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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

The Friday That We Call Good!

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

Happy Christmas (War Is Over)

Happy Christmas (War Is Over)
John Lennon

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The road is so long

And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun

And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

War is over over
If you want it
War is over
Now...

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