THE MOB VS. THE MOB

"I feel like I'm watching Star Wars and the destruction of the Evil Empire. This banking industry is like the mob and the mob is after them."

GOOD THINGS HAPPENING BENEATH THE SURFACE. Read more below...

SCANDAL UPDATES: CAN YOU BELIEVE THE NERVE?

But PLEASE STOP THE DEATH THREATS against the AIG employees who received bonues. I have received death threats from Ann Coulter fans, and believe me, it is quite scary — especially when you have children. It can ruin your life. This is a media lynching, and since the blame is with the designers of these credit default swaps and complicated financial products, people should behave like civilized human beings.

A.I.G. Sues U.S. for Return of $306 Million in Tax Payments

While the American International Group comes under fire from Congress over executive bonuses, it is quietly fighting the federal government for the return of $306 million in tax payments, some related to deals that were conducted through offshore tax havens.

A.I.G. sued the government last month in a bid to force it to return the payments, which stemmed in large part from its use of aggressive tax deals, some involving entities controlled by the company’s financial products unit in the Cayman Islands, Ireland, the Dutch Antilles and other offshore havens.

A.I.G. is effectively suing its majority owner, the government, which has an 80 percent stake and has poured nearly $200 billion into the insurer in a bid to avert its collapse and avoid troubling the global financial markets. The company is in effect asking for even more money, in the form of tax refunds. The suit also suggests that A.I.G. is spending taxpayer money to pursue its case, something it is legally entitled to do. Its initial claim was denied by the Internal Revenue Service last year.

CNBC HOST: WALL STREET FIRMS CAN'T 'BE RUN WELL' BY THOSE MAKING UNDER $250K

HAINES: Let’s get back to what I regard as a fundamental issue here. I know it’s politically unpopular, politically incorrect. I know it goes against all of the populist indignation that’s out there right now. But you can’t really, it seems to me, expect that these Wall Street companies are going to be run well by a bunch of people who don’t make more than $250,000.

Of course, Wall Street has been run so smoothly under millionaire CEOs. Haines also seems to be criticizing the management ability of America’s small business owners, the vast majority of whom do not earn over $250,000 in gross income per year.

UPDATE The Wonk Room's Pat Garofalo notes that today Haines also compared Wall Street to Nazi Germany in arguing that AIG should keep its bonuses:

"It’s just like when the Allies were victorious over Nazi Germany in World War II, when we occupied the country, we left a lot of Nazis in place because they were the ones who made the trains run on time and the bureaucracy function properly, etc. And it was distasteful, but you needed them." (!!!!???)

SUZE ORMAN TO BUSH: You Owe The American People Every Penny Of Your Fortune And Your Family's Fortune

MIRACLES HAPPEN... THE GOOD NEWS

This AIG bonus scandal is a gift in disguise. It is exposing the ugly underbelly of massive banking fraud and elitism. This is a good thing. The liars can whine all they want, but the truth is that deregulation caused this and pleas to regulate were ignored for the past 8 years on George W. Bush's watch. So -- let's look at the good happening now: Transparency! So much greed occurred in the past 8 years, including mortgage banking fraud, contractor fraud in Iraq, war profiteering and Big Oil tax loopholes. Everything will come out now. This is encouraging.

You attract to yourself riches or poverty, peace of mind or fear — entirely in accordance with the thoughts you think. You make your own conditions, and you can unmake them.

"You know how when you’re in a room with a serial killer – or someone who is extremely angry – you can just feel the tension coming off the person? Well the opposite is true too. It’s been scientifically proven that enthusiasm and courage actually change your brain waves, changing the molecular structure around you. This means you can be attractive even if you’re not good looking — because when you radiate love, you attract people. - Lydia from the comedy "Venus Conspiracy"

Science has now proven that there is no solid matter. What looks like a table is really vibrational energy. Love is a powerful molecular energy, a transformative force. Imagine if joy and love were tangible, physical. What would they look like? A joyous, loving spirit actually has a calming effect on others.

THINGS FALL APART... BUT IT'S ALL GOOD

Chaos theory says that right where there appears to be chaos, from a higher view, a beautiful pattern is developing and emerging. If a business doesn't pay attention to changes going on, it is going to be in trouble. But if this troubled business embraces the change - there will be a period that appears to be "chaos" for a while, but in reality a beautiful solution is developing. This good intention of "embracing change and acting on the side of good" acts as a magnet that brings everything into order. A higher order, the next stage of development.

VIKTOR FRANKL

Viktor Frankl, the Austrian Holocaust survivor who overcame concentration camp torture with the power of his mind, is one of my heroes. He literally transcended hell on earth with his thoughts, and somehow the torturers left him alone. He rose above his grisly fate by dwelling on love. He thought non-stop of his wife's face, the love they shared. He filled his mind with so much love, the prison guards never abused him. He was untouchable and of course, was one of the few who survived.

