Democracy at Risk

Immigration

The

Immigration

Immigration is defined as an act or instance of immigrating or to come into a country of which one is not a native for permanent residence.

“While many religious groups have come out against President Trump’s immigration ban, some significant figures in the faith community, including Liberty University’s Jerry Falwell Jr., have stood in support of it. Attempting to defend the ban from a religious point of view, evangelist Franklin Graham declared, ‘That is not a Bible issue.’

He could not be more wrong!

Both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament are clear and consistent when it comes to how we are to treat the stranger.

Across the books of both testaments, in narrative, law, prophecy, poetry and parable, the Bible consistently spells out that it is the responsibility of the citizen to ensure that the immigrant, the stranger, the refugee, is respected, welcomed and cared for. It is what God wants us to do, but it also recognizes that we too were immigrants and immigrants we remain. ‘Like my forebears, I am an alien, resident with you,’ says Psalm 39.”1

‘I am a stranger and an alien residing among you; give me property among you for a burying place, so

that I may bury my dead out of my sight.’

Genesis 23:4

‘You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.’

Deuteronomy 10:19

‘The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.’

Leviticus 19:34

‘Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ Leviticus 27:19

‘I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.’ Matthew 25:35

‘Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:40

‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ Luke 10:27

‘Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.’ Romans 12:13

1https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/ wp/2017/02/10/franklin graham said immigration is not a bible issue heres what the bible says/? utm_term=.1b7de78448d4

Reparation Forty Acres and a Myth

Reparation, on the other hand, is defined as the act of making amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury.

“The Freedmen’s Bureau virtually a mini government, according to W.E.B. DuBois ratified the idea, previously raised under the exigencies of war and among abolitionists, that the ‘tillers of the soil’ should be given land and a fresh start as new citizens of the country. The Act of 1865 specifically stated:

tracts of land within the insurrectionary states as shall have been abandoned, or to which the United States shall have acquired title by confiscation or sale, or otherwise, and to every male citizen whether refugee or freedmen, as aforesaid, there shall be assigned not more than forty acres of such land….

There was no provision for a mule, and the land was leased, not given away free of charge, to freedmen for a term of three years (most freedmen having been unable to purchase the land

outright). What happened next was most cruel.

The Freedmen’s Bureau, which never rested on firm political ground, and lacking strong support from President Andrew Johnson (who vetoed extensions of the Bureau twice and granted pardons to confederate plantation owners when Congress overrode his vetoes), was ineffective and essentially unable to protect the rights of freedmen land tenants. When President Johnson insisted on pardoning confederate planters, most of the land formerly rented to ex slaves was returned to white Southern planters. In addition, many Blacks who bought land directly from the government lost their deeds as well.”1

“…then he must confess his sin that he has committed and must make full reparation, add one fifth to it, and give it to whomever he wronged.”

Numbers 5:7

“

Fools mock at reparation, but among the upright, there is favor.”

Proverbs 14:9

https://bkhonline.com/forty-acres-and-a-myth/

Immigration as Reparation

But do migrants have a right to come to those richer nations that have ruined their homelands? Suketu Mehta, a professor of journalism at New York University, says YES!

In his book, “‘This Land Is Our Land,’ Mehta based an essay about immigration as reparation, which he wrote for Foreign Policy magazine in 2017. He expands on that piece in a fast moving survey of the immigration debate, weaving in the story of his own family’s migration to the United States from India in the 1970s along with new reporting from the borders of Europe and the United States.

‘When migrants move, it’s not out of idle fancy, or because they hate their homelands, or to plunder the countries they come to, even (most often) to strike it rich,’ he writes. ‘They move as my grandfather knew because the accumulated burdens of history have rendered their homelands less and less habitable.’

In subsequent chapters Mehta elaborates on how, through the forces of colonialism, climate change and corporate greed, the West has forced people to become migrants. The right to migrate is the overdue reparation for those centuries of degradation and exploitation. These families should not see themselves as helpless victims of a paternalistic de-

bate, Mehta suggests, but instead should feel unapologetically entitled to their presence in Western societies. To readers who may question why, he responds: ‘They are here because you were there.’

