Philosphers talk about "gnostic dualism". Sprit is good -- matter or flesh is evil. But there is another side to gnosticism, that being "special knowledge". Basically, salvation can only be achieved by acquiring "special knowledge" - "gnosis". I have used the term "charisgnostic" on occasion to describe all the jargon and fads dealing with apostles, prophets, spiritual gatekeepers, Jabez, Jezebel, Leviathan, and breaker annointings. But every denomination has its own special knowledge. I was inspired when I read Spencer Burke's article about pastoring a "church" without having a church. How encouraging to see his courage!
All denominations tend towards the "gnostic". Methodists are superior to Baptists which are superior to Catholics who are superior to charismatics who better than fundamentalists who are better than Nazarenes who are a whole lot better than Pentecostals who are certainly above the Anglicans who are clearly above the non-denominationals. All 30,000+ denominations ask you to believe their beliefs. Natives know who Creator is and most do not like to be pulled into Gnosticism -- but what choice do we as natives have? Few denominations have the courage to preach the Good News of Jesus without their gnostic distinctives added on. I have rarely seen it tried. just some rambling thoughts... ray+
PS And thanks Spencer, for acting like an Indian! War whoops for you!
Thursday, September 25, 2003
Thursday, September 18, 2003
Building the Kingdom, or a Kingdom of Buildings?
Recently Richard, a Wendat native, penned these thoughts directed to those in the missions industry:
You denomination planting missionaries who come holding blueprints and church building schemes..such big plans you have for us!!!!
go back to your own local communities and look carefully and see if your own people are better people overall...less selfish, less given to greed and power by the same plans you have for us...if they aren't changing anything ,then stay and work with your own people first till they honor our sacred mother,and stop raping and pillaging her like she is some prostitute created for mens pleasure.
This earth herself in her torn beauty is weeping....can't you hear her???? Are people so hardened by human-chaos they are deaf???? SHE herself should be seen as SACRED just by the fact that THE GIFT was planted, born, died and was reborn from her womb! This earth MOTHER is now a Sacred Monument and should be treated as such.
Richard, your works echo the thoughts of Red Jacket, when the missionaries asked permission to preach to his people. It seems that the Western church measures and defines Christianity by a narrow set of definitions.
You have a "successful church" if:
--you have a building, the newer the better
--a certain quantity of people attend -- more people + more success
--people are "tithers" even though only 17% of church members tithe
--the pastors makes a full-time salary with good benefits
Although everyone knows about these standards, few dare ask such questions as
--Is the community any better off because this church is now here?
--Have any lives changed?
--Has repentance occurred?
--Have amends been made?
--Did the liquor store go out of business?
--Are the widows cared for?
--Do the orphans have homes?
--Are the ones in jail and prison visited?
--Are the sick visited and prayed for?
--Are the poor fed?
I remember all the grief that my Cherokee friend Randy Woodley got for proposing a modest 8-sided pole church building for natives. Randy has built this building 3 times. It costs $5000 to build and holds 130 people. It has no utilities but then again has no payments either and little maintenance. But the church people, and even natives, make fun of this because "real churches" have electricity, full kitchens, fiberoptics for the internet broadband connections, and if they are really successful, a video and audio recording studio. Well Randy's church building provides shelter from the rain, ventilation in the heat, a fire pit in the center for a sacred fire, a dry floor and places for everyone to sit. And the view is 360 when the weather is good, but when it is cold, it can be nice and cozy, a shelter from the cold and wind. But it is not a real church because it only costs $5000 and doesn't have a mortgage. Without monthly payments, it creates too many difficult decisions -- what do we do with all the extra money?
Thanks for listening. As you build the native church of Jesus, how do you measure success?
ray+
# posted by Ray @ 9:18 PM
Building the Kingdom, or a Kingdom of Buildings?
Recently Richard, a Wendat native, penned these thoughts directed to those in the missions industry:
You denomination planting missionaries who come holding blueprints and church building schemes..such big plans you have for us!!!!
go back to your own local communities and look carefully and see if your own people are better people overall...less selfish, less given to greed and power by the same plans you have for us...if they aren't changing anything ,then stay and work with your own people first till they honor our sacred mother,and stop raping and pillaging her like she is some prostitute created for mens pleasure.
This earth herself in her torn beauty is weeping....can't you hear her???? Are people so hardened by human-chaos they are deaf???? SHE herself should be seen as SACRED just by the fact that THE GIFT was planted, born, died and was reborn from her womb! This earth MOTHER is now a Sacred Monument and should be treated as such.
