"Jesus Was A Commie" and "Tra La Luna E Tempo"
If you are not electing Christians, tried and true, under public scrutiny and pressure, if you're not electing Christians then in essence you are going to legislate sin. They can legislate sin... And that will take western civilization, indeed other nations because people look to our country as one nation as under God and whenever we legislate sin... then average citizens who are not Christians, because they don't know better, we are leading them astray and it's wrong.
Fellowship Baptist Church in Saltillo, Mississippi, voted out a 12-year-old boy who "asked Jesus to live in his heart" at the church two weeks ago. Why the ban? Joe is biracial, and church members didn't want the black side of his family attending with him... (T)hey were "afraid Joe might come with his people and have blacks in the church," church pastor John Stevens told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.
-- The Carpetbagger Report
"This Week In God"
God has called us to be His representatives in our nation and in our world. Select candidates who represent your views and work for their election.
Supporters of V. Gene Robinson, the newly consecrated homosexual Episcopal bishop, claim his elevation sends "a powerful message of love and tolerance." However, it is not "tolerant" to brush off opposition to the consecration of a homosexual bishop. Nor is it "loving" to suppress evidence that homosexual behavior is a "death-style" that is sending young people to an early grave.
The church and this nation cry out for a revival of masculine Christianity, which is to say that we church leaders need to stop being such, for lack of a better word, sissies when it comes to social and political issues. We need to spend as much time confronting perpetrators as we do comforting victims. We need to do less fretting, and more fighting for righteousness. For every motherly, feminine ministry of the church such as a Crisis Pregnancy Center or ex-gay support group, we need a battle-hardened, take-it-to-the-enemy masculine ministry like Operation Rescue (questions of civil disobedience aside). For every God-hating radical in government, academia and media we need a bold, no-nonsense, truth-telling Christian counterpart: trained, equipped and endorsed by the local church.
-- Scott Lively
Director of AFA California and Abiding Truth Ministries
Jesus Was A Commie
words and music by
Justice Putnam
Jesus was a Commie
Jesus was a Jew
Jesus was a fisher
Jesus worked with tools
Jesus walked across the land
Jesus sat at home
Jesus led a fiery band
Jesus slept alone
(m/8) Jesus said to love the ones
Who slapped you across the face
Jesus called Lazarus from the tomb
Jesus touched him with Burning Grace
Jesus was loved
Jesus was despised
Jesus taught simple truths
Jesus was crucified
(instrumental m/8)
(tacet) Now some say Jesus rose to heaven
Now some say Jesus only died
Now all the High Priests teach the lesson
Now even Love should be criticized
(instrumental m/8 to tacet)
© 2006 by Justice Putnam
Fleur de Sel Musique
and Mechanisches-Strophe Verlagswesen
Tra La Luna E Tempo
(Between the Moon and Time)
by
Justice Putnam
I came upon a man
Kneeling in the desert.
He was crying.
I put my hand
On the man's shoulder
And I felt a warmth
Move up my arm
And into my
Heart.
The man
Looked up at me.
I saw that
He was Jesus.
I knew he was Jesus
From all the paintings
I had seen.
He was holding
A dead lamb against
His chest.
The lamb appeared
To have been shot.
The man stood
And faced me.
Blood trickled
Onto his
Bare stomach.
"I feel it all!"
He said,
"All of it!
Nothing passes
That does not pass
Through me!"
The man continued
To cry for
A very
Long time.
I felt water rise up
To my ankles
And over
My knees.
When the water
Had gotten to
Our waists
The man looked
About himself
And let out a
Painful groan,
"I must go now!"
He said,
"I must go!
I cannot stay
In one place
For very long
Or my tears
Will drown
The Earth!
Bless you,"
He said,
As he turned
And walked
Away.
Io venni su un uomo che si
inginocchia nel deserto.
Lui stava piangendo.
Io misi la mia mano sulla spalla dell'uomo
ed io sentii su una mossa di calore il mio braccio
e nel mio cuore.
Gli uomini guardarono
su a me.
Io vidi che lui era Gesù.
Io seppi che lui era Gesù
da tutti i dipinti io avevo visto.
Lui stava contenendo
un agnello morto
contro il suo torace.
L'agnello sembrò
essere stato sparato.
Gli uomini stettero
in piedi e mi affrontarono.
Sangue gocciolò
sopra il
suo stomaco nudo.
"Io lo sento tutti!"
lui disse,
"Tutti di lui!
Nulla passaggi
che non passano
attraverso me!"
Gli uomini continuarono
a piangere
per un tempo molto lungo.
Io sentii su aumento di acqua
alle mie caviglie
e sui miei ginocchia.
Quando l'acqua era
arrivata alle nostre vite
gli uomini guardarono circa lui e
lasciarono fuori un gemito doloroso,
"Io ora devo andare!"
lui disse,
"io devo andare!