There are many mic-drop moments and eminently quotable lines such as this throughout ‘This Land Is Our Land.’ It is a blistering argument that earns its place in this emotional debate. In a news climate dominated by opponents of immigration, Mehta brings personal, postcolonial and global anguish to a broader American readership. The book concludes with a hopeful coda, as Mehta shares the story of his brother in law’s successful campaign for office in a predominantly white district in North Carolina.

… The deep legislative damage being caused by the march of xenophobia is destined to haunt us for generations to come. The immigration debate feels more corrosive than ever, and the gulf between the opposing sides seems to widen with every punch thrown in the air. Manifestos and anthems, regardless of their political orientation, are a call to arms, not to resolution.”1

1 excerpts from and revisions made to the online article at https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/immigration as reparation for colonialism climate change and corporate greed/2019/06/20/89b0876e 8956 11e9 98c1 e945ae5db8fb_story.html?utm_term=.3469860dec4b

A Biblical History of Xenophobia

“Xenophobia is fear or hatred of anything strange or foreign, particularly as it relates to people. A xenophobe often has a severe dislike of those from other cultures. Accusations of xenophobia sometimes come up in debates about illegal immigration or how a country should respond to refugee crises. People may also be charged with xenophobia in discussions of racism and discrimination or if a person refuses to interact with those of another culture, even when traveling to a foreign land. The Bible has much to say about our interactions with other people.

Xenophobia is wrong for a Christian. makes it evident that God is the creator of all people and that each of us is made in His image (Genesis 1:27). He instructed Adam and Eve to ‘be fruitful and increase in number’ (Genesis 1:28) and gave the same instruction to Noah after the flood (Genesis 9:1). It was God who scattered the people after the Tower of Babel incident (Genesis 11), effectively creating a situation in which there will always be those who are foreign to us. Clearly, sin has damaged humanity,

but the Bible nowhere indicates that one nationality or ethnic group is superior to another. In there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:22 23), so we are all in need of the Savior. Revelation 5:9–10; 7:9–12 indicate that heaven will include people from ‘every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages.’

Paul and Silas ran into xenophobia in Philippi, a Roman colony in Macedonia. After preaching for several days, the missionaries were arrested. The accusation they faced before the magistrates was full of xenophobia: ‘These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice’ (Acts 16:20–21). Of course, it was all a lie, and Paul and Silas were, unbeknownst to their accusers, Roman citizens themselves (Acts 16:37).

With Christ in our lives, we have no room for xenophobia. Hating or fearing people who are foreign to us is not biblical.”

What Does The Bible Say About Refugees?

“Rose and her children enjoy their first real meal in weeks at the Goboro transit center in Uganda. This hot meal was provided by World Vision for Rose’s family and hundreds of others on their way to more permanent shelter for refugees from South Sudan.

You won’t find the term ‘refugee’ in the Bible. But the Word of God has plenty to say about people called ‘strangers’ and ‘sojourners’ or ‘foreigners’ in our translations.

‘Strangers’ and ‘foreigners’ refer to anybody who was from another ethnic group, but had chosen to live with the Jews in Israel no matter what category they might represent in today’s terms.

For instance, the Book of Ruth is about a widow from the tribe of Moab who chooses to accompany her mother in law, Naomi, back to Israel and live there with her. In Ruth 2:10 we see her ask Boaz, in whose field she is gleaning, ‘Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me a foreigner?’ She understands her status as being outside the tribeofIsrael

‘Sojourners’ are people who are temporarily living in Israel or just traveling through the country.

Today’s Strangers and Sojourners

We use many different terms today for what the Bible calls strangers, foreigners, and sojourners. Here are a few:

Displaced persons — those who have been forced to leave their homes (community) due to violent conflict, war, or a natural disaster. These people temporarily live in another community in their country and usually return home when things improve.

Refugees people who have been forced to leave their nation due to violent conflict or war. These people want to return to their country once the war or conflict is over. These situations often lead to years of displacement.

