'Plunge Protection Team' Holds Emergency Meeting as Trump Chaos Sparks Fears of Another Financial Crash

'Plunge Protection Team' Holds Emergency Meeting as Trump Chaos Sparks Fears of Another Financial Crash

SUNDAY PRAYER: THE COMING

THE CHRIST CHILD IS ABOUT TO BE BORN,
         THE ONE PROMISED BY THE ANGEL.
    MARY'S 'FULLNESS OF TIME' HAS ARRIVED.
EXCEPT THAT THE BIRTH IS SCHEDULED
          ACCORDING TO THE EMPEROR:
    A DECREE WENT OUT THAT ALL SHOULD BE NUMBERED.

CAESAR DECREED A CENSUS, EVERYONE COUNTED;
CAESAR INTENDED TO HAVE UP-TO-DATE DATA FOR THE TAX ROLLS;
CAESAR INTENDED TO HAVE CURRENT LISTS OF DRAFT ELIGIBILITY;
CAESAR INTENDED TAXES TO SUPPORT ARMIES,
       BECAUSE THE EMPEROR, IN WHATEVER ERA,
          IS ALWAYS ABOUT MONEY AND POWER,
               ABOUT POWER AND FORCE,
               ABOUT FORCE AND CONTROL,
                        AND EVENTUALLY VIOLENCE.

AND WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE CHRIST CHILD,
    WE ARE ENTHRALLED BY THING OF CAESAR---
          MONEY...POWER...CONTROL,
                    AND ALL THE WELL-BEING THAT COMES FROM
                    SUCH CONTROL, EVEN IF IT REQUIRES A LITTLE VIOLENCE.

BUT IN THE MIDST OF THE DECREE
      WILL COME THIS LONG-EXPECTED JESUS,
            INNOCENT, VULNERABLE,
            FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH,
            GRACE AND NOT POWER,
            TRUTH AND NOT MONEY,
            MERCY AND NOT CONTROL.

WE ALSO DWELL IN THE LAND OF CAESAR;
    WE PRAY FOR THE GIFT OF YOUR SPIRIT,
    THAT WE MAY LOOSEN OUR GRIP ON THE THINGS OF CAESAR,
    THAT WE MAY TURN OUR EYES TOWARD THE BABY,
            OUR EARS TOWARD THE NEWNESS,
            OUR HEARTS TOWARD THE GENTLENESS,
            OUR POWER AND MONEY AND CONTROL
                TOWARD OUR NEW GOVERNANCE.

WE CRAVE THE NEWNESS.
      AND WHILE THE DECREE OF THE EMPEROR
          RINGS IN OUR EARS WITH SUCH AUTHORITY,
      GIVE US NEWNESS THAT WE MAY START AGAIN
             AT THE BEGINNING,
      THAT THE INNOCENCE OF THE BABY MAY
             INTRUDE UPON OUR AMBIGUITY,
       THAT THE VULNERABILITY OF THE CHILD MAY
             VETO OUR LUST FOR CONTROL,
        THAT WE MAY BE FILLED WITH WONDER
              AND SO LESS OF ANXIETY,
          IN THE BLESSED NAME OF THE BABY WE PRAY.

Walter Brueggemann-Prayers for a Privileged People

SUNDAY SERMON

HELL IS LIFE DRYING UP.

Joseph Campbell

Progressives to Nancy Pelosi: Keep Wall Street Democrats Away From Powerful Committee Seats

Progressives to Nancy Pelosi: Keep Wall Street Democrats Away From Powerful Committee Seats



SHE'S A MISTAKE THAT THE DEMOCRATS WILL REGRET.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"...IT IS ONLY ON THE CONDITION OF HUMILITY AND REVERENCE BEFORE THE WORLD THAT OUR SPECIES WILL BE ABLE TO REMAIN IN IT."

Wendell Berry

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"SOME THINGS CANNOT BE FIXED. THEY CAN ONLY BE CARRIED."

Megan Devine

'Zuckerberg Must Resign Now': Outrage After Report Shows Facebook Let Corporate Partners Read Users' Private Messages

'Zuckerberg Must Resign Now': Outrage After Report Shows Facebook Let Corporate Partners Read Users' Private Messages



THE CAPITALIST SOCIETY LURKS EVERYWHERE. ZUCKERBERG IS NO EXCEPTION. HE LIVES FOR PROFIT AND EXPLOITATION. 

ADVENT: ANTICIPATION OF "THE COMING."