Io non posso stare in un luogo
per molto lungo
o le mie ferite
lacere affogheranno
la Terra!
La benedica,"
lui disse,
come lui girò
e si allontanò.
from: "Philosophy in Tongues" - Section Two "The Unfinished Manuscripts" - Part B "Tra La Luna E Tempo"
© 2005 by Justice Putnam
and Mechanisches-Strophe Verlagswesen
I completely agree, dear Justice Putnam. I have tears in my eyes as I write this. From many years working with suffering people, I have come to the exact conclusion you describe in the second poem. There is no suffering that is not touched (and embraced) by the Divine. And yes, by tears.
This is one of your finest posts. A sacred post. The suffering heart, the tears, I know them well. Every caring person participates in that.
Namaste.
March 6, 2009 8:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not much of a Catholic these days, but it is Lent and the Jesus Story has and will always be an important part of my Heart.
March 6, 2009 9:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not much of a catholic either - except in the universal sense. And yes, in that sense, I am catholic.
A beautiful, beautiful post.
March 6, 2009 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Jesus is in the eyes of the beholder. I went to your link on the racist church. That is amazing. I am speechless. The pastor resigned.
I thought those days were gone.
March 6, 2009 8:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
That incident was from a few years ago; but the same idiocy exists now.
March 6, 2009 8:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
John Coffee, like the drink... Set free at the end of the Green Mile.
March 6, 2009 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
All need to acknowledge that 'religion' is not the same as 'faith'. Organized religion is to faith what politics is to government....
Polarizing, devisive, narcisstic and serving personal agendas.
Thanks for this and rec'd. God Bless.
March 6, 2009 11:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you!
March 6, 2009 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
"...(T)hey were "afraid Joe might come with his people and have blacks in the church," church pastor John Stevens told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal..."
By truncating the actual report, you leave the impression that John Stevens was a party to this process. He, in fact, resigned due to the incident as he didn't agree with the outcome. That should be noted on his behalf.
March 6, 2009 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
It has been noted that the Pastor resigned in a comment by Mr Day above; who went to the link provided. I suppose, in my mind, that if I failed to provide a link to the carpetbagger report, that the pastor's good name would have been impugned.
But it has now been duly noted twice, so I will presume that the word is out.
March 6, 2009 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
There will always be nitwits who glom on to Christianity as a channel for their fear-driven need to control a complicated and confusing world. There always have been. As I've said many times here and elsewhere it is not religion that causes the problems so much as it is the dogma of those who claim to be acting based upon religion.
There's not doubt in my mind that people such as those quoted above would be the first to demand the crucifixion of any Jesus who might arise in the present. Aftera all, it was these people or their predecessors who virulently opposed Martin Luther King in the 50's and 60's. They would volunteer to drive in the nails because any such figure would be seen as a threat to their atrophied and inflexible worldview. Enlightenment, change, progress, evolution of social and political processes all scare the living crap out of these people and represent a threat to them. Their ignorance is amazingly apparent to anyone with half a lick of sense but in the age of mass communications they have been able to sell their snake oil and amass great fortunes to keep the the business alive and that's what it is: a business. In many, if not most, cases it is literally a family business where one generation of charlatans inherits the dumbass dogma empire from the last as in the case of Falwell for example.
But I firmly believe that if you eliminate the dogma and look at the truths offered in any religious tradition, you will find that the ideas are sound and worthy of understanding and pursuit. If it involves hate, exclusion, compulsory social and sexual behavior, rote obedience not to moral principles but to a man made set of rules that inhibit natural human creativity and happiness then you can be sure it is not divinely inspired.
March 6, 2009 12:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
I never intemded to imply that the quotes were inspired by God, but the opposite.
I had hoped that "Tra La Luna e Tempo" would have implied that the Word of God and the actions of Man seem to be at odds.
March 6, 2009 4:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes indeed and you did it very well Justice!
March 6, 2009 10:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I once heard a very learned and devout teacher/pastor say succinctly: If it is good, it is of god. I think that's very similar to what you've said, oleeb.
March 6, 2009 10:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
So if we let North Korea go nuclear there's a good chance we'd be a Christian Globe with no errant Christians on it? Or would it be a safe and godless rock without sin?
Joy,
March 6, 2009 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I cannot stay
In one place
For very long
Or my tears
Will drown
The Earth!"
March 6, 2009 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's good good to see that Takisha Jones incendiary remark has been exised.
Maybe I wasn't the only one to troll rate the fool.
March 6, 2009 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Amen.
March 6, 2009 7:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I went around and did that for a lot of comments those particular comments today. One right after the next. That seemed to do the trick!
March 6, 2009 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
" God has called us to be His representatives in our nation and in our world. Select candidates who represent your views and work for their election."
I spoke with God today. And he said, vote all repubs out of office as soon as possible.
