Category: Uncategorized

Political Violence Is Not Blue or Red

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

Fear begets mistrust. Mistrust begets divisiveness. Divisiveness begets tribalism. Tribalism begets hatred. Hatred begets violence. Violence begets more violence until we are completely destroyed. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, spoke frequently about the cycles of violence, but the quote that most resonated with me today in the wake of Wednesday’s assassination of Charlie Kirk was this:

Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction.” – MLK, Jr.

Wednesday’s horrific event is not the first act of political violence this year; it is a continuation of the ongoing “descending spiral” of violent self-destruction that can be traced back centuries. South Carolina Senator David Ramsay was killed by an assassin on May 6, 1815. Every decade since, Presidents, members of congress, governors, state legislators, judges, and political leaders have been killed. The years leading up to and the decade after the Civil War were particularly violent. The 1960s were also extremely violent including the assassinations of President Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Medgar Evers and Martin Luther King. The past 15 years, we have seen a similar uptick in violence. Over the years, victims of violence have been Republicans AND Democrats and the perpetrators of violence have also represented the full spectrum of political parties and ideologies. Analysis of the data suggests that political polarization increases political violence. We are living in polarizing and dangerous times. And political violence will plunge us into what Martin Luther King called “the dark abyss of annihilation” unless…

  • . …unless, we move the needle the opposite direction through honest self-reflection, deep contrition and real repentance.
  • …unless we set our feet on the path of mutual confession and mutual healing.
  • …unless we shift toward humility and away from arrogant certainty, finger-pointing, and speculation that leads to escalation.
  • …unless we recognize our shared humanity and choose mercy and love over pursuit of power.
  • …unless we who claim to “love God” and “love our neighbor” (including our perceived and real ‘enemies’) actually model it through acts of justice, solidarity, compassion and service.

The climb up from the descending spiral begins today with unified outrage that a 31-year-old husband and father was killed while exercising his right to free speech. This should be a time for all of us to grieve with those who grieve–especially with his widow and children–and express our rejection of violent acts and vitriolic speech and our commitment to civil discourse and common decency.

We stand at a precipice. We must turn away from violence or we will destroy one another. Choose love today.

War and Peace

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.” – Jesus (Matthew 5:9)

“Cursed are the warmongers, for they will be called the children of Apollyon.” – (the implied antithesis of Jesus’s statement)

On Friday, #47 signed an Executive Order (his 200th such order to date), renaming the “Department of Defense” the “Department of War” because it sounds tougher. He then turned over the microphone to his re-named Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth. 

After making an odd (and questionable) historical observation that under the name “Department of War” the military had never lost a war, and that under the name “Department of Defense” the military had never decisively won a war, Hegseth said,  “This name change is not just about ‘renaming;’ it’s about ‘restoring’. Words matter. It’s…restoring the ‘warrior ethos’; restoring victory and clarity as an end state; restoring intentionality to the use of force, so…the War Department is gonna fight decisively, not endless conflicts. It’s gonna fight to win, not not to lose. We are gonna go on offense, not just on defense. Maximum lethality, not tepid legality. Violent effect, not politically correct. We’re gonna raise up warriors, not just defenders. So, this War Department, Mr. President, just like America, is back.” He finished by adding, “America First.”

Within hours, the Department of Defense website was rebranded, “war.gov.”

Let’s go back 80 years to September 2, 1945.  World War II officially ended, but the world was in shambles. Upwards of 85 million people—3% of the global population–had been killed directly during the war or had died of disease and starvation, cities had been completely destroyed, six million Jews, gay people, people with disabilities, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Romani people had been gassed and incinerated in Nazi concentration camps, two nuclear bombs had been dropped (by the U.S.). It was the deadliest military conflict in human history. 

Coming out of the devastation there was a global cry for peace.  On October 25, 1945, the United Nations was officially established with a mission “to maintain international peace and security, promote friendly relations among nations, and foster cooperation on economic, social, and humanitarian issues.”  

