis paper…which I have been working on for a in small pieces for a while now.

I need a job.

If anyone knows of anything that happens to read my blog…please tell me about it. We plan on living Chillicothe at first…so anyways…

I never watched Lost. I do not have cable but we just got the internet…I now watch this show like a mad man.

I also love the Office and love the new season…Everyone hates it.

I also love the show Dexter.

I have also just finished my Spiritual Exercises… I am not sure if anyone knows what these happen to be. It is part of the Jesuit tradition, rooted in the theology and teaching of St. Ignatius of Loyola…. It was amazing and I encourage everyone to participate in this. Your heart will be broken, your understanding of God will be transformed, and you will see God in all of creation. Sounds corny… I promise it is not.

2008-04-25T06:32:00.001-07:00

Today the 7^th graders at my school all have the exact same shirt on. It is bland and in white it says “A Day Of Silence”…

None of them will speak a word.

I enticed one to share with me what it meant.

She said, “ We want to protest the oppression of homosexual student, male and female, within society…but especially within the school system.”

She went silent after this….

Beautiful….

G-d works through everyone…especially when her/his followers will not respond. …even ornery seventh graders.

I work at an independent school where this type of behavior is encouraged. If a child is an atheist, it is nurtured…however…one cannot say I am an atheist because G-d lets people die… they must be able to prove their point…. If a child is a Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu…or Buddhist… we teach them justice, love, compassion, non-violent action and truth…

Could you imagine something like this taking place in a public school….???

2008-04-10T20:58:00.000-07:00

I just finished, The Prophetic Imagination, by Walter Brueggemann. It was phenomenal, one of the most inspiring pieces of theological/scholarly work I have read in a long time. It is short and to the point. I encourage all to read it if they get a chance… if you have please tell me what you think of it…

I did a presentation on Jonah tonight at Grad School; it was for my Hebrew Prophets class. It sucked. I have the tendency to dive way to deep into the theological meaning. I do not believe Jonah to be a true story, but rather a Satire…however, I also find it to very inspirational for the unhappy believer…I draw way to much of this into my train of thought when speaking of it in class and end up falling flat on my face….I am out, peace.

2008-03-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

"Deep within them I will plant my Law, writing in on their hearts. Then I will be their God and the shall be my people. There will be no further need for neighbor to try to teach neighbor, or brother to say to brother, 'Learn to know Yahweh!'No, they will all know me, the least no less than the greatest-it is Yahweh who speaks-since I will forgive their iniquity and never call their sin to mind" (Jeremiah 31:33-34).

My new favorite verse in the Hebrew Bible.

I have been thinking about Reinhold Niebhur and his critique of the Evangelical Church, especially of Billy Graham. The first evangelicals had revivals based around social justice and then for some reason we became rooted in a personal salvation, based around guilt.... Niebhur wrote an open letter to Graham.. I can't find it anywhere. Does anyone have it?

2008-03-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

Weird

You're Cat's Cradle!

by Kurt Vonnegut

You believe quite firmly that free will deserted you long ago and far
away. As a result, it's hard to take responsibility for anything. Even though you show
great potential as a leader of a small 3rd world country, the choices are all made ahead
of time. You're rather fond of games involving string. Your fear of nuclear weaponry is
trumped only by your fear of ice.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

2008-03-18T16:20:00.000-07:00

We were able to return to Waverly over the weekend and spend time with family. It was relaxing to say the least. Steve’s message as always was filled with grace and justice. I was blown away by Anna’s voice; I have never really heard her sing… her voice is beautiful.

At the moment I am obsessed with Paul Tillich, Aimee Wilson Idolatry, Jesus, the resurrection, water and the after life…. What is the after life? I am somewhat fearful of it. I personally do not believe in hell, however I am not sure what I believe heaven to be…

Paul Tillich is a wild Christian theologian that heavily influenced MLK. His writing and in-depth analysis of the human person is unreal and the best I have ever seen. I go to a catholic college and I am usually forced to read tons of Catholic theologians, who are great but do not really hit home to me. Once I discovered Paul Tillich, a protestant, I have never turned back…read him….soon…

Aimee Wilson is a folk, G-d loving…activist. Check out her myspace.

Jesus… is Jesus. Continually changing my life and inspiring me to change the world.

The resurrection… not sure what I think about it. I have been studying a lot of church history and maybe I should not.

Water… I do not drink a lot of it but lately I have been… It has been very good.

The after life…. What is the after life? I am somewhat fearful of it. I personally do not believe in hell. However, I am not sure what I believe heaven to be…

A.......love.

2008-03-15T06:43:00.000-07:00

disclaimer-do not worry about grammar and other issues in my blog. It is all on the whim-done with frantic typing so i do not forget anything.

I have been blessed enough to experience G-d’s radical grace a few times in my life. I would like to share my last experience, as it was the most powerful.

I presented a paper on the injustice of the current American prison system and the ways in which the police/government authorities target the minority, marginalized and the poor. My professor/advisor is a Jesuit Priest: Father Shubeck, he is a radical man that pursues justice with fervor unmatched. I encourage all to pick up his new book A Love That Does Justice. He encouraged me to participate in some prison work, I have experience with prisoners in the past and at this moment I am hungry to actually work with the destitute. I currently work at a private middle school that costs 30,000 dollars a year to attend and the youth are arrogant, rude and spiteful. We do not mix well.

So, anyways he put me in contact with Father Jim O’Donnell who is an older priest and the head of an intentional community in one of the most violent areas of Cleveland, The Little Brothers and Sisters of the Eucharist. They consist of rag tag radicals who practice a life of prayer, non-violence and voluntary poverty. Father O’Donnell and I talked over the phone, he asked me to tag along the upcoming Friday. It would be Father O’ Donnell, two nuns (one would turn out to be the most radical person I have ever come across) and my self, an awkward, Protestant red head.

I arrived at the prison first; I was met at the prison by the Chaplin an older, blind, black man. This was right before brunt of the snow storm; the Chaplin suggested that they would not be able to attend since one of the nuns was 82 years old. However, they made it. The 82 year old nun was the speaker. They referred to her simply as Mother, so this is what I did. She came up to me, pulled my head down to her face, grinned at me and kissed my forehead. It was awkward. She then proceeded to kiss everyone in the waiting room and put her tiny hands on the blind Chaplin’s eyes and prayed he would regain his sight, smiled at us and we headed out.

It turns out this Nun, known as Mother, was recently featured in People magazine, just had a book published on her life and has been living voluntarily in a Mexican prison cell for the last 30 years, living with murders, rapists, child molesters, con-men, pimps, hookers and what ever else you can think of. Her reasoning behind this was simply, “Because this is where Jesus could be found”.

We were put in a room with the most violent offenders. They were all from inner city Cleveland, tagged with their gang names, either tattooed onto their necks or hands. They were awaiting our arrival in uncomfortable chairs. As soon as we walked into the room Mother went straight to the front the 45 incarcerated outcasts and begin to spill her beans about how much she loved them and how sorry she was that they had been hurt their entire lives. She tattooed them with love, opening her heart and apologizing for the lack of justice they have experienced in their lives, she cried and pleaded for them to understand that G-D was wild about them and G-d’s son desired them to live a life of non-violence and love. She told them that she was their mother, that she considered each one of them her sons. She went onto explain how she was in several prison riots, was humiliated and violated several times while living voluntarily in prison but continued to love the destitute. She shared stories of redemptions that ripped everyone in the cell blocks hearts open.

At the end of her message she stood, exhausted, teary eyed and explained how she desired to hug and kiss one of them, that she would not be able to do this to everyone because of time restrictions. She the proceeded to stand in front of the largest inmate and asked him if he would be willing to receive the hug and kiss for his brothers. He was timid and fearful, like he had never been embraced before. His eyes began to water and so did hers. She took his hand and he stood up, towering over her 4’10 frame and she wrapped her tiny arms around his massive body, buried her head in his chest, hugging him for all she is worth. The flood gates opened and he embraced her in the same manner, this went on for what seemed like eternity. G-d’s presence was everywhere; I was in the midst of 45 Jesus’. She pulled his head down and kissed him on the face and I am not sure how this happened, but I had not noticed that while she loved this man all of the other inmates lined up behind him and eagerly waited to be loved by this 82 year old Prison Angel. She proceeded to do the same for the rest of the Jesus’ and I proceeded to have my world turned upside down.

We left the room and she was so tired, so frail. She asked Father O’Donnell to take her home and he told her he would. The prison Chaplin, the blind one, who had been working at prison for the last twenty years, was crying like a small child. He told her that in all his time at the prison he had never experienced anything like that. While he was talking to her I caught her eyes looking behind him at the solitary confinement cell, a young black men was in their staring at her through the tiny window. She walked up to his window and put her hands on the glass where his face was pressed and whispered over and over how much she loved him.

