Sep 30, 2008

Paranoia:The individual thinks that harm is occurring, or is going to occur, to him or her *



"Use in psychiatry...the clinical use of the term has been used to describe delusions where the affected person believes he is being persecuted. Specifically, they have been defined as containing two central elements:

The individual thinks that harm is occurring, or is going to occur, to him or her.
The individual thinks that the persecutor has the intention to cause harm."

PLEASE don't Lock me up! PLEASE don't take me away even though I've got all the symptoms! Egads, mental illness strikes again and I'm typing as fast as I can! Let me explain:

I *truly* believe that McCain/Palin are planning/causing harm RIGHT THIS MINUTE, in The United States of America, and while campaigning with words made into speeches fashioned from DENIAL and ongoing DECEIT...I think they are intending, with the help of Karl Rove and assorted other, and more horrid devilworshipping types, to cause a whole lot more trouble for ALL of US...more trouble than we ever expected/projected and neglected to see (shame on me).

Furthermore, I think the "persecutors" have the intention to destroy the world as we know it today. Save us, Dear Lord, from the Bush/Cheney greed/fear/hate legacy tendency that PRETENDS reality away (and then blows up those with whom they disagree/dislike, don't see eye-to-eye, or, more simply, have what they want and wouldn´t give it to ´em).

Mercy! HELP! There is the added matter of Governor Sarah, who like her buddy Bush, thinks that HE and SHE are on a "special" Godly quest/mission to wipe out/reform and/or purify humanity...they have become "the chosen" and ALL of their thoughts/actions are being directed and controlled by an external, albeit heavenly, force/farse caper.

Please don't try and fool me, John and Sarah, as I'm Paranoid already/already!

STOP the sky from falling: Spray on your "Fate Repellent" and VOTE OBAMA and join me/us in prohibiting John McCain and Sarah McPain from blowing up the planet of EARTH!

THE END IS NEAR! Queer or NOT, ready or NOT...Unite against GREEDY lunatics and their egodriven political pals who are stripping our economic gears!


*Wilipedia/Paranoia

eye photo/photo sharing/flickr/Andrew Prest

Sep 29, 2008

"Why Sarah Palin SCARES me" (and many Republicans too)


By Jon Person

"October 2nd can't get here fast enough. Joe, please politely debate that Creationist Bible extremist rape-and-incest-apathetic pork-barreling controversy-laden big-oil spouse scripted smile off of her oil sucking earmark supporting email-hiding face for us all. The United States Government is no place for someone who got a passport in 2007, prays away homosexuality, doesn't know what VP's do, and thinks God sent us to Iraq and God wants us to build pipelines. I'd say if God wanted anything, it wouldn't be oil and war, do you think? Sarah, I'd say God is more likely to make this happen than be your silent little yes-man.


And now Sarah Palin refuses to do any interviews because of all this controversy. The Reps would rather ride her charm all the way to the White House and say they are the real voice of change. Why does somebody avoid interviews? They either have something to hide or they are unprepared to take office.


If you want to judge someone on charm alone, go skim People magazine instead of voting in a Presidential election."

Sep 28, 2008

The Feast of Archangel San Miguel...Who is like the Lord? Ask YOURSELF that question tomorrow, September 29th!


I live at one of the hundreds of towns named after San Miguel the Archangel in Latin America...for the whole of September we've been holding special masses and celebrating and honoring San Miguel with special activities at the pueblo center and with parades, contests and LOTS of daily processions and FIREWORKS!


The entire month his sculpted image has moved in procession (with drums and fluets) each day/night from one home to another to be honored and visited by neighbors (refreshments too)...


...today we've been having the BIGGEST celebrations for San Miguel, on the eve of his feastday, tomorrow, which started with a early morning parade, complete with fancy stepping horses and fancy stepping bands and many homemade floats...there is lots of drinking, lots of dulces, cotton candy, nuts and treats and there was even a special Rodeo type affair featuring a cattle showing with fierce Bulls and prize winning Cows...the place is wild with colorful and happy activities and it will continue through tomorrow (which in this town will be a WHOLE DAY of a holiday too)...there are many special foods to eat including TAMALES, and hot cider for everyone! It's very festive here in Central America on feastdays. I especially like it because my favorite Santo, and no-nonsense Angel, has always been San Miguel...San Miguel whom I truly believe defends me and the likes of me!

Wikipedia about San Miguel/Saint Michael

"Michael (Hebrew: מִיכָאֵל‎, Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; Greek: Μιχαήλ, Mikhaíl; Latin: Michael or Míchaël; Arabic: ميخائيل‎, Mikhā'īl) is an archangel, one of the principal angels in Christian and Islamic tradition. He is viewed as the good Angel of Death (as opposed to Samael, the evil Angel of Death), and as the field commander of the Army of God. He is mentioned by name in the Book of Daniel[dubious – discuss] and the Book of Revelation 12:7. In the book of Daniel, Michael appears as "one of the chief princes" (Daniel 10:13) who in Daniel's vision comes to the angel Gabriel's aid in his contest with the angel of Persia Dobiel, and is also described there as the advocate of Israel and "great prince who stands up for the children of your (Daniel's) people" (Daniel 10:21, 12:1).