Migrants — those who have chosen to leave their home country, mainly to escape poverty. These people are making a permanent move and would not return unless conditions improved significantly.

Immigrants — very similar to “migrant.” Someone who moves to another country for any number of reasons, including marriage or other fami-

ly ties, employment/business opportunity, etc. Some distinguish between immigrants with legal papers to enter a country and those without legal permission. This would not have been a consideration in Bible times.

Asylum seekers individuals who ask to live in another country to escape severe religious or political persecution or another violation of their human rights. These people would not return home unless the reason for their move came to an end.

Stateless persons those who are not a citizen under the laws of any country. People can become stateless in many ways, such as when a country ceases to exist or when a country adopts discriminatory laws that do not recognize certain ethnic groups within its borders.

Visitors people coming into a country or community for a defined time. Some come for a vacation or sabbatical. Others come for an education. These individuals return home when that time period is over.

There are principles in God’s Word about how his people are to treat strangers or foreigners.”1

“Long ago I gave these commands to my people: ‘You must see that justice is done, and must show kindness and mercy to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners who live among you, or anyone else in need.”

Zechariah 7:9

“I am the Lord, and I consider all people the same, whether they are Israelites or foreigners living among you.”

Numbers 15:16

“If you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon.” Isaiah 58:10

“Long ago I gave these commands to my people: ‘You must see that justice is done, and must show kindness and mercy to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners who live among you, or anyone else in need.”

Zechariah 7:9

“When a foreigner lives with you in your land, you must not oppress him.” Leviticus 19:33

“Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did that and welcomed angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2

https://www.worldvision.org/refugees

Muja Rose with children, refugees from South Sudan

Ta Nehisi Coates’ Congressional Testimony on Reparations

“On June 19, 2019 (Juneteenth), Mr. Coates testified at a House of Representative’s hearing on H.R. 40, a bill that would establish a commission to only study reparations. It’s the first such hearing in more than a decade. Here’s what he said.

“Yesterday, when asked about reparations, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell offered a familiar reply: ‘America should not be held liable for something that happened 150 years ago, since none of us currently alive are responsible.’ This rebuttal proffers a strange theory of governance, that American accounts are somehow bound by the lifetime of its generations.

But well into this century, the United States was still paying out pensions to the heirs of Civil War soldiers. We honor treaties that date back some 200 years, despite no one being alive who signed those treaties. Many of us would love to be taxed for the things we are solely and individually responsible for. But we are American citizens, and thus bound to a collective enterprise that extends beyond our individual and personal reach.

It would seem ridiculous to dispute invocations of the Founders, or the Greatest Generation, on the basis of a lack of membership in either group.

We recognize our lineage as a generational trust, as inheritance, and the real dilemma posed by reparations is just that: a dilemma of inheritance. It is impossible to imagine America without the inheritance of slavery.

As historian Ed Baptist has written, enslavement ‘shaped every crucial aspect of the economy and politics’ of America, so that by 1836 more than $600 million, almost half of the economic activity in the United States, derived directly or indirectly from the cotton produced by the million-odd slaves. By the time the enslaved were emancipated, they comprised the largest single asset in America. Three billion in 1860 dollars, more than all the other assets in the country combined.

The method of cultivating this asset was neither gentle cajoling nor persuasion, but torture, rape, and child trafficking. Enslavement reigned for 250 years on these shores. When it ended, this country could have extended its hallowed principles life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to all, regardless of color. But America had other

principles in mind. And so for a century after the Civil War, black people were subjected to a relentless campaign of terror, a campaign that extended well into the lifetime of Majority Leader McConnell.

It is tempting to divorce this modern campaign of terror, of plunder, from enslavement, but the logic of enslavement, of white supremacy, respects no such borders and the guard of bondage was lustful and begat many heirs. Coup d’états and convict leasing. Vagrancy laws and debt peonage. Redlining and racist G.I. bills. Poll taxes and state sponsored terrorism.