Richard, your works echo the thoughts of Red Jacket, when the missionaries asked permission to preach to his people. It seems that the Western church measures and defines Christianity by a narrow set of definitions.
You have a "successful church" if:
--you have a building, the newer the better
--a certain quantity of people attend -- more people + more success
--people are "tithers" even though only 17% of church members tithe
--the pastors makes a full-time salary with good benefits
Although everyone knows about these standards, few dare ask such questions as
--Is the community any better off because this church is now here?
--Have any lives changed?
--Has repentance occurred?
--Have amends been made?
--Did the liquor store go out of business?
--Are the widows cared for?
--Do the orphans have homes?
--Are the ones in jail and prison visited?
--Are the sick visited and prayed for?
--Are the poor fed?
I remember all the grief that my Cherokee friend Randy Woodley got for proposing a modest 8-sided pole church building for natives. Randy has built this building 3 times. It costs $5000 to build and holds 130 people. It has no utilities but then again has no payments either and little maintenance. But the church people, and even natives, make fun of this because "real churches" have electricity, full kitchens, fiberoptics for the internet broadband connections, and if they are really successful, a video and audio recording studio. Well Randy's church building provides shelter from the rain, ventilation in the heat, a fire pit in the center for a sacred fire, a dry floor and places for everyone to sit. And the view is 360 when the weather is good, but when it is cold, it can be nice and cozy, a shelter from the cold and wind. But it is not a real church because it only costs $5000 and doesn't have a mortgage. Without monthly payments, it creates too many difficult decisions -- what do we do with all the extra money?
Thanks for listening. As you build the native church of Jesus, how do you measure success?
ray+
You denomination planting missionaries who come holding blueprints and church building schemes..such big plans you have for us!!!!
go back to your own local communities and look carefully and see if your own people are better people overall...less selfish, less given to greed and power by the same plans you have for us...if they aren't changing anything ,then stay and work with your own people first till they honor our sacred mother,and stop raping and pillaging her like she is some prostitute created for mens pleasure.
This earth herself in her torn beauty is weeping....can't you hear her???? Are people so hardened by human-chaos they are deaf???? SHE herself should be seen as SACRED just by the fact that THE GIFT was planted, born, died and was reborn from her womb! This earth MOTHER is now a Sacred Monument and should be treated as such.
Richard, your works echo the thoughts of Red Jacket, when the missionaries asked permission to preach to his people. It seems that the Western church measures and defines Christianity by a narrow set of definitions.
You have a "successful church" if:
--you have a building, the newer the better
--a certain quantity of people attend -- more people + more success
--people are "tithers" even though only 17% of church members tithe
--the pastors makes a full-time salary with good benefits
Although everyone knows about these standards, few dare ask such questions as
--Is the community any better off because this church is now here?
--Have any lives changed?
--Has repentance occurred?
--Have amends been made?
--Did the liquor store go out of business?
--Are the widows cared for?
--Do the orphans have homes?
--Are the ones in jail and prison visited?
--Are the sick visited and prayed for?
--Are the poor fed?
I remember all the grief that my Cherokee friend Randy Woodley got for proposing a modest 8-sided pole church building for natives. Randy has built this building 3 times. It costs $5000 to build and holds 130 people. It has no utilities but then again has no payments either and little maintenance. But the church people, and even natives, make fun of this because "real churches" have electricity, full kitchens, fiberoptics for the internet broadband connections, and if they are really successful, a video and audio recording studio. Well Randy's church building provides shelter from the rain, ventilation in the heat, a fire pit in the center for a sacred fire, a dry floor and places for everyone to sit. And the view is 360 when the weather is good, but when it is cold, it can be nice and cozy, a shelter from the cold and wind. But it is not a real church because it only costs $5000 and doesn't have a mortgage. Without monthly payments, it creates too many difficult decisions -- what do we do with all the extra money?
Thanks for listening. As you build the native church of Jesus, how do you measure success?
ray+
# posted by Ray @ 9:18 PM
Building the Kingdom, or a Kingdom of Buildings?
Recently Richard, a Wendat native, penned these thoughts directed to those in the missions industry:
You denomination planting missionaries who come holding blueprints and church building schemes..such big plans you have for us!!!!
go back to your own local communities and look carefully and see if your own people are better people overall...less selfish, less given to greed and power by the same plans you have for us...if they aren't changing anything ,then stay and work with your own people first till they honor our sacred mother,and stop raping and pillaging her like she is some prostitute created for mens pleasure.