The Talmudic tradition rendered his name as meaning "who is like El (God)?". In recent years, a popular mistake has become to translate the name as "One who is like God." It is, however, meant as a question: "Who is like the Lord?" The name was said to have been the war-cry of the angels in the battle fought in heaven against Satan and his followers.

Much of the late Midrashic detail about Michael was transmitted to Christianity through the Book of Enoch, whence it was taken up and further elaborated. In late medieval Christianity, Michael, together with St George, became the patron saint of chivalry, and of the first chivalric order of France, the Order of Saint Michael of 1469. In the British honours system, a chivalric order founded in 1818 is also named for these two saints, the Order of St Michael and St George. St Michael is also considered in many Christian circles as the patron saint of the warrior. Police officers and soldiers, particularly paratroopers, regard him as their patron saint. He is also a patron of Germany[1] and one of the patron saints of the city of Brussels[2], Belgium.

Roman Catholics refer to him as "Saint Michael the Archangel" and also simply as "Saint Michael". Orthodox Christians refer to him as the "Taxiarch Archangel Michael" or simply "Archangel Michael". The New Age Movement often refers to Michael as "Creator God Michael of Nebadon", Hatton, Aton, or simply Christ Michael."



and from Padre Mickey:

"...We don't need to worry about Guardian Angels, or whether angels are real or not; what we need to worry about is how we treat each other, about how we treat those who are the least among us. We need to worry about helping others learn of the Good News of forgiveness of sins and that God loves everyone and want relationship with everyone. We need to tend to the sick, to pray for each other, and to love each other. Then we can join with the angels in heaven and sing God's praises, because we will be doing God's will, just as the angels do.

Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals: Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen"

Padre Mickey's Dance Party/Feast of St.Michael

and from James...

Saint Michael and All Angels, and you, too, Jane

The Three Legged Stool

Sep 27, 2008

4th "most powerful" LGBT person in Britain and a Prominent MP enters "civil partnership" with Maria Exall after a 18 year relationship



Treasury Minister Angela Eagle entered into a civil partnership with Maria Exall in Southwark today.



Flowers for the Ladies

"The Labour MP for Wallasey, who was named the fourth most powerful LGBT person in Britain by PinkNews.co.uk, has been in a relationship with Ms Exall for the past 18 years.

She has become the first lesbian MP to enter into a civil partnership.

Ms Eagle, who was actively involved in securing Labour's Civil Partnership Acct in 2004, will later attend a celebratory party at the Bread and Roses pub in Clapham.

Ms Eagle's twin sister, fellow MP, Maria said: "It's been great, everyone was very pleased and they are very much in love."

The news of the Minister's intended nuptials was revealed by the Deputy Leader of the Labour party, Harriet Harman, during a question and answer session at the TUC conference earlier this month.

Ms Eagle told PinkNews.co.uk: "Maria and I met in Peckham Labour Party 18 years ago, and so Harriet has more right to announce it than nearly anyone."

The minister who has represented Wallasey since 1992, came out as a lesbian soon after the 1997 election.

In June 2007 she was appointed to the government by Gordon Brown, in the newly-revived position of Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury.

She is a member of Labour's governing body, the National Executive Committee.

Health Minister Ben Bradshaw became the first MP to hold a civil partnership ceremony two years ago.

Shadow business secretary Alan Duncan became the first Conservative MP to hold a civil partnership ceremony in July."

Thank you Pink News for the "Good News"

Lesbian Treasury Secretary of The United Kingdom enters civil partnership today...horray

Sep 26, 2008

Senator Barack Obama from the State of Illinois...became the run-away favored U.S. Presidential candidate TONIGHT!



The difference was staggering...the old man who wages war and a younger man who wages peace.

Thanks be to God, we're seeing Change we can believe in...Change is taking place on "things that matter*."

I believe it will be a Democratic sweep in November...no more PRETEND, no more DENIAL, no more rampant greed/worse nurtured in the White House! I find it especially inspiring that I'm alive and voting for the first African American U.S. President.

*Martin Luther King

Sep 25, 2008

Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Karl Rove, McCain and/or Palin? Which rotten Republicans will SPOIL their Fall harvest?


It's difficult to sort out the rotten apples.

