Top Reasons The Parole Board Cites For Denials

The real reasons behind the Virginia Parole Board's repeated denials may include resistance from victims and their families or from local jurisdictions unwilling to have an offender return to their community, though such reasons are never stated. And it may be that wardens welcome having mature older role models remain in the population as a positive influence for younger and/or more incorrigible ones, but that is mere speculation.

Whatever the case, most of the reasons cited for not granting release to deserving individuals have nothing to do with the degree of rehabilitation they have demonstrated during their incarceration.

Margaret Breslau, co-founder and chair of the Blacksburg-based Coalition for Justice, published the following in her June 2025 issue of the Virginia Prison Justice Network newsletter:

In 2024, the total number of incarcerated people eligible for parole was 2,663. Only 19 were granted.

The top non-grant reasons cited were:

1. Release at this time would diminish seriousness of crime. The Board concludes that you should serve more of your sentence prior to release on parole.
2. Serious nature and circumstances of your offense(s).
3. Extensive criminal record.
4. Your prior failure(s) and/or convictions while under community supervision indicate that you are unlikely to comply with conditions of release.

5. History of substance abuse.
6. Considering your offense and your institutional records, the Board concludes that you should serve more of your sentence before being paroled.
7. You need further participation in institutional work and/or educational programs to indicate your positive progression towards re-entry into society.
8. History of violence.
9. No Interest in Parole

Note: Here's a link to a post about legislation that would bring about needed changes in how parole decisions are made: https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-virginia-parole-board-modest.html

Guest Post: ICE's Impact On Local Immigrants

Crimson Solano is the Executive Director of the
Harrisonburg based Coalicion Solidaria
Pro-Inmigrantes Unidos (COSPU)

Mr. Solano, who came to this country from Honduras in 1998, is here under a Temporary Protected Status (TPS) provision.  After meeting with our Valley Justice Coalition group Monday he  provided the following summary of his presentation, which I post with his permission:

I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak on an issue that is growing ever more urgent in our community—the current immigration climate and the weaponization of the judicial system that has placed immigrant families in constant fear.

In Harrisonburg and similar communities, we’ve seen an alarming trend: immigrants, both documented and undocumented, are afraid to attend their own court hearings. This includes criminal, traffic, family, and immigration court proceedings. The fear is not irrational—it’s based on real events and growing uncertainty. ICE enforcement in other jurisdictions, including courthouse arrests, has sent shockwaves that extend far beyond the cities where they occur.

What does this translate to? A saturation of “failures to appear,” contempt of court charges, and unnecessary escalation of minor offenses—particularly traffic violations—into broader legal troubles. This is not just about technical non-compliance; it’s a system-wide breakdown in access to justice, especially for those who need it most.

In immigration court, the fear is even greater. Many individuals facing removal proceedings abandon their cases altogether. That abandonment comes at a steep cost. When people stop showing up, they lose the opportunity for relief—sometimes permanent relief—such as asylum, cancellation of removal, or adjustment of status. They’re not opting out because they’re guilty or unqualified—they’re opting out because they’re terrified. They’ve seen that even U.S. citizens and long-time permanent residents have been mistakenly detained and placed into deportation proceedings.

Can I assure anyone that attending court or a routine ICE check-in won’t lead to detention and deportation? I cannot. And that’s a terrible reality for anyone who believes in the rule of law.

But we’re not powerless. There are practical steps we must take:

Education is the first line of defense. We must inform the community of their rights and legal options, and actively connect them to qualified immigration attorneys—not just when they’re detained, but proactively. Prevention is protection.

Emergency family preparedness plans. Every immigrant household should have a family emergency plan in place, including authorization for child guardianship, access to bank accounts, and legal contacts in case of detention.

Judicial and prosecutorial accountability.  Judges must ensure that defendants—especially those without legal representation—understand that even minor convictions can result in deportation. Prosecutors must be reminded of their ethical obligations under Legal Ethics Opinion 1876.

Let me expand on that.

In Virginia, not all district courts conduct colloquies—those vital explanations a judge gives to ensure a plea is entered knowingly and voluntarily. In many cases, when the Commonwealth agrees to “no jail time,” the court is not required to appoint a public defender. That means a noncitizen defendant could plead guilty, unrepresented, and without any understanding that this conviction will result in their removal from the country.

Legal Ethics Opinion 1876 makes clear that it is unethical for a prosecutor to knowingly take advantage of such a defendant. If a prosecutor knows the person is a noncitizen, knows the conviction is deportable, and knows the judge won’t advise the defendant, they must not quietly proceed with a plea deal that omits immigration consequences.

Similarly, the Supreme Court in Padilla v. Kentucky ruled that failing to inform a client of the risk of deportation constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel. The Court recognized that deportation is not a “collateral consequence”—it’s a life-altering event, often more severe than the criminal penalty itself.

Unfortunately, current court procedures and ethical rules still allow too much discretion. Some judges conduct formal plea inquiries; others do not. Some prosecutors seek to avoid injustice; others see an opportunity to gain a conviction without pushback. And worst of all, the system doesn’t reliably distinguish between noncitizens and citizens until it’s too late. Once in ICE custody, the burden to prove lawful presence lies with the person detained—not with the agency that picked them up.

We have (unofficial) reports that 42 (now 44) residents of Harrisonburg and the valley have been detained, taken into custody, and, in some cases, deported to their home countries. Across social media, people are witnessing undercover agents attending court hearings and making arrests outside the courthouse. This makes people fear going to courts in other places, including Charlottesville; people are afraid to attend court hearings and do not want to testify in court, fearing it will increase their chances of being taken into ICE custody or even deported. 

One example is a man from Venezuela who wanted to self-deport (as instructed) and to return to his home country. But in the process (through no fault of his own), he did not get the appropriate travel documents as a consequence of the lack of consular relations between the US and Venezuela when he voluntarily presented himself to ICE and requested to be sent back to his home country. He was taken into custody, charged with being a gang member.

What was the US government's proof that he was a gang member? Tattoos on his arm, his two sons' date of birth, a lion head, and a clock that shows the time of one of his kids' births; he is now in prison in El Salvador. We fear that he will never get his freedom back; the family doesn't even know if he is alive.

Another local example is a person getting a Driver's Privilege Card (similar to a driver's license) who had a previous deportation. In the process of being apprehended, five family members were also arrested! 

Another example is that of a Guatemalan mother who was arrested, leaving her two daughters (aged 14 and 2 ½ years) at home alone. Neighbors and other family members wanted to help, but they were also afraid of arrest. COSPU eventually came to the aid of the children and worked with the family to secure a Power of Attorney granting temporary custody to a family friend.

There was another case of two brothers being arrested on a road near Grottoes. They did not have legal status, but ICE is even arresting people who have documentation.