President Harry Truman, stood before Congress on September 6,1945–just days after the war had ended–and proposed the creation of a unified department of national defense to address concerns about military preparedness that arose following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 1, 1941. Congress passed the National Security Act two years later which created the National Military Establishment—which combined the Department of the Army and Department of the Navy, the Marine Corps and the newly formed Air Force. President Harry Truman signed the act into law on July 26, 1947.  In 1949, the NME was renamed the “Department of Defense.” Its stated mission was to “provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation’s security.”

Eighty years ago, our war-weary nation focused on preventing future wars, promoting international peace and cooperation, and pursuing diplomacy.  But it didn’t take long for us to return to war again and again.  And now we seem focused solely on American military supremacy through “maximum lethality.” without concern for “tepid legality.”

Earlier this week, the newly named War Department authorized the attack of a Venezuelan boat in international waters that was allegedly filled with drugs and manned by the Tren de Aragua cartel.. No one bothered to inform members of the Armed Service Committee of Congress of to the attack as is required by the War Powers Act,, and there was no evidence that the boat was delivering drugs to the US.  We’ll never know. The boat—and the eleven men aboard—were obliterated. “Maximum lethality, not tepid legality.”

Maybe we’ve always been a nation of warmongers who ignore accepted boundaries and bend the rules of engagement, but this open embrace of thuggery and this promotion of the “warrior ethos” feels different. Maybe it’s because the people promoting it—like Pete Hegseth—claim to be followers of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Maybe it’s because anyone that questions the administration’s pre-occupation with war and domination is considered “weak” and “woke” and is deemed “the enemy.”  Jesus wouldn’t survive this administration. 

God isn’t going to bless warmongers. The blessing is reserved for the peacemakers—those who “seek peace and pursue it.”   Right now, it feels like we are being led by the children of Apollyon—the Destroyer.  And we know what their end will ultimately be.

So, I’m going to go the mountain of the Lord to learn the ways of peace—where swords will be turned into plowshares, spears into pruning hooks and where nations will no longer pursue war. Let’s go there together. 

The (Not So) Mysterious Man of Lawlessness

~ Bruce Ray ~ 2 Comments

“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it (the Day of the Lord) will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship…displaying himself as being God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3 – 4 (NASB)

While these verses were written almost 2000 years ago during Roman empirical domination, they came to mind last week as I listened to the ongoing threats of deployment of the National Guard by the Department of Defense to the city of Chicago to “make the city safe” despite the statistics and despite the fact that neither the Illinois Governor nor the Chicago Mayor have requested federal assistance–the lawful process for Guard activation.

Though the president and his administration have portrayed themselves as the defenders of law and order, we have watched them circumvent rulings by the courts–and slander and call for the impeachment of judges that rule against their illegal policies and practices. Again and again, this administration has thumbed its nose at attempts to place guardrails on executive power.

Is #47 the mysterious “Man of Lawlessness” of 2 Thessalonians that sets himself up as the Almighty and is the “son of destruction?” Though the identity of the man is shrouded in speculation, lawlessness is definitely #47’s ‘modus operandi.’ He has demonstrated an obsession for self-aggrandizement, and he has acted with absolute authority and demanded total fealty–ie worship. Though he maintains a facade of ‘religion’, his conduct denies its validity. Though he acts to punish his political enemies while he pardons his convicted friends. Though he claims to be a champion of the poor, he greedily amasses wealth at their expense. Though he scapegoats immigrants for spikes in violent crime, he claims victimization for his own felony convictions. Though he promises a return to American greatness, he destroys the foundational democracy upon which the nation is built. It is all deception.

But the writer of 2 Thessalonians says the rise of the man of lawlessness does not happen in a vacuum. He is revealed in the context of a spiritual crisis identified as “the apostasy.” The man of lawlessness is made possible because people of faith have abandoned the truth and renounced the message of kingdom of heaven–the message of Christ. Sadly, Jesus predicted the same shift of allegiance in the “last days.” He said, “Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:11-12 – NIV) This rejection of truth and justice feels very contemporary as we watch people of Christian faith not only encourage and embrace the president’s cruel and dehumanizing policies and executive orders, but also defend his lawlessness–all the way back to the infamous “Access Hollywood” interview where he proudly celebrated his lawlessness. Billy Bush was fired. Donald Trump was elected President by evangelical Christians.