Even in the degradation and abject misery of a concentration camp, Frankl was able to exercise the most important freedom of all - the freedom to determine one's own attitude and spiritual well-being. No sadistic Nazi SS guard was able to take that away from him or control the inner-life of Frankl's soul. One of the ways he found the strength to fight to stay alive and not lose hope was to think of his wife. Frankl clearly saw that it was those who had nothing to live for who died quickest in the concentration camp.

From "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl: "A thought transfixed me: for the first time in my life I saw the truth as it is set into song by so many poets, proclaimed as the final wisdom by so many thinkers. The truth--that love is the ultimate and the highest goal to which man can aspire. Then I grasped the meaning of the greatest secret that human poetry and human thought and belief have to impart: The salvation of man is through love and in love.

I understood how a man who has nothing left in this world may still know bliss, be it only for a brief moment, in the contemplation of his beloved. In a position of utter desolation, when a man cannot express himself in positive action, when his only achievement may consist in enduring his sufferings in the right way--an honorable way--in such a position man can, through loving contemplation of the image he carries of his beloved, achieve fulfillment. For the first time in my life, I was able to understand the words, "The angels are lost in perpetual contemplation of an infinite glory."

_____________________

MIRACLES HAPPEN ... they are natural laws

A very wise man said that each time he lost a job or client, the door opened to a better one. The minute he put too much importance on a particular job, project or relationship, it mysteriously self-destructed. . .because you cannot get your self-esteem from material things. It’s an inside job. The minute you put all your focus on money, pleasure or material goods you will lose those things – because nothing in the material world is stable. Stock markets drop, banks fail, houses can burn down. But as long as you "wear the world as a loose garment" you can be okay during any crisis.

All you have to do is to take care of one moment at a time and commit 100% to getting your inner life right before anything else.

The man I'm referring to now has a successful career on his own terms, doing work that he loves; but he had to let go of needing that one job to fix him. He had to stop putting his focus on MONEY, PROPERTY OR PRESTIGE.

** If you are very worried and confused, now is the time to “lie down among the poppies” mentally and pray. But prayer is not what you think it is. It is walking surrendering the fight. Stop worrying about your problems, walk away from intellectual manipulation. Try it for one week.

"It is by self-forgetting that we find..." As contrary to your nature and as hard as it sounds, you must completely put your worries aside for one week or so — enjoy the beauty in life, find ways to help others — get your mind off yourself and your worries. You can only fix things so far by human manipulation. When you are deeply confused there is only one way to go: DROP IT ALL TOGETHER and replace your negative obsessions with thoughts of joy, truth, love and beauty. These are all synonyms of "God." This is true prayer: the invisible transfer of love to another, and to yourself.

Emmet Fox writes: "A woman in London, whose affairs seemed to have got into a hopeless tangle that meant utter ruin, was persuaded to drop the whole burden mentally and “let the worst happen,” while he spent two or three days browsing spiritual books, and praying for peace and happiness. He was forbidden to worry or look again at his problems. Everything cleared up like magic within a week without having to take any material action."

If you have a problem or a worry, do not indulge in blaming the past, or dwelling on the problem — whether it’s your job or a tragedy or a difficult person or someone who hurt you. Do not look back and blame yourself either. It’s a complete waste of time. Do not indulge in grumbling, psychoanalyzing, self-pity, recriminations, or how you could have done it better. The past will tyrannize you; the future will terrorize you. All you can do is live this one moment and train your thoughts. TRAIN YOUR THOUGHTS to think only of good things; and if you can’t come up with any good thoughts, don’t think at all, empty your mind out. Stop the chatter, meditate -- take a walk in a forest. If you can't stand the quiet— go to the movies, ride a roller coaster, help at the Mission, eat ice-cream, go dancing, play music, create art, express joy, have fun, clean house.

As Einstein said, "No problem can be solved on the level it was created on."

DON’T THINK, DON’T DWELL ON YOUR WORRIES; DWELL ON GOOD, BEAUTY TRUTH, LIGHT, JOY. If you really do this, your problem will go away because your thoughts create your reality.

If you dwell on your worries they will get bigger. This is what is meant by "don't fight your enemies." You thought your problem into existence, now unthink it. Shakespeare said, “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” Wash it away by substituting it with a thought of Love, Truth, Beauty Wisdon. You will be amazed at the power of prayer; it completely changes things — even sickness and material conditions. This is a secret few people know until they really want it. Give it a try and see what happens.

Love by Emmet Fox

“There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer; no disease that enough love will not heal; no door that enough love will not open; no gulf that enough love will not bridge; no wall that enough love will not throw down; no sin that enough love will not redeem.

It makes no difference how deeply seated the trouble, how hopeless the outlook, how muddled the tangle, how great the mistake; a sufficient realization of love will dissolve it all.”

Forget mistakes. Forget failures. Forget everything except what you’re going to do now and do it now. Today is your lucky day!

THE GREATEST GIFT

McCAIN FLUNKS PRESIDENTIAL TEST

What McCain's Rove-designed campaign doesn't understand is that Obama is not a superstar, he is a symbol of America's hunger for hope and change. He is not an ego-driven celebrity, but a selfless public servant. The shameful shock-jocks of right-wing radio — whom I believe are responsible for the shootings of liberals in the Unitarian Church in Tennessee this past week — are full of ego and desperation. They have no interest in the common good or in helping people, only furthering their own corrupt agenda. Obama is attracting crowds because of his principles and his selfless message, not his personality.