Does ICE perform these arrests in order to meet quota requirements? Yes.  And this administration is not only going after criminals or undocumented immigrants. During Trump's first term, he tried to terminate TPS for 465,000 immigrants living in this country legally, and they also appear to be in danger. The administration has revoked the legal status of individuals from three countries (with more to follow in the next 12 months) without adhering to the standard guidelines established by previous administrations since the program was created by Congress. Currently, there are approximately 2,500 TPS holders in the Valley; terminating their legal status to work could have a significant impact on our economy. Poultry plants and other businesses are already needing more workers. Some people have been working here for 10-20 years, including those in management positions, such as supervisors, leads, and business owners.

So what can we as advocates and community members do?

• Demand that local courts adopt Padilla advisements as standard practice in all plea deals, whether or not counsel is present.

• Push for public defenders to receive training on immigration consequences and support the creation of legal defense funds where needed.

• Urge prosecutors to reject the unethical practice of “undercharging” to deny immigrants the right to appointed counsel.

• Help immigrant communities prepare—legally, emotionally, and practically—for what to expect if detained.

• Finally, we must challenge the broader narrative that equates the judicial process with punishment. The rule of law must protect the rights of everyone under its jurisdiction, not just those with papers. Otherwise, it becomes not a shield, but a weapon.

At COSPU, we are more than just an organization - we are a coalition of individuals united by a common purpose: to empower and support immigrant families in our community. 

COSPU was founded over 15 years ago by a group of Salvadorians who wanted to share their traditions and contributions with our community. Funded on principles of solidarity and advocacy, we strive to create a welcoming environment where every immigrant can thrive and achieve their dreams. 

Our Vision: We envision a vibrant community where immigrants are not only accepted but also celebrated for their contributions to society. 

In our vision, immigrants are recognized for their resilience, hard work, and invaluable role in shaping the cultural fabric of our society. We dream of a place where every immigrant can live with dignity and pursue their aspirations without barriers.

Our Mission:

Our mission at COSPU is multifaceted and deeply rooted in our commitment to immigrant empowerment. Through solidarity aid and support, community leadership development, civic education, and the promotion of cultural events, we strive to uplift immigrant families and advocate for their rights. Additionally, we actively pursue legislative changes that foster inclusivity and equality for immigrants in Virginia and beyond.

Crimson S. Solano
Executive Director 
Coalicion Solidaria Pro-Inmigrantes Unidos (COSPU)
P.O. Box 923, Harrisonburg, VA. 22803
Direct: 540-860-0304
Like and follow COSPU on Facebook

A Memorable Story Of A Wounded Warrior

Some veterans are adopting the semicolon as
a symbol of their ongoing recovery and as a
reminder that suicide is an irreversible period,
and never the answer.

My friend Ben Wyse, who operates a mobile bike repair service, recently related the following story as shared by a wounded Iraqi War vet while Ben was repairing his bike.

His customer showed him the prosthetic foot he wore as a result of his service, but described the emotional wounds he suffered from the war as being far more traumatic than the loss of a limb. Too many of his fellow soldiers, he lamented, had committed suicide since returning to civilian life, adding to his own anguish as he pursued his personal journey of recovery.

One indelible memory he felt good about, however,  was about the day he was on a routine patrol and came upon an Iraqi civilian with a gun aimed directly at him. He instinctively got the perceived attacker in his sights and was about to pull the trigger when he realized his target was a child, or at most an adolescent. 

"At that instant I knew I could never in good conscience kill a kid," he said, and instead chose to rush toward him to physically disarm him. In those next adrenaline-driven seconds he prayed desperately that any incoming bullet would be aimed at his ballistic vest so that his life could be spared.

Upon tackling his presumed enemy to the ground, he saw that he was not only a child but that he held only a toy gun. "I could have never lived with myself if I had killed that kid," he said.

This was the proudest moment of his entire time in combat, he said, knowing he had saved the life of a child. And maybe realizing he had saved his own life as well.

My prayer on this Memorial Day is that God will bring healing to all who suffer from the devastation of war, and that we each do whatever we can to bring all war making to an end.

Here's a link to a Memorial Day post I wrote in 2013: 

https://harvyoder.blogspot.com/2013/05/does-world-need-new-religion.html

Following Christ Jesus Is Fun-damental

For the first time ever, I'm posting something on my blog with no comment.

WWJD? (What Would Jesus Drive?)

José Alberto "Pepe" Mujica Cordano, who served as the popular president of Uruguay from 2010-2015, drove this 1987 Volkswagen Beetle until his death in 2023.

Being the head of one of the greatest of the world's 195 nations would be too small a position for Jesus to fill, but if he were our president he would certainly refuse the offer of a $200-400 million luxury mega-jet as his means of transportation. At the climax of his ministry he chose a lowly donkey to ride as he led an unarmed and celebratory parade into Jerusalem at the beginning of Passover Week nearly 2000 years ago.

Today U.S. Pentagon accepted Qatar's gift of a 13-year old Boeing 747 some have valued at $400 million for use as the president's private plane. It will cost taxpayers an estimated $1 billion to retrofit this luxury airliner to make it secure and suitable as the next Air Force One. And the cost of operating this "flying palace" will be around $25,000 per hour of flight, and the total annual cost to maintain and operate the plane will be some $37 million a year.

During the president's first term he described Qatar as "a funder of terrorism," but all that has changed with the prospect of a profitable and peaceable relationship with this oil rich country. And the gift of a luxury plane.

Meanwhile former vice-president Mike Pence and even many of his Republican peers question whether accepting this kind of gift is ethical and constitutional. But the president is insisting it would be stupid to say, "No, we don’t want a free, very expensive airplane.” 

"A free very expensive airplane"

     The devil took Jesus up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur, and said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Get away from here, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.’ ”    

Matthew 4:8-10 (MEV)

Should Our Hymns Be Focused More On Our Peoplehood Or Our Individual Personhood?

I value spending some time each morning
in our new hymnal, Voices Together.

Our beliefs are likely influenced as much (or more) by our hymns than by our sermons, or even by our reading of scripture, whether in private or in public worship. 

This has made our denomination's selection of new hymnals in 1927, 1966, 1992 and 2020 at least as impactful as the adoption of our most recent (1995) Confession of Faith. 

Both kinds of publications, while potentially unifying, are also sure to create some controversy, as in some of the 2020 Voices Together hymn texts that have been modified to use more gender neutral and even feminine pronouns for God.

But I'm especially interested in seeing more hymns using  plural pronouns and focusing more on God's people as we gather for communal worship. The Bible, after all, is about one God (singular!) calling together, redeeming and commissioning a holy nation, a royal priesthood, a community of Jesus followers (plural!) who bear God's name and seek to live out God's will here on earth as in heaven. 

