Hippie Christian

The Soundtrack of My Life

2012-02-04T08:28:00.000-08:00

I have been working on a project I call the "Soundtrack of My Life". It is comprised of music that I listened to in my youth and that has resonated with me throughout my life.

I included songs that had either a spiritual message, or made some type of social comment, or were anti-war.

I made a deliberate choice to find songs that were not preformed by "christian" bands, but rather "popular" songs that were played on the radio. In a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

Part of my inspiration for creating this Soundtrack came from my attending the "Rock Mass" at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early '70s. The Rock Mass was the mixture of a traditional Episcopalian Mass and a live rock concert. Although the music was not necessarily "christian", the band would play popular rock songs that contained references to God and Jesus. During the late '60s and early '70s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry.

By creating a "playlist" over on YouTube I can enjoy these songs anytime and share them with others too. I can't take credit for creating (or uploading) any of these music videos, but I hope you enjoy my selections just the same.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Martin Luther King, Jr.

2012-01-16T07:54:00.000-08:00

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." ~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Beyond Vietnam - A Time to Break Silence" April 4, 1967

War Resisters League's Federal Budget Pie Chart

2012-01-15T09:49:00.000-08:00

The War Resisters League analyzed the Federal Fiscal Year 2012 Budget and produced this pie chart. Their analysis is based on federal funds which are raised through Federal Income Taxes and does not include Social Security Trust Funds. Social Security funds are raised separately from income taxes and are not part of discretionary budget spending.

Download the War Resisters League Pie Chart (pdf file 236 KB)

Download the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) Coin Chart: Where Do Our Income Tax Dollars Go?. (pdf file 448 KB)

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" ~Jesus
(Matthew 6:21)

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Happy Christmas... War Is Over, If You Want It

2011-12-22T08:43:00.000-08:00

I found this video montage set to John Lennon's Happy Christmas (War Is Over) on YouTube... Caution, it contains graphic images of war, but when has the truth ever been easy to watch.

These are the types of images that were sanitized from the media coverage of our current military actions. If we were allowed to see the realities of war every night on the six-o-clock news as we did during the Vietnam war this insanity would not have lasted ten years!

My previous post of Happy Christmas (War Is Over) lyrics by John Lennon.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Peace On Earth...

2011-12-19T07:50:00.000-08:00

In midst of all the Holiday madness and frenzied consumerism, all supposedly in the name of the Prince of Peace, this last weekend we got the news that the war in Iraq has come to an official end. I can't express how happy I am for the brave service men and women who will be home with loved one for the Holidays.

But I am having trouble drawing much solace from what should be the best Christmas present anyone could receive.

The New York Times Sunday Review had an opinion piece by Joshua S. Goldstein and Steven Pinker titled War Really Is Going Out of Style which basically stated that large scale armed conflicts have become less numerous over the years.

Maybe so, but with armed conflicts ongoing elsewhere in the world and with the introduction of un-manned drones doing the killing by remote control, we have a new kind of warfare emerging. By lessening the casualties on our side the use of un-manned drones increases the likelihood of using military solutions to solve diplomatic problems.

In addition, the war weary voting public would be less opposed to drone warfare leaving our military leaders free from the public outcry brought on by images of flag draped coffins returning from foreign lands.

War is not over and we still need to promote peace, protest for peace, and and pray for peace!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Being Grateful Is Healthy - Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T07:41:00.000-08:00

Cultivating an "attitude of gratitude" is proving to have a beneficial effect on physical as well as mental health in addition to it's obvious spiritual connection.

Psychologist Robert Emmons of the University of California at Davis states that:

"Gratitude research is beginning to suggest that feelings of thankfulness have tremendous positive value in helping people cope with daily problems, especially stress, and to achieve a positive sense of the self."

Dr. Emmons found that in an experimental comparison, those who kept gratitude journals on a weekly basis exercised more regularly, reported fewer physical symptoms, felt better about their lives as a whole, and were more optimistic about the upcoming week compared to those who recorded hassles or neutral life events.

It is not about naturally having a grateful disposition, that goes against how our brains developed. We have been programed for survival to processes threat assessments and therefore we are alerted to negative situations about 3:1 over positive situations. It is, as Dr. Emmons research suggests, about developing a habit of being grateful irregardless of circumstances. It is about looking for things to be grateful for.

Take Dr. Emmons quiz How Grateful Are You? over on Beliefnet.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Alice's Restaurant Anti-Massacre Movement

2011-11-19T10:19:00.000-08:00

Thursday I will listen to Arlo Guthrie sing Alice's Restaurant again, all 18+ minuets of it, just as I have done for thirty or forty Thanksgivings.

But why is Alice's Restaurant so important to me? While recalling youthful memories and singing along with anti-war, anti-draft protest songs can be fun, Alice's Restaurant remains relevant to me for much deeper reasons. It is because the anti-war movement is still an important part of who I am.

Here it is thirty-seven years after getting my draft card during the last round of the Vietnam "draft lottery" and I am still preaching peace while wars continue to rage and our young men are still dieing on foreign soil.

That is why Alice's Restaurant remains so important to me. As long as our nation continues to send young men off to war I will be part of the anti-war movement.

Here is a video from Farm Aid 2005 of Arlo Guthrie singing Alice's Restaurant:

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Our Disposable Brave Service Men & Women

2011-11-10T07:35:00.000-08:00

On Sept. 24, 2011 at a cemetery in Easton, PA, Maj. Bruce Lawrence was finally laid to rest on U.S. soil, approximately 43 years after his aircraft was shot down in Vietnam.

I can't believe that we are still burring our dead from the Vietnam War!

Today in a Washington Post article U.S. Air Force officials acknowledged that from 2003 to 2008 the Dover Air Force Base mortuary disposed of portions of troops’ remains (fragments and portions of body parts that were initially unidentified or were later recovered from the battlefield) by cremating them and dumping the ashes in a Virginia landfill.

Is this how we honor our fallen servicemen and women and their families?

We shouldn't be in these wars in the first place, but to literally dump their remains in a landfill shows just how "disposable" our brave men and women are to the warfare state!

"There never was a good war or a bad peace."
~Benjamin Franklin

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

(U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Michael Gibson)

David Crosby & Graham Nash At OWS

2011-11-09T07:22:00.000-08:00

In a show of support Tuesday, David Crosby and Graham Nash preformed at Occupy Wall Street, encouraging the crowd to "Keep going". Watch this Rolling Stone video with an interview of David and Graham on their way down to OWS.

Here is a two thousand year old warning to the 1% by the Apostle James:

And now, you rich people, listen to me! Weep and wail over the miseries that are coming upon you!

Your riches have rotted away, and your clothes have been eaten by moths. Your gold and silver are covered with rust, and this rust will be a witness against you and will eat up your flesh like fire.

You have piled up riches in these last days.

You have not paid any wages to those who work in your fields. Listen to their complaints! The cries of those who gather in your crops have reached the ears of God, the Lord Almighty.

Your life here on earth has been full of luxury and pleasure. You have made yourselves fat for the day of slaughter.
(James 5:1-5)

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Dirty F@#*ing Hippies Were Right!

2011-10-16T10:36:00.000-07:00

With Occupy Wall Street gaining momentum, I thought this six minute video was worth sharing. I don't know who made it, but other than the "F" word, this video is right on! Here is a transcript of the video:

There’s a black granite wall in Washington D.C. that bears 58,260 names on it. All of those whose names that are carved on that wall are dead. For what? Freedom?

If this country had listened when kids were screaming to stop that slaughter, that wall would have been one hell of a lot shorter. Yet we as a nation still wage wars of choice. Wars encouraged by plutocrats who never had to fight them.

Peace is never discussed. Peace has somehow become a pejorative. Peace is no pejorative. Peace is essential to the survival of the human race. Those who advocate for war are a dangerous and fearful group who should be marginalized and disavowed. War is always the last choice.

The dirty f@#*ing hippies... were right!

Now the oceans have been rising. The polar ice is melting at alarming rates. The climate is changing in irreversible ways. Our survival as a species is on this planet is on a precipice. The science on this is clear, humans are now in trouble because of our reckless stewardship of what we dominate. We have polluted this fragile jewel that hangs in space, our only home.

The food we buy is contaminated. The toys we give our children as presents for Christmas are tainted with poison. The water we drink is rife with carcinogens. The fish in our seas, lakes, and rivers are so full of mercury that it is only recommended we eat them once per week. We have now come face to face with our own extinction.

I hate to say we told you so, but…
The dirty f@#*ing hippies… were right!

We’ve elected sociopath after sociopath for the last 30 years, to every level of government. Many of them slaves to corporate parasites that gorge themselves at the public trough while the most vulnerable people in our society: the sick, the young, and the elderly go wanting.

Billions of dollars in profits are being snatched up at the expense and suffering of our neighbors by the jackals that comprise our pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies. Both of which pipe their diagnostic wisdom and their fake concern right into our homes via TV and radio commercials. These legal drug dealers now sell their wares with impunity and the insurance gamblers perform a slick game of three card monty right in our living rooms.

Most of these drugs have a list of caveats that would make even the most dishonest used car salesman blush. And the insurance hustlers change the rules of the game just when it’s time to pay up. Profiting from the suffering and pain of others. Profiting from human frailty. Universal Healthcare, it's too expensive we were told. Gasbag-talking-heads on TV and radio have been complicit in this deception while being handsomely compensated for their assistance.

I’ll say it again,
The dirty f@#*ing hippies… were right!

Big box discount stores descend upon small towns in America like alien ships filled with cheap products, bought at low prices, from countries that pay their workers slave wages. Plutocrats love this business model.

Mom and Pop shops can’t compete with the prices set by these huge corporate parasites. And to no one’s surprise many small businesses in these tiny hamlets fail. Leaving small towns filled with empty store fronts and even in some cases forcing these same small business operators to go to work for the very people that ruined their livelihoods. Small town America is subsequently decimated by this invasion, often helpless in stopping it.

Wall Street has cannibalized itself. Still hungry, feeling the pangs of their greed, they’ve now come to the government for their daily meal. And still, without a hint of irony, a spokesman for this ravenous tribe, mounts a soapbox and has the temerity to rail against the evils of socialism.

Turns out, the socialism is for them, the capitalism is for us. Abbie Hoffman once baited these banksters by throwing cash onto the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. To no one’s astonishment, they demonstrated their insatiable greed. The gluttons couldn’t help themselves, they stopped trading and got on their knees to sweep up the free loot. Wall Street should have been reigned in long ago.

I’ll say it again,
The dirty f@#*ing hippies… were right!

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

"You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone"

2011-10-02T09:56:00.000-07:00

Mom always said "You'll miss me when I'm gone"

She was so right!

Even tough Mom had been preparing us for her departure for the last six years, it was still difficult to say good-by. In fact, when I called to check on her just a few days before she passed, Mom said good-by to me. I knew what she meant, she knew it was time, but I could only bring my self to say good night.

Last Sunday when the time came for her to go home to be with Jesus, Mom was ready.

Of all the things about mom, I will remember these three things she taught me about life...

Always pray! "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Even before Mom found Jesus she would pray. She would pray when she couldn't find something she misplaced or she would pray when an ambulance or police car went by red light and siren. I think she always knew Jesus, but when she came to a deeper faith later in life she would pray even more. As a nurse she would pray for help when drawing blood, and sure enough she would hit that vein on the first try. Every morning she would pray for her children, grand children, and great grandchildren.

Have a sense of humor! "A cheerful heart is good medicine." (Proverbs 17:22) I can't even begin to cite the many examples of Mom's quirky humor, but oh how that woman could make you laugh!

What ever you decide to do in life, be the best you can be! "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people." (Colossians 3:23) It didn't matter what we chose to do we were to go at it with all of our being.

Friday we held a celebration of Mom's life. Mom's friends, family, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were there. It was the most beautiful, yet horribly painful experience I have had in a long time, but it was much easier than I imagined it would be.

Mom made me promise many times over that us kids would stay close to each other after she was gone. She would remind me "After all, you three are all that you have". This weekend was a good start in fulfilling her wish.

This was Mom's favorite Bible passage, this is how she was able to get through life...

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
(Philippians 4:13)

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

PeaceDay TV

2011-09-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

PeaceDay TV International Day of Peace Global Broadcast Broadcasting entertaining humanitarian and educational events; featuring sustainable solutions, the Millennium Development Goals, and hundreds of organizations and Peacebuilders.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Prayers of Hope 9/11

2011-09-10T09:12:00.000-07:00

Not many days after 9/11 I created this parchment with scriptures of hope printed on it, my wife and I then placed it at the base of the Peace Pole in front of our local city hall. Every night for eight weeks we would light candles and pray for peace at our makeshift memorial.

(Click Here To Enlarge)

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
1 Timothy 2:1-2

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

We Must Concentrate On The Positive Affirmation Of Peace

2011-09-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

"So man's proneness to engage in war is still a fact. But wisdom born of experience should tell us that war is obsolete...

