50 Reasons Why I am Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving

Here are 50 Reasons why I am giving thanks this Thanksgiving- I have:

50. a place to live
49. clothes to wear
48. shoes on my feet
47. food to eat
46. the ability to walk
45. my sight to watch a beautiful sunset or the stars at night
44. my taste to enjoy a piece of homemade pumpkin pie
43. my smell to the aroma of fresh flowers or a favorite dish
42. a job or source of income
41. colleagues at work who care
40. an education
39. the ability to read and write
38. books to read and the freedom to read them without fear
37. the freedom to speak my conscience and even voice dissent
36. the freedom to gather with whomever I choose
35. musical gifts to share
34. daily opportunities to help others
33. health insurance
32. transportation
31. a sense of humor
30. a legacy of faith and care left by loved ones who have already gone home
29. pictures that speak better than words
28. teachers that have given their all to help me learn
27. counselors who have helped me through some 'dark nights of the soul'
26. seekers who have renewed my confidence in God's power to change lives
25. worshipers who have modeled for me a heartfelt faith
24. healers who have showed me how to care
23. antagonists who have taught me patience and how to deal graciously with challenges
22. vacations that have given me rest
21. clean water that refreshes me when I feel parched
20. students who remind me that we are always learning
19. ball games on sunny afternoons with friends
18. warm evenings by a fireplace with loved ones
17. comfort for those who are grieving
16. rest for those who are weary
15. people with the courage to speak their conscience even though it may cost them their life
14. walks on a familiar beach in summer
13. writers who challenge me to think and consider other points of view
12. pastors who seek to genuinely live what they preach
11. the words of children that give me a fresh perspective on life
10. a story of how God has changed my life for the better
9. a church home with people who care
8. joy and hope in my heart
7. my health
6. family and friends
5. a sister who is an encourager, patient listener, and friend
4. parents who gave me life, nurtured me, and pointed me in the right direction
3. a beautiful daughter who brightens my every day and is the joy of my life
2. a loving, devoted wife who is my soulmate, partner, and best friend
1. faith in God who provides for all my needs


Peace in the Lord,

John

Remembering the Fallen; Standing for Peace

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." -Matthew 5:9

The number of American casualties from the latest war in Iraq has topped 2000 dead. This is striking, especially with Veteran's Day being commemorated on November 11th. I am unashamedly and unapolagetically a pacifist. However, I deeply respect the tremendous dedication and courage that the fine men and women of our armed forces have shown in answering the call to duty.

Still, sadly, military veterans and their families are seriously neglected, and marginalized, not only by much of our society, but also by our government. This must change. Veterans need to be guaranteed proper medical care and benefits for them and their families, as well as respect for their service.

At a larger level, though, I think we need to hold our nation's leaders accountable at the highest level for this ill-conceived war of choice. Was Sadam Hussein a despot? Of course. But this whole war was propagated on a series of lies coming straight from Mr. Bush's oval office. First it was alleged secret meetings Sadam had with Bin Laden- no evidence ever materialized to support that claim.

Second was the "weapons of mass destruction" claims- Colin Powell paraded a series of satellite images, elaborate charts, and supposed intelligence claiming Iraq had these weapons. The inspections were progressing, yet apparently not fast enough for Mr. Bush, who decided it was time to invade Iraq no matter what the inspections found (or didn't find).

Third we have the infamous 16 words in the 2003 State of the Union address. That Iraq had secretly tried to acquire yellow cake uranium from Niger. A claim that Ambassador Joe Wilson and others who made a trip to investigate the claims found no evidence to support. Beyond that, the Bush administration not only took our nation to war based on phony evidence and false claims, but his staff also lied about it. Repeatedly.

Mr. Cheney made allegations of secret meetings between Sadam and Bin Laden that he knew (or at the very least should have known) were false. Mr. Rove gave Mr. Libby classified information about Mr. Wilson's wife, a covert CIA operative, which they both then leaked to the press, conveniently before their Sunday propaganda sessions on the morning talk shows.

In his own simplistic, fundamentalist way, Mr. Bush considers himself a person of deep faith. He and his speech writers even quote (out of context unfortunately), key phrases from hymns and scripture verses. Perhaps Mr. Bush should read, or re-read the Sermon on the Mount. In it Jesus raises the bar for loving our neighbors, and pursuing peace:

-"blessed are the peacemakers"
-"love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you"
-"let your yes be yes and your no be no"

Instead he clings to his deceit of our nation, and even more sadly, deceit of himself.
I pray for Mr. Bush and all our leaders. I respect the offices they hold. I believe strongly, though, that much greater accountability and justice needs to be brought back to our nation's leadership.

How many more thousands of American troops, and tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis must die before Mr. Bush brings home the brave men and women putting their lives on the line for a nation that does not want them there in the first place?

Join me in praying for peace, and for honesty and truth from our leaders.

Peace be with you,

John

Injustice for One is Injustice for All

"We are bound by an inescapable garment of mutuality, whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." -Dr. Martin Luther King, jr.

- letter from the Birmingham Jail, 1962

This week, we are remembering the legacy of civil rights and equality that Rosa Parks, a tremendous woman of courage, left our nation and world. Yet, there are still tens if not hundreds of thousands of women and children who exist in slavery- today in 2005, nearly 150 years after the emancipation proclamation, and 75 years after women gained the right to vote.

This past Saturday, I watched a show on a television network that I have fastidiously avoided in the past- Lifetime. Yes, a man watching a show on Lifetime- Television for Women...so much for my thin macho veneer...

It was a powerfully moving program called "Human Trafficking." The program, which is based on the alarming trend of young women from Asia, Eastern Europe, and even (gasp), here from the United States, being abducted and sold into the sex slavery and pornography industries.

The docudrama begins with a handful of teenage girls responding either to ads promising modeling jobs or mail order marriages. Then once they respond and get on the plane to America, Mexico, Austria or another location, they meet a contact and are wisked away in a van, have their passports, money and belongings taken from them, and are held forcibly against their will. They are then subjected to physical and mental abuse, rape, and forced into prostitution.

In another case, young girls traveling with their families in Southeast Asia were abducted in crowded marketplaces and sold into sex slavery- many became victims of so-called "sex tourists"- sick men who travel from the U.S. and Europe to engage in disgusting sexual abuse of minors. It is shocking and absolutely abominable, but happens on a disturbingly wider and wider scale. Estimates are that this illegal sex slavery reaps billions in profits each year for the heartless evil individuals running crime organizations that propagate this trade in human flesh.

Even sadder, affluent American and European men are the primary supporters of this illicit and dehumanizing trade.

We must all take a united stand against this dehumanizing injustice! We must pressure our congressional representatives to strengthen enforcement, we must also support grassroots advocacy for supporting women and children who are trying to get out and make a fresh start. "Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly," as Martin Luther King, jr. said, very eloquently during the Civil Rights Movement, nearly 50 years ago.

Jesus, also said in the Gospel "As you have done to the least of these, you have also done to me."

Are we willing to step beyond our comfort zones of American apathy and stand for justice for all?

I hope so. Let's begin today- together we can make a difference.

Peace for all,

John