We took the elevator downstairs and all went separate ways, but not without a kiss and a hug from the Mother. Justice is beautiful, Jesus is beautiful and in the eyes of the destitute. Matthew 25.

Jesus for President.

2008-03-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

Jesus for President...

A great book. These two, Haw and Claiborne... not sure how to spell names... do a fantastic job making a radical theology seem so simple. If you look in the back at the resources they used... some of those fellows and ladies are heavy hitters in the theological world.

If anyone that reads my blog has read it I would like to know what you think of it?

Pray for Jerusalem and Pakistan...

Pray for the snow to stop and the sun to shine...

Pray for the weapons of war to be melted into farming equipment....

Pray the leaders and the soon to be leaders be overcome with the revolutionary of G-d.... and cease to learn war....

Book

2008-02-24T10:52:00.000-08:00

One book that changed your life.

Several books have had an impact on my life. At the moment two have been pretty much destroying my view of the world.

1. The Kin/dom of G-d is Within You: Leo Tolstoy- A radical challenge to non-violence. It is what transformed Gandhi’s life and almost converted him to Christianity.

2. G-d and Empire: John Crossan- A book that all American followers of Christ should read. It is challenging, convicting and transforming.

3. Anything by Wendell Berry.

4. Letters and Papers from Prison: Dietrich Bonhoeffer

5. Dynamics of Faith: Paul Tillich

One book you have read more then once.

1. A Walk in the Woods: Thoreau.

2. Civil Disobedience: Thoreau

Both very powerful books.

One Book you’d want on a deserted island

1. Seven Storey Mountain: Thomas Merton or The Rule of St. Benedict

Two Books that made you Laugh

1. A Walk in the Woods: Bill Bryson. I have not finished it yet but I never believed that a book could make one laugh so hard.

2. I Know This Much is True: Wally Lamb. Laugh, Cry, Laugh, Cry. Powerful.

One Book that Made You Cry

1. Several… Ill say the first that comes to my mind. Ragamuffin Gospel: Brennen Manning

One Book you Wish Had Been Written

1. Christians Should not be able to participate in War because the faith is founded on a radical call to non-violence and politicians do not have the answers to the worlds problem, rather the answers can be found within each and every one of us. By, John Williams. Edited by, The Political Prisoners being detained by the American Empire.

One Book you wish had not been written

1. Almost anything that can be found in Praises book store.

Lent

2008-02-06T14:09:00.000-08:00

Lent

A continuous experience of the Divine

How is it one goes about experiencing this type of Radical clarity, the kind we find manifested in the G-d figures: Jesus, Gandhi, etc…? I like my wife and many others in this chaotic world come from a Christian tradition, we adhere to the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Paul Waldell writes in his book, Happiness and the Christian Moral Life, “In the Christian life our primary teacher in the way of happiness is Christ. He is our mentor; we are his disciples; and it is by observing him, listening to him, and learning from him, following his teachings and imitating his example, that we grow in happiness” (Waldell, p. 17). In other words, the ethos of my religion expounds if I am to find happiness; if am to discover joy, I find it in imitating Jesus’ life. It is in Him I become knowledgeable of what it means to become fully human.

The Christian faith of my ancestors, Augustine, Tertullian, Merton, St. Paul and Francis of Assisi brings about the radical clarity “we” the children of the divine Yahweh search for. It is capable of unleashing a life of radical simplicity and separatism.

It is lent; a time to dwell on what it means to follow the political, cultural, religious critic: Jesus of Nazareth. It is in this time that I plan to document my own attempt at cleansing my self from a world rooted in “isms”, racism, sexism, militarism, etc… It is a time to quite my self and pay attention to the divine presence of G-d that radiates in the concrete jungles of America and the war torn streets of Iraq. It is a time to recommit my self to suffering in solidarity with the poor of El Salvador and Appalachia. It is a time to stand against the corporate monsters who continually rape the middle and lower classes by implanting big business (Wal-Mart; McDonalds) into the ghetto and rural areas of this world. It is a time to be like Christ.

I leave with a word from Merton’s work Know Man Is an Island:

There must be a time of day when the man/woman who makes plans forgets his /her plans, and acts as if he/she had no plans at all. There must be a time of day when the man/woman who has to speak falls very silent. And his/her mind forms no more propositions, and he/she asks himself: Did they have a meaning? There must be a time when the man/woman of prayer goes to pray as if it were the first time in his life he had ever prayer, when the man/woman of resolutions puts his resolutions aside as if they had all been broken, and he/she learns a different wisdom: distinguishing the sun from the moon, the stars from the darkness, the sea from the dry land, and the night sky from the shoulder of a hill (Merton, p. 260: Emphasis he/she, his/hers, man/woman is mine. Merton has a tendency like all Christian men to be rather sexist).

NFL

2008-01-28T11:20:00.000-08:00

Brows offer Anderson and Lewis deals.
I do not really care what Anderson does, however, I am particularly interested in the Lewis deal. I read on an NFL rumors website that the Brownies really like a running back from Tulane, he is a big bruiser like Jamal. I would not mind a two back system in Cleveland, most NFL teams do it now. I am sure if the Browns do it we will see a re-birth of Kevin Mack and Ernest Byner, who I hate because he fumbled it against the Bronco's in the AFC championship on the one yard line and then went to the Skin's and won a super bowl.

What is going on with the Skin's Steve?

2008-01-08T04:58:00.000-08:00

The Phoenix this morning, coffee, three people and a fire place. It is January 8^th and it is 65 at 7:00 AM. I have a new job at a fancy private school. I am a “Study Hall Rector” and will be baby sitting rich young youth. I am taking three classes next Semester, then I will do my independent study and be done. Classes I will be in:

Old Testament Prophets

Women in Christianity

Some class about Justice, Sex and lots of other ethical issues.

I am excited to be done.

Elections looming in the distance and I find myself attracted to all sorts of candidates. I oddly enough enjoy Huckabee and his economic beliefs. The system we currently have is not working as the poor continue to suffer and the rich continue to gain. However, he is pro-war, pro-death penalty and pretty anti-gay.

The Democrats seem interesting.

Obama is a powerful speaker. I read his book and enjoyed even though I did not agree with a lot.

Clinton rubs me the wrong way.

Ron Paul is good but does not stand a chance.

Kucinich has given up, I would have to I guess.

I was listening to a Mennonite friend of mine at Graduate School. He is a resister. Someone asked him who he would vote for and he quoted scripture as he usually does (Matt. 4:8-11)… this is what he said:

8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory;

9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”

10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’ ”

11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

He emphasized verse 9… “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”

Sad Day

2007-12-27T10:04:00.000-08:00

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto dies at hospital after being shot in neck and chest moments before homicide bombing at Rawalpindi campaign rally; at least 20 others killed by blast.

Religious Extremists tend to ruin the ways we live...violently distorting the Quran or the Bible.

Pakistan has falling on hard times-children of God-suffering under oppressive rule and economic sanctions from the worlds power houses.

Oh well...Jamie Lynn Spears is with child.

Holiday

2007-12-25T17:51:00.000-08:00

Christmas is almost past and with its passing I cannot stop contemplating change, change in the world, change in myself and within my relationships. Jesus came into this world, born a bastard, to transform the way in which we all live.

How is it that I live? Selfishly…yes…sinfully…yes. I cover about every negative aspect a human being can have and then some.

It seems I am being called to a more contemplative life, outside of the negativity that is plaguing this world. I desire to withdraw from this world and live the life of a monk. However, this is impossible for several reasons… I often wonder what that looks like in the world…a contemplative within society.

It always bothered me that Merton gave up…and ran to the monastery.

One aspect of Catholicism I have come to admire is its ability to radiate contemplation; the service is based around prayer and an intimate experience with the creator…

I look back at the year and see how I have changed and it scares me. I was walking in the woods today with my wife and I was venting how I fear that I am changing so much that it bothers her. I often wonder if my theological beliefs scare her…she comforted me though and encouraged me to continue exploring where God is taking me.

I need to go to the desert for forty days and wrestle with God…is it actually possible to fast 40 days…..

Crazy Christians

2007-12-18T13:52:00.000-08:00

Wow

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyJI9xDUYV8&feature=related

I am yours-came across this

2007-12-10T06:31:00.000-08:00

“Agape”-said the peasant

Tear stained beard and thick ignorant accent, and all

How is your so odd?-He spoke in a different tone, and all

I am you

I am your

I am yours

“Agape”

How is it your so odd?

