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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.

An Old FB Post – #1

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

Yesterday, I started sorting through my old Facebook posts. I joined the crazy world of social media in 2010. I discovered that over the past 15 years, I’ve created a beautiful timeline of events. While I no longer use Facebook as my main outlet for self-expression, I have run across a few posts that I want to preserve by sharing them on this platform. Here’s one from April 4, 2014. I was on vacation in Myrtle Beach, SC., and the moment was profound.

“On Monday, I stood looking out over the Atlantic Ocean feeling very small in the face of such vastness. Then, a wave broke in front of me, rushed up over my feet and then retreated with such force that it pulled all the sand from around my feet back into the surf. At that moment, I didn’t feel so insignificant. I had held the sand in place beneath me. I made a difference by standing firm. There’s a sermon illustration there somewhere.”

The waves continue to crash ashore, Never forget that every act of resistance–no matter how small–makes a difference. Stand firm, my friends. Stand firm.

A Picture of Devotion?

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“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet  and sweet for bitter.” Isaiah 5:20 (New International Version)

We need to listen to the prophets.

Since Thursday, July 3, I have been haunted by the photo of members of Congress in a circle of prayer in the aisle of the House of Representatives prior to their vote on the budget bill.

Rev. Benjamin Cremer, Substack author of “Into the Gray”, eloquently posted a lament about the photo, writing, “What are we to make of this image? Men huddled in pious prayer, arms around each other, heads bowed, as if invoking Your name makes the cruelty they prepare holy? …And Jesus, warned us: “Do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.” (Matthew 6:5) This, too, is a show. A public performance meant to mask a private betrayal. They fold their hands and raise their voices not in repentance or humility, but in justification of injustice. …They will walk away from this circle of prayer into chambers where they vote to deepen poverty, increase suffering, and criminalize mercy. And they will dare to call it righteous.”

Throughout this arduous process, House Speaker (and professed Bible-believing Christian) Mike Johnson has repeatedly called the budget bill “good” despite the “evil” it will perpetrate against children, the sick, immigrants, the elderly and people with disabilities–the very people with whom Jesus identified and to whom we are called to serve.

Meanwhile, some conservative Christians have been throwing shade on empathy–a quality frequently aligned with compassion and kindness, a fruit of the Spirit. But on his Podcast, “Stronger Man Nation,” Pastor Josh McPherson said, “Empathy is dangerous. Empathy is toxic. Empathy will align you with hell.” What was once considered “sweet” (positive) is now “bitter” (negative).

This substitution of evil for good, darkness for light, and bitter for sweet has consequences. It hardens the heart, atrophies the spirit, and deadens the soul. It also disconnects us from God’s kingdom plan–shalom. Jesus said, “I have came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10). Jesus modeled compassion, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, welcoming the outcast and releasing those held captive by forces of darkness. Sadly, we have watched as self-proclaimed followers of Jesus pray and then deliver sickness, hunger, detention and death to the “least of these–Jesus’s siblings and ours..

It’s not how you pray; it’s how you obey.

A Day to Lament

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On this 4th of July, my heart is heavy with sadness as our nation’s leaders have taken food and healthcare from the poor to give the wealthy a tax break and to fund detainment and deportation of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. How are we to celebrate freedom when we have just passed legislation that will put people in bondage and condemn them to death? How are we to mark the 249th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence when our nation has returned to tyranny and embraced fascism and funded a police state? For me, this is not a day to celebrate; it is a day to lament and grieve and cry out to God.

“Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered” Psalm 60:5

“Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.” Psalm 79:9

“Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.” Psalm 10:12

“Save us in the time of trial and deliver us from all evil.” Matthew 6:13 (The Lord’s Prayer translation from Aramaic)

If You Say You are Pro-Life…

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

On Saturday, June 28, as part of the National Celebrate Life Day in Washington, DC, the organizations Students for Life of America (SFLA) and Students for Life Action distributed 392,715 “EveryLife” diapers, which symbolized the number of abortions performed by Planned Parenthood in 2022-2023. Kristan Hawkins, President of SFLA, used the diaper collection and distribution to counter the narrative that pro-life advocates don’t care about children once they leave the womb. She said, “Our ambitious diaper goal…tells the real story: when we say we’re pro-life AND pro-family, we mean it.”

