The Law, is the Law, is the Law--Know Your Rights: JESUS CHRIST SUPER STAR & THE PROFESSONAL CHRISTIAN. CLIMB ON. THE PAJAMA GAME. VOLUNTEER . . . NOT ME! BLACK, BLUE & BOLD. CIA MUSLIM SEATTLE SLEEPER CELL. SLIPPING INTO MADNESS IS GOOD FOR THE SAKE OF COMPARISON. TORTURE IS BARBARIC. WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER YOU DO BETTER. --MAYA ANGELOU. EVERY ACCOMPLISHMENT STARTS WITH A DECISION TO TRY. BE SURE TO TASTE YOUR WORDS BEFORE YOU SPIT THEM OUT! "I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR (OR AFFIRM) THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES." THE OPERATIVE WORD HERE IS, TO THE "BEST" OF MY ABILITY. THE MORE YOU KNOW. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER YOU DO BETTER! TRUMP AND HIS CABINET, NEED A CRASH COURSE IN CIVICS AND CON LAW--I KNOW ONE BAD ASS CON LAW CHICK, WHO WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO BE A TUTOR! TODAY, AT UNION CHURCH, WESTLAKE, SEATTLE, AT THE END OF GREAT SERVICES, SONGS, LESSON, COMMUNION, THERE WAS A MAN, WHO, BORROWED THE MICROPHONE, AT CLOSING FROM A FEMALE PASTOR, ONE OF 8 DIVINITY TRAINED, MINSTERS, AND HE TALKED ABOUT, HIS WIFE'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASS, AND WHO AFTER THE BAN OF MUSLIMS AND THE EXTREMEM VETTING OF IMMIGRANTS, THE TEACHERS, NOTICED A MARKED CHANGE IN THEIR STUDENTS, SO EACH MORNING, WHEN, THE KIDS COME TO CLASS, THEY TAKE A SMALL TEST, THAT GIVES THE TEACHERS, AN INDICATION OF STRESSORS, PRESSURE POINTS, AND TIMES THAT THEY MAY BEEN TO BE EXTRA AWARE OF ISSUES THEIR VERY DIVERSE POPULATION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN, ARE DEALING WITH, SO THEY CAN BETTER SERVE, TEACH, TRAIN AND MEET THOSE NEEDS, IN ADDITION TO THOSE OF THE BASICS OF MATH, SCIENCE, ENGLISH AS SO FORTH . . . THIS WEEK, AS PRESIDENT TRUMP, TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE, AND SOME OF HIS PROMISED NEW POLICIES, STARTED TO TAKE SHAPE, IN REALITY, THE TEACHERS, NOTICED, THAT IT WAS NOT JUST THE CHILDREN OR FOREIGNERS, WHO WERE MANIFESTING STRESS, FEAR, AND DISPAIR, BUT, ALSO, NATIVE, INDIGENOUS, AND LOCAL, CHILDREN, TOO, WHO WITNESSED THEIR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND THEIR SCHOOL MATES' PARENTS, START, TO SEE THE REAL IMPACT OF THE ONCE, IDLE CHATTER AND TALK! IT IS IMPARATIVE, THAT OUR LEADERS, WHO WE ALL PRAYED FOR TODAY, TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND, REAL AMERICA, THE TRUE AMERICAN DREAM, AND WHY SO MANY PEOPLE FLOCK TO THIS COUNTRY, NOT JUST IN NEED OF BETTER JOBS, OR THE PROMISE OF A NEW HOME, BUT FOR POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS, ASYLUM, FROM WAR TORN COUNTRIES, AND AS OUR WONDERFUL ASIAN, PRAYER LEADER, SPOKE SHE SPECIFICALLY, MENTIONED, ALL THE COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, HAVING DIFFICULTIES, ISSUES, AND WAR. SPECIFICALLY OUR SYRIAN, REFUGEES, WHO HAVE SPENT, THREE OR MORE YEARS OF THE 5 YEARS CIVIL WARS, IN THAT REGION, NOT ONLY AT WAR, OVER, POLITICAL, ISSUES, BUT, CLASHES BETWEEN MUSLIM FACTORS, VYING FOR POWERS AND TERRITORIES, IDEOLOGIES, AND PHILOSOPHIES, AMONG THEIR OWN COUNTRY MEN AND WOMEN, NOT TO MENTION, THE MILITARY AND ASSAD, ADD IN RUSSIA, THE UNITED STATES, IRAN, AND OTHERS, WHO ARE FIGHTING ISIS, WHO IS THREATENING CHRISTIANS . . . WE SANG A GREAT SONG, CALLED, "ALL REFUGEES, LORD." ALL OF US IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER EITHER HAVE BEEN, ARE, OR WILL BE REFUGEES, AND ALL OF US, WITH REGARDS TO GOD, ARE REFUGEES, WHO ARE SEEKING A HOME, COMFORT, SALVATION, FRIENDSHIP, ASYLUM, BELONGING, LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR HEAVENLY HOME, TO BE WELCOMED THERE TOO. THERE WERE WORDS, THT THE HEART IS PASIONATE ABOUT JUSTICE, AND THE LORD HATES, INJUSITCE. AS ALL REFUGEES, WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF GOD, BECAUSE, GOD IS ALL ABOUT LOVE, IN FACT HE IS LOVE! WE WERE ADMONISHED, ONCE AGAIN, TO REMEMBER THAT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, WERE ALL REFUGEES IN EGYPT, AND WITH THAT, BEING TRUE, AS GOD'S CHILDREN, WANDERED IN THE WILDERNESS AS STRANGERS CAME INTO THEIR MISTS, THESE WANDERERS, WERE, TOLD TO WELCOME THEM AS FRIENDS, AND BRING THEM INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND TREAT THEM WELL, AS THEY TOO HAVE ALSO, SUFFERED MUCH, AT THE HANDS OF PHAROAH, THE OVERSEERS, AND MASTERS, WHILE THEY WERE IN BONDAGE IN EGYPT. ME NEED TO SUFFER, THE CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES TO COME TO US, BE HEALED, AND THEM, SEND THEM FORTH TO GO OUT IN JOY! AMERICA, IS THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH, FOR A GOOD REASON, AND I AM GOING TO VENTURE TO SAY, BECAUSE, HE HAVE OPENED OUR ARMS TO REFUGESS, THE BANISHED, THE WAR TORN, THOSE IN SEARCH OF A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR CHILDREN, AS ALL OUR ANCESTORS DID . . . WHO WE DENY, OTHERS WHAT WE WERE SO RICHLY BLESS WITH OURSELVES? THE LAW, IS NOT SO MUCH, ABOUT, FOLLOWING EVERY JOT AND TITTLE, OF DONIG THIS AND THAT, AS A CHRISTIAN, BUT OF DOING GOOD! GOOD IS THE HIGHER LAW. THERE WAS A MEMBER OF THE CONGRETATION, WHO CALLED IN TO SAY, THAT HE FELT IT HIGHER, BETTER, TO GO PARTICIPATE IN THE MARCH IN SUPPORT OF IMMIGRANTS, OUT IN SEATACK, RATHER THAN TO ATTEND SERVICES AND TO DO HIS CHURCH JOB! HOW MANY TIMES, HAVE WE PUT CHURCH, ABOVE, BEING A PROFESSIONAL CHRISTIAN, BEING THE EYES, THE EARS, THE HANDS, THE FEET, THE HEARTS OF GOD, HERE ON EARTH? HOW MANY STRANGERS, IN OUR MIST, WERE PASSED WITH A FLAT TIRE, OR A BROKEN DOWN, CAR, TO BE RUSHED BY, SO SOMEONE COULD GET TO CHURCH ON TIME! THIS IS NOT A TECHNICAL, OR A DICTIONARY, DEFINITION OF A "PROFESSIONAL" BUT SOMETHING, THAT, COMES TO ME MORE AND MORE, AS I SEE PEOPLE PERFORM, IN MUSIC, PREACHING, IN THEIR PROFESSIONS, CAREERS, WHATEVER THEY ARE, OR EVEN AS PARENTS . . . THIS IS JUST MY IMPRESSION, THAT TRUE "PROFESSIONALS" ARE SO GOOD, SO WELL TRAINED, SO, ENTRENCHED, SO, WELL SCHOOLED, IN THEIR PARTICULAR, BELIEFS, THROUGHTS, VALUES, MORALS, AND BEHAVIORS, THAT, THERE IS NO HESITATION, NO SECOND THOUGHT, NO ROOM, TO WIGGLE, OR TO BE BRIBED, TEMPTED, OR TAKEN AWAY FROM WHAT THEY ARE TRAINED TO DO, THAT, THEY ARE GOOD, AT ANY TIME, ON ANY DAY, WITH OR UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, AND UNDER ANY CONDITIONS OR HARDSHIPS, THEY PERFORM, TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES, AND THAT IS SOUNDING, A LOT LIKE THE PRESIDENTIAL OATH OF OFFICE. PROFESSIONAL CHRISTIANS, ARE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, MORNING, NOON, NIGHT, ON SUNDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND AGAIN, BACK TO SUNDAY--THEY DON'T NEED SOMEONE TO REMIND, CALL, CONJOLE, FORCE, GUILT THEM, THEY ARE ALWAYS ON, ALWAYS RISE TO THE OCCASION, AND TO BORROW, THE SLOGAN FROM NIKE, THEY "JUST DO IT!" I ATTENDED, CHURCH, AT MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH, ON SATURDAY, THEN AT UNION CHURCH, ON SUNDAY . . . I REMEMBER ONCE, A NEW GENERAL AUTHORITY FOR THE MORMON CHURCH, SAY, AND HE WAS ALMOST BANISHED FOR IT, THAT THE MORE YOU LIVE THE GOSPEL, THE LESS YOU NEED THE CHURCH. IF YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL CHRISTIAN, GOD'S EMMISSARY, ON EARTH, DEDICATED, COMMITTED AND PERSONALLY, LOVING GOD, AND HIS PEOPLE, THAT, CAN BE TRUE; HOWEVER, AND HERE IS THE LAWYER IN ME, WITH THE CONDITIONS, ESCAPE CLAUSES, THE LOOPHOLES, OR THE WEASEL PART . . . I HAVE GONE TO EVERY DENOMINATION OF CHURCHES, AND EACH ONE, HAS INSPIRED, PROMOTED GOD AND JESUS CHRIST, BROUGHT ME TO TEARS, TOUCHED ME THROUGH, SONG, PRAYER, MESSAGE, OR SPIRIT. BUT AS THE SCRIPTURE SAY, IF TWO OR MORE OF YOU ARE GATHERED IN MY NAME, MY SPIRIT WILL BE WITH YOU. CHURCH, IS GOOD, BUT LIVING THE GOSPEL IS BETTER, AND AS THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID, FELLOWSHIPPING WITH EACH OTHER STRENGTHENS, OUR FAITH, AND GIVES UP A SUPPORT GROUP. I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE CONGREGATION, THIS MORNING, A LOT OF YOUNG FAMILIES, PARENTS AND CHILDREN, WHO ARE SEEKING THE SUPPORT, LOVE, COMMUNION AND COMPANIONSHIP OF OTHER SIMILARLY THINKING CHRISTIANS OR PEOPLE. THIS CHURCH, HAS A RHYTHM TO IT, IN AND OF THE FACT THAT, THREE SUNDAYS A MONTH, THE TRADITIONAL CHURCH IS HELD, BUT, ON THE OTHER TWO, DIFFERENT STUFF HAPPENS, THERE IS A CIRCLE OF SHARING, WHERE PEOPLE CAN TALK, LESS FORMALLY, ABOUT ISSUES. AND ON ONE OF THE WEEKS, THE CHURCH, PARTICIPATES, IN A COMMUNITY PROJECT, LIKE MAKING SANDWICHES FOR THE HOMELESS, OR AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BENEFITED FROM THE "PROFESSIONAL" CHRISTIANS, AT UNION CHURCH, AS WELL AS OTHER CHURCHES IN THE AREA, WHO SERVE, CARE, COOK FOR, SHELTER, DRIVE, AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THE DISENFRANCHIZED, IN SEATTLE, AS WELL AS IN OTHER CITIES, I HAVE HAD THE FORTUNE OF BEING IN, GETTING OUT, A LIVING THEIR RELIGION, SHOWING, DOING, ACTING, PARTICIPATING, AND HAVING IT ON THEIR HEARTS TO SERVE! I LOVED THE IMAGE THE UNION CHURCH, WANTS TO PUT FORTH TO THEIR MEMBERS AND THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY: (1) ETERNALLY FOCUSED; (2) INTERNALLY ALIVE; AND (3) ETERNALLY CONNECTED. I CAN VOUCH FOR ALL THREE! WHEN, I WAS BEING TRAINED AS A SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHER, BEFORE, GOING TO LAW SCHOOL, I REMEMBER, OUR PROFESSOR, HANDING OUT A PAPER, OF THE 28 DIFFERENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT KIDS NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL, ONE OF THE TOP OF THE LIST, WAS, BELONGING TO A NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH! THE FOUNDING FATHERS LAID THEIR DIFFERENT, RELGIONS ASIDE, TO CREATE A SECULAR GOVERNMENT, NOT DISMISSING, THEIR RELIGIOUS ROOTS, BUT SEEING THE COMMONALITIES, BETWEEN ALL OF THEM: (1) BELIEVING IN GOD OR A SUPREME BEING; (2) BELIEVING IN A SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, WHO (3) DIED FOR THEIR SINS; (4) BELIEVING IN AN ATONEMENT, AND FINALLY, (5) BELIEVING IN A LIFE AFTER DEATH! AS I VISIT, CHURCHS, ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, I FIND, MANY MORE SIMILARITIES, THAN DIFFERENCES. I LOVED THE PREPARATION FOR THE "WEEK OF PRAYER" IN SEATTLE, WHERE, MANY CHURCHES, JOINED, TOGETHER, IN A COALITION OF CHURCHES, TO PUT ASIDE PETTY DIFFERENCES AND TO CREATE A NEW CHURCH! I CALL IT CHURCHES WITHOUT WALLS, WITHOUT BORDERS, AND I LIKE THE NEW TESTAMENT, TERM, OF BECOMING OF "ONE HEART AND ONE MIND" IN ZION--NOT A PLACE, BUT A STATE OF MIND, EVERYONE OF US, BEING, PROFESSIONAL CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS, BUDDISTS, TO BE THE BEST OF WHO WE ARE AS PEOPLE, OF ALLAH, GOD, OR BHUDDA! I HAD A BOOK ONE, THAT SHOWED, ALL THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS, AND THE SIMILARITIES, WERE ASTOUNDING. IT IS LIKE, WE ARE ALL STANDING AT THE BOTTOM OF A MOUNTAIN, TAKING DIFFERENT PATHS, BUT WITH THE GOAL OF REACHING THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, CLIMBING MOUNT EVEREST, K2, OR WHATEVER, TO FIND, THAT WE WERE ALL IN SEARCH OF THE SAME, GOD, THE SAME SAVIOR, AND ENDING UP, IN EXACTLY THE SAME PLACE THROUGH DIFFERENT ROUTES! TO SIMPLIFY ALL THIS, ADDING, ATHEISTS, AGNOSTICS, AND WHOMEVER, TO THE MIX OF BEING OF ONE HEART AND ONE MIND, THERE IS SIMPLY, THE MANTRA, OF LOVING YOUR FELLOW MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN! FOR HOW, CAN WE LOVE A GOD, ALLAH, OR BHUDDA, WE HAVE NOT SEEN, AND NOT LOVE THE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WE DO SEE?