My insides turn for you

I do not even know you

Yes you do not- Yes- You do not

I am you

I am your

I am yours

Tear stained beard, rotted teeth, and all

How is it your so odd?

I am dirt, scum and universe

“Agape”

I do not even know you

How do you not?

I am you

I am your

I am yours

I am raped, put in a barrel, exposed bone and locked in a garage, and all

How is that you know me?

Darfur, Fallujah, East 79^th

I do not understand

I know…

I am you

I am your

I am yours

Sir

I am you

I am your

I am yours

“I am you” you do not make sense to me

Yes, you do not-you do not

How is that you know me?

I am you

I am your

I am yours

“I am your”…do you hear me… “I am yours, do hear me???”

Yes, I am, I am yours

Who?

I am yours

Foreclosures, Matthew Sheppard, Ayatollah Khomeini

Anarchy, I am in, outside, but, within

2007-12-06T18:08:00.000-08:00

My wife and I have moved to the East end of Cleveland, University Circle, it is located on Case Western Reserve Universities Campus. We lived on the West end of the city before in Lakewood. I enjoyed Lakewood to an extent; however, I am happy to move. I am closer to school and Kelly is closer to work, are apartment is tiny but it does the job.

Kelly is sleeping on the couch and will not get up. It is snowing. I heard Southern Ohio has gotten a good bit; it is not bad in Cleveland which is odd. Christmas is on the way, we have decided to not buy gifts for anyone, we asked for everyone else not to buy us anything also. I do not believe in the devil, but if one happened to exist it seems that he/she has done an amazing job distorting the symbolic meaning of Christmas, the celebration of a peasant revolutionary, who in know manner taught anyone to consume mass amounts at the expense of others. I heard on NPR that on Black Friday, Americans spent 22 billion dollars on gifts. Maybe it was all spent at Fair Trade stores, we can at least hope.

Brett Dennen a folk singer my wife and I both like has a song called The Holidays are Here and Were Still at War, I think you can get it on Itunes for free, check it out if you can. I shaved my face for the first time in a long time, I wish I had not.

Shane Claiborne has a new book coming out called, Jesus for President. He is campaigning for his nominee…You can sign up for him to stop in your town. I hope he comes to Cleveland.

I have been wondering how I will approach this election. I have changed radically since the 2000 and 2004 elections. I would almost call myself an Anarchist, but it is filled with way to much ideology.

I cannot and will not vote for a President that in any way endorses war, is against gay marriage and dislikes the Cleveland Browns…this limits my choices to Dennis Kucinich…I am not sure if that is how you spell his name. His office is in Lakewood, where Kell and I use to live. He does not stand a chance though.

Rob Bell was in Cleveland, I did not attend, I was not aware he was coming but my friend Travis went, he liked it. I have not read his books. My brother-in-law likes him, his book about Elvis seemed to make and impact on Clint. He has a new piece of work out called Sex God; I would like to check it out. It seems Brian McLaren does not like Rob Bell because he does not believe in the virgin birth- I am not sure if this is true or not. I like Brian McLaren, I cannot picture him disliking anyone, especially if it was over something controversial.

I subscribe to the podcast “Speaking of Faith” with Kristina Trippet or Tippet, not sure. I encourage all to listen to her. The last one I got was an interview with Jim Wallis, she rarely interviews Christians. His interview was very interesting, especially his upbringing and his belief in the social gospel. I am somewhat weary of Wallis lately but this really brought him down to earth.

Sean Taylor

2007-11-28T06:35:00.000-08:00

I love football-NFL-it pretty much stands for everything I am not but ever since i was a child i have been a psychotic Cleveland Browns fan... I have been to every home game this year accept for one-it helps i live in Cleveland but even while living in Southern Ohio i would drive up at least 4 times a year... the browns represent this city-a city dying-with a small hope-a fighters spirit and the Browns have begun to win....Maybe Cleveland will also... however...it is sad to hear about the death of Sean Taylor-won of my favorite players- he played my favorite position-safety-he was a head hunter, like Jack Tatum...He was shot in his home by someone-they do not know who did it... but it still non the less sad. My pastor is a Skins fan-he probably liked Taylor...anyways i think that this death can reveal all of the random acts of violence in this country, especially Gun violence. i am anti-gun-especially the concealed weapon law, i think it is bull shit and enabling psychotic nuts to carry out racist vendettas... i think people should be able to hunt- but people do not need to carry around hand guns... i have a bunch more to say about this but i will end it here...

Good Song.

2007-11-14T10:17:00.000-08:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kqLssKusGzM

Got this from JD.Great Read. Convicting.

2007-11-11T08:01:00.000-08:00

By James Circello, Iraq Veterans Against The War

To those Businessmen and women holding seats in Congress,
To the Highest Court of America,
To every Department within the U.S. government,
To the President's Cabinet,
To the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
To the Vice President and President of the United States of America:

My name is James Circello. I am sure some of you already know who I am now that wiretaps and spying on American citizens has been approved.
Or maybe you've heard of me when you saw my name on a comprehensive list of Anti-War activists.
Or maybe you just know of me because I was a Sergeant in the United States Army and served as an Airborne Infantryman for six years, went to Iraq in March 2003 and served until March 2004, remained in the Army a little longer before refusing to take part in the Occupation of the Middle East and went AWOL.

I am writing you today, not asking for forgiveness for what I decided to do, but to give you an idea of what brought me to that decision to leave the Army and speak out against the Occupation. Though some will claim I left for other reasons and will try to force the discussion away from the facts and at the same time attempt to assassinate my character with half truths and out right lies, these are the facts. If later we wish to get into more of my personal life, we can do that: I have no fear of it.

I will first like to say that I am no longer a member of the United States Armed Forces. When I left the military on Easter morning, April 2007, I have officially resigned from service to that military. There are no ties between myself and an oppressive military regime set on occupying groups of impoverished indigenous people.

I am no longer a Sergeant or a paratrooper.

I will not respect an organization that can and does, at its own will, change entire enlistment contracts for the purpose of extending soldiers;

Gives quarterly sexual harassment courses and still allows roughly 30% of women to be sexually assaulted in some way, shape or form;

Openly discriminates against people based on homosexuality, race, gender and ethnic background;

Allows crimes against humanity and peace to occur and covers them up with internal investigations;

Actively recruits young boys and girls from low level income high schools and communities with false promises of health care, school and job experience and fails on all accounts;

Refuses to recognize conscientious objectors (C.O.), and when individuals apply for C.O. status that are administratively "punished" by their chain of command;

I refuse to be a part of a military and Administration that continue to abuse and torture, doesn't recognize the rights of detainees and allows them to be shipped to secret detention facilities for "National Security" purposes; a military that is illegally, based on all U.S. as well as International Law, inside of Iraq; a military that is over extended, under funded in a war with no foreseeable end (because time tables give our enemy a "sense of victory", but how can the enemy have victory when "Mission Accomplished" has been declared?); a military that watches billions of government contracts given to private military outfits, while they run through the streets of Iraq unchecked, and allows soldiers to be poorly equipped and the V.A. poorly funded.; the No Child Left Behind Act and it's policy of making it mandatory for schools to send out the information of all students attending the school to military recruiters, or they are threatened with being cut off from Federal funding (I thought school was a place of
learning, not a place of turning our youth into the:
"(insert Arabic country name here) Veterans Against The War".

This and many other reasons are why I tell you today, I do not recognize any of the warrants that may have been placed upon me. These warrants are merely a way to silence any opposition to this criminal war. I do not support the United States foreign policy and will not be the fool that enforces it.

The United States has a history of using the poor of this country to massacre and oppress the poor of other countries and I say to everyone that is able to read this - I am no longer a member of the United States Armed Forces.

I also say, this by no way makes me Un-American. I love this country and feel very strongly that it can be saved and that it must be saved.

I say this without a growing ego, but my acts as of now are what the Founding Fathers envisioned and wrote about. This is what Democracy looks like.

Dissent isn't Un-American, it is what Patriotism means.
Patriotism is not blindly following a Flag waver, it is Direct Action.

I joined the Army after the towers of New York fell. Swept up in the fervor, I left college to enlist. My country was attacked - I, like many, wanted to defend it.

But here is where a majority of Americans, as well as Politicians have made their largest mistake: Defending your country does not mean destroying other Nations out of and/or for Revenge. But the People bought into the outcry that we must kill to feel better, and the Politicians sang their songs and danced their dances, in an attempt to show who was the most Patriotic of them all!

America stayed fixed to the lies from Fox News (can it really be called "News"?) and we watched the towers fall so many thousands of times until we were all ready to go kill and die for the Eagle and Red, White and Blue.

Though, I will admit, I was angry and young but it didn't take me too long to see that this wasn't about defending America, but creating an entirely new enemy.

