by James Ross Kelly

Helen Keller–the majority of mankind is ground down by industrial oppression


Helen Keller

“The country is governed for the richest, for the corporations, the bankers, the land speculators, and for the exploiters of labor,’ said Helen Keller during the part of her life they don’t teach you about in school. ‘The majority of mankind are working people. So long as their fair demands — the ownership and control of their livelihoods — are set at naught, we can have neither men’s rights nor women’s rights. The majority of mankind is ground down by industrial oppression in order that the small remnant may live in ease.”


Helen Keller

by James Ross Kelly

Robotic Souls – The New Atlantis


Will AI contain multitudes? Do we?

Source: Robotic Souls – The New Atlantis

by James Ross Kelly

The Most Revolutionary, World-Changing Thing Jesus Ever Said – Joe McKeever Christian Blog


No teaching of our Lord’s has been more attacked, slandered, ridiculed, and vilified than His calling on people to love those who hate them.

Source: The Most Revolutionary, World-Changing Thing Jesus Ever Said – Joe McKeever Christian Blog


Luke 6:27-36 The Message (MSG)
27-30 “To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
31-34 “Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.
35-36 “I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.

by James Ross Kelly

Black Elks Prayer – YouTube


As a medicine man, Black Elk had prepared to visit a dying boy in the village, only to encounter a Jesuit priest praying there first.  He encountered a power greater than his own, and accepted an invitation to spend time at the mission.  He was baptized and took the name Nicholas shortly after. As a Catholic Catechist (an often downplayed aspect of his life), he was widely considered an apostle to the plains Indians. Thousands of people were brought to faith – both Indian and non-native, through his work and famous preaching.

His primary work was with new converts and as an evangelist alongside the priests — when priests were not available his duties included baptizing and burials.  His passion for Christ as the Creator and fulfiller of things drove him to vigorous and passionate study.  Nick thought that many of the Lakota spiritual traditions had come from God to teach them to live in a good way and that Christ made sense of all of it.  Many experts agree that his practice of the Christian faith, life, and mission were well-integrated with his worldview and practice as a Lakota.

One such integration is the change in the symbolism for the sun dance ceremony.  Traditionally, it was a time of fasting, prayer, and suffering in order to attain personal power for victory in battle.  It has become, and many credit Nicholas Black Elk for this shift, a ceremony of prayer and fasting on behalf of all the people – including enemies.  For Nick, it was a ceremony to remind the people of the suffering and death of Christ for all of creation.

Source: August 19 – Nicholas Black Elk – Celebrating Our Transhistorical Body

 

by James Ross Kelly

I Am A Self-Righteous Pharisee | Keith Giles


In other words, it’s just as much about Orthopraxy (what you do), as it is about Orthodoxy (what you believe).

Source: I Am A Self-Righteous Pharisee | Keith Giles

by James Ross Kelly

Love Overcomes Evil: Here’s Proof | Keith Giles


Quite often when I talk about following Jesus into preemptive love or proactive agape, people will argue that nonviolence doesn’t work. But it does. […]

Source: Love Overcomes Evil: Here’s Proof | Keith Giles

by James Ross Kelly

Things That Make For Peace | Keith Giles


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The church bombings on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka were directly in retaliation for the Mosque shooting in New Zealand last month. Where does it end? […]

Source: Things That Make For Peace | Keith Giles

by James Ross Kelly

The Death of Death — Center for Action and Contemplation


The Resurrection, by Andrea di Bonaiuto, 1365-1367, Spanish Chapel, Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, Florence Italy

Jesus’ Resurrection The Death of Death Sunday, April 21, 2019 Easter The seeds of Easter are already found in Christmas. If God can become flesh, incarnating in the material world, then resurrection is a natural conclusion. Nothing divine can die. Easter isn’t celebrating a one-time miracle as if it only happened in the body of… Continue Reading The Death of Death

Source: The Death of Death — Center for Action and Contemplation

by James Ross Kelly

Charlie Daniels singing “He’s Alive” with the WOWorship Team – YouTube


 

By Don Francisco–Lyrics: The gates and doors were barred And all the windows fastened down I spent the night in sleeplessness And rose at every sound Half in hopeless sorrow And half in fear the day Would find the soldiers breakin’ through To drag us all away And just before the sunrise I heard something at the wall The gate began to rattle And a voice began to call I hurried to the window Looked down into the street Expecting swords and torches And the sound of soldiers’ feet But there was no one there but Mary So I went down to let her in John stood there beside me As she told me where she’d been She said they might have moved Him in the night And none of us knows where The stone’s been rolled away And now His body isn’t there We both ran toward the garden Then John ran on ahead We found the stone and empty tomb Just the way that Mary said But the winding sheet they wrapped Him in Was just an empty shell And how or where they’d taken Him Was more than I could tell Something strange had happened there Just what I did not know John believed a miracle But I just turned to go Circumstance and speculation Couldn’t lift me very high ‘Cause I’d seen them crucify him Then I saw him die Back inside the house again The guilt and anguish came Everything I’d promised Him Just added to my shame When at last it came to choices I denied I knew His name And even if He was alive It wouldn’t be the same But suddenly the air was filled With a strange and sweet perfume Light that came from everywhere Drove the shadows from the room And Jesus stood before me With his arms held open wide And I fell down on my knees And I just clung to Him and cried Then He raised me to my feet And as I looked into His eyes The love was shining out from Him Like sunlight from the skies Guilt in my confusion Disappeared in sweet release And every fear I’d ever had Just melted into peace He’s alive yes He’s alive Yes He’s alive and I’m forgiven Heaven’s gates are open wide (Repeat Chorus 2 More Times) He’s alive He’s alive He’s alive I believe it He’s alive Sweet Jesus