Sunday, January 29, 2017

JESUS CHRIST SUPER STAR & THE PROFESSONAL CHRISTIAN. CLIMB ON. THE PAJAMA GAME. VOLUNTEER . . . NOT ME! BLACK, BLUE & BOLD. CIA MUSLIM SEATTLE SLEEPER CELL. SLIPPING INTO MADNESS IS GOOD FOR THE SAKE OF COMPARISON. TORTURE IS BARBARIC. WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER YOU DO BETTER. --MAYA ANGELOU. EVERY ACCOMPLISHMENT STARTS WITH A DECISION TO TRY. BE SURE TO TASTE YOUR WORDS BEFORE YOU SPIT THEM OUT! "I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR (OR AFFIRM) THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES." THE OPERATIVE WORD HERE IS, TO THE "BEST" OF MY ABILITY. THE MORE YOU KNOW. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER YOU DO BETTER! TRUMP AND HIS CABINET, NEED A CRASH COURSE IN CIVICS AND CON LAW--I KNOW ONE BAD ASS CON LAW CHICK, WHO WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO BE A TUTOR! TODAY, AT UNION CHURCH, WESTLAKE, SEATTLE, AT THE END OF GREAT SERVICES, SONGS, LESSON, COMMUNION, THERE WAS A MAN, WHO, BORROWED THE MICROPHONE, AT CLOSING FROM A FEMALE PASTOR, ONE OF 8 DIVINITY TRAINED, MINSTERS, AND HE TALKED ABOUT, HIS WIFE'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASS, AND WHO AFTER THE BAN OF MUSLIMS AND THE EXTREMEM VETTING OF IMMIGRANTS, THE TEACHERS, NOTICED A MARKED CHANGE IN THEIR STUDENTS, SO EACH MORNING, WHEN, THE KIDS COME TO CLASS, THEY TAKE A SMALL TEST, THAT GIVES THE TEACHERS, AN INDICATION OF STRESSORS, PRESSURE POINTS, AND TIMES THAT THEY MAY BEEN TO BE EXTRA AWARE OF ISSUES THEIR VERY DIVERSE POPULATION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN, ARE DEALING WITH, SO THEY CAN BETTER SERVE, TEACH, TRAIN AND MEET THOSE NEEDS, IN ADDITION TO THOSE OF THE BASICS OF MATH, SCIENCE, ENGLISH AS SO FORTH . . . THIS WEEK, AS PRESIDENT TRUMP, TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE, AND SOME OF HIS PROMISED NEW POLICIES, STARTED TO TAKE SHAPE, IN REALITY, THE TEACHERS, NOTICED, THAT IT WAS NOT JUST THE CHILDREN OR FOREIGNERS, WHO WERE MANIFESTING STRESS, FEAR, AND DISPAIR, BUT, ALSO, NATIVE, INDIGENOUS, AND LOCAL, CHILDREN, TOO, WHO WITNESSED THEIR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND THEIR SCHOOL MATES' PARENTS, START, TO SEE THE REAL IMPACT OF THE ONCE, IDLE CHATTER AND TALK! IT IS IMPARATIVE, THAT OUR LEADERS, WHO WE ALL PRAYED FOR TODAY, TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND, REAL AMERICA, THE TRUE AMERICAN DREAM, AND WHY SO MANY PEOPLE FLOCK TO THIS COUNTRY, NOT JUST IN NEED OF BETTER JOBS, OR THE PROMISE OF A NEW HOME, BUT FOR POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS, ASYLUM, FROM WAR TORN COUNTRIES, AND AS OUR WONDERFUL ASIAN, PRAYER LEADER, SPOKE SHE SPECIFICALLY, MENTIONED, ALL THE COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, HAVING DIFFICULTIES, ISSUES, AND WAR. SPECIFICALLY OUR SYRIAN, REFUGEES, WHO HAVE SPENT, THREE OR MORE YEARS OF THE 5 YEARS CIVIL WARS, IN THAT REGION, NOT ONLY AT WAR, OVER, POLITICAL, ISSUES, BUT, CLASHES BETWEEN MUSLIM FACTORS, VYING FOR POWERS AND TERRITORIES, IDEOLOGIES, AND PHILOSOPHIES, AMONG THEIR OWN COUNTRY MEN AND WOMEN, NOT TO MENTION, THE MILITARY AND ASSAD, ADD IN RUSSIA, THE UNITED STATES, IRAN, AND OTHERS, WHO ARE FIGHTING ISIS, WHO IS THREATENING CHRISTIANS . . . WE SANG A GREAT SONG, CALLED, "ALL REFUGEES, LORD." ALL OF US IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER EITHER HAVE BEEN, ARE, OR WILL BE REFUGEES, AND ALL OF US, WITH REGARDS TO GOD, ARE REFUGEES, WHO ARE SEEKING A HOME, COMFORT, SALVATION, FRIENDSHIP, ASYLUM, BELONGING, LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR HEAVENLY HOME, TO BE WELCOMED THERE TOO. THERE WERE WORDS, THT THE HEART IS PASIONATE ABOUT JUSTICE, AND THE LORD HATES, INJUSITCE. AS ALL REFUGEES, WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF GOD, BECAUSE, GOD