It was all there.
It was almost too perfect.

They are of different color.
They speak a different language.
They are a people that have been made to be poor - not a people that are poor; there is a difference.
They follow a strange religion that Americans don't understand! A religion so very similar to Christianity, that - get this - it recognizes almost the same individuals as being Prophets that the Bible does.
They "hate us (you) for our (your) freedom".
They will come here and kill our women and children if we do not go there (and kill their women and children first).

The Administration and all of Its men and women sold it and Americans bought it.

How many people got chills when the American flag was placed there at Ground Zero? Remember when there were so many flags outside of houses, and flag stores ran out of them?

So I went to Iraq and I saw their faces. People that I thought wanted to kill me, and hated me because I was free, brought me into their homes, offered me food and something to drink.

Was the food poisoned? No.

Was it a poor family that could barely afford the food they were offering, but offered it to me without charge or regret? You bet.

I was quickly disillusioned by the military. Senators and Representatives from Congress would come to visit us - and we would be told to get everything clean for the Dog and Pony Show.

We would up the security levels, to make everything look ship-shape. When it was time for the questions and answers portion, we would never be without a question, because the chain of command was always there for us - and thankfully they had come up with the questions we were allowed to ask our Representatives. This is what happens every time someone from D.C. came for a little sight seeing visit. I can only imagine what kinds of shows they put on now.

Long story short, I left Iraq feeling really uncomfortable with America's position in this entire conflict. It didn't feel right. It didn't look right. And after much soul searching and researching, I discovered that it plain out just wasn't right.

It took me a while to finally decide to leave. I wanted to leave prior to invading Iraq, while witnessing the illegal "Shock and Awe" that killed so many innocent people and destroying the infrastructure of the country that we hadn't destroyed from the first bombings in the Gulf War and what wasn't antiquated and useless from the illegal sanctions held over the heads of the every day Iraqi citizen.

I fell for the trap of "don't let your buddies down". And what a well spun web it is. I can not control the conscience of another man. I can only follow mine. And after deciding what I believe in is not consistent with the United States military and learning that "don't let your buddies down" is just a form of domination through guilt, I left my post in Italy to return to America. I began speaking out against this Occupation. I do not fear arrest. I do not stay hidden. I go to all national events and travel the country at my own leisure.

I say this to you Congressional Democrats: you have failed us. I delayed my going AWOL, because when I learned both Houses of the Congress were controlled by Democrats I was confident that the war was finally over. You ran on the platform of ending the war. I told all of my friends to just hang on, it will be over very soon. You funded the war and you continue to fund it. By no means is my hostility solely directed towards the Republican bench of the government. You lied to the American people, and more so, you failed the American people. We are finally awake and more and more are realizing that we don't have a two party system in America, we have a single party that is not representing the will of the People.

Realize this Congressional Democrats, that when you agreed to continue funding the Occupation, this was no longer the President’s war against the Arabs.
You helped buy this Occupation and now you own it as well.
And I will remind you every time that I see your faces.

The People say end the war. Stop funding the Occupation. The Soldiers want to come home. The insane idea of we must stay in Iraq and Afghanistan so that these thousands of soldiers will not have died in vain should never be said again! We tried saying that in Vietnam! The Iraqi people are strong and can defend themselves. They also want us out.

It took years for a G.I. Resistance to begin within the Military during Vietnam, but I am telling you right now - the feeling of resentment is there. The feeling that Politicians and Businesses are profiting off of this Occupation while we suffer through extended tours and battle Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depleted uranium, losing friends and family and losing our lives and limbs through wounds.

We come home and barely have time to adjust to being home before we begin training to leave again.

Families are falling apart.
Iraqis are dying.
For what?
A red, white and blue flag that says, "I'm a Patriot"?
Dissent is Patriotic.

Open discussion is Patriotic (this to Speaker of the House Pelosi who refuses to have an open forum with the people of her district. I believe it is going on just over 2 Years now.)

And I say to you dissent is filling the ranks of the military and it doesn't even need a charismatic figurehead to come forth and say "Dissent; Desert!". They are doing it and will keep doing it.

And the military's attempt to censor free speech will not contain it. Blogs, Youtube, Myspace: these sights, and others, weren't blocked for any reason other than these are the most popular places to find out that the G.I. Resistance Movement is growing daily.

So proud Patriots of America, I ask you today for nothing. You are my Employee, never forget that. My tax dollars pay your salary, never forget that.

I do however have demands for you:

-End the Occupation Now. Not tomorrow.

-Bring home all American troops. Replace them with a true international coalition designed specifically for peace keeping operations, NOT military operations.

-Remove all U.S. contractors from the Middle East that continue to benefit off of the death of the Iraqi and Afghan people and the destruction of their countries.

-Allow the Afghan and Iraq governments the freedom to decide what kind of country they want to be in, not what kind of country we want them to have.

-Allow the Afghan and Iraq governments freedom to choose who is given reconstruction contracts - which none should be American companies, for obvious reasons.

-Fund in full all reconstruction projects in Afghanistan and Iraq: We destroyed their countries, by International Law we must pay. By Moral virtue we must pay.

-Support the Troops means take care of them when they come home, not blindly fund their continued existence in a war zone - Completely fund the V.A. Department!

-Fund the Levees; Do NOT allow another Hurricane Katrina or Rita.

-Oversight on Gulf Region reconstruction (where is it?) - I was just in New Orleans, it is still a disaster area two years later. Fix it now.

-Open Diplomatic negotiations with Iran - Do not allow another war to take place. We have Diplomats that are paid by taxpayers to do just that: to Talk and Discuss. Use Diplomats not Depleted Uranium and Cruise Missiles.

I also want to say this before I close, I wrote it in a letter, just yesterday, to the people of Italy that stand up and actively oppose more U.S. military bases in their country. And it says:

The Iraq war is a War of Aggression, led by a cry of "We Will Never Forget"; the famous quote from September 11, 2001. Well, I have something to say for the people of the World and to the People of this Administration, as well as to the members of the U.S. Congress.

We WILL never forget.

We will never forget that the men who hijacked those aircraft on September 11, 2001 were not Iraqi.

We will never forget that Iraq had no Weapons of Mass Destruction (W.M.D) when we invaded.

We will never forget that the W.M.D's that Iraq did have years before, were sold to them by the U.S. Government.

We will never forget the millions of Iraqi men, women and children who have suffered through the Dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, The Iraq-Iran War, The Gulf War, Depleted Uranium, Years of Illegal Sanctions, Shock and Awe, "Liberation" from a Tyrant only to find a new Tyrant take his place.

We will never forget the 2 million of Iraqi men, women and children who are now displaced refugees within their own country.

We will never forget the 1.5 million refugees in Syria, the 775,000 refugees in Jordan and the nearly 200,000 refugees in Egypt.

We will never forget the 1 million dead Iraqi men, women and children since March 2003.

We will never forget that nearly 100,000 Iraqis flee the country each month since 2003.

We will never forget the widows, widowers and orphans of those dead.

We will never forget the effects of depleted uranium in American ammunition that litters the countries of the Middle East.

We will never forget the increased infant mortality rate. The sewage on the streets. The sectarian violence that was never in the streets of Iraq until we installed a Pro-U.S. Government.

We will never forget the destruction of Shock and Awe that destroyed Iraq's entire infrastructure.

We will never forget Abu Ghraib.

We will never forget the Lost men and women of Guantanamo Bay and other Secret U.S. Detention facilities.

We will never forget the every day Iraqi that is gunned down at a Traffic Control Point by a tired American teenager.

We will never forget the sounds of Improvised Explosive Devices (I.E.D) directed not at the American soldier, but at American Policy.

We will never forget the Women and Children gunned down at random after an I.E.D. explodes, because they were working the vegetable fields and were frightened and began to run.

We will never forget that War is, in fact, Terrorism. And America is the largest State Sponsor of Terrorism.

We will never forget that the Men, Women and Children of the Middle East may be of the same color as Saddam Hussein, but they do not have his face. They are not him. They do not deserve what they have been made to endure.

And we will never forget that corporations are profiting off of the death and destruction.

We will never forget that Blackwater and other private armies, which are in themselves illegal, are running around the Middle East killing at will - and are left unchecked.

We will never forget amazing photo opportunities with the soldiers, whether its walking through a market in Iraq with security all around you and Apaches in the air, or sitting on the deck of a ship under a "Mission Accomplished" banner.

We will never forget that a majority of the American population want the Occupations to end and we will keep repeating it until you do what you are paid to do - and that is, Listen to the People.

The People are United and I know that attempts will be made to have me appear a fool and soon you will have my grade school photographs, my coloring books, a list of every library book I have ever checked out, and whatever other records these incredibly large and over-funded Secret Agencies compile on Activists in America, but I do not fear you.