OBAMA IN BERLIN!! His speech blew me away. Open thread, please comment.

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE... in the words of the Beatles. Next to physical survival, the greatest need of a human being is psychological survival — to be understood, to be affirmed, to be validated, to be appreciated. When you listen with empathy to another person, you give that person "psychological air." And after that vital need is met, you can then focus on problem solving.

Imagine waking up each day with fresh eyes — without any of the baggage of your lousy opinions and judgements of yesterday. Imagine looking at your spouse, boss, friend or enemy with new eyes each day — expecting the best from them.

'Seek first to understand.' If you really seek to understand (rather than be understood), without hypocrisy or guile, you will be literally stunned with the pure knowledge and understanding that will flow to you from another human being.

Much of the above (except for the "new eyes part") is from the most brilliant business book I've ever read, Stephen R. Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. He has transformed bankrupt companies into Fortune 500 Companies based on his spiritual paradigm of "Win-Win", the Golden Rule, empathetic listening, really caring about others and realizing we are all ONE. Go deep within and find your true calling. Be proactive, not reactive. And see every problem through the eyes of the other guy. "Seek first to understand, than to be understood" - The St. Francis Prayer

The open door to helpful answers is communication based on love. Such communication depends on awareness of and respect for each other's well-being and willingness to accept in another what may not measure up to our own standards and expectations."
- The Dilemma of the Alcoholic Marriage

Lately my favorite quote is from Einstein: "No problem can be solved on the same level that it was created on." Suddenly I am seeing this quote everywhere of course. There is an underlying principle in the universe called harmony. It is the invisible structure of all things. Music and mathematics are evidence of one aspect of this principle. Write down the number "3" on a piece of paper. Now burn the paper. Have you destroyed the number "3?" Of course not. You cannot break the laws of truth, goodness, harmony, or right action. One unequivocal truth: you reap what you sow. When you plant seeds of kindness and generosity, you get back the same tenfold. When you go against the basic laws of treating others with dignity, kindness and honesty — you create havoc. The sub-prime mortgage business goes against these basic laws. In every major religion, usury (charging interest for borrowed money) is a sin.

When the student is ready, the teacher appears.

"I will keep an open mind toward each person I encounter today. If I am ready to learn, anyone can be my teacher."


My stepson is at scuba camp on a sailboat in St. Bart's - a gift from his grandad and several friends who love him. This is the perfect sport for him as he has to have surgery on his leg in September. God Bless him.. and God Bless my other son Jack for all this trials and tribulations with his friends. You'll get through this Jack and be a better person for it. My heart goes out to you.

We will be going down to St. Bart's to pick Kevin up and be back in a week. Keep your spirits up — our world is on the verge of an amazing transformation!
Love,
Lydia

BELIZE, Yucatan
Last summer we went to Belize. Here are a few photos of our amazing trip. By the way, you can get great deals on travel. We always have frequent flyer miles which result in free airline tickets and hotels. You just have to know how to find these gems. That's Kevin at the top of a Mayan temple. Look how tiny his dad is down below. That's me looking like a dork wearing a hard hat in the jungle getting ready to zip-line. There's my father-in-law zipping through the trees like Tarzan with his drop leg. We had lunch at a bar in the middle of the jungle that was surreal — straight out of The African Queen or some other Humphrey Bogart movie. See the skeleton having a Martini? He's been there since the early cannibals got him. Always the optimist, his motto is: "So the barn burned down — now I can see the moon." There's a photo of the kids cave-tubing with bats above their heads. The water was so crystal clean and pure it was unbelievable.


AN IMPORTANT NOTE AND NEW MISSION

I am so sick of politics, this should be refreshing. All of us need to stop reacting to all the bad news and insanity - and instead see how we can alter our own Circle of Influence in profound ways. If each of us were to go out in the world and help one of our fellow human beings -- spread happiness to one other person, lighten someone's load -- and really give from out hearts - we'd see a better world immediately.

There are so many depressed lonely people, shut-ins, homeless children, abused children, rape camps, hungry people -- there is really only one way to solve all the worlds' problems.

And the way is? To raise your own consciousness. To help whomever you can. To do all you can in the time you have in the place that you are... in the words of Nicosi Jones: all these things mean the same thing: to find God. God is simply LOVE IN ACTION.

There is no religion attached to God, and in fact, religion gets in the way of "god's" simple purpose: to love one another.

Thanks for listening. I am sick of being too scared to tell my own truth which is this: I AM NOT IN FEAR. I don't buy into the "bad stuff." As an optimist, it has made all the difference in my life. I constantly strive to turn around any negative thoughts about others — even my worst enemies — and miracles never cease. Everything continually changes for the better because I choose my thoughts carefully.