March 6, 2009 9:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wrote the following a few years ago and my son included it on his fourth cd:
The Lone Dog
by
Justice Putnam
It is said
That if you
Throw a rock
Into a pack of dogs
The one that is hit
Barks the loudest.
But I have to tell you
I am a loud dog
But not of the Pack
I am the individual
Surviving
By my wits
By my ability
To adapt to
The situation and
Accept that the
Given
May not be enough
I don't act out of impulse
I knew the rock
Would be thrown
But my survival
Depends on
My abilities
By my experience
And analytical prowess
Does the Moon
I howl to at night
Have power over me?
I suppose
It pulls at the
Oceans.
Does the
Hunger
I constantly
Feel have
Control?
The answer is obvious.
Is the two-legged animal
With the whip and leash
God?
No
God
Is much
More mysterious
Much more Powerful
Much more the
Provider
Much more the
Taking Away
God does
Speak to me
Yes
God speaks
To a loud
Lone dog
God doesn't
Speak through the
Pack
But to me
Personally
You could say
I have a
Personal
Conversation with
God
But not of
Words
God is
Much more
Mysterious
Than that
So I pray alone
For what
God and I have is
Personal.
I figure
It's the same with
Everything that has
Soul.
From: "The God Debate- a dialogue between Tom Paine and the Carthaginians”
© 2002 Justice Putnam
and Mechanisches Strophe-Verlagswesen;
and also appeared on verse 3, "The World is Mine" from the CD "Judgement Time"
by 50 Tramp Dawg
and World Wreckards Productions
March 6, 2009 9:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
The one that is hit
Barks the loudest.
I got a troll on my tail at my blog.
It bothers me not. How do you attack fiction.
I went nuts a week ago when I was attacked on some legal mumbo jumbo
Fiction.
How in the hell do you attack someone on fiction?
And how in the hell can I attack you when you claim to hear God?
Beautiful poem and now I am embarrassed to take your time.
March 6, 2009 9:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
No need to be embarrassed. I don't know how it is someone can attack fiction as fact; I've been confronted before on some work of fiction by what turned out to be neocon-like thugs.
I'm fortunate to be more like Hemingway, or Kesey, or London in a muscular physical and writing style than say, Truman Capote physically; so I'm not easily intimidated.
Crewing on tuna boats and working in the oil fields also puts me in a position to smack the Joe Werzelbachers of the world as well.
Point me in the direction of the assault and I'll be your bodyguard, so to speak; though in yesterday's essay I wrote, you counseled to simply ignore that TakishaJones troll and I thought that was great advice.
Your work is astounding and you should pay no heed to these self-proclaimed critics!
March 6, 2009 9:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
You make my day. No kidding. And here he is.
March 6, 2009 9:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Pay no mind, dd. You are among friends. :-)
March 6, 2009 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
TheraP. What would I do without you. I would not even have found this place. I can take attacks on fiction. I was having a bad day, and decided to lawyer again.
God I love this place!!!!!
March 6, 2009 10:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Me too, dd. I thought you did a stunning job over there! I was in awe. :)
March 6, 2009 10:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Attack fiction as fact? I think not. Assess fiction as fiction. Quite the difference, say I.
March 6, 2009 10:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Le Bonhmme est painture
tout lasse’
et rousse
D’une cote et d’un barry:
Un baston au coul pose’
Vieil, use’
Et ruse’,
Feste n’a en ce monde cy,
Mais de lui
Va le cri:
C’est Joseph le Rassote’
March 6, 2009 10:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
ok, I'm game; everything is a fiction, even the retelling of a fiction:
"With the highest respect, I accept the name of Heraclitus. When the rest of the philosophic folk rejected the testimony of the senses because they showed multiplicity and change, he rejected their testimony because they showed things as if they had permanence and unity. Heraclitus too did the senses an injustice. They lie neither in the way the Eleatics believed, nor as he believed--they do not lie at all. What we make of their testimony, that alone introduces lies; for example, the lie of unity, the lie of thinghood, of substance, of permanence. "Reason" is the cause of our falsification of the testimony of the senses. Insofar as the senses show becoming, passing away, and change, they do not lie. But Heraclitus will remain eternally right with his assertion that being is an empty fiction. The "apparent" world is the only one: the "true" world is merely added by a lie."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
"Twilight of the Idols"
March 6, 2009 10:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
A bit on the esoteric side.
March 6, 2009 9:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
As opposed to Cambrianic Exoskeletal side, I suppose.
March 6, 2009 9:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Too much high sounding Brit talk for me kilt-loving heart, Laddie.
March 6, 2009 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Brit talk? Here, let me touch your forehead with the blunt force of my claddagh.
March 6, 2009 10:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
too much justice in that, I fear....
March 6, 2009 10:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
On that we can agree.
March 6, 2009 10:26 PM | Reply | Permalink