You have no moral authority over me.
Or any authority at all.
I do not fear you.
Any of you.

We The People,
United within The Struggle,

James Circello; Iraq Veterans Against The War

Letters from Prison

2007-11-09T10:54:00.000-08:00

Snow

2007-11-07T12:15:00.000-08:00

Snow in Cleveland.
It is nice. It is good reading and coffee weather.
Browns 5-3. we rule.
going to the catholic worker tonight for bible study.peace.

Waiting on the RTA

2007-11-01T14:21:00.000-07:00

Today has been good. Sitting at the train stop waiting for its arrival. It is cold, winter is in the air. I have a warm coffee, two different socks, one brown and one white, both huge and obvious. I wonder how did i do this? I know the train is going to be tight, a lot of people get on or off at this time of the day. I am reading Paul Tillich for the first time. I am being transformed, awakened. His discussion of "doubt" is the best i have ever come across and it is liberating. He also discusses creeds and dogma, in an early post i talked about burning them...i take that back. I encourage everyone to read him.

This week has been good overall. We still do not have a car but it has brought us closer together and forced us to interact with the cleveland community.

i went to a protest over the weekend. it was against violence. zero religious leaders, showed up.they all worry about being labeled liberal and un-christian-which baffels me. it was good though. intense and heart breaking. a lot of mother spoke of what it was like to lose a child to street violence. i cannot imagine. i cannot imagine to lose anyone in such a violent act.we marched downtown with an empty hearse in the middle of the crowd.

i was on the news at 11. my professor told me.

the nation state is an idol.

gas went up... a ton. weird... i bet were at war with iran soon.

browns 4-3. Derek Anderson is the best QB ever. I will be at the game sunday. my pastor likes the redskins they play good football. landry and taylor in the backfield on defense is wicked. however, the pats pounded them worse then they beat the browns, so in my opinion the browns play better football. the city is rallying around the browns. which is good.
i have a theory. the bible tells us that God is a friend of the oppressed...so God must be a friend of the Cleveland Browns. peace. love. browns. justice.hope. JohnIV

Article by Brian McLaren on Sojo.net

2007-10-26T10:18:00.000-07:00

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Waking Up to War with Iran (by Brian McLaren)

I am afraid, but not for the reasons our government is telling me to be afraid. I am afraid that I may wake up one morning soon to discover that our government has launched a preemptive attack on Iran. While our government is issuing national orange alerts about "them," I wonder whether we Christians should be issuing global orange alerts about our own government.

I am disgusted, concerned, appalled, and furious about the current saber-rattling of our government - so reminiscent of the buildup to the invasion of Iraq. My feelings intensify in many of our presidential candidates' forums, where each candidate seems to be in a hissing contest, declaring that he or she is the loudest hisser against terrorism - as if the only danger in the world is posed by an evil "them" and not by evil resident within us. Our Congress' bipartisan vote last month, which labeled the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization, seems to me to be handing our president a "go to war free" card, another rather frightening development.

Meanwhile, our media are becoming an echo chamber of fear: after all, fear keeps people tuned in, which means better ratings, and thus more advertising income. Fear pays - economically and politically - but sadly, we haven't reached the point yet of fearing fear itself and what it may do if it keeps accelerating.

On top of these fears, I suspect that many of my fellow Christians will, in the name of God and Jesus and Christianity and the Bible, support and justify a preemptive war on Iran before and after it happens - no matter how unprovoked, no matter how brutal, and no matter how foolish and costly, both financially and morally. Forgetting even the traditional Christian criteria for just war, and forgetting the falsified "intelligence" used to justify our last preemptive war, we Christians in the U.S., I fear, will once again be high on credulity and low on scrutiny - all too eager to believe what our government tells us to legitimize a pre-emptive attack and feed our growing fears. We Christians who cannot follow this path into another war must ask ourselves two kinds of questions:

What will we do if we wake up and find our government has attacked Iran while we were sleeping? What actions - public and private - would be appropriate?
What can we do now to decrease the possibility of that occurring? What will we wish we would have done in the weeks and months before the morning after?

(To be continued…)

2007-10-24T15:37:00.000-07:00

I am at a coffee shop… Bella Dubby…drinking … XMAS ALE, Great Lakes Brewery just released it. It is awesome, a little strong though.

Devendra Banhart has a new album out. On the album is a song called Sea Horse. The song is phenomenal, going from deep depression to straight screaming and ax rocking!!!! When ever he goes to the rocking part he says this:

Well I am scared of ever being born again

If it’s in this form again

I have come to love this verse. It is my new all time favorite song lyric. I like to think about it and put into different contexts, especially a religious context, a Christian religious context.

Who wants to be “born again” if it’s in this form again?

In this “form” that is so tied to the world, consumerism and American ideal. Being bogged down by television advertisements and bill board signs that scream “YOU SUCK…YOU’RE A FAT HOG…YOUR SO SKINNY…YOUR HAIR SUCKS…YOU SMELL LIKE A 15 POUND DEAD BABY MULE DEER THAT GOT DEFECATED ON BY A 780 POUND BULL MOOSE … BY THIS…GET THIS PAIR OF JEANS… GET THIS COMPUTER…GET THESE FRIENDS…THIS AND THAT….”

Christianity does a horrible job at disproving this myth, the myth that life is found within consumerism, the world and American Ideal. Rather then shun it, it has embraced it. Christianity has become buddies with the culture and the culture has whored it out to the masses, by making it a commodity… that is now being mass consumed through the creation of Christian celebrities, Christian politicians and mega churches that make more money in one week during the Sunday tithe then the poorest nations.

What is the response to be???

1. So far it has been nothing… what should it be???

2. Boycott

3. Burn creeds and dogma-replace them with-the Sermon on the Mount/Plain and the Beatitudes

4. Teach people to love who they are …before one can fulfill Jesus’ commandment, “Love your neighbor asyour self”, one must first learn to love ones self… this is an often overlooked aspect of this commandment. I blame this on the devil (Michael Moore, Bill O'Reilly, Paris Hilton,) Look at society, everyone hates everything about their self and because of this people can not take the liberty to love others because they hate their self. I cannot fully love others until I fully love myself. How do I do this????????????????????? Figuring it out…. Peace.

p.s. I am working on a paper… “Render unto Caesar what is Caesars”

I will put it on here. It is a critique of Mark 12:13-17 and how this verse has been used to inspire blind acceptance of militaristic, oppressive Governments…when in all actuality…through historical/critical/social research one can come to the conclusion that this is not what Jesus meant at all…. Peace and love, JohnIV

What if???????????????????

2007-10-24T06:19:00.000-07:00

what if.....??? we invaded Iran??? what would be your response??? i believe we will. in April or May. call me a conspiracy theorist or a heretic...but..... we will see i guess....

every car we have has broken down.

the city is cold, dark and dehumanizing.

what is community? on Saturdays i am part of a bible study. it is made up of : an ex-convict, Presbyterian Minister (female), my wife, homosexuals and myself. We get about 5-9 people... it is community...it seems like community, at least a biblical community... filled with outcasts, sinners (myself) and a table. a common table. we sit around. discuss struggles, struggles with the church, with fitting in, the struggles of being a gay Christian, the struggles of going to church in what could be perceived as "poor" clothing, the struggles of this militaristic Government and its oppression of the rest of the world. We pray, we laugh, we argue, we smile and we study the word of God. we also meet on Monday's for "Theology Pub", we drink good beers and discuss theological issues (Economic policy and its relation to the Gospel). We meet up again on Thursdays for Church. At a coffee shop. People keep coming. It is good.

Single Table

2007-10-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

John Sobrino the liberation theologian says, “The Good news expressed by Jesus is that those who for centuries had been separated-the poor, pagans, slaves, women, those whom the Jews despised and the Roman empire marginalized-could sit around a single table” This universal opening and its capacity for cultural and social integration is one of the reasons that explain the rapid spread of Christianity. What Christianity introduced into the situation of the time was, then, two convergent elements, the good news of the person of Jesus, and the good news of the shared table. Both become intelligible when one is referred to the other.”

I love this.

I do not think we actually realize the significance of partaking in the Eucharist event, the significance behind communion. Jesus said, "Do this in memorial of me" A memorial reminds us of how the world should be... When we take communion we become one, because we take it from one bread and drink from one cup, we become one body... this is important to remember. When others have excluded from participation in this then we have gone very far from from where we have come.