THE CHRIST CHILD IS ABOUT TO BE BORN,
         THE ONE PROMISED BY THE ANGEL.
    MARY'S 'FULLNESS OF TIME' HAS ARRIVED.
EXCEPT THAT THE BIRTH IS SCHEDULED
          ACCORDING TO THE EMPEROR:
    A DECREE WENT OUT THAT ALL SHOULD BE NUMBERED.

CAESAR DECREED A CENSUS, EVERYONE COUNTED;
CAESAR INTENDED TO HAVE UP-TO-DATE DATA FOR THE TAX ROLLS;
CAESAR INTENDED TO HAVE CURRENT LISTS OF DRAFT ELIGIBILITY;
CAESAR INTENDED TAXES TO SUPPORT ARMIES,
       BECAUSE THE EMPEROR, IN WHATEVER ERA,
          IS ALWAYS ABOUT MONEY AND POWER,
               ABOUT POWER AND FORCE,
               ABOUT FORCE AND CONTROL,
                        AND EVENTUALLY VIOLENCE.

AND WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE CHRIST CHILD,
    WE ARE ENTHRALLED BY THING OF CAESAR---
          MONEY...POWER...CONTROL,
                    AND ALL THE WELL-BEING THAT COMES FROM
                    SUCH CONTROL, EVEN IF IT REQUIRES A LITTLE VIOLENCE.

BUT IN THE MIDST OF THE DECREE
      WILL COME THIS LONG-EXPECTED JESUS,
            INNOCENT, VULNERABLE,
            FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH,
            GRACE AND NOT POWER,
            TRUTH AND NOT MONEY,
            MERCY AND NOT CONTROL.

WE ALSO DWELL IN THE LAND OF CAESAR;
    WE PRAY FOR THE GIFT OF YOUR SPIRIT,
    THAT WE MAY LOOSEN OUR GRIP ON THE THINGS OF CAESAR,
    THAT WE MAY TURN OUR EYES TOWARD THE BABY,
            OUR EARS TOWARD THE NEWNESS,
            OUR HEARTS TOWARD THE GENTLENESS,
            OUR POWER AND MONEY AND CONTROL
                TOWARD OUR NEW GOVERNANCE.

WE CRAVE THE NEWNESS.
      AND WHILE THE DECREE OF THE EMPEROR
          RINGS IN OUR EARS WITH SUCH AUTHORITY,
      GIVE US NEWNESS THAT WE MAY START AGAIN
             AT THE BEGINNING,
      THAT THE INNOCENCE OF THE BABY MAY
             INTRUDE UPON OUR AMBIGUITY,
       THAT THE VULNERABILITY OF THE CHILD MAY
             VETO OUR LUST FOR CONTROL,
        THAT WE MAY BE FILLED WITH WONDER
              AND SO LESS OF ANXIETY,
          IN THE BLESSED NAME OF THE BABY WE PRAY.

Walter Brueggemann-Prayers for a Privileged People

MONDAY MORNING SERMON: A CALL FOR REVOLUTION

TRUMP CONTINUES TO GO ABOUT RUINING THE COUNTRY, DESTROYING PEOPLES LIVES, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND TRUST IN OUR POLITICIANS. ALL WE DO IS WATCH. I GET TEN'S OF E-MAILS TO SIGN PETITIONS TO HAVE HIM IMPEACHED, TELL HIM WE DON'T SUPPORT THIS, OR THAT. IT'S ALL A WASTE OF TIME. NO ONE CAN POSSIBLY BELIEVE THAT HE CARES WHAT YOU SIGN. HE ONLY CARES FOR HIMSELF AND HIS BANK ACCOUNT. IT IS UP TO US TO REMOVE HIM. NOT THE NEXT ELECTION, BUT TODAY. THIS HAS GONE ON WAY TOO LONG. HE HAS NOT DONE ONE THING TO HELP ANYTHING. NO OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WOULD HAVE PUT UP WITH WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR THIS LONG. THEY WOULD BE IN THE STREETS. THEY WOULD BE AT THE DOORSTEP OF THE WHITE HOUSE. WE SEEM TO BE MIRED IN FALSE PATRIOTISM THAT HAS TURNED TO NATIONALISM. WE SING THE SONG AND WAVE THE FLAG AS WE STEADILY MOVE TOWARD FASCISM. MY CHRISTMAS WISH IS THAT WASHINGTON D.C. DISAPPEARS. BUT IT WOULDN'T HELP. TRUMP WOULD BE IN FLORIDA, PLAYING GOLF AND MAKING PLANS TO MAKE HIS NEXT BILLION.