There are of course numerous accounts of personal encounters and conversations between God and individuals in the Bible. Stories of Abraham and Sarah, Moses and Aaron, and scores of  other prophets, judges and kings come to mind. Fully half the psalms, especially those of king David, describe a very personal relationship with God, and in the New Testament there are many personal encounters with God as experienced by Mary, Elizabeth, Peter, Paul, and by John the Revelator, to mention a few. But those personal experiences are never for the sake of furthering their private spirituality alone, but for the sake of their blessing, inspiring and nurturing God's people.

Thus our hymns, in my opinion, should reflect more of our corporate, versus just our personal, experiences with God.

I for one am glad that all 35 of the opening hymns in the "GATHERING: Welcome" section in Voices Together employ plural terms like us, we, and our  instead of me, I, my and mine. This is true for all but five of the next 30 hymns on the theme "GATHERING: God's Presence With Us."

I'm not suggesting we do away with all hymns that use personal pronouns. I appreciate personal testimony gospel songs like "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine," I'm Pressing On the Upward Way," "Lord I am Fondly Earnestly Longing," and many others. But in future editions, even many of these could (and should?) be modified for use in corporate worship, as in "We're Pressing on the Upward Way," or "O Lord our God, when we in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds your hands have made," etc. That may seem jarring at first, but wouldn't it be equally jarring to sing "I'm Marching to Zion"?

Another hymn, "How Firm a Foundation," based on Jesus's declaration "On this rock I will build my church," starts out with an appropriate reference to "ye saints of the Lord," but curiously switches to the use of an individual versus a plural you (or ye), and in its final verse states, "The soul that on Jesus still leans for repose, I will not, I will not, desert to its foes. That soul, though all hell shall endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never, no never forsake!"

In my opinion that fifth stanza, in order to be true to the Matthew 16 text, should read something like, "The church built on Jesus, the Rock and the Word, is defended by Christ our Redeemer and Lord. The church, though all hell should endeavor to shake, God will never, no never, no never forsake."

This kind of language supports the idea we are all in this together, a divinely created peoplehood whose sum is far greater than its individual parts. And that we are not primarily solo performers, but members of a grand multi-orchestrated choir inviting people of all nations to join in one great harmony of shalom.

Here's verse one of an updated hymn I'd love to belt out with other believers:

Come, blest fount of every blessing, tune our hearts to sing your grace.

Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach us some melodious sonnets sung by flaming tongues above.

Praise the mount, we're fixed upon it, mount of God's unchanging love!

I welcome your feedback.

The Virginia Parole Board-- A Modest Proposal

According to the Virginia Parole Board's website, they
have carried out this mission only once so far in 2025.

Fact #1: In 1995 parole was replaced with Truth in Sentencing legislation that required at least 85% of a sentence being served before one could be released from prison. However, there are still nearly 3500 men and women in the Commonwealth who are parole eligible, including those who were incarcerated before the 1995 law was passed and those sentenced as juveniles. Half of the total are also eligible for geriatric release due to their age and time served.

Fact #2: The Virginia Parole Board, consisting of five members appointed by the governor, has a support staff of between 40-50 persons and an annual operating budget of over $2.8 million.

Fact #3: The Board's stated mission is “to protect public safety and contribute to a fair and effective justice system by ensuring that persons who remain a threat to society remain incarcerated and those who no longer present a risk are released to become productive citizens.”

Fact #4: Yet according to the 2025 numbers posted on the Board's official website, only one person, a geriatric case, has been granted release so far this year. One.

Is our Department of Corrections failing to correct the over 20,000 men and women its charge, at a cost of over $1.5 billion annually? Or is the Parole Board not carrying out its mission?

In any case, scores of parole eligible individuals are being denied release year after year, in spite of their 1) maintaining infraction-free records while incarcerated, 2) taking every vocational and self-improvement class possible, 3) serving as mentors and role models in their pods and work places and 4) even earning college degrees behind bars. Many lament that had they been sentenced by “truth in sentencing” guidelines, they would have already been released, without any parole board action.

For those eligible, parole examiners make a recommendation to the board based on both a meeting they have with an individual and an examination of their record, after which cases are voted on by at least three, or depending on the sentence, four, of the five board members in a video meeting. The stated reasons posted for their “not grant” verdicts appear to be computer-generated, as in the following actual example from the website:

Release at this time would diminish seriousness of crime; History of violence; Crimes committed - Kidnap/Abduct, Kidnap/Abduct; Extensive criminal record; Considering your offense and your institutional records, the Board concludes that you should serve more of your sentence before being paroled; The Board concludes that you should serve more of your sentence prior to release on parole; Serious nature and circumstances of your offense(s).

If there are other factors affecting Board decisions, such as resistance from victim families or from a Commonwealth’s Attorney office, that information is not made public.

The Valley Justice Coalition strongly favors Virginia rejoining the majority of states who see that it is in tax-payer’s best interest to have a fully functioning parole system. Mississippi, for example, one of 16 states that once abolished parole, reinstated it in 2021, realizing that the prospect of earning an early release is a powerful incentive for doing well.

We also favor legislation proposed by numerous groups, including by some parole eligible individuals I know, that would create specific criteria for determining whether to grant release. 

Here are 14 items one such group has put together that would create a “Scored Parole Eligibility Level” of either One (75-100 points), Two (60-74 points), or Three (0-59 points), based on the following criteria:

1. PRIOR OFFENSE HISTORY IN VDOC: None (2 points) 2-3 One (-1), Two (-3), Four or More (-4)

2. HISTORY OF INSTITUTIONAL VIOLENCE WITHIN THE PAST FIVE YEARS: None (0), Assault not involving the use of a weapon (-5), Assault involving the use of a weapon (-10)

3. POSITIVE DRUG TEST IN THE PAST 60 MONTHS CONVICTION: None (0), One (-2), Two or more (-4)

4. POSITIVE ALCOHOL TEST IN THE PAST 60 MONTHS CONVICTION: None (0), Two or more (-2)

5. LENGTH OF TIME SERVED: 5 years (3), 10 years (4), 15 years (5), 20 years (8), 25 years (12), 30 years or more (14)

6. THE INMATE ADMITS TO THEIR ACTION IN THE CRIME FOR WHICH THEY ARE CONVICTED: No (0), Yes, (10)

7. THE INMATE COMPLETED THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF TIME TO QUALIFY FOR DISCRETIONARY PAROLE (Old law, Juvenile, Fishback, Three Strike) OR GERIATRIC PAROLE: 

Discretionary (10), Geriatric (5)

8. THE INMATE HAS OBTAINED THEIR G.E.D. OR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, OR IS ENROLLED IN A G.E.D. CLASS: No (0), Yes (10)

