Our nation is teetering on collapse and with that, the balance of life across the whole planet is in jeopardy. The consequence of these next few months to come means that even the environment and possible sustainable human life is at risk. Wars will quickly boil up as the weakening of America’s position globally will allow factions, terrorists, and enemies to see a clear path for mayhem and destruction. And many of them will gain access to atomic weapons according to the UN.
The isolationist policies of the Heritage Foundation, which even President Reagan rejected (or avoided), when coupled with the MAGA desire for retribution and fascist policies subverting the rule of law as the nation once accepted them are on open display now. Leading the way are the corrupt Supreme Court members who defied the most common tenet of our Constitution that no one is above the law. Anything done by the President is now lawful by definition, unpunishable, sanctioned by Scotus. And with their ruling, “dictator on day one” is entirely possible.
The television, online pundits, radio presenters are treating these threats or promises (depending on which side broadcasters are on) like entertainment. There are smiles even when a news reader talks about Project 2025’s frightening claims and desires. In private they may be as frightened as you or me, but on air everyone seems to be terribly keen with sparkling eyes, earnest in their endeavor to share thoughts and worries to entertain.
The truth is, we’re at war. A war to save the America we grew up in, a war to preserve the very facts and laws of the Constitution. It is not funny or amusing at all. Not for a moment, every day relentlessly eating away at our stamina to prevail, to oppose fascism, to preserve the country.
Some people may want to take a position on abortion and concentrate on that. The fascists want you to be mono-focused, so you’re missing the totalitarian state that’s coming, easily assuaged if they claim it will never happen nationally (only statewide).
Some people may want to take a position on inflation and tax breaks and concentrate on that. The fascists want you to be mono-focused, you’re missing the totalitarian state that’s coming, easily assuaged if they claim tax breaks are good for the economy and will lower inflation.
Some people may want to take a position on the environment and concentrate on that. The fascists want you to be mono-focused, once again you’re missing the totalitarian state that’s coming, easily assuaged if they claim they will build more renewable energy windmills and solar farms, all the while they claim your very financial well-being needs the US to drill for more oil.
Some people may want to take a position on corruption of those judges and the Supreme Court and concentrate on that. But again the fascists want you to be mono-focused, so you’ll miss the totalitarian state that’s coming, easily assuaged if they claim the MAGA factions love the real law and want to enforce the law against criminals and rioters (never mind they’ll get to define who’s a criminal without due process). Next will be a promise to double the police forces to “protect” you and yours.
Look, if anyone who is reading this doesn’t understand the risk to every part of your life is on the line with these proto-fascists, read their Project 2025, see that the people who generated those rules are part of the MAGA elite and have already written the GOP Platform. Be a Missouri person, believe it when you see it. So, get off your behind and read what they have written, what they have promised. Know what is coming unless fight back now and try to you win the war.
Here are the Project 2025’s “pillars”:
“Pillar I… puts in one place a consensus view of how major federal agencies must be governed and where disagreement exists brackets out these differences for the next President to choose a path.” “Brackets out” means edit, change, subvert.
“Pillar II is a personnel database that allows candidates to build their own professional profiles and our coalition members to review and voice their recommendations.” Translation? Profiles must meet Project 2025’s designs.
“Pillar III is the Presidential Administration Academy, an online educational system taught by experts from our coalition. For the newcomer, this will explain how the government functions and how to function in government.” They’re running an indoctrination program already to tell people how to behave in their new government.
“Pillar IV—the Playbook—we are forming agency teams and drafting transition plans to move out upon the President’s utterance of “so help me God.” And 920 pages follows telling the reader exactly what is in store in the dictatorship.
When your enemy says he wants to take over, you should listen and fight. This is now war for true Americans, whether you want it or not.
"They had this in mind from last year," girls varsity head coach Les Funk of Pine Plains said. Funk said the young team wanted the sectional title and "never gave up," until they won it Wednesday, March 5, at Mount Saint Mary College.Photo by Nathan Miller
Naveah Rennie, no 34 of Pine Plains, was the Bombers' dominant scorer, racking up 20 points by the end of the matchup against S.S. Seward Institute during the Section IX Class C finals at Mount Saint Mary College on Wednesday, March 5.Photo by Nathan Miller
Lent: Time to consider social gospel movement
We are entering the annual Christian season of Lent this week.With its 40 days of contemplation and “little Easter” Sundays, it is a time to remember the healing ministry and the sacrifice of Jesus.During this season, we are invited to think deeply about our role as agents of grace and love in our hurting world.
There is a long history of making sacrifices and commitments for Lent, modeling our discipleship and hopes for a more heavenly world. It is through this lens that I invite you to join us in considering what gifts and services the community needs that we can commit to bringing forth in the weeks leading up to Easter.While many lean into solitary introspection during Lent, it may be particularly advantageous to use our meditations and sacrifices for the greater good this year.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, advised his followers centuries ago that “The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness but social holiness. Faith working by love is the length and depth and breadth and height of Christian perfection.”These words are connected to the firm belief of Wesley that a Methodist was fundamentally one who loved God with all their heart, mind, strength, and soul, along with loving one’s neighbor as oneself.He believed that being in love with God naturally also required loving other people, as every person was a beloved soul coming from the same source of life that we are.
Consequently, Wesley stood against slavery long before it was a popular view, prioritized caring for those who were poor and imprisoned, and made a point to do good to as many as he could for as long as he was physically able.
Indeed, the Methodists are not the only Christians who believe such things.These thoughts are primary messages of the Christian faith.In more recent history, we can note that during the time of the Golden Age, at the end of the late 19th century, the Christians mobilized to counteract the abject poverty, child labor, dangerous working conditions, and lack of education of the time.Famous theologians such as Washington Gladden, Walter Rauschenbusch, and W.E.B. DuBois began the Social Gospel movement, enacting with new verve the passion of Christ that empowers the community toward building the Kingdom of God.As Christians, they believed in uplifting the downtrodden and creating a community where all had a chance to thrive.Child labor laws were enacted, better working conditions were secured, Sunday School helped provide education, settlement houses were created, and the Salvation Army was born.
The social gospel movement continued in another wave of reforms and empowerment through the Civil Rights era.Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his intellect, energy, and life to help secure the reforms that enabled persons of color to vote, go to non-segregated schools, and have the right to share public spaces without discrimination.Like Christ, he paid the ultimate price for his prophetic vision.However, his impact on our society was formidable, lasting far beyond his short lifetime.
As Christians, it is very clear what to do in times of hardship, crisis, or challenge.Throughout the centuries, our call has been to help heal the world, doing whatever we can to uplift and transform loneliness into community, reminding each one how precious they are and how important it is to unite for the sake of the whole.Individually, the challenges can be overwhelming, even too much to bear.Collectively, we can do all things through the One who strengthens us.As they say, “We have the receipts!” We can do it again.
This Lent, let us give up our pessimism and fear, replacing it with a commitment to community and hope.Yes, things can seem dreadful, but our souls are not served by allowing ourselves to descend into the dark.We are keepers of the light.Let us do all within our power to create brightness so that its warmth may strengthen all as we live into the Social Gospel movement for our time.Chin up, friends, we can do this.We simply must be willing to get serious about doing it together.
Rev. Dr. Anna Crews Camphouse is pastor of Canaan, Lakeville, Millerton, and Sharon United Methodist Churches
Lead Pastor of the Northwestern Hills Cooperative
Parish UMC