Keeping up the stir

 

                                         Thoughts From The  Middle Of Nowhere

 

   I am a Republican; this is getting harder to say, Caucasian, Christian, cisgender, heterosexual male. Now is not the time to end these conversations.

   We need to keep stirring the pot. A majority of the Republican party is consistently embracing conspiracy theories.

   They are kneeling at the feet of former President Trump as if he were some sort of god. They are giving voice to the lie that he was defeated and removed from office by means of fraud and deception.

   The new leaders being deferred to; Senators Hawley and Cruz and Representatives McCarthy and Taylor-Greene are not only sticking by the big lie they are adding to it with other deceptions.

   It is time for all U.S. citizens to stand up and demand that these liars follow their leader Trump into political oblivion. The Republican party should take the lead in removing them from office and actively seek reasonable, intelligent, honest replacements.

   Perhaps it is time for me to change my opening: I am an Independent, etc. and urge others to redefine themselves likewise.

Peace and Love from

An old hippie from the Middle of Nowhere

John R Akins

And the madness continues

 

                                Thoughts from The Middle Of Nowhere

 

   I'm a Republican, Caucasian, Christian, cisgender, heterosexual male.  A new week, but the same junk continues to clutter the sensible world.

   They still walk among us; although they don't seem to have the brain capacity to breath on their own. I am referring to the Qanon believers and the Trump supporters.

  They range from the relatively benign run of the mill Trumpster  with their campaign signs still up through the deniers with their Trump 2020 Stop the BS banners to the obscene  F Biden flag and banner of a “good” citizens of New Cambria.

   Also included are 51% of Arizona Republicans who reelected as their party chairperson a unapologetic Qonon  believer. This led to the party to censor three stalwart and intelligent members of the Arizona Republican party; one of which was the widow of Senator John McCain.

   This also led to a congratulatory video from Trump. I think it’s about time the Republican Party steps up and reclaims  it's  former self from the grasp of these under educated conspiracy theory nut cases and the former narcissistic   President

    They have an opportunity in early February to make a good start. I would urge Senator McConnell to find his set and find 16 other Republican Senators to find theirs and join their 50 Democratic colleagues in voting to convict Donald J Trump of inciting sedition. A further step would be to censure Senators Hawley and Cruz.

Peace and Love from

An old hippie from the Middle of Nowhere

John R Akins

Equitable distribution

 

                                     Thoughts From the Middle of Nowhere

 

   I'm a Republican, Caucasian, Christian, cisgender, heterosexual male. I’ve been silent for a couple days, but now have a couple of things to say.

 

   First, my congratulations to President Biden and Vice President Harris. You have taken on a difficult job I difficult times and you hit the ground running.

   One discussion coming out of President Biden's second round of executive orders is the need to address equitable allocation of resources.  It is being described as racist, divisive, and unnecessary.

   I would say it is none of the three. It is totally necessary.  Historically people of color have been denied equal access to resources. Everything from basic needs such as food and water to education to health care. This is particularly evident during this pandemic.

  There are fewer hospitals, doctors, and nurses available in areas that are predominantly black/brown. There is also more comorbitity factors at play within the POC populations.

  It is only divisive if you believe that you are somehow more deserving than POC. If you feel that the should not have equal access to the covid vaccine. Or to fewer supplies such as masks, cleaners, etc.

  It can not be racist to be sure that POC receive proportional care. In fact it is racist to insist the status quo be maintained. If you a member of the same group I'm claiming in my opening sentence and denying the need to insure POC receive the same level of protection and treatment is where racism comes in.

  A special effort MUST be made to insure POC receive simular levels of treatment as Caucasian populations.  To advocate anything else is the ultimate exercise of white supremacy and racism.

Peace and Love from

An old hippie in the Middle of Nowhere

John R Akins

Stop spreading the lie

 

                                              Thoughts from The Middle Of Nowhere

 

   I'm a Republican, Christian, cisgender, heterosexual male. I’m still waiting to see these musings published so that I might hear your feed back.

   It's time to trashcan “stop the steal”. There are numerous reasons for this action.

