Category: Having My Say

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Blessed Are The Peacemakers….

RJ Walters

  Of course the title of this post came from the Sermon on the Mount found in the Christian Bible. Many, if not most Christians, believe that these teaching called the Beatitudes are fundamental to their faith. They are one of the primary lessons that Jesus left us on how he wants us to act. Here are all eight: Blessed are.. ….the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. ….those who mourn: for they will be comforted. ….the meek: for they will inherit the earth. ….those who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they will be filled. ….the merciful: for they … Continue reading Blessed Are The Peacemakers….

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The Decrees of Constantine…

RJ Walters

I am pulling up another past post form Red Letter Living that I wrote almost three years ago. At that time in my spiritual journey I was trying to decide where church doctrine and its creeds belonged in my faith. Needless to say this book by Harvey Cox did a lot to show me a different path on this topic and many others. When I came to realize just how much man had a hand in formalizing current Christian doctrine it convinced me that Christianity is an ever evolving process and is not to be paralyzed by some of the now outdated … Continue reading The Decrees of Constantine…

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Republicans & President Theodore Roosevelt

RJ Walters

The Republican leaders really didn’t want Roosevelt as President. As a young Bull Moose Republican in politics, TR had angered top GOP honchos by refusing to appoint Republicans to bureaucratic positions. Party bosses Mark Hanna and Thomas Platt were able to “kick Roosevelt upstairs” as the vice presidential nominee in 1900 for the incumbent President, William McKinley. Roosevelt agreed because he was thinking of running for President in 1904. No one thought that Roosevelt would take over for McKinley later in 1901. SOURCE: 10 little-known facts about President Theodore Roosevelt – Yahoo News. I must admit up front that Teddy Roosevelt … Continue reading Republicans & President Theodore Roosevelt

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I Love America, But…

RJ Walters

I love America and I can’t imagine living anywhere else in the world. But I’m sure there are those out there that have a very different opinion  of me. Some who accidentally come across my blog here have flatly told me so.  They think I must not love my country because I say critical things about it. Sadly I’m pretty sure that is the mentality that prompted Rudy Giuliani to recently say our president doesn’t love America or anyone in it. I do not believe that the president loves America,” the former New York City mayor said Wednesday. “He doesn’t love you. … Continue reading I Love America, But…

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The GOP Healthcare Plan??

RJ Walters

Republican Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina and Orrin Hatch of Utah along with GOP Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan have put together a replacement for ObamaCare. And while neither their supporters nor detractors are likely to admit it, the plan bears a striking resemblance to, well, ObamaCare. Health-care markets present a particular set of problems, with a limited range of possible solutions. So all realistic proposals for reform are going to have some basic structural similarities. The differences arise in what policymakers prioritize within those bounds. That’s what really divides the left from the right on this issue. And … Continue reading The GOP Healthcare Plan??

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Despite the Loud Minority…

RJ Walters

Despite a loud minority, most of the U.S. has moved on. Last year, seven states accounted for 80 percent of all executions. And it is even more evident when you look at counties. More than half of death penalty convictions originate in 2 percent of the counties in the U.S. More and more Christians are troubled that 85 percent of executions take place in the Bible Belt. A 2014 poll showed that millennial Christians are overwhelmingly against the death penalty, and only 5 percent of Americans think Jesus would favor it….. It feels like we have death-fatigue. Perhaps it is no surprise that … Continue reading Despite the Loud Minority…