As Donna Summer once said, "Enough is Enough!"

 

                                     Photo Credit: Bloomberg.com

 

I am no where near an expert when it comes to military practices, but I'm also not stupid.

We are currently, clearly, in a war with Iran, having sent thousands of troops to the region, as well as retaining a military blockade of the Straight of Hormuz.

But now, our government is claiming the war has ended due to a (temporary) ceasefire. 

Does anyone really believe this war is actually over? 

They are claiming the ceasefire actually terminated the war. Clearly, they are claiming this to avoid a requirement that Congress must give its approval once they hit a 60 day mark, which happens to be today.

I don't know what a reasonable strategy is to end this mess that is causing chaos around the world and at home, but the loose interpretation of the War Powers Act is ridiculous.

The WPA does not say that a ceasefire terminates an ongoing war. But if you want to get around Congress, this interpretation will work for you.

I don't know about you, but I am exhausted by the contradictory information members of this same administration give out. I am tired of the lies. I am tired of the lack of integrity, compassion and professionalism exhibited by the president and the yes-men and women he has surrounded himself by.

Good leadership assumes you have people with varying opinions, opposing your own, so you can achieve an intelligent balance for decision-making.

I heard a great quote on a series about presidents the other day that basically said a President's job is to serve the people, not a party.

Can we get to the point where people are more important than party? Just imagine how that would work if people stopped staunchly defending their party--especially when it is acting immorally and dishonestly--and worked for the best interest of the people they serve.

It's called working for the common good.

I don't know when position and power became more important than doing the right thing, but it's time for a change.

Pray for peace and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 

 

Good News!

  

When something goes wrong, do you ever feel like God is getting even with you for your sin or past actions?

Does this thinking lead you to feel that you deserve the bad things that come your way? 

Do you live in the Old Testament, assured of a punishing God?

In the New Testament, at the end of the Gospel of John, Chapter 12, Jesus frees us from the image that God is after us, waiting to pounce on us for whatever we've done wrong.

He said:

". . . I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world."

He also said that the condemnation we receive comes from our own rejection of him and our not accepting the word that he spoke. 

In other words, we need to look to ourselves before we assign blame on God. It is our own doing when we choose to live in darkness when the One who came into the world as light was sent to free us.

What a different image we get when we see Jesus as coming to save us, rather than coming to condemn us. He loves us and he wants us to be with him. He speaks what the Father has commanded him to say, and he is trustworthy.

Knowing this, what changes do you need to make in your life to be open to his saving word and not condemn yourself or others?

Pray for peace and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 

 

 

 

God's great tenderness

 

 

I'd like you to take a minute and think of someone that you really appreciate.

What are their characteristics?

Are they loving and kind to you? Do you observe their generosity of spirit or their sacrificial ways?

I read this quote by Denis ("The Treatise on the Divine Names" in "Aquinas and His Role in Theology") and found it interesting:

"In this way every quality of perfection in creatures exists in a more excellent way in God." (Think "people" when you read creatures.)

The point is, the goodness and love that you see exhibited by someone you know is a reflection of God, whose love and goodness is even greater than what you are seeing.

That's because God pours out his goodness on (or in) us, and through others we get a hint of how amazing God is.

Think back to a time when that someone you appreciate took care of you in some way. Now imagine God being there for you even more!

The tenderness that you felt from another is just a smidgen of God's love and tenderness towards us.  We can barely imagine how much more we are loved by God. 

If you ever start to wonder about God's love or his presence, call to mind that special someone and remember that God's love is even greater and more tender than what you have experienced here on earth.

I hope you are enjoying these beautiful days leading us to Pentecost!

Pray for peace and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy