Her Hair, the River Remembers

Her hair flows like a river born of prayer.
carrying the breath of Mother Earth.
Each strand remembers mountains and clay.
The first footsteps pressed into sacred ground.

It sings with the voices of the ancestors.
low and steady as drums beneath the soil.
In its dark current lives the spirit of a people.
unbroken, listening, enduring.

When the wind moves through it,
The land itself seems to speak
of seasons braided together,
of loss held gently, of hope returning.

She stands, and the river becomes her crown.
Not owned, not divided, only alive.
In her hair, the earth finds its reflection.
And the soul of a native heart flows on.

Art by Serin Alar

Poem: Piahn

Isaiah prophesied hundreds of years prior to the event that, ”a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel” (Isa. 7:14). In miraculous manner the child would be conceived, like no one before, nor any after.

Then this prophecy was fulfilled, not in splendor, but in humble circumstances.

His parents were not royalty, but a carpenter and his betrothed.

The one who would be called “God with us” was not born in regal fashion, but in a barn where He was laid in an animal feeding trough. His crib was not of gold and fine linen, but of wood and hay.

The Lord of glory lay aside His majesty, and took the form of man, all so He could give His life “a ransom for many” (Mt. 20:28).

Let us remember today this reason we celebrate, and give Him the honor and glory He deserves.

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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, December 25

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

Let us today go down to Bethlehem, and in company with wondering shepherds and adoring Magi, let us see Him who was born King of the Jews, for we by faith can claim an interest in Him, and can sing, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend; let us adore and admire. Let us notice at the very first glance His miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin should conceive and bear a Son. The first promise ran thus, "The seed of the woman", not the offspring of the man. Since venturous woman led the way in the sin which brought forth Paradise lost, she, and she alone, ushers in the Regainer of Paradise. Our Saviour, although truly man, was as to His human nature the Holy One of God. Let us reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores to manhood its ancient glory; and let us pray that He may be formed in us, the hope of glory. Fail not to note His humble parentage. His mother has been described simply as "a virgin," not a princess, or prophetess, nor a matron of large estate. True the blood of kings ran in her veins; nor was her mind a weak and untaught one, for she could sing most sweetly a song of praise; but yet how humble her position, how poor the man to whom she stood affianced, and how miserable the accommodation afforded to the new-born King!

Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendour.

Brethren, Peter tells us that Christ set an example that we should follow. That example was one of quiet suffering, of self-sacrifice. It is an example that many who take His name often do not emulate. Many even, falsely, preach that Christ set a different example, one of opulence and comfort.

But Jesus Himself told us what it takes to follow Him: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Lk. 9:23). The Christian life is not a life of ease, it is a battle, and one in which we are called to give ourselves up.

Paul expounded this reality when he wrote, “I am crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). This is our call. We must set aside our personal wants, we must crucify the flesh with its passions and desires (Gal. 5:24), and seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Mt. 6:33).

Dear Christian, I exhort you today - consider for what or whom you are living. Are you indulging the flesh, or are you walking in the Spirit and denying the flesh? You cannot serve two masters (Mt. 6:24), so choose this day whom you will serve (Josh. 24:15).

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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, December 14

"I am crucified with Christ." Galatians 2:20

The Lord Jesus Christ acted in what He did as a great public representative person, and His dying upon the cross was the virtual dying of all His people. Then all His saints rendered unto justice what was due, and made an expiation to divine vengeance for all their sins. The apostle of the Gentiles delighted to think that as one of Christ's chosen people, he died upon the cross in Christ. He did more than believe this doctrinally, he accepted it confidently, resting his hope upon it. He believed that by virtue of Christ's death, he had satisfied divine justice, and found reconciliation with God. Beloved, what a blessed thing it is when the soul can, as it were, stretch itself upon the cross of Christ, and feel, "I am dead; the law has slain me, and I am therefore free from its power, because in my Surety I have borne the curse, and in the person of my Substitute the whole that the law could do, by way of condemnation, has been executed upon me, for I am crucified with Christ."

But Paul meant even more than this. He not only believed in Christ's death, and trusted in it, but he actually felt its power in himself in causing the crucifixion of his old corrupt nature. When he saw the pleasures of sin, he said, "I cannot enjoy these: I am dead to them." Such is the experience of every true Christian. Having received Christ, he is to this world as one who is utterly dead. Yet, while conscious of death to the world, he can, at the same time, exclaim with the apostle, "Nevertheless I live." He is fully alive unto God. The Christian's life is a matchless riddle. No worldling can comprehend it; even the believer himself cannot understand it. Dead, yet alive! crucified with Christ, and yet at the same time risen with Christ in newness of life! Union with the suffering, bleeding Saviour, and death to the world and sin, are soul-cheering things. O for more enjoyment of them!

Here is an explanation of what the Hebrew Shabbat or Sabbath is all about. In case you would like to see it from another perspective besides - oh - that’s just their religious thing.
Lol. It’s really not about a religious obedience thing. It’s about HOPE.
In the beginning of creation according to Genesis in the Bible - all life was related and intertwined, and the crown of physical creation was, is humankind. Everyone shared the ultimate dignity of being created in the image of G-d. This world was originally meant to be a paradise. Something else happened when a snake entered the scene and convinced a human being to forgo service of others and only promote what you want for yourself. Forget this, all people are valuable, and use resources only for yourself. So what happened? Humankind believed the lies of the snake and took a different direction. The gates to paradise closed.

Creation happened within time, not within space alone. Time was involved. G-d created the world in 6 days (a metaphor of course) and rested on the 7th day. Then told his humankind to follow suit. Rest on the 7th day too and I your G-d will refresh you. Refresh us from what? From now living in a world that operates without peace. Wars, competition for resources, where before we closed the gates to paradise we had abundant resources and an untrammeled right to life with the world structured to sustain the infinite value of the human being.

Jews have suffered explosion, persecution and destruction because of all the lies believed about them.

Shabbat draws us back to believe paradise can be returned, with a hope in a redemptive fulfillment that will return humankind back to loving G-d and their neighbors in way that recovers the abundance the earth offers making life a good thing for everyone, not just the Jews.
The idea behind Shabbat- a day of rest from all kinds of working to get needs meant, from all media and the news. Phones turned off. Meals and everything else prepared ahead of time so a true rest from the cultural demands can happen. Then we get together with each other and celebrate our value, looking to our hope.

The idea behind observing Shabbat is to remember our original creation that G-d spoke into existence. Now living in a world of paradise lost, we get to create a day of remembrance and that gives us hope that what has been lost, when humanity grows up G-d will return. The Messiah will arrive and the value of a human being will be restored as all the earth and everyone on it will be able to understand G-d’s original plan, get to know G-d as the earth will be filled with the knowledge of our benevolent Creator.
Shabbat is Judaism’s central attempt to inject Hope into life. To find a way to live dialectically, accepting the world, affirming its sanctity, participating in it fully and enjoy it. Jew’s have become the prophets of permanent descent because our Biblical faith is a permanent revolution. A revolution that is moving in ceaseless steps towards justice and a messianic fulfillment.
Shabbat keeps us from a permanent dissent leading us to being sour and cynical. For dwelling on the “not yet” can rob every present moment of its intrinsic value.
Through total immersion in the Shabbat experience, Jews renew the hope and live the reality of a redeemed world in our now. There is no work to be done, no deprivation, no anxiety or bad news. The world does not yet exist in space but in time so on the 7th day we step out of time and enter a perfect world for a night and a day. As time travelers we create a reality that makes it possible for us to absorb true values and be renewed. G-d knows the end of a thing before its beginning and when G-d says take a 7th day rest He is challenging us to be in His rest of His work completed though we haven’t seen the “end” yet. It is there. We are waiting in anticipation for it. Everything G-d accomplished in person as our Messiah is on its way to fulfillment and our Messiah will arrive/ return when it is time for Him to do so. When looking outside of time the end of the beginning is seen and yes, G-d is still at work in the world accomplishing His Word while in His Throne room outside of time He says take a day of rest and know you will eventually see it had all been done. completed. It’s a gift we can experience in our now. Adapted from Rabbi Irving Greenberg’s book -“The Jewish way to living the Holidays.”

I hope that Erika Kirk is EXPOSED more....I seen this from the beginning...I also posted regarding it. Remember the fake "tears" you don't dab at dry eyes...and you Definitely don't hold onto another man, the way she did with the VP. But then a married VP should not have returned that either. Don't tell me you didn't see that at the HUGE "reception" .

https://x.com/MelissaRedpill/status/1999661755811705068

good hope he wins this one---but i must say texas has a huge problem= islam--give an inch these folks take a mile= unacceptable.

Good Morning Everyone..I hope you have a good weekend

Luke
Chapter 23
VS 1-31

1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.

7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

16 I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

17 (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

19 (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

20 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

22 And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

23 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

25 And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

Believer, salvation is of the Lord. Not the sacrifice alone, but all of it. So many believe that they choose Him, but Scripture is clear that “there is none who seeks for God” (Rom. 3:11).

An outstanding example is Lydia, a woman from Thyatira, a seller of purple fabric, who was present while Paul was speaking by a river. And Luke writes, “the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul” (Acts 16:14). It was not her own doing to receive the message; God first opened her heart.

There is a two-fold teaching to consider here. First is that we have no room for boasting but rather should be humbled by the fact that God opened our hearts to receive the gospel. As He tells us, it was not according to any deeds we had done in righteousness, but according to His mercy that He saved us (Tit. 3:5).

Second is that we cannot convince anyone of the truth of the gospel, nor is that our job. It is our job simply to preach. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts (Jn. 16:8). It is God who opens the heart (Acts 16:14). We do not want our message to depend upon our cleverness or eloquence; salvation is by the grace and power of God (1 Cor. 2:4-5).

Rejoice, but humbly so, that He chose to open your heart, and in that joy, go share the good news with the lost that God might open the hearts of others as well.

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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, December 10

"Whose heart the Lord opened." Acts 16:14

In Lydia's conversion there are many points of interest. It was brought about by providential circumstances. She was a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, but just at the right time for hearing Paul we find her at Philippi; providence, which is the handmaid of grace, led her to the right spot. Again, grace was preparing her soul for the blessing- grace preparing for grace. She did not know the Saviour, but as a Jewess, she knew many truths which were excellent stepping-stones to a knowledge of Jesus. Her conversion took place in the use of the means. On the Sabbath she went when prayer was wont to be made, and there prayer was heard. Never neglect the means of grace; God may bless us when we are not in His house, but we have the greater reason to hope that He will when we are in communion with His saints. Observe the words, "Whose heart the Lord opened." She did not open her own heart. Her prayers did not do it; Paul did not do it. The Lord Himself must open the heart, to receive the things which make for our peace. He alone can put the key into the hole of the door and open it, and get admittance for Himself. He is the heart's master as He is the heart's maker. The first outward evidence of the opened heart was obedience. As soon as Lydia had believed in Jesus, she was baptized. It is a sweet sign of a humble and broken heart, when the child of God is willing to obey a command which is not essential to his salvation, which is not forced upon him by a selfish fear of condemnation, but is a simple act of obedience and of communion with his Master. The next evidence was love, manifesting itself in acts of grateful kindness to the apostles. Love to the saints has ever been a mark of the true convert. Those who do nothing for Christ or His church, give but sorry evidence of an "opened" heart. Lord, evermore give me an opened heart.

Good Morning Everyone..I hope you have a good day

I really hope there can be a peaceful rational discussion on this: What’s The Likelihood Of A #NATO - #Russia Non-Aggression Pact? What say you #America? https://korybko.substack.com/p/whats-the-likelihood-of-a-nato-russian

I have gotten this a dozen times now, and sometimes 2 or 3 times a day. I get the feeling he’s in big trouble or he’s playing emotions and will run for office using money he raises. In any event not only NO! But HELL NO. I hope this guy falls flat dead on the ground and I think he may. Don’t believe “one last time”, he’s said that before.

“Mark Kelly here. I'm reaching out one last time because I don't see your name yet. Are you with me?

End2End”

Brethren, God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than ours (Isa. 55:9). Nothing in the world can compare to Him. Thus, even His foolishness is wiser than the wisdom of men, and men’s wisdom is as foolishness to Him (1 Cor. 3:19).

As such, He is able to use those things the world believes foolish to accomplish what He in His wisdom has ordained (1 Cor. 1:21).

Paul exhorts that we should consider our calling (1 Cor. 1:26). We you wise when He called? Noble? For God has chosen that which is foolish to shame the wise, that which is weak to shame the strong, and the base things of the world, those which are despised, so that no one has room for boasting (1 Cor. 1:27-29).

We are in Christ by His doing (1 Cor. 1:30), as Ephesians tells us, we were saved by grace through faith, not of ourselves, not according to any works we’ve done, so none of us may boast (Eph. 2:8-9).

Let us therefore be humble in our salvation, remembering the condition from which God lifted us when by His Spirit He called to us and drew us to Christ (Jn. 6:44). For like the world, we were dead in our sin, walking according to the ways of this world; but God, in His mercy, while we were yet dead in sin, made us alive together with Christ.

Be sure to spread this good news of God’s good work in you, and do so with humility, that others to whom God calls may also be drawn to Christ.