Are these the “Last Days?” I’ll let you decide.

Whatever you think, remember: there is hope in the Scripture. The apostasy occurs, the man of lawlessness is revealed, but it ultimately leads to re-creation–not destruction. “The Day of the Lord” will come. The reign of lawlessness will come to an end and justice will flow. Peter encourages his readers to “live into” that promised day even in the middle of the turmoil of lawlessness. He writes, “in keeping with [God’s] promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness [ie justice] dwells. Therefore, loved ones, while you are looking for these things, make every effort to be found in shalom, spotless and blameless before [God]. (2 Peter 3:13-14 – TLV) He also warns them to “Be on your guard so that you are not led astray by the error of the lawless and lose your sure footing.” (2 Peter 3:17 – TLV)

Be faithful and watchful. God’s new day WILL come.

I Call “Waste, Fraud and Abuse.”

~ Bruce Ray ~ 1 Comment

By design, we have been inundated with executive orders, tweets, Truth Social posts, and off-the-rails rants to the point of exhaustion. It is too much for my limited bandwidth. Though my tongue is on fire and I want to write a response, I don’t know where to begin. I now realize that I have fallen for the strategy: Overwhelm everyone with daily manufactured crises and overload the newsfeed until everyone just gives up and shuts down.

I was close to shutting down myself…until Friday (yesterday.). In an Oval Office news conference, the President announced that he was going to send National Guard troops to other cities to make them very, very safe–like he had done in Washington, DC. The city to be targeted next got my full attention. “Chicago is a mess” with an “incompetent mayor–grossly incompetent,” . And then he turned to JD Vance and said, “And the people in Chicago, Mr. Vice-President, are screaming for us to come.”

Trump is correct. WE ARE SCREAMING, but it’s not for the deployment of the National Guard. We’re screaming because the President’s ongoing narrative about Chicago is a fabrication, a distortion, a lie–just like his racist narrative about other cities with African-American mayors (like LA, NYC, DC). AARGH!!! Chicago’s crime rate is at a 10-year low. Homicides have been falling since 2021 and are down 30% from 2024. Shootings are down 40% and robberies are down 35%. Through August 22, 2025, there have been 275 homicides–compared to 553 in August 2021. If the trend continues, Chicago may see its lowest homicide rate in over 35 years!

What really gets my tongue on fire though is the duplicity of Trump’s narratives. He is constantly talking about eliminating the massive amounts of “waste, fraud, and abuse” in government programs and initiatives. To that end, the Department of Justice announced in April that it was cancelling $820 million in grants for “community violence prevention strategies” which address root causes of violence–strategies that have proven to be effective and financially efficient. (Source: Brennan Center for Justice)

At the same time, the president sends the National Guard to “make our cities safe.” Deployment isn’t free. The government paid $134 million–using our tax dollars–for the deployment of 4,700 National Guardsmen, Marines, and other military personnel in Los Angeles for 60 days. The cost for deployment of 800 National Guardsmen in Washington D.C. is approximately $300,000 per day. This does not include costs for equipment, transport, or command overhead. If the deployment lasts 30 days, the total cost is estimated to be over $2.5 million! (Source: The Pricer)

So I ask the question: Which taxpayer funding is more wasteful, fraudulent and abusive? #1. The cost of programs and strategies that work to prevent violence and address root causes of crime? Or #2. The cost of unnecessary (wasteful) deployment of the National Guard and the military founded upon the fabricated (fraudulent) narrative of rampant crime and violence in cities led by Democratic men and women of color (abusive)?

If you still selected #1, all I can say is, “AARGH!”

Mishandling the Word of Truth – Part 3

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8

This verse is the culmination of Isaiah’s call to his prophetic ministry. God is looking for someone who will speak on God’s behalf to the people of Israel and Judah. After experiencing the overwhelming majestic presence of God in a vision and receiving the assurance of God’s touch of forgiveness and grace, Isaiah volunteers to join God’s mission.

This Bible verse is now being used in a video posted on X by the Department of Homeland Security to recruit Border Patrol officers and ICE agents to participate in the mission to capture, detain, and deport migrants who have crossed into the United States. Though the video can no longer be viewed at the DHS website (due to copyright infringement), it was watched 2.8 million times. The video can be viewed HERE.