I do not wish to minimize the complexity of the problems that need to be faced in achieving disarmament and peace. But I think it is a fact that we shall not have the will, the courage, and the insight to deal with such matters unless in this field we are prepared to undergo a mental and spiritual reevaluation - a change of focus which will enable us to see that the things which seem most real and powerful are indeed now unreal and have come under the sentence of death. We need to make a supreme effort to generate the readiness, indeed the eagerness, to enter into the new world which is now possible, "the city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God".

We will not build a peaceful world by following a negative path. It is not enough to say "We must not wage war." It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it. We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war, but on the positive affirmation of peace."

~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - Nobel Peace Prize Lecture December 11, 1964

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Gospel According To Woodstock - Blessed Are The Peacemakers

2011-08-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

Max Yasgur on stage at Woodstock 1969 praising the 500,000 "kids" for being able to peacefully gather in one place to have, as he put it, "Three days of fun and music, and have nothing but fun and music, and I God bless you for it".

This is a line up of anti-war songs that were preformed during the three days of Woodstock:

-Richie Havens sang Handsome Johnny, a folk song about young men being perpetually sent off to fight war after war.

-Country Joe McDonald preformed I Feel Like I'm Fixing To Die, a ragtime song filled with sarcasm highlighting the absurdity of the Vietnam War.

-Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young performed Wooden Ships, a rock song about survivors from opposite sides of a war meeting each other while navigating the horror and destruction left behind.

-Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young sang a cappella Find The Cost Of Freedom, a song about the ultimate price of war.

Perhaps the most memorable anti-war song from that list was Country Joe McDonald's I Feel Like I'm Fixing To Die Rag, which clearly expressed the feelings of the Woodstock Generation about the Vietnam War. So here is a video clip, minus his infamous "Fish Cheer"...

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." ~Jesus (Matthew 5:9)

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Gospel According To Woodstock - What God Hath Joined Together, Let No Man Put Asunder

2011-08-04T07:04:00.000-07:00

The famous photograph of Nick and Bobbi Ercoline taken by Burk Uzzle at Woodstock in 1969.

This image of young love became the iconic cover of the original Woodstock album and movie poster.

Nick and Bobbie had met just a few months earlier and decided that since Woodstock was so close to where they lived that they just couldn't miss the event.

According to Burk Uzzle it was Sunday morning August 17, 1969, while 500,000 sleepy concert goers were waking up to Jefferson Airplane on stage at Woodstock, that he photographed this now famous embrace of a young couple in love.

More than forty years later Nick and Bobbi, both in their early 60's now, are still together. They married two summers after Woodstock, and they still live less than an hour's drive from the original concert site in upstate New York.

"All because two people fell in love"
~Quote on the wall of Nick and Bobbie's home just above their iconic Woodstock photo

"What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."
~Jesus (Mark 10:9)

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Gospel According To Woodstock - Amazing Grace

2011-08-03T07:52:00.000-07:00

Apparently, even in the midst of all the self indulgent sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll the Gospel could be found at the Woodstock Music & Art Fair in August of 1969.

Back then spirituality was everywhere, and references to Jesus were very common in music on the Billboard Top Ten List, so I shouldn't have been surprised to find this outtake of Arlo Guthrie singing Amazing Grace at Woodstock.

I love this song and I love Arlo, so what a truly great find it is. Arlo began his Woodstock set with Coming into Los Angeles (a song about smuggling marijuana) and ended with Amazing Grace, an interesting juxtaposition. Too bad it was never released before, we only got to see and hear Arlo sing about drug smuggling.

"There's always a little bit of heaven in a disaster area."
~Wavy Gravy (Hugh Romney) Woodstock 1969

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Gospel According To Woodstock - We Are Stardust

2011-08-01T07:19:00.000-07:00

In August 1969 the Woodstock Music & Art Fair took place on Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, NY with over half a million people in attendance.

I always loved Joni Mitchell's song about Woodstock, but it wasn't until my faith journey took me off of the Young Earth path and on to the Old Earth path that I fully appreciated the line "We are stardust".

In fact, I didn't even remember until today that she wrote the line "We are billion year old carbon". I think that I blocked it out of my mind all of these years because it didn't fit with my previous Young Earth perspective.

The knowledge that everything on this planet; every plant and animal, every human being, and even every rock contains the remnants of a star that exploded somewhere in the universe - that knowledge excites me.

The basic elements that were created during the Big Bang and then added to by super novas became the building blocks of our solar system. Every molecule of iron in my blood, every calcium atom in my bones came from a star... we are quite literally made of stardust, billion(s) year old carbon.

Here is a video of Joni Mitchell singing Woodstock...

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

I'm Losing (And Finding) My Religion - Again

2011-07-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

When I was a young boy my mom sent me off to Sunday School. I remember that church attendance in my parent's home was mostly limited to special occasions; Christmas, Easter, and funerals. That is not to say that my parents weren't spiritual or even religious in their own way, but it was a bit out of the ordinary to be sent off to Sunday School with my little sister that bright Sunday morning.

I don't recall exactly what the Sunday School teacher said one day, but I do remember thinking to myself that it was totally unscientific, even impossible. Science was my world, and even though I was only nine years old, I realized that there was a gulf between modern science and literalistic religious dogma - so I quit going to Sunday School.

At the beginning of the Jesus People Movement I returned to that church and was swept up in the excitement and comfort of finding a deeper meaning to life, especially during a time when the whole nation and my personal life was in turmoil.

To fully embrace my new found faith I was faced with a choice... Accept a literal reading of the six day Creation Story in the Bible and the popular evangelical thought that the earth was only about six thousand (6,000) years old, or believe that the earth was about four-and-a-half billion (4,500,000,000) years old as I had been taught in the public school system.

My dilemma was that if the first few verses of the Bible were not correct how was I to believe the sixty-six books that followed? So, knowing God to be a higher authority than the Los Angeles Unified School District, I chose the suspension of all scientific thought. I believed that the geologists and astrophysicists were wrong, that they simply had too many zeros in their calculations.

I spent the next forty years as a student of the Bible until 2009 when my dad passed away. My dad's passing triggered within me what I called a mid-faith crisis. I questioned everything, but mostly I questioned the gulf between modern science (which I loved but had abandoned forty years earlier) and ultra conservative fundamentalist Christianity.

I read everything I could find on the Young Earth vs. Old Earth debate, and as most debates go there are good arguments on both sides. With my personal leanings heading towards an Old Earth point of view, I began seeking out how to reconcile my Christian faith and current scientific understanding of the universe.

In my search for reconciliation I came across the book Thank God for Evolution by Rev. Michael Dowd. Michael Dowd makes the statement that "Facts are God's native tongue" and that "The discovery of facts through science is one very powerful way to encounter God directly." Rev. Dowd's book has revolutionized my faith and revitalized my love of science.

I have come to believe that Scriptures proclaiming a six day creation story, given at a time when scientific knowledge was limited to a flat earth perspective, were an acceptable explanation for the origin of the universe for that time. With our current scientific understanding of the cosmos, the six day creation story serves us best as a mythic account intended for a time when scientific knowledge was limited. How could the ancients have known about super novas, black holes, or plate tectonics? How else could they explain the creation of the earth but in the terms we find in the Genesis account?

My rejection of a literal interpretation of the six day creation story is not a rejection of the inspiration of the Bible, but rather a new understanding of the creation story as inspired for a particular time. It is a beautiful metaphor for a Creator who lovingly provided for His creation all of the essential life giving elements of a complex and interdependent world.

With the return of my love for science I feel like I have been born again. I feel as if I have been cured, if you will, of schizophrenia. The marriage of faith and science in such a way as to be intellectually honest and at the same time true to my Christian faith has liberated me from a sense of denial. I am no longer in denial of scientific facts or in denial of my personal experiential spirituality. I am free from having to be an apologist for fundamentalist beliefs and free from having to explaining away scientific observations about the universe as lies of the Devil.

I know that God is real, and I know that the earth was created 4.5 billion years ago. These two are not mutually exclusive nor does one invalidate the other. There is a richness in my faith now that is derived from acknowledging the complex majesty and deep time age of the universe that was lacking in my past due to a narrow literal reading of the first chapter of Genesis.

"It is this mythical, or rather this symbolic, content of the religious traditions which is likely to come into conflict with science. This occurs whenever this religious stock of ideas contains dogmatically fixed statements on subjects which belong in the domain of science. Thus, it is of vital importance for the preservation of true religion that such conflicts be avoided when they arise from subjects which, in fact, are not really essential for the pursuance of the religious aims." ~Albert Einstein

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Has The Peace Sign Become Just A Fashion Accessory?

2011-07-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

The peace sign is trendy again, and it is being merchandised just the same way hippie fashions were in the '60s and '70s. It is everywhere these days, on hats, t-shirts, handbags, shoes - you name it, the peace sign is on it!

Will the over saturation of the peace sign by the fashion industry dilute the message?

Will the peace sign lose its meaning and become nothing more than a fashion accessory?

Will the original message be lost on this generation, much the same way the cross has become more of a fashion statement and less of a proclamation of one's faith?

I have to admit that seeing the peace sign everywhere provides me hope that another generation has taken up the cause and that the message of peace and nuclear disarmament remains relevant.

"...Seek peace and pursue it!"
Psalm 34:14

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Photo: Peace sign I spotted on the side of a barn on the road to Nojoqui Falls Park near Solvang, CA.

Hippie-English Dictionary

2011-07-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

Just for fun I thought that I would post the Online Hippie-English Dictionary by Gamma Ray and Satellite. These guys were like a christian version of Cheech and Chong. I don't know where they are right now, their web site disappeared a few years ago, but I am sure they are up to some sort of cosmic christian fun.

Here is what Gamma Ray and Satellite had to say about themselves:

Gamma Ray and Satellite, The World's Most Lovable Hippies

Turn On to Jesus, Tune Out all the noise,
Drop Out of your sinful life, Experience his joy!

We are refugees from the 1960s. Hair, clothing, music styles, and language have passed us by in the last several decades, but our message never goes out of style. It's true for all generations, man. Surf with us a while, and dig our cool music, comedy, and philosophy of life and eternity.

Note: While many hippie words are derived from drug use, their inclusion here does not constitute endorsement of illegal drugs. Please note that Gamma Ray and Satellite are now drug-free and do not condone recreational drug use. Dig?

So here is Gamma Ray and Satellite's Online Hippie-English Dictionary...

acid (n) LSD, a narcotic drug popular among hippies. see psychedelic, bad trip.
afro (n) haircut popular among African-americans during 1960's and '70's.
aquarian (adj.) we're not sure exactly what this means, but it has something to do with the "Age of Aquarius" and the musical Hair.
bad scene (n) a bad situation. see scene.
bad trip (n) originally described a bad experience using drugs, characterized by frightening hallucinations. Can be used to describe any bad experience.
bag (n) one's main interest or purpose in life.
black light (n) a decorative light, dark blue in color to the human eye, which makes objects or artwork in flourescent colors appear to glow.
blow your mind (v) to have an enlightening or illuminating experience.
bread (n) money.
bummer (n) bad experience.
bust (v) to arrest someone, (n) an arrest.
cat (n) a person. derived from beatnik language of the 1950's.
chick (n) a girl or woman.
commune (n) an community of people who share possessions, living accomodations, and work (or lack thereof). Usually encompasses a farm and other fashionable industries.
crash (v) to sleep, rest, or do nothing.
crash pad (n) a place where one sleeps, rests, or does nothing.
dig (v) like, enjoy, be interested in.
drag (n) an unfavorable situation or state of affairs.
dude (n) person, usually male.
establishment, the (n) traditional business and government institutions, believed to stand in the way of human progress. see "system, the."
far out (adj) very interesting, good. Also an exclamation.
free love (n) love without expectations or commitment.
fuzz (n) police.
get it on (n) successfully interact with others.
groove (v) enjoy, achieve proficiency at. see "groovy."
groovy (adj) good, interesting, enjoyable.
hang out (v) to be some place, usually doing nothing, with no purpose.
hang-up (n) inhibition, usually due to morals, beliefs, or culture.
happening (adj) exciting, new, good.
heavy (adj) thought-provoking.
hippie (n) [still searching for a definition here]. hip (adj) knowledgable of, or consistent with, the latest trends and ideas.
Iron Butterfly (n) a rock band which had one popular song, "Inna Gadda Da Vida."
lava lamp (n) a cylindrical glass container filled a semi-solid viscous material which breaks apart and forms globules while floating in a clear fluid.
like (?) word used to fill up space in an utterance when the speaker is unable to think of a suitable adjective to describe something. Use of this word has also been adopted by adjective-challenged subcultures of more recent generations.
love beads (n) colorful beads worn around the neck to symbolize love.
man (interjection) used as an exclamation to draw attention to one's utterance. related phrase: "hey, man."
mood ring (n) a ring worn on the finger which contains a large stone, the color of which is supposed to indicate the wearer's emotional mood. Mood rings were a fad in the mid-1970's.
oh wow (interjection) exclamation uttered in response to new, thought-provoking, or exciting information.
out of sight (adj) excellent, outstanding. Often used as an exclamation.
pad (n) living accomodation--house or apartment.
peace (n) absence of war. To see a peace sign, click here.
psychedelic (adj) of or related to a mental state characterized by a profound sense of intensified sensory perception, sometimes accompanied by severe perceptual distortion, hallucinations, or extreme feelings of euphoria or despair. see acid.
rap (v,n) to talk, conversation. More recently used to name a category of music where words are spoken, rather than sung.
San Francisco (n) worldwide center of hippie activity and general weirdness.
scene (n) place, situation, or circumstances.
sock it to me (phrase) let me have it.
spaced out (adj) dazed, not alert.
split (v) to leave, depart.
square (adj) old-fashioned, not aware of new thinking and customs. (n) one who is square.
system, the (n) the system of laws, governance, and justice. see "establishment, the".
tie dye (v) a method of coloring clothing where the article of clothing is tied in knots, then dying it to produce an abstract pattern. (n) an article of clothing dyed in this manner.
trip (n) an unusual experience. (v) to have an unusual experience.
turn on (v) to become enlightened to new ways of thinking or experiencing reality.
uptight (adj) concerned about maintaining set ways of thinking and doing things.