We grant that Mr. McConnell was not alive for Appomattox. But he was alive for the electrocution of George Stinney. He was alive for the blinding of Isaac Woodard. He was alive to witness kleptocracy in his native Alabama and a regime premised on electoral theft. Majority Leader McConnell cited civil rights legislation yesterday, as well he should, because he was alive to witness the harassment, jailing, and betrayal of those responsible for that legislation by a government sworn to protect them. He was alive for the redlining of Chicago and the looting of black homeowners of some $4 billion. Victims of that plunder are very much alive today. I am sure they’d love a word with the majority leader.

What they know, what this committee must know, is that while emancipation dead bolted the door against the bandits of America, Jim Crow wedged the windows wide open. And that is the thing about Senator McConnell’s ‘something’: It was 150 years ago. And it was right now.

The typical black family in this country has one tenth the wealth of the typical white family. Black women die in childbirth at four times the rate of white women. And there is, of course, the shame of this land of the free boasting the largest prison population on the planet, of which the descendants of the enslaved make up the largest share. The matter of reparations is one of making amends and direct redress, but it is also a question of citizenship.

In H.R. 40, this body has a chance to both make good on its 2009 apology for enslavement, and reject fair-weather patriotism, to say that this nation is both its credits and debits. That if Thomas Jefferson matters, so does Sally Hemings. That if

Ta-Nehisi P. Coates, an American author and journalist

Who Are The Men of Lawlessness?

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in histime.Forthe mysteryoflawlessness isalready at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.

‘boastful’ king who will ‘try to change the set times and the laws’ (verses 11 and 25). He will come offering a false peace to the world and will with his charismatic personality, incredible promises, and breathtaking miracles unite all nations politically, economically, and religiously under his leadership. At the same time, he will make a covenant with Israel for three and one half years (Daniel 9:27), where ‘seven’ indicates seven years). In the middle of the seven years, the man of lawlessness will break his covenant with Israel, stop their sacrifices (Daniel 9:27), and enter the temple to set himself up as ‘god’ and demand worship (2 Thessalonians 2:4). This is the ‘abomination that causes desolation’ that Jesus spoke of in Mark 13:14.

Satan works through the Antichrist, for Satan himself is not able to become incarnate. By possessing and controlling the Antichrist, Satan is worshipped in the temple where the biblical God is to be worshipped. No wonder the Antichrist is called the man of lawlessness. To act as ‘god’ is the ultimate rejection of the biblical God’s character and laws.

2

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Thessalonians 2:1-12

“The man or men of lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12 are the Antichrist who will come on the world scene at the beginning of the Day of the Lord. This Day, sometimes called the ‘end times,’ starts after the rapture of the church in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (1 Thessalonians 5:1–11). It is good to note that the Day of the Lord is not a twenty four hour period of time; rather, it is an extended period of time that includes the seven year tribulation, the return of Christ to put down all rebellion against Him, the 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth, the final defeat of Satan, and the Great White Throne Judgment.

The Antichrist is given the title ‘man of lawlessness because he will oppose in every way the biblical God and His law. He will be completely lawless. Daniel 7 speaks of this man as a

Coate

This action of the Antichrist will cause an upheaval in his worldwide kingdom, and forces from the East will gather to fight against him. But instead of fighting each other, the forces of the world unite to fight the King of kings and Lord of lords, who comes to put down the man of lawlessness and his allies in the great battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16; 19:19). Of course, the man of lawlessness loses that battle. He and his false prophet are then cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:20). The Word of God (Revelation 19:13), Jesus Christ, will be the Victor.