9. THE INMATE HAS COMPLETED A VOCATIONAL, TRADE OR JOURNEYMANSHIP, OR IS CURRENTLY ENROLLED: No  (0), YES (10)

10. THE INMATE IS CURRENTLY ENROLLED OR HAS COMPLETED A MENTAL HEALTH/THERAPEUTIC PROGRAM, PROGRAMS: None (0), Yes (10)

11. THE  INMATE PARTICIPATED IN ALL WORK PROGRAMMING OR HAS APPLIED FOR A JOB IN THE LAST 60 MONTHS: No (0), Yes (10)

12. THE INMATE ADHERED TO ANY THERAPY REQUIREMENTS IN THE PAST 60 MONTHS BY ENROLLING ON THE WAITING LIST: No (0), Yes (10)

13. A) THE INMATE COMPLETED THE VADOC COMPASS TEST, AND IF SCORED HIGH RISK FOR RECIDIVISM, AGREES TO ANKLE MONITORING AS A CONDITION FOR PAROLE: No (-5), Yes (5)

B) THE INMATE COMPLETED THE VADOC COMPASS TEST AND SCORED LOW FOR RECIDIVISM: Yes (10)

14.CURRENT AGE: Under 21 (0), 21-29 (1), 30-39 (2), 40-49 (3), 50 and older (4)

We urge members of the General Assembly to consider this or similar legislation that would help Virginia become a model state for best practices in criminal justice.

Guest Post: A Song For The Season

JD Martin, who grew up in the Valley, now lives
with his wife Jan near Aspen, Colorado. They
produce and perform music that has earned them
multiple awards.

 A Modern Prayer

Oh Canada I am your friend                           
I take a breath when I come in                                                          
No matter what some people say     
I’m with you today                                         
 
Those giant falls we share with you
On your side, rainbow hues
The water’s pure, cascading down
Now, just look around
 
Oh Canada                                         
 
Oh Mexico I am your friend                           
I take a breath when I come in                                                          
No matter what some people do      
I see a truth in you                                         
 
This little town, down by the sea
There’s always room for you and me
The ocean breeze, the friendly way
Como esta today
 
Oh Mexico
 
                        The loss of heart, the vicious storm   
                        Will fall away ………in the long run
           
Oh Mother Earth, I am your friend
The shining seas, majestic mountains
Please forgive the things we’ve done
Before it’s all gone
 
To every country near and far
I am part of who you are
We are held to hear the call
Oh Mother Earth, you hold us all
 
JD Martin & David Roth ©2025

Gill ‘n’ Goldie Music & Maythelight Music  (ASCAP)

Listen here: https://garrett-martin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/A-Modern-Prayer-JD-AJ.mp3

I'm Wearing Honduran and Vietnamese Today

Most of us rarely take note of where all of the clothes in our
closets are made, like this shirt I chose today. 

All the workers you’ve exploited and cheated cry out for judgment. The groans of the workers you used and abused are a roar in the ears of the Master Avenger. You’ve looted the earth and lived it up. But all you’ll have to show for it is a fatter than usual corpse. In fact, what you’ve done is condemn and murder perfectly good persons, who stand there and take it.

- James 5:4-6 the Message

In a talk at VMRC several months ago Sam Funkhouser, director of the Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center, made the point that few of us could afford the clothing, food and other exotic amenities we take for granted if we had to pay all the workers who provided them the wages to which we would feel entitled.

An antonym for the word exotic is native, which would mean depending on what is produced and marketed in our local communities. Meanwhile, bananas, produced at a distance of 1000 miles or more from us, are much cheaper than locally produced apples. 

We all benefit enormously from the cheap labor of garment, agricultural and other workers in countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh, China, India, Mexico, Peru, Pakistan, and Honduras, to name just a few of our world neighbors. Honduras, by the way, is the poorest country in our neighboring Central America, with a per capita GDP of just over $3200 as compared to over $83,000 in the U.S. The poorest country, South Sudan, is rated at under $900 per person.

Most of us fail to realize that we enjoy a more luxurious lifestyle than even the wealthiest of monarchs or  magnates prior to the 20th century. Think of life before electric power became widely available, before the availability of automobiles, and before the revolutionary advances in medical and dental science we now take for granted. 

On one of our visits to Pittsburgh we toured the Henry Clay Frick mansion and garden, the home to one of the wealthiest industrialists of his time. I especially remember its extensive stable and carriage complex, providing for the Frick family's transportation needs. In spite of its expanse and efficiency, I'm sure they would have gladly chosen to own a vehicle like our 2012 Toyota Corolla over the best of their prize horses, state of the art harnesses and elaborate carriages. It's hard to imagine the difference in the convenience and comfort provided by the engineering marvel of automobiles alone, something only about 18% of the world's people will ever own.

Rare earth minerals and metals from all over the world are used in automotive and other manufacturing, and especially for catalytic converters and batteries. Workers involved in extracting these minerals, including for our cell phones, computers and other devices, are typically exploited and work in horrific  conditions. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/supply-chain-research/from-mines-to-markets-exposing-labor-exploitation-in-critical-mineral-supply-chains

All of this contributes to the privileged lifestyle most of us take for granted as we travel, shop and enjoy life as the wealthiest people in the world. 

Here is a link to determine how rich we are in comparison to the rest of our world neighbors: https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/how-rich-am-i?income=45000&countryCode=USA&numAdults=2&numChildren=0

Two Terrifying Recent Texts From Gaza City

My friend J. Daryl Byler, a Washington, DC. based attorney who spent years in the Middle East, just received the following texts from a Palestinian friend. Wikipedia photo

4/21/2025

I am Amjad, a Palestinian from Gaza living in the shadow of a horrendous war, a war that has lasted 19 months. This war has already killed my father, brother and sister, and wounded my wife and our two sons. 

I have had to run with them from place to place to try to protect and feed them. We have had to flee 17 times during this war, from home to home, from school to school, from tent to tent. During the ceasefire, we returned to our home in Gaza City, where we have been living in the ruins of our destroyed home.  

On March 2nd, the Israelis began a total siege of Gaza, closing the border crossings to all humanitarian aid and commercial trade, blocking all food, water, fuel, electricity and other supplies from entering Gaza. Then on March 16, the Israelis ended the ceasefire with Hamas, resumed military attacks against all of Gaza. Each day our life has become more difficult. 

As for food, everything is very, very expensive. Flour is no longer available in the market and the black market is extremely expensive. Even vegetables are very expensive. If the border crossing is not opened In a few days, we will completely run out of food.  During the siege my children are becoming malnourished.  

My wife gave birth to a beautiful baby girl the day before the Israelis ended the ceasefire, and a few days ago, the Israelis bombed the last hospital in Gaza City.  Now my wife and my new daughter need medical and nutritional assistance that is no longer available, and I am powerless to help them.