Torture

2007-10-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

Torture...................................................................................................................................................................................... taking place by the hands of a nation that claims to be "Christian"......................................................................................................Do people actually read the gospels????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Anyways..... I went to Chicago. It was fun and we walked to a lot of places. It made me miss Ohio. I could not live in that city.... I remember when we were pulling up and i was talking to Kelly about how i could live here....then i spent the weekend in Chicago and realized i could never live there...very elite....
I felt insecure and had a strong desire to cut my hair and shave my face. I started to look around me and i felt so out of place. I thought that all of my beliefs about living a simplistic, under the radar, kind of life seemed insane...
but then i saw the movie "into the wild" while in chicago and realized once again why i love to live the way i live...
so ... kick in your television screen, all it wants to tell you is that your not good enough, give away your life and sit in silence, read your bible or any good book, drink coffee (fair-trade) and good wine...hang out with people, love your loved ones, hate wars and ride your bike...peace.
however...i forgot..i went to the Darwin Musuem and it was awesome. evolution does not bother me... for some odd reason it has always made my faith more real... and it seems like it is pretty hard to disprove.. i am sure that will make some people mad... but...oh well. i have seen the corny christian arguements for creation and all...but... i think evolution is creation......and darwin had a sweet man beard.

The Boss being used by McLaren...priceless and oh so true.

2007-10-11T14:53:00.000-07:00

'Devils and Dust': How We Learned to Torture (by Brian McLaren)
In The New York Times story about the administration's secret authorization of torture, one sentence is particularly chilling: "With virtually no experience in interrogations, the CIA had constructed its program in a few harried months by consulting Egyptian and Saudi intelligence officials and copying Soviet interrogation methods long used in training American servicemen to withstand capture."
Copying tactics used by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the former Soviet Union ... what does this say about our nation's trajectory? Since reading those words last week, I can't keep Bruce Springsteen's song out of my head. First, he echoes what many Americans might say in response to the secret authorization of torture:
Well I've got God on my sideAnd I'm just trying to survive.
But then he raises this question:
What if what you do to surviveKills the things you love?
Springsteen then concludes:
Fear's a dangerous thing.It can turn your heart black you can trust.It'll take your God-filled soulFill it with devils and dust.
Springsteen's words have me praying for our nation today: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

I AM

2007-10-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

I do not understand why I am the way I am. I continually struggle with figuring out the in’s and the outs of this mystifying, translucent, yet, suffocating life. I tumble through novels, underlining with the intention to have the weighty intellect found within the author’s imaginative fingers, the fingers that stain the pages with theological/philosophical words that in turn become blistered into my brain.

Once, these words find a home within my own theological/philosophical thought process I vomit them up onto paper, or humanity, which ever is closer or better yet which ever I feel like confusing or destroying with my new found insight. I talk with a purpose but I walk timidly like an executioner. I talk with large words about skeptical theories, that our riddled with heresy and carry the distinct smell of “conspiracy”.

Usually my audience consists of my wife, whom always listens with large ears, or coffee shop attendants whom look interesting, they unlike my large eared wife, will often find fault in my theories. lambasting them with the latest “truths” discovered within the latest Michael Moore novel or an odd Buddhist clarification. As if, I was a misguided follower of the Iron chunk, which I am not.

I follow a Jewish man that has been hijacked by an ideal, a motive, a country. A country, that has spent its entire existence hijacking things, peoples, nations, beliefs and…well…things.

This Jewish man has furthered my confusing of why I am the way I am. I often wonder why I spend so much of my time attempting to figure out such an odd, smelly, dirty man that lived within the oppressive confides of 1^st century Roman rule. Maybe, just maybe, as I think about it some, I to like this Jew am an odd, dirty man, living within the oppressive confides of 21^st century American rule. Like him I question the way in which things presently seem to be and the way which things can become , the powers that be.

I get nervous, exhausted and overwhelmed. I attend a college that i should not be attending. I do not fit in. I am an odd ball, an out cast that finds fault in leadership but is to ashamed to stand up to the fault.

I carry odd dreams.

I am to exist.

I do not exist

A body exists

Programed with the beliefs of others

I am conditioned to be conditioned

I desire holiness. I desire justice, mountains and gardens. I desire to worship bare foot, outside with my community. I like to listen to Marty strum the guitar and listen to Steve teach. I remember once standing outside with a few people from RVCC, it was cold and early. Marty played Cat Stevens and Steve prayed. I remember thinking at that moment that there is know where else in the world i would rather be at that moment. In that valley with the sun rising, my hands numbing and mind at rest.

I miss home. I miss home.

I have never been home sick. Until Oct. 2001 i never felt at home anywhere.

, a robot-like man programmed with the beliefs of others. I am conditioned to be conditioned.

Today in the News

2007-10-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

Head lining news from CNN. COM-

K-Fed steps up to parenting plate

Idol worship. We worship celebrities, we have become immune to reality.
A lesser known fact, yesterday

Tuesday 2 October: 49 dead

Baghdad: roadside bomb, Salman Bak; roadside bomb, Karrada; roadside bomb Rashid; roadside bomb, Zaafaraniya; bombs kill 9 in total; 9 bodies.
Khalis: suicide bomber explodes car at checkpoint, kills 6, including a child.
Wihda: gunmen shoot dead father and son.
Suwayra: primary school teacher shot dead.
Hawija: clashes between gunmen and police kill 2 civilians.
Baquba: gunmen kill parents with their daughter.
Iskandariya: doctor is shot dead in his car.
Tuz Khurmato: the bodies of 2 brothers found.
Kirkuk: police find 5 bodies.
Mosul: 2 bodies found in car.

This brings the innocent Iraqi death total to anywhere between 74, 442-81,131.

What matters??

An Article

2007-09-30T15:50:00.000-07:00

An article was published in the News Watchmen. The News Watchmen is a paper in Pike County. The article or letter, I am not sure what it was, anyways it was filled with hate, stereotyping and lies. I was ashamed when I read it. I was ashamed to be a Christian, as it was written by a Christian.

It referred to the homosexual community as evil, hinted at violence toward the homosexual community and also ranted about political ideal.

I believe the editor of the paper should be held accountable for allowing this to be published. It has to cross his hands last or at least it seems that it would be that way. He published it, I am sure he would not publish something good about the homosexual community.

I honestly do not have an issue with the homosexual community. I also firmly believe it is not a biblical issue. I know this will raise red flags but let me state that I am not a fundamentalist; I do not personally take the bible to be 100 % accurate.

I am a follower of the peasant revolutionary. I believe he took in the marginalized, the oppressed and the hated of his community, which existed in the 1^st century. So in that time the marginalized were tax collectors, lepers, non-Jews, zealots and women. Let us look at the church today; the body that is Christ… does it love the marginalized? I look at who Jesus loved and compare it to who the church despises today… the church casts out atheists or anyone that is not Christian, revolutionary zealots, suppresses women and ignores those with HIV (the modern leper). The church loves the rich, white, hateful, man, racist, war supporting, democrat, republican.

I sat across from an open lesbian yesterday at a coffee shop down the road from my house, we studied the bible together. She quoted scripture, spilled her heart out about her relationship with God, and talked about her struggles and her loves. She was amazing, she is amazing. I looked at her when she was speaking and I smiled, I could not stop smiling because I was being swallowed by the Holy Spirit, and it was flowing out of her and into my presence. I have not felt that for a long time. After we had bible study we went to the peace rally and we talked more. It was a great day.

Destroy your preconceptions…open your heart to love… be more Christ like. Love those that know one else does. Do not turn a blind eye to hate, especially when it is in your face. I am hoping to get a letter writing campaign to the News Watchmen editor… my friend that I discussed above said she will help…. Leo Tolstoy said toward the end of his life, when the world was riddled with war and hate that he could know longer be silent, he could know longer sit around while the Christian sat tight lipped and cross legged in the face of injustice and the war machine...So speak up...Peace and love…John Williams

JD, Eli, Steve, Emily or anyone else???????

2007-09-29T06:28:00.001-07:00

how do you add friends blogs on here???

Puma

2007-09-29T06:14:00.000-07:00

My friend Puma from Chillicothe was in Cleveland last night. I saw him, he came to Lakewood to go to the Winchester. One of the best live bands i have ever seen were playing. Big Brothers Brother. All instrumental. It blew me away. I have enjoyed Cleveland this week. I am going to a peace rally with Meredeth today, it is in Ohio City. Should be a good time and not change anything. I bet 7 people will show up and when we go to the coffee shop after we will hear nothing but yuppie people complaining about the war, then they will jump in the 48,000 dollar SUV and go home, watch plasma TV, CNN and eat organic food from Trader Joe's. Honestly...what the hell will it take for people to wake up

Iron and Wine

2007-09-24T09:21:00.001-07:00

I am going to see Iron and Wine tonight. Should be a good show.

