THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE PEEVER

* In the beginning, there were no humans. And it was good. The world flourished. Then God got this brilliant idea: Why not ruin everything?

* Ten commandments are not near enough. I would have 5,354, most having to do with the rich screwing the poor.

* People mistake the Garden of Eden for creation. That was an orgy. Evolution is the creation story.

* Thou shall not kill. How much simpler can I make it?

* Do not take people like Oral Roberts, or Jerry Falwell, or Pat Robertson, or Dr. James Dobson, or Rev. John Hagee, or Jim Bakker, as spokespersons for Christ. He would have nothing to do with them.

* If God would have known people were going to get in wars over religion, he'd have never thought this stuff up.

* I have been noticing most people are not praying, they're begging. You got to quit that.

  *In the end, there was nothing left but politicians. And God        said,"This is bad. Peever, why don't you take over." And a deep hush fell over the land, and a voice could be heard crying from the U.S. Congress: "Oh shit!"

LETTERS TO GOD

DEAR GOD,
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT REVOLUTIONS? I ALREADY PRETTY MUCH KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE RICH. THE BIBLE MAKES IT PRETTY CLEAR: MATTHEW 6:24: NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS, FOR EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE AND LOVE THE OTHER, OR HE WILL BE DEVOTED TO THE ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER. YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MONEY. OR, LUKE 18:25: FOR IT IS EASIER FOR A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE THAN FOR A RICH PERSON TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD. YOUR SON HAD A PENITENCE FOR THE RICH. FRANKLY, I CAN'T BLAME HIM. SEEMS WE HAVE A LOT OF RICH DOWN HERE WHO THINK THEY CAN BUY WHATEVER THEY WANT, AND MOST OF THEM WANT TO SEE THE POOR GET POORER. IT WOULD SEEM IT'S ABOUT TIME WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME DRASTIC CHANGES. I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD SUPPORT VIOLENCE, ALTHOUGH WHEN YOU READ THE BIBLE, THAT APPEARS QUESTIONABLE. AT ANY RATE, JESUS SEEMED NONVIOLENT, SO I WILL GO WITH THAT. ANYWAY, IT IS TIME FOR A NONVIOLENT REVOLUTION. THE MONEY OF THE RICH NEEDS TO BE DISTRIBUTED AMONGST THE POOR. I HOPE YOU CAN FIND IT IN YOUR HEART TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS. WE WILL NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET.
THANKS,
THE PEEVER

PEEVER LAW #94

IF YOU RUN OUT OF WORTHWHILE THINGS TO SAY, BECOME A POLITICIAN.

LETTERS TO GOD

DEAR GOD,
I'VE BEEN FEELING PRETTY LOW LATELY. I THINK IT IS MAINLY ALL THE CRAZY THINGS I'VE BEEN HEARING FROM ALL THE RIGHT-WING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT. I GUESS I JUST DON'T GET IT. I'D ASK YOU TO COME DOWN AND HELP, BUT I DOUBT YOU GET IT EITHER. THEY DO A LOT OF THINGS IN YOU AND YOUR SONS NAME, WHICH SHOULD BE MAKING YOU PRETTY MAD. YOU COULD SMITE THEM ALL, I WOULDN'T SEE THAT AS A REAL BIG DISASTER. I'M GUESSING YOU ARE CONSIDERING LETTING US KILL OURSELVES OFF AT THIS POINT IN TIME. I CAN'T SAY THAT I WOULD BLAME YOU. IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE YOU MADE THE ORIGINAL MISTAKE: US. ANYWAY, I'M HOPING RATHER THAN ENDING US ALL, YOU GO WITH THE SMITING IDEA.
THANKS,
THE PEEVER

SOME BITTER ARKANSAS TRUTHS

• WE RANK AS ONE OF THE WORST STATES FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN: 48%
• TWENTY-TWO PERCENT OF AMERICA'S CHILDREN ARE LIVING IN POVERTY, WHICH IS WORSE THAN THE GREAT DEPRESSION. IN ARKANSAS, THAT PERCENT IS 29.
• MEASURING THE BEST QUALITY SCHOOL SYSTEMS, ARKANSAS RANKS 44. THAT MEANS LOW SPENDING AND A WEAK SCHOOL SYSTEM.
• INDIVIDUALS WITH A COLLEGE DEGREE IN ARKANSAS: 20.5%
• HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE: 75%
• THE  OVERALL POVERTY RATE IN ARKANSAS: 19.7%
• ONE IN FOUR CHILDREN GO TO BED HUNGRY AT NIGHT. 
• PERCENT OF PEOPLE FOOD INSECURE: 21%

WE ARE THE NATURAL STATE. APPARENTLY WE ARE NATURALLY  UNEDUCATED, HUNGRY, AND POOR. BUT WE ARE BETTER THAN MISSISSIPPI.

