Is Israel Right in Taking Palestinian Land?

The Bible unequivocally condemns stealing, including stealing land. Several passages emphasize the importance of respecting property rights and the consequences of violating them. Deuteronomy 19:14 explicitly prohibits moving a neighbor's boundary marker, highlighting that land is an inheritance from the Lord. Micah 2:2 describes the act of seizing land by force and violence as a form of stealing.

Deuteronomy 19:14:
"You shall not move your neighbor's boundary marker, which the men of old have set, in the inheritance that you will hold in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess". This verse emphasizes that land is a sacred inheritance, and altering property boundaries is a sin against God.

Proverbs 23:10-11:
"Do not oppress the poor because they are poor, and do not crush the needy in the land. For the Lord will be against them, and he will not be pleased with them, and will make them ill, and they shall be healed. Do not steal the land of the needy, for the Lord will punish them for their sins and make them ill". This passage cautions against exploiting the vulnerable and warns that stealing land will lead to divine retribution. 

So many voices have been silenced by those who believe that Israel has total rights to keep and control the Holy Land. They don't.

From The Vigil of Easter

I had fallen into a slump, so I attended two church services over Easter. Doing so enabled me to pull myself from the doldrums, into which I had fallen. These paragraphs helped, and I hope they help others.

Father God:

God of the church, you light the new fire of resurrection in the holy darkness of the tomb. Kindle faith in our hearts, that your church may arise in the promise of new life and hope. God of grace, hear our prayer.

God of creation, the earth itself waits for healing and redemption. Protect coastlines and reefs, forests and prairies, and the air from which we draw the breath of life. God of grace, hear our prayer.

God of nations, too often the injustice of the cross echoes in the human systems of power. Topple the thrones of tyrants, liberate your people from the bonds of injustice, and create a world rooted in compassion, that together, all of humanity might thrive. God of grace, hear our prayer.

God of mercy, you know every heart that aches with loss and every mind that knows the weight of the tomb. Keep vigil with those that suffer; comfort those who weep, console all who grieve, and bring healing to all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit. God of grace, hear our prayer.

Receive these prayers, loving God, for the sake of the One who loved us to the end, Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen

This was written by Rev. Micah Sievenpiper, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Kansas City MO                     April 19, 2025

A Prayer for President Trump and the United States

 Heavenly Father:

You are the Creator of everything good and nothing bad. You have given us life and and instructions which give us ways to live a peaceful and loving life. Your gift of the Holy Spirit comforts us and Your Son has given us everlasting life. You are the only one who can help our world find peace.

Lord, we hold our President, Donald Trump to you and ask that you help him find peace, not only with other people, and other nations but within himself. Please give him the wisdom to make the decisions that will benefit all Americans, and help to create peace throughout the world we live in.

We also ask that you provide hope and spiritual support to those who have lost employment and those whose lives have been have been shattered by the decisions of the current administration. 

We ask this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen

When Do the MAGA Folks Drink the Trump Kool-Aid

 I have to wonder how MAGA members continue to support Trump. His promises to improve the lives of voters, notably the lie that he would bring the price of eggs down. Except for a slight decrease in their prices caused by an increase in the supply, nothing has happened. In fact, with his tariffs, it is far more likely that prices will rise.

He has alienated Canada and European allies. With his tariffs, a proposed assault on Greenland, he, and others, especially those who voted for him, have destroyed any trust we may have had in the past. Now will our trading partners continue to purchase our products, and will they continue to provide us with the products we need, like oil and natural gas? Will we still have the backing of NATO?

He also promised to end the war in Ukraine on his first day. Nope. There had been a weak cease fire, but Russia only slowed down. (And, by the way Russia started the war and not otherwise.) Trumps threat of pulling out of NATO has earned Europe's disdain, and it should worry us as well. Both Canada and Europe have been exploring other options with other trade partners. 

Trump's tariffs trashed the stock market until he postponed their application, and in the process, he announced that it was a good time to buy, instigating insider trading.

Trump's hatred for any law that stands in his way, and with the Supreme Court's gift of “a presumptive immunity from criminal prosecution” for any actions related to his official responsibility, allows him to do anything he wants. Now this may sound acceptable to MAGA, the reality is that Trump's focus could turn on them, and he can do anything he wants.

So, belly up to the bar, MAGA, and drink the elixir he has prepared for everyone.

Hall of Fame or the Hall of Shame

 I believe it could be fun to take photographs of MAGA folks in their MAGA hats and attire. They have defended Trump in every aspect of his governing, which could be good. The reality of Economics is that predicting what can happen is a crap shoot.

So believing the economy will continue to be good or bad, or guessing how good or bad it will be is fruitless. So why don't we show pics of MAGA folks and Liberals as well, though Liberals don't wear hats, and upon seeing what the economy does, place each on a list. If the economy goes into a recession during the current presidency, MAGA folks supporting Trump will be in the Hall of Shame. If the economy doesn't suffer or remains stable, they will be listed in the Hall of Fame. The same goes for Liberals. If Trump's economic policies gain or maintain the current configuration, they will be listed in the Hall of Shame. If the economy craters, then Liberals will be listed in Hall of Fame. Sound fun?

Who will be Hall of Famers? 

By the way, Most know that I am not a MAGA person and my bet is that the economy will take a serious dump. I hope I am wrong.