This is the essence of prayer: not buying into the human race belief of sickness, terror, fear or disease. I don't even believe in aging. I don't believe in any of the garbage they keep trying to sell us. There is no opposing force to good. There is no power in "evil." When I choose to see the good even in a jerk, his behavior changes. I can't stay on a lower level and continue to bitch and moan and groan anymore. It's not productive and I think many of us are ready to step into the light.

Nevertheless, we need to ARREST KARL ROVE!

BEAUTIFUL MUSIC... to listen to while we're gone.

This first one is David Gray "Please Forgive Me" which we played at my wedding. Close your eyes and listen to the song:


I'm not gay, but I think Kristin Kreuk is the most beautiful woman in the world. Here is Coldplay "Green Eyes" from Smallville:




See You Soon

LOOK AT THIS

CLICK on the photo for a closeup of the GIZA PYRAMIDS which were constructed around 2500 BC as monumental tombs. The largest and oldest pyramid was originally over 480 feet high and is made of 5.7 million tons of limestone.

This is from the Smithsonian Institute's "Earth from Space" collection of satellite photos. EARTH FROM SPACE

QuickBird satellite, February 2002
DigitalGlobe

The world is so incredibly beautiful. We should all travel the globe and visit other cultures. I just read a terrific description of Bali by Elizabeth Gilbert in her mulit-milliion bestselling book "Eat, Pray, Love" which is her memoir of divorcing her husband, and traveling the world to find God, great sex, food and love -- not necesarily in that order.

Bali is not at all relaxed; they have so many religious ceremonies and rituals, they spend every waking hour busily trying to stay in balance by appeasing the Great Spirits. If you are wandering aimlessly in Bali, it makes people horribly uncomfortable. When you pass someone on the road, they will ask, "Where are you going?" and you better have a definitive answer. It freaks them out if you have no concrete purpose. Also, if you're not married, you are looked upon with pity and suspicion, as marriage is considered the most important rite of passage. The ancient priests handed down all these elaborate rituals to give the people structure and order. To me, this kind of hypervigilance is micro-managing and overcontrolling one's life leaves no room for creativity. But you have to respect their culture because they do not want to change. They are very happy staying in "balance" this way. I find it adorable to observe the customs of other cultures. It's not my business to change anyone. And I find it ridiculous that we are arrogant enough to think we can force Democracy down Iraq's throat at the point of a gun...

Or in the words of Stuart Smalley, "It's easier to wear slippers than to carpet the whole world."

Of course you know who Stuart Smalley is, right?

WHAT DOES LOVE LOOK LIKE?

BEAUTIFUL MUSIC: Nickelback

Brandi Carlile
My son turned me onto "Smallville," and the opening theme song is beautiful. GREAT MUSIC is one version of love in action. The current top 20 is surprisingly good. Linkin Park ("What I've Done!") Snow Patrol ("Chasing Cars"); Plain White Ts ("Hey There Delilah"), The Fray, Maroon, Fergie, Gwen Stefani, and my current fave artist today is Brandi Carlile. Her second album, The Story, was released in April 2007. It was produced by T Bone Burnett and includes a collaboration with the Indigo Girls on "Cannonball." The album was recorded in an eleven-day-long session with Carlile , the twins (Tim and Phil Hanseroth) and drummer Matt Chamberlain to capture the raw intensity of Carlile's live performances.

What you resist persists; what you fear is what you draw to you. Whatever you fight, fights back at you. If you fear growing up, if you are afraid of evolving, you are doomed to be an immature adult. There is nothing more unattractive than an immature adult. These are the people whose lives have gone off track because they are foolishly chasing their youth instead of accepting change. But life is a flow, and we must follow it wherever it leads us. The happiest people are those who can put this into a positive perspective. Everything you think you have lost is really your opportunity to gain. It's looking at the glass as half full instead of half empty.

GOOD is the underlying, invisible, spiritual language of the universe. Harmony, good is the underlying structure of all things. It's the genetic code of the universe. All things work toward good, toward the light when you are in faith. In other words, when you activate your "faith" in the goodness of people and the universe, that's when people and events respond accordingly. That's when things go your way. You are in the divine flow, working together with good.

Another word for good is God. Another word for love is God.

I know one thing for a fact that prayer actually changes things in the physical universe. But prayer is not what religion teaches it is: it's not begging some anthropomorphic God for favors. It's acknowledging the good already there. Underlying everything are the laws of the universe and you cannot really break these laws: truth, honesty, goodness, right action, principle, order, harmony, love, liberty, equal rights, etc

Prayer is holding to the GOOD so solidly, holding good in your thoughts so powerfully, evil has no room to grow; it is drowned out, extinguished by our lack of attention to it. That's what Christ meant when he said: bless your enemies, resist NOT evil. Evil cannot thrive in an atmosphere that doesn't acknowledge it. When you think constructive thoughts about someone, and direct the highest good toward your fellow man, his behavior can change.

What does love look like?
Eric Nelson

It looked like a pack of sweaty bike riders, appearing out of nowhere, speeding down a lonesome road in 100-degree heat. At least that’s what it looked like to me. But there was more to it.

I was perhaps 130 miles into an all-day 200-mile bike ride through the foothills of California’s Eastern Sierra when I began to run out of steam. Not having much else to think about, I wondered why I was feeling this way.