AN ON-GOING LOOK AT SOME OF THE CONCERTS I HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS

                                                   
In 1969, I was a student at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. At the time, it was a drive in campus. No dormitories. It was the first year for the Mississippi River Festival. I was working as a door attendant, making sure no one snuck in.  One of the concerts I remember is Iron Butterfly. They were described as a psychedelic rock band, or acid rock. The reasons were obvious. Might well have been the first, or at least one of the first, heavy medal bands. Not tons of hits, but a big on. "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida." That was the last song they played at the concert. The crowd was a little wild, but no deaths.

PEEVER LAW #42

FOR EVERY GOOD, THERE HAS TO BE A BAD. FOR EVERY UP, A DOWN. FOR EVERY RIGHT, A LEFT. FOR EVERY MODERATE, A LEFT. FOR EVERY CONSERVATIVE, A LEFT. FOR EVERY RIGHT-WING REPUBLICAN, A LEFT. AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.

Jim Hightower | The latest Son of a Bush has a plan to make you richer

Jim Hightower | The latest Son of a Bush has a plan to make you richer



FROM THE GUY WHO NEVER WORKED AN HONEST DAY IN HIS LIFE. 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Why is it deemed justifiable and appropriate for cops/police
officers to kill other cops (friendly–fire) and citizens?
Why do cops kill?
Are they not taught to maim or slow down someone running
or reaching for a weapon?
If not, why not?
Why do cops kill first and ask questions last?


Why are police officers being military trained?
What can we as citizens, taxpayers, and voters do to stop these
killings and beatings of unarmed people?
Why do we let this continue?
How many more must die or get beat up before we realize
something is wrong and needs to be changed?
Will you, a friend, or a family member have to be killed or beaten
by a cop before we realize that things have to change?


Who's here to protect us from the cops when they decide to use
excessive force, shoot multiple shells, and/or murder us?”
Obiora Embry, Expanding Horizons Through Creative Expressions

Facing Down Taser, Sandra Bland Was Told By Officer: "I Will Light You Up!"

Facing Down Taser, Sandra Bland Was Told By Officer: "I Will Light You Up!"



THIS SO CALLED POLICE OFFICER SHOULD BE ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER, FIRED, PENSION TAKEN AWAY, AND LIVE OUT HIS DAYS WITH THOSE HE HAS ARRESTED, IN ONE OF THOSE FINE, TEXAS JAILS. KARMA IS HELL.

What Recovery? Report Reveals Rising Poverty for Children in America

What Recovery? Report Reveals Rising Poverty for Children in America



THE BANKS HAVE RECOVERED. THE RICH HAVE RECOVERED. (BUT I REPEAT MYSELF).  THE POOR HAVE GOTTEN POORER. YOU CAN THANK CAPITALISM FOR THAT.

LETTERS TO GOD

DEAR GOD,
IT IS A HARD TIME TO WAKE UP AT 3AM AND HAVE YOUR LIFETIME FLASHING THRU YOUR MIND. DOESN'T MAKE FOR A GOOD NIGHTS REST. ALL THE THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO OVER. I'M NOT LIKE THE ONE WHO SAYS THEY ARE SATISFIED WITH THEIR LIFE AND WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING OVER. I COULD USE A COUPLE SECOND CHANCES. ACTUALLY, MORE THAN A COUPLE. USUALLY, I DON'T DWELL A LOT ON THE THINGS I DID THAT WERE GOOD. THOSE THINGS DON'T HAUNT YOU. WHEN I GET TO THE PEARLY GATE, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF EXPLAINING. I FIGURE I'M A PRETTY GOOD TALKER, AND ST. PETER HAS GOT TO BE PRETTY OLD, SO I MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE. NONE THE LESS, I HOPE YOU ARE A FORGIVING GOD, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO NEED IT. FORGIVENESS, THAT IS. WITH A LITTLE COMPASSION THROWN IN.
THANK YOU,
THE PEEVER

PEEVER LAW #15

THERE ARE NOT MANY THINGS BETTER IN LIFE THAN A CUSTARD RHUBARB PIE. AS IT WORKS OUT, ONE MIGHT BE A DUTCH APPLE PIE, WITH A SCOOP OF BREYER'S VANILLA.