My brother, the Israelis are bombing everywhere. There is no fighting with Hamas, but the Israelis are bombing everywhere, including the hospitals which have now all been destroyed. If anyone is injured, there are no medical equipment or supplies to deal with the wounds, so their arm or leg must be amputated to save their lives. 

We are all under constant threat and fear.  I worry that I will have a heart attack just from the anxiety.  My children are terrified and wet themselves when the bombing gets close. They are afraid to sleep at night. We all sleep together, and when the bombing is too close to one side of the house, I gather them all up and carry them to the other side of our destroyed house. 

Gaza is now unlivable.  If the world powers cannot break the siege of food and water, and stop the Israeli genocide in Gaza, then they have a responsibility to get the people of Gaza get out so that we can receive the medical and nutritional assistance that we need.  We have learned that the Red Cross and the World Health Organization have helped some Gazans leave for medical assistance.  

My wife and two sons are all suffering from shrapnel wounds from an Israeli tank shell that hit the school room in which we were sheltering in November 2023, and now, we are all now malnourished because of the 36 day siege.  Please stop this war and end the occupation, but if you cannot, at least help my family and all Gazan people to leave and find safety.

4/22/2025

Yesterday there was a huge explosion that shook the whole area.  The children were terrified, started screaming and ran to hid in my arms as the shrapnel fell on our house. The situation is terrifying. I can’t breathe. . .  I discovered that the World Health Organization will try to get my family out of Gaza. I hope to escape death in Gaza.

And now they are bombing again!!  Huge bombing.

A Mother Laments Poor Jail and Prison Food

June Wells writes the following rerport of food served in
the jails and prisons in which her daughter served a
three-year sentence.

This is the complete version of a column published in a condensed form in today's Daily-News-Record. It is the fourth of the Valley Justice Coalition's monthly Justice Matters columns, posted here with the actual names of the jails and prisons the author refers to.

Food is such an important part of everyone’s life, something that is certainly true of the millions in  our country who spend endless years in our jails and prisons. I became especially concerned about jail and prison food when my daughter was sentenced to time in our local jail and in each of Virginia’s three state prisons for women,

What I am writing here is simply based on what she shared with me during that time and in the years since she has been released. I don’t claim to be an authority on this subject, and I hope many of the problems I am describing have been remedied. But what I hear from many who have loved ones behind bars I know there are still a lot of food issues that need to be addressed. Examples are meals with too many carbs, too few vegetables and fruits, and inferior kinds of meat products.

I’m told food served at our local jail has improved over the past years, but when my daughter was there they were often served a soy product with little actual meat and with an unappetizing smell. A kool aid type drink, served from a large canister, seemed to give the inmates UTI’s. 

She also spent some time at the Middle River Regional Jail before being transferred to the Department of Corrections (DOC) for the remainder of her time. There they served a chicken based product she said smelled and looked horrible and sat on the plates in a pool of fat. The hot dogs they served frequently were of an unappetizing color, taste and texture. Dry beans, also served regularly, were seldom thoroughly cooked, and occasionally contained foreign objects. Starches were consistently overcooked, and vegetables improperly prepared. The one decent item on the menu was a boiled egg. 

At Fluvanna Correctional Center, the intake facility for women, she never felt they were given enough calories to feel satisfied. The meat they served, called “meatrock,” was laden with fat and so bad they couldn’t tell from day to day exactly what was being served. There were days when there was no breakfast or often only a small pancake, with security guards walking by the tables with small doses of syrup dispensed from a jug. 

My daughter’s best food experience was at Goochland Correctional Center, where she worked in the kitchen. There she had access to the food served to the correctional officers and administration, and where she had the rare opportunity to eat a cube of cheese or a piece of raw carrot or celery. Mashed potatoes were served with skins on, and with some kitchen staff washing them and cutting them in half without checking for bad spots. Peanut butter came in 20 lb. bags stored in cardboard boxes, and was called “moon sand” because it was dry, gritty and sticky. It was at Goochland where she saw boxes of chicken bulk labeled “not for human consumption—not fully processed.”  The smell was horrible, and after being cooked the broth was green or yellow in color. 

My daughter was moved to State Farm Correctional Center when she was accepted for work release. While waiting for her job assignment, she had to eat regular prison food again. Sometimes grasshoppers, worms and beetles were in the vegetables grown on the State Farm property, and the kitchen was known to be infested with roaches and mice. It was not uncommon to have weevils in the flour and cornmeal, and fish was served that smelled of bleach and chemicals. 

My daughter and the women with whom she was incarcerated constantly reported having digestive problems, and there were cases of heartburn, nausea, indigestion, constipation, gas and diarrhea on a regular basis, along with reports of high blood pressure, ulcers, and UTI’s. 

She also noted that the contract with DOC’s vendors, the Keefe Company, which supplies inmate commissary items, allows everyone to win except the inmate. The Keefe Company charges exorbitant prices for highly salted, oily or sugary items inmates buy to supplement meals they often see as “unfit for human consumption.”

I know this is just one person’s story, but I felt it needed to be told. And while I agree people should be held responsible for their offenses, feeding bad food should not be a part of the punishment.

June Wells

Rockingham, Virginia

Warning And Evangelizing The Nations

Some of the 195 national flags displayed at the UN headquarters.

Why the big noise, nations?

Why the mean plots, peoples?

Earth-leaders push for position,

Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks,

The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers:

“Let’s get free of God!

Cast loose from Messiah!”

Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing.

At first he’s amused at their presumption;

Then he gets good and angry.

Furiously, he shuts them up:

“Don’t you know there’s a King in Zion? A coronation banquet

Is spread for him on the holy summit.”

Psalm 2:1-6 (the Message)

To the Lord, all nations

are merely a drop in a bucket

    or dust on balance scales;

all of the islands

    are but a handful of sand...

God thinks of the nations

    as far less than nothing.

Isaiah 40:15, 16 (CEV)

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may declare the goodness of the One who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

I Peter 2:9 (MEV)

The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.

from Handel's Messiah, Part Three, Scene 7, "God's Ultimate Victory" 

The Bible contains a surprising number of references to nations. The Hebrew Bible is primarily about, and is addressed to, the nations of Israel and Judah, and has much to say to other kingdoms as well. And in Jesus's first recorded words in Matthew's gospel, he urges his hearers to become transformed citizens of the international and eternal reign of God. This supreme kingdom, one without borders, is to be a living demonstration of God's rule "on earth as it is in heaven." 

In his final words in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus commissions his followers to go to all nations and to baptize people of all kinds, including rich, poor, upper class, lower class, those in power and ordinary citizens alike, and to teach those recruited all of the "all things" Jesus taught. This would surely include his commands to love enemies, welcome strangers and foreigners, heal the sick, feed the hungry, and invest treasure in the "Company of Heaven" by generously sharing our wealth with the poor.