I’m not convinced. The same group issued a statement celebrating the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill Act by the Senate on Tuesday, saying that the redirection of healthcare funds away from Planned Parenthood for 1 year is a step in the right direction toward their goal of an “abortion-free America” and praised GOP legislators for acting to protect the unborn.

However, there was no mention of the Bill’s cuts in funding for SNAP benefits for low income families; no mention of the $1.1 TRILLION cuts to Medicaid over the next 10 years; no mention of the changes in eligibility requirements for receiving federal benefits; no mention of cuts to the Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (aka WIC); no mention of the cuts to funding for school lunches for poor children; no mention of the increased spending for border security, ICE, detainment centers, and deportation that separates children from their parents; no mention of the $1+ TRILLION budget to fund war and weapons that kill and displace families; no mention of the $3.4 trillion that will be added to the deficit–a deficit that will be shouldered by our grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And there was no mention of the estimated 16,642 preventable deaths that will occur annually if the Bill is passed by the House in its current form.

If you say you are pro-life and if you say you are pro-family, you cannot also be pro-Big Beautiful Bill. The two are antithetical.

Judgement Will Come

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

Updated 7/1/25

“They sell the innocent for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed.” (Amos 2:6-7)

The prophet Amos doesn’t hold back. Speaking on behalf of the Lord, Amos calls out the “sins of Israel” and prophesies that God’s judgement will certainly come. Their sins? They have sold out the poor and innocent for personal gain and political power.

That same willingness to “sell the needy” for a pair of sandals was on display on Friday night as the Senate spent 3 hours taking a procedural vote to allow the “Big (not so) Beautiful Bill” to move forward. There were deep reservations regarding the bill among numerous Republican Senators including Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mike Lee of Utah, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Rick Scott of Florida who kept the Senate in suspense by not voting right away. Then, Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, who had voted against the motion, suddenly switched his vote to “aye”, In the end all the Republican senators with the exception of Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina voted to pass the measure. It passed 51-49.

What got all of them to vote for something they didn’t agree with or knew would not help their constituents? Threats? Possibly. But more likely, it was a carrot, not a stick, that led them to vote “Aye.” Lisa Murkowski got a carve out to protect SNAP benefits for poor people in her state. The poor in the other 49 states were sold for a pair of sandals. Ron Johnson and Josh Hawley got a $25 billion fund to support rural hospitals. While that sounds like a lot, it doesn’t begin to make up for the cuts to Medicaid–a primary source of funds for rural hospitals. And in the end, the innocent in urban areas–where hospitals are also struggling to stay afloat–were sold for silver. And Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who voted ‘aye’ for the bill, had the audacity to say, “They (the poor people worried about Medicaid cuts) will get over it.” The wealthy trample on the heads of the poor as on the dust.

Today, several hundred people gathered at the Supreme Court with Rev. Dr. William Barber, II and dozens of pastors and faith leaders to pray, to prophesy and to protest the contents of this bill that includes the largest cuts to social programs in American history to make way for the largest tax reduction for the wealthiest Americans. When Capital Police prevented the people from marching toward the Capital, the group began to pray in the middle of the street. Twenty-five people–including Rev. Barber–were arrested for blocking the street.

To use Senator Rev. Rafael Warnock’s assessment, this bill is “Robin Hood in reverse.” It robs from the poor to give to the rich.” In the words of Rev. Barber, “We can’t keep going down this road.” The prophet Amos was proved right: God’s judgement came upon Israel for its multiple “sins.”. We’ll be next if we don’t change direction.

Update: Today, the Senate passed the Big Brutal Bill 51-50 with Vice President JD Vance casting the deciding vote. Now it will return to the House of Representatives. Watch and pray.