There is little to say. The smell of rotten apples fill the air. The Republicans have destroyed the economy, shattered the work force, sold out OUR COUNTRY and there is no place further for them to run, no place for ANYONE to hide from their gross incompetence and greed...sure, they'll keep trying to blame and shame others, but it won't work. We will throw the rotten apples out. They are easy to see and smell. Their greed, their over ripe bigshotism, their grandstanding and know-it-all-ness has collapsed into a pile of whimpering stink...still, with righteous screams of loud aftermath they try and shake us down...what remains is the sickening result of unlimited selfishness and destructive and bloody deeds against mankind and a shabby AMERICAN witness against fellow human beings, family and friends...no vision of grandiosity/purity is too big for the disturbed and feardriven brains that still refuse to hang their heads with ANY "common sense" of humility or reach out for help!

Last night President Bush took NO RESPONSIBILTIY for his mistakes, for his lies for his degenerate leadership...instead, he alluded to others who had mismanaged our ECONOMIC affairs (while Rome burned he fiddled by instigating MORE fear and hate and telling more lies about our "robust" economy).

No lie is too small or too large to keep trying to tell for self-righteous, fundamentalist, irresponsible, shifty extremist religious members of the GOP (and their handlers)...no group in the History of The United States has ever proven as arrogant, emotionally/spiritually destructive, dangerous and criminal against other citizens as the evolved damaged political party named the GOP.

The Dominionist PURITY dream is a sick addiction turned puritanical obsession in OUR everyday reality...it must be recognized and stopped immediately from harming others...WE THE PEOPLE can no longer enable self-destructive behavior or the outright abusing and exploiting of fellow citizens by self-righteous bigots and the insatiable greed...The Republican "selfwill" machine has already run way out of control and it CLEARLY can't be fixed until it is stopped...they are addicted to the sound of their own rationalizing, smearing of others, outright irresponsible/unaccountable behavior and the beliving of their own lies.

Sep 23, 2008

Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South


Thanks to SGL Universe (at the right side bar or click here):

Read the "Sweet Tea" story here

"Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South" is the title of a new book written by E. Patrick Johnson. Johnson, a professor at Northwestern University, chronicles the lives of black gay men who were willing to share their experience of growing up black and gay in the South. Ranging in age from 19 to 93, Johnson was able to interview a black gay man from every state in the south.

One interesting finding he discusses in his book has to do with sexuality and religion. Johnson stated "...men who understand the South as the Bible Belt but who also, as they came into their sexuality, started to develop what they would call a personal relationship with God, as opposed to a personal relationship with a church. ... For some people, especially people who aren't particularly religious or who live in urban areas -- who don't understand why you would go to a place where the preacher or some of the congregants are going to say homophobic things -- they don't understand that if you are raised around the church from the time that you are in the womb, you can't necessarily just cut that part of your life off just because you start to come into your sexuality, because despite the homophobia, there's also lots of encouragement and nurturing that happens in the church."

Johnson hopes his book will affirm the lives of the men he interviewed, help others struggling in their sexuality, and "debunk some myths about what it might mean to be black and gay in the South."

***

ALERT: Please read recent posts below (September, August, July and June) regarding LGBT African Christians seeking Church in AFRICA where they can WORSHIP and find Christian fellowship/peace-of-mind and be of service and supportive to one another. Now is a time of great physical, spiritual and emotional upset, persecution, widespread war/rioting and more and more deeply seeded cultural/spiritual illness in Nigeria, Uganda, Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Sudan, Kenya and beyond...Peter Akinola, Henri Orombi and other religious extremists are forcing tens of thousands of Christians UNGERGROUND with a excluding/demonizing "witch hunt"...promoting discrimination and taking part in a ACTIVE and AGGRESSIVE dangerous persecution campaign directed against Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transgendered Christians in Africa is IRRESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP and PREACHING. Promoting "selective" Scriptural lies about LGBT Christians at Church generate fear and hate from the pulpit and result in:

Sep 22, 2008

Archbishop Akinola denies REALITY (again) regarding LGBT Christians/Anglicans in Nigeria and the Rainbow House Church "is not real"....


Interviewing Peter Akinola
By JIDE BABALOLA
Published: Tuesday, 23 Sep 2008

"But sir, are you aware that in spite of your deep opposition to their practices, there is now a gay church operating in Nigeria? What is your reaction to the report that some gays in Ojodu area of Lagos now have a church for gays?


AKINOLA: There is nothing like that; it is all just mere media propaganda. It is not real. If there is anything like that at all, it must have been arranged by some people who just want to take money from those abroad who will like to fund anything just because of our stand on the issue. There is no gay church in Nigeria; it is only a deception, a media propaganda. Efforts have been made to meet them before but they could not be located anywhere.


You have said that many of those who argue in support of the gay culture in the church have also insisted that it is an issue of human rights. What if your resolute stand on this matter leads to a division of the global Anglican Communion?


Peter Akinola, Primate of Nigeria

AKINOLA: If that will be the price to pay, so be it. Those of us who shall be left can proudly call ourselves true Anglicans, true Christians."