Our scriptures also make it clear there is only one Judge of every human on earth, of whatever rank, title or status. And that the fate of each person will be determined by one and the same standard, the reign of God as demonstrated, taught, and lived by the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  

Then in the end, when God calls all the nations together (note the use of that word in Matthew 25), all will be judged by how they have responded to the needs of the "least of these," Jesus's family of brothers and sisters all around the globe. There is no support whatsoever in the Bible for there being one judgment for rulers of the worlds' nations and another for ordinary citizens like ourselves. 

True, God has instituted governments as a means by which those who are not citizens of God's kingdom will govern themselves and maintain some level of stability and social order. But no one outside the reign of God on earth can expect a "Well done, good and faithful servant" for having done so. 

Thus we will be judged as either having loved God and served our neighbors as Jesus did, or condemned for primarily furthering our own interests. And on whether we pledged our allegiance to the Beast of empire or  to the King of kings and Lord of lords who reigns forever.

So our urgent invitation to all nations and all people is that of Jesus in Matthew 4:17, "Repent, (change your direction, mend your ways, make a radical about face) for the Kingdom of God (the reign of Heaven) is at hand."

And He shall reign forever and ever. And ever.

Hallelujah!

It's Palm Sunday. The Crowds Are Celebrating. The Man Riding On The Donkey is Weeping.

Entry of Christ into Jerusalem, Pietro Lorenzetti, Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi

Every year there is a reenactment of a story that appears in each of the four gospels, that of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The annual commemoration begins in the church of Bethphage, which has a mural inside of Jesus on a donkey parading into town. From there the procession travels to the Mount of Olives, then toward the Dome of the Rock in east Jerusalem and by the Golden Gate, now closed. After going by Gethsemane they enter the city through the Lion’s Gate (or Sheep Gate, next to the market selling sheep for sacrifice) and by the Pool of Bethsaida.  

As in John’s gospel the participants are waving palm branches like welcome flags, reminiscent of a scene less than two centuries before when the revolutionary Judas Maccabees entered the city in triumph, also with crowds waving palm branches welcoming him as their deliverer. This was followed by Judas cleansing the temple, something Jesus is also about to do, their pagan conquerers having defiled this holy place by sacrificing a pig on the altar.  

During their brief period of independence under the Maccabeans Jews had produced their own currency, with one of their coins engraved with a palm tree and the words “for the redemption of Zion.” Before that there had been the coronation of King Jehu, with people taking off their cloaks and laying them down for the new king to walk over as he was crowned to replace King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. And before that a young Solomon was welcomed into Jerusalem to take the throne of his father David, riding on a royal donkey as a sign of peace rather than riding into town on a war horse. 

Now Jesus is entering Jerusalem, having set his face toward Jerusalem during a time of his growing popularity as a teacher and miracle worker, and as the one who had just raised his friend Lazarus from the dead. It was clearly a most dangerous and volatile time for the Son of Man to visit the capital city, joining the throngs of other pilgrims coming to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. And Jesus wasn’t just met by people as he entered the city, but was surrounded by crowds of followers who were choosing to travel with him to the Passover celebration of deliverance from Egyptian oppression. 

Earlier that same day, Governor Pontius Pilate had led an impressive parade of troops into the city from his headquarters in Caesarea as a show of force and as a warning to any who might dare create any kind of disturbance.

Jesus planned ahead for a different show of kingly power, arranging for borrowing someone’s young donkey to ride into the city. A crowd of followers welcome him with hosannas, literally “hosiah na,” "Lord save us, please” a part of a song of victory familiar to them all, based on Psalm 118:25-26:

Lord, save us!
    

Lord, grant us success!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    

From the house of the Lord we bless you.

So why, in light of this enthusiastic welcome, is Jesus crying, according to Luke’s account, and why doesn’t Luke even mention the hosannas? Rather, he quotes the people as proclaiming “Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven.”

Luke explains it was because Jesus, then as now, is deploring the violence of empire as well as of those who opposed it, “If only you knew the things that would bring you shalom, ” he laments, and adds, “indeed the days will come when …you and your children will be crushed to the ground and they will not leave one stone on another among you, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”

Jesus, as Prince of Peace, has the words of the prophet Zechariah:9:9-10 in mind, who announced a reign of peace and the destruction of weapons of war:

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion 
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
    righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
    and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
    and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
    His rule will extend from sea to sea
    and from the River to the ends of the earth.

As Steve Thomason writes:

“The final thing I observe from Luke’s version of this story is that this is not a celebration for Jesus. The crowds don’t understand. Jesus weeps over the city because he knows that, very soon, their violent attitude toward Rome, and their need to bring in the kingdom of God through military revolution, would lead to their destruction. And that broke his heart.”

Another author, Jason Porterfield, in the book Fight Like Jesus, draws three fundamental lessons from the Palm Sunday story:

1. Christlike peacemakers move toward conflict rather than running away from it. “We must seek out those places where God’s shalom is painfully absent. Or to use imagery Jesus used elsewhere, we must become like salt rubbed into the moral decay of society. We must become like light shining in the darkness.”

2. Christlike peacemakers extend peace to all people, friend and foe, ally and enemy. :As Zechariah predicted, Jesus rode into Jerusalem intent on removing the weapons of war. He would take away the battle bow, chariot and warhorse. And in their stead, he modeled a new way of making peace.” 

3. Christlike peacemakers follow the way of the Lamb, and reject the way of the hammer. “Though they were enemies, Jesus’s admirers and Pilate’s army both believed in the power of the hammer to construct peace… Both embraced the world’s approach to peacemaking, and Jesus was confronting it head-on.”

Heartbreaking And Hopeful Words From Inside

HARDTIME VIRGINIA Spring 2025 Vol. 10 No. 1 

(an occasional newsletter by and for the incarcerated) 

Excerpts From The Editor’s Mailbox (edited for brevity and clarity)

“I have been suffering from Long Covid and recently from congestive heart failure due to being taken off the Lasix my pulmonary doctor had ordered. I was at the hospital for a week and was feeling good when I came back to the facility. Then the Lasix that the hospital sent with me was kept from me for two days and I filled back up with fluid. The Nurse Practitioner ordered that I be given 40 mg of Lasix, but when she saw me the next day and I was still filled with fluid, she sent me to another hospital. They gave me a Lasix injection but not my KOP Lasix.     

“Meanwhile my aging friend, who is blind, is lying in the infirmary here waiting to die, along with others. Very sad. And my aging mother really needs me to help take of her, so I’m praying for a long awaited parole release after decades in prison.”  - Charles Zellers, Sr., Deerfield C.C.

“Instead of wasting millions on hired labor for unnecessary, oppressive ‘security measures’ the VADOC should be using the willing skilled labor available to create a campus community with adult literacy programs, music and art programs, and critical thinking and leadership classes, all of which are proven to help break the cycle.  Adding 21st century based vocational training like IT and coding would likewise be wise to supplement the existing HVAC and electrician classes which are the only real blue collar job training options.” - David Annarelli, Lawrenceville C. C.

