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Why Occupy?

Jeremiah 5:26-31 New International Version 1984 (NIV1984) “Among my people are wicked men who lie in wait like men who snare birds and like those who set traps to catch men. Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not plead the case of the fatherless to win it, they do not defend the rights of the poor. Should I not punish them for this?” declares the LORD. “Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this? “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end? And elsewhere it says, vengeance belongs to God, and vengeance is a waste of spirit, but the voice of social justice calls out to people, from people, for people. God is an advocate of social justice, the work is in our hands. What wil
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Opposing War is not the same as Making Peace

Reflections on President Obama's Speech on the Afghan War Soon after listening to the President's speech, and even before, I found messages in my email from organizations objecting to his decision to send more troops into Afghanistan. I, too, am deeply saddened by this turn of events. I, too, had hoped that somehow our new President would find a way out of the fighting and bring our troops home from both Iraq and Afghanistan. However, I have come to the conclusion that objecting to war is not the same thing as building for peace. I consider myself a pacifist, but I do not feel called to object to the war or even to the increased deployment of troops. I have a vision of a more nuanced and perhaps more difficult approach. I am still opposed to war, and I am deeply grieved for those who will go or return to the arena of war. With all that in mind, I have come to the belief that as a pacifist, my job is to build for peace, to consistently prepare in a steady and methodical way for
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