IS ALL ABOUT LOVE, IN FACT HE IS LOVE! WE WERE ADMONISHED, ONCE AGAIN, TO REMEMBER THAT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, WERE ALL REFUGEES IN EGYPT, AND WITH THAT, BEING TRUE, AS GOD'S CHILDREN, WANDERED IN THE WILDERNESS AS STRANGERS CAME INTO THEIR MISTS, THESE WANDERERS, WERE, TOLD TO WELCOME THEM AS FRIENDS, AND BRING THEM INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND TREAT THEM WELL, AS THEY TOO HAVE ALSO, SUFFERED MUCH, AT THE HANDS OF PHAROAH, THE OVERSEERS, AND MASTERS, WHILE THEY WERE IN BONDAGE IN EGYPT. ME NEED TO SUFFER, THE CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES TO COME TO US, BE HEALED, AND THEM, SEND THEM FORTH TO GO OUT IN JOY! AMERICA, IS THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH, FOR A GOOD REASON, AND I AM GOING TO VENTURE TO SAY, BECAUSE, HE HAVE OPENED OUR ARMS TO REFUGESS, THE BANISHED, THE WAR TORN, THOSE IN SEARCH OF A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR CHILDREN, AS ALL OUR ANCESTORS DID . . . WHO WE DENY, OTHERS WHAT WE WERE SO RICHLY BLESS WITH OURSELVES? THE LAW, IS NOT SO MUCH, ABOUT, FOLLOWING EVERY JOT AND TITTLE, OF DONIG THIS AND THAT, AS A CHRISTIAN, BUT OF DOING GOOD! GOOD IS THE HIGHER LAW. THERE WAS A MEMBER OF THE CONGRETATION, WHO CALLED IN TO SAY, THAT HE FELT IT HIGHER, BETTER, TO GO PARTICIPATE IN THE MARCH IN SUPPORT OF IMMIGRANTS, OUT IN SEATACK, RATHER THAN TO ATTEND SERVICES AND TO DO HIS CHURCH JOB! HOW MANY TIMES, HAVE WE PUT CHURCH, ABOVE, BEING A PROFESSIONAL CHRISTIAN, BEING THE EYES, THE EARS, THE HANDS, THE FEET, THE HEARTS OF GOD, HERE ON EARTH? HOW MANY STRANGERS, IN OUR MIST, WERE PASSED WITH A FLAT TIRE, OR A BROKEN DOWN, CAR, TO BE RUSHED BY, SO SOMEONE COULD GET TO CHURCH ON TIME! THIS IS NOT A TECHNICAL, OR A DICTIONARY, DEFINITION OF A "PROFESSIONAL" BUT SOMETHING, THAT, COMES TO ME MORE AND MORE, AS I SEE PEOPLE PERFORM, IN MUSIC, PREACHING, IN THEIR PROFESSIONS, CAREERS, WHATEVER THEY ARE, OR EVEN AS PARENTS . . . THIS IS JUST MY IMPRESSION, THAT TRUE "PROFESSIONALS" ARE SO GOOD, SO WELL TRAINED, SO, ENTRENCHED, SO, WELL SCHOOLED, IN THEIR PARTICULAR, BELIEFS, THROUGHTS, VALUES, MORALS, AND BEHAVIORS, THAT, THERE IS NO HESITATION, NO SECOND THOUGHT, NO ROOM, TO WIGGLE, OR TO BE BRIBED, TEMPTED, OR TAKEN AWAY FROM WHAT THEY ARE TRAINED TO DO, THAT, THEY ARE GOOD, AT ANY TIME, ON ANY DAY, WITH OR UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, AND UNDER ANY CONDITIONS OR HARDSHIPS, THEY PERFORM, TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES, AND THAT IS SOUNDING, A LOT LIKE THE PRESIDENTIAL OATH OF OFFICE. PROFESSIONAL CHRISTIANS, ARE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, MORNING, NOON, NIGHT, ON SUNDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND AGAIN, BACK TO SUNDAY--THEY DON'T NEED SOMEONE TO REMIND, CALL, CONJOLE, FORCE, GUILT THEM, THEY ARE ALWAYS ON, ALWAYS RISE TO THE OCCASION, AND TO BORROW, THE SLOGAN FROM NIKE, THEY "JUST DO IT!" I ATTENDED, CHURCH, AT MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH, ON SATURDAY, THEN AT UNION CHURCH, ON SUNDAY . . . I REMEMBER ONCE, A NEW GENERAL AUTHORITY FOR THE MORMON CHURCH, SAY, AND HE WAS ALMOST BANISHED FOR IT, THAT THE MORE YOU LIVE THE GOSPEL, THE LESS YOU NEED THE CHURCH. IF YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL CHRISTIAN, GOD'S EMMISSARY, ON EARTH, DEDICATED, COMMITTED AND PERSONALLY, LOVING GOD, AND HIS PEOPLE, THAT, CAN BE TRUE; HOWEVER, AND HERE IS THE LAWYER IN ME, WITH THE CONDITIONS, ESCAPE CLAUSES, THE LOOPHOLES, OR THE WEASEL PART . . . I HAVE GONE TO EVERY DENOMINATION OF CHURCHES, AND EACH ONE, HAS INSPIRED, PROMOTED GOD AND JESUS CHRIST, BROUGHT ME TO TEARS, TOUCHED ME THROUGH, SONG, PRAYER, MESSAGE, OR SPIRIT. BUT AS THE SCRIPTURE SAY, IF TWO OR MORE OF YOU ARE GATHERED IN MY NAME, MY SPIRIT