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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, December 7

"Base things of the world hath God chosen." 1 Corinthians 1:28

Walk the streets by moonlight, if you dare, and you will see sinners then. Watch when the night is dark, and the wind is howling, and the picklock is grating in the door, and you will see sinners then. Go to yon jail, and walk through the wards, and mark the men with heavy over-hanging brows, men whom you would not like to meet at night, and there are sinners there. Go to the Reformatories, and note those who have betrayed a rampant juvenile depravity, and you will see sinners there. Go across the seas to the place where a man will gnaw a bone upon which is reeking human flesh, and there is a sinner there. Go where you will, you need not ransack earth to find sinners, for they are common enough; you may find them in every lane and street of every city, and town, and village, and hamlet. It is for such that Jesus died. If you will select me the grossest specimen of humanity, if he be but born of woman, I will have hope of him yet, because Jesus Christ is come to seek and to save sinners. Electing love has selected some of the worst to be made the best. Pebbles of the brook grace turns into jewels for the crown-royal. Worthless dross He transforms into pure gold. Redeeming love has set apart many of the worst of mankind to be the reward of the Saviour's passion. Effectual grace calls forth many of the vilest of the vile to sit at the table of mercy, and therefore let none despair.

Reader, by that love looking out of Jesus' tearful eyes, by that love streaming from those bleeding wounds, by that faithful love, that strong love, that pure, disinterested, and abiding love; by the heart and by the bowels of the Saviour's compassion, we conjure you turn not away as though it were nothing to you; but believe on Him and you shall be saved. Trust your soul with Him and He will bring you to His Father's right hand in glory everlasting.

For the eleventh time Mark Kelly I’m not giving you a dam dime. You’re a joke, traitor and dam DemonRAT. So
Stop texting me I don’t know how you got my name and contact you worthless low life fake. I hope they court martial you.

Christian, do you suffer with physical difficulties? Illness? Injury? Disability? This should come as no surprise - we live in a fallen world, inhabiting corruptible bodies.

Paul describes this fallen world as follows: “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Rom. 8:19-21).

One day, the world shall be set free from its corruption; until then, it waits and degrades, as do we. As Paul continues, “even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:23).

Paul himself suffered with an issue that most believe to be a physical impairment, as Paul describes in 2 Cor. 12 his “thorn in the flesh” that tormented him in order to keep him humble. Timothy suffered “frequent ailments”, and Paul instructed him to drink wine for relief (1 Tim. 5:23). Neither was healed in this life.

The promise for us, that to which we look forward, for which we wait eagerly, is “our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:23). Let us then when not healed, as did Paul, recognize that in our weakness God is shown to be strong and the power of Christ is able to dwell in us (2 Cor. 12:9). For when we are weak, then we are strong (2 Cor. 12:10).

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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, December 4

"Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." Romans 8:23

This groaning is universal among the saints: to a greater or less extent we all feel it. It is not the groan of murmuring or complaint: it is rather the note of desire than of distress. Having received an earnest, we desire the whole of our portion; we are sighing that our entire manhood, in its trinity of spirit, soul, and body, may be set free from the last vestige of the fall; we long to put off corruption, weakness, and dishonour, and to wrap ourselves in incorruption, in immortality, in glory, in the spiritual body which the Lord Jesus will bestow upon His people. We long for the manifestation of our adoption as the children of God. "We groan," but it is "within ourselves." It is not the hypocrite's groan, by which he would make men believe that he is a saint because he is wretched. Our sighs are sacred things, too hallowed for us to tell abroad. We keep our longings to our Lord alone. Then the apostle says we are "waiting", by which we learn that we are not to be petulant, like Jonah or Elijah, when they said, "Let me die"; nor are we to whimper and sigh for the end of life because we are tired of work, nor wish to escape from our present sufferings till the will of the Lord is done. We are to groan for glorification, but we are to wait patiently for it, knowing that what the Lord appoints is best. Waiting implies being ready. We are to stand at the door expecting the Beloved to open it and take us away to Himself. This "groaning" is a test. You may judge of a man by what he groans after. Some men groan after wealth- they worship Mammon; some groan continually under the troubles of life- they are merely impatient; but the man who sighs after God, who is uneasy till he is made like Christ, that is the blessed man. May God help us to groan for the coming of the Lord, and the resurrection which He will bring to us.

Dear Christian, do you ever stop to think about the Lord being mighty in battle? Scripture declares He is so (Psalm. 24:8). David understood this. It was in this confidence he, unburdened by man-made armor, faced Goliath and disposed of the giant. Not in his own strength or prowess, but by God’s hand.