'We Gonna Rise Up, Rise Up 'Til It's Won!': 140 Arrested at Pelosi and Hoyer Offices as Youth-Led Protests Demand Green New Deal on Capitol Hill

'We Gonna Rise Up, Rise Up 'Til It's Won!': 140 Arrested at Pelosi and Hoyer Offices as Youth-Led Protests Demand Green New Deal on Capitol Hill



THE CHILDREN CANNOT BE FOOLED.

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

PELOSI IS A BAD CHOICE FOR SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. MORE OF THE SAME. SHE IS A MODERATE REPUBLICAN, AT BEST. THE DEMOCRATS WILL REGRET IT. THAT ALONE WILL HELP TRUMP IN 2020. HALF OF AMERICA ALREADY DESPISES HER. THE OTHER HALF WILL LEARN TO.

Politicians Who Deny Reality Aren’t Fit to Lead

Politicians Who Deny Reality Aren’t Fit to Lead

SUNDAY MORNING SERMON: SYSTEMS THINKING

 Systems thinking is a way of looking at the world in which objects are interrelated with one another.

"FOR ME, ALL OF THIS DOES NOT END UP DEPRESSING AND OVERWHELMING. ON THE CONTRARY, I BEGIN TO SIGH WITH RELIEF AT THE POSSIBILITY AT LAST OF UNDERSTANDING WHY SO MANY PEOPLE AND FAMILIES AT ANY GIVEN TIME ARE IN TROUBLE. ALONG WITH OTHERS, I HAVE LONG SENSED THAT BEING HUMAN IS, INTRINSICALLY, A DISTURBING LIFELONG EXPERIENCE OF BUZZING, BLOOMING CONFUSION; THAT MOVING INTO AND WITH THE STORM, AND GOING WITH THE SEASONS OF LIFE, PROMISES SERIOUS POSSIBILITIES OF TRANSCENDENCE, CREATIVITY AND JOY. I CAN NO LONGER SUBSCRIBE TO SIMPLISTIC EXPLANATIONS OF FAMILY AND PERSONAL DIFFICULTIES AS RESULTING SOLEY FROM EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE WHEN IT APPEARS THAT OUR GREATEST PROBLEM IS THAT WE STILL KNOW SO VERY LITTLE ABOUT HOW TO USE THE NATURAL EQUIPMENT OF OUR HUMANNESS TO THE GREATEST ADVANTAGE."

Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Jan. 1980

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"BEING HUMAN AND BEING HURT ARE THE SAME DAMN THING."

Alan Arkin-The Kominsky Method

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"THERE IS NO GREATER MISTAKE THAN TO TRY TO LEAP AN ABYSS IN TWO JUMPS."

David Lloyd George, British Prime Minister

A CHRISTMAS STORY

I  RECENTLY FINISHED TWO THEOLOGY COURSES OF SIX THAT I NEED TO COMPLETE A MASTERS DEGREE IN THEOLOGY. I AM PROBABLY THE LONGEST TERM SEMINARY STUDENT IN THE COUNTRY, HAVING STARTED IN 1971. SOME THOUGHTS:

• THE THREE KINGS WERE HIRED BY CAESAR TO REPORT ON THE NEW CHRIST CHILD THAT WAS BEING REFERRED TO AS "THE KING OF THE JEWS." THE WISE MEN NEVER REPORTED BACK TO HIM AFTER SEEING THE CHRIST CHILD. THEY FLED INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE.
• A REPORTED ORDER BY CAESAR TO KILL ALL THE FIRST BORN MALES WAS NEVER CONFIRMED. NOR DOES IT APPEAR THAT IT WAS EVER CARRIED OUT.
• THERE ARE NO FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS OF CHRIST'S EXISTENCE. JOSEPHUS, A HISTORIAN, MAKES REFERENCES TO AN APOCALYPTIC PREACHER ROAMING THE COUNTRYSIDE, BUT THERE WERE NUMEROUS APOCALYPTIC PREACHERS DOING SO AT THE TIME. IT REMAINS UNCLEAR WHO HE MAY HAVE BEEN REFERRING TO.
• THE GOSPEL'S ARE THE ONLY BOOKS OF THE BIBLE DESCRIBING CHRIST'S BIRTH AND DEATH. THEY WERE WRITTEN SOME 100 YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH. MOST WERE PASSED DOWN ORALLY. YOU WOULD THINK MATTHEW WOULD BE THE FIRST BOOK WRITTEN, SINCE IT IS FIRST, BUT IT WAS NOT. IT IS THOUGHT MARK WAS THE FIRST, WRITTEN BY AN UNKNOWN AUTHOR. 
• IT IS WIDELY BELIEVED THAT JESUS WAS A ZEALOT. THERE WERE VARIOUS SECTS DURING THE TIME, INCLUDING THE ZEALOTS, SADDUCEES, ESSENES, AND PHARISEES. THE ZEALOTS WERE ADVOCATING REVOLUTION. JESUS BROKE MANY OF THE JEWISH AND ROMAN LAWS, MAKING IT CLEAR HE WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE JEWISH HIERARCHY OR THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT. 
• AT IS DEATH, CHRIST WAS FOUND GUILTY OF SEDITION.HANGING WAS RESERVED FOR THE WORST OF THE WORST. TO HIS LEFT AND HIS RIGHT WERE INDIVIDUALS REPORTED TO BE ZEALOTS, ENEMIES OF THE STATE. IT WOULD SEEM LOGICAL THAT CHRIST WAS THOUGHT OF AS A ZEALOT BY THE GOVERNMENT. 
• FOR ME, CHRISTMAS REPRESENTS A NEW BEGINNING. PERHAPS IN YOUR LIFE, YOUR FAITH, YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CHILDREN...THAT, FOR ME, WAS THE APOCALYPTIC MESSAGE CHRIST WAS PREACHING. HE CLEARLY STARTED SOMETHING OF A REVOLUTION. IT WOULD COME TO BE CALLED CHRISTIANITY.

Act Urgently Now, David Attenborough Declares, Because 'Collapse of Our Civilizations and Extinction of Much of the Natural World on the Horizon'

Act Urgently Now, David Attenborough Declares, Because 'Collapse of Our Civilizations and Extinction of Much of the Natural World on the Horizon'



THE RICH WILL PARISH FROM THE EARTH. UNFORTUNATELY, SO WILL ALL THE REST OF US. 

THE NO'S HAVE IT: STOP COMPANY, BUILD COMMUNITY

Crushing defeat for Board of Directors and CEO. The proposed changes to the articles and      declarations were soundly defeated. Now what?

1    1.      The Board of Directors and CEO should resign. This is a clear and overwhelming declaration that they are taking us in a direction that we do not want to travel. They have been arrogant, secretive, and have made some horrible decisions. (I assume the ratification meeting has been cancelled). Short of them resigning, we need to elect three new board members who clearly state that they are in favor of a completely different direction. One more in tune with community, unity, and a desire to see our elected officials operate in the open, following more municipal rules and Robert’s Rules of Order. These changes are imperative for us to achieve the process of change we have started. We long for a community, not a corporation.

2    2.      The CMP should be put on hold. We need to find something in it that might be useful, but by-and-large it should be shelved. It was a tremendous waste of resources. Someone needs to be held accountable.

3    3.      A new board needs to change some of the careless and crazy things that have been adopted. We have way too many directors and are paying way too high of salaries to many, including the CEO. (Who should go back to being a manager or city planner).

We are clearly at a juncture in our existence as a retirement community. There are a lot of people living here who think change is bad.  They call it negative, disruptive. I do not happen to be one of them. Change is good, although almost always painful and chaotic. But necessary to keep things moving forward. Running HSV as a corporation is a bad idea. We want community.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"THE TRUE MEASURE OF OUR COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE, THE CHARACTER OF OUR SOCIETY, OUR COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF LAW, FAIRNESS, AND EQUALITY CANNOT BE MEASURED BY HOW WE TREAT THE RICH, THE POWERFUL, THE PRIVILEGED, AND THE RESPECTED AMONG US. THE TRUE MEASURE OF OUR CHARACTER IS HOW WE TREAT THE POOR, THE DISFAVORED, THE ACCUSED, THE INCARCERATED, AND THE CONDEMNED."

Bryan Stevenson-Just Mercy

'Crime Against Humanity' and 'International Embarrassment': Trump Refuses to 'Believe' Climate Report

'Crime Against Humanity' and 'International Embarrassment': Trump Refuses to 'Believe' Climate Report



HE SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE. TODAY. BY US.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"IN AN AGE OF "FAKE NEWS" AND NEGLIGENT DISREGARD FOR THE TRUTH, THE WORK OF THE SUN AND ITS WRITERS IS MORE CRUCIAL THAN EVER BEFORE. IT SHOWS US THE VISCERAL POWER OF LANGUAGE THAT IS HONEST, CAREFUL AND TRUE."