WILL BE WITH YOU. CHURCH, IS GOOD, BUT LIVING THE GOSPEL IS BETTER, AND AS THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID, FELLOWSHIPPING WITH EACH OTHER STRENGTHENS, OUR FAITH, AND GIVES UP A SUPPORT GROUP. I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE CONGREGATION, THIS MORNING, A LOT OF YOUNG FAMILIES, PARENTS AND CHILDREN, WHO ARE SEEKING THE SUPPORT, LOVE, COMMUNION AND COMPANIONSHIP OF OTHER SIMILARLY THINKING CHRISTIANS OR PEOPLE. THIS CHURCH, HAS A RHYTHM TO IT, IN AND OF THE FACT THAT, THREE SUNDAYS A MONTH, THE TRADITIONAL CHURCH IS HELD, BUT, ON THE OTHER TWO, DIFFERENT STUFF HAPPENS, THERE IS A CIRCLE OF SHARING, WHERE PEOPLE CAN TALK, LESS FORMALLY, ABOUT ISSUES. AND ON ONE OF THE WEEKS, THE CHURCH, PARTICIPATES, IN A COMMUNITY PROJECT, LIKE MAKING SANDWICHES FOR THE HOMELESS, OR AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BENEFITED FROM THE "PROFESSIONAL" CHRISTIANS, AT UNION CHURCH, AS WELL AS OTHER CHURCHES IN THE AREA, WHO SERVE, CARE, COOK FOR, SHELTER, DRIVE, AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THE DISENFRANCHIZED, IN SEATTLE, AS WELL AS IN OTHER CITIES, I HAVE HAD THE FORTUNE OF BEING IN, GETTING OUT, A LIVING THEIR RELIGION, SHOWING, DOING, ACTING, PARTICIPATING, AND HAVING IT ON THEIR HEARTS TO SERVE! I LOVED THE IMAGE THE UNION CHURCH, WANTS TO PUT FORTH TO THEIR MEMBERS AND THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY: (1) ETERNALLY FOCUSED; (2) INTERNALLY ALIVE; AND (3) ETERNALLY CONNECTED. I CAN VOUCH FOR ALL THREE! WHEN, I WAS BEING TRAINED AS A SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHER, BEFORE, GOING TO LAW SCHOOL, I REMEMBER, OUR PROFESSOR, HANDING OUT A PAPER, OF THE 28 DIFFERENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT KIDS NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL, ONE OF THE TOP OF THE LIST, WAS, BELONGING TO A NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH! THE FOUNDING FATHERS LAID THEIR DIFFERENT, RELGIONS ASIDE, TO CREATE A SECULAR GOVERNMENT, NOT DISMISSING, THEIR RELIGIOUS ROOTS, BUT SEEING THE COMMONALITIES, BETWEEN ALL OF THEM: (1) BELIEVING IN GOD OR A SUPREME BEING; (2) BELIEVING IN A SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, WHO (3) DIED FOR THEIR SINS; (4) BELIEVING IN AN ATONEMENT, AND FINALLY, (5) BELIEVING IN A LIFE AFTER DEATH! AS I VISIT, CHURCHS, ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, I FIND, MANY MORE SIMILARITIES, THAN DIFFERENCES. I LOVED THE PREPARATION FOR THE "WEEK OF PRAYER" IN SEATTLE, WHERE, MANY CHURCHES, JOINED, TOGETHER, IN A COALITION OF CHURCHES, TO PUT ASIDE PETTY DIFFERENCES AND TO CREATE A NEW CHURCH! I CALL IT CHURCHES WITHOUT WALLS, WITHOUT BORDERS, AND I LIKE THE NEW TESTAMENT, TERM, OF BECOMING OF "ONE HEART AND ONE MIND" IN ZION--NOT A PLACE, BUT A STATE OF MIND, EVERYONE OF US, BEING, PROFESSIONAL CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS, BUDDISTS, TO BE THE BEST OF WHO WE ARE AS PEOPLE, OF ALLAH, GOD, OR BHUDDA! I HAD A BOOK ONE, THAT SHOWED, ALL THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS, AND THE SIMILARITIES, WERE ASTOUNDING. IT IS LIKE, WE ARE ALL STANDING AT THE BOTTOM OF A MOUNTAIN, TAKING DIFFERENT PATHS, BUT WITH THE GOAL OF REACHING THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, CLIMBING MOUNT EVEREST, K2, OR WHATEVER, TO FIND, THAT WE WERE ALL IN SEARCH OF THE SAME, GOD, THE SAME SAVIOR, AND ENDING UP, IN EXACTLY THE SAME PLACE THROUGH DIFFERENT ROUTES! TO SIMPLIFY ALL THIS, ADDING, ATHEISTS, AGNOSTICS, AND WHOMEVER, TO THE MIX OF BEING OF ONE HEART AND ONE MIND, THERE IS SIMPLY, THE MANTRA, OF LOVING YOUR FELLOW MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN! FOR HOW, CAN WE LOVE A GOD, ALLAH, OR BHUDDA, WE HAVE NOT SEEN, AND NOT LOVE THE MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN WE DO SEE?

