Isn't There Any One Who Can Tell Me What Christmas Is All About?

Here is one of my favorite scenes from the Charles Schultz classic "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Here Linus, as usual, provides the moral and spiritual compass needed to answer Charlie Brown's ever present angst.



Happy Christmas!

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Hippie Christian Peace Tracts!

Hippie Christian Peace Tracts! I used to offer these as a "freebie" on my old website.

I would get requests for these from around the world. It was an amazing experience to send little packets of these Peace Tracts to far off places.

Through these little tracts I was able to connect with other Hippie Christians in places I may never be able to visit in person and help them spread the Gospel of Peace.

I have scans of the original below along with some instructions just in case someone would like to print their own to give away to their friends. I printed these on 8.5 inch x 11 inch "Astrobrights" colored paper and then cut them down to 2.75 inches x 8.5 inches. They fold in thirds to about 2.75 inches x 2.75 inches.

Hippie Christian Peace Tract - Front

Hippie Christian Peace Tract - Inside

 

Just click on the images to open up the full size versions. Print four "Front" images on one side of 8.5 x 11 paper and four "Inside" images on the back side. After printing both sides, cut down to the final size of 2.75 inches x 8.5 inches. Fold in thirds so the peace sign is on the front and the prayer is on the back, approximately 2.75 x 2.75 inches.

"...Freely ye have received; freely give" ~Jesus (Matthew 10:8)

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Salaam - Shalom - Peace

Photo: NASA

Then said Jesus unto him, "Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Matthew 26:52

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Wake Up And Smell The Coffee

Atom Bomb latte by Devin of Mozart's

In the time it takes to drink a $3.50 latte, the Pentagon spends $19,146,689 of our taxes.

Check out this cool online military spending calculator over at PentagonSpends.com

But, the U.S. isn't only spending money on arms, we are also the world's largest exporter of arms to foreign countries. According to a new study for Congress U.S. overseas arms sales reached a record high in 2011.

The New York Times reports that weapons sales by the United States tripled in 2011 to a record high, driven by major arms sales to Persian Gulf allies concerned about Iran's regional ambitions.

In 2011, the United States overseas weapons sales jumped to $66.3 billion. That figure makes up 77.7% of the $85.3 billion global arms market in 2011, up from $21.4 billion in U.S. overseas weapons deals in 2010.

John Lennon latte by Michael Keen
Studio 6 Coffee House, Denver, CO

 

"Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it."
~John Lennon

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Are You Truly Pro-Life?

B-2 Stealth Bomber during a 1994 training exercise.

According to the UNICEF report "Patterns in conflict: Civilians are now the target" the UN Secretary-General's expert on the impact of armed conflict on children Graça Machel states that "Armed conflict kills and maims more children than soldiers,"

How can Pro-War be reconciled with being Pro-Life?

How is it that the far right political candidates are at the same time both war mongers and staunchly pro-life?

Why is the Biblical mandate to avoid the shedding of innocent blood, which is at the heart of the Pro-Life movement, not equally applied to war?

These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Proverbs 6:16-19 (KJV)

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud) 

Peace Day - September 21, 2012

According to the website InternationalDayofPeace.org the International Day of Peace was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly.

The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982. In 2002 the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace.

By creating the International Day of Peace, the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and encouraged all of mankind to work in cooperation for this goal.

Wouldn't be great if we could declare every day Peace Day?

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

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Drumbeat Of War Is Out Of Tune

The daily drumbeat of war that we are hearing is totally out of tune with the majority of American public opinion.

According to a recent Washington Post-ABC News Poll more are in favor of using sanctions and diplomacy over bombing to prevent Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon capability.

When asked if they would support or oppose the United States bombing Iran's nuclear development sites in an effort to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, 53% of those polled said that they would oppose such military action.

When asked if they would support or oppose increasing international economic sanctions against Iran to try to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, 74% of respondents said that they would support economic sanctions. And to try to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons a full 81% support direct diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran to try to resolve the situation.