BENEDICTION

WELL, IT'S ANOTHER DAY. I HOPE I HAVE BETTER LUCK DEMONSTRATING MY LOVE FOR JESUS THAN I DID YESTERDAY. IT'S EASY TO TALK A GOOD STORY, AND ANOTHER WHOLE THING TO LIVE IT. MAYBE TODAY'S THE DAY. MAYBE TODAY I CAN GET IT RIGHT.
AMEN

SUNDAY MORNING HYMN: John Lennon - Imagine / Playing For Change

SUNDAY MORNING SERMON

IMAGINE A WORLD THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE
 

SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER-OLD STORIES BECOME NEW SONGS

We love to tell the old, old story.
We love to sing the old, old song
    of your saving deeds of mercy and
                                            freedom and
                                             healing and
                                               newness.

We know about Exodus freedom
   and dancing tambourines.

We know about land and huge clusters of grapes.

We know about rivers of water and
              rivers of oil.

We know about the strangeness that
       the blind see,
       the lame walk,
       the lepers are cleansed,
       the dead are raised,
       the poor rejoice.

We know. Give us courage to
             trust what we know and to
             obey what we hope.

We know that the old, old story---in our telling---becomes
      a new, dangerous, transforming song. And so we sing!

Prayers for a Privileged People,  Walter Brueggeman

A Good Problem To Have

A Good Problem To Have



A GOOD START.

 

US and Philippines Face People's Tribunal for Torture, Disappearances, Murder

US and Philippines Face People's Tribunal for Torture, Disappearances, Murder



I DON'T THINK YOU WILL SEE THIS IN THE MAINLINE NEWS. 

LETTERS TO GOD

DEAR GOD,
DONALD TRUMP IS COMING TO HOT SPRINGS. I WON'T BE THERE, ALTHOUGH I COULD USE A GOOD LAUGH. WILL SPEND MY MONEY AT THE CIRCUS INSTEAD. THE EVENT IS SOLD OUT. MOVED TO CONVENTION CENTER. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU: ARE YOU SURE EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT DOWN HERE? I'M BEGINNING TO THINK SOMETHING HAS GONE TERRIBLY WRONG. MAYBE OUR WATER SUPPLY IS BAD? OR THE AIR IS DEVOID OF SUFFICIENT OXYGEN? OR MAYBE EVOLUTION IS PROGRESSING, MAKING THE HUMAN BRAIN SMALLER? WHATEVER JOKE YOU ARE PLAYING ON US, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. IF THIS IS TRULY THE END, AS IT APPEARS TO BE, WOULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I HAVE A FEW THINGS ON MY TO-DO LIST, LIKE WEED THE GARDEN, AND I NEED TO INVEST MY MONEY IN SOME KIND OF APOCALYPTIC MONEY SCHEME. PLEASE SEND ME SOME KIND OF SIGN. MAYBE YOU ALREADY DID. HELLO DONALD.
SINCERELY,
THE PEEVER

GOD HATES FLAGS

I DON'T GET VERY INVOLVED OR UPSET ABOUT FLAGS. THE ONLY MEANING A FLAG HAS IS WHAT YOU GIVE IT. EACH PERSON IS DIFFERENT. THE CONFEDERATE FLAG CAN SYMBOLIZE LOSS, RACISM, PRIDE IN THE SOUTH, YOU NAME IT. THERE ARE PLENTY OF RACISTS WHO FLY THE CONFEDERATE FLAG. OF COURSE, THERE ARE PLENTY OF RACISTS WHO FLY THE GOOD OLD RED, WHITE, AND BLUE, AND WOULD PUT UP THE SAME FUSS IF SOMEONE WERE TO SUGGEST IT SHOULD BE TAKEN DOWN. FRANKLY, I DON'T LIKE FLAGS. I DON'T THINK GOD LIKES FLAGS. WE WASTE A LOT OF ENERGY THAT COULD BE USED IN BETTER WAYS. HOW ABOUT GETTING EXCITED OVER FEEDING THE POOR, OR HOUSING THE HOMELESS, OR GETTING EVERYONE HEALTHCARE, OR WORKING ON THE CLIMATE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. THOSE ARE THINGS WORTH GETTING EXCITED OVER. A FLAG. A FLAG IS JUST A PIECE OF CLOTH, WITH SO MANY MEANINGS, IT'S MEANINGLESS.