Archbishop Akinola can't find ANY Gay Church in Nigeria...read more

HOUSE OF RAINBOW Church
Metropolitan Community Church
Lagos Nigeria


1. Why the need for another church in Lagos Nigeria?
Within religious circles there exists great tension over the issue of including homosexuals. For persons who are Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgender, there are too few or perhaps no places that wholly affirm these individuals who are Christians, self-affirming, and homosexuals. It is our calling to provide a corrective and a viable alternative. We desire to be a place of extravagant welcome for all persons — especially persons seeking a community built on honesty, openness, and equity. We believe the call that we have received comes from God and is both specific and radical. We seek to reach persons on the margins of society and make the table of the Lord accessible to all.

2. What is your denominational affiliation?
We are affiliated with the denomination of the Universal Fellowship of the Metropolitan Community Churches, founded on the 6th October 1968, in Los Angeles United States of America, founded by Rev Elder Troy D. Perry; the mission is currently under the leadership of Rev Elder Nancy L. Wilson as Moderator. We are a denomination working for unity and justice in both church and society.

3. What is Radical Inclusivity?
Radical inclusivity is the belief that all persons are welcome at the table. Inclusivity challenges major fundamental, deep-seated beliefs, doctrines and theologies at the centre of society which characterize people on the edge as enemies of God and routinely mistreats, oppresses and excludes people from the community of faith and its institutions.

4. What will the worship experience look like at House Of Rainbow, Metropolitan Community Church Lagos Nigeria?
Our worship style is celebrative and contemplative — free and open to the Spirit. We will seek to provide a rich blend of a variety of traditions - Pentecostal, Baptist, Apostolic, Methodist - just to name a few. We seek to provide an experience that values ritual, tradition, and yet one that is open to a God who is still speaking. We will also provide a space for persons to examine the deeper meaning of our traditions and faith expressions. Whether it is through our powerful praise and worship, the performing arts, or through social ministry that is grounded in love, we will seek to be a balanced people who embody the transforming and liberating love of Jesus Christ.

5. How do I become a member?
Membership is open to all. We now hold weekly bible studies, regular Membership Foundation Class and other programmes. Please contact us at houseofrainbow@hotmail.com to receive information regarding time and location.

Archbishop Akinola click here to find out why there was a need for a GAY CHURCH in Nigeria

More GAY NIGERIAN Church NEWS: Founding Gay Church is a Divine Calling For Me - Macaulay+

Archbishop Akinola click here for CONTACT INFORMATION for the GAY CHURCH in Nigeria

Sep 21, 2008

Dr. Swoozie Knights, Chapter Three by Leonardo Ricardo


...end of Chapter 2 (scroll down to the index for earlier chapters of Dr. Swoozie Knights):

"I ran down into the open arms of my sister Milly who
quickly stepped back when I came in for the landing.
She stepped back over a pile of clinkers she was
standing on. Face down I went. Oh, it was just a
terrible accident they told me and off I went to St.
Johns hospital to get stitched up.

I still have the scar at my hair line in the center of
my face, can you see it right here, Dr. Daytona? It
was a pretty wicked gash. It's still pretty ugly but I
try and let my hair cover it.

I belived them, I thought it was a accident because my
older brother Mike never, ever would have let me get
hurt like that."

Chapter III

(what a sad thing it was/is that I never had a brother, older or not, named Mike or not...but, Dr. Ricardo Daytona doesn't need to know that)

"Mike was such a nice guy Dr. Daytona. There was never a time
he didn't like me. I remember once we were washing
the car in the driveway next to our house. Mike always
wanted me to help him with stuff like that. Mike told me that
he needed my help because it was hard to do things
alone and he liked being with me because his "little" brother was a "big" help. Mike said that him
and me were the "A team" around our house and the best two guys on the block. I
knew he was right. I worked hard because
of Mike and because he expected me to be a "big" help.

It was hot that day and we were barefoot,in
bathing suits and scrubbing and wiping the car dirt away. Mike
told me that you can't wash the car in the sunlight
because it streaks if you do. I didn't know what
streak was, and I didn't want him to know I didn't know , so I just shook my head, yes. I didn't
want him to think he had a stupid little brother like
Milly had said I was. Mike was good at telling me
stuff I needed to know. It was a good thing
the car was under the big tree near the hedge. That big tree protected
the car and protected me from bad streaks...The
tree always reminded me of Mike afterward. Mike and
the tree both liked me and protected me from being stupid and getting streaks or falling down and needing stitches in my head.

Today Mike was teaching me about cleaning the
whitewalls. Cleaning whitewalls was important to learn to clean for a
little guy like me. Whitewalls are important because
they "have to be perfect" and "everybody sees them,"
that's what my big brother Mike said to me. I was
scrubbing on them with steel wool. I was getting them perfect on the outside while Mike was cleaning inside of the car. What a great day it
was to be a little brother washing a car. We did a
perfect job Mike said. We were the best that two
brothers could be at doing everything. Just my big brother Mike and me and
the big tall old protective tree.