In battle, the victory belongs to the Lord (Pr. 21:31). You may ask, “but what has this to do with us?” Everything, beloved. We are not just saints, we are soldiers! We do not war with weapons of the flesh, nor according to the flesh, but by divine power (2 Cor. 10:4).

We face battles daily. The flesh and its lusts wage war against the soul (Gal. 5:16-17; 1 Pet. 2:11). Thus, we also must daily don our armor, as Paul exhorts in Eph. 6:10-17. We are there reminded that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). And we wield the most powerful weapon available, “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17), and which is “living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

Let us then be sure to prepare ourselves each morning for the battles that face us each day, never forgetting that He who is in us is greater than He who is in the world (1 Jn. 4:4). And He has assured us that, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33). The Lord is mighty in battle!

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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, December 3

"The Lord mighty in battle." Psalm 24:8

Well may our God be glorious in the eyes of His people, seeing that He has wrought such wonders for them, in them, and by them. For them, the Lord Jesus upon Calvary routed every foe, breaking all the weapons of the enemy in pieces by His finished work of satisfactory obedience; by His triumphant resurrection and ascension He completely overturned the hopes of hell, leading captivity captive, making a show of our enemies openly, triumphing over them by His cross. Every arrow of guilt which Satan might have shot at us is broken, for who can lay anything to the charge of God's elect? Vain are the sharp swords of infernal malice, and the perpetual battles of the serpent's seed, for in the midst of the church the lame take the prey, and the feeblest warriors are crowned.

The saved may well adore their Lord for His conquests in them, since the arrows of their natural hatred are snapped, and the weapons of their rebellion broken. What victories has grace won in our evil hearts! How glorious is Jesus when the will is subdued, and sin dethroned! As for our remaining corruptions, they shall sustain an equally sure defeat, and every temptation, and doubt, and fear, shall be utterly destroyed. In the Salem of our peaceful hearts, the name of Jesus is great beyond compare: He has won our love, and He shall wear it. Even thus securely may we look for victories by us. We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. We shall cast down the powers of darkness which are in the world, by our faith, and zeal, and holiness; we shall win sinners to Jesus, we shall overturn false systems, we shall convert nations, for God is with us, and none shall stand before us. This evening let the Christian warrior chant the war song, and prepare for tomorrow's fight. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.

**The Politics Of Cause And Effect**

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/12/the_politics_of_cause_and_effect.html

The short article linked above explains one of the many problems we have with the current manifestation of our government; the delay in seeing the results of our decisions in the voting booth. One cause is the usually interminable slow process of our elected representatives enacting and implementing policy changes to effect necessary changes, whether at the local, state, or federal levels. Unless they have a personal agenda or are otherwise motivated. [*Wink wink*] Think of the Patriot Act or the TARP act.

While due diligence and thoughtful deliberations are necessary to achieve needed changes, the dog and pony shows we see in our governing bodies obscure our ability to connect cause and effect. It seemingly starts with tight-lipped politicians who refuse to be open and transparent about their thought processes, rightfully fearful they will reveal their lack of depth and clarity, thus exposing their inability or unwillingness to think long-term and big picture for the common good. Or fearful they'll lose the support of special interest constituencies necessary to retain their incumbency. So they resort to orchestration of the publicly seen process, a liturgy to sustain an illusion of openness and transparency and public duty.

Then come the drawn out bureaucratic processes of study groups, hearings soliciting stakeholder and public comments, trial balloons of flawed proposals subsequently returned or redirected to staff or committee or board or commission for further review or refinement. All of this occurs within the supposition (or desperately held hope) there's an ethos and culture within the hired government bureaucracy of ethical conduct, competence, and stewardship. Which given the odds, are likely isolated to only a few departments within the bureaucracy.

Earlier I stated, "It seemingly starts with tight-lipped politicians..." It would be more accurate to say it starts with the electorate, most of whom pay scant attention to the issues, who themselves are trapped in a short attention span prison, consumed with their pressing personal needs, despair, and distractions; unwilling to think critically, and more committed to relationships than principles. And then there are those who would naturally, instinctively, and cynically take advantage of their failure (refusal?) to think long-term and big picture. Those would be the so-called political class; the thought leaders, the deal makers, those lobbying and jockeying for advantage, the king makers, those pandering to increasingly narrow special interests.

I believe bell curve distribution of attributes are usually accurate. Bell curves don't have to be symmetrical and pretty, but they're usually workable depictions. And societal structures are historically pyramids.

Walt Kelly, creator of the Pogo comics, said it best in 1970.

Rant over.

LUKE
CHAPTER 6

VS: 25-49

Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?

40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.