BOYCOTT

I'm boycotting Missouri for flying the flag at half-staff to protest gay marriages. Actually, I'm up to boycotting 42 states. I can't hardly go anywhere, which doesn't upset me a whole lot, except I'm in Arkansas, a state I'm boycotting. Geez, what a mess.

LETTERS TO GOD

DEAR GOD,
I KNOW IT'S NOT RIGHT TO ASK YOU TO MAKE SOMEONE DISAPPEAR, BUT THIS IS SORT OF A SPECIAL REQUEST. THE PEOPLE OF ARKANSAS, (RANKED 49TH IN EDUCATION), ELECTED TOM COTTON TO THE U.S. SENATE. MR. COTTON IS HIGHLY EDUCATED, BUT SUSPECT IN TERMS OF BEING A HUMAN BEING. HE HAS ALREADY, IN A VERY SHORT TIME, SUGGESTED THAT WE GO TO WAR WITH THREE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. HE IS PROBABLY THE MOST RIGHT-WING SENATOR. THIS GUY IS BAD NEWS. HE CAN DO A LOT OF DAMAGE. I THINK YOU SHOULD THINK VERY SERIOUSLY ABOUT THIS REQUEST. I KNOW YOU HOLD LIFE SACRED, AND LOVE EVERY HUMAN YOU INVENTED, BUT COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE US A BREAK?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THE PEEVER

COTTON CAN'T GROW IN THIS KIND OF HEAT

IT'S HOTTER THAN THE HUBS OF HELL IN ARKANSAS. I THINK GOD IS PUNISHING US FOR ELECTING TOM COTTON. (I'M BEGINNING TO SOUND LIKE MIKE HUCKABEE. AND THAT WOULDN'T BE CONSIDERED GOOD).

LETTERS TO GOD

DEAR GOD,
ALL THE POLITICIANS ARE ARGUING THAT IRAQ SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS: WHY WOULD YOU ALLOW ANYONE TO HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS, PARTICULARLY YOUR CHOSEN PEOPLE? I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL THE DUMB THINGS WE  HUMANS DO, BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT. THIS CAN RESULT IN THE END OF YOUR CREATION. WHILE I REALIZE THAT COULD BE THE PLAN, YOU THINKING YOU MADE A HORRIBLE MISTAKE IN THE FIRST PLACE,  BUT I THINK YOU SHOULD INTERVENE. I NORMALLY WOULDN'T ASK YOU TO DO SO, BUT SO FAR I HAVEN'T ASKED YOU TO HELP ME WIN THE LOTTO, SO I FIGURE YOU OWE ME.
THANKS,
THE PEEVER

HOW TO SPOT A RIGHT-WING, CHRISTIAN, REPUBLICAN

• Look for glowing, red eyes.
• They'll be describing Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, and Bill 0'Reilly as Saviors.
• They may be wearing a white sheet disguised as a white shirt.
• The ring on their cell phone plays "Onward Christian Soldiers."
•  Since they haven't evolved, they may look a bit rough. Sort of like a jackass.
• Yell out,  "Hillary For President," and watch them start to twitch. (Warning: You may want to have a straight jacket available. This one can easily get out of hand.)

THE ARKANSAS EFFECT

I SEE THEY NEEDED TO GET A BIGGER VENUE FOR DONALD TRUMP'S VISIT TO HOT SPRINGS. THIS WOULD BE CALLED THE "ARKANSAS EFFECT." DUMB SEEMS TO BE REWARDED AROUND HERE.

PEEVER LAW #27

If you are anything but rich and think the Republican Party is going to give you a break, you better get a proctology exam to see if your head is up your ass.