Margot Singer

'A Staggeringly Bad Idea': Outrage as Pelosi Pushes Tax Rule That Would 'Kneecap the Progressive Agenda'

'A Staggeringly Bad Idea': Outrage as Pelosi Pushes Tax Rule That Would 'Kneecap the Progressive Agenda'



SHE IS OLD NEWS AND SHOULD NOT BE THE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE LEADER. 2020 WILL BE A DISASTER.

PEEVER LAW #11

CAPITALISM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DEMOCRACY AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH PROFIT AND EXPLOITATION.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“If those in charge of our society - politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television - can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves.”

Howard Zinn

'Stop Walmart Act': Sanders-Khanna Bill Would Outlaw Stock Buybacks for Corporate Giants That Don't Pay $15 an Hour

'Stop Walmart Act': Sanders-Khanna Bill Would Outlaw Stock Buybacks for Corporate Giants That Don't Pay $15 an Hour



WE SHOULD MAKE A SPECIAL DEAL WITH WALMART: $30 PER HOUR. 

Backed by Ocasio-Cortez, Youth Climate Activists Arrested at Pelosi's Office Demanding Democrats Embrace 'Green New Deal'

Backed by Ocasio-Cortez, Youth Climate Activists Arrested at Pelosi's Office Demanding Democrats Embrace 'Green New Deal'



PELOSI NEEDS TO GO AS SPEAKER. SHE'S OLD NEWS. ELECTING HER WOULD BE SUICIDE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. 2020 WOULD BE A DISASTER.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much—the wheel, New York, wars and so on—whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the

water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man—for precisely the same reasons.”
 

Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Half Million Killed by America's Global War on Terror 'Just Scratches the Surface' of Human Destruction

Half Million Killed by America's Global War on Terror 'Just Scratches the Surface' of Human Destruction



ONE THING WE ARE GOOD AT: KILLING FOR PEACE.

Huckabee Sanders Should Resign, Critics Say, After 'Orwellian' Distribution of Doctored Video

Huckabee Sanders Should Resign, Critics Say, After 'Orwellian' Distribution of Doctored Video



WHAT A PIECE OF WORK THIS ADMINISTRATION IS. HOW LONG WILL THIS BE ALLOWED TO GO ON? WE NEED TO REMOVE. NOW.

“Do you know what you are?
You are a manuscript oƒ a divine letter.
You are a mirror reflecting a noble face.
This universe is not outside of you.
Look inside yourself;
everything that you want,
you are already that.”
― Rumi, Hush, Don't Say Anything to God: Passionate Poems of Rumi

PEEVER LAW #4

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR GOD, LOOK FROM THE INSIDE OUT RATHER THAN FROM THE OUTSIDE IN.

HOW TO CULTIVATE A SPIRITUAL LIFE

• Attend church on an irregular basis.
• Spend more time practicing good, and less time discussing politics.
• Rather than collecting possessions, collect friends.
• Try to understand that you cannot kill yourself to peace, or soothe a grieving heart by revenge.
• Don't believe everything you hear. And likewise, don't believe everything you think.
• It is better to come to faith inwardly rather than outwardly. This is why there is no need for missionaries.
• If you think your God is bigger than the rest, wait until you see the condom I bought you.
• Religion is not meant to prove anything. It is meant to fill in the void. The mystery will always remain.
• We are each fashioned after the Divine, which I translate to mean we each have a touch of God in us. We should treat one another accordingly.

SQUABBLING FOR DEMOCRATIC RULE

     Some people are upset about the current situation in The Village. I have heard it referred to as “squabbling.” Squabbling to me would be which day is wash day, Monday or Tuesday. No burning. The current problem we are facing is much more than that. It is about being a community vs a company. It is about having an open form of governance rather than a closed one. It is a matter of electing a council that represents “we the people,” not the CEO. It is in fact calling for the council to take charge, which is why we elected them, and dumping the title “CEO,” for a community manager or planner, that they hire and are in charge of.

     If we all decided to nod our heads in agreement, as the current board does and wants all of us to do, in order to avoid any conflict and simply agree with everything the board and CEO says and wants,  the Village would be set onto a course of self-destruction. It would look really pretty, with no one disagreeing with anything. It would make for an excellent brochure, with all the supporting quotes highlighted in capital letters. “Letters to the Editor” would have no opposing views, making their choice to publish easy.

