James Madison on the enemies of true liberty . . .

"Of all the enemies of true liberty, war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few. In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended; its influence in dealing out offices, honors and emoluments is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subduing the force, of the people. The same malignant aspect in republicanism may be traced in the inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war, and in the degeneracy of manner and of morals, engendered in both. No nation can preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare … War is in fact the true nurse of executive aggrandizement. In war, a physical force is to be created; and it is the executive will, which is to direct it. In war, the public treasuries are to be unlocked; and it is the executive hand which is to dispense them. In war, the honors and emoluments of office are to be multiplied; and it is the executive patronage under which they are to be enjoyed; and it is the executive brow they are to encircle. The strongest passions and most dangerous weaknesses of the human breast; ambition, avarice, vanity, the honorable or venal love of fame, are all in conspiracy against the desire and duty of peace."

Phenomenal insight into a great plague upon humankind. And does not one war sow the seeds for the next war? I certainly don't have it all figured out, but we're killing ourselves, literally.

Take a look at Congressman Ron Paul's words during the buildup for the war in Iraq:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLV7zDhKzDY&feature=related

And here is Chalmer's Johnson on a little history of Iraq:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wg1WuPgFJQ

haunting song - Wave of Sorrow ~ U2

I've been haunted for 6 months. The first is Bono explaining the song and the second is the song and video.

Ashes from the Sky

The tree fort is enclosed from all sides, though by way of a small path you could walk to my back yard in under 60 seconds. It's only 5 feet off the ground, but it gives me a sense of being away. My thoughts are clear here.
So, how do I find freedom to walk with God and not pursue the things that harm me and those I love? One day I feel a closeness and and seem to believe I will enjoy this closeness without interuption. Then the next day, my thoughts are far away and I doubt, I judge, I justify, I desire that which would harm me or others. Yes, choosing those things that alienate me from God. It is Romans 7 . . . so how do I live in Romans 8? Then I see the flakes, just one or two white flakes floating down through the pine trees, close enough for me to reach and catch them. And I do. The pungent smell of smoke has been in the air for days and I've grown used to it. The fire is from the Great Dismal Swamp seen in the photo above, blowing south across the North Carolina border. Now as the wind blows north, not only is the smoke visible in the air, it fills every breath and more . . . the ashes from the sky.
I think of ashes and their significance in the Scriptures. Repentance. Turning from sin. The ashes from the sky . . . Does God desire to meet with me here? Here in the tree fort pursuing me with such love? The tears come slowly and I press the caught ashes into my forehead in the sign of the cross. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Forgive me. I want to be free. My life is not my own, I am bought at a price. The rest of the day I gratefully look for more ashes from the sky. I catch them and press them into my skin, drawing near.

fun with the children

The school is next to La Chureca, the trash dump. Some of the children live in the dump. The songs were playful and brought joy in watching.

La Chureca -

la chureca - casa in the center of the dump
Hosanna school near la chureca

school is out

communion + 8 nicaraguan children

Friends,

I was deeply moved on Sunday. When we came together to receive the bread and juice / the body and the blood of Christ, 8 Nicaraguan children also received hope through a new relationship with 8 families. We only had 8 child sponsorship packets from Compassion International available so, my brother sent a dozen more yesterday! Hopefully those will be on the altar table this Sunday for anyone to pick up. If anyone would like more information on Compassion you can check out their website: http://www.compassion.com/default.htm
All of the children we’re sponsoring thus far are from Managua, Nicaragua. We have a team of 6 people going to Managua in late October and we will meet these children. Our plan is to have another trip or two (God willing) in 2009. You can start saving now!

At the center of the good news of Jesus, is this call to self-denial, to surrender and to lay down our lives . . . the Apostles spoke what they heard from the Master. If our following Jesus skips this point, I believe we’ve missed it all.

Jesus . . . Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? Luke 9:23-25

Peter . . . As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 1 Peter 4:2

John . . . This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 1 John 3:16

Paul . . . Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1

I was asked to share the letter that my brother wrote about his experience in Managua, it is below.

In Jesus’ great love,

Pastor Greg

From: "Doug West (US - MktDev)" Date: June 24, 2008 11:31:57 AM EDTTo: "Doug West (US - MktDev)" Subject: Urgent Call to Prayer!Last week a small group of us stood in Juan’s yard in Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua, to learn more about his and his family’s life. The air was hot and still, with some pesky flies and mosquitoes buzzing around. His wife, Brenda, did most of the talking. They had 3 children and all of them were sponsored in the local Compassion projects. 3 is the maximum number of children from one family that can be enrolled, so that alone told me they were in a desperate situation. A few from the group sat in some plastic chairs in front of their 12x12 single-room house made of scrap boards, some cinderblocks and a rusting tin roof, as we asked questions about their kids, their jobs, their hopes and dreams, etc. One of their sons and 2 other local boys were high above us in the branches of the mamon tree, gathering the small fruit to eat or sell. At most homes we visit on these trips, we are welcomed inside. It was different here. Brenda was embarrassed about how little they had; ashamed of their poverty. We all knew that Juan and his family were not less than us; they just had less than us. Despite that, their poverty had begun to work in their minds and hearts to cause feelings of shame and embarrassment over their situation. When we realized this, it was uncomfortable and we quickly tried to lighten the conversation. We asked how we could pray for them and specifically for Juan – and even then it was Brenda who answered for him. Not wanting to make the meeting so one-sided, we encouraged them to ask questions of us. Most times, the questions we get are pretty light: does it snow where we live, what church do we attend, etc. I wasn’t prepared for the weight of the question Juan asked:“For you, when you help take care of our children,is it easy for you, or is it a sacrifice?” We get caught up in life in America, the richest country and culture in the history of the world. And by American standards, perhaps I am sacrificing to help children like Juan’s. We don’t have cable, we own and share one car, and we try to curb our desire for new clothes or other things, buying stuff second hand when we can. But looking at Juan and Brenda and all they have to do to care for their children, because they have no other choice, the truth, the absolute truth, is that I no nothing of sacrifice. I have never faced the choices they face daily, and I probably never will. I brush up against poverty on these trips, we sponsor several children and donate in other areas, but looking at their lives it is clear that what we do is pathetically easy and requires no true sacrifice on our part. It is I who should be embarrassed and ashamed, not Juan and Brenda. Lord Jesus, show me more and more how I can serve you with all I am, how to truly sacrifice, how to truly lay down my life for others, for You. Tomorrow is a day of Prayer and Fasting for the Global Food Crisis. Please join in! Go to www.compassion.com/pray to learn how this crisis is affecting those in poverty and to add your name to the list of those who will be in prayer for Compassion children and their families during this time. Praying with and for you-

doug west
advocate relations - southeastcompassion international
ph. 877.432.0003 mobile 336.662.2819

Skyline drive fall 2007

josiah 7

evie 5

luke 5

Answering God's prayers

Maybe all of us have wrestled with the question, 'Does God answer prayer?' or 'Why doesn't God answer prayer?' The later question fails to consider that maybe God answers by saying, 'No'. But the new thought that's running through my mind is 'Do we answer God's prayers?' Follow me. If indeed, Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God; God clothed with humanity, then what about the prayers of Jesus? Are they not the prayers of God? He prayed, "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. . ." (John 17:20-21) So whenever we fail to draw near to God, to walk in the ways of Christ, we fail to answer God's prayer or our answer is 'No'.