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

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Sermon on the Mount and Iran

In a recent post on the Essence Restored blog titled The Sermon on the Mount and Iran a very good point is brought up that all those who claim the name of Jesus should ponder...

"If it is morally justified to create a pre-emptive war and kill hundreds of thousands of people in the name of stopping a “hypothetical threat” then all the teachings of Jesus about loving our enemy, about how those who live by the sword will die by the sword, and turning the other cheek are pretty much worthless, and the teachings of Jesus should be abandoned."

Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-92) England's best-known preacher of the nineteenth century said it quite well...

"The spirit of war is at the extremely opposite point to the spirit of the gospel"

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Preventing War Is Cheaper than Fighting It

According to the Friends Committee on National Legislation "Research has indicated that investing early to prevent conflicts from escalating into violent crises is, on average, 60 times more cost effective than intervening after violence erupts."

The FCNL goes on to say that "the world spends just $1 on conflict prevention for every $1,885 it spends on military budgets. Here in the U.S., less than 2% of income tax goes to civilian foreign affairs agencies; meanwhile, 39% goes to the military."

The FCNL points out that almost $1 billion of taxpayer dollars are spent each year for our military academies, but only about $40 million goes to fund the United States Institute of Peace, which is the only U.S. agency dedicated to conflict prevention and peacebuilding.


Download the FCNL flyer (pdf file) and find more of what the U.S. could accomplish if it budgeted for peace, not war.

Then saith Jesus to him, "Return thy sword to its place; for all who take the sword shall perish by the sword."
Matthew 26:52

Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The Soundtrack of My Life

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 The Hippie Christian 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.



The Hippie Christian Playlist on YouTube

Songs in alphabetical order by title:

A

Abraham, Martin and John - Dion
Alice's Restaurant Massacree - Arlo Guthrie
All You Need Is Love - The Beatles *

Almost Cut My Hair - Crosby, Still, Nash and Young

Amazing Grace - Rod Stewart *
And We Bid You Goodnight - Grateful Dead *
Are You Ready? - Pacific Gas & Electric *

B

Beware of Darkness - George Harrison *
Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell *
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel *
Border Song - Elton John *

Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show - Neil Diamond *

But I Might Die Tonight - Cat Stevens

C

California Dreamin' - The Mamas and The Papas

Can't Find My Way Home - Blind Faith *
Carry On - Kansas *
Chicago / We Can Change The World - Crosby, Stills and Nash
Country Road - James Taylor

Crystal Blue Persuasion - Tommy James and The Shondells *

D

Day By Day – Godspell *

Drift Away -Dobie Gray *
Dust in the Wind - Kansas *

E

Estimated Prophet - Grateful Dead

Eve of Destruction - Barry McGuire *

Eyes of the World - Grateful Dead *

F

Find the Cost of Freedom - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young *

For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield

Fortune Son - Credence Clearwater Revival *
Freedom - Richie Havens *

G

Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones *
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) - George Harrison *
Give Peace A Chance - John Lennon *
Get Together - The Youngbloods *
God Gave Rock and Roll To You - Argent *
Going Up The Country - Canned Heat
Good Morning Starshine – Oliver *
Grand Illusion - Styx
The Great Gig in the Sky - Pink Floyd

H

Handsome Johnny - Richie Havens *

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - The Hollies *
Heaven Is In Your Mind - Traffic *

Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles

Holly Holy - Neil Diamond

Hymn 43 - Jethro Tull *

I

I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash *

I Don't Know How to Love Him - Jesus Christ Superstar *
I Had a Dream - John B. Sebastian *

I Just Want To Celebrate - Rare Earth *

I Shall Be Released - The Band *
I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing - The New Seekers *
I'd Love to Change the World - Ten Years After *
If I Had A Hammer - Peter, Paul and Mary