     I am a firm believer that growth only occurs through conflict. Maybe crisis. Maintaining and propping up the status quo leads to stagnation and sameness. Look at your own life. Generally speaking, you have made changes when you were/are uncomfortable. When something dramatic, or traumatic, has occurred. The status quo hinders growth, although it looks pretty. Something of a comfort food: seems good for you, but almost never is.

     So here we are. We hopefully denied changes to the articles and declarations. Now for the board. Bobble-heads unwelcome.

BENEDICTION

The news is that God's wind is blowing.
           It may be a breeze that
               cools and comforts.
           It may be a gust that
               summons you to notice.
           It my be a storm that blows you where you have
               never been before.

Whatever the wind is in you life,
               pay attention to it...
                          and the blessings of God
                                     will abide with you always.

SUNDAY MORNING HYMN: Eddie Vedder - Hard Sun

SUNDAY MORNING SERMON

I'm surprised I haven't seen that message on some of our church bulletin boards. That's how bad it's getting. Having been in the ministry, I'm pretty much embarrassed by what I see being pawned off as Christianity nowadays. The Church has steadily grown irrelevant as our need for spirituality has become increasingly necessary. Just about every war currently going on has to do with religion, one thinking theirs is bigger and better than the others. I suppose it wouldn't be so bad if they just killed one another, but they got to drag the rest of us into it. Frankly, I think we are all sons and daughters of God, and as such, have no business killing one another. When we do, we are destroying the divine. And I got a notion that's not good.

SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER

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

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerated the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than the democratic state itself. That in its essence is fascism: ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or any controlling private power.”

 

 Franklin D. Roosevelt

Praising Openly Fascist Bolsonaro as 'Like-Minded,' John Bolton Hails Brazilian Strongman as Welcome Ally in Crushing Latin American Left

Praising Openly Fascist Bolsonaro as 'Like-Minded,' John Bolton Hails Brazilian Strongman as Welcome Ally in Crushing Latin American Left



FASCISTS OF THE WORLD ARE UNITING. AND WE ARE LEADING THE WAY.

THE DAY OF RECKONING

IN PITTSBURGH, IT APPEARS TRUMP IS NO MORE. HE IS JUST ANOTHER SORRY EXCUSE FOR A LEADER.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Conservatives understand Halloween, liberals only understand

Christmas. If you want to control a population, don't give it social services, give it a scary adversary.”  

 

Tom Robbins, Skinny Legs and All

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

MASS SHOOTINGS, ALMOST WEEKLY. IF YOU ARE BORN HERE, YOU CANNOT BE A CITIZEN. THE PRESS LIES, AND SHOULD BE SEVERELY CENSORED. THE PRESIDENT CAN DO ANYTHING, WITHOUT REPERCUSSION. THE MILITARY USES 60% OF OUR MONEY. THE ENVIRONMENT CAN BE RAVISHED IN THE NAME OF PROFIT. THERE IS ONE TRUE RELIGION IN AMERICA, AND ONLY ONE. IF YOU NEED HELP, YOU ARE WEAK AND NEED TO BE ELIMINATED. AMERICA HAS BECOME A LIVING HELL, BUT I KEEP TELLING MYSELF IT IS GOING TO GET BETTER.

REGARDING HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE

THIS IS NOT A COMPANY FOR THE CEO TO RUN. THIS IS A COMMUNITY FOR HER, OR SOMEONE ELSE, TO LEAD.

With Midterms in One Week, Bernie Sanders Says GOP Effort to Strip Healthcare From 32 Million Should Be Highlighted 'Every Hour of Every Day'

With Midterms in One Week, Bernie Sanders Says GOP Effort to Strip Healthcare From 32 Million Should Be Highlighted 'Every Hour of Every Day'



THE REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE A PLAN, SHORT OF MAKING THE RICH, RICHER, AND THE POOR EXTINCT.