“What got me in prison initially was one count of armed robbery, one count of attempted armed robbery and two counts of use of a gun, for which I was given a sentence of 13 years. This was in 1980. What  Virginia is using to keep me in solitary confinement is that in my early years of imprisonment my response to the corruption and barbarity of the Virginia prison officers was to get physical with them, as in a 1996 incident when I and a couple of guys took a number of prison guards hostage and a couple of nurses as a statement against conditions at the prison, all of which has added a total of 80 years to my time.  Yes, criminal convictions are criminal convictions, but I can say I never physically harmed anyone. All of my convictions are as a black man against a savage and dehumanizing system.”       

- William Thorpe, now in solitary confinement in Texas

“On the day before my birthday two officers came to my pod and told me to pack up for a transfer. I was told that my DOC time was over and I was being sent to a jail. My mind was blown. Did the courts release me? Did some kind of good time bill cut my time? I quickly picked up the property I would need at the jail.  We had just received canteen items, but I figured my friends could celebrate my good fortune so I blessed them with it. That night I hardly slept. At around 9 am on my birthday the transportation officer picked me up. The jail was less than an hour away, but then I was told I was going to a different prison. “No, I am not,” I protested. My DOC time is over and I’m to go to a local jail.” “Not according to this,” the officer said, as she looked at the paper work. I was numb. I asked why they would do this to me and she said, “I have no idea.” About a month later my counselor sent an email admitting she had made a mistake. No apology, No accountability. No excuse. The problem of getting an ombudsman involved is that if you write stuff up using a grievance process you will likely face retaliation.”    

 - anonymous prisoner                                                                                                            

One Parole Release in January, None In February or March

In a recent visit to Lawrenceville Correctional Center Parole Board Chair Patricia West made it clear that she will never agree to grant parole in cases where individuals have committed serious violent crimes. Period. This in spite of its mission to do for “those whose release is compatible with public safety.” This also assumes that the Department of Corrections is incapable of “correcting” the individuals it incarcerates, and that the DOC is primarily a “Department of Punishment.”

Jonathan White and a friend at Lawrenceville are proposing legislation that would require the board to base their decisions on clearly defined criteria as outlined in a 14-point “Inmate Parole Criteria Score Sheet.” The following is from their introduction to the proposed legislation:

In Virginia parole has always been recognized as a societal good by all political parties for prisoners who have demonstrated rehabilitation and pro-social positive behavior. The parole system is a reflection of the penal system functioning as an institution of reform and transformation of individuals.

However the current board’s decision making has resulted in the lowest parole grant in the history of Virginia, not a mark of distinction. For the year 2024 the grant rate was a scant .5%, a mere 16 people… In total, approximately 3,200 of 24,000 women and men are parole eligible under existing law.

 The main reason for the abysmal parole rate, contrary to most people’s beliefs, is that the Board has no standard criteria for parole. Each member has their own voting concept. So for the five members there are five unknown criteria each prisoner has to overcome.

So how can the General Assembly fix the current parole voting system and ensure public safety? The answer is to release individuals who have demonstrated rehabilitation and have transformed their lives and that they will be successful returning citizens.

We need elected officials to radically change the Board’s decision-making process by passing a law that establishes a viable Static voting Criteria the Board must adhere to, one that establishes justice with fairness. The current board’s modus operandi was established in the 1940’s and is akin to boilerplate language, “Not Grant,” “Seriousness of the Crime,” etc. 

All crimes are serious but these continuous decisions undermine the idea of true criminal justice reform, rehabilitation and fairness.

The common sense attached amended C.O.V. 53.1-134.2 establishes a Compulsory Parole Criteria the Board must follow:

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

That the code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 53.1-134.2 as follows: 

53.1-134.2 Parole Board compulsory voting requirements: parole criteria.

(this is followed by a four-page text of the bill and a 14 item score sheet) 

Feel free to contact Jonathan White 1161021 at LCC, 1607 Planters Road, Lawrenceville, VA 23868 with your comments or questions. ********************************************************

Harvey Yoder, editor, Valley Justice Coalition, P.O. Box 434, Harrisonburg, VA 22803

Guest Post: How Do We Offer Hope Amid Fear?

These numbers were published in an era of misinformation in which we were told that the U.S. was being invaded by thousands of criminals and gang members crossing our borders. 

Focusing on our local immigrants, the following is the third of a monthly Justice Matters column published by the Valley Justice Coalition, this one by guest writer Chris Hoover, interim executive director at NewBridges Immigrant Resource Center in Harrisonburg.

On March 6, I was simultaneously noting the news of the SpaceX Starship rocket launch alongside the reality that our organization’s immigrant resource navigation program could not get bucket garden kits to families in our community due to fear of drawing unwanted attention to individuals and families. 

“We can send a rocket into space, but we can’t get buckets on people’s doorsteps in the United States right now,” I thought while doing the dishes that evening.

The level of fear within immigrant communities is devastating, and it’s putting the health, safety and basic needs of our immigrant neighbors at risk. People are basically in survival mode, just trying to stay safe and with their families, making sure their children will be taken care of in the event of sudden arrest, detention, and/or deportation.

As Interim Executive Director of NewBridges Immigrant Resource Center, I am learning a great deal as I work to strengthen the work of this Shenandoah Valley nonprofit. I am witnessing our program leaders diving in to navigate extremely complex situations amid rapidly changing laws, systems, and reactions.

One essential awareness I’m conveying to other concerned community members is that an incredible amount of nuance is needed as those of us who are not at risk seek to be supportive neighbors in our communities right now.

One important resource being offered is the Know Your Right (“KYR”) workshops and webinars. We also see certain rights listed on the bilingual “Red Cards.” One such right is to remain silent if questioned by an ICE agent. The information is essential, and the intention is good. However, we must also understand that one’s legal status, and even where one is physically present if an encounter with ICE occurs, may determine whether or not to exercise the right to remain silent. At a minimum, this right must be verbally articulated, if articulated at all.

NewBridges Immigration Attorney Steve Smith knows these nuances well and said, for example, “A 60-year-old El Salvadoran, with little or no education, who experienced that country’s civil war, and forces of an oppressive government, may not readily be able to remain silent. They would understand that when someone pounds on the door, you must answer.”

Practicing immigration law means that each client consultation must include its own individually tailored Know Your Rights review and that caution and nuance must be exercised when presenting a KYR workshop, which may include individuals whose immigration history and legal status may differ.

Currently, for many, pursuing any process involves putting sensitive information into a system that feels dangerous. Silence has long been considered golden when it comes to not putting yourself in legal jeopardy, but it can also be problematic. If anything, people should be encouraged to say that they would like to speak with an attorney first, especially upon being asked to sign anything. Finding trustworthy attorneys is also a challenge, as many predatory actors exist.