If You Want to Sing Out - Cat Stevens *
I'll Take You There - The Staples Singers *
I'm Your Captain/Closer To Home - Grand Funk Railroad *
I'm So Glad -Cream
In The Year 2525 - Zager and Evans *
It Don't Come Easy - Ringo Starr *

J

Jesus Is Just Alright - Doobie Brothers *
Jesus Just Left Chicago - ZZ Top

Just a Closer Walk With Thee - The Chambers Brothers *
Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) - The First Edition *

K

L

Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) - Melanie Safka *
Lean on Me - Bill Withers *
Let It Be - The Beatles
Let It Rain - Eric Clapton *
Let's Work Together - Canned Heat *
Listen to the Music - Doobie Brothers *

Lo And Behold - James Taylor *

Long Time Gone - Crosby, Stills and Nash

Love, Peace and Happiness - The Chambers Brothers *
Love Reign Over Me - The Who *

M

Magnificent Sanctuary Band - Jerry Garcia Band
Man on the Silver Mountain - Rainbow
Masters of War - Bob Dylan

Miles From Nowhere - Cat Stevens *

Military Madness – Crosby and Nash *

Morning Has Broken - Cat Stevens *
My God - Jethro Tull *

My Sweet Lord - George Harrison *

N
Nature's Way - Spirit *

O

Oh Happy Day - Edwin Hawkins Singers *

Ohio - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

On The Road to Find Out - Cat Stevens *

One Love - Bob Marley *

One Tin Soldier - The Original Caste *

One Toke Over The Line - Brewer and Shipley

Out In The Country - Three Dog Night *

P

Peace Train - Cat Stevens *
Peace Will Come - Melanie Safka *
People Get Ready - Rod Stewart *
Playing in the Band - Grateful Dead *
Presence of the Lord - Blind Faith *
Pretty As You Feel - Jefferson Airplane
Pride of Man - Quicksilver Messenger Service *
Put A Little Love In Your Heart - Jackie DeShannon

Put Your Hand in the Hand – Ocean *

Q

Question - The Moody Blues *

R

Revival - The Allman Brothers Band *
Ripple - Grateful Dead *
Rocky Mountain Way - Joe Walsh

S

Salvation - Elton John *

Samson and Delilah - Grateful Dead
Save the Country - The Fifth Dimension *
See Me, Feel Me - The Who *

Seems Like a Long Time - Rod Stewart *

Share The Land - The Guess Who *

Show Me The Way - Peter Frampton

Sitting - Cat Stevens
Sky Pilot - Eric Burdon and The Animals *
Something in the Air - Thunderclap Newman *

Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum *

Stairway to Heaven - Led Zepplin *

T

Take Me to the Pilot - Elton John

Teach Your Children - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young *

That's the Way God Planned It - Billy Preston
The Great Gig In The Sky - Pink Floyd

The Unknown Soldier - The Doors
The Weight - The Band *
Think His Name - Johnny Rivers *

Three Little Birds - Bob Marley *

Time Has Come Today - The Chambers Brothers

Times They Are A-Changin - Bob Dylan
To The Last Whale (Critical Mass/Wind on the Water) - Crosby, Stills and Nash *

Turn! Turn! Turn! - The Byrds *

U

Universal Soldier – Donovan *

V

Volunteers - Jefferson Airplane

W

Way Over Yonder - Carole King *
What The World Needs Now Is Love - Jackie DeShannon *

What's Going On - Marvin Gaye *

WAR - Edwin Starr *

War/No More Trouble - Bob Marley *

What Is Life - George Harrison
Where Do The Children Play? - Cat Stevens *

Where Have All The Flowers Gone? - Peter, Paul and Mary

Wind on the Water - Crosby, Still and Nash
Wind Up - Jethro Tull *

Wonderful World Beautiful People - Jimmy Cliff *
Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who
Wooden Ships - Crosby, Still and Nash

Woodstock - Joni Mitchell *

X

Y

You Can't Always Get What You Want - Rolling Stones

Z

*Songs included in Rock Mass posts.

Updated 11/01/2020

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Peace, Love, and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)