Was that a cool trip? Can you say flashback?

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Gadget - July 16, 1945

2011-07-16T10:47:00.000-07:00

Sixty-six years ago today in the Jornada del Muerto Desert basin of New Mexico the first atomic bomb, code named "The Gadget", was detonated marking the beginning of the Atomic Age. In a flash of blinding light the genie had been let out of the bottle! Just weeks later atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. More bombs were being readied to be used if Japan didn't immediately capitulate. The afternoon of August 15, 1945 Japan announced its surrender.

It is a measure of arrogance to assert that a nuclear weapons-free world is impossible when 95% of the nations of the world are already nuclear-free. I think that the vast majority of people on the face of this earth will endorse the proposition that nuclear weapons have no place among us. There is no security in nuclear weapons. It is a fool’s game.”
~General Lee Butler, head of US Strategic Nuclear Forces 1991-1994

"...for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword."
~Jesus the Christ (Matthew 26:52)

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Fourth of July in Santa Barbara

2011-07-09T07:39:00.000-07:00

On the Fourth of July I took the family to Santa Barbara to watch the fireworks show on the beach. We had a front row seat with an unobstructed view from our hotel balcony... we hadn't been that close to a fireworks show in years. The Fourth also happens to be my beautiful Bride's birthday, so it is always a party on a national scale. I felt so bad for my wife, I had planned on taking her out for an expensive dinner on her birthday at one of the restaurants overlooking the bay, but I came down with food poisoning and she had to eat microwave macaroni and cheese in the hotel room.

The whole vacation wasn't a total loss, I did recover enough to have some fun the next two days and take in some of the sights that are unique to Santa Barbara. We rode bikes along the waterfront, went to the zoo and fed the giraffes, and we explored the marine center on the wharf where we were able to pet stingrays and starfish.

While we were down by the waterfront we came across One Feather and his "original hippie van"... this guy was a total trip-and-a-half!

Check out this Noozhawk.com story about One Feather:

A Hippie and His Van: They’re a Piece of Work, Man

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Great American Novel

2011-07-03T09:05:00.000-07:00

I know I posted this before, this time I added a video of Larry Norman...

THE GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL
by Larry Norman

I was born and raised an orphan
in a land that once was free
in a land that poured its love out on the moon
and I grew up in the shadows
of your silos filled with grain
but you never helped to fill my empty spoon

And when I was ten you murdered law
with courtroom politics
and you learned to make a lie sound just like truth
but I know you better now
and I don't fall for all your tricks
and you've lost the one advantage of my youth

You kill a black man at midnight
just for talking to your daughter
then you make his wife your mistress
and you leave her without water
and the sheet you wear upon your face
is the sheet your children sleep on
at every meal you say a prayer
you don't believe but still you keep on

And your money says in God we trust
but it's against the law to pray in school
you say we beat the Russians to the moon
and I say you starved your children to do it

You are far across the ocean
in a war that is not your own
and while you're winning theirs
you're gonna lose the one at home
do you really think the only way
to bring about the peace
is to sacrifice your children
and kill all your enemies

The politicians all make speeches
while the news men all take notes
and they exaggerate the issues
as they shove them down our throats
is it really up to them whether
this country sinks or floats
well I wonder who would lead us
if none of us would vote

Well my phone is tapped
and my lips are chapped
from whispering through the fence
you know every move I make
or is that just coincidence
will you try to make my way of life
a little less like jail
if I promise to make tapes and slides
and send them through the mail

And your money says in God we trust
but it's against the law to pray in school
you say we beat the Russians to the moon
and I say you starved your children to do it

You say all men are equal all men are brothers
then why are the rich more equal than others
don't ask me for the answers I've only got one
that a man leaves his darkness
when he follows the Son

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Don't Bother Me God, I am Trying To Be Spiritual

2011-06-11T08:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a fun little animation that caught my eye. So often we get stuck trying to be spiritual that we don't notice God trying to break through.

How about at church when our best efforts to be spiritual are interrupted by the crying baby, the old man singing Amazing Grace off key, the fidgety toddler, or the single mom with two kids in tow that is fifteen minuets late every Sunday. How about at home when your darling three year old jumps in your lap and wants to play when you would rather watch some televangelist on tv.

Remember... Dog Is God Spelled Backwards

The Misguided Monk - An old monk must learn the value of companionship after losing sight of his teachings. Animation by Tom Long.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Quick, Slow, Slow...

2011-06-04T07:33:00.000-07:00

More times than I like to admit, I hear Robert Shaw in my head from his 1976 role as Captain "Red" Ned Lynch in Swashbuckler...

"I'm not a gentleman; I'm an Irishman!"

"Quick, Slow, Slow" ...That is what I wrote at the top of my notepad yesterday morning before the start of an important budget meeting to remind me to keep the Redheaded Irishman in check.

Given the ongoing budget crisis in California and the continuing downward spiral the economy is in, budget meetings at a non-profit can be become frustrating at times. I needed to keep myself centered for this meeting, so I wrote myself that little shorthand reminder.

"Quick, Slow, Slow" is a reference to a Bible verse found in the Epistle of James, most likely authored by James, the brother of Jesus.

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires" James 1:19-20

The meeting went quite well, still a lot of work to be done. Not to overuse pirate movie quotes, but as Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow said in Pirates of the Caribbean, "We have our heading". How we get there and what we will encounter along the way still remains to be seen.

My little "Quick, Slow, Slow" reference helped me keep my Redheaded Irishman in check. I think that I will be writing that little note to myself more often.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

May Remembrances

2011-05-27T07:24:00.000-07:00

This May was filled with remembrances... Memorial Day, a day to remember the men and women of the armed services... My dad's birthday, he would have been 89 this month... And the anniversary of his passing on Memorial Day two years ago...

I believe my dad's experiences serving in the Army Air Corp during WWII and as a cop in Los Angeles gave him a jaded view of right wing politics. I remember my dad supporting Barry Goldwater for president in 1964, and then later in his life he ended up at the polar opposite end of the political spectrum staunchly opposed to the republican agenda.

My dad's life's story is one seasoned with service to his country, service to his community, explorations into Buddhism and Unitarian Universalism, and in his later years travel to to far off lands like Bali where he enjoyed meeting new people and learning of their fascinating culture.

My father's personal quest for justice and peace has also been my lifelong quest. To honor his memory, his life, his service, and his quest for peace I will continue to respect our country and those who serve while at the same time work to end war.

I have been opposed to the war machine for as long as I can remember, it is part of who I am. It is rooted in my faith in the Prince of Peace, it is rooted in my Quaker ancestors, and it is handed down to me from my dad who not only served his country in WWII and his community as a policeman for twenty-six years, but who ended up as one who spoke out against war later in life.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

(Photo: My dad with his mother soon after basic training c1944)

Yosemite - Light, Water, Earth, Sky, Spirt, and Time

2011-04-30T07:25:00.000-07:00

Yosemite Valley at sunset. Truly, a magical event when a shaft of red-orange sunlight moves up the Merced River and strikes the eastern Yosemite Valley wall, adding a reddish glow to Bridal Vail Fall for just a brief moment of awesome wonder.

I am amazed at the grandeur of Yosemite. I can see why the native peoples wanted to keep it a secret and sacred place. I can't help but feel the presence of the Creator calling out to me, yet at the same time my analytical, science craving brain is questioning my earlier "Young Earth" literalistic views.

A mossy grove at the base of Bridal Vail Fall that I almost missed. Yosemite is all about light, water , and time.

None of this would be here without water and ice and the time required to carve out the valley.

None of the flora and fauna would be here without life giving water and sunlight.

Yosemite Falls, the Merced River, and Yosemite Valley Floor. None of this could be enjoyed without light.

We are blessed to have eyesight enabling us to interpret the sunlight reflected off the landscape that was created by stardust flung into the cosmos at the beginning.

When I am in such a magnificent place it is impossible for me to deny the Creator's existence or the events that pushed up the granite mountains that were then carved out by glaciers long ago.

The plate tectonics that pushed up the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and the carving out of solid granite by glaciers and rivers that created Yosemite Valley speak of a planet that is older than I can imagine.

The beauty and majesty that is Yosemite declares a Creator's hand and an invitation to a spiritual connection to our universe created in deep time.

"For from the world's creation the invisible things of him are perceived, being apprehended by the mind through the things that are made, both his eternal power and divinity, so as to render them inexcusable." (Romans 1:20)

"In God's wildness lies the hope of the world."
~John Muir

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Autism, Kids, and Animals

2011-04-25T08:16:00.000-07:00

Here is our little one at the 2011 Walk For Autism. Everywhere we go she says "Excuse me, can I pet your dog?" Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder tend to connect with animals is such a way that one has to wonder if some form of communication is happening between them.

William Stillman, a writer and lecturer with autism, suggests in his book Autism and the God Connection that the Autistic experience often includes a special connection with the animal as well as the spiritual world.

Temple Grandin, Ph.D., assistant professor of animal science at Colorado State University, and author of the book Thinking in Pictures, relates how her Autistic brain thinks in pictures in much the same way animals think. Dr. Grandin's article Thinking the Way Animals Do gives some insight as to how our animal friends and our Autistic loved ones think alike.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Empty Tomb

2011-04-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

This is one possible site in Jerusalem where Jesus' body may have been placed after the Crucifixion. The four Gospels proclaim that Jesus' tomb was found empty and he later appeared several times to upwards of five hundred of his followers over a forty day period before he was then taken up into heaven.

Jesus' life and teachings gives us inspiration to get through each day and the empty tomb gives us hope for eternity.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
(1 Corinthians 15:55 KJV)

(Photo: The Garden Tomb, originally uploaded by Dennis1980 at de.wikipedia)

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Happy Earth Day 2011

2011-04-22T08:57:00.001-07:00

And Jehovah God taketh the man, and causeth him to rest in the garden of Eden, to serve it, and to keep it.
Genesis 2:15

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

(Photo: NASA - Earth from Apollo 17)

The Militarization Of Easter

2011-04-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

Our desire to support our brave men and women who serve in the armed forces has created the acceptance of the militarization of every aspect of our society. I believe that camo Easter eggs are just one more example of how our society has normalized the warfare state.

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
(Ephesians 2:17)

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

There Has Never Been A Good War

2011-04-15T07:17:00.001-07:00

"There never was a good war or a bad peace."
~Benjamin Franklin, 1705–1790

Note: Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. He was a leading author and printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

War's One Certain Thing - More Taxes

2011-04-15T06:49:00.000-07:00

"War involves in its progress such a train of unforeseen and unsupposed circumstances that no human wisdom can calculate the end. It has but one thing certain, and that is to increase taxes."

~Thomas Paine, Prospects on the Rubicon, 1787

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Quaker Peace Testimony

2011-04-15T06:31:00.001-07:00

"We utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fightings with outward weapons, for any end, or under any pretence whatsoever; and this is our testimony to the whole world. The spirit of Christ, by which we are guided, is not changeable, so as once to command us from a thing as evil and again to move unto it; and we do certainly know, and so testify to the world, that the spirit of Christ, which leads us into all Truth, will never move us to fight and war against any man with outward weapons, neither for the kingdom of Christ, nor for the kingdoms of this world."

~The Quaker Peace Testimony, Declaration of Friends to King Charles II, 1660

Picture: George Fox (1624 – 1691) Founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The 2011 Budget Deal... War Is Theft

2011-04-12T07:45:00.000-07:00

According to Tuesday's press release from the House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, the 2011 budget deal "will cut an unparalleled nearly $40 billion in federal spending"

The press release goes on to say that it is "the largest non-defense spending cut in the history of our nation – tens of billions larger than any other non-defense reduction"

Although there are cuts to just about everything under the sun, there is a key phrase that is mostly going unnoticed, "non-defense reduction".

According to the House Appropriations Committee "The Department of Defense is funded at $513 billion in the CR (continuing resolution)– approximately $5 billion above last year". It goes on to say that "The bill also includes an additional $157.8 billion for overseas contingency operations (emergency funding) to advance our missions abroad."

While cutting most domestic programs, the single largest budget item gets an increase. Most of our income tax dollars go to support the military, close to 50% of each tax dollar is spent on funding past and present wars.