Had I eaten the right food last night? Had I gotten enough sleep? Was I taking in plenty of fluids? Had I trained hard enough? Even though the answer to all these questions was an unequivocal “Yes,” I still felt pretty exhausted.

The only answer I could think of was love.

This led me to ask a different question: “If it’s not food and water, not the amount of rest or training, then what is it that propels me forward? What is the source of my strength?” The only answer I could think of was love. My love for the spectacular scenery surrounding me. My love for biking. My love for the freedom, flexibility, harmony, and joy I experience each time I ride.

“That’s nice,” I thought. “But what does love have to do with strength? What does love feel like? What does love look like?” You’ve guessed it. As if on cue, there appeared, almost out of nowhere, a pack of sweaty bike riders, speeding down this lonesome road in 100-degree heat.

One of these bikers invited me to join his pace line. (This is when riders line up directly behind one another as closely as possible so as to take advantage of the lead rider’s wind break or “draft,” with each rider taking a turn “pulling” the line.) The effect was a decrease in the amount of energy I had to expend while, at the same time, increasing my speed. Not a bad deal!

This sense of the sustaining power of love stayed right with me.

A few miles down the road, feeling refreshed, I broke away from the pack. But this sense of the sustaining power of love stayed right with me. At one stage this love looked like another solo rider and me keeping one another company on a long uphill stretch.

Later on it looked like a gloriously long downhill with nary a car in sight. And for the last 30 miles or so, love looked (and felt) like a steady tailwind gently pushing me across the finish line.

So what exactly was this “love” that appeared seemingly out of nowhere, this love that looked like many different things? Was it simply positive thinking, some happy thought that had the effect of taking my mind off my body just long enough to finish the ride? No. As I see it, each instance described was confirmation of the love of God, the love of Love itself.

The strength I experienced that day didn’t come from my body.

The strength I experienced that day didn’t come from my body. It didn’t come from the pace line or the tailwind. It came from my acknowledgment of the presence of God, the presence—and power —of divine Love.

“‘God is Love.’ More than this we cannot ask, higher we cannot look, farther we cannot go,” said Mary Baker Eddy. While everything about my ride — the scenery, the camaraderie, the sense of accomplishment — was great, it was this enlarged understanding of Love as the very source of my strength that really put the icing on the cake. As it says in the book of Psalms, “It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.”

I realized that if God is Love and God is infinite, then the expressions or proofs of Love’s presence must be infinite as well. God’s wisdom and health and supply and compassion—and, yes, strength—must be reflected everywhere, in everything, and in everyone.

It’s nice to know that when you are in need of strength, encouragement, inspiration, you can acknowledge God’s presence, the presence of Love, and ask yourself, What does Love look like?

The mental picture you hold of someone is the picture you create. We are all according to the law of the universe -- that what you picture in your mind, that what you hold in your thoughts becomes your reality.

THE OPTIMISTS CREED

Promise Yourself....
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.

To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds.

To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

A somewhat different and shortened version of this was adopted by Optimist International, which publishes it on the Web, with the following statement:

Many have found inspiration in The Optimist Creed. In hospitals, the creed has been used to help patients recover from illness. In locker rooms, coaches have used it to motivate their players.

Optimist International adopted this creed in 1922. It was originally published in 1912 in a book titled: "Your Forces and How to Use Them." The author was Christian D. Larson, a prolific writer and lecturer who believed that people have tremendous latent powers, which could be harnessed for success with the proper attitude.

Charles S. Braden, in his definitive history of New Thought, Spirits in Rebellion: The Rise and Development of New Thought (Dallas: Southern Methodist University Press, 1963)

LEARN THE HISTORY

Tensions among the followers of the three major monotheistic religions are front and center in the news headlines. But history shows that these tensions are nothing new — Christians, Jews, and Muslims have been battling one another for centuries. Each tradition values peace, but generation after generation, hostility and resentment seem to overcome idealism and end in violence. Though the human picture holds little hope, these obstacles to harmony direct our attention to a more spiritual perspective. And it is in this spiritual realm that there is hope for lasting healing and peace.

The history of the Middle East is filled with ironies. First, it’s important to understand that these three religious traditions share a common ancestor: the patriarch Abraham. Bearing a name that some scholars interpret as “exalted father,” Abraham grew up about 4,000 years ago in Ur, a city in a section of southern Mesopotamia, later called Chaldea. Today this region is part of Iraq. Biblical tradition has Abraham receiving a covenant, or formal agreement, from God on behalf of Abraham’s descendants. In God’s covenant, He promised Abraham that his family would become a great people and would inherit land.

The concept of a covenant is central to Biblical theology. Borrowed from ancient contract law, covenant gives a framework and vocabulary to what entered human experience as pure revelation: a sense of God’s identity, nature, and care for His creation. This covenant articulated a bond between God and His children comparable to a contract—a binding agreement. Later, this covenant’s specific terms were set forth in the Ten Commandments. While some groups have interpreted the covenant as limited to a specific religion or culture, in its highest sense God’s covenant is one of love. And this love embraces all, in every place, and throughout all time.

Viewed from a human perspective, the covenant presented two serious problems.

Viewed, however, from a human perspective, the covenant presented two serious problems from the outset. First was the matter of who had a right to the land. Abraham, under divine direction, had left the prosperous city of Ur for Canaan, to settle there. Ger, meaning sojourner, was a term used to describe someone who settled for a time in a country not his own; such an individual had certain rights under the law, but was not a citizen of the community.

According to Biblical tradition, under the terms of Abraham’s covenant with God, Abraham and his family were entitled to lay claim to Canaan, the Promised Land. The Hebrews eventually settled in the land, but were expelled by subsequent conquest. Today, many centuries later, the ownership of that relatively tiny parcel of land is still in contention.

Such contention is fueled by the second problem inherent in a solely human interpretation of God’s covenant with Abraham—ancestry. Who, exactly, are his descendants? And does every descendent have equal claim to the ancestral estate?

In effect during Abraham’s era in the ancient Near East (and for centuries afterwards) was the law of primogeniture, where the majority (and sometimes all) of a father’s estate went to the firstborn son. Abraham had not one, but two, sons. The elder, Ishmael, was the son of Hagar, Abraham’s Egyptian slave. Yet both mother and child were eventually banished from the family at Abraham’s wife’s insistence.

Sarah wanted to be sure that her son, Isaac, received his father’s estate.

Sarah had been Abraham’s wife from the outset, and when it appeared she was not able to have children, she encouraged him to have a child with their servant, Hagar. But God later blessed Sarah with a child, even though she was far beyond childbearing years. So when Sarah’s son, Isaac, was born, she wanted to be sure he, and not Hagar’s son, Ishmael, received his father’s estate.

As the child of the legal wife, Isaac did inherit Abraham’s possessions, including—according to Biblical tradition—rights to the Promised Land of Canaan. It finally came into Hebrew hands some 700 years later, after the Hebrews went to Egypt at a time of famine, became enslaved there, and then were liberated under the leadership of Moses, as described in the book of Exodus.

Ancient Semitic tradition included a vibrant and enduring sense of family, whereby all family members, throughout every generation, are symbolically united in, and present with, their patriarch. So a promise made to Abraham is in effect made to everybody descended from him. That includes both Muslims and Jews, with Christians developing their religion from the foundation of Judaism.

When the concept of ancestry is spiritualized, each one of us can rightfully be regarded as a child of God.

Like the idea of a covenant, ancestry—when weighted down with long-standing traditional limits and viewed from a sense of ownership—leads to inevitable conflict. It can produce a sense of “win/lose” that turns individuals into adversaries instead of brethren. But when the concept of ancestry is spiritualized, each one of us—throughout human history—can rightfully be regarded as a child of God, a member of His family. Therefore, each one is a vital part of Abraham’s kindred and covenant.

The great division between Jews and Muslims on this specific issue arises from differing interpretations regarding the principle of primogeniture. Among Hebrews, primogeniture was repeatedly set aside in favor of the view that God specifically chose a leader from each generation, rather than leaving the matter to birth order.

However, Muslims, who are the descendants of the first-born son of Abraham, Ishmael, hold a strict interpretation of primogeniture in this instance, and claim that the descendants of Abraham through Ishmael are entitled to the land. Those descendants are Arabs, and the land that they claim includes the territory known today as Israel.

This land has been called by several names throughout history.

This land actually has been called by several names throughout history. Before the Hebrew conquest, it was Canaan. Then it was renamed in honor of Abraham’s grandson Jacob, who received the new name, Israel, after his struggle with an angel of God at Peniel. Then in Roman times, cartographers noted several Philistine cities near the coast, and so they renamed the territory Palestine, “the land of the Philistines.”

While technology has improved this land’s value for agricultural purposes in recent times, it nevertheless remains a stony, semiarid territory. And it is also rather small. Other far more promising territories surrounding this land are oil rich and flourishing.

The land of Israel symbolically represents a treasury of spiritual inspiration to all three religions.

But the land of Israel symbolically represents a treasury of spiritual inspiration and strength to all three religions. To the Jews, it is the land of Abraham, Moses, and David; to the Christians, it is the land where Jesus lived and preached; to the Muslims it is the land promised to Abraham and through primogeniture, to his first-born son, Ishmael.

Century after century, the issues of ancestry and entitlement have been the impetus for war. And from this brief overview, it’s clear that the pattern of human history offers little hope for a future reconciliation among age-old enemies. Solutions can only come from a radically different perspective—that is, from a God’s-eye view of His creation.

So long as the discussion begins with disparate groups who demand rights to various claims and convictions, the situation will never end in unity. The discussion must begin with God and what He has created—each individual in every nation and culture in His own image. Not, ultimately, as mortals, but as spiritual beings, as must be the case with whatever reflects God, Spirit.

In God’s creation there is but one Parent and one family.

