Open Blogging
Last night, two Democratic state politicians were assassinated in Minnesota.
My prayers go out to the families and the state…
Israel is at war with Iran.
Today protests will be made all over America…”No Kings Day”…while a military parade happens in D.C.
The country is at a tipping point, may we all be in prayer for our nation that the generations that follow us can live in peace and freedom.
Definitely praying. Lord, have mercy.
If you chose to vote for some of the current people we have in power, there will be repercussions. Maybe you liked their policies, but now you see how they employ their policies. These same types of people also draw out the “crazy” people (like those who shoot at state representatives). I hope it doesn’t get worse, but I think it will take a long time for things to get better. I wasn’t that keen on the other candidate, by the way, but she wasn’t preaching blood in the streets, either. and, we have 3.5 years of the current chaos to look forward to.
I am encouraged that millions are peacefully protesting today.
I’m undone to tears by the fact that I couldn’t join with them…but my legs just wouldn’t co-operate.
I desperately wanted to stand with my neighbors of conscience…
Same here,Michael, and no parking! But I’m praying for them.
I’ve noticed that most of the TV networks aren’t broadcasting the parade. It’s all sports! 😀
Michael
There’s a reason I say “no kings”—and it’s not just about politics or slogans. It’s about idolatry, plain and simple.
We have all seen how easy it is—especially for evangelical Christians—to start elevating human leaders to places they don’t belong. We wrap them in the flag, we quote them like Scripture, we defend them like apostles. Whether it’s a president, a pastor, or some charismatic voice online, the temptation is always there: to trade the authenticity of the Gospel for the certainty of a strongman.
I follow a crucified King. Not a man in a palace, not a politician. If I start putting my trust—my hope—in anyone or anything else, I’m not just making a mistake. I’m committing idolatry.
So I say “no kings.” Not because I reject order or leadership, but because I know what happens when we give too much power to men. I’ve seen churches torn apart by loyalty to the wrong things. I’ve seen people excuse sin because “he’s on our side.” And I’ve watched Christians slowly bend their knee to a lesser throne.
No kings. Christ alone.
I was able to go to the one in Phoenix today, thanks to the light rail. Very big crowd, more like a weekend festival event than a typical political rally, since they decided it was too hot for any kind of a march.
When it was over and people were starting to leave, some guy who had his face covered in a mask was arguing with some of the attendees in a loud and very angry shouting match. Apparently he and his friends were waiting until folks were leaving.
People were shouting at him “Take off your mask!”. Then he threw a punch at someone, a couple people started to punch back, then he drew a pistol and rotated around and around, pointing it at the crowd. At this point state troopers arrived and arrested him.
The pictures on my phone indicate I was much closer to him than I remember.
Unlike dictatorships and communist countries, America traditionally has not held military equipment parades.
In a way, the use of the military, while sometimes necessary, is a certainly a sign of failure, failure of peacemaking, a last resort. We shouldn’t brag or exalt our weapons, as if weapons define us or represent our values.
Over the past half a century, war hasn’t been our last resort, either externally but more and more often now internally.
Jean,
I politely differ on our country and wars (we have many people who have served in our family, and I lost a nephew in the Iraq war in 2007).
War in Iraq. Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF; March 2003 – November 2011) …
War in Afghanistan. Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF; October, 2001 – December, 2014) …
Persian Gulf War (1991) …
Vietnam War (1962 – 1973) ..
And that doesn’t include other countries that we aided or in which we have had some troops deployed to help keep the peace (think Granada and Haiti). I don’t trust our current administration not to get us involved in another war, by the way, especially when we put on a $140 million dollar show to satisfy a rather large ego. That $140 million could have helped so many veterans who are homeless or in need of medical assistance.
Jean,
I want to emphasize that I understand why we went to war in Afghanistan after 9/11, but once Bin Ladin was dead, I don’t think it needed to continue. I also don’t blame any particular administration/president for the wars. Vietnam was equally shared by Democrats and Republicans, for example. It’s just once we commit, we can’t seem to figure out how to leave. So unlike WW2 where a plan was already in the works to restore Europe even before we won the war.
I protested today in a small Wisconsin town, pop. about 5,000. There were probably 300-400 there. And a fair number of cars driving by honked and gave the crowd thumbs up. Really glad I went.
Military worship is Mars worship.
In my area of Southern Cali, I was shocked to see quite a large crowd of anti-Trumpers lining both sides of a busy thoroughfare in my town, even though my area is known for its affinity with the far-right.
Like they say, go figure.
My wife and I joined the protest in Carlsbad, CA. Huge crowd and hard to estimate the number as it wrapped around several blocks. 100% peaceful.
It looks like the Minnesota shooter was a graduate of Christ For The Nations in Dallas and a former missionary to the Congo. While his current motivation may have been struggling finances, his spiritual ethos seems to be NAR-style Christian Nationalism.
He managed to rain on both DJT’s Army Birthday Parade and on the No Kings events. All the news coverage was drowned out about both, making them seem irrelevant by comparison. I hope they find him soon.
@bob 1,
I’m originally from Racine.
Muff, I’m in southern Wisc but west of Madtown.
If you’re not from Racine then I think you’d say “Ray-cine.”
Terry, I would expect a peaceful protest in Carlsbad.
Laguna Beach was peaceful .
Just another distinguished graduate of Christ for the Nations.
https://wordandway.org/2025/06/16/suspect-in-killing-of-minnesota-legislator-is-a-minister-who-evangelized-in-africa/
Peaceful protests in Denver and Boulder. Massive crowds.
Mainly peaceful in Medford and the surrounding towns…a few Trump supporters did some rude stuff and were pretty active online…but I think it went well here.