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed."
~Dwight D. Eisenhower

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
~Jesus (Luke 12:34)

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)

2011-04-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are three different types of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs):

Autistic Disorder:
Also called “classic” autism, this is what most people think of when hearing the word “autism.” People with autistic disorder usually have significant language delays, social and communication challenges, and unusual behaviors and interests. Many people with autistic disorder also have intellectual disability.

Asperger Syndrome:
People with Asperger syndrome usually have some milder symptoms of autistic disorder. They might have social challenges and unusual behaviors and interests. However, they typically do not have problems with language or intellectual disability.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS):
Also called “atypical autism”. People who meet some of the criteria for autistic disorder or Asperger syndrome, but not all, may be diagnosed with PDD-NOS. People with PDD-NOS usually have fewer and milder symptoms than those with autistic disorder. The symptoms might cause only social and communication challenges.

No matter where an individual falls on the "spectrum" the challenges are very real. As parents of a child diagnosed with PDD-NOS, it is frustrating to hear statements like "she is not that that impacted" or "she doesn't look disabled". Well, we just keep educating everyone about how differently girls on the spectrum present, and then we remind them that it is called a "Spectrum" disorder for a good reason.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Smelling The Light - Autism And Sensory Processing Disorder

2011-04-01T06:45:00.001-07:00

This is a photo of a typical sensory moment for Bella. According to studies by The Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation more than three-quarters (78%) of children with autistic spectrum disorders have significant symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder.

So what exactly is Sensory Processing Disorder? Here is a definition from The Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation:

"Sensory processing refers to our ability to take in information through our senses (touch, movement, smell, taste, vision, and hearing), organize and interpret that information, and make a meaningful response. For most people, this process is automatic. We hear someone talking to us, our brains receive that input and recognize it as a voice talking in a normal tone, and we respond appropriately.

Children who have a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), however, don’t experience such interactions in the same way. SPD affects the way their brains interpret the information that comes in; it also affects how they respond to that information with emotional, motor, and other reactions.

For example, some children are over-responsive to sensation and feel as if they're being constantly bombarded with sensory information. They may try to eliminate or minimize this perceived sensory overload by avoiding being touched or being particular about clothing.

Some children are under-responsive and have an almost insatiable desire for sensory stimulation. They may seek out constant stimulation by taking part in extreme activities, playing music loudly, or moving constantly. They sometimes don’t notice pain or objects that are too hot or cold, and may need high intensity input to get involved in activities. Still others have trouble distinguishing between different types of sensory stimulation."

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

April Is National Autism Awareness Month

2011-03-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

The following article is from The Autism Society:

About Autism - Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a "spectrum disorder" that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.

In December 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued their ADDM autism prevalence report. The report concluded that the prevalence of autism had risen to 1 in every 110 births in the United States and almost 1 in 70 boys. The issuance of this report caused a media uproar, but the news was not a surprise to the Autism Society or to the 1.5 million Americans living with the effects of autism spectrum disorder. Nonetheless, the spotlight shown on autism as a result of the prevalence increase opens opportunities for the nation to consider how to serve these families facing a lifetime of supports for their children.

Currently, the Autism Society estimates that the lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism ranges from $3.5 million to $5 million, and that the United States is facing almost $90 billion annually in costs for autism (this figure includes research, insurance costs and non-covered expenses, Medicaid waivers for autism, educational spending, housing, transportation, employment, in addition to related therapeutic services and caregiver costs).
Know the Signs: Early Identification Can Change Lives

Autism is treatable. Children do not "outgrow" autism, but studies show that early diagnosis and intervention lead to significantly improved outcomes.
Here are some signs to look for in the children in your life:

* Lack of or delay in spoken language
* Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (e.g., hand-flapping, twirling objects)
* Little or no eye contact
* Lack of interest in peer relationships
* Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play
* Persistent fixation on parts of objects

For more info check out The Autism Society - National Autism Awareness Month website.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

War Is Theft!

2011-03-25T07:02:00.000-07:00

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed.

This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.

This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron."

~Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1890 - 1969
Five-Star General in the United States Army
Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe
First Supreme Commander of NATO
34th President of the United States 1953-1961 (Republican)

From a speech before the American Society of Newspaper Editors, April 16, 1953

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

War Is A Racket!

2011-03-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

"War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of people. Only a small inside group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses.

I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism."

~Major General Smedley Darlington Butler, USMC
1881 - 1940
Double recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Military Madness

2011-03-20T13:12:00.000-07:00

Here is a little YouTube video of Graham Nash and David Crosby singing Military Madness...

YouTube - "Military Madness" by Crosby & Nash
http://www.youtube.com/embed/khNdxDJBxug

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

God in America - Part 3

2010-10-14T07:12:00.000-07:00

Last night was the final two hours of the PBS special God in America.

In Part 3 of God in America the dance of politics and religion in America continues with the fight against "Godless Communism" in the 1950's and '60's and abortion in the 1970's and '80's. The church's focus shifts from spreading the Gospel to political activism. Hot-button issues are used to mobilize christians as single-issue-voters.

But at the beginning of the 21st Century we are starting to see a new view of politics and religion, one in which all religions are respected and political action is guided by the "Golden Rule" rather than by hot-button issues.

The challenge to religious liberty continues, but if the church can regain its position as an agent of Christ's love and forgiveness, rather than an agent for political action, the Gospel's relevance will prevail.

You can find more info on the PBS God in America website. If you miss any of it you can watch it online or order a dvd copy.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

God In America - Part 2

2010-10-13T07:08:00.000-07:00

Last night the PBS special God in America provided two more hours of interesting, and sometimes a little less known, historical information about God and the American experience.

On one hand PBS went into great detail about Lincoln's personal religious struggles along with those of a divided nation during the Civil War... but on the other hand, as in Part 1, only a casual mention of the contributions made by the Quakers. There was also a great deal of material about the Jewish reform movement in the United States which I really had no knowledge of prior to last night.

In Part 2 of God in America it was clear that during the Civil War (as in all other wars before and after), the church was co-opted to be the mouthpiece of the government, both for the Union and for the Confederacy. Not a good thing to be in my opinion, the church is to be the mouthpiece of God!

The one take-away-point from last night was that religion in America was and is ever changing, yet never becoming a uniform system of belief for the whole nation. The Constitution protects and thereby fosters diverse religious expression in America... Thank God!

I am going to watch the last two hours tonight. You can find more info on the PBS God in America website. If you miss any of it you can watch it online or order a dvd copy.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

PBS Special "God In America" - Part 1

2010-10-12T07:48:00.000-07:00

The first two hours of God in America, a six-hour documentary series on PBS, aired last night.

My thoughts while watching the first part of God in America was God bless Anne Hutchinson and all of the other brave men and women who were led by the Spirit to challenge the Church-State power elite. We are truly a diverse nation of believers and thank God that our Constitution provides the place and protection for all us us to practice our personal faiths as our conscience dictates.

I am going to watch the next two hours tonight. You can find more info on the PBS God in America website. If you miss any of it you can watch it online or order a dvd copy.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

2010-10-05T08:55:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been five years since we switched from being grandparents to being parents again. Our little girl has given us much joy in the midst of the sad circumstances that brought her to us when she was just two months old.

My Quaker friend asked me back then if given this second chance at parenting if I would do anything differently. At that time I was pretty sure that I wouldn't change much of how I did things twenty-five years earlier.... but now I know that in spite of my self confidence I've had to adapt to our little girl's unique needs.

I am also finding ways to enjoy her ages and stages more than I allowed my self to do twenty-five years ago. Now I am not in such a hurry to finish parenting, but rather learning to be in the moment of it. Besides, why would I want to hurry up being in my late 60's?

Now I am trying to figure out how to follow my quest into the un-programmed, silently-waiting style of worship practiced by Friends (Quakers) with our little girl who we suspect is on the Autism Spectrum. That is the subject of an upcoming blog post.

My secret hope is that she grows up to write a children's book titled "I Was Raised By My Hippie Grandparents"... but in reality she will probably write "A Guide To Backyard Entomology".

Here are some links:

National Center on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren - University of Wisconsin-Madison

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren - usa.gov

Parenting Again - University of Illinois Extension

Peace, Love, and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

God in America - PBS Special

2010-09-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, FRONTLINE presents God in America.

October 11-13, 2010, 9-11PM ET on PBS.

First-of-its kind, six-hour documentary series explores 400-year history of religion in the public life of the United States.

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

I am going to watch it! You can find more info on the PBS God in America website. If you miss the special, you can order a dvd copy for your self too.

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

America's True History of Religious Tolerance

2010-09-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

In the October 2010 issue of Smithsonian Magazine author/historian Kenneth C. Davis goes into great detail illuminating America's True History of Religious Tolerance. The lead in to the Smithsonian article makes a bold (and perhaps unpopular) statement... "The idea that the United States has always been a bastion of religious freedom is reassuring—and utterly at odds with the historical record". Mr. Davis begins by questioning a long standing notion...

"Wading into the controversy surrounding an Islamic center planned for a site near New York City’s Ground Zero memorial this past August, President Obama declared: “This is America. And our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country and that they will not be treated differently by their government is essential to who we are.” In doing so, he paid homage to a vision that politicians and preachers have extolled for more than two centuries—that America historically has been a place of religious tolerance. It was a sentiment George Washington voiced shortly after taking the oath of office just a few blocks from Ground Zero.

But is it so?"

Kenneth Davis' article in the October 2010 Smithsonian Magazine states, in a much better way, what I posted here on Friday September 10, 2010 in my blog post Religious Intolerance.

Read the complete Smithsonian article: America's True History of Religious Tolerance

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Groves Were God's First Temples

2010-09-18T07:24:00.000-07:00

"The groves were God's first temples...

...As now they stand, massy, and tall, and dark, fit shrine for humble worshipper to hold Communion with his Maker. "

This excerpt from William Cullen Bryant's A Forest Hymn describes how I feel each time I go to the Redwoods. We took a few days off last month from our busy lives to drive up the coast highway to Big Sur. Always inspiring and breathtaking, Big Sur is one of our favorite places to vacation.

I couldn't help but notice the effects of recent fire, flood, and our crippled state budget on the area. In a way, the magic of Big Sur seemed distant to me on this visit. But, I know that Big Sur has survived thousands of years and this is just a moment in time. The Redwoods have the scars of past fires and floods and yet they still stand, pointing ever upwards, directing the finite towards the infinite.

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead..." ~Romans 1:20

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Religious Intolerance

2010-09-10T06:37:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading A Declaration of the Sad and Great Persecution and Martyrdom of the People of God, called Quakers, in New-England, for the Worshipping of God written in 1661 by Edward Burrough. The introduction by Paul Royster gives an overview of the events in Colonial Massachusetts:

"From 1656 through 1661, the Massachusetts Bay Colony experienced an “invasion” of Quaker missionaries, who were not deterred by the increasingly severe punishments enacted and inflicted by the colonial authorities. In October 1659, two (William Robinson and Marmaduke Stevenson) were hanged at Boston; in June 1660, Mary Dyar (or Dyer) became the third; in March 1661, William Leddra became the fourth (and last) to suffer capital punishment or “martyrdom” for their Quaker beliefs."

How 'Christian' was it for the authorities in both Plymouth Colony and Massachusetts Bay Colony to whip, jail, fine, and kill innocent men and women because their beliefs were not the same as the state approved religion? After reading about the religious intolerance of colonial government I had to find out if the United States of America was truly established as a 'Christian' nation.

A great set of articles over on Helium tackles the question of the Founding Fathers' original intent. One in particular by Michael Ellement is well worth the read... Non-Religious Founding of the US: Exposing America's Christian Foundation Myth. While it is true that the colonies were set up, in varying degrees, as religious settlements and that most of the colonial settlers were Christians, Michael brings out one important distinction, that the founding of the Colonies was not the founding our our Nation.

It is an undeniable truth that religion and faith played an important role in seventeenth and eighteenth century America, but by the time our nation's founding documents were being drafted a growing understanding of the importance of religious tolerance was emerging. In the Declaration of Independence, July 1776, God is only mentioned three times:

"...the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God..."

And...

"...that they are endowed by their Creator..."

And...

"...with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence..."

The Articles of Confederation, the first document forming the government of the United States of America on November 15, 1777, only mentions God twice:

"And Whereas it hath pleased the Great Governor of the World to incline the hearts of the legislatures we respectively represent in Congress, to approve of, and to authorize us to ratify the said articles of confederation and perpetual union."

And...

"...in the Year of our Lord..."

Thomas Jefferson drafted The Virginia Act for Establishing Religious Freedom in 1779, just three years after he wrote the Declaration of Independence and eight years before the convening of the Constitutional Convention. Although this document was drafted for the state of Virginia, it gives us insight to the Founder's intent and the framework for our religious freedom later enshrined in the Bill of Rights.

"...That no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burdened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in nowise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities."

It soon became clear that the Articles of Confederation was not a strong enough document for the new nation, so the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. The Convention gave us our nation's Constitution on September 17, 1787. God is not mentioned in the Constitution except for the common practice of expressing the date as "...in the Year of our Lord...", which was used in both religious and secular contexts.

The only religious provision in the Constitution is the prohibition of the use of any religious tests for holding office in the United States:

"...no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."

