Pray 4 Peace...

After the President ordered our Armed Forces to attack Iran I designed a button that says, "Pray 4 Peace".

Some people really liked it, but one person said that he's going to vote instead. I get it, not everyone prays but I think I'll do both.  I'm not only going to Pray 4 Peace and planning to vote, I've also been writing letters to my representatives in Washington.

We have the First Amendment right to gather peacefully and to speak our mind. We have the right to let the powers that be in Washington know that we don't agree with the Government. So, there's that action too that we have the privilege to exercise.

Jesus said that Peacemakers are called the Children of God, that his Kingdom is not of this world, and it's been said that when Jesus told Peter to put his sword away, he disarmed us all. We need to remember that our first assignment as Jesus Followers is to love our neighbors, love our enemies, and pray for those who treat us badly.

We are also urged to pray for those in power so that we might live peaceful lives. In First Timothy we read "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior." (1 Timothy 2:1-3)

So, no matter how we voice our varied opinions, let's keep it peaceful and respectful. 

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

You can order these buttons directly from the manufacturer. Go to the Wacky Buttons Order Page and enter Design Code 4035382 on the Order by Design Code link. I don't make a single penny on any of these orders; I'm just sharing the Design Code to make it easier for people to get some of these buttons directly from WackyButtons.com

Save The World

"If we think that bombs, missiles, and drone strikes raining down from the heavens on people that we call enemies is how God is going to save the world, we're not yet credible Christians.

The world is saved by love, and no other way. And the love that saves the world is often a crucified love."

From Brian Zahnd's sermon Beauty Will Save The World, March 8, 2026

"Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they shall be called

the children of God"

~Jesus

 

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

(AI generated image)

That We May Live in Peace

 

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)

While the 1st Century Church was living under the iron fist of Roman occupation, they were being encouraged to pray for kings and all who were in positions of authority. Rather than take up arms to secure their freedom from tyranny, they were urged to offer prayers for all local and world leaders so that they could enjoy peace and quiet. Their prayers weren't to be for regimen change, to rid themselves of evil rullers, but that there would be a way for them to live a peaceful life.

They were asked to not only pray for their rulers, they were also to give thanks for them as well. It seems upside down and backwards, but that is exactly how the Kingdom of God functions. More than once Jesus made it clear that the Kingdom of God is not of this world, and most importantly, how very differently it operates.

Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:44-45)

"Blessed are the Peacemakers,

for they will be called

the Children of God."

~Jesus

Peace, Love and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

I am Not Moved

I am not moved to rejoice over war, especially one being justified because of an eschatological theology that seems to be driven by apocalyptical fever dreams. We are not going to usher in the Kingdom of God or bring about the Apocalypse by triggering World War Three.

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

 

Quick - Slow - Slow

Quick, Slow, Slow is the formula that I try to employ when situations get tense. Not always good at it... sometimes the Redheaded Irishman gets the best of me, but I'm working on it. In these times of polarized politics and civil unrest I think it would help us get past all of the angry rhetoric if we could employ this little formula when we have disagreements. If we could pause for long enough to take a few deep breaths and listen to the other person's point of view, show some respect and empathy then we just might discover that we're closer to a solution than it first appeared.

"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)

Peace, Love and Light!
Kevin (Cloud) 

What If They Had A War and The Peacemakers Showed Up?

 

What if they had a war and nobody showed up? It might sound like a silly little sentiment, but it’s such a Hippie thing to say. Jesus said that His Kingdom was not of this world and we are told in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 that we don’t war against flesh and blood. Jesus said in the Beatitudes that Peacemakers would be called the children of God. But what is a Peacemaker and is that different than a Peacekeeper? A Peacemaker helps facilitate the resolution of conflict, makes a way for reconciliation, promotes healing, and works towards wholeness and justice for all parties. Whereas the role of a Peacekeeper is preventing the continuation of armed conflict or reengagement of combatants and to protect non-combatant civilians, by the use of force if necessary. The United Nations is an example of an international peacekeeping force. Your local police are actually called "Sworn Peace Officers” whose job is to preserve the peace, maintain public safety and to protect life, limb and property. The UN and local police officers are not Peacemakers - that’s not their mission, but ultimately Peacemakers and Peacekeepers need each other to bring about a peace that has a chance of being longterm and more than just the mere absence of conflict.