I rode my bike to school today. I have to everyday, i am fasting from automobile travel within these city walls. It is an 18 mile ride one way, that takes me through the ghetto, littered with drug dealers and prostitutes. It is destitute, it is depressing and heart breaking.

The Government and especially the church, the white church has abandoned these people to a life of drug addiction and crime. I wonder sometimes how to make an impact upon these people, how to break the chains of generational poverty. It is mind numbing to read the papers in this town, to read nearly everyday about another child getting gunned down and as the body count gets higher it still does not make the front page. Rather what we have is the latest celebrity scandal or Indians or Browns win/loss. The same goes for the war in Iraq.

I compare Cleveland to southern Ohio, the way in which the State/Government has turned its back on the people of the city and the hills. The way in which drugs ranging from crack to meth have become so prevelant within each community. The way in which buisness is run out by corporations that support the suppression of millions in america and over seas.

Any who..... peace out.... wake up.... stand up.... speak up.... Liberate...love, John Williams

It does no good to just pray.

2007-09-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

I went home this weekend. Home for me is State Route 220 and RVCC. It was good to see all of you at church, the body, loving each other and the people within the walls and beyond. I hope to be back asap.
Eddie Vedder has a fantastic new song out, "No More War". I encourage all to listen to it.

It is on the soundtrack for the movie "Into the Wild". I encourage everyone to read this book, especially the youth in this nation.

Chris Mccandless was a tragic, beautiful, selfish, Tolstoy like prophet.

Society

2007-09-21T09:18:00.000-07:00

Two days ago I was playing a video game...i lost... in the video game and became infuriated, in fits of rage I began to cuss wildly at the air. I was unable to understand how I lost to the Titans in John Madden football. It was my second year in my franchise and my team, the Browns, were on a freaking roll. But, the last two games i had struggled to win, Brady could not move the ball, my receivers were dropping everything and my defense looked just like the Bengals defense in real life. This all lead up to a tumultuous butt kicking by the Titans.
I was mad and then I got sick, I was sick inside that I actually cared. I was heavy inside because I just wasted one hour of my life on this earth playing this video game, that in the end did not give me any enjoyment but pissed me off.
Kelly and I talk about giving things away. We talk about disappearing, dropping out of society and fighting for justice. Or just moving to the mountains in a cabin, to read and live off the land. Live a Thoreau type existence.
I stared at my game cube, looked at the books around me and wanted to puke... i looked outside and it was beautiful .... I walked out my front door and went next door to my neighbors. I do not know them at all. But, i do know they do not have a lot of money and have a son that is really hyper. I give them vegetables from my garden a lot. They love zucchini.
I knocked on the door and the mother came and she looked confused to be seeing me. I asked her if her son wanted a video game console and a lot of games. She asked him and he said yes, i could heart the hint of joy in his voice. I went back home, put the game console in a box, packed up all my games in the same box and marched back over and handed it to her. She was overjoyed and tried to give me money, i declined. I felt free.I went straight to my basement where i keep my clothing and put 90% of them in a trash bag, hopped on my bike and went to the Salvation Army, dropped them off and went home.
I read the rest of the night, i was happy, free and on my way out of my own self made society.
The next day Meridith, Kelly and I went downtown and marched through the ghetto with 600 black people in protest of the injustice taking place in Jena, Louisiana. It was worship for me, Gods presence was everywhere, the holy spirit was evident.
It was great to walk the gang owned streets in force, to show the police in Cleveland that racism will not be tolerated, that the segregation of this city must change or we will have our very own Jena incident. It was nice to do it non-violently, to love people. We were it seems to be the only 3 white people out of the 600 plus crowd. It was terribly sad.
Moral of the post- Give away what burdens you and you will be free to stand up for those without a voice...

Society
Your a crazy bread
I hope your not lonely
Without me
- Jerry Hannen

Read this.

2007-09-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

I do not have a clue how to put friends on this thing. I have a friend though that has a blog and he has an uncanny ability with words and to simplify profound things... here is his blog.
http://chadrinehart.blogspot.com/

I was thinking this morning about a lot of different things. I will list them.

1. If God created time is he outside of time or part of time?
2. How can one be pro-life and pro-war?
3. Will I ever not be spiritually depressed?

The first thought was inspired by some old readings by St. Augustine, Philo the Founder and Anslem. All were Classical Theist. They all struggled with the view of time and how it related to God. It is interesting that it was a common practice in ancient time to apply zero compassion to the creator. They just considered God to be above compassion, these three dudes were the ones that began to reshape this Aristotalian and Platonistic view of things.

The second though baffels me more then the first. I am not outspoken enough but I need to say what is on my mind. I often struggle with what others think of me and i need to let go of this. I am pro-life, i do not believe in abortion. I think it is awful. However what i find so amazing in this country is that we have a Christian majority supporting the pro-life cause that also supports a war on innocent people taking place in the Middle East. Night in and night out innocent children get killed. blown to bits by bombs my tax dollars pay for. The documented civilian deaths by violence since the occupation of American Forces in Iraq is 78, 564... imagine that!!!! 9/11 almost monthly. Also this is documented.... think of the mass graves being found..... i do not understand it... We here in our modern church setting, with the expensive sound system and expensive crosses, church buildings everything...we just do not understand.... we have given up on the Gospel.....read your bibles.... just read them.... let them speak to you..... just read the Gospels, hell read the Old Testament.... God is a God of justice not murder...

Becoming the Church

2007-08-26T16:55:00.000-07:00

I was able to go to church this Sunday. I rode into town with my mother and father in-law. Kelly slept, she is lazy. But I can understand as we had just drove 19 hours straight to get home from Colorado. My pastor has been teaching a message about Becoming the Church we were meant to be. I do not get to hear Steve teach as much as I use to because I live in Cleveland but any time I am home I find his words refuel me to go back to the economic wasteland of Cleveland. I was able to hear the last to messages and found them to be radically inspiring. I jotted down a few notes during the sermon and I would like to put them in my blog.

But before I do this I want to encourage people to read Edward Abby, he was an odd, anarchic, atheist, naturalist from Appalachia. He is dead now but his work is phenomenal.

Also I want to encourage all of my friends in Appalachia to read Wendell Berry. He is a farmer, anti-technological, anarchist, naturalist, lover of Christ from Appalachia also. He is getting old so buy his books.

Becoming the Church

Simplicity

Poverty

Anti-World

What does this look like?

Does it look like love?

What does love look like?

As a Christian in Cleveland I often feel as if I find myself in the presence of small mindedness, bigotry and racism.

As a Christian in the small community of Pike County I see a small town being swallowed by consumerism. The giants of Wal-Mart, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Kroger’s, Burger King and Taco Bell destroy the local farming economy. The local economy seems to really not exist. The land is being kidnapped and raped all over the country by an oversized, military minded Government that is only interested in PROFIT. How do I or we as a community of believers in this small community of Appalachians change the tide of oppression?

Hope???

I think one way is to search the prophets of the Old Testament and find solace in the words they used because God will bring Justice.

Micah 3:8-12

I do not know but I will try to figure it out. Liberation is on the way because God is a just and loving God.

Hello Aunt Lisa!!!

Kansas

2007-08-26T16:54:00.000-07:00

Driving to and from Colorado this week with my wife and sister-in-law I was able to experience for the second time in my life the complete awesomeness of Kansas. I will share my reflection from my journal that I recorded while Kelly or Emily drove, I do not remember:

Driving home from Colorado and at the moment we are in Kansas. A vast wasteland filled with transformer like telephone poles and ancient oil pumping machines that slam up and down savagely, while we fight wars in the Middle East. I see corn, prairie dogs and sun flowers. The clouds sit low and large, they are demanding. They remind me of over bearing cotton balls being pulled apart by the east and the west.

Kansas, roadside attractions, the worlds largest know prairie dog lives up the road form our current location; it lives happily with 5 legged cow and a talking Donkey.

Kansas a bridge from old world to the new world a state of constant solitude where silence is loud and law is less.

My life Currently

2007-06-30T09:09:00.000-07:00

I am currently taking a class on the Historical Jesus…it is fascinating to study the Jesus of History, not the Jesus of Faith. We look into what agnostic Historians have discovered to be what they consider historically accurate about the Peasant Revolutionary. Some interesting things… they do not deny that he existed or that he died on a cross…They believe he was non-violent and believed in a radical grace. He was executed because he was considered a “political revolutionary”!!!

Pretty interesting stuff.

I made a friend finally. His name is Mat, he is in my program and has a huge man beard. He is helping start a church. I am going to go to it Sunday after the Brethren Peace Walk with my friend Meredith. I miss Southern Ohio, the simpleness of it. I can not wait at times to get back, but I feel I have so much to learn up here in Cleveland. I hope to make friends with the Catholic Workers tomorrow. They are constantly getting arrested.