Inclusion of the Bible verse in a recruitment video suggests that protecting the United States from the invasion of foreigners is a God-ordained mission, and stepping up to participate in the mission is a high spiritual calling—an act of spiritual devotion.

This is yet another example of “Mishandling the Word of Truth.” The mission promoted by the DHS is completely opposite of the mission God gave to Isaiah. Instead being sent to protect Israel’s borders or to round up and deport foreigners, Isaiah was sent to the leaders of Israel and Judah to rebuke them for their failure to act justly toward the poor, the vulnerable and the refugee and to announced God’s impending judgment—judgment that would remove them from the land into exile.

Stopping migrants from crossing the border or chasing down and incarcerating undocumented farm workers is NOT a godly mission commanded by God or commended by God. God condemns the nation that “makes unjust laws and issues oppressive decrees to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.” (Isaiah 10:1-2).

The distorted use of Scripture by the current administration to justify injustice and promote cruelty under the banner of righteousness should offend every Christian. It is blasphemy. And if we fail to discern the Scripture twisting and fail to call it out, we will fall under the judgment Isaiah announced to those who have ears, but do not hear.

Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Mishandling the Word of Truth – Part 2

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

Women who are strong leaders; women who choose their own place in the social hierarchy; women who are entrusted with power; women who instruct men. There are plenty of people today who would claim that these women are possessed (or infected) by the “Jezebel spirit” and need to return to their God-ordained place. For example, Rev. Doug Wilson, pastor of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, and a self-identified “Christian Nationalist,” may not use the “Jezebel” label, but he has publicly called for the end of the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote and has preached that the Biblical role for women is to “be the chief executive of the home with three or four or five eternal souls..” Despite Rev. Wilson’s theological training and Biblical knowledge, it seems that he has chosen to ignore the Biblical record regarding the diversity of roles that women have held in the church, mishandling the word of truth. .

So, let’s set the record straight. The Bible gives us multiple examples of women who do not live within Rev. Wilson’s definition of a woman’s “biblical role”, and it never accuses them of being “Jezebels.” These women are godly, wise, Holy Spirit-filled.

Mary of Bethany. Mary, a close friend of Jesus and sister of Lazarus and Martha, is probably best remembered for her act of anointing Jesus with expensive perfume prior to his death–an act that received a lot of criticism from Judas Iscariot as being wasteful. But she is also remembered for another very inappropriate act–sitting at the feet of Jesus alongside the rest of the disciples to listen to his teaching. (Luke 10:38ff) It was Mary’s sister Martha that pointed out the unseemliness of her choice. Shouldn’t she be helping in the kitchen? Shouldn’t she be serving the food? Isn’t it improper to sit with the men? But Instead of reprimanding Mary, Jesus affirmed her, saying that she had “chosen what was better.” Jesus refused to prescribe the proper place for Mary (and for all women). He confirmed Mary’s equality with men and her right to choose her place. To hear some church leaders today, choice isn’t an option for women. Mary would have been sent to the kitchen to serve the men.

Mary of Magdala. Ever since Pope Gregory (6th Century) fused the identity of Mary Magdalene with the story of the anonymous “woman of sin” (aka a prostitute) who anointed Jesus’s feet while he was dining at a Pharisee’s home (Luke 7:36-37), Mary has been portrayed in art, books and movies as a former sex worker transformed by her relationship with Jesus. It’s a great story, but recent scholarship has suggested that she was more likely a strong, independent woman of economic status that followed Jesus and supported his ministry financially (Luke 8:2). What is fascinating is that Mary Magdalene is never identified in a relationship to a man (either her father or a husband)–something very unusual in Jesus’s day. Mary Magdalene was probably an unmarried female disciple of Jesus who supported his ministry, was present at his crucifixion, assisted with his burial, and was the first witness of the resurrection. Her testimony to the rest of the disciples has earned her the title, “Apostle to the Apostles.” Today, she would be silenced in many churches.