A quick observation of the happenings in our world today reveals that lawlessness is on the rise. Such lawlessness will continue and increase (2 Timothy 3:13), and when the man of lawlessness appears on the scene, he will be welcomed with open arms. Those who have rejected the true Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, will fall for the Antichrist’s empty promise of peace. It is vitally important that each of us is sure that we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and are living for Him. ‘Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come’ (Mark 13:33).

https://www.gotquestions.net/Printer/ man-of-lawlessness-PF.html

… Reparations

D-Day matters, so does Black Wall Street. That if Valley Forge matters, so does Fort Pillow. Because the question really is not whether we’ll be tied to the somethings of our past, but whether we are courageous enough to be tied to the

whole of them. Thank you.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/ archive/2019/06/ta nehisi coates testimony house reparations hr 40/592042/

says, “Your daddy, he been waiting and waiting and waiting for a better day,” Cummings recalled. ‘She said, “He's going to wait, and he's going to die.’ She said, ‘Don't you wait.’”

Now in his late 60s, Cummings said that, while he looks into the future, he also reflects on his life. ‘I realized that with African American people, where we've been blocked from being all that God meant for us to be, I don't have time to be patient,’ he said.

This Is America!!!

‘White people’, she told him, ‘had been telling African American to wait and he shouldn't.’ ‘She

His parents moved to the Baltimore, MD before he was born because they wanted their children to have a better life. Sharecroppers from South Carolina, his parents had been taken out of school in the fourth grade to plow fields and to pick tobacco and strawberries. In Baltimore, the seven children and two adults lived in a three room house. ‘My life is based on pain, passion, and purpose.’ For Cummings' father, the wait paid off: he lived to see his son elected to Congress and Elijah seeing his father crying.

SCV Physician Report from Gene Uzawa Dorio, M. D.

A Note On Notes

My cell phone stopped working as a tower near my home failed. Many of us have had this happen, leading to a mistaken sense of vulnerability not having access to the outside world.

In the meantime, I decided to upgrade my system so haggled and purchased a new phone online from my too big to fail cell phone carrier. A two week battle started with errors on their part, then hours of endless calls, delivery of the wrong phone, and transfers to higher ups apologizing yet not rectifying the problem.

This is similar to what patients and families face clashing with too big to fail healthcare systems and their computer screen minions.

To their dismay, I kept notes, with names and dates I used in the battle. They could not argue

with my counterpoints. My notes kept conversations focused on truthful details, bringing accountability to the discussion with indisputable facts.

Lesson learned: Like my cell phone, if you or your loved one stop working, keep good notes. It might not only save money, but also your life.

Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D.

Al’s Herbs

BLOOD SUGAR AND DIABETES

The key to a healthy blood sugar level is consistency and moderation; making sure the blood sugar levels never get too high or too low; so insulin is released at a steady rate. The efficiency of insulin regulation is directly related to when and how we eat. Consuming high fiber, low sugar and nutrient dense plant foods on a steady balanced schedule can improve how your body controls its energy levels.

Suggested foods and nutrients to help manage glucose levels: leafy greens, berries, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, apples, and beans; 1 to 2 teaspoons cinnamon per day, Swiss Chard, sea vegetables, pumpkin seeds, blackstrap molasses: foods which carry high levels of magnesium; (magnesium helps control glucose levels and prevents damage to the retina, a common

concern among diabetics).

Complex carbohydrates like whole oats, brown rice, quinoa and whole wheat takes time to be converted into glucose in the body.

Apple, broccoli, corn grapefruit, sweet potato, tomato: each supplies daily requirement of chromium, mineral that help cells decrease build up of excess blood sugar.

Always seek the advice of a physician with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this newsletter

“Representative Elijah Cummings, (D Maryland), the new chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee with the power to investigate and subpoena the Trump administration, is not a patient man. It's a lesson he learned from his late grandmother, who imparted her mindset shortly before she died.

Our Human Condition On The “Golden Rule”

“Do you know the Golden Rule? ‘Do unto others…’ is an ethical principle, a guideline to behavior, that says you should treat others as you want to be treated. But is the Golden Rule flawed? It assumes that all people want to be treated the same way. Or even worse, that they all want to be treated like you want to be treated.” from the Disciple Study Manual, 3rd Edition

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17

“The entire Law is fulfilled in a single decree: ‘Love your neighborasyourself.’” Galatians 5:14

“Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.” Romans 13:8

A century ago, America built another kind of wall. There was a time when even Ivy League scientists supported racial restrictions at the border.

