No character in high places

Why are American politicians trying to defend something that does not exist? The evidence of criminal intent and low character is overwhelming. The support for bigotry, the exposure of vulnerable people (especially children) to violence was enough for Yahweh to trash Jerusalem and the temple. Why are intelligent and conscientious people lining up behind the agenda of a white nationalist, a neo-Nazi, a misogynist, neo-confederate, and a host of overnight believers? There is little value attached to character that appreciates truth in the model of Christ of Nazareth vs scribes, elders, and priests

The brattish behaviour of the party hijacked by the gloating bigot in the White House leaves no abomination untested. They – in the person of Gaetz, Collins, Jordan – are having a feast, mutilating the truth and erecting flimsy walls to hide the stupour that covers the nation just like their sages and pastors have been doing for centuries.

Baloney is a word used by the counsel for the president’s party, Steve Castor at the impeachment hearing of December 9. The soundbyte that potus45 has admirable character traits is a dried leaf. This juncture of American history ranks with Isaiah’s observation of Israel-Judah on two occasions.

Worse than farm animals


Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD has spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel does not know, my people does not consider.

Isaiah 1:2-3

Filth replaces fidelity


In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, to the residue of his people, And for a spirit of judgment to him that sits in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate. But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.

Isaiah 28:5-8
Check your school but learn by all means

Infamous Infection Indignation

It is October 2020 and the gloating bigot in the White House has fallen victim to the plague that he wished would kill off the vulnerable. The expression “Oy oy oy” (polite Hebrew for “holy *ing s%#@”) leaps off my lips.   In my dialect we say “i i i”.   “Alas” and “Oh” are mild and the simple “woe” may mean a rebuke or a tumultuous and merciless military attack.  Woes and pestilences are no laughing matter and we must learn to do more than wish bad things did not come near our homes.  Woe in the year 2020 has one face: the deadly covid-19.   When a head of state plays down the virus’ potential and record, tells everyone who cares to listen to him that his nation has turned the corner, or that the warm summer will eradicate the threat,  it is the response that is woeful and infamous, not the virus.

One Woe…Seven woes

Predictions are “nutn changes” and “sacrifice means less”.

Hands on the rail all the way and thanks taps at the top says a man is in great shape.

Frantic attempts are in motion (a) to obscure the trail of the infector-in-chief (b) to change the antiviral defensive practices in the White House (c) make asinine rhetoric by Republican leaders, the rally mobs disappear and (d) to blame the minders of the president for failing to protect him.  Oy, oy, oy!

I do believe that people do not want to be near a walking infection silo or be lead by one, and it is obvious that people are dying to maintain the cover story about bad practices in the People’s Republic of China and to have a two-left feet economy survive at all costs.

That’s not a leader

His mouth opens and out comes tumbling the signals to the vile and violent.  It is a bad enough idea to propose that one man should die – executed by the state- in order to save the nation from destruction, but it is not helpful to give the impression that any such utterance is the result of orthodox doctrine.   If by virtue of his office one does utter things that are utterly reliable  we should not lose sight of the record of massive loss of life at the hands of both domestic and foreign actors. Since we have seen the value of a single life listed as both animal cheap and God expensive it makes little sense for a leader to have any qualms about quashing the voice of protest which typically amounts to a few dozens or not more than a couple hundred.

  Protest is what protestants do.  Should not the followers of Moses and George Washington expect to find revolutionary trails in the leader’s guidance?

Speaking evil of anyone is devilish except where the evil is accurate but you will not find me standing up, saluting, nodding my head, when the high priest or the head of state is a charlatan megalomaniac, such as potus45 and any of his featherweight children

Provoke us not name you


Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?”

Acts 23:3

The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike [Paul] on the mouth. Acts 23:2. God will strike the leader who plays strongman by urging violence on Black people, peaceful protesters and homeless Palestinians, and makes deals with xenophobic and misogynist Islamic states. That is not leadership: it is scavenging in support of insurance for sycophants.

Who is the leader?

The mob or the boss

If a man or woman can sit at the top of the influential nations and international entities with character traits wholly unbecoming there is reason to be concerned that local service agencies like churches and mosques are being steered by bad characters.

The 45th US president is an anomaly. He is obviously in the mold of despots and mass murderers:

  • Uninformed on a wide range of subjects 
  • Averse to reading
  • Corrupt in business practices 
  • Misogynist 
  • Racist
  • Criminally compromised by his own admission 

We think we know who attracts us as leaders but our personal interests seem to override our conscience’s warnings against the dangers of apathy and cruelty.

The chearers or the cheerleader

I believe all things

Believers get a bad name because of the appearance that anything goes; fantasy, fable, new and old speculation are where faith seems to go consistently. We like to say that we have it documented. This belief in the man from Nazareth, Yeshua the Messiah, is, to us, eternal reality, previously hidden, now brought to light, is factual. I am sure you are aware that literacy is on the decline, defeated by the viral video and germ-laded tweets and various audio soundbytes types. The book, the one reliable source of authority, lies slain where acquiring the tools for literate participation and the publishing of facts and reliable information personal stories get treated as patterns for . I believe that professors of theology need to have at least a little theology, but that is not the case. I believe that politicians sign up for selfless servive, but that is not the case. I still believe. I believe that political spin doctors should have at least a blind political passion. I have come close to not believing that intelligent colleagues would argue that the mainstream media cannot be trusted.

I believe all things, just in case

Someone had better explain what credibility does a professor of religion (or theology) have when he or she recommends that some media (outlets) are not to be trusted. Are we carrying around lists of media outlets that people can trust?

How we get to the place where we want to believe whatever is on the menu is a mystery, not subject to human decree or willpower. Each sentient being can be expected to have self-defence capacities. We know that if we believe a lie disappointment is in the mix. All things do not work for you. You avoid them. I find and do the same. We believe that pigs fly when God or someone else wants them to. We pin our hopes neither on the blood of a bull if we want atonement for our sin, or on pigs flying. We still believe that “not-guilty” only comes from life given in appropriate payment.