This earth herself in her torn beauty is weeping....can't you hear her???? Are people so hardened by human-chaos they are deaf???? SHE herself should be seen as SACRED just by the fact that THE GIFT was planted, born, died and was reborn from her womb! This earth MOTHER is now a Sacred Monument and should be treated as such.
Richard, your works echo the thoughts of Red Jacket, when the missionaries asked permission to preach to his people. It seems that the Western church measures and defines Christianity by a narrow set of definitions.
You have a "successful church" if:
--you have a building, the newer the better
--a certain quantity of people attend -- more people + more success
--people are "tithers" even though only 17% of church members tithe
--the pastors makes a full-time salary with good benefits
Although everyone knows about these standards, few dare ask such questions as
--Is the community any better off because this church is now here?
--Have any lives changed?
--Has repentance occurred?
--Have amends been made?
--Did the liquor store go out of business?
--Are the widows cared for?
--Do the orphans have homes?
--Are the ones in jail and prison visited?
--Are the sick visited and prayed for?
--Are the poor fed?
I remember all the grief that my Cherokee friend Randy Woodley got for proposing a modest 8-sided pole church building for natives. Randy has built this building 3 times. It costs $5000 to build and holds 130 people. It has no utilities but then again has no payments either and little maintenance. But the church people, and even natives, make fun of this because "real churches" have electricity, full kitchens, fiberoptics for the internet broadband connections, and if they are really successful, a video and audio recording studio. Well Randy's church building provides shelter from the rain, ventilation in the heat, a fire pit in the center for a sacred fire, a dry floor and places for everyone to sit. And the view is 360 when the weather is good, but when it is cold, it can be nice and cozy, a shelter from the cold and wind. But it is not a real church because it only costs $5000 and doesn't have a mortgage. Without monthly payments, it creates too many difficult decisions -- what do we do with all the extra money?
Thanks for listening. As you build the native church of Jesus, how do you measure success?
ray+
Thursday, September 11, 2003
Are You Sweating or Just Glowing?
Dear Ray, I was looking for spiritual info in regard to the sweat lodge as a Christ centered event. It's my understanding that this is predicated on the specific tribe that is putting the event together. We hope for an understanding what a "sweat" actually is. How hot or humid does it get? We have no idea, and since there have been some recently published deaths involving a sweat, any info here would be appreciated, especially since we have insurance concerns at our Christian campground.
...........................................................................................................
Dear Brother Larry,
As with any "sauna", tempurature and moisture levels vary, but you might want to check with a health club in your area for the average they use. Sweats are similar in temperature but sometimes less, for there is often a lot of talking and discussion that goes on too.
Participation is always voluntary so people can leave if there is any personal discomfort. Water and fruit is always provided for participants, as well as place to cool off in water, usually a stream, river or shower.
It is the leader that determines how a sweat is led, so there are many Christ-centered sweats, and there are others that are more social that believers participate in, and yet others that don't usually invite Christians (because they don't "get along"). If it is at your camp, I can only assume that it would be Christ-centered, much as your pulpits are filled.
There are many different ways of leading sweats. I have never heard of a non-native leading a sweat, except for new-agers who charge money. It is best that you contact the natives in your area, and let them know of your desire to have sweats, and ask if they would help you and teach you. Be prepared to take a gift when you ask for such a favor. If you don't follow this protocol, they will take is as a sign of disrespect and ignorance, and you will probably not get the help you are looking for.
The volcanic rocks used are light and hold heat well. They are called "grandfathers" and are put into the sweat lodge in rounds. In the Cherokee sweat, the "osi", for example, there are 7 rounds of seven "grandfathers". For the Lakota, there are 4 rounds of seven, totalling 28, the number of ribs of the buffalo. So sweats do vary. Some are more prayer and song oriented, others are more social. They are rarely mixed between men and women. Usually there are 2 lodges, one for men and one for women, but sometimes they are shared, but at different times due to both modesty issues and the nature of discussions.
...........................................................................................................
Dear Brother Larry,
As with any "sauna", tempurature and moisture levels vary, but you might want to check with a health club in your area for the average they use. Sweats are similar in temperature but sometimes less, for there is often a lot of talking and discussion that goes on too.
Participation is always voluntary so people can leave if there is any personal discomfort. Water and fruit is always provided for participants, as well as place to cool off in water, usually a stream, river or shower.
It is the leader that determines how a sweat is led, so there are many Christ-centered sweats, and there are others that are more social that believers participate in, and yet others that don't usually invite Christians (because they don't "get along"). If it is at your camp, I can only assume that it would be Christ-centered, much as your pulpits are filled.
