First Church of California

It took me 50 years to learn he'd rather kill me than tell the truth. It was shocking to turn and see my father actual enjoying the suffering his actions were bringing. It was at this point that I cut off all contact. As I was begging for mercy he was getting a sick pleasure and it sort of clicked. As I turned back and looked upon our history it was a blindness that allowed the abuse to continue. And I wished I had gotten him help sooner, sooner as in 33 years ago when the bruises on my body were more than the school would allow. I don't regret lying to the police to save my dad's ass. I just wish he respected the sacrifices I made for him. But, as i learned, as a review of the facts forced me to accept. My hero would rather see me dead than prosperous and had acted far from my interest throuhout my life. Again and again, from an early child, left for dead

 What a day .... I'm reminded of Wycliffs song I pray :  Welcome to the rotten apple, The city of lights No matter how day shine it cyaa steal the nights Cause wen da ghost knock knock jus before yuh get Right out at yuh chest The eagle raid the cucoos nest Hey amma do this one fah ma homies gone, yea The judge hit the hammer they ain’t coming home, (nah) We all up from the danger zone (True) Dah devil pull the card and he said choose one (choose one)      

  if you want a revolution return to your childhood and kick out the bottom dont mistake changing headlines for changes if you want freedom dont mistake circles for revolutions think in terms of living and know you are dying & wonder why if you want a revolution learn to grow in spirals always being able to return to your childhood and kick out the bottom This is what ive been trying to say—if you attack the structure— the system—the establishment you attack yourself KNOW THIS! & attack if you must challenge yourself externally but if you want a revolution return to your childhood & kick out the bottom be able to change yr own internal chemistry walk down the street & flash lights in yr head at children this is not a game your childhood is the foundation of the system walk down the street flash lights in yr head at children but be wary of anyone old enough to kill learn how to disappear before they can find you (that is, if you want to stay alive) if you want a revo...

  Opinion Living Faith ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Inspires Both JD Vance and Social Justice. How? By  J.K. Granberg-Michaelson Aug 22, 2024 Share   “JD Vance doesn’t get to claim  The Lord of the Rings .” That was my initial reaction when I read “ How  The Lord of the Rings  Shaped JD Vance’s Politics : ‘A lot of my conservative worldview was influenced by Tolkie n’ ” in Politico last month. The works of J.R.R. Tolkien —  The Lord of the Rings  chief among them — have been a passion of mine since elementary school. The story of how four lowly hobbits, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin, come to change the entire course of their world’s history through their decency, courage, and stubborn perseverance still resonates as powerfully for me today as it did then. There’s a “root for the underdog” theme in Tolkien that resonates with my love of working for social justice, and explains why I’ve always been drawn to biblical figures like Moses and Mary, mother of...

  Evangelism Without Justice Ignores the Words of Jesus By  Adam Russell Taylor Oct 3, 2024 Share   “A church that is not faithful to the Gospel in all its dimensions inevitably becomes an instrument of the status quo.”   Fifty years ago, Latin American theologian Rev. C. René Padilla shared these words at the first Lausanne Congress, a global gathering that brought together Christian leaders from nearly 150 countries to address challenges and opportunities in evangelism. In his  speech , Padilla made a compelling biblical case for why we can’t separate evangelism from a commitment to justice, explaining that the “church is called to be here and now what God intends the whole of society to be; in its prophetic ministry it lays open the evils that frustrate the purpose of God in society; in its evangelization it seeks to integrate men into that purpose of God whose full realization is to take place in the Kingdom to come. Consequently, wherever the church fails a...