Priscilla. We first are introduced to Priscilla in Acts 18:2. She is married to a tent-maker named Aquila. They (along with other Jews) had been forced out of Rome by an imperial order of Claudius Caesar, and they resettled in Corinth where they welcomed the Apostle Paul–a fellow tent-maker–into their home. When Paul left Corinth for Ephesus, the couple joined him having become followers of the Way. While in Ephesus, the couple met a young preacher, Apollos, whose understanding of the gospel was incomplete. The couple took him into their home and instructed him more thoroughly in the Way of Jesus. What is fascinating is that throughout the narrative, Priscilla’s name precedes her husband’s name–indicating her prominence in the relationship. In fact, every scriptural reference to the couple but one follows that pattern–unusual in ancient cultures. Priscilla is recognized as a woman of strong faith and deep spiritual understanding who is qualified to teach and correct men–something she would not be permitted to do in many churches today.

Phoebe. When Paul finished his letter to the Romans, there was no mail service to deliver it to the church. Instead, it had to be hand-delivered by a trusted co-worker of Paul, introduced to us in Romans 16:1-2. Her name is Phoebe. Phoebe’s role as the letter carrier was much more than simply delivering an envelope. She would have also been responsible for representing Paul and his message to the Roman Christians. If members of the Roman church had questions after hearing the letter read, Phoebe would have been the only person in the room who could answer the questions, give additional explanations and clarify any confusion. In other words, Phoebe was the first to present a commentary on the Letter to the Romans. It is also instructive that Paul introduced Phoebe to the Roman church as “a deacon of the church in Cenchreae.” The greek word for ‘deacon’ can also be translated “servant” or “minister.” Early in church history, the word was used to designate a recognized leader in the church. Jen McNeel writes, “It’s not completely clear how much of this technical meaning the word had acquired at the time that Paul wrote the letter to the Romans, but it is clear that Phoebe is exercising some kind of leadership within the Christian community at Cenchreae. Elsewhere Paul applies the word to himself and to others who engage in the preaching and teaching ministry of the early church.” (see 1 Cor 3:5; 2 Cor 3:6, 6:4, 11:23; and Phil 1:1 for other examples). Phoebe is a recognized spiritual leader, a theologian, a teacher, and a trustworthy associate, entrusted with great responsibility by Paul. In many churches today, Phoebe would only be trusted to teach children.

There are others–Cloe, a church leader in Corinth; the daughters of Phillip, prophetesses; Junia, an apostle. Euodia and Syntyche, faithful co-laborers with Paul in Philippi. These women and others–some single, some married, some with children, some without–were not bound by the gender expectations of their time, but were freed by the Spirit of God to be equal partners in building up the body of Christ and announcing the kingdom of heaven. If God has ordained that women be free, who has the right to constrain them? The answer is: NO MAN.

Remember: the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not gendered. “All these [gifts] are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.” 1 Corinthians 12:11 (NRSV) “So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” (Romans 12:6b-8).

Can I get an ‘Amen!’?

Mishandling the Word of Truth – Part 1

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God …accurately handling the word of truth”. 2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB)

It has been awhile since I have written a post. I was away, enjoying some wonderful time with my family in the beauty of nature. During that time, I tried to disconnect from the headlines, but even with the assistance of my energetic, always on-the-go grandchildren, I found it almost impossible. Not a day passed without some reminder of how our national fabric was being ripped apart thread by thread, and with each tear I felt an increasing dread about what kind of world my grandchildren would inherit.

What was particularly distressing to me was the ways in which Scripture was being distorted, used and abused to justify the mistreatment of migrants and asylum seekers and control women and the LGBTQ+ community. This “inaccurate handling of the word of truth” by (mostly) white men claiming to speak for God turned Scripture into a weapon of mass destruction aimed particularly at women–a far cry from the liberating message and actions of Jesus toward women.

The concern of these self-appointed guardians of “Biblical truth” went well beyond issues of healthcare and bodily autonomy. Their message condemned all women who were independent, opinionated, strong leaders–who chose to remain unmarried or childless–claiming that they were possessed by the “Jezebel Spirit”

Though I was familiar with the story of Jezebel, the Sidonian princess who became the influential (aka: manipulative) wife of Israel’s King Ahab and a staunch adversary of the prophet Elijah; and though I was also familiar with the strong condemnation of a female “prophet” in the Church at Thyatira identified as “Jezebel” in Revelation 2:20-23, I was unfamiliar with the phrase, “Spirit of Jezebel.” So I went down the rabbit hole. Here is what I discovered.