   The number one reason is that it's a lie. There is no credible evidence that any type of election tampering  occurred. There were no voting machines switching votes. There were no mail in ballots cast by anyone but registered voters. There were no Trump ballots left uncounted.

   President Trump lost pure and simple. He's done inestimable damage, however,  by claiming all the above occurred and more. His refusal to admit to the truth has deeply divided the country. It’s being reported that 68% of reported Trump voters still believe there was something screwy about the election.

   The most militant of them are advocating armed resistance to the governance of President Biden. Their reasoning is that since his election is invalid it is their patriotic duty to prevent the enforcement of any and all laws, executive orders, etc. that he signs. Make no mistake this is sedition and is illegal. If you hear anyone, friends, family, anyone making these threats report them to your local law enforcement. They are attempting to destroy all that this country is founded on.

   Less serious, but equally troubling is the damage believing these lies does to your emotional and spiritual, and physical health. Emotionally having something you believe in ridiculed by family and friends causes anger and doubt.

  Physically the emotion of anger causes the fight or flight response. This raises heart rate, respiration rate,  and blood pressure.  The first and last can lead to heart attack and/or stroke.

  Spiritually believing and spreading lies is against the rules of all gods. All of the world religions hold to higher standards of truth by their followers. Violating those standards distances the believer from their god(s).

   On a happier note: the Chiefs showed they can win from the lead. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was a win. Hoping Patrick Mahomes injury isn't to severe. I do think we need to deep six the tomahawk chop and chant.

Peace and Love from

An old hippie in the Middle

John R Akins

 

                                                         Thoughts from The Middle Of Nowhere

 

  I am a Republican, Caucasian, Christian, cisgender, heterosexual, male. I come to you on a snowy morning Jan. 15^th for more conversation.

  Well President Trump has been impeached for a second time. He is still defiant. He is still in denial. He is still spreading lies. And sadly, he is being believed.

  Because of this centers of government are being threatened with violence. Barriers are being erected. Plans are being circulated for armed attacks. Although these plans are harder to coordinate they are still going forward.

  Hopefully we are going into a period of strong unenlightened leadership. This leadership will put reasonable people in charge. People who will return sanity to all levels of government. People who will put constituents first. Who will put us over things.

Peace and Love

An old hippie from the Middle of Nowhere

John R Akins

It's windy, cold with a light dusting of snow out there. I'm looking forward to a quiet day of listening to music and watching TV.

I have several episodes of Bones on DVR  and will do a little binging. I'll watch CNN for facts and Newsmax to hear what insanity is out there.

It's 6:30 and time for a nap. 

Grace and Peace 

John 

COVID payments

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Freind's devotional musings

 Morning Musings-1/14/2021

"Acedia: the Cold Sin ".

Episcopal Priest, theologian, and academic (b. 1930-d.1981) writes about the word "Acedia", "Acedia is the root sin of the clergy as spiritual guides. Like a cancer it eats away at our abandonment to the love for God and his creation."

While I am much in agreement, I believe that this is a much bigger issue for Christianity as a whole, laity and clergy together. In fact, I believe it is why we fail to live out the very scandalous nature of God's love revealed in Jesus Christ (see yesterday's post).

"Acedia" is a word that means "spiritual or mental sloth; apathy." Of course "apathy" means an indifference, lack of feeling or emotion; indifference. It is no wonder so many have abandoned much of "traditional" church and formed much smaller and much more engaged spiritual groups that are much more interested in being involved with the injustices and oppressions the world strives to make the norms. We (yes, I definitely include myself in this) have become people who are far more inclined to stay silent, to look the other way, to accept without question, the injustices and oppressions that have tried to steal the hope of so many, and really, stealing a persons hope is truly stealing their life.

I do believe it is possible to remove this "acedia" from our own life, but it will take a concentrated effort on each of us to fully step out of our "safe" world and engage in life giving ways with the marginalized, the oppressed, the voiceless, or any others "moral society" would reject. Not only is this personal growth, but it truly leads to real kingdom growth that lasts. Amen.