These systems also have global implications. Church World Service (CWS) Director Susannah Lepley has stated her concerns that we are seeing the end of refugee resettlement in the U.S. She has shared that, given that federal aid was frozen and the resettlement system was dismantled in about a month’s time, it’s unreasonable to think that it could be reconstructed quickly or easily. And the years of process that would be required would mean that the people who are most familiar with the work will likely have been lost to other jobs.

One thing we need to hold alongside the intense fear within the immigrant community is our ability to respond in ways that are most helpful and are practiced with great care. I am encouraged by the response of our local community, organizing to show up in prudent ways that address the needs of this moment, which are rapidly changing

SpaceX Starship exploded during its eighth and most recent launch. Interestingly, Elon Musk had this to say in response to the failure: “As always, success comes from what we learn…”

I ask us to seriously reflect on what we have learned from our history, both the successes and the failures. What are we learning at this moment in time? How are we using that knowledge to empower citizens to help make our community a place that offers hope amid so much fear?

An Alternative To Two Heresies, Christian Individualism And Christian Nationalism

Christians have largely embraced the
 individualism of American culture.

In keeping with the ego-centered mindset and world view of the times, many Christians see the Bible as primarily an inspired book of wisdom and inspiration addressing our personal stresses and problems. 

Many of our favorite hymns reflect this kind of "God and I" theology, such as in the chorus of the well known "I Come to the Garden Alone":

... he walks with me and he talks with me

and he tells me I am his own,

and the joy we share as we tarry there

none other has ever known.

Or this one, "My God and I":

My God and I go through the fields together,

We walk and talk as good friends should and do,

We clasp our hands, our voices ring with laughter

My God and I go though the meadow's hue.

Then there is this men's quartet favorite, "On the Jericho Road":

On the Jericho Road, there is room for just two,

No more and no less, just Jesus and you.

Each burden he'll bear, each sorrow he'll share,

There's never a care when Jesus is there.

And we likewise tend to do our Bible reading that way, in spite of it being primarily addressed to whole nations and groups of people rather than to individuals. The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) represents the mission, vision and values of the nation of Israel, a people through whom God aims to bless all nations of the earth. The New Testament represents instructions to whole congregations of believers, who in turn are a part of a worldwide community of Jesus followers. 

But we are inclined to read a text like "Be still and know that I am God" as an invitation to experience our own inner peace, when in its Psalm 46 context it is clearly a call for God's people to end their reliance on war making and to trust God for their defense and security.  

Likewise the oft quoted Jeremiah 29 passage with the words, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you..." is one we take as a personal promise rather than God's assurance that the people who have been exiled in Babylon will be able to return to their homeland.

Even the prophet Isaiah's familiar invitation, "Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow," though certainly applicable to individuals in need of repentance, is addressed to a "sinful nation" that is urged to "seek justice," "defend the oppressed," "take up the cause of the fatherless," and "plead the case of the widow."

Most would agree that we're all created with strong needs to identify with, and belong to, larger communities of people--families, neighborhoods, congregations, and nations. Often Christians, like others, have bought into forms of patriotism and nationalism as a way of meeting that need.

But "Christian nationalism," like "Christian individualism," represents a vision far too small. The alternative to each of these half truths or heresies is for followers of Jesus to identify as "Christian internationalists," becoming a part of what the apostle Peter refers to as a "chosen people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation," one ruled by God, encompasses the globe and knows no boundaries.

This would mean needing to declare every human of whatever race, color or creed as being our neighbor, and as deserving as many privileges as we claim for ourselves. No one would claim the right to greater share of the world's goods than any other man, woman or child on earth.

This would represent a revolutionary paradigm shift and call for a radical lifestyle change for most of us. 

But what are the alternatives? To consider those who don't look like us, don't believe like us and/or who live at a distance from us as not being a part of God's one worldwide neighborhood? And to continue to see ourselves as a part of privileged class of people who deserve more of everything than our fellow humans around the globe?

I'd love to know what you think, but I'm drawn to seeing congregations as being "Experimental Prototype Communities of Tomorrow" (EPCOT), as local embassies of the worldwide reign of God's shalom, where "nothing is marred and nothing is missing."

False Speech Or Fake News? It's Your Call

Of the past 23 blog pieces I have posted none that has had anything to do with the current administration with the exception of one right after the November election. Today I feel compelled to comment on some of the many false and misleading statements we hear from politicians these days, including those found in our president's recent speech to the joint session of Congress. 

The following is a sample of such statements cited by fact-checker Glen Kessler and published in the March 9 issue of the Washington Post, now owned by a holding company of billionaire Jeff Bezos, the founder and executive chairman of Amazon and someone with increasingly close ties to Trump. 

Whatever opinions one may have about whether Bezo's newspaper is an objective news source, the Post has won the Pulitzer Prize 76 times for its work, the second highest of any newspaper in US history.

Here are a few excerpts from the speech, with my own brief summaries of Kessler's responses:

We won the popular vote by big numbers and won counties in our country 2,700 to 525.

Fact: Harris lost by a mere 1.5%, the fourth smallest margin of loss since 1960. The counties cited are ones with small populations versus densely populated ones.

Illegal border crossings last month were by far the lowest ever recorded.

Fact: There have been many years in the past in which the numbers have been well below half of the 8,300 crossings in February.

Hundreds of thousands of illegal crossings a month, and virtually all of them, including murderers, drug dealers, gang members and people from mental institutions and insane asylums, were released into our country.

Fact: There is no evidence whatsoever of any countries intentionally releasing such people, with the possible exception of Cuba in 1960.

I withdrew from the unfair climate accord, which was costing us trillions of dollars.

Fact: The agreement was non-binding, and studies on costs have not factored in any benefits from reducing climate change.

We ended the last administration's insane electric vehicle mandate, saving our auto workers and companies from economic destruction.

Fact: While there have been incentives offered for purchasing electric vehicles, there have been no mandates, and the United Auto Workers Union has stated, "We reject the fear mongering that says that tackling the climate crisis must come at the cost of union jobs."

These are but the first five of 26 examples of false or misleading statements cited in the article, suggesting that when in doubt, any speech or article should be checked for accuracy.

It behooves all of us to observe the commandment against bearing false witness against anyone or for any reason. No community or nation can thrive without trust, and there can be no trust without truth.

I welcome any correction or response to any of the above.

P.S. As to the claims of widespread fraud in the Social Security system, the rate is less than 1% in this gigantic agency, and funeral directors risk huge consequences for failing to fax an SSA-721 form certifying every individual death. Yet the majority of lawmakers in the chamber gave repeated standing ovations in response to such outright falsehoods.

Sobering.