What if they had a war and the Peacemakers showed up?

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

     

The Work Will Remain The Work

 

As we start a new year, I ask myself what will I spend my time focused on in the days ahead? Will it be something important or a total time drain? Will I expend my energy doing something meaningful and worthwhile? Will it bring the Kingdom into someone's life.

 

Time and energy are very much in short supply these days and with so many distractions pulling in so many different directions, the day-to-day demands of life and the multiple streams of media promoting the latest cause célèbre it becomes almost impossible to stay focused and on task.

The Sermon on the Mount gives us the framework for Kingdom Life and what is important to focus our time, energy, and resources on.

I think that The Clergy Coaching Network said it quite succinctly:

"The work will remain the work.

To love your neighbor.

To be generous with a stranger.

To protect the water, the air, the soil.

To heal old wounds.

To not make new ones.

The work remains the work.

In fact it has all become,

suddenly, even more important."

So, the work will remain the work! It's not so much a New Year's resolution, I'm not one to make or for that matter keep New Year's resolutions. It comes as more of a resolve to stay on track, to keep on keeping on as we used to say.

Keep the faith and keep on truck'n

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

Rock Mass - Christmas 2025

 

Rock Mass

Rock Mass - Christmas 2025 Edition

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

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Rock Mass 11-02-2025

Rock Mass

Rock Mass 11/02/2025

“You are the salt of the earth,

but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?

It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

“You are the light of the world.

A city built on a hill cannot be hid.

People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket;

rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before others,

so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

~Jesus

(Matthew 5:13-16)

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

(1 Peter 2:9-10)

Peace, Love, and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

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It's Not a Spectator Sport!

 

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

(1 Peter 2:9-10)

...from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

(Ephesians 4:16)

It's not a spectator sport!

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

Rock Mass 10-05-2025

Rock Mass

Rock Mass 10/05/2025

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

(James 3:9-12)

Peace, Love, and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

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I Should Love My Opponents And Want Only The Best For Them

This morning, I snuck out of the house while everyone was still asleep. My goal was to satisfy a buttermilk pancake craving I've had for the last three days, but my dilemma was which diner to go to. Ultimately, I decided to go to a diner where I knew a few guys met on Friday mornings to discuss the Bible over breakfast hoping to at least say hello. As I was leaving, one of the Brothers recognized me from a previous chance encounter and introduced me to the group. I shared some of my thoughts about theology, that no matter how sound it might be, it is wrong if it leads to the mistreatment of others. I was asked what I was going to be doing for Jesus today, and I said I was going to be blogging today about loving our enemies... so that brings me to a topic that has been on my mind for the last week or so...

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says to "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven" and then follows up with the rhetorical question; "Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you?" This is so different from what we are seeing right now in our hyper-polarized Nation where tribalism and revenge politics rule the day.

If we are truly Children of God, then we cannot participate in the hatred of those whom we disagree with. No matter how right you think your cause is or how evil you believe the other side might be there is no room for hatred in the heart of someone who calls themself a Christian. We are called to a higher love, we must see everyone as precious in the eyes of God. Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect no matter how strongly we disagree with them. We are all entitled to our own opinions and with that we are all entitled to be wrong - but we are also entrusted with the care of our fellow human beings.

"The one major thing you have to remember is that the man next to you is your brother, and you'd damn well better treat each other that way because if you don't, then we blow the whole thing, but we've got it right there." (Announcement from "Chip" Monck, Woodstock 1969)

Our politics may be "Right" or "Left" or somewhere in the middle but first and foremost we are God's children and therefore Brothers and Sisters in God's eyes.

“But I tell you who hear me:

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

bless those who curse you,

and pray for those who mistreat you."

~Jesus (Luke 27-28)

Peace, Love and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

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