Prayer for President Obama

This was sent to be by the McGees with encouragement to share with as many as possible. Thanks to them for passing this on.

12.13 A Prayer
Prayer for President Obama

Lord God, we pray for President Barack Obama.
We praise you for the gifts you have nurtured in him:
to think clearly, to speak eloquently, to interact effectively.
Guide him, God, to use these skills both wisely and well
as he leads our nation and serves our world.

Thank you for his bright summons to audacious hope.
May we citizens bracket that vision with faith and love,
so that civility and justice mark our nation’s journey
into an unknown and somewhat scary future.

May the glare of publicity never blind him to truth.
May political power never dull empathy with ordinary people.
May pride of position never corrode his conscience.
Warn him, Lord, when evils, disguised as good,
tempt him to stray from what is right and true.

Teach him to backtrack from wrong turns amiably,
but to follow right roads tenaciously.
Strengthen hi s commitment to servant leadership.
May neither acclaim nor criticism tarnish his congeniality.

Show him patterns of patience that tarry but do not dawdle.
When he is tired and stressed, refresh him, Lord,
in his body, in his mind, in his spirit.
When alone he wrestles over difficult ethical and policy issues
may this follower of Jesus heed his Master’s guiding voice.

Oh, and Lord, in busy times remind President Obama
of his heart-felt pledge and studied practice:
to be an attentive and loving husband and father.

Amen!

Peace and Joy!

Arthur O. Roberts

Thanksgiving

As an advocate for peace, as an activist for political reformation in America, and as a concerned citizen who happens to have voted for the Obama/Biden ticket in the recent election I have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day.

Now that the election is over and Obama will take office let us be thankful, certainly.  Our hard work and efforts have paid off.  But let us not let down our desires to work for peace in Iraq and in Afghanistan.  Let us not rest in our desire to stop preemption and first strike as foreign policy.  Let us pay attention that those of us who supported this candidate are paid attention to by the man who is now president.  Visit change.gov and state you views.  Communicate!  Insist!  Stay motivated!  Stay involved!

Happy Thanksgiving!  Peace!

The above represent my views and not necessarily those of the Peace Forum as a group!

Activism now more than ever

Freinds of the Forum,

At the November meeting of the Forum, those present determined the importance of keeping active as a voice of peace and social justice now that there is a new administration in the White House. We generated a must do list that we will post on appropriate an internet site. We were told that there is a specif site created to do so. Once the specific list is edited, It will be published for comment here. This writer will also sen out this list to the Forum’s mail list.

For now, know that the top items will include the following:

• Bring home the troops from Iraq as soon as possible and practical, and to not redeploy the troops to Afghanistan.
• Refrain from unilateral incursions into independent and sovereign nations which could expand the “war on terror”. (Pakistan, Syria)

The list will also include items that are related to, peace and justice. We will also post the site where you may submit your own independent lists of must do’s for the new administration.

Let’s celebrate this historic election by holding accountable the new administration to the progressive values that we believe got him elected.

Update

Friends of the Forum:

I am now teaching at OIT. I am currently teaching a class on Death and Dying. I am not now doing the genocide class Perhaps in the near future.

I am happy for the opportunity to teach at this level. peace to all!

David

Classes

Friends of the Forum,

I will be teaching two classes at Klamath Community College this Fall term (2008).

One class is the Psychology of Genocide.  (PSY 299).  The events in Sudan/Darfur and the charges of genocide and crimes against humanity being brought against Sudan’s president, Omar al-Bashir, will most certainly be evaluated and examined.

The other class is on Death and Dying.  Thsi will be offered as a Sociology Class.  I am not sure of the course number.  Staff is listed as the instructor.  This will be an inquiry into the attitudes towards death and dying and ultimately living in American Society.  We will also look at how different faith perspectives look at death and dying.

David

Peace and the 4th of July

Friends,

The Klamath Basin Peace Forum was present in the 4th of July Parade in Klamath Falls, Oregon. We were sandwiched between two Children’s entries.  One from the YMCA and the Other for a Children’s Theater Production of Mulan, I believe.  There were about 15 of us marching for peace.  We had peace banners, the Klamath Basin Peace Forum banner, and an American Flag.

I noticed many acknowledgments.  I heard no negatives and saw no hand gestures suggesting disapproval.

Hope to see some of you at the next meeting.  July 13th at eh Congregational United Church of Christ.  That is a Sunday at 4:00 P.M.

David

Update

The Klamath Basin Peace Forum is planning to march in the 4th of July Parade.  We will gather on 4th Street on the morning of the 4th.  Flags, peace banners, and t-shirts are welcomed.  This is not a protest.  It is a reminder that we are still here advocating for peace.

David

Update on the peace forum

Friends,

Currently, the peace forum sponsors a weekly “People in Black” gathering on Friday evenings on the corner of 9th and Main.  People gather beginning at around 5:00 P.M.  Peace flags and messages affirming peace are often seen.

Recently we remembered the 5th Anniversary of the start of the Iraqi War.

Recently we held community forums and information nights about Kenya and Uganda.

We are hoping to consider other activities to encourage new members and redefining who we  are.

Peace is the Way my brothers and sisters.  Peace.

David

Demonstrations and Location

On Saturday, October 27th, a small group of men gathered at Washburn and South Sixth to protest the continued presence of US Troops in Iraq.  Included in this gathering were four Viet Nam Vets.  Also an individual who has a son serving in Iraq.  Although we were small in number, our presence did send a message.  Bring Home The Troops, Now!

There was little time to notify members of this event.  Perhaps it is time to consider a weekly presence.  Many communities do this.  I will send out this notice to the general list for feedback.

Peace,

David

More on events

People in Black will be assembling on a regular basis.  People will gather on the corner of 9th and main at 5:00 P.M. This is an on-going event.  It is mostly a silent protest.  Wear black clothing as much as possible.  Carry peace banners that promote peace more than protesting war.  This is a time of silent reflection for peace.  A brief hand out will be available to explain to passers-by what this is all about. (I think the papers are available).  This is an event that can gain momentum.

Peace…

David