In this creation there is but one Parent and one family, one power, and one Love that is truly infinite, blessing everyone, all the time. No one is cast out, put down, forgotten, or oppressed in God’s sight. Such human perspectives have no standing with Him, and must eventually be seen for the distortion that they are. In limitless God there is limitless good and a unique place for every one of His children.

Mary Baker Eddy gave a clear explanation of this idea: “One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, ‘Love thy neighbor as thyself;’ annihilates pagan and Christian idolatry,—whatever is wrong in social, civil, criminal, political, and religious codes; equalizes the sexes; annuls the curse on man, and leaves nothing that can sin, suffer, be punished or destroyed.” That “one infinite God” tends to it all.

Now all of this could be just brave talk and little else, unless as individuals we actually govern our lives by these truths. Aligning ourselves with peace—being “peacemakers”—aligns us with divine strength for daily life. And our prayers for those directly involved in the conflicts around the world gain authority and practicality to move events and transform lives. We can begin at the beginning—with God—and move in accordance with His grace and love. One step at a time.

BY Elaine Follis
Reprinted from the November 2006 issue of The Christian Science Journal.

THE DAWN OF HOPE

"I think we can come up with a statement on which all Americans, Republican or Democrat, rich or poor, straight or gay, can agree, despite our country being so tragically and ferociously divided. The first universal American sentiment I came up with was: 'Sugar is sweet.'" - Kurt Vonnegut

"I am neither left wing nor right wing; I need both wings to fly." - Deborah Van Valkenburgh.



L. to R: Lydia, Wally Wingert's mom, Deborah Van Valkenburgh

In Burbank over the weekend, Deborah and I signed autographs and had fun with Henry Winkler (Fonzie from Happy Days and children's book author of the "Hank Zipper" series), Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters and Beverly Hills Cop. Ernie guest-starred on our show in its first season); Michael Beck from The Warriors; Lorenzo Lamas; Juliet Mills; Larry Thomas, the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld (LOVE THIS GUY!); Bruce Kulick, incredibly gifted guitarist from KISS; Wally Wingert - actor, amazing human, and voice over artist extraordinaire; William Forsythe, Branscombe Richmonds who is now host of GOOD MORNING HAWAII. Deborah and I did an interview for the show, and I'll try to upload clips after it airs. I love Branscombe; he played Jackie Rush's love interest on our show. I met lots of others, but have to post them later. Met the legendary sketch artist ROMEO who works in blue pencil; he gave me a portrait of my favorite actress of all time, Audrey Hepburn.

My son got INVADER ZIM'S autograph, Richar Horvitz, who played ZIM!!!



THE DAWN OF HOPE 2
Progressive is the term I choose to call my social and political leanings. Going forward, making progress, advancing new ideas, bringing people together in the spirit of love, making friends out of enemies, having compassion even for the offensive and downtrodden (because I know what it's like to have a bad day.) Progressive means enlightened, spiritual, diplomatic solutions... getting along with ones enemies, finding common ground, realizing that by joining forces and engaging in community we become stronger and better human beings.

Regressive is the opposite of progressive. In my view, regressive thought encompasses the belief that fighting one's enemies is the way to peace! Never have I heard a more ridiculous statement, but it seems to be the philosophy of the regressive movement. Religious fundamentalism is dangerous in any culture. Being focused on materialism, and on judging others completely negates the love required in order to live in a society. Fundamentalism is the primitive, archaic, eye-for-an-eye mentality -- the way of people who are too afraid of losing what they have and too protective of their own possessions. People who are afraid.

Strong people do not need to fight -- or hide behind guns. Truly brave and courageous men do not breed enemies. They are clever enough to outwit and outsmart their enemies by keeping them close. What sane person on earth, if he's not in law enforcement, needs a semi-automatic weapon?

The Constitution of the United States of America mentions "military defense" only once. But it mentions the importance of sharing, helping each other, helping the states, and building community -- several times, repeatedly.

Our Founding Fathers would not recognize the executive branch today. Their values are quite different from the values of America.

God helps those who help others. "God helps those who help themselves" is not mentioned in the bible anywhere. We must replace the idea of "rugged individualism" with "helping others within your community" because no one ever really made it on his own without a helping hand.

I really feel as if the tide is turning and we are all going to be okay. We will avert nuclear war with Iran, despite the president's war lust, and we will create a safer, cleaner better world. Because we all have intentions toward life and peace.

I signed autographs on Friday and Saturday at Ray Courts show in Burbank and spoke to several people about the state of the world. Eight out of ten people, including a police officer, despise this war and think badly of Bush. Only two people I spoke to the entire day said that they could never vote for a Democrat becaues they are pro-life. They never once acknowledge that the war in Iraq has killed 650,000 Iraqi civilians and innocent children, including babies -- even though they are "pro-life." They are so brainwashed they actually do not understand that Democrats are NOT PRO-ABORTION. Democrats hate abortion too.

These unthinking people who parrot the Bush party line, are killing more innocent souls with their ideology and they refuse to wake up and see it.

Got this from a LAKE TAHOE Journal: "Deep inside of us, we hunger for a simpler life. The fresh mountain air, the smell of pine needles and the bluest lake in the world. Nothing alleviates stress better than the surreal beauty of nature."