Nowhere in the Bible is there a reference to the “Spirit of Jezebel” or the “Jezebel Spirit.” And while the origin of the phrase is unknown, the name Jezebel has a long history as a racist and misogynistic slur. A Jezebel is a woman who is devious, manipulative, ambitious, immoral and idolatrous. The name was regularly applied to African female slaves by white slave owners who saw them as promiscuous perverts ruled by lust (referencing the Jezebel of Revelation 2 who led men into adultery and fornication). According to Graciella Ye’Tsunami, “Enslavers believed white women were “virtuous” in God’s eyes and therefore worthy of protection. Black women were painted as the exact opposite – sexual deviants worthy of violence. Roxanne A. Donovan adds that the stereotype of the sex-crazed black women was also used to justify rape blame (ie “she was asking for it’). `

In 1981, David Byrne of the Talking Heads collaborated with Brian Eno to write and produced a song by the title “The Jezebel Spirit.” In the song, the singer exorcises a demonic spirit from a woman possessed by “Jezebel.” The spirit is commanded to release the woman because “She was intended by God to be a virtuous woman. You have no right there. Her husband is the head of the house,” implying that she was promiscuous and had “ruled over” her husband.

Since 2016, dozens of books have hit the market about the “Jezebel Spirit” covering topics like what it is, traits that expose it, how to defeat it, etc. The target audience is likely to be conservative and charismatic Christians who have been influenced by the New Apostolic Reformation and one of its “prophets”, Lance Wallnau.

In August 2020, Wallnau posted a video on X where he described a dream he had. He said, “Kamala [Harris] was in an elevator with me that was going up, and I knew there was a Jezebel spirit, and this was before she ran for the primaries for President.” He later added, ““I knew that she was going to be the one the devil is going to try to use to take Trump out.” When Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee for President in July 2024, Wallnau posted another video , warning that Harris, represents “the spirit of Jezebel, and in a way that’ll be even much more ominous than Hillary [Clinton] because she’ll bring a racial component and she’s younger.” The video has been viewed 1.4 million times.

On July 16, 2025, Charlie Kirk complained on his show that we are not living in the same country as in the 1980’s. As evidence, he pointed to young women that “are infected with the Jezebel spirit, that [have] no interest in getting married or having children, that [want] to be the boss of the relationship.” He has over 5 million Facebook followers.

Whether it is called the “Jezebel stereotype” or the “Jezebel Spirit” the trope persists–particularly for women of color. However, to say any woman has a “Jezebel spirit” is also to say she is dangerous and untrustworthy–under the influence of hell to seduce men to their destruction and to usurp their power and subvert God’s proper social order. At its core, referring to any woman as a Jezebel is an attempt to “keep women in their place.” The slur also inflicts spiritual and mental harm and invites others to inflict the same or worse.

In Part 2, I will introduce you to dynamic women of the Bible, who–if living today– might be accused of being possessed by the Spirit of Jezebel, but who were, in fact, filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Until then…

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 (NASB)

Rescind Congress

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

“Do not refuse to help those people who need help. If you are able to help them, do it!  (Proverbs 3:27 – Easy English Bible)

Early yesterday morning, while it was still dark, the Senate voted to rescind billions of dollars in funding that had already been approved. While much of the debate (and news coverage) focused on rescinding $1.1 billion in funds for National Public Radio and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, $8.3 billion in funding was originally earmarked for foreign food aid, global health initiatives and global disaster relief.

The rescission package was then sent back to the House, which passed the package late last night 216-213, sending it to the president’s desk for his signature. Mission accomplished.

Supposedly, all of the programs that will lose their funding have been rife with “waste, fraud and abuse” for decades. But let’s be clear: $9.4 billion dollars may sound like a lot of money, but it represents only 1/10 of 1% of all government spending. And that’s less than $28 per person in the US.