Did you know that Mike was inter-state wrestling champ
Dr. Ricardo? He was number one in our city and then
in all of the state. I got to see him compete so many times.
Mike always told Mom he won because I was his good
luck charm.. He said he was real lucky to have a little
brother like me. It felt good to be a lucky little
brother like me.

I wrestled with Herman our dog sometimes. I was
the champion in our backyard wrestling competition. I won the matches
between Herman and me. I think the dog let me win
Doctor Ricardo. I think the dog could have beat me. I
never thought about it that way before, until right now,
until today, sitting here remembering the earliest version of me.

Mike died during a bus wreck, it was a rolling over bus accident
coming home from the Pacific Northwest Finals. I
didn't know he would be dead for good because he won First Place.

Nobody wanted me to look in the box and to see him dead but
I did. They told me he was sleeping and they said he
wanted me to know that he loved me. I knew that
already. They said "Mike is going to sleep a very long
time and he didn't want me to wake him up." That's
what they said to the little person that was me. I
felt sad, everybody was sad, nobody wanted Mike
to sleep as long as he was sleeping. Everyone ate some
chocolate cake that Annabelle, she wasn't really our Aunt, baked and brought over to cheer us up. They all went away. I hated that day.

I was sitting alone outside on the steps after we came
back from church. I thought I'd just wait for Mike to
wake up and then come home. A long black truck came up
to the house. A man carried a big long box of flowers to the front porch
to give to my mom. I said she would be outside in a
little while even though I know she went to bed.

I wanted to be with Mike. they put him in a box with
flowers all around to sleep. I waited. I got sleepy
waiting for Mike. I got into the box with all those
flowers. I waited in the flowers for Mike to find me
when he came home. After he woke up, I knew he'd come
home looking for me.

Always, when Mike came home he'd get me out bed in the
morning. He said I was the first bright part of the
day. He never came to get me out of the flowers in
that box though...that was the first night that he started
sleeping at someones elses house and he didn't come home the next day.

(if only my big brother Mike had lived, my life, and things in general, would have been so much better)

End Chapter III, Dr. Swoozie Knights©

Sep 19, 2008

Sissyphobia and Butchyphobia aren't Homophobia (as it turns out)


A recent, hit-and-run, visitor comes to "share" here at Eruptions At The Foot Of The Volcano and generally smears his/her vile shallowness regarding LGBT Christians/others all over the "comment" pages...quite often I'm the "featured" recipient of his/her emotionally/spiritually "challenged" homophobiclike observations.

Today at Queers United (see side bar on the right or click below) I discovered something that I didn't know:


"Sissyphobia" is a term used to describe people who fear or hate effeminate men AKA sissies. The term is similar to homophobia but is instead focused on a fear of the gender identity as opposed to the sexual orientation of the individual."

Sissyphobia or Butchyphobia?

I would imagine the same "fear of the gender identity" applies to "butch" women?


Anyway, during the course of my lifetime I've known many "sissy" men and "butch" women and "borderliners" who are every-day, run-of-the-mill, heterosexuals...go figure, why aren't people what they "seem" to be?


In my opinion, like homophobes, "sissy/butchyphobes" are spending far-too-mucho time fearing gender and sexual orientation, apparent or not, of OTHER human beings (as if they could ever know what ANYONE does sexually and "catch it" like Asian Flu)...I would strongly suggest they/he/she keep their eyes firmly planted on their own brain/behinds, morals, wrists, posture/stride and find something more constructive to do (than come here and get deleted)...I would suggest if one wants to worry about pending death they PRAY like crazy about the insane/deadly and bloody wars generated by Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld and Karl Rove...liars all.

Do you think we've discovered the root of the famous ICK factor?


Dear "Phobic" vistor:

You are welcome to participate here as any other, flawed, regular, standardsized, healthy spiritually/emotionally seeking human beings who look within for acceptance of who they REALLY ARE (and what their possibly ILL personal character really represents and then attempts to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT). Seeking a wholesome spiritual balance in our lives is admirable. Being of service/communicating with one another, a REAL blessing...the choice is yours, however, Sissy/Butchy Gender/Homophobiclike attacks are unhealthy/unnecessary and will be deleted quickly..."it's for your own good" as the unorthodox puritan/dominionist-fundamentalists might say.

Vaya con Dios, or bienvenido, it's up to you.

photos/thanks to "flickr" photosharing

Pots filled with Flowers for The Episcopal Church, our Bishops, our Clergy and THE LAITY!


Good Morning from STORMY Central America.

