Little megomaniac potus45 does not see any courage in Mitt Romney. He only sees asskissers in the Republican majority who voted to cover up his criminal record. Mitt told us from the start that 45 is a con man. Yeah! Mitt was accurate.
The cowardly and verbose senator did not know how sick he was when he embraced the bigot now occupying the white house began his campaign for the presidency with vicious anti-Mexican and anti-Islamic attacks and unconstitutional policies, but he finds a decent bone in his body to protest the Speaker of the House ripping the hard copy of the chief bigot’s state of the union speech in plain sight.
Where was Ted when the evidence of the president’s criminal enterprise came to light? Will any one ever know what deals the senator made with the chief bigot? Did Ted get an apology for the shameless liar’s name calling? No and no.
The GOP is a very pretty sepulchre. Ted’s face is a pretty nauseating reminder of what happens inside the elaborate tombs of prophet killers. Ted and the GOP need a resurrection, a makeover, a regeneration. Maybe they can get Jared. He can do everything!
100 thoughtful elected representatives look at and hear the evidence of corruption and betrayal and say “We see nothing here”. The Republican party buried the words truth and impartial justice in order to stay in power with its vote to ignore documented ongoing outrages by the American president. The Republican pride in covering up wrongdoing teminds me of the pride with which people read of three Hebrew lads in Babylonian exile. Should there not have been three who did what the Babylonian government wanted while the rest said no to idolatry? Surely we can forgive that? Won’t we?
What were the Hebrew people telling their children about their 70 year residence in Babylon? What conditions could have led to 3 boys standing apart from an idolatrous community? What was the buzz in such a dire situation?
Let us call it fundamentalist indoctrination and well-crafted fables. If American intelligence and interests seem to coincide with anyone one else’s interests one is likely to be sleepwalking. The exile of Jewish people in Babylon and the African diaspora of modern times have something in common: God’s definite plan for ultimate good.
And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
Jeremiah 25:11
The exile was a national embarrassment and it hurt Jewish families too. On top of that, access to one’s food and culture was clearly reduced. Were they supposed to protest and defend themselves? Did God expect them to settle in, build homes and plant gardens?
Refusing to worship an idol (the Babylonian state?) may have been juvenile ignorance. The memory of Aaron leading in worshipping the golden calf may have inspired them. The narratives of Israelite idolatry are nevertheless everywhere. Avoiding idolatry can be strong propaganda but is more likely to be a convenient blindfold we take to our faces so we cannot see our own intoxication with a disgraceful past.
For thus says the LORD, Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself, and to all your friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and yours eyes shall behold it: and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword.
Jeremiah 20:4
Nebuchadnezzar’s image may have been an imperial symbol. Submitting to his government was not idolatry.
That at what time all of you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, all of you fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up:
Daniel 3:5
The anti-Jewish segment of society exploited a known Jewish aversion to idolatry. Bringing charges of disloyalty they sought to draw attention to Jewish integrity.
There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded you: they serve not your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up.
Daniel 3:12
It worked! The disgrace of false gods is never far from people caught up in the preparation of God’s kingdom.
The Israeli PM and the US president are sleepwalking again. Their peace plan is a dog’s dinner after a pig’s bath. It is a plan cooked up in the dead of night and with little (we can assume none) Palestinian contribution. It will thrive in the oppressive vacuum where it originated.
Israeli talking points figure highly in that massacre the beloved son-in-law of the bigot in the white house plagiarized. It rejects Palestinian identity and the globally approved peace plan. efforts has been pro-Israeli rights, especially the right to self-defence. Just so we remember where we are: the UN mandate refers to the Palestinian Problem not an Israeli self defense plan.
The so-called peace plan is a field of potholes with little footpaths leading to domination by xenophobic and genocidal politicians. It is, without a doubt, not Kushner’s. He is saying what the fearful have said. It is a terrorist-inspired plot. His ultimatum and smear were either intentional or the secretive genius is really unaware of the history of annexations and illegal settlements. Anything worse would be an announcement of apartheid.
The American people have little awareness of Israel’s violations of human rights of the Palestinians and the heartless repression of Jewish sentiment and the crushing of the hopes of generation after generation. It is not an economic hand out that will solve the problem of ignorance and lawlessness. The announcement of be Kushner’s plan will stand next to the invention of kosher ham and free crucifixes for Palestinians. Camels do not make it through needles’ eyes.
The Jewish state remains in denial with a simmering anger allowed to flourish over the failure to rid the land of foreigners.
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
Luke 11:8
This amazing saying – a conclusion of a parable – from the Saviour clearly extends our friendship circle to the friends of our friends. The man who rises to share bread late at night was probably not aware that his action would make him a friend to a stranger.
A friend (friendship) is the result of helping people with the resources God has given us. If the resources we end up sharing are the product of our human tradition we make fiends – people assigned to the burning flames of Hell, or demon-like people.
“It will be bad for you teachers of the law and you Pharisees! You are hypocrites. You travel across the seas and across different countries to find one person who will follow your ways. When you find that person, you make him worse than you are. And you are so bad that you belong in hell!
Matthew 23:15
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, all of you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Matthew 25:41
Convinced that the fellowship of 20 something nations was not good enough the United Kingdom tries to carve a path for itself. At the same time the most thoughtful body on the planet, the United States Senate conducts a trial without witnesses and documents. These days are tumultuous indeed and indicate the depth of the decay that comes with human organizations. To use the terms from a famous lament and prophecy “The gold has dimmed” and the iron has rusted.
How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
Lamentations 4:1
Britons were half-baked Europeans. They kept their pound and imperial measures out of selfish pride. It should not come as a surprise that some people want to be either in or out.
And whereas you saw iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
Daniel 2:43
Senators who do not know what a trial looks like are not surprising to me. We all expect elected officials to be literate and committed to decency and excellence. The Republican dominated Senate is showing itself to be dealers and experts in muck.
I’m taking Peter’s exhortation to heart afresh. After taking the audience that they needd to relent and believe he cautioned about his contemporaries.
And with many more appeals he solemnly warned and entreated them, saying, “Escape from this crooked generation.”
Acts 2:40
News from Hong Kong trickles out when it has to do with the noble protesters against the administration of Carrie Lam. The Financial Times is reporting that residents should brace for violence using IEDs and firearms.
See the Financial Times story here:
The perpetrators of violent crimes are not likely to be the same people as those demanding real democratic change but the two groups (assuming there is a group responsible for the bombings) are in the same group to PRC. Next up for the antidemocratic governments: martial law.
January 31, 2020
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
John 9:5
Then what? Global darkness? Definitely not. The disciples did not become orphans (John 14:18). They were going to have – incredibly generously- more with the next phase. Of that phase John would write:
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1 John 4:4
Light prevents stumbling. Light departs and sorrow sets in. There is no sin lurking in the shadow of sadness. Lot was vexed daily seeing the decadence and wickedness of the residents of Sodom and remained a just man. When Christ the Light departed light would not become scarce for the disciples. The world would have get drawn to Christ because of his death. The very prospect of darkness saddened the disciples.
5) But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asks me, Where go you? 6) But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow has filled your heart.
John 16:5-6
And you now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man takes from you.
John 16:22
The departure of Light was going to lead to a greater provision. The Holy Spirit would bring guidance into all truth that would fill the disciples with light and joy.
16) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you. 18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 14:16-18
Sorrow cannot be a good thing even though it comes naturally, and while it does not need to be anyone’s regular companion it is not a sin to be sad. The access to joy and light is wide and user friendly.
Life is Fun, But Not a Joke 