A reply on a friend's page complaining about "illegals" ...

Thank God there are no "illegals" in God's Kingdom ... and on a more practical level, a nation that has

spent trillions on war certainly can handle this. 

It's people, just plain people, looking for a better life. Driven by desperate circumstances, love for their children, hope for the future, seeking safety and refuge. 

God's arms are open; I pray that ours are, too. 

Sure, some will say, "Criminals are in their ranks," and that may be true ... but there are thousands of people willing to work hard, to make a contribution to our nation's future. 

When the Italians came, when the Hungarians and Irish came, when the Poles and Germans came, they were labeled "second class," "criminal," and "low-lifes." But millions came, and lifted up this nation, and their children went to school, to become doctors and scientists, ministers and teachers, librarians and engineers. 

It's all about the future. Some won't make it; some will make the wrong turn; but millions will become Americans - true blue Americans. 

And that's what makes this nation great.

9.20.21 - Happy to be Presbyterian

1 Corinthians 5 ... I wonder what's up?

Started reading through 1 Corinthians a few days back, and stopped for awhile this morning on the 5th chapter, wondering, and googling ... what were the circumstances?

And how easily the women in question is dismissed - and the man so easily condemned.

Sounds like a bunch of busybodies holding their noses without any regard for the two people in question, running off to Paul like 4th grade tattletales.

It occurred to me: was she much younger than the man's stepfather?

Was she abused?

Was the son rescuing her?

Were the woman and her "husband" divorced, or was she abandoned? Or had she run away?

With the uneasy feeling that, then or now, women are treated as property ... women belong to the men, and in this case, the son is "violating" property law - stealing from his father, if you will.

This morning, I wanted to ask Paul:

"Don't you have bigger fish to fry?

Have you looked into the matter?

Or are you just going by what the busybodies offer?"

I read Paul with the greatest respect - he gets a lot of things right, as I see it.

But his easy condemnation of the man, with no interest in the details, or the possible suffering of the woman, and maybe the man's kindness to redeem her, leaves me uncomfortable.

With years of ministry behind me: I know something of "sin," in my own life, and in the lives of others - there is sin committed with hubris, arrogance, and ego, power, and domination.

Then, there is "sin" committed because there's no easy answer to so many hard moments in life. And what the community busybodies might label as "sin" is nothing less then folks caught up in a messy situation, not directly or immediately of their own making, working to make the best of it, to mitigate further harm, and to practice kindness, and to find a way through.

Here, as anywhere, the ease with which the "righteous" condemn "sexual" immorality ... it's so easy to do, and it's so rewarding.

Comments????

Anti-Asian Violence

Let me venture into dangerous territory - the growing incidence of anti-Asian terrorism across America.

I raise this concern because Asians have often been touted as the Model Minority - images of hard work, education, drive, and moral discipline, are lifted up and celebrated, not only to mark Asian achievement, but, I think, to humiliate other minorities.

One result of this elevation, at least in Orange County, has been a hard turn to the right in Asian politics - some of it driven by the memories of the Vietnamese who shudder at the mention of anything "communist," and some driven by the love of money and the self-righteousness induced by achievement and wealth, often believing, as did many a Jew in pre-ww2 Germany, that "assimilation" and "being a good German" would spare them. But it didn't. And now around the country, Asians are facing a White Supremacy threat of real proportions.

What this domestic terrorism says, however, is this: "You're not a part of us, and you never will be. No matter your zip code, your money, your achievement, your hard work, you're not Amerikkkan, and you don't belong here. And we don't like you."

What will this do to politics? Will it occasion a shift to the left? To something more in solidarity with other minorities? With a recognition that hard work and success is what rankles white supremacists who resent non-whites getting a share of the pie.

I'm on dangerous ground, I realize, so please forgive any inaccuracies or missteps. But at the same time, I'd appreciate some commentary here, and especially from our Asian members.

This much I know: terrorism against Asian-Americans is on a precipitous rise.

Finding Myself???

Earlier today, I wrote:

The far-right is completely gone; they believe the Left is preparing for war against them; they believe they're the innocent victims of racism and discrimination; they believe all the lies offered to them about climate, race, economics and foreign policy. Evangelicals, social conservatives, and the rich, all have skin in the game; they all have something to gain by the collapse of democracy. Evangelicals, theocracy; social conservatives, white supremacy; the rich, unimpeded greed.