I thank you for the great, and carefully determined, ongoing road to honorability OUR Episcopal Church/Anglican Communion has taken at yesterdays House of Bishops meeting at Salt Lake City, Diocese of Utah...yes, it's time to keep focused on OUR individual and collective vows/responsibilities at The Body of Christ and thanks to all who RESTATE those eternal values for ALL of Gods Beloved...we are a group of Christians who attempt to "Love Thy Neighbor" (all of our neighbors) and do NOT endorse exclusion or promote CRIMES OF HATE from the pulpit nor promote difference or the demeaning of others...The Episcopal Church WELCOMES everyone and won't be highjacked or kidnapped by anyone (of formerly "trusted" leadership authority or not)...we have a great "mission" that is even more than what was perceived many decades before...it's a mission of saying NO MORE to discrimination, to superstitous prejudice and hate amongst OUR religious family, our friends and ALL other members of The Episcopal Church/Anglican Communion.

Heterosexual Women and LGBT Christians/Anglicans/others WORLDWIDE need our leadership and guidance/experience as many are demoralized, demonized and raped/persecuted/jailed/abused...Meanwhile, The Anglican Churches of Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, The Congo and handful of others play religious PRETEND, promote fear and hate, and they harm even more human beings as civil/tribal wars and corruption rage out-of-control around them:

45 African Women raped everyday in just ONE area of The Democratic Republic of The Congo

Emotionally, intellectually and spiritually primitive outcasting/blaming and shaming of others is completely unacceptable at The Episcopal Church. Exclusive "excluding" groups of unorthodox religious people who prefer to "stand alone" and think they are "more pure" than the rest of us are pitiful...tainted exclusivity at Church is deadly no matter how well religious "opportunists" have convinced/reassured and rationalized themselves into beliving of their great personal and superior selective Scriptural interpretating "virtue"...it's all a sad cheap/thin tradition of biggoted PRETEND that a kills real people, attacks OUR spirit and often attempts to violate/stomp out souls. All this while elevating the PRIDE of the self-righteous "excluders" so they can feel extra "Godly" and SAFE from their own lack of trust in a God who has a wide variety of children...violators of the diginity and humanity of fellow Christians/others must repent or more spiritually healthy Christians/others will "fall away"...no exceptions, nobody gets a "pass" for "righteously" harming fellow Christians/others at Church.

Lord Hear My Prayer


above painting/"Our Flower Pots Runneth Over" 3'x4' mixed media, masonite panel mounted on cedar stretch bars (finished yesterday)

photo/juan carlos castillo fuentes

Sep 18, 2008

BOB DUNCAN of The Episcopal Church Diocese of Pittsburgh...DEPOSED!


Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh via "abandonment of communion" regretfully found his "place to stand" at the Province of Southern Conealone.


Vaya con Dios!

"The Episcopal Church's House of Bishops has deposed Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh for abandonment of communion."*

House of Bishops Vote:

89 voted in favor of deposing Duncan
35 voted against deposing Duncan
4 abstained

*
James has the BREAKING "Abandonment of Communion" NEWS/here

Archangel San Miguel protect us from ill-will, fear/hate-instigating preaching and ALL evil doers of evil deeds.

UPDATE:

PROGRESSIVE EPISCOPALIANS OF PITTSBURGH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PEP Hopes Diocese Will Move Forward Gracefully After Duncan Deposition

"Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — September 18, 2008 — Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh regrets that events have caused the House of Bishops to consent to the deposition of Bishop of Pittsburgh Robert W. Duncan. It is never a cause for rejoicing when the Church must confirm that one of its leaders has abandoned the communion of The Episcopal Church.

The decision to depose Bishop Duncan comes after long and agonized consideration. It is nine months since the Title IV Review Committee certified that, in the opinion of its members, the bishop had abandoned the communion of this Church. Bishop Duncan has repeatedly said that he expected the Church to discipline him. He has rejected numerous opportunities and warnings to reconsider and change course. Instead, he has continued resolutely to pursue a course of action designed to remove this diocese and many unwilling Episcopalians from The Episcopal Church.

Now that the House of Bishops has acted, the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh needs to find a way to move forward gracefully and productively. By canon, the Standing Committee is now the ecclesiastical authority for the diocese. We pray that its members will exercise wisdom in a spirit of love and reconciliation and will reconsider the divisive course set for our upcoming diocesan convention. It is within their power to begin to heal this troubled diocese.

Everyone in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, including Bishop Duncan and his family, the Standing Committee, the clergy, and ordinary parishioners need the prayers and concern of the entire Episcopal Church. With God’s help, this diocese will continue the witness of The Episcopal Church in Southwestern Pennsylvania long into the future."

Contact:
Joan R. Gundersen, President
Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh
Telephone: +1 (412) 799-0440
E-mail: jrgunder@hotmail.com

Progressive Episcopalians Document here

Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh:
http://progressiveepiscopalians.org
Progressive Episcopalians of Pittsburgh is an organization of clergy and laypeople committed to the unity and diversity of The Episcopal Church, and of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. It is a member of the Via Media USA alliance.