In early 1921, an article in Good Housekeeping signaled the coming of a law that makes President Trump’s campaign for immigration restriction seem mild by comparison. ‘Biological laws tell us that certain divergent people will not mix or blend,’ it read. ‘The dead weight of alien accretion stifles national progress.’ The author was Calvin

Cranial

enon, nor is the xenophobia that has infected the political mainstream. In fact, race based nativism comes with an exalted pedigree and that pedigree is something we all should remember as the Trump administration continues its assault on immigrants of specific nationalities.

The scientific arguments Coolidge invoked were advanced by men bearing imposing credentials. Some were highly regarded scholars from Harvard, laboratory. Another was America’s leading environmentalist at the time. Yet another was the director of the country’s most respected natural history museum.

Patriot Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Ingredients:

1 pint Strawberries

Wilton Chocolate Disc Melts, Blue and White

Patriotic Jimmies, confetti, blue crystals, edible glitter

Directions:

1. In a microwave safe bowl, melt white candy discs for 30 second intervals until melted.

2. Dip strawberries about half way up and place on parchment lined cookie sheet. Let dry for 5 10 minutes.

3. Melt blue candy discs the same as you did the

the white discs.

4. Dip a few strawberries in the blue discs about ¼ way up, then add sprinkles. Dip a few in the white discs and add sprinkles. Place back on the parchment paper and let dry. Enjoy!

Mrs. Smart was fumbling in her purse for her offering when a large television remote fell out and clattered into the aisle.

A curious usher bent over to retrieve it for her and whispered, “Do you always carry your TV remote to church?”

“No,” she replied, “but my husband refused to come with me this morning, and I figured this was the most evil thing I could do to him legally.”

to remember that what we see before us is only the husk, the shell of your dear husband–the nut has gone to heaven.”

Exams

In the 1940’s

as vice president of the United States. Three years later, the most severe immigration law in American history entered the statute books, shepherded by believers in those ‘biological laws.’

The anti immigrant fervor at the heart of current White House policymaking is not a new phenom-

Together, they popularized ‘racial eugenics,’ a junk science that made ethnically based racism respectable. ‘The day of the sociologist is passing,’ said the Harvard professor Robert DeCourcy Ward, ‘and the day of the biologist has come.’ The biologists and their publicists achieved what their political allies had failed to accomplish for 30 years: enactment of a law stemming the influx of Jews, Italians, Greeks and other eastern and southern Europeans. ‘The need of restriction is manifest,’ The New York Times declared in an editorial, for ‘American institutions are menaced’ by ‘swarms of aliens.’”

A devout old shepherd lost his favorite Bible while he was out looking for a wayward lamb. Three weeks later, a sheep walked up to him carrying the Bible in its mouth. The shepherd couldn’t believe his eyes. He took the precious book out of the sheep’s mouth, raised his eyes heavenward and exclaimed, “It’s a miracle!” “Not really,” said the sheep. “Your name is written inside the cover.”

A newly ordained pastor, in the first days of his first call, was attempting to console the widow of an eccentric man who had just died. Standing before the open casket, the nervous young pastor said, “I realize this must be a very hard blow for you, Mrs. Swenson. Just try

A pastor had a falling out with his church stewards over various church policies and procedures, including how the finances were being handled. After bitter argumentsandmanynightsoflost sleep, he decided to leave the congregation to take a job as a prison chaplain. He preached his last sermon at the church on John 14:1: “I go to prepare a place for you.”

“Well,”the mansaid,“once I came upon a gang of bikers who were threatening a young woman. I approached the largest and most heavily tattooed biker and smacked him on the head, kicked over his bike, ripped out his nose ring, and threw it on the ground. ‘Now leave her alone!’Iyelled.””

St. Peter was impressed: “When did this happen?” “Just a couple of minutes ago.”

A Sunday School teacher talked about how powerful kings and queens were in Biblical times. But who knows what’s the higher power? she asked. A six-year-old student blurted out, … Aces!”