Now is the not the time for nostrums and nosegays ... now is Jeremiah-time, a time for an honest appraisal of a nation long seduced by wealth and power, a nation full of idols crafted by religious interests as devious and duplicitous as the court-priests and prophets of Jeremiah's time, a time when the Divine grows tired of pleading with a people who turn a deaf ear to reason, and choose religions that sooth and satisfy the worst instincts of race, nation, supremacy, and greed. It was this very instinct that maddened the hometown crowd who heard Jesus preach, and, at first, thought it was terrific, but when Jesus made it clear that his people were NOT the center of God's purpose, they quickly cried out in anger and attempted to kill Jesus by hurling him off a nearby cliff.

If you dare, read Jeremiah 13-17. As one friend put it, "holy moly." And then Luke 4.16-30.

I have a hard time locating myself right now - my political nerves are edgy; my religious instincts turn to the darker themes of Scripture: Jeremiah, crucifixion, Paul’s imprisonment … the darker themes of history: the West’s embrace of white supremacy, and the failure of religion to address the various crisis of race, war, and greed.

Yes, I know that religious history gives us greatness, too … but often times the women and men of faith, prophetic faith, paid with their lives, because the establishment can’t relinquish its hold on power … and power always needs to have the powerless, and no better way to create a powerless class than with economic inequity.

I know what I believe, and I stand firm in “faith, hope, and love” … but reality doesn’t let me put on a happy face … truth be told, in the short run, it may not turn out well at all, though I hope for a Biden/Harris win, and I’ll do what I can, and bear what I must.

Is there a God?

I’m inclined to think there is.

And the moral arc of the universe does bend toward justice … but not without the 400 years of Israel’s slavery in Egypt … yes, there is resurrection, but not without a rigged trial and execution.

So, here I am … in a comfy, safe, place, with dear, dear, friends.

I hope my SS continues, with some appropriate increases, along with my pension (Hallelujah and Amen!). I love Trader Joe’s and FarmFresh delivery … I love to cook, and have folks over now and then to share our table.

'Tis the gift to be simple, Its a gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
Will be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend, we will not be ashamed,
To turn, turn, will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right

'Tis the gift to be simple, Its a gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
Will be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend, we will not be ashamed,
To turn, turn, will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right
Till by turning, turning we come round right

I'm Tired

I am really tired of saying, "I'm a Christian."

What difference does it make?

Does it carry any weight with the evangenitals?

Certainly not.

They would only call me a liar.

Does it carry weight with anyone else?

If folks think of Christianity only as it shows in the

Evangenitals, then I hope it carries some weight.

If folks think all christians are just plain nuts, I hope that

My presence counters that a wee bit.

On the other hand, maybe I'm nuts, too.

But I'll say it again.

"I'm a Christian."

And I'm not alone in this faith family.

Thank God.

There are plenty of folks who take the Christian Faith

Seriously.

Not to hate, but to love.

No walls to build, but only bridges.

Who know when to be quiet.

Like when #BLM protestors march.

I'm a Christian, and a universalist.

That doesn't answer all the questions.

But it does answer a few.

But, heck, it's not about questions.

Or answers.

It's about the simpler stuff of life.

Like wearing a mask.

And paying attention to the experts God has given us.

And knowing when its time to change a flag and

Remove a monument.

And a cup of cold water.

A determination to live "all are equal."

I believe in a woman's right to choose her medical treatments.

I believe in a man's right to have a decent job.

I believe in child's right to have a good education.

I believe that Rumpy is evil

McConnell even more so.

And all the evangenitals just plain crazy.

I'm tired.

Really tired of all the lies and deceptions.

I'm tired of the GOP.

And all the rest of this perverted gang of thieves.

And because I'm tired of them.

Really, really, tired.

I'll put up with being tired of saying:

"I'm a Christian."

Which I am.

And for that I give thanks.

Evan as I give thanks for friends who are

Muslims.

Siks.

Jews.

Atheists.

And whatever else the human spirit comes up with.

And even the

Evangenitals.

Who, if nothing else, serve the purpose of making it clear:

What NOT to be.