UNITY (everyone means everyone) and SERVICE at The Body of Christ are on the way:


The General Convention of The Episcopal Church will meet at Anaheim, California, Diocese of Los Angeles, Summer 2009

Sep 17, 2008

Do FORMER Orthodox Patriarch and Bishops Duncan/Schofield have COVERT and OVERT handover of "Church Property" DIFFICULTIES in common?

Deposed Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.

"The former Orthodox Patriarch of
Jerusalem, deposed by his own bishops over a covert handover of Church
land..."

Patriarch Deposed in Jerusalem

John David Schofield/San Joaquin, deposed


Bob Duncan/Pittsburgh, deposed

Lord have mercy

WEDDING BELLS for Ms. Mary Claire Cheney and Ms. Heather Poe? Peace of the Lord be with You Too/Two...



Flowers for the Brides?


Mary Claire Cheney and Heather Poe


Lynne Cheney, Mother of Mary Claire Cheney, Grandmother and Wife of Vice President Dick Cheney of The United States.

"The Vice President said in the debate with Joe Lieberman ever so long ago in 2000 that freedom in this country ought to mean freedom for everyone."

Mary Cheney, Mother and the spouse of Vice President of the United States, Dick Cheney.

WEDDING BELLS are for EVERYONE?

EVERYONE means EVERYONE?

"The wife of the Vice President of the United States has made a rare public comment about her lesbian daughter.

Lynne Cheney was asked about gay marriage during an interview on CBS television to promote her new book We the People: The Story of the Constitution.

Presenter Harry Smith mentioned the recent wedding of Star Trek actor George Takei in California, where same-sex couples can now marry after a state Supreme Court ruling.

He asked the Second Lady if she would want the same for her daughter Mary.

"I would wish my daughter to have happiness and freedom to make her own choices," she said.

"The Vice President said in the debate with Joe Lieberman ever so long ago in 2000 that freedom in this country ought to mean freedom for everyone."

Mrs Cheney has only spoken about her daughter's sexuality publicly a handful of times.

In 2000, she lambasted a reporter who mentioned it, saying "My daughter has never declared such a thing," and four years later she attacked Senator John Kerry after he mentioned Mary's sexuality in a Presidential debate, branding him as "not a good man.

"Of course, I am speaking as a mom, and a pretty indignant mom. What a cheap and tawdry political trick."

Last year, while promoting another book, this one about life in America during her childhood, she told CBS:

"They were hard on kids who were gay.

"Society has evolved. I've evolved in my way of thinking, but I think the whole society has evolved. You know, my mother had a rule which was people are just people."

During an interview for FOX News yesterday, Mrs Cheney said that Sarah Palin, the Republican candidate for Vice President in November's election, is being treated unfairly because she is a woman.

"Has anyone asked Senator Obama if he perhaps is neglecting his children by spending too much time on the campaign trail?" she said.

"That's the kind of question that's put to Sarah Palin. And I think that's not fair."

Mrs Cheney is clearly a fan of the woman who aims to replace her husband as Vice President.

"I was completely surprised and just blown away by her convention speech," she said.

"You see a lot of slick politicians. I've been around politics a long time. I've seen people who are really polished and careful and good. She was just excellent and kept that authenticity."

Vice President Dick Cheney has clashed with journalists over his daughter's sexuality and her choice to have a baby with her partner, Heather Poe.

Interviewed on CNN's Situation Room in January 2007, he was congratulated on Mary's pregnancy by presenter Wolf Blitzer, who then went on to read out a statement from pressure group Focus on the Family.

"Mary Cheney's pregnancy raises the question of what's best for children.

"Just because it's possible to conceive a child outside of the relationship of a married mother and father, doesn't mean it's best for the child."

Mr Cheney, 66, was visibly displeased at the attempt to paint his child as a bad role model.

He replied, "I'm delighted. I'm delighted I'm about to have a sixth grandchild, Wolf, and obviously think the world of both of my daughters and all of my grandchildren."

Then he added "And I think, frankly, you're out of line with that question."

The presenter hastily attempted to mollify Mr Cheney, saying he felt the question was responsible and fair.

"I just fundamentally disagree with your perspective," the Vice President replied.

Mr Cheney has publicly stated that he did not think there was a need for federal intervention to ban same-sex marriages, and has often spoken publicly of his love, admiration and respect for his daughter.

Ms Cheney's partner Heather often appears with the Vice Presidential family at official and political functions and events."

Are Wedding Plans in the making for Vice President Dick Cheney's Lesbian Daughter Mary Claire?

Sep 16, 2008

Bishop James Pike and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "LOVED THY NEIGHBOR"...and you?