If you missed it, YOU WILL NEVER WATCH TV NEWS AGAIN after watching the electrifying PBS Special by Bill Moyers "BUYING THE WAR."

"Buying the War," a 90-minute documentary that explores the role of the press in the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq. This riveting, thorough investigation includes interviews with Dan Rather, formerly of CBS; Tim Russert of MEET THE PRESS; Bob Simon of 60 MINUTES; Walter Isaacson, former president of CNN; and John Walcott, Jonathan Landay and Warren Strobel of Knight Ridder newspapers, which was acquired by The McClatchy Company in 2006.

In "Buying the War" Bill Moyers and producer Kathleen Hughes document the reporting of Walcott, Landay and Strobel, the Knight Ridder team that burrowed deep into the intelligence agencies to try and determine whether there was any evidence for the Bush Administration's case for war. THIS WILL SHOCK PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN BUYING THE PROPAGANDA OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION. BUSH AND CHENEY MUST BE IMPEACHED.

NETWORK OF SPIRITUAL PROGRESSIVES AIM TO:

* Bring about a new bottom line of love and caring in America
* Challenge the misuse of God, religion, and spirit by the religious right
* Challenge the anti-religious and anti-spiritual biases in some sectors of liberal culture

www.spiritualprogressives.org

PEACE IS SEXY * OBJECTS OF CREATION

At the Pentagon peace rally the other day, a Republican protestor against the protestors held up a sign saying "PEACE SUCKS." I know it isn't sexy to stop arguing or fighting. I know it's more fun to gossip, vent, scream, yell and find fault with others. I know it is more exciting to watch a train wreck than a healing, but it doesn't help heal anything, in fact it keeps us stuck. Bad news proliferates because of our constant nurturing of it. I'm not saying stop shining a light on the bad guys like Rove, Bush, Cheney, Gonzales, Delay, and corrupt corporations. I'm saying let's also uplift each other by seeing the hope that is right around the corner. We need to see our innate goodness and know that truth will thrive as good people come into power.

JOY
I have been experiencing moments of pure joy lately. It all started when I consciously decided to shift my thought to seeing the beautiful in life. Believe me it hasn't been easy, in light of all the bad news in the world. But ever since I took a class in spiritual physics (metaphysics) I began to practice "reversing my thought" and looking up. Literally looking up at the treetops, at the higher laws in operation. In other words, the spiritual invisible goodness running things. Now I'm madly in love with life, people, trees, flowers, nature — and I'm seeing things I never saw before! It's amazingly beautiful out there. I'm seeing more and more beautiful objects of creation.

I have also shed my jealousy of others and have begun to see everything with new eyes. Suddenly a new sense of compassion and love for strangers in the news and on the street — even people who seem gruff and don't smile back. I saw a sad-looking Hispanic gardener on our street the other day, and I silently blessed him. He looked up and beamed back at me. Think of all the people who seem invisible, as if no one cares about their burdens.

My ideal day: going on a road trip with the kids in the back of the minivan. We went to Tahoe over the holidays, and I can't tell you how majestic the snow-covered treetops are as you drive up to Lake Tahoe. It looks like heaven. In fact the town we went to is called "Heavenly." I get a calm peaceful feeling whenever I see a picture of Tahoe or Sedona, so I keep a postcard of Heavenly, right by my computer.

For the past few years I have not behaved in a very admirable way toward my husband. He used to annoy me when he wouldn't listen or care about anything I was interested in, especially politics. But I began to look at him differently. Everytime he annoyed me I would thank him for the good. I became sweeter and more loving and lately, I have fallen back in love with him. The kids are actually nicer too.

Joy is coming back. Despite the horror stories in the news, I truly believe that if we keep our eyes on the "beautiful, the good and the true" as Paul said -- if we "think on these things" and we will bring these into our lives proportionate to our thought.

Man is the offspring of Spirit. The beautiful, good, and pure constitute his ancestry. - Mary Baker Eddy.

In reality, man is not material, he is spiritual. We are just so focused on the material, we forget where we came from and what we're made of. Man's misguided belief in duality (his belief in a devil, in "evil as a force" as big as God) causes most of his problems. But THERE IS NO OPPOSING FORCE. I know it seems like there is, and this is difficult to wrap your mind around, but try it. Try focusing on only the good in life. It will change everything. Only good is real and eternal. But as I said earlier, I know peace isn't always sexy.

Paul wrote, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8). Paul’s list contains elements that all point to God.

Paul’s list contains “things that are honest,” “things that are just,” “things that are pure,” “things that are lovely,” “things that are of good report,” “virtue and praise.” And, he tells us to think on these things. All of these things lead us to a life that is peaceful in Christ. Paul tells us to “think on these things.” We are to keep them in our mind. He wrote in Romans, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).

We are to be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6): we are to put our trust in God. We are to pray to Him for everything: “but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6). And we are to meditate on Holy things.

This is THE SECRET. They just left out the Christ.

Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you Smile (except really mean thoughts about George Bush.)