LETTERS TO GOD

DEAR GOD,
I'M WORRIED. PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK THEY KNOW YOU PRETTY WELL. YOU WOULD ENDORSE THIS POLICY, THAT LAW, THIS IDEA. A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE PRETTY BUDDY-BUDDY WITH YOU. I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT YOU WERE THE GREAT MYSTERY. I DIDN'T THINK ANYONE SHOULD CLAIM YOU FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL PURPOSES. WE HAVE A LOT OF POLITICIANS DOING EXACTLY THAT. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP US GET RID OF THEM?
THANKS,
THE PEEVER

THINGS ARE REALLY GETTING SCREWED UP

• RON PAUL HAS AN APOCALYPTIC MESSAGE ON TV PROCLAIMING THE ECONOMY IS ABOUT TO TANK. I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS AN ECONOMIST, OR APOCALYPTIC PREACHER, BUT NONE THE LESS, HE SEEMS PRETTY CERTAIN OF HIMSELF. I DIDN'T NOTICE HIM MAKING SUCH PROCLAMATIONS WHEN BUSH WAS IN CHARGE. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT AND WOLD HAVE A GOOD RECORD.  MAYBE HE'S HAWKING A BOOK, I DIDN'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION. IT SEEMS REALLY, REALLY WEIRD.
• WHEN I WAS YOUNG, YOU GOT WATER FROM A WELL OR THE TAP. NOW IT COMES IN PLASTIC BOTTLES, AND THEY GET THE WATER OUT OF A TAP, OR WELL. I SUPPOSE SOMEHOW THAT MAKES SENSE. COUNTLESS MILLIONS OF PLASTIC BOTTLES LATER, WE CALL IT PROGRESS. I CALL IT STUPID.
• PEOPLE ARE ELECTING RIGHT-WING YOYO'S WHO ARE MAKING IT CLEAR THAT IN ORDER TO KEEP GIVING THEIR RICH FRIENDS AND CONTRIBUTORS LOTS OF MONEY, THEY ARE GOING TO CUT MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND SOCIAL SECURITY. THIS SEEMS TO BE COMPLETELY DUMB AND IRRESPONSIBLE ON THE PART OF THE VOTING PUBLIC. 
• AND THEN THERE'S BILL COSBY, MR. FAMILY MAN. ENDS UP HE IS SEEMINGLY A DIRTY OLD MAN. HE ONCE GAVE TESTIMONY THAT HE DRUGGED WOMEN IN ORDER TO HAVE SEX WITH THEM. OH CRAP, HE MUST HAVE FORGOT. HIS BUST WENT DOWN AT DISNEY WORLD. MAYBE HE CAN SELL IT FOR LEGAL FEES. AND JARED FOGLE, MR. SUBWAY. HIS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION DIRECTOR WAS ARRESTED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. NOW JARED'S HOME IS SEARCHED BY STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND SUBWAY HAS SUSPENDED HIM. NO ONE HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF ANYTHING YET, BUT, GEEZ, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?

JULY 4TH

CELEBRATE THE 4TH, START A REVOLUTION.

THE JULY 4TH MARCH TOWARD PERPETUAL WAR

JULY 4TH. JUST ANOTHER MILITARY HOLIDAY. IT USED TO BE A LOT OF FUN. THAT IS, UNTIL THE MILITARY SAW ANOTHER PUBLICITY OPPORTUNITY. NOW IT'S SALUTE THE FLAG AND GET IN LINE.

"Hi, I'm Uncle Sam and I'm a War-oholic"

"Hi, I'm Uncle Sam and I'm a War-oholic"



WAR, WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“All religions are true but none are literal.”
Joseph Campbell

BOOK OF THE DAY

"It is a shame that this work, myth, which originally signified nothing more than stories of the supernatural, has come to be regarded as synonymous with falsehood, when in fact myths are always true. By their very nature, myths inhere both legitimacy and credibility. Whatever truths they convey have little to do with historical fact. To ask whether Moses actually parted the Red Sea, or whether Jesus truly raised Lazarus from the dead, or whether the word of God indeed poured through the lips of Muhammad, is to ask irrelevant questions. The only question that matters with regard to a religion and its mythology is "What do these stories mean?"

No god put God, Reza Aslan

How this amazing 7-year-old Ohio girl left a homophobic street preacher ‘deflated’

How this amazing 7-year-old Ohio girl left a homophobic street preacher ‘deflated’



THIS IS A GUY TALKING IN THE STREET-NOT A STREET- PREACHER.  HE HASN'T GOT A CLUE.