Sermon on the Computer, Assembly Hall, Seattle!

WHY NOT YOU?

I remember, being a young girl, and someone, said something rude, or bad about me, and I enjoyed, a very popular, junior high and high school, so, wa, but, I remember, saying my prayers at night, and crying which, I rarely did, asking God, why me? Just at that second, God paraded, a stream of the blind, the lame, the deaf, the maimed, the sick, the disabled, in front of my mind's eye, and I heard in my mind's ear, a voice, saying to me: WHY NOT YOU? Feeling highly favored of the Lord, I was shocked, taken back, and someone surprised, that the Lord would be so crass, and kind of throw, my sorrows in my face! LOL! But, as I thought of it, I decided, that a rude statement, now and then, was really nothing compared to some off the trials, and challenges, many, other people face in this life, and decided to be happy, that was the most of my worries.

Flash forward, about 30 or so years, 20 of those with little thought of God, whatsoever, and when I was on top of the world, an attorney, professor, had my own anger management company, and writing, computer lessons and training for the elderly, online, I was, suddenly, struck down, in the prime of my life, at 46 years old, and told that, I had a terminal brain disease and I was going to be dead in two years, with no cure, and no chance of working again, and basically, given a death sentence with no reprieve! Once again, I, not necessarily in prayer, but pissed as shit, mad, angry, and feeling, unfairly picked on, again, my second time in my very blessed life, said, WHY ME, GOD?

And again, as if, I had not learned the first time, God, showed tough love, in his at the time, very harsh statement: WHY NOT YOU? Not as humble, as, the first, time, it took me, years to get over being pissed at a God, I had not talked to or thought of for a very long time . . . but, God has a way of bringing us around, and we become, potter's clay in his hands, a masterpiece, a work of art, in his way, we challenge the ways of the world, and stand with God, in a way, nothing could ever get us to on our own . . . he does so for his glory, to teach, others, who he is, and who he works, and his ways are certainly, NOT OUR WAYS, OR THE WORLD'S WAYS! I remembered the parade of the less fortunate, as if God, was again, saying, cry me a river, if only, all my children could be so blessed!

I HAD TO BEAT OR BREAK YOU INTO A THOUSANDS PIECES! --PSALMS

I find, this to be more common, that not, but, there seems to be a collective conscience, among, churches, or thoughts of ideas, that, flow, as rain water on the streets of a city or town, and, if I attend, more than one service, the themes, of the churches, mess, and blend, into a beautiful, message, that completes and compliments the other one, as was the case, in the two churches, I attended this weekend, filled with light, knowledge, passion to do good, to accept, life, love, circumstances, and see them as, part of a perfect whole for my life! Pastor Linda, talked about the 8 Beatitudes, found in the Sermon on the Mount . . . remember, blessed are the peace makers, the broken hearted, the humble, the poor in spirit, etc. This is you homework, to dig out your Bibles, look to the New Testament, or for those who are tech savvy, get on those smart phones, those Ipads, tablets, and look up the Sermon on the Mount, or the 8 Beatitudes . . . or the 8 Attitudes that are a recipe for happiness! Now, in the eyes of the world, being humble, poor in spirit, a peacemakers, or lowly of heart, would be seen, as being wimpy, weak, and not something, we would desire, to have, put down, on our resume, or the local gossip, to make mention of us, as having those, traits.

Case in point. When I was hired for the position of staff attorney, for the Utah Prosecution Council, Criminal Enforcement Division, of the Utah Attorney Generals Office, the only female in a division of about 11 male attorneys, the top, prosecutors in the state, handling all the capital murder cases, writers, speakers, and the top dogs in, the criminal enforcement arena, I had a year, to become vested as a state employee, being on probation for an entire year. My boss, Mark, did my one year interview, and I had performed, with flying colors, everyone thought I would be the next attorney general, and I had done, everything and more, than expected, even getting national awards for my domestic violence and sexual assault manual, under the Violence Against Women's Act, under President Clinton, serving as the nations model, now being used to some extent by the Department of Justice, adopted to human body trafficking and sex trade. So, I rocked the job . . . but, there was only one, criticism, and that was, I was not humble.