There are many different ways of leading sweats. I have never heard of a non-native leading a sweat, except for new-agers who charge money. It is best that you contact the natives in your area, and let them know of your desire to have sweats, and ask if they would help you and teach you. Be prepared to take a gift when you ask for such a favor. If you don't follow this protocol, they will take is as a sign of disrespect and ignorance, and you will probably not get the help you are looking for.
The volcanic rocks used are light and hold heat well. They are called "grandfathers" and are put into the sweat lodge in rounds. In the Cherokee sweat, the "osi", for example, there are 7 rounds of seven "grandfathers". For the Lakota, there are 4 rounds of seven, totalling 28, the number of ribs of the buffalo. So sweats do vary. Some are more prayer and song oriented, others are more social. They are rarely mixed between men and women. Usually there are 2 lodges, one for men and one for women, but sometimes they are shared, but at different times due to both modesty issues and the nature of discussions.
Monday, September 08, 2003
Intuition Is Just Not Good Enough
The death on the cross in not intuitive to people who did not punish criminals by crucifixion. Original sin does not make sense, and is not even a biblical phrase.
I am trinitarian yet trinity does not appear in the Bible, so endless trinitarian metaphors to "explain God" are not all that useful.
But this is quite a shock to people untrained in missiological principles, as taught in hundreds of seminaries and Bible colleges. And it still shocks seminary graduates...
This stuff is not that intuitive! Missionaries just assume it is.
Cross-cultural ministry is a ministry of suffering, of laying down our own lives of comfort and being willing to shed our "identity" in order to become part of another community. The theological word for this is to be "incarnational". And Jesus was a pretty good model for it I think...
I am trinitarian yet trinity does not appear in the Bible, so endless trinitarian metaphors to "explain God" are not all that useful.
But this is quite a shock to people untrained in missiological principles, as taught in hundreds of seminaries and Bible colleges. And it still shocks seminary graduates...
This stuff is not that intuitive! Missionaries just assume it is.
Cross-cultural ministry is a ministry of suffering, of laying down our own lives of comfort and being willing to shed our "identity" in order to become part of another community. The theological word for this is to be "incarnational". And Jesus was a pretty good model for it I think...
Sunday, September 07, 2003
Future Church: The Beauty Way, Kivas, Yuwipis, Sundance and Ghost Dance...
Kyle, one of my native friends, is appealing for unity in native ministry. He wants us to cut some slack to those with a different emphasis than we might have, realizing that there are apostolic churches, prophetic, evangelistic, and pastor-teacher centered gatherings. He wants us all to realize that Christ is our common Ground, and I support his call for unity.
But there are even more "flavors" of native church than just the five-fold ministry styles Kyle mentions.
WE HAVE:
---intertribal urban powwow centered fellowships
---Cherokee clan style fellowships
---Indian Shakers that add a unique flavor to Northwest churches,
---sweat gatherings that honor Jesus with faithful leaders that no one calls prophet or pastors
---medicine people who love Jesus and serve in quiet ways without broadcasting meeting times or tent revivals
--- talking circles whose members follow Christ but have no denomination.
In Indian country, we are really stretching the definition of what it means to be church -- the "called ones". I believe in one Church, the church of Jesus Christ. There are many members of the Body, and although they shouldn't, often some body parts riducule the others.
Kyle uses the term "common ground" - and that is Jesus Christ. I say "one church" and that is Jesus' church. So whether you are denominational, non-denominational, post-denominational or just plain injuns following Jesus, it's still just one church.
But we aren't done yet. We are still waiting for Beauty Way churches, Jesus kivas, Yeshua yuwipis, and the dreamers and prophets who tell of the Jesus way. Wovoka of the Ghost Dance was a Christian, and Black Elk of the Sundance loved Jesus. Let's look forward to Jesus and his Good News coming through loud and clear in ALL our cultures. Please let's not "bore" people into the kingdom by telling them that they have to first adopt another culture, because after all, "God does have his favorites...".
thanks for listening...ray+
But there are even more "flavors" of native church than just the five-fold ministry styles Kyle mentions.
WE HAVE:
---intertribal urban powwow centered fellowships
---Cherokee clan style fellowships
---Indian Shakers that add a unique flavor to Northwest churches,
---sweat gatherings that honor Jesus with faithful leaders that no one calls prophet or pastors
---medicine people who love Jesus and serve in quiet ways without broadcasting meeting times or tent revivals
--- talking circles whose members follow Christ but have no denomination.
In Indian country, we are really stretching the definition of what it means to be church -- the "called ones". I believe in one Church, the church of Jesus Christ. There are many members of the Body, and although they shouldn't, often some body parts riducule the others.
