The ramblings, rants, raves, and reveries of a Hippie Christian. Comments about life and the journey of faith at the intersection of the spiritual and material worlds. Welcome Home!
Read the fine print, there are no exclusions or exceptions to "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Jesus was quite clear, as were the writers of the New Testament, that we are called to love - even in the face of hate. We are told that if we don't love those around us how can we say that we love God.
Love is the higher law!
“The most important commandment,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)
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)
On November 18, 1978, over 900 people died in the jungles of Guyana at the People's Temple Agricultural Project, more famously known as Jonestown.
This tragic event disturbs me today as much as it did 46 years ago. At the time I was a young Hippie Jesus Freak leading a small group of Christians and seeing that horrible abuse of power changed my view of church leadership forever.
Jim Jones' "throne" in the Jonestown pavilion, scene of mass murder/suicide November 18, 1978
So Jesus called them all together and said, “You know that the rulers of the heathen have power over them, and the leaders have complete authority. This, however, is not the way it shall be among you. If one of you wants to be great, you must be the servant of the rest; and if one of you wants to be first, you must be the slave of the others - like the Son of Man, who did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life to redeem many people.” (Matthew 20:25-28)
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)
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 (1Peter 2:9)
Rock Mass for Sunday November 3, 2024 - Election Edition
We usually think of paying taxes when we read Jesus’ words “Render
unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s” but I would suggest that here in the U.S.
we can apply that to voting as well. We have the privilege and I might add a sacred
duty to vote. We can’t vote for a perfect candidate, none exists, but for
Heaven’s sake please vote.
Most of all I would suggest that no matter who wins in
November that we all remember Paul’s words to Timothy:
“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)
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)
Understand the issues, know who the candidates are and remember to get out and vote this Tuesday! This is your only true way to make your voice heard - not "Liking" and "Sharing" on Facebook but actually getting off the couch and participating in our Democracy. It's your right! It's your privilege! It's your duty! But if you ignore it, if you waste it, if you don't exercise it you will have no one to blame but yourself for the way our country turns out! And if you don't get out there and vote, in my opinion, you loose your right to complain about the government! So vote and make your voice heard - or just shut up!
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirt — just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call — one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6)
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)
Election season brings special challenges to our already divided and polarized society. We have been told by Jesus to love our enemies. We have a higher calling to accept those we disagree with. How we disagree with each other matters because we can disagree without hating each other. But if we do get angry, Paul says to not let it lead to sin. We are told to be kind with each other, tenderhearted, forgiving each other because we our selves have have had grace extended towards us and have been accepted and forgiven by God.
In the opening scenes of the 1973 movie adaptation of the musical Godspell, John
the Baptist (David Haskell) crossed the Brooklyn Bridge while entering
New York City. The nearly completed Twin Towers are in the background
which were in several scenes of the 1973 movie Godspell.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, If I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
(Psalm 139:7-12)
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)
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)
It’s been said that Christians suffer from a persecution
complex, maybe, but being persecuted is to be expected if we are following
Jesus. I wonder if our reactions to persecution are in line with Jesus’
teachings about how to handle those who would treat us badly?
Jesus said in John 15:18-19“If the world hates you, know that it hated me first.If you belonged to the
world, the world would love you as its own. However, I have chosen you out of
the world, and you don’t belong to the world. This is why the world hates you.”
What did Jesus do when “Christianity” was under attack?
Jesus told his disciples to stand down. But St. Peter pulled out his sword anyway
and struck Malchus, one of those who came out to arrest Jesus. Then in a
revolutionary act of compassion Jesus healed Malchus and told Peter to put his
weapon away, that He didn’t need anyone to defend Him. Then, hours later in an example of the upside down Kingdom of God, Jesus prayed that his executioners would be forgiven.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught that
we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. This teaching
of Jesus is echoed by St. Paul in Romans 12:14 where he admonishes us to “Bless
those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
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)
"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."
A new law was just passed in Louisiana that will require a
poster of the 10 Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom. It
looks like it will be challenged constitutionally in the courts as a violation
of the First Amendment.
Back in the early 70’s school officials at my High School
tried to suppress the Jesus People Movement. We had Christian underground
newspapers confiscated and I was personally threatened with expulsion for
holding Bible studies on campus during our lunch breaks. The Dean of Students said
that if our Bible study grew too large he would force it to be shut it down.
The Dean’s reasoning was that if we were allowed to hold Bible studies, then he
would also have to allow Satanists and Wiccans to hold their own gatherings. I explained
to the Dean that I had no problem with Satanists and Wiccans being allowed to
gather during lunch time because the Free Exercise Clause in the First Amendment
gave every student the right to freely exercise their religion. Seeing that I had
the Constitution on my side the Dean was left with no other choice but to allow
us to continue our lunch time Bible studies.
Long Haired Hippie Jesus Freaks were born out of the
anti-establishment, anti-war, don’t trust anyone over thirty, home grown
everything, free lifestyle mindset. So, standing up to school officials and
resisting the suppression of our free exercise of religion just came natural.
The
pendulum is trying to swing the other way now and they want to force religion
down kid’s throats. I think that this new Louisiana law should be challenged and repealed.
Beware, living in a theocracy is not a good thing!
“We establish no
religion in this country, we command no worship, we mandate no belief. Nor will
we ever. Church and state are, and must remain, separate." ~ Ronald Reagan
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)
"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
"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
"Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called
the children of God."
~Jesus (Matthew 5:9)
"...Seek peace and pursue it!"
Psalm 34:14
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)