THE WALLS COME TUMBLING DOWN

THE POA WAS BEEN SUED BY COOPER FOR FAILING TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL INFORMATION THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO. ACTUALLY, THAT ALL OF US ARE ENTITLED TO. THE SECRECY IS BRINGING DOWN THE DIRECTORS AND CEO. WE SHOULD ALL THANK COOPER FOR DOING THIS FOR US. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ALL WILL HAVE TO PAY TO DEFEND A SORRY POA ADMINISTRATION. WE DO NOT HAVE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION. WE DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF THINGS. ALL OF THIS HAS TO CHANGE, OR MANY OF US WILL BE MOVING. THE BOARD NEEDS TO GO, AND NALLEY NEEDS TO GO. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

As Trump Gaslights Entire Nation About Package Bombs, This 'Will Go Down in History' as Clear Moment 'American Democracy Truly at Risk'

As Trump Gaslights Entire Nation About Package Bombs, This 'Will Go Down in History' as Clear Moment 'American Democracy Truly at Risk'



WE SHOULD HAVE THROWN TRUMP OUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. MANUALLY. BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

MARKETING DUMBNESS

THE BANK OF THE OZARKS CHANGED THEIR NAME TO BANK OZK. I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE GIVEN ME THE MONEY IT COST THEM TO MAKE THAT CHANGE. I COULD HAVE TOLD THEM THAT'S THE DUMBEST THING I EVER HEARD OF.

SUNDAY MORNING HYMN: Black Dog Alison Krauss Robert Plant

SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER: FROM WHOM NO SECRETS ARE HID

The priest says, "Almighty God...from whom no secrets are
   hid."
   We rush to the next phrase but now linger there.
We are rich conundrums of secrets,
   we weave a pattern of lies in order to be
                            well thought of,
    we engage in subterfuge about our truth.
We carry old secrets too painful to utter,
                             too shameful to acknowledge,
                             too burdensome to bear,
     of failures we cannot undo,
     of alienations we regret but cannot fix,
     of grandiose exhibits we cannot curb.
And you know them.
     You know them all.
     And so we take a deep sign in your presence,
         no longer needing to pretend and
                 cover up and
                 deny.

We mostly do not have big sins to confess,
      only modest shames that do not
         fit our hoped-for selves.

And then we find that your knowing is more
       powerful than our secrets.
You know and do not turn away,
       and our secrets that seemed too powerful
          are emptied of strength,
       secrets that seemed too burdensome
              and now less severe.

We marvel that when you find us out
        you stay with us,
     taking us seriously,
     taking our secrets soberly,
          but not ultimately,
     overpowering our little failure
     with your massive love
           and abiding patience.

We long to be fully, honestly
      exposed to your gaze of gentleness.
   In the moment of your knowing
           we are eased and lightened,
   and we fell the surge of joy move in our bodies,
     because we are not ours in cringing
         but yours in communion.

We are yours and find the truth before you
    makes us free for
      wonder, love, and praise---and new life.

Walter Brueggemann, Prayers for a Privileged People
    


    

SUNDAY MORNING SERMON: THE GOSPEL OF DOUBT

• THOU SHALL QUESTION EVERYTHING.
• IF SOMEONE IS CLAIMING TO KNOW "THE TRUTH," RUN.
• I DOUBT TRUMP IS FROM EARTH. HE APPEARS ALIEN.
• WITHOUT MUSIC, I DOUBT WE WOULD HAVE SURVIVED THIS LONG.
• MANY POLITICIANS ARE LAWYERS. I DOUBT THAT HELPS MAKE THEM GOOD PUBLIC SERVANTS.
• ANYONE STANDING AGAINST A FREE PRESS IS HIDING SOMETHING. AND I DOUBT IT'S GOOD.
• SECRETS ARE BORN OUT OF A NEED TO BE POWERFUL. BUT I DOUBT IT WORKS.
• IT DOESN'T HURT TO DOUBT YOUR FAITH. BUT IT DOES HURT TO LET OTHERS CONTROL IT.
• IF YOU CLAIM TO BE A CHRISTIAN, BUT OPPOSE FREE CHOICE, OR DESPISE GAYS OR SUPPORT PERPETUAL WAR, YOU NEED TO TAKE UP A NEW HOBBY.
• I DOUBT, THEREFORE I AM.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.”
 
Thomas Jefferson

As World Demands Justice for Khashoggi Murder, Trump Declares 'Open Season on All Journalists'

As World Demands Justice for Khashoggi Murder, Trump Declares 'Open Season on All Journalists'



GOD HELP US.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear."