The first ten amendments, commonly known as the Bill of Rights, were all ratified at once on December 15, 1791. The First Amendment to the Constitution includes the "Establishment Clause" preventing the government from any involvement in religion and the "Free Exercise Clause" providing our cherished freedom of religion:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

We are a nation that is neither uniformly, nor exclusively, "Christian". What we do have is a nation where the freedom to believe and worship how one chooses is guaranteed without the involvement of the government, and I for one would not want it any other way!

"I do only what the Lord God requires of me. Do not mourn my passing, for I am filled with happiness. I am already in Heaven." ~Mary Dyer, Martyred for her faith June 1660

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

War Is Over!... Sort Of... Well, Not Really!

2010-09-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

Last night President Obama announced the end of the combat mission in Iraq. With the last of the combat troops leaving Iraq just days ago there still remains about 50,000 brave US service personal, brave men and women who will be there for some time trying to help the Iraqi people rebuild their country.

According to one news story earlier this year, the number of US troops in Afghanistan are scheduled to peak later this year at about 98,000 as the final detachments of 30,000 reinforcements ordered by President Obama arrive.

As one conflict fades from the view of the American public, another "surge" is under way.

We must not forget to pray for the leaders in Iraq as they pull their country back together.

We must remember to pray for peace in Afghanistan.

We must pray for the safe return of all of our troops.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
~The Apostle Paul, (1Timothy 2:1-2)

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Glenn Beck's Restoring Honor Rally

2010-08-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

Well I watched the Glenn Beck Restoring Honor Rally on c-span yesterday... all 4+ hours... not that I am a Beck fan, but I had to see what all the hubbub was about. Mr. Beck was much different at the Restoring Honor Rally than his usual radio and television persona. He was more evangelist than the "blood-squirting-out-of-my-eyes" wild man that we all have come to know him as.

I can't fault much of what transpired during those four hours. I was pleased to here Mr. Beck urge us to seek God and his guidance in pursuit of "Faith, Hope, and Charity" in our daily lives, the apparent theme of the rally.

I do have a cautious attitude about the mix of religion and politics that Glenn Beck seems to be promoting. I am worried about a resurgence of the Theocratic Right. I believe that our political choices and our daily actions must be directed by our religious values, but I fear the move to create a Theocracy in America is on the rise again as a backlash to the Obama Presidency.

The last time we mixed religion and politics here in America it was 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts, and that didn't go well for one of my wife's ancestors and nineteen others who were convicted of witchcraft. I am sure no one at the rally would accept Sharia Law or the Taliban, but those are examples of what a Theocracy looks like.

"At a time when we see around the world the violent consequences of the assumption of religious authority by the government, Americans may count themselves fortunate... Those who would renegotiate the boundaries between church and state must therefore answer a difficult question: Why would we trade a system that has served us so well for one that has served others so poorly?"
~Sandra Day O'Conner, Supreme Court Justice

"Be afraid! Be very afraid!"
~Wednesday Addams, The Addams Family movie

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Simple Church, Simply Everywhere

2010-08-27T07:51:00.000-07:00

When there is a gathering of at least two people who call on Jesus, there is a church. The church is not a building, or a place, or an event that happens at a special time. The church is not a thing, the church is people! When Jesus said that he would be present in a gathering as small as two believers it was a revolutionary concept. The Jewish tradition was that there had to be at least ten adult male Jews in a village before a synagogue could form. Jesus is giving us the permission to form fellowships any time and any place two or three of his followers gather.

The Greek word translated as "church" in the New Testament is ekklesia, meaning "called out from". Jesus is calling people who would follow him and become part of his ekklesia, his called out ones. It is interesting that this same word translated as "church" when talking about believers is also translated as "assembly" when referring to a crowd of people. The word "church" simply means a called-out group of believers gathered together in Jesus' name - no more, no less! Please read Church Is Not In The Bible for further study.

The early church didn't have any buildings for nearly three hundred years. In fact one of the major teachings in the first century church was that God didn't dwell in temples or buildings. Throughout the New Testament the early church met in homes, in the town square, and in the marketplace (John 4:21-24, Acts 7:48-50 & Acts 17:22-29).

Church happens when two friends have lunch together at school and talk about Jesus. Church is in a cafe as a few gather to read the Bible while sipping coffee. Church is at the bus stop when a person prays for someone with a heavy burden while they wait for the bus together. The church is wherever and whenever people gather in Jesus' name.

Not only did Jesus say that he would be present in our gatherings, Jesus also declared that he had "all authority in heaven and earth" and that he would be with us "always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20). This is a powerful truth, this same Jesus who healed the blind and raised the dead is alive today and with us even in our smallest of gatherings!

Jesus promised in Matthew 18:20 to be present in every gathering, large or small, giving us permission to be the Church everywhere believers go. We can tap into the existence of the ever present Christ and his Church at any time, in any place, on any day of the week. Jesus made Church so simple that anyone can do it, it is as simple as two Christians gathered together.

The First Century Church is an example of how simple Church can be and at the same time be powerful enough to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ around the known world. The First Century Church met every day in everyday places - living rooms, markets, work, town squares. The First Century Church was relational, they gathered together regularly, they ate together, they shared what they had with those in need. The First Century Church not only sent out "missionaries" to take the Gospel to the far ends of the earth, they spread the Gospel themselves as they were scattered abroad by persecution. The First Century Church was able to make such an impact that they were accused of turning the world up-side down in less than thirty years - all without cathedrals, professional preachers, seminaries, denominations, missions boards, worship bands, ushers, budget committees, non-profit corporations, etc., etc., etc.

The leaders of the First Century Church were "unschooled, ordinary men" whose only qualifications were that they "had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13). The Church was filled with regular folk who were not "wise by human standards" or "influential", and few were of "noble birth" (1 Corinthians 1:26). But those who call on Jesus Christ are declared to be "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9). Each one is considered to be a member of God's priesthood, a minister with a personal ministry to fulfill, "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." (1 Peter. 4:10)

"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them"
~Jesus (Matthew 18:20)

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin(Cloud)

The painting at top is "Four People On A Bench" by Vincent Van Gogh, September 1882

The Most High Does Not Dwell In Temples

2010-08-26T07:14:00.000-07:00

I support the First Amendment right of any and all faith groups to worship where and how they choose, given that they do not practice human or animal sacrifice, which are prohibited by US Supreme Court rulings.

Now, having said that, my personal belief is that building any place of worship, be it Christan, Bahia, Buddhist, Universalist, Jewish, Muslim, Wiccan, or what ever, is a total waste of money! Look at the price tag of any of these edifices and ask yourself "Could those funds have been used more wisely?"

Would not the cause of any religion be better served if the poor were fed and housed rather than a house of worship built? Would not the sick and the lame think more highly of one's god if there were a hospital to get well in rather than a church to pray in? How many more hearts and minds would be won if scriptures were printed in one's native language rather than a shinny new church with neatly arranged song books lined up in each pew?

"However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: 'Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, Or what is the place of My rest? Has My hand not made all these things?'" ~Saint Stephen, Acts 7:48-50

"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" ~The Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 3:16

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The First Amendment

2010-08-12T21:56:00.000-07:00

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, is the keystone document of our free society. Over the years they have been dragged through the courts in various attempts to interpret, expand, or limit the scope of their application. I am amazed at the current situation in our country where some are concerned that their Second Amendment right to "keep and bear arms" is in danger of being taken away, but at the same time advocating the suspension of the First Amendment right to "free exercise" of religion for Muslims.

My Quaker ancestors came to America in the 1600's to escape religious intolerance. The Bill of Rights was written to protect those freedoms my ancestors came here to find, the same freedoms my father and my grandfather thought they were fighting to protect in two world wars. Now the fear mongers want to selectively apply those freedoms.

The purpose of the Bill of Rights is to protect the citizens from the government, the job of the government is to protect its citizens! I say keep the First Amendment intact for all, regardless of the collective pain brought on by September 11th, and let Homeland Security, the FBI, and New York's finest do their job of protecting us from possible terrorists.

"You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man's freedom." ~Clarence Darrow

"Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" ~Jesus, Matthew 7:12

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

War Is The Complete Opposite Of The Gospel!

2010-08-08T09:07:00.000-07:00

"The Church of Christ is continually represented under the figure of an army; yet its Captain is the Prince of Peace; its object is the establishment of peace, and its soldiers are men of a peaceful disposition. The spirit of war is at the extremely opposite point to the spirit of the gospel"

~Charles H. Spurgeon from "The Vanguard and Rereward of the Church" December 26, 1858

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin(Cloud)

Peace Cannot Be Kept By Force

2010-08-05T08:59:00.000-07:00

"Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding."
-Albert Einstein

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Common Sense

2010-08-04T07:57:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading "Glenn Beck's Common Sense - The Case Against An Out-Of-Control Government". In it Glenn Beck puts forward a compelling argument for fiscal responsibility and for taking political action against big government. Except for a minor comment about the effects of war on the economy Mr. Beck seems to ignore Thomas Paine, who he claims as the inspiration for his book, who said...

"War involves in its progress such a train of unforeseen and unsupposed circumstances that no human wisdom can calculate the end. It has but one thing certain, and that is to increase taxes." -Thomas Paine, Prospects on the Rubicon, 1787

For each dollar of federal income tax we paid in 2009, the government spent about:

33¢ Pentagon for current and past wars
26¢ Supporting the Economy ie: Bailouts
17¢ Health Care
11¢ Responding to Poverty
9¢ General Government
2¢ Energy, Science and Environment
1¢ Jobs
1¢ Diplomacy, Development and War Prevention

Source: FCNL www.fcnl.org/09taxchart (calculations based on estimated expenditures reported by the White House Office of Management and Budget. This analysis covers the $3,184,888 million “federal fund” budget, which is the spending supported by income taxes, estate taxes and other general revenues. Not included are trust funds, such as Social Security, medicare, which are supported by dedicated revenues.)

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" ~JESUS, Matthew 6:21

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

War - The Enemy Of Public Liberty

2010-08-01T07:29:00.000-07:00

"Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few... No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare."

— James Madison, Political Observations, 1795

Peace, Love & Light

Kevin (Cloud)

M.I.A.

2010-07-31T07:35:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been Missing In Action (M.I.A.) for a little over a year now. My journey lately has been a difficult one filled with loss, grief, and inner conflict... a "mid-faith crisis" as I call it.

Memorial Day marked the one year anniversary of my father's passing, a passing that has brought me much personal reflection over the last year. I always thought that my faith would ground me and my basic beliefs would become more cemented in a time of loss, but my whole theology and view of life has been challenged by my father's death.

My dad was not a religious man, but he was spiritual. Although he never joined any faith community he embraced a Unitarian Universalist view of God. When asked by my wife if he was at peace with God he claimed that he was. He always said that he had lived a full life and was not afraid of death.

My dad rejected "Evangelical Christianity". He didn't reject Christ, just the modern "American" version of the "Church". Although I have not been as dogmatic lately as I was in my know-it-all youth, without my father having a formal conversion experience I was still left with mixed feelings about my father's spiritual condition.

I had lunch recently with Timothy, a monk I have known for several years. Timothy is dealing with an illness that will eventually take his life. He is going through some of the same debilitating experiences that my dad went through and he is embracing his mortality with strength, dignity, and grace. Timothy and I talked about my dad's death and my personal mid-faith crisis. We talked about a greater grace that transcends the theologians understanding of God.

I am convinced that a greater grace exists, that my finite understanding of God does not limit His love. I am convinced the narrow minded religious zealots will be surprised when they meet God face to face and find that God Is Love!

I miss my dad, but I now have hope that we will meet some day at the Father's feet.

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." (1 John 4:8)

Peace, Love, and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

Understanding Our Little Girl

2009-05-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

Last year, after a long two and a half year journey, we finalized the adoption of our granddaughter. She is such a loving and verbal child, yet we have been puzzled by some of her behaviors. Without disclosing too much personal info, lets just say the professionals can't agree on what to attribute her oddities to.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is the one thing that finally began to make sense to us. Boys are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders 4 to 1 over girls and the question is: "Are girls less predisposed to Autism or do they just present differently?". There is a lot of new information being published about the under diagnosis and miss-diagnosis of girls with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

This book has opened our eyes to her world in a new way...
Girls Under the Umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorders by Lori Ernsperger, Ph.D. & Danielle Wendel.

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Earth Day

2009-04-22T07:26:00.000-07:00

I took our little one to a local Earth Day event on Saturday... lots of solar power venders, the Sierra Club, drought resistant landscaping, and a few zero population advocates. Other than a generic ecumenical invocation at the opening of the event, the voice of the "church" was totally missing. Why has the care of God's Creation slipped from the hands of those who call on his name? Have we forgotten the Creator's early mandate?

"And Jehovah God taketh the man, and causeth him to rest in the garden of Eden, to serve it, and to keep it."
Genesis 2:15 (Young's Literal Translation)

Here are some faith based environmental groups:

Earth Ministry
Evangelical Environmental Network
Restoring Eden
Web of Creation

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Happy Easter Earthlings

2009-04-12T00:04:00.000-07:00

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? (Psalm 8:3-4)

It is beyond my comprehension how the inhabitants of this tiny ball of dust spinning on the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy can be the recipient of the Creator's affection.