Still Frozen Out

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

 “Solidarity must go beyond words…becoming a refugee is never a choice, but how we respond is.” –United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres

Today is World Refugee Day. Matt Soerens, Vice President of Advocacy and Policy at World Relief, reminds us that there are over 120 million people in the world seeking refuge, defined as a pursuing safe shelter from danger or trouble. These people have fled from their homes because of war, persecution, disaster or political upheaval. In the past, the United States has been a refuge for these people, but since the president signed an Executive Order freezing all refugee resettlement for 90 days, 128,000 people already approved and ready for resettlement have been stuck in limbo. That was on January 20, 2025. It has been more than 90 days, and the freeze is still in effect. According to a report by Religious News Service, the administration has claimed in court that it cannot resettle refugees. However, in May, the administration fast-tracked the resettlement of 59 white Afrikaners from South Africa who, it claimed, were being persecuted because of their race.

And the 128,000 people who have been waiting in line–some for years–are still frozen out.

On this day, we can respond by respectfully urging our U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators to demand that President Trump end the freeze and restore the U.S. refugee resettlement program and funding fully. Phone numbers can be found at https://.5calls.org.

And we can respond by supporting organizations like Refugee One and World Relief, who continue to support refugees who arrived prior to the freeze without the help of federal funding.

Will Juneteenth be Next?

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

(Updated on June 20, 2025)

We wouldn’t be celebrating Juneteenth—the day slaves were fully emancipated in the United States—without the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. Following his death at the hand (actually, under the knee) of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, protests erupted across the country. Significantly, the marches and protests were multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-generational and multi-national, and they shined a spotlight on the systemic racism that has targeted black and brown communities for centuries.

People marched not just against abusive policing and excessive use of force but for something much deeper—a commitment to affirm the humanity and value of black lives and for passage of new policies that would create equity for marginalized people.

The nation responded. Police policies were reviewed and changed, rogue police officers were held accountable, states and the federal government invested in programs that addressed the root causes of violence and poverty and initiatives that elevated under-represented groups. Even corporate America stepped up the make commitments to racial equity.

A year after George Floyd’s death, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law on June 17, 2021.

Sadly, backlash against these initiatives and reforms came swiftly. Juneteenth is still a federal holiday—at least for now—but the gains made since 2020 have been reversed at both the state and federal levels. (Read the president’s Juneteenth Truth Social post below.)

In 2022, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis condemned “woke ideology” as he signed into law the “Stop WOKE Act”—also known as the “Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act.” The law prohibits schools and workplaces from teaching about systemic racism and certain concepts related to race, gender, and social privilege, and it bans thousands of books about race and marginalized people.

On the federal level, the current administration has issued a flood of executive orders closing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offices within all government departments, following the plan envisioned by Project 2025. Corporations also have abandoned their prior commitments to DEI and ended their sponsorship of certain festivals and events that do not align with the new administration’s values and agenda.

As Rev. Otis Moss III, pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, pointed out in an opinion piece published by The Hill, this backlash is nothing new. “Every step toward reform is met with retrenchment, a doubling down on the very racist and unfair systems we seek to dismantle,” he writes. “After Reconstruction came Jim Crow. After the civil rights movement came mass incarceration. And, after Barack Obama and Black Lives Matter came Project 2025.”

On this Juneteenth holiday, we must remember the past victories and the progress gained for full inclusion and equality of all people, but we must also recognize the nature of the beast that continues to threaten that progress. Juneteenth could be on the chopping block next.

In the words of Rev. Moss, “The backlash has been loud, but we can be louder…” Retreat is not an option. “We must keep pushing the needle forward….” That first June 19, 1865, was Liberation Day! So, go forward in the power of the Spirit to announce good news to the poor, the oppressed, the discounted, the dismissed, the disenfranchised: God’s truth IS marching on! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!

UPDATE: The President’s Juneteenth Post. True to form, the president used Juneteenth to complain about the number of federal paid holidays on the calendar the cost to business. He wrote: “Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed. The workers don’t want it either! Soon we’ll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” This is a slaveholder’s response.