I remember, my feminist shackles, and hair on the back of my neck, raising, and thinking, I don't think, being humble is a trait that many people, think and attorney, ought to have! What, did I not serve the coffee and donuts, at staff meetings? I was like, you gotta be kidding me! Whatever, I see that as a plus, not a minus, and blew it off . . . but, that, one trait, to some extend, may have really hurt me down the road, somewhat, and what I perceived as a negative trait, especially, being the only female, may, have actually, saved me. I had a friend, once, or a guy, I actually dated, who had served in the Marines, and he said, JoAnn, you are my Joan of Arch, but, the problem is, you would light your own match! Pastor Linda, talked of the pride of the world, and all those traits, that we, see as positive, powerful, sought after, and valued, but, sometimes, in reality, they are not so cool! They say, that juries, make up their minds, within the first 5 minutes of trial, which is a scary thought, almost based on, whether they like the attorney, or not! I have found, that, I eviscerate the other side's attorney, special prosecutors, when I was into criminal defense had to be brought in, or regional, assistant attorney generals, or three assistant attorney generals on one case against me, and it was always TNT, when I went to court, but the problem with this not so humble attorney, is the judges, all tended, to side with the underdog and guess who gets to make the rulings, or have, a determining voice in the courtroom, the fucking judge! LOL!

Humility, might have been a positive trait, to develop, because it sure didn't come natural to me, and even when, I won, MY CLIENTS HATED ME! LOL! We have all heard, your altitude in life, is determined by your attitude! Cock of the rock, bitch from hell, didn't always go over well, even if I did win the argument, trash the judge, make everyone, but myself, look the fool, people did not like me! God's ways, simply are NOT man's ways, and the natural man or woman is an enemy to God . . . and it is the times we are broken, hearted, poor in spirit, humbled, that we often turn to God, and that is, when, he can, change us, fix us, mold us, bring us where HE WANTS us, doing what HE NEEDS US TO DO, to bring about his GLORY, NOT OURS! There are some of us, that truly, have to be broken into a thousand pieces!

DISRUPTED FOR GOOD!

Stories from the Gospel of Luke about Jesus, the Scribes and the Pharisee's!

In church today, the preacher, gave us two stories about Jesus Christ Super Star! I am always amazed, by the fact that he, Jesus, always, seemed to do the right thing, at the right time, to the right extent, to the right degree, to the right people, and for the right amount of passion . . . everything, Jesus said, pissed of these Jewish dudes, the men of the law, of letters, their attorneys, their learned men, who sat in the temples, synagogues, and at the walls of the city, and often laying in wait for Jesus to see him slip up, fail, say the wrong thing, or do the wrong thing, and the wrong time, with the 600+ rules of the Law of Moses, or the law at that time, which, Jesus, came to do away with! So, in the first, story, the disciples of Christ were hungry, so they took some wheat, on the Sabbath, and started, to take it and rub it in their hands, to make, some type of meal, or grain, that they could eat, to satisfy, their hunger pains. When the Scribes and Pharisee's, saw Jesus and his men, scoundrels to them, trouble makers, disputers of the peace, they approached, Jesus and ask him, if is was lawful for his men, to do this on the Sabbath? Jesus, and usually, all his words were fighting words, simply said, I am the Lord of the Sabbath, like fuck, off, we can do what we want, I am doing away with your eye for an eye, doctrines that bind me, and hold them, bond and in as much bondage, as the children of Israel, under the Egyptian taskmasters! The Scribes and Pharisee's, growled, like who in the hell does this guy think he is? They started to lay in wait, in the shadows, to watch him, looking for anything, they could get him on, what they could, charge him with, and many charges were handled with stoning, crucifixion, and other horrendous punishments, that he eventually, got!

This episode started one Sabbath, and continued on to the next on, when, Jesus saw a man with a withered hand, and he told the man, to stretch forth his hand, so he could heal it! And again, the Scribes and Pharisee's said, is it lawful for a man to be healed on the Sabbath day? Jesus called their bluff and said, is it good for me to do good on the Sabbath day? He changed the game up on the elders, and caught them in their own trap, and they said nothing, so Jesus told the man, to extend his hand, and he took it and healed it. And like all of the miracles of Christ, they were to show his power, his heavenly position as the son of God, the great physician, the healer, not only of the body, but of the soul, and, at times he would say, is it easier to say, to this man, take up thy bed and walk, or to save his soul? He was proving that what he could do to the body, in healing the lame, the blind, the leaper, the woman caught in adultery, that, as I heal the body, I too can heal your soul! Jesus, was letting the Sanhedrin, know, he was the new law, who did way with all the requirements of the old law, he was a different king, and heavenly king, there not to deliver them, from Roman oppression but from sin, from the grave, from death!

The Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath. While Jesus had a Humble Approach, He was Seen as a Dangerous Man! There were Layers of Interpretation of the Law, that they Might, Find Reason to Accuse Him of Violating . . . they were Filled with Fury, at what they Might do to him!

THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL, IS SIMPLICITY: LOVE GOD, LOVE YOUR FELLOWMEN, AND DO GOOD!

DO NOT, AS ALLEGED, CHRISTIANS, THINK, THAT AS YOU STAND IN JUDGMENT OF OTHERS, POINT FINGERS, CRITICIZE, OSTRACIZE, AND JUDGE, THAT YOU ARE ABOUT YOUR FATHER'S BUSINESS!

GOD IS LOVE . . . LOVE IS BEING GODLIKE!

BE DISRUPTED FOR GOOD, HAVE A BEATITUDE ATTITUDE!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

SHALOM . . . PEACE BE WITH YOU!

TAKE IT TO THE WORLD!

The Law, is the Law, is the Law--Know Your Rights