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Camo Easter Eggs

2009-04-04T22:53:00.000-07:00

I saw these camo Easter eggs at WalMart today... my first thought was wow, nothing says 'Jesus has risen' like camouflage Easter eggs. It is so incongruous to be celebrating the resurrection of our savior, the Prince of Peace with camo Easter eggs!

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
(Ephesians 2:17)

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Barack Obama - Pastor Or President?

2008-11-28T09:32:00.000-08:00

After reading the many blog posts about an interview with Barack Obama questioning his politics and his faith you would think that we were selecting a new Pastor and not the President of the United States of America.

Obama may not be an "evangelical" by most definitions, but he does express a deep personal faith. Obama was a constitutional law professor, not a seminary professor. He ran for the highest office in the land, not to be our national pastor. Perhaps what scares some is his admiration of our Founding Father's resolve to prevent theocracies from forming here in America. Here is a quote by Barack Obama from that interview:

"...Alongside my own deep personal faith, I am a follower, as well, of our civic religion. I am a big believer in the separation of church and state. I am a big believer in our constitutional structure. I mean, I'm a law professor at the University of Chicago teaching constitutional law. I am a great admirer of our founding charter, and its resolve to prevent theocracies from forming, and its resolve to prevent disruptive strains of fundamentalism from taking root in this country.

As I said before, in my own public policy, I'm very suspicious of religious certainty expressing itself in politics.

Now, that's different from a belief that values have to inform our public policy. I think it's perfectly consistent to say that I want my government to be operating for all faiths and all peoples, including atheists and agnostics, while also insisting that there are values that inform my politics that are appropriate to talk about...."

Read the entire transcript of Obama's Fascinating Interview with Cathleen Falsani on the Christianity Today Politics Blog.

Only time will tell if Obama will be a good president, and only God can judge Barack Obama a good or bad christian.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
(1Timothy 2:1-2)

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Jonestown - Remembering To Remember

2008-11-18T07:29:00.000-08:00

In 1978, deep in the jungles of Guyana, 918 people died at the People's Temple Agricultural Project known as Jonestown. Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Jonestown mass suicide.

This event disturbs me today as much as it did thirty years ago. When the horror of this tragedy hit the newsstands I was a young Hippie Jesus Freak involved with leading a small group of Christians. I learned firsthand that "leadership" can have many pitfalls. The Jonestown tragedy changed my view of "church leadership" forever. The Apostle Paul wrote...

"Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand." (2 Corinthians 1:24)

JONESTOWN MEMORIAL

Jonestown - Wikipedia

Jonestown - Rick A. Ross Institute

Jonestown - FACTNet

Warning Signs Of A Destructive Cult

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

National Adoption Day

2008-11-16T09:55:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was National Adoption Day, celebrated every November. This year's focus was on the children in the foster care system and their need for permanent placement.

I found two groups working at the national level to insure that the best interests of adopted children are protected.

National Council For Adoption

North American Council on Adoptable Children

The National Council For Adoption lists their Adoption First Principles on their website. As grandparents who adopted our granddaughter this year, two of those principles deeply touched my heart. They were "Growing Up Adopted Is Healthy And Normal" and "Adoptive Parents Are The Real Parents".

Growing Up Adopted Is Healthy And Normal: Adoption is healthy, satisfying, and good for adopted persons, not an enduring challenge to identity and wholeness. The adopted person may have additional questions and curiosities to sort out, but adoption is not a psychological burden or pathology as some theorists treat it. Adoption is the way one joined one’s family, not a defining characteristic or lifelong process. Persons adopted as infants grow up as healthy and productive as people raised in their biological families. To the extent there can be a greater risk of emotional or behavioral problems for children adopted out of foster care at later ages, the correlation is not the result of being adopted, but rather of difficulties experienced prior to adoption, such as neglect or abuse. The vast majority of foster children make the transition into their adoptive families and grow up very successfully.

  Adoptive Parents Are The Real Parents: The 'real' parents of the child who was adopted are the adoptive parents, because they are the ones who are legally and morally responsible for the child; they are the ones who parent. In general, law and society have appropriately treated adoptive parents the same as biological parents. In the best interests of children, we should continue to do so. The interests and well-being of adopted children are thoroughly intertwined with those of the adoptive family. 

Being supportive of positive adoption policies at the national level goes beyond helping children in foster care, it should be made a component of all Pro Life campaigns. Making adoption an easier choice for pregnant women and keeping adoption support available for adoptive parents will impact the number of abortions chosen each year.

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Single Issue Voting

2008-10-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

I have come to believe that it would be an irresponsible act to select the next leader of the largest and most powerful free nation in the world based one one or two hot button issues.

While pondering the shortcomings of single issue voting, this statement by Jesus about religious hypocrisy came to mind...

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices — mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel." (Matthew 23:23-24)

Please take the time to read these two posts on the God's Politics Blog...

My Personal ‘Faith Priorities’ for this Election by Jim Wallis

Voting as Damage Control by Shane Claiborne

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Are You A Hippie Jesus Freak?

2008-07-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

Here is another page from my old website...

Are You A Hippie Jesus Freak?

Are You A Hippie Jesus Freak? Take the test and find out...
The higher your POINTS score the more of a Hippie Jesus Freak you are!

Check the boxes for which your answer is "yes". There is a total of 100 possible points. The "submit" button is at the end of the test.

Have you ever said "God is groovy", "Hell is a real bummer", or "Get high on Jesus"? 10pts

Have you ever said "Smile God loves you" to a total stranger? 10pts

Were you baptized in an ocean, lake, river, or swimming pool? OR Have you ever baptized anyone in an ocean, lake, river, or swimming pool? 10pts

Brothers

Blue Jeans and Tie-dye? 10pts

Suit & Tie? 0pts

Barefoot? 10pts

Sandals? 5pts

Wing Tips? 0pts

Sisters

Patchwork Skirt? 10pts

Long Dress / Pants Suit? 0pts

Barefoot? 10pts

Sandals? 5pts

High Heels? 0pts

Dance? 10pts

Clap your hands? 5pts

Tap your foot? 3pts

Tofu and Green Tea? 10pts

Pop Tarts and Pepsi? 0pts

Past your shoulders? 10pts

Just to your collar? 5pts

Shorter than 1/2 inch? 0pts

Have you ever taken your Bible to a drum circle? 10pts

Have you ever taken your drum to church? 10pts

After you submit your answers to get your POINTS total use your browser's BACK button to return to this test page. At the bottom of this test you can find out what your POINTS score means.

What Your Test Points Say About You

The higher your POINTS score the more "corrupt" (Hippie Jesus Freak) you are, therefore the lower the POINTS score the more "pure" (normal) you are. There are 100 POINTS possible and remember - this is just for fun and it is in no way meant to offend anyone!

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a PECULIAR people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light... 1 Peter 2:9

100 POINTS: You are a total Hippie Jesus Freak! You are a free spirit, you are not afraid to sing and dance before the Lord, even in public places. Don't ever change!

75 to 99 POINTS: You color outside the lines more than the average Christian. You most likely drive a VW, you clap in time while you sing in church, and would you dance if you knew how. You're almost there!

50 to 74 POINTS: You most likely work a 9 to 5 job, live in the "burbs", and drive a Min-Van. You might even clap in church, but find it difficult keeping time. Don't give up!

25 to 49 POINTS: You work a 9 to 5 white collar job and drive a Lexus. You are afraid to clap in church because you might not be able to keep time while singing so you just tap your foot. Go on and give it a try!

0 to 24 POINTS: What can I say, God loves everyone, even "normal" people. Loosen up some!

Q: I scored 80 points on the “Are You A Jesus Freak?” test, but the results said I was 20% pure and 80% corrupt. Isn't that backwards?

A: This does sound backwards. But, the way the test is scored by the server that calculates the answers, it is correct. It is a “Purity Test”, which means that the more points you get the less “pure” you are. In your case 80% “corrupt” means that you are 80% Hippie Jesus Freak and only 20% “pure” (20% “non-corrupted” by Hippie Jesus Freaks).

The best thing to do is note your POINTS and then go back to the test page. Below the questions there is a section that explains what the POINTS mean. Remember that the test is just for fun!

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Ten Years of Hippie Christian Peace, Love, and Light

2008-07-04T09:05:00.000-07:00

The Fourth of July marks many important events... the birth of our country, the birth of my lovely wife, and the birth of my first website... The Drumming Hippie Jesus Freak. That first website went through many changes over the years and eventually ended up as the Hippie Christian Blog.

Here are some of the pages from My Old Website

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

CSN Live!

2008-06-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

The non-profit that I work for put on it's annual fundraiser concert last night and we were able to book CSN for the event... beyond cool. Although as an employee I could have gotten in to general admission for free, I bought two tickets in the reserved section, second row - center stage just behind the sponsorship tables... but at the last minute someone wanted to buy my seats so my employer gave me an upgrade to the VIP tables... third row from the stage! What a total blessing, I have never had seats this good. Thank you, I'll work for free for the rest of the year, just kidding.

What can be said about Crosby, Stills & Nash?

Wow!

I am a big David Crosby fan and he really came through last night. David and Graham Nash carried the show for most of the night. David and Graham controlled the stage with their vocals while Stephen Stills completely sat out many of the songs, but Stills guitar work is second to none and last night he was a force to be reckoned with.

I was trying to think of one song that summed up the CSN concert last night, too many to choose from. They closed with one of my favorites "Teach Your Children" (we all noticed the absence of Suite Judy Blue Eyes) but there was the new Graham Nash song "In Your Name" that was hauntingly beautiful and at the same time such a powerful and timely song. Graham's new song is actually a prayer for peace and it nearly brought me to tears.

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Magic Kindom Is Still Magical

2008-06-04T05:52:00.000-07:00

We took some much needed vacation time last month. We took our beautiful star to Disneyland for the first time. We had a great time, it is a lot of work to have fun, but it was worth it. It was so magical to see her light up when she met Mickey and Minnie. It has been almost twenty-five years since we were last at the Magic Kingdom with our birth-children. There was so much to see and do, but we were ever mindful of the need for naps - not only for Bella, but also for us! We made an effort to ride some of the old standards and do some new things too. We ate at the Blue Bayou for the first time. It was by far the most expensive meal we have had at Disneyland, but the food and the service was second to none... well worth it. Bella's favorite was the King Arthur Carrousel, she must have ridden it three times!

We took the Amtrak train to Disneyland to avoid driving in So Cal traffic with a toddler in the back seat. Although it took a few extra hours going by rail, it was a great way to travel with a little one and a wonderful way to meet new people. The freedom to move about the train and explore made the travel time pass quickly. Eating in the dinning car while taking in some breathtaking California coastal scenery is a special treat. The food was much better than airline fare and the view far surpassed any that we have experienced in a stationary ocean view restaurant at any price.

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

But Distance Takes Away The Horror!

2008-05-26T07:35:00.000-07:00

"It is astonishing how distance blunts the keen edge of anything that is disagreeable. War is at all times a most fearful scourge. The thought of slain bodies and of murdered men must always harrow up the soul; but because we hear of these things in the distance, there are few Englishmen who can truly enter into their horrors. If we should hear the booming of cannon on the deep which girdles this island; if we should see at our doors the marks of carnage and bloodshed; then should we more thoroughly appreciate what war means. But distance takes away the horror, and we therefore speak of war with too much levity, and even read of it with an interest not sufficiently linked with pain."

From the sermon "A Present Religion" by the English Baptist minister Charles H. Spurgeon (1834–1892) on May 30, 1858, Music Hall, Royal Surrey Gardens.

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Do we find the cost of freedom, buried in the ground?

2008-05-25T07:58:00.000-07:00

Find The Cost Of Freedom by Stephen Stills (CSN&Y)

Daylight again, following me to bed
I think about a hundred years ago, how my fathers bled
I think I see a valley, covered with bones in blue
All the brave soldiers that cannot get older been askin' after you
Hear the past a callin', from Ar-megeddon's side
When everyone's talkin' and noone is listenin', how can we decide?

(Do we) find the cost of freedom, buried in the ground
Mother earth will swallow you, lay your body down
Find the cost of freedom, buried in the ground
Mother earth will swallow you, lay your body down
(Find the cost of freedom buried in the ground)

Note: Due to a Freedom of Information Act request, the Air Force has released 288 photographs showing soldiers' remains arriving home. These are the images that the Pentagon prevented the public from seeing. View them at www.thememoryhole.org/war/coffin_photos/dover/

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

WAR - What Is It Good For?

2008-05-24T06:50:00.000-07:00

Every trip to Santa Monica Beach while growing up in Southern California included a view of the Los Angeles National Cemetery. This was one of the most influential images of my youth that helped shape my opinion about war. Check out this link to a YouTube video set to Edwin Starr's song WAR.

WAR by EDWIN STARR

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y'all

War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

Ohhh, war, I despise
Because it means destruction
Of innocent lives

War means tears
To thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
And lose their lives

I said, war, huh
Good God, y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing
But a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Ooooh, war
It's an enemy to all mankind
The point of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die
Aaaaah, war-huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War, huh
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again y'all
War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, it's got one friend
That's the undertaker
Ooooh, war, has shattered
Many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much to short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life
It can only take it away

Ooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again

War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Peace, love and understanding
Tell me, is there no place for them today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there's got to be a better way

Ooooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
You tell me
Say it, say it, say it, say it

War, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Stand up and shout it
Nothing

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Hippie Christian?

