Liberated?!

Well, I think worship pastor Rob Frazier, also a CCM artist, uses satire to best sum up my thoughts on the matter. #theenemywithin

#TheEnemyWithin

Viva la revolution. As long as I believe this, I guess I will now be considered #theenemywithin

Don't worry. It won't be hard to find me when you need to report me to the Gestapo for continuing to support and fight for:

• Women's reproductive rights at the national level
• Equal marriage protection for lgbtqia+ 
• Acceptance for my trans brothers and sisters
• Open paths to citizenship for documented and undocumented immigrants and migrants
• Restrictions on weapons designed to kill many quickly
• Safe schools where active shooter drills become a footnote in our history
• Restrictions to keep convicted felons out of public office
• A world where we embrace kindness over bullying and name-calling
• A world where we choose humility over braggart hyperbole
• A world where facts, research, and expertise actually matter
• Presidents who don't use hateful rhetoric to incite insurrections

So, rather than hide it, I made a shirt to make myself easier to find in the wild.

One of Them

Dear women, POC, immigrants, LGBTQIA+ folks who are feeling the impact of being disenfranchised and distanced today, please know that there are still people who see you, still people who support you, still people who love you, still people who are your allies, and still people who will fight for you. 

I'm one of them.

I say that as an old, white, straight man who personally loses nothing thanks to the election. Technically, I'm still golden. 

Except I'm not because it's not about me. It's about you. 

#TheEnemyWithin

Immigrant’s song

by John Fischer

It’s hard to talk about Christianity in American culture right now without getting tangled up in politics — something I prefer not to do from the Catch if I can help it. But on the currently contested issue of immigration, I can’t help it. Mainly because there is a biblical mandate, both New and Old Testament, to welcome and make room for the stranger and the foreigner. If we are going to be marketplace Christians, we need to exhibit God’s attitude toward strangers and foreigners regardless of what our government does, and God is always placing them first. We may disagree over what we want the country to do or how they do it, but there is no discussion when it comes to us individually.

This is true for us as believers wherever we are in the world. Over forty times in the Old Testament, the Jewish people are admonished to welcome the stranger and the foreigner. And both Jesus and Paul speak of the same thing to us as followers of Christ. Hospitality toward strangers is built into our spiritual DNA.

Perhaps we can learn something from our Jewish friends. A recent article I read from a reputable source pointed out that there is a strong movement among Jews in America to aid and assist their Muslim neighbors and provide hospitality toward Muslim refugees among others. Syrian refugees can take English courses through a free program at a New York synagogue. One Rabbi claims that the current attitude of shunning immigrants being exhibited in America is “a betrayal of what this country stands for, what we Jews stand for, and is a terrible recollection of our own history… There has been an incredible coming together of synagogues around the country to welcome Muslim refugees. Jews really understand what it is to be ‘the other’ and to arrive in a strange country.” And now this same hospitality is being extended to Afghan refugees. 

What is it to be “the other?” Many of us don’t know.

Read the full article: https://catchjohnfischer.com/2021/09/14/immigrants-song/#more-18081

More of That Straight Talk Stuff We Keep Hearing About in Politics

Everybody seems to think that straight talk is the best way to do politics. We'll here's some more of it... Let's hope this can catch on in Washington, or even better, among the groundswell of the American public.

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On the Treatment of the Poor and Immigrants:

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. -- James 1:27

"Jesus answered, If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'" -- Matthew 19:21

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." -- Matthew 25:35

"They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely." -- Mark 12:40

"The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice." -- Ezekiel 22:29

"This is what the LORD says: For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath]. They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.'" -- Amos 2:6-7

"So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me,' says the LORD Almighty." -- Malachi 3:5

"On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.'" -- Romans 12:20

Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. -- Luke 14:12-14

The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God”. -- Leviticus 19:34

He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigners residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. -- Deuteronomy 10:18-19

When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands. When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. -- Deuteronomy 24:19-21

Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. -- Isaiah 1:17

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. -- 1 Corinthians 12:26

On the Treatment of Your Enemies:

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. -- Matthew 5:44

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. -- Romans 12:19-21

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 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. 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. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. -- Luke 6:27-36

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ... Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you -- Matthew 5:38-39, 43-44-48

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‪#‎hateisnevertheanswer‬
‪#‎wallsdividenotwelcome‬
‪#‎povertywontjustgoawayifyoucloseyoureyes‬ ‪#‎therearemoretofaithissuesinpoliticsthanjustabortionandprayerinschools‬ ‪#‎peopleIthinkaremyenemiesarentreallymyenemies‬ ‪#‎myrealenemiesareinsidemychoicesandmynature‬