Prophets

2007-06-18T12:23:00.000-07:00

Mahatma Gandhi said, “There is no limit to extending our services to our neighbors across State-made frontiers. God never made those frontiers” (All Men are Brothers, 121).

The modern nation state is suppressive to the Christian message. We see a radical deep seated racism separating God’s divine children from one another because of the people’s loyalty to a flag, to a war machine. One nation believes God is on there side of the flag and the other believes the same. The divisions arise and turn into wars that are undermined by religious figures whispering divine judgment into the ears of the nation leaders. God’s wrath is brought down upon ones enemies, the ones that are standing behind a different flag…the judgments are brought on by man not by God. The judgment is unleashed through technology, so know one lives… Smart Bombs and Peace bombs collide with schools, dismembering innocent children, creating innocent soldiers whom rise out of the ashes of man’s divine judgment.

We long for prophets.

Resistance

2007-06-09T13:05:00.000-07:00

Standing in the midst of chaos and corruption, the Christian is called in the postmodern social order to suffer violence in silence, while God’s kingdom is destroyed by fear, waste and murderous gasoline. The followers of Jesus stand idly as the neo-conservative followers of the Nazarene Revolutionary defy the Gospels with political and nationalistic ideal. It is as if modern man, the modern Christian man, is placing God in abound box that disallows God to be God.

Thomas Merton says this of the modern Christian man:

I do not understand those men of war

Strong and proud

Rich and fat

The more they have

The more they hate

And hate rolls down their skin

Like drops of sweat (Thomas Merton, 160)

Longing for Change.

2007-06-01T16:42:00.000-07:00

Last night i attended the U2 Eucharist at Trinity Episcopalian in downtown Cleveland. It was a powerful experience. Not so much the musical worship but the different walks of life that were attending. The congregation is mixed with homosexuals, homeless folk and ordinary people. It was beautiful to see this body of believers together worship the Radical Carpenter.

We get so caught up in the worldly matters that we tend to forget what actually matters. Jesus often talks about the "sojourner", actually the bible often mentions it all throughout the old and new testament. The resident alien is always in need of a home... if one is different from society they should be able to find comfort in the church, not condemnation.

This often does not happen.

We can change this i hope. The pastor of Trinity is an open Lesbian that is passionate for justice through Jesus. Her church is environmentally friendly and absolutely beautiful.

anyways....

I am rambling....peace, JohnIV

2007-05-28T07:29:00.000-07:00

5/25/07

“I came upon a dancing crab and I said, “Dance for me one more time before you hibernate and come out a crab cake” (Devendra Banhart).

Buy this man’s album. It is fascinating and mesmerizing, frightening and odd.

I am reading a book titled, The Non-Violent Cross. It was written in 1968 by James W. Douglass and was considered by the New York Review as “One of the ten best religious books of 1968”. I believe it should be considered one of the top ten religious theological works of all time. It is not well known. I have this odd hunch it was ripped off the scholastic shelves by the Government (Church). This book is powerful and makes some dramatic statements that dare the reader to dive into a radical, revolutionary way of life.

I am also reading, The Politics of Jesus, by John Howard Yoder. This book is a must read for any follower of Christ. One is limiting the mind if they refrain from this theological work. It is not a hard read, it is profound. I am reading both of these books in unison because I have a small break before my Christology class and want to better understand the non-violent movement that is rooted in Jesus.

Yoder makes a profound statement at the start of his book, in the very first paragraph of the first chapter, he states:

It may be a meaningless coincidence that some young men wear their hair and their feet like the Good Shepherd of the Standard Press Sunday School posters; but there is certainly no randomness to their claim that Jesus was, like themselves, a social critic an agitator, a drop-out from the social climb, and the spokesman of a counterculture (Yoder, 1).

A counterculture, the spokesman of a counterculture, this is who Jesus was. Looking at the modern church we do not see a counterculture, rather we see the culture. We see flat screen TV’s playing Christian Movies, Christians listening to Christian Rock music, reading Christian fiction, voting for Christian politicians, supporting Christian wars, wearing hip Christian clothing made in hip Christian sweat shops funded by hip Christians who go to hip Christian conventions littered with Christians, doing hip Christian things. These same hip Christians are the ones standing on the side lines as the not so hip Christians get stuck fighting the wars they fund.

In all reality it is not hip to be like Jesus, especially the Jesus of the Gospels…you know the true Jesus. When did it become hip to die on a cross? When did it become hip to hang out with hookers, revolutionaries, the despised and the dejected? When did it become hip to turn the other cheek or to walk the extra mile? When did it become hip to sell all you have and give it to the poor? Ya, know…the things the Son of God did.

It has not become fashionable to die on a cross. Instead it has become fashionable to support wars, the death penalty and sweat shops, to not let hookers, revolutionaries and the despised and dejected into the Church. Instead of turning the other cheek we go to Christian Man Conferences that teach us to suppress women and to hate homosexuals and that Catholics are dirty and Protestants are extremely mighty. I have sat through many a sermon when the Pastor in the pulpit has blatantly made fun of another denomination, rooting his teasing in some right winged, fundamentalist driven ideal. Saying something along the lines, “They believe Mary is more important then Jesus, Mary is a woman and she bowed down to the J-Man not in reverse, Mary did not die for the sins of us!!!! Amen, we like to get a little excited in this Church, we like to get a little wild, to let the spirit slay some folks” and in the background the crowd goes nuts with “amen’s and hi-fives”. The complete misunderstanding of the Catholic faith makes me want to induce vomit.

I have never in my studies of the biblical text read anything about the Peasant Revolutionary saying, “Blessed are the rich, mega churches and SUV driving Christians of this world. Blessed is America, the fascist nation, for I hold this nation above all others as the others are filled with dirty liberal homosexuals”. But this is what I see when I look at the modern church landscape. I see a church rooted, enslaved to the American way. A church that has let go of the values it was built on, value that are summed up in the cross.

The other morning I was at the coffee shop in downtown Lakewood. It is a safe haven for ordinary radical, artists, musicians, Buddhists and poets. It was early and a woman was talking to the barista, she said “Ya know it would be nice to have a Christian that was an extremist”… I was at first shocked but stepped back trying to make it not obvious that I was listening intently, she went on “Islam has extremists, although they miss the point in the sense that they kill others, but ya know Christians do that all the time, look at the abortion clinic bombers or racists… but it would be nice to see a Christian actually act like Jesus by loving others in a radical way, giving away all they had for the sake of others, to turn the other cheek”. She continued on like this for a little while longer, her words broke my heart. She, like all of us are searching with all that we are worth for a savior.

So many in today’s world have become fed up with a Christianity that marginalizes others and is exclusive in who is saved and who is not. Worlds in which we see the radical following of every religion plastered all over the television, every religion accept Christianity. Instead we are shown the Moral Majority and the Wayland Baptists spitting in the face of Christ with words of condemnation and the throwing away of the “Golden Rule” by blindly supporting the unjust war against the poor and sojourner. I am done rambling .

Hello

2007-05-21T15:45:00.001-07:00

I hope to get going on this...at least once a day.

Melt Machine Guns into Plow Shares

i am breathing

Family Love

Merry Christmas...My present...just war does not exist.

Prayer I wrote and read at Trinity Sunday Night.

Read carefully. www.december18th.org

Be Human

Open Invitation

Cobalt Season

Tribal Identity.

1988 STATION WAGON.

Drums of War

Howard Zinn is a Prophet of Old.

Good Old Ohio

Justice may exist.

Major Guantanamo setback for Bush

Empire Building

About time

California ban on same-sex marriage struck down!!!

Silence

Good poetry.

Manifesto:The Mad Farmer Liberation Front

Home

A.......love.

Jesus for President.

Book

Lent

NFL

Sad Day

Holiday

Crazy Christians

I am yours-came across this

Sean Taylor

Good Song.

Got this from JD.Great Read. Convicting.

Letters from Prison

Snow

Waiting on the RTA

Article by Brian McLaren on Sojo.net

Waking Up to War with Iran (by Brian McLaren)

What if???????????????????

Single Table

Torture

The Boss being used by McLaren...priceless and oh so true.

I AM

Today in the News

K-Fed steps up to parenting plate

Tuesday 2 October: 49 dead

An Article

JD, Eli, Steve, Emily or anyone else???????

Puma

Iron and Wine

It does no good to just pray.

Society

Read this.

Becoming the Church

Kansas

My life Currently

Prophets

Resistance

Longing for Change.

Hello

Manifesto:
The Mad Farmer Liberation Front