Friday, November 28, 2008

Barack Obama - Pastor Or President?

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)

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Jonestown - Remembering To Remember

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 


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

Sunday, November 16, 2008

National Adoption Day

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)

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Single Issue Voting

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)

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Are You A Hippie Jesus Freak?

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!


There is a total of 100 possible points.

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


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


  3. 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


  4. What are you more likely to wear in church?:


  5. Brothers
    Blue Jeans and Tie-dye 10pts

    Suit and 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


  6. In church which ONE are you more likely to do?:

  7. Dance 10pts

    Clap your hands 5pts

    Tap your foot 3pts


  8. When reading your Bible which one are you more likely to snack on?:

  9. Tofu and Green Tea 10pts

    Pop Tarts and Pepsi 0pts


  10. How long is your hair?:

  11. 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


Total up your POINTS and find out what your POINTS score means.

What Your Test Points Say About You

The higher your POINTS score the more Hippie Jesus Freak 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!

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

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

CSN Live!

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)

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

The Magic Kindom Is Still Magical

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)

Monday, May 26, 2008

But Distance Takes Away The Horror!


"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)

Sunday, May 25, 2008

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

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)

Saturday, May 24, 2008

WAR - What Is It Good For?

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)

Saturday, May 03, 2008

Hippie Christian?

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!

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)

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Earth Day

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)

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Peace Symbol Turns Fifty

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...

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament - The Symbol


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

Friday, March 28, 2008

The Great American Novel

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)

Monday, March 24, 2008

Larry Norman Has Left The Planet

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)

Friday, March 21, 2008

Sunday, March 16, 2008

5 Years Of War

"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)

Saturday, March 15, 2008

So What Color Was Jesus?

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)

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Bomb Bomb Bomb, Bomb Bomb Iran????

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)

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Who Would Jesus Bomb?

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)