2008-05-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

Here is another page from my old website...

Hippie Christian???

I can not speak on behalf of all Hippies nor can I pretend to be the spokesman for every Christian. I can only offer my own opinion as an individual who grew up in the 60s and experienced both worlds firsthand. In 1969 I had a personal encounter with the true and living God and Father of all creation through His son Jesus Christ. I then joined what has been called the most powerful move of God in modern times which swept through the youth and Hippie subculture of America and became known as the Jesus Movement.

Just one man's opinion...

If we strip away all of the politics and materialism that has crept into the modern church and go back to First Century Christianity we will find an interesting parallel between true Christianity and Hippiedom sans the drugs and free love. Rather than reducing Jesus to a long hair Hippie cliche complete with beard and sandals I would prefer to focus on Jesus' message and its relationship to Hippie culture. It is important to note that the banner of peace, love and cosmic connection under which most Hippies gather is at the very heart of Jesus' teachings.

We can find the core of Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel chapters 5 through 7. If only these three chapters of Jesus' words survived the past two millennium we would have all the truth necessary to live in peace and harmony with both our Creator and our fellow pilgrims here on planet Earth. The Sermon on the Mount is what could be called the Hippie Christian Manifesto. It contains such treasures as The Beatitudes, The Lord's Prayer, The Golden Rule, and Turning the Other Cheek.

But beyond those treasures, beyond the call to avoid hypocrisy, beyond the mandate to shun materialism, beyond the proclamation that peacemakers are God's children, greater than all these we find in the Sermon on the Mount a theme that offers a connection to the Creator of the universe. Jesus does something totally revolutionary and unheard of before His time, He presents God as our Father.

Jesus is the consummation of our Hippie quest for not only peace and love but also Jesus provides the cosmic connection that binds all of us together as Children of The Light.

Going to church does not make you a Christian nor does wearing tie-dye make you a Hippie any more than sitting in a garage changes people into automobiles. Christianity and Hippiedom are both heart things and together they become a lifestyle more true to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount than what modern Christianity offers today.

Being a Hippie Christian is possible, and it is most likely less of a contradiction than being an American Christian. If we all were to follow the truth contained in the Sermon on the Mount there would be less of a distinction between Hippie and Christian.

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Love!

2008-05-03T08:21:00.000-07:00

Here is another page from my old website...

LOVE!

WHOEVER IS WISE,
LET HIM HEED THESE THINGS
AND CONSIDER
THE GREAT LOVE
OF THE LORD.
(Psalms 107:43)

UNFAILING LOVE
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
(Psalms 100:5)

How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.
(Psalms 36:7)

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
(1Corinthians 13:13)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:35&39)

GREAT LOVE
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
(1John 3:1)

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
-JESUS (John 3:16)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:8)

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
(1John 3:16)

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love... Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
-JESUS (John 15:9&13)

"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."
-JESUS (John 14:23)

BROTHERLY LOVE
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
(1John 4:7&8)

If anyone says, "I love God", yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
(1John 4:20&21)

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
(Matthew 22:36-40)

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
-JESUS (John 13:34&35)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22&23)

MAY THE LORD DIRECT YOUR HEARTS INTO GOD'S LOVE AND CHRIST'S PERSEVERANCE.
(2 Thessalonians 3:5)

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Earth Day

2008-04-27T00:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I took our little one to a local Earth Day event, we wore our new Rainforest Cafe shirts that we picked up last week during our trip to Disneyland. Here is my new tie-died shirt, I received many comments about it and that allowed me to give away some Seeds cd's that Scott at Street Level was so kind to send my way.

Members of an interfaith group had a booth promoting ideas on how to "Green Your Church" The flyer that they were handing out had a lot of good common sense tips on conserving energy that local churches could use to help reduce their impact on the environment.

The ultimate way to "green" a church is to not have a building at all and use our homes to meet in. This would not only reduce the impact that a large building has on the environment, it would also free up financial resources for ministry. For more info on simple church check out an excellent book by Robert Fitts The Church in the House a Return to Simplicity.

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Peace Symbol Turns Fifty

2008-04-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

This year the peace symbol turns fifty! Timeless & ageless... still looking good!

The 50th Anniversary Of The Peace Symbol - A Cultural Icon Dates Back Years Before Its Use Against The Vietnam War

A few years back I received an e-mail about my using the peace symbol on my old website. I was being exhorted by this brother that the peace symbol was "demonic" because the symbol was "representing the upside down cross". Below is part of my response...

I once thought that the peace sign was a satanic symbol too, but now I know differently. Originally the peace symbol was designed for a Nuclear Disarmament march in the mid 50's using the semaphore symbols for N & D which stood for nuclear disarmament.

I have often wondered, if the peace symbol is satanic because it is thought to represent an inverted cross, why then did Peter chose to be crucified up-side-down? Our cherished emblem of the cross was actually a cruel form of torture used by the Roman Empire, so why do we have them around our necks? And which of the four types of crosses used by the Romans did Jesus die on? Was it the Crux Commissa (Tau Cross) shaped like the letter T? Was it the Crux Decussata (St. Andrew’s Cross) which looks like the letter X? Was it the one adopted from the Greek Cross (Maltese Cross) that looks like a plus sign +? Possibly it was the Crux Imissa which looks like a small letter t? I do not see any resemblance between the peace symbol and any of the crosses that may have been used to crucify our Lord, inverted or otherwise.

The shape of the cross does not have any holy significance, only the fact that Jesus lived a perfect life and gave it to pay for our debt of sin. It does not matter how Jesus gave his life as a ransom for our souls, it only matters that he did it and that the Father approved of the ransom and raised Jesus from the tomb! It is the MESSAGE of the cross, not its shape that is important.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1Corinthians 1:18)

“And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:20)

-Kevin

I found a couple of websites that have a history of how the peace sign came about...

www.nonukesnorth.net/peacesymbol.shtml

www.abcme.com/peace_signs.htm

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Relevant Lyrics

2008-03-28T07:44:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share some lyrics by Larry Norman that I felt were important, but I was having trouble picking which song to post. There are so many that impacted me in my early Hippie Jesus Freak days, and still do. I decided on The Great American Novel, it is one that is just as relevant today as it was when Larry Norman first sang it in the early 1970's.

THE GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL
by Larry Norman

I was born and raised an orphan
in a land that once was free
in a land that poured its love out on the moon
and I grew up in the shadows
of your silos filled with grain
but you never helped to fill my empty spoon

And when I was ten you murdered law
with courtroom politics
and you learned to make a lie sound just like truth
but I know you better now
and I don't fall for all your tricks
and you've lost the one advantage of my youth

You kill a black man at midnight
just for talking to your daughter
then you make his wife your mistress
and you leave her without water
and the sheet you wear upon your face
is the sheet your children sleep on
at every meal you say a prayer
you don't believe but still you keep on

And your money says in God we trust
but it's against the law to pray in school
you say we beat the Russians to the moon
and I say you starved your children to do it

You are far across the ocean
in a war that is not your own
and while you're winning theirs
you're gonna lose the one at home
do you really think the only way
to bring about the peace
is to sacrifice your children
and kill all your enemies

The politicians all make speeches
while the news men all take notes
and they exaggerate the issues
as they shove them down our throats
is it really up to them whether
this country sinks or floats
well I wonder who would lead us
if none of us would vote

Well my phone is tapped
and my lips are chapped
from whispering through the fence
you know every move I make
or is that just coincidence
will you try to make my way of life
a little less like jail
if I promise to make tapes and slides
and send them through the mail

And your money says in God we trust
but it's against the law to pray in school
you say we beat the Russians to the moon
and I say you starved your children to do it

You say all men are equal all men are brothers
then why are the rich more equal than others
don't ask me for the answers I've only got one
that a man leaves his darkness
when he follows the Son

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Larry Norman Has Left The Planet

2008-03-24T08:16:00.000-07:00

Larry Norman influenced my life so much with his writing and his music. Larry was THE pioneer in Christian Rock music and was considered the poet laureate of the Jesus People Movement in the late 1960's.

Larry Norman, 'Father of Christian Rock,' Dies at 60

Here is part of Larry's final message...

"I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God's hand reaching down to pick me up. I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home....

...Goodbye, farewell, we'll meet again somewhere beyond the sky.
I pray that you will stay with God
Goodbye, my friends, goodbye."

Missing you Bro... looking forward to meeting you in eternity!

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Friday That We Call Good!

2008-03-21T07:17:00.000-07:00

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

5 Years Of War

2008-03-16T08:13:00.000-07:00

"War Sucks!" read the signs carried by the Code Pink group as they marched yesterday in the rain. War sucks the life and the resources out of our nation explained several of the marchers as we walked along the sidewalk listening to the drumbeat of makeshift percussion. We personally didn't make the entire route because we were pushing a toddler in a stroller and the rain was getting worse, but we did march a few blocks before ducking into a fast food restaurant.

It's been five years folks! Let's find a way out!

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

So What Color Was Jesus?

2008-03-15T10:41:00.000-07:00

There was a lot of discussion this week in the media about race. I can't help but wonder why we are comfortable having a man of color die for our sins, but electing a black man as President seems to bring up so many ugly feelings and comments. So... really, what color was Jesus? Is white America ready for the possibility that Jesus may have looked like the people blowing-up our troops in Iraq or even the African-American candidate running for the highest office in the land?

According to an article by Giles Wilson in the BBC News Online Magazine Jesus was most likely 'a man of color'. The article quotes Professor Vincent Wimbush, an expert on ethnic interpretations of the Bible at California's Claremont Graduate University, who says the matter of the historical color of Jesus seems to him a "flat, dead-end issue". "He's of Mediterranean stock, and it's quite clear what that means. We see people like that in the world today, and that should end the matter."

The article also quotes New Testament scholar Dr Mark Goodacre, of the University of Birmingham. Dr Goodacre was involved in the reconstruction of a Middle Eastern first century skull for the BBC's Son of God program in 2001, which resulted in a suggestion of what a man like Jesus might have looked like. Dr Goodacre said that "We do seem to have a relatively dark skinned Jesus. In contemporary parlance I think the safest thing is to talk about Jesus as 'a man of color'." This probably means olive-coloured, he says.

Why in the 21st century are we still being divided by race issues?

Colored People - by Dc Talk

Pardon me, your epidermis is showing, sir
I couldn’t help but note your shade of melanin
I tip my hat to the colorful arrangement
Cause I see the beauty in the tones of our skin

We’ve gotta come together
And thank the Maker of us all

(chorus)
We’re colored people, and we live in a tainted place
We’re colored people, and they call us the human race
We’ve got a history so full of mistakes
And we are colored people who depend on a holy grace

A piece of canvas is only the beginning for
It takes on character with every loving stroke
This thing of beauty is the passion of an artist’s heart
By God’s design, we are a skin kaleidoscope

We’ve gotta come together,
Aren’t we all human after all?

(repeat chorus)

Ignorance has wronged some races
And vengeance is the Lord’s
If we aspire to share this space
Repentance is the cure

Well, just a day in the shoes of a color blind man
Should make it easy for you to see
That these diverse tones do more than cover our bones
As a part of our anatomy

(repeat chorus)

We’re colored people, and they call us the human race
[oh, colored people]
We’re colored people, and we all gotta share this space
[yeah we’ve got to come together somehow]
We’re colored people, and we live in a tainted world
[red and yellow, black and white]
We’re colored people, every man, woman, boy, and girl
[colored people, colored people, colored people, colored people, yeah]

Here are some 1st century comments about race...

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26-28)

...put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. (Colossians 3:10-11)

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. (1 Corinthians 12:13-14)

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Bomb Bomb Bomb, Bomb Bomb Iran????

2008-03-13T07:55:00.000-07:00

Speaking at Murrells Inlet VFW Hall in South Carolina last year, John McCain was asked what to do about Iran...

His answer was to sing "Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran" to the tune of Barbara Ann, a popular Beach Boys song.

Recently John McCain received the endorsement of popular televangelist John Hagee. Last year I was given one of Hagee's books titled "Jerusalem Countdown", I will not attempt to review the book or Hagee's eschatology, but in it he endorses a preemptive strike against Iran to protect Israel.

Does this give John McCain the moral and spiritual backing he needs for expanding the conflict in the middle east? Now with Admiral William Fallon out of the way will Bush and McCain move forward with an attack on Iran? Is this the green light they most likely were looking for? Pray for peace!

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
(1Timothy 2:1-2)

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
  Kevin (Cloud)

Who Would Jesus Bomb?

2008-03-12T08:10:00.001-07:00

While listening to the news of Admiral Fallon's early retirement, I thought it was necessary to post about the message of peace. A monk gave me this pin when my wife and I visited a monastery in Big Sur a few years back, I have kept it in plain sight ever since to remind me of Jesus' message...

"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. " -Jesus
(Luke 6:35)

Admiral William Fallon the commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, resigned yesterday. Admiral Fallon didn't believe that war with Iran made sense or was winnable. Let's hope and pray that someone else with some common sense replaces Admiral Fallon and keeps us out of Iran.