Harry Truman

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE VOICE

OUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER IS THE HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE VOICE. IT HELPS TO KEEP UP WITH LOCAL EVENTS, BUT BEYOND THAT, IT IS NOT MUCH MORE THAN ADS AND DAY OLD NEWS.
I HAVE BEEN A REGULAR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR" SECTION. YOU ARE ALLOWED 2 PER MONTH. LATELY THEY HAVE BEEN BACKED UP OVER THE VILLAGE CONTROVERSY REGARDING THE UPCOMING VOTE ON CHANGES TO THE VILLAGE ARTICLES AND DECLARATIONS. MY LAST SUBMISSION WAS ABOUT A MONTH AGO. I SUGGESTED THAT THEY PRINT MORE THAN THE 5 LETTERS THEY PRINT PER WEEK, BUT THE ANSWER WAS NO. I'M ASSUMING THEY DON'T WANT TO ALLOW US TOO MUCH OF A VOICE FROM THE PUBLIC.THEY ARE GENERALLY PRO-POA, AND MANY OF US HAVE TAKEN A POSITION AGAINST THE PRESENT BOARD AND CEO. THE VOICE DOES NOT WANT TO GET ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE MAD AT THEM. THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY INCOME FROM AD'S. THEY NEVER PRINT ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE NEAR SHAKY REGARDING THE BOARD OR CEO. THEY ARE SORT OF NEXT TO USELESS, BUT ARE ALL THAT WE HAVE GOT. THE LETTER SECTION IS ONE OF THE ONLY WAYS TO VOICE OPPOSITION TO OUR PRESENT LEADERSHIP.  ALTHOUGH THE VILLAGE WHISPERER IS BECOMING MORE POPULAR. I'M GUESSING SIXTY-SEVENTY PEOPLE ARE READING ON A FAIRLY REGULAR BASIS. THAT IS NOT MANY, BUT AT LEAST AN ALTERNATIVE VOICE.

TEN THINGS ABOUT MY DOG

1. He sure likes chicken.
2. He backs up and sits on the couch with me. We watch television together. He likes the dog channel, I like sports.
3. He doesn't like crows or squirrels.
4. He loves to meet people.
5. He comes in the bedroom and puts his head on the bed to wake me in the morning.
6. He hates thunder.
7. He can tear up a stuffed animal in less than a minute.
8. He eats anything.
9. He can hold it longer than any dog I know.
10. In dog years, he's about 61. So far, he's not complaining. Another year and he can start drawing social security. Dewey Weik, son of Bruce and Ann Weik. Guardians.

WE'RE NOT IN OZ ANYMORE

     We’re not in OZ anymore: Another letter from the CEO. I have never seen a CEO have to explain his or her actions so often. It would be much simpler, and more cost efficient, to make decisions reflecting sound reasoning and good judgement before the need to write lengthy letters explaining mistakes by her and the directors.

     Now that she is worried the articles and declarations will not pass, she has moved to a position of compromise. Sort of. Maybe we should look the CMP over more carefully before proceeding. And we really do like Cooper, even though we plan on sending them packing. The constant letters explaining why we should forgive her for “whatever” is not going to win over our support and confidence. They are amateurish at best.

     So what would the Wizard do, now that we have a convoluted mess on our hands? We should vote No on the articles and declarations. The most important reason for this is to send a clear message to the CEO and POA directors that we are not in-tune with their vision of what Hot Springs Village should be or become. We are a community, not a corporation. We demand directors that represent us, not the company. We can buy seven bobble heads cheaper than we can elect them. We need solutions now, not 30 years from now. The CMP states we are running a 5-7 million dollar deficit per year. Do the math. A 30 year plan is seriously ridiculous. Perhaps suicidal. A 3-5 year plan is stretching it.        When you are drowning, there is no need to worry about the future. You better put all of your energy into saving yourself. Now.

     Somewhere over the rainbow didn’t work out quite as we had hoped. It’s time to change that.

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'They're Doing Us Like They Did New Orleans': Anger at Trump Inaction as Hurricane Michael Leaves Millions Without Power and Basic Needs



WE CAN'T DEPEND ON ANYTHING FROM THE GOVERNMENT WITH TRUMP IN OFFICE. SHORT OF A BUNCH OF NONSENSE.

BENEDICTION

WHAT DO I DO AT THE END OF THE DAY?
DID I HELP ANYONE OTHER THAN MYSELF?
HOW ABOUT THE HUNGRY.
THE HOMELESS.
THE SHUT-IN'S.
THE DISABLED.
THE PRISONERS.
THE ONE'S THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL NO LONGER HELP.
AM I TOO COMFORTABLE TO EVEN SEE THE INJUSTICE? THE PAIN?
FOR THAT MATTER, DO I EVEN CARE?
GOD, I AM FILLED WITH DOUBT.
WALK ME THRU MY INDIFFERENCE AND APATHY TO A BETTER PLACE.
ONE FILLED WITH HOPE AND RENEWAL.
ONE FILLED WITH ACTION AND DEPARTURE.

AMEN