Meanwhile, there seems to be plenty of money for other things.. By the end of July, there will be 60 new detention centers opening or expanding across the county and Cuba to process and deport migrants–costing $45 billion dollars. Operating the new detention centers will cost taxpayers even more. According to the Associated Press, the new detention center in the Everglades will cost taxpayers at least $450,000,000 per year.

Where is all that money coming from? Obviously, not from the “savings” from the rescission package. According to Kristi Noem, Florida will be reimbursed for the costs of operations through FEMA. That’s right. FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, will use funds from FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program–a significant shift from the program’s original purpose.

Once again, our leaders are revealing their priorities. And their priorities are skewed. They have shifted from helping people who need it (both at home and abroad) to detaining and removing people who no longer fit our definition of “American.” These shifted priorities run counter to the mandate of Scripture and the model of Jesus.

Every “Christian” in Congress needs to ask themselves, “What would Jesus fund?” and “What would Jesus cut?” I don’t believe Jesus would support cutting funds that prevent starvation and disease and promote education in order to fund incarceration and mass deportation. And if they think differently, those Senators and Representatives should be rescinded as soon as possible.

Burnt Biscuits

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

Two days ago, the Atlantic reported that 500 metric tons of high-energy biscuits purchased by the USAID in 2024 for distribution in Afghanistan and Pakistan–enough to feed 1.5 million hungry children for a week–will be burnt to a crisp in the next two weeks. Why? The biscuits, which have been stored in a Dubai warehouse, have expired and are no longer fit for either human or animal consumption.

US taxpayers spent $800,000 to purchase the food and will now spend another $130,000 to destroy it. Meanwhile, according to the report, USAID inventory lists from January show more than 60,000 metric tons of food already purchased by the U.S. government are sitting in warehouses across the world including 36,000 pounds of peas, oil, and cereal. It is unclear when (or if) the food will be ever be distributed.

Why weren’t the biscuits distributed prior to their expiration? Blame this administration’s closure of USAID, firing of most of its staff and shift of decision-making to the State Department to “eliminate waste, fraud and abuse.” Not only does this expose the ineptitude of the current administration, it reveals its disregard for human suffering and its moral bankruptcy.

What a waste.

Coming Soon to a City Near You

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

The images of armed National Guard troops and armored military vehicles entering McArthur Park in Los Angeles on Monday morning sent chills down my spine. There had been no riot. There had been no armed uprising. But according to the Department of Defense, the troops were present at the park to “ensure the safety of federal agents.” The Department of Homeland Security called the takeover of McArthur Park part of “ongoing enforcement operations.” Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass, called the show of military force “absolutely outrageous” and “un-American”, designed to “strike fear into the heart of the city.” It worked. It was scary.

Then, in Chicago on Tuesday afternoon, Homeland Security agents attempted to gain access to the National Puerto Rican Museum in Humboldt Park. The agents were denied access after they did not show any identification, present warrants or answer questions on why they were on the private property. There was speculation that they were making plans for upcoming festivals in Humboldt Park that highlight and celebrate Latinx culture including Barrio Arts Fest, The Great Columbian Festival and Fiesta Boricua. No one knows for certain what those plans might include.

Today, in response to the incident at the museum, local, state and national elected officials representing the Northwest Side of Chicago issued a strongly worded statement condemning any efforts by the Department of Homeland Security to intimidate, surveil, and terrorize the Latinx community and stating, “ICE is not welcome in Humboldt Park or anywhere in Chicago or Illinois.” At a press conference, U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (IL-03), who has repeatedly called for the resignation of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, accused the federal administration of violating the constitution by detaining and deporting people without due process, and she denounced the tactics of ICE. “If you have to cover yourself up to [take] people, then you’re a terrorist yourself,” she said.

Back in Los Angeles, Border Patrol El Centro Sector Chief Gregory Bovino was interviewed by Fox 11 Los Angeles. He made it clear that operations like the one on Monday would happen again. He promised, “The Federal government is not leaving LA… We’re going to be here until that mission is accomplished.”

He then added, “Better get used to us now, because this is gonna be normal very soon.”

Your city could be next.