Shine A Light!

 

Most mass shootings are planned for 6 months to a year. In almost every documented case, warning signs were given off that were not understood, were not acted upon quickly or was not shared with someone who could help. In 4 out of 5 school shootings, at least one other person had knowledge of the attacker's plan but failed to report it.*

How has the ownership of firearms and ammunition become so acceptable that no one questions the amassing of a large collection of handguns, rifles, assault weapons, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and high capacity magazines beyond any rational explanation of personal protection or hunting?

Federal, State and Local gun safety laws are inadequate. Mental health services need to be more accessible. Local law enforcement is highly overburdened. Federal and State criminal databases are poorly integrated.

But the biggest breakdown may not be in our legal system but rather a possible breakdown in society itself. As members of a civilized society we have an obligation to each other to question behavior that could pose a potential threat to others. Shine a light. If you see something, say something!

 

Therefore, to him who knows to do good

and does not do it, to him it is sin.

(James 4:17)

 

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

 

*mass shooting statistics from www.sandyhookpromise.org

Rock Mass 06-05-2022 - Let the Shooting End

 

Rock Mass on the first Sunday of the Month

 

Rock Mass for June 5, 2022 - Let the Shooting End

 

Prayer: Let the Shooting End

"God, our hearts are broken with pain at the senseless deaths caused by gun violence. Families mourn, children live in fear, and some in our nation respond by arming themselves with more guns with greater capacity to end life. Our disconnection and alienation has caused some to turn to guns for protection and safety. We ask that you touch our hearts with your love, heal our brokenness, and turn us away from violence toward peace. Help us to transform our own hearts and to seek peaceful ways of resolving our differences. Let our hands reach out and connect with those who feel alone, those who live in fear, and those suffering from mental illness. Let our voices be raised asking our legislators to enact gun laws to protect all in our society, especially those most vulnerable. Let our pens write messages demanding change while also scripting words of hope and transformation. We ask this in the name of the God who desires that we live together in peace.  Amen"

 

-Sisters of Mercy of the Americas 

 

 

 

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)

Fair Use Notice

Be Ye Kind

 

“Non-Violence” sculpture by Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd

I think that we love our guns way too much. We love how they make us feel. We love the power and the sense of superiority that they give us.

We even love how they feel in our hands. There is this sensual, almost phallic nature about guns that secretly seduces us, inexplicably drawing us to them.

We have grown to rely on guns for our protection and as a means of settling disputes that we just can't seem to find other solutions for. And we keep dying because of it. Our children are dying, our neighbors are dying, innocent people are dying. Why?

I wish that there was an easy answer, but there isn't. Shooting people seems to be the easy answer because if talking to those you have a problem with were easy we wouldn't keep seeing news stories about mass shootings.

In the fourth chapter of Apostle Paul's letter the the believers in Ephesus he gives some practical advice about living in community and getting along with others. Here is part of what the Apostle wrote that I feel is a good starting point for getting along with those around us without resorting to violence.

"If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day...

...Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ." (Ephesians 4:26 & 32)

 

Here is a link to an earlier blog post of mine about gun violence: We Have Become a Cult of Death

 

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

We Have Become a Cult of Death

When will America realize that we have become a cult of death, that the militarization of our society and the adoration of warfare is threatening our very existence? A culture of violence is enshrined in our movies, television and video games - we glorify war and adore the tools of the trade. Our government uses military action in place of diplomacy and we arm our police as a para-military force.

We are making a killing in the business of killing, the United States not only has the largest military budget in the world, but it is also the largest global exporter of arms. The military industrial complex and the politicians who breathe life into the business of death are using our blood and treasure to spread violence to the four corners of world, merchandising death in the name of freedom. The love affair with guns and the Second Amendment is creating a crisis in America’s homes, schools and churches. Innocent people are dying and we can’t get our leaders to lead, they are too afraid to take action, bought and sold by those who deal in the stock and trade of death.

Until we can say that there is no place for weapons of war in a civil society, the mass killings will continue. Until we can make the distinction between guns designed to provide legitimate self-defense and weapons designed for war, the mass killings will continue. Until we can agree that guns made for hunting are not the same as guns manufactured for war, the mass killings will continue. Until we can determine that a reasonable magazine capacity for hunting or home protection is not the same as that needed by the military, the mass killings will continue. Until we can develop a national method for screening individuals for gun ownership in all fifty states, the mass killings will continue.

Everyone may not agree on everything related to guns and gun ownership, but I am sure that everyone can agree on one thing and that is the mass killing must stop!

But Jesus told him, "Put your sword away. Anyone who lives by fighting will die by fighting." Matthew 26:52
 

Peace, Love and Light!

Kevin (Cloud)