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Happy Christmas (War Is Over)

2007-12-24T23:51:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
John Lennon

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The road is so long

And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

War is over over
If you want it
War is over
Now...

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Peace!

2007-10-21T08:55:00.001-07:00

Here is another page from my old website...

PEACE!

Everyone wants world peace. People everywhere are looking for peace, some march for peace, others pray for peace, and many try to help create a peaceful lifestyle. Peace is not merely the absence of conflict though - it is something that has to be a part of each individual, it must begin deep within each of us!

"...Seek peace and pursue it!"
Psalm 34:14

WAR & PEACE
Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
(James 4:1-3)

Woe to those who... rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD.
(Isaiah 31:1)

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
(Psalm 20:7)

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
(Psalm 4:8)

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the tricks of the devil. For we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against rulers and powers whom we cannot see. We are fighting against those who control the darkness of this world, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
(Ephesians 6:10-12)

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
(1Timothy 2:1-2)

The kingdom of God is not about what a person eats and drinks. But it is about living in a way which is right with God. It is peace. It is joy because a person has the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 14:17)

PERSONAL PEACE
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Romans 5:1)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 15:13)

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:7)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23)

PRINCE OF PEACE
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
(Ephesians 2:17)

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:5)

For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Jesus, and through Jesus reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood that Jesus shed on the cross.
(Colossians 1:19-20)

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."
- Jesus (Matthew 5:9)

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world gives it. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
- Jesus (John 14:27)

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
- Jesus (John 16:33)

If we want true and lasting world peace, then each of us must first be at peace our selves. Before we can help create peace in the world around us we need peace within ourselves emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. If we are to know true peace, then each of us must personally come to know the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ!

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Website No More

2007-10-06T10:29:00.000-07:00

Sorry guys... I decided after nine years and 90,000 visits to shut down HippieChristian.org. The website was started on July 4, 1998 as an effort to connect with other hippie refugees of the 60's Jesus Movement, over time it went through several transformations and seemed to take on a life of it's own. I received many kind e-mails from folks around the world and I was able to send Gospel packets via snail mail to many distant places that I would have never been able to visit in person. The time has come to move on.

My hippie roots are still an important part of who I am, but I have discovered roots that go much deeper and my personal faith journey is taking my to new places. Actually I am headed down an old path that was traveled by my great (x5) grandfather. I am exploring my Quaker roots and finding that I have more in common with the Quaker testimony than with any other christian tradition that I have been associated with. I will share more on this part of my journey in future posts.

On occasion I will post some content from HippieChristian.org pages here on my blog. Please feel free to copy them and share them with others if you so desire.

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Some Helpful Tips For Hippie Christians

2007-10-06T09:57:00.000-07:00

Here is one of those old pages for you to enjoy...

Some Helpful Tips For Hippie Christians

Rap With God Daily (Luke 18:1, John 15:7)
Talk with your Heavenly Father, have an ongoing conversation with him all day long. This isn’t a one-way dialogue with you telling God all of your wants and needs, prayer involves silence too. Take time to listen to what the Father is speaking to your heart, prayer is meant to be a dynamic exchange between you and God.

Meditate on the Bible Daily (Psalm 119:99, Acts 17:11)
The Bible is the most important book you could read. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) The Bible tells us how God has revealed himself throughout the ages, it contains the Good News of God’s love for you. I suggest that you start reading the part about Jesus and his early followers in the New Testament - John’s Gospel is a great place to start.

Keep the Faith (Romans 1:17, Hebrews 11:6)
The size of your faith is not important, only that you use what ever amount of faith that you have. Jesus taught that faith the size of a small seed is enough to move mountains. Faith is like a muscle, the more you exercise it, the larger and stronger it becomes.

Trust & Obey God (John 14:21, 1 Peter 5:7)
God cares for you. You can trust that because of his love for you, all that he asks you to do is for your own good or the good of someone else. God does not say “do this” or “don’t do that” just to be mean and controlling. The Father’s love is so great that the things that he wants you to avoid are things that are harmful to you and those around you. The things that he asks you to do are ways that you can be an extension of his love to others.

Hang-Out With Brothers & Sisters Who Believe (Hebrews 10:25)
Next to hanging out with God through prayer and reading the Bible, being around other believers is the most important thing that you could do. The Father wants a relationship with you and for you to be in relationship with your brothers and sister too. This is how you grow and progress on your journey of faith.

Be Baptized (Mark 16:16, Acts 8:12, Galatians 3:27)
Baptism is a symbolic washing away of your old life and being raised up into a new life. It means nothing if you haven’t chosen to follow Jesus, baptism alone can not give you life, it only is an outward expression of what God has done in your heart.

Receive the Spirit of God to Help You Walk the Walk (Luke 11:13, John 14:26, Acts 1:8)
It is by the Holy Spirit of God that you are empowered to overcome sin and evil, it is how you hear God’s voice.

Kick Down the Good News (Mark 16:15)
Have you ever had something that was so cool that you couldn’t wait to share it with your friends, you wanted to turn them on to it too? Have you ever heard some great news that you couldn’t hold it inside any longer for fear that you would explode, you just had to tell somebody about it? Think about all the stuff that you have turned your friends on to (some good, some maybe not so good) well... that is exactly the same thing that you are to do with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the most exciting person you will ever met and you are so in love with him that you will just explode if you don’t tell someone about him.

Be Kind & Love One Another (Matthew 22:36-40, Galatians 6:9-10, 1 John 4:20)
Jesus said the greatest thing you could do is to love God with your whole being and to love those around you. Kind acts are love in motion.

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

31st Anniversary

2007-08-19T09:22:00.000-07:00

This week we celebrate our 31st wedding anniversary! It sounds like a long time, yet it feels like only days have passed. When I tell folks that we have been married for 31 years they always comment on how unusual that is these days and congratulate us. This is the photo that I carry in my wallet, what a beautiful bride! Oh, and by the way, I got a haircut for the wedding the day before.

We have been through so much in these last few years with our kids, and it seems like another lifetime when I try to recall when they were babies. The other day we were driving home from the grocery store with our granddaughter in the back seat and the local oldies radio station had a song on that I remember listening to when our birth children were little. Here we are 31 years latter listening to the same music, still together, still in love, and still with a little child in the back seat. I told my wife that I felt ageless.

Ageless... that is how I can sum up our relationship. We have weathered 31 years of life together, ups and downs, good and bad, but we have always been there for each other! When I first saw my future bride it was at church, I said to my self "I really need to meet her". It was on our third date that I asked her to marry me, of course she said yes. When we decided to get married we were only 19, but I said that I only want to get married once in my life and she was the one. On our wedding day we had only known each other for six months.

...Who said love at first sight couldn't last?

God said, "It's not good for the Man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion." (Genesis 2:18)

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Deterrence - A Formula For Disaster

2007-08-04T08:52:00.000-07:00

“I am the only person who ever looked at all twelve thousand five hundred of our targets. And when I got through I was horrified. Deterrence was a formula for disaster. We escaped disaster by the grace of God. If you ask one person who has lived in this arena his whole career, I have come to one conclusion. This has to end. This must stop. This must be our highest priority.”

- General George Lee Butler, United States Air Force (Retired), head of US Strategic Nuclear Forces 1991-1994

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

We Came In Peace For all Mankind

2007-07-21T17:57:00.000-07:00

Thirty-eight years ago this week I was glued to the television set watching the most amazing trek humankind had undertaken since Ferdinand Magellan circumnavigated the globe in 1519 - the flight of Apollo 11 and the first man to walk on the moon. All these wonderful NASA photos can be found at The Project Apollo Archive.

This plaque was attached to one of the Lunar Lander's legs. It remains there on the moon to this day. I find it interesting that those words were chosen while the Vietnam war was ragging.

What an awesome view of our beautiful planet. The earth sure looks like a welcoming place to visit in contrast to the appearance of the moon. From here it looks so peaceful and alive. If we "came in peace" to such a desolate and uninhabitable place like the moon, then why can't we live in peace on earth?

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

In The News

2007-07-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

Somehow I made it on to the religion page of the Dallas Morning News as the website of the week...

Web Site of the Week: Hippie Christian

09:27 PM CDT on Friday, April 28, 2006

This site is maintained by a guy named Kevin - or Cloud, as he was known back in the day. He explains how to live the hippie Christian lifestyle: Study and follow Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, hang out with like-minded believers, talk daily with God. His hippie lifestyle defies some of the stereotypes; he writes that he prefers to stay sober to hear God's voice. But there's no mistaking the site's groovy design - peace symbols, tie-dye and rainbow colors.

There's a silly quiz to determine whether you're a hippie Jesus freak, and a collection of drum rhythms for drum circles. The most poignant writings are found on his blog, linked from the site. The hippie and his wife are taking care of their infant granddaughter while the girl's parents fight drug problems, he says. Grandpa Cloud's musings on love, faith and parenthood are sincere and worth following.

Tyra Damm

Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/0428dnrelwebweek.2809867.html

Thanks Tyra for the kind words!

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

07-07-07

2007-07-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

Another mystical, magical combination of numbers for today's date... 07-07-07.

Some have tried to capitalize on the significance of today's date. Well for someone born on a Friday the 13th I have a hard time buying into all the fanfare. First it was the Y2K thing, yawn! Then it was 06-06-06, oops 666 is the number of a man not a day. Now it's 07-07-07, hold on to your hat Martha - it's a new age a'comin'.

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. (Romans 14:5-6)

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Juggling Followup

2007-06-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

How could I be so remiss as to write about juggling and not mention the 60's hippie icon Wavy Gravy. A post today on the Hippie Christian Bulletin Board caused me to realize my faux-pa. One sister's post about Wavy Gravy brought up a good observation...

"My grandfathers claimed to know Jesus yet their life did not reflect the love that does this man's life. Perhaps they don't know Jesus as much as they think, and just maybe he knows Jesus more than he realizes."

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

All You Need To Know To Develop Amazing Juggling Skills

2007-06-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

That is the sub-title of a book I spotted at a local store marked down for clearance, it is hard for me to pass up a bargain. The step-by-step book came complete with three colorful balls to get me started on my journey to the circus. I have never been very coordinated, especially with round objects that require any degree of throwing and catching skills. I usually end up with either a face full of ball or having to chase the elusive round object that had somehow passed right through my hands.

I have always been fascinated by juggling and I have a hard time passing up an item on sale so I bought the book. I have spent more time picking up the little multi-colored balls than I have spent catching them, so from time to time I put the book away allowing my back to rest from recovering the colorful orbs.

One of the more important tips for juggling is learning where to look while tossing the balls. This is the hardest thing for me to master at this time because it involves NOT looking at the objects that I am attempting to juggle, but rather looking UP. I read that I am not to keep my eyes on the object but they are to be focused upward and I am not looking at my hands either but having faith that the balls will return to my hands only long enough to release them again.

The spiritual lesson for me is threefold...

First: Keep my eyes focused heavenward where my help comes from and not focused on my current situation. I am to look to the heights that my situation can soar to and not the lowest point. Being focused upward forces me to not worry about being in the depths of despair.

Second: Don't focus on my hands (my own strength) it will only mess me up. If I am concerned with how I will do it then I am not having faith that Father is in control. If I am looking at my hands then I am worrying about how I will get hold of the situation rather that how I will release it upward to God again.

Third: Even though situations may end up in my hands again they are to be released upward to Father on a continuing cycle. I am through prayer and conscience effort tossing to God everything that lands in my hands. He allows them to be there long enough for me to give them back to Him. If I hold on to them my hands get too full to do anything else productive. If I let them drop to the floor then my hands are empty and idle, uninvolved with the Father's work.

"...look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near...” -Jesus (Luke 21:28)

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Memorial Day

2007-05-28T08:30:00.001-07:00

Anonther Memorial Day... and according to an Associated Press story "Nearly 1,000 American troops have been killed in Iraq since last Memorial Day, and that number is expected to rise."

Read my Memorial Day post from last year... Today I Fly The Flag

Keep praying for our leaders...
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
(1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Bush Warned of Iraq Challenges

2007-05-26T09:40:00.000-07:00

Here is the biggest "I told you so" that I have heard in a long time... Bush was twice warned of Iraq challenges

From the Los Angeles Times

Prewar reports alerted the president to the difficulty of establishing democracy, among other assessments that proved accurate. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), said the report demonstrated that "the intelligence community gave the administration plenty of warning about the difficulties we would face if the decision was made to go to war." He added: "These dire warnings were widely distributed at the highest levels of government, and it's clear that the administration didn't plan for any of them."

Too bad our President didn't heed this proverb...

Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)

Candy Flavored Crap

2007-05-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

This is the reason that I feel the "War On Drugs" should start to look like a real war... Candy Flavored Meth. What sick mind thought of that? To borrow a line from my favorite Bruce Cockburn song... "If I had a rocket launcher...Some son of a bitch would die "

Read the story here...
MSNBC - Drug Dealers Peddling New Kid-Friendly Mixes

Snopes.com - Candy Meth

"Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5)

Peace, Love, and Light through Jesus the Christ!
Kevin (Cloud)