"As a part of the Festival of Grace, celebrating the 1964 completion and consecration of Grace Cathedral, Bishop James Pike invited Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to visit and preach at Grace Cathedral. Dr. King accepted and the date was set; March 28th, the fourth Sunday of Lent. Crowds already surged around the Cathedral by early morning, and by 10:00 am the building was packed. Grace Cathedral had never before seen so many people."


March 28, 1964--September 16, 2008

When will we listen? When will we learn?

Stop the excluding of LGBT Christians/others at ALL levels of everyday life.

Stop the instigating of crimes of hate from the pulpit and/or from the politicians soapbox.

Stop the "selective Scriptural" demoralizing and abominating of Christians/others.

Be responsible and accountable for the demonizing and other deadly acts of abuse directed against YOUR brothers/sisters, extended family members, co-workers and friends.

Love Thy Neighbor



Lord Hear My Prayer

Sep 15, 2008

TODAY, September 15th, Central America Celebrates Independence Day...Horray!


INDEPENDENCE from Spain in 1821

"The five nations of Central America have not always been the most cooperative of neighbors over the years. But for the first two weeks of every September, the countries put aside their political differences and border squabbles to join in celebrating the isthmus’ independence from Spain in 1821. It is one of few things all the countries can agree on.


The September 15 Independence Day parades through the capitals and major cities of Central America are family events, geared mostly toward the young and the nostalgic elderly.


High school students, dressed in their pressed school uniforms and recently shined shoes march with their school mates, some holding banners or twirling batons and others playing in the marching band. Younger children attend the parades with their parents as spectators, waving balloons and flags as they wait to catch glimpses of their older brothers and sisters march by.


The September 15 celebrations really begin in early August, when student bands begin to meet every Saturday morning in their schoolyards to practice songs and marching in formation.


Surprisingly, the students don’t seem to mind attending school on weekends, as the Saturday sessions usually are conducted more like pep-rallies and social events, rather than marching drills.


The practices make it difficult to sleep in on Saturdays, as the sounds of un-syncopated snare drums and trombones can be heard in most neighborhoods in the early morning hours of August and September.


Students aren’t the only ones preparing for the regional celebration. One of the newer traditional highlights of the independence celebrations is the running of the Central American Freedom Torch from Guatemala to Costa Rica – a reenactment of the messengers who brought the word of independence to the various Central American provinces belonging to Spain’s Capitanía of Guatemala 183years ago.


The annual running of the torch became a tradition 40 years ago, after the Pan-American Highway was completed. (It took the original message bearers a month to bring the word of independence through the jungles of Central America to Costa Rica, which was deeply divided on the sovereignty issue at the time.)
The torch starts in Guatemala on September 1 and spends an average of three or four days traversing each country, passing through the hands of hundreds of thousands of Central American school children, politicians and national celebrities before arriving in Costa Rica on September 14.

In some countries, such as Nicaragua, the Freedom Torch stops temporarily in each department capital to light other torches, which are then run to the far corners of each rural municipality.

When the torch finally arrives at Costa Rica’s colonial capital of Cartago each year on September 14 at 6 p.m., the whole of the country goes out onto the street to sing the national anthem, with the expatriate community fumbling and lip-syncing their way through the tricky lyrics. After the singing/butchering of the national anthem, Costa Ricans of all ages flow out into the darkened streets for a paper-lantern parade.

The sight of groups walking down the darkened streets in silence carrying homemade lanterns has in incongruous effect of a candlelight peace vigil mixed with a colonial-era witch-hunt.
Parents and grandparents enjoy this opportunity to pass on their appreciation of independence as they proudly walk the streets arm-in-arm with their children, raising their colorful cellophane lanterns.


The following day, on September 15, all Central American countries join in celebration. It is time for the students to strut their stuff, men to pop their beers, and presidents and politicians to deliver windy speeches.

While the basic ingredients of the annual Independence Day celebrations are the same every year, the mood and expression of the event has changed with the times. The evolution of the celebration is perhaps most dramatic in Nicaragua, where the concept of independence has been interpreted differently by each government.

During the U.S.-propped Somoza dictatorship, Independence Day was a solemn and formal event, with women in big dresses and student bands – known as “war bands” at the time – performing U.S. military hymns. When the revolutionary Sandinista National Liberation Front took power in 1979, the celebrations became political and anti-imperialist in nature. U.S. military hymns were replaced by Nicaraguan songs. Today, the celebration is more of a carnival-like event.

Nicaraguan poet Jimmy Avilés laments, “We have still not found a way to celebrate the day properly as Nicaraguans. It is an expression that we have still not defined ourselves as a country.”

The Liberty Torch illuminates Central America in September. Its magical glow unites nations and builds hope during this celebration spanning five countries with contagious patriotic partying to which all citizens of the world are invited."


Independence Celebrations of Five Central American Nations/By Tim Rogers