Kyle uses the term "common ground" - and that is Jesus Christ. I say "one church" and that is Jesus' church. So whether you are denominational, non-denominational, post-denominational or just plain injuns following Jesus, it's still just one church.
But we aren't done yet. We are still waiting for Beauty Way churches, Jesus kivas, Yeshua yuwipis, and the dreamers and prophets who tell of the Jesus way. Wovoka of the Ghost Dance was a Christian, and Black Elk of the Sundance loved Jesus. Let's look forward to Jesus and his Good News coming through loud and clear in ALL our cultures. Please let's not "bore" people into the kingdom by telling them that they have to first adopt another culture, because after all, "God does have his favorites...".
thanks for listening...ray+
Thursday, September 04, 2003
If You Love Me, Feed My Hamsters
A friend sent me this cute story about the importance of sermons. My response is added at the end.
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
A church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them! So, I think I m wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."
Signed: Missing the message.
This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: "I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals for me. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today. When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment! "
RAY SAYS:
At this point, I like to challenge pastors and church leaders -- is there any other hunger out there besides "sermon-hunger"? Is there anything else we as shepards need to be feeding the sheep? As natives, most all our gatherings include food, so rarely to people ever leave hungry. So many pastors believe that the sermon is the weekly food pellet needed by the starving hamsters. But when do they dance? When do they sweat and pray? When do they take their prayers to the drum? When do they hear the council of elders speak? When will someone ask -- "nee pa stau mas?" (what is in your heart today?)...thanks for listening...
CHURCH ATTENDANCE
A church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them! So, I think I m wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."
Signed: Missing the message.
This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: "I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals for me. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today. When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment! "
RAY SAYS:
At this point, I like to challenge pastors and church leaders -- is there any other hunger out there besides "sermon-hunger"? Is there anything else we as shepards need to be feeding the sheep? As natives, most all our gatherings include food, so rarely to people ever leave hungry. So many pastors believe that the sermon is the weekly food pellet needed by the starving hamsters. But when do they dance? When do they sweat and pray? When do they take their prayers to the drum? When do they hear the council of elders speak? When will someone ask -- "nee pa stau mas?" (what is in your heart today?)...thanks for listening...
I Am Bound for the Compromised Land....
Cindy wrote to me with a question from her Bible Study. "In the Bible God told the Israelites to go possess the promised land. The host people there would of been the Canaanites, and all the other "ites". So the question was how is that any different than the Europeans's coming here and saying they want our land for themselves in the name of God? The only thing I can think of is because they were not using the land God gave them for good. Can anyone else help me understand and is it OK to share it with my sister at the prayer meeting?
Cindy
NOTE FROM RAY: Lucky for us natives that there is no scriptural record of the Europeans being told to go to the promised land of North America. We are not the "Promised Land" -- we are the "Compromised Land". This attitude comes from what is called "The Doctrine of Christian Discovery". I doubt that most Bible Study people would want to ready dusty old documents, but let me risk posting the link here:
The “Doctrine of Christian Discovery” - http://www.healingtheland.com/resources/discovery/index.html
This section is devoted to the documents that began, promoted, and perpetuated the so-called “Doctrine of Christian Discovery” that were used by the Europeans to “discover” and “take possession of” the New World. This pattern of “discovery” has been one of the primary factors in perpetuating the genocide of the First Nations people, not only in North America, but in the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Many of these documents have never been revoked and could continue to hold spiritual precedent in the land and over the people.
Cindy
NOTE FROM RAY: Lucky for us natives that there is no scriptural record of the Europeans being told to go to the promised land of North America. We are not the "Promised Land" -- we are the "Compromised Land". This attitude comes from what is called "The Doctrine of Christian Discovery". I doubt that most Bible Study people would want to ready dusty old documents, but let me risk posting the link here:
The “Doctrine of Christian Discovery” - http://www.healingtheland.com/resources/discovery/index.html
This section is devoted to the documents that began, promoted, and perpetuated the so-called “Doctrine of Christian Discovery” that were used by the Europeans to “discover” and “take possession of” the New World. This pattern of “discovery” has been one of the primary factors in perpetuating the genocide of the First Nations people, not only in North America, but in the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Many of these documents have never been revoked and could continue to hold spiritual precedent in the land and over the people.
Monday, September 01, 2003
Sacred Rape, a Noble Whore
The Curse (for the 50 State Tour & Solemn Assemblies)
© 2003 Randy Woodley
wasn't it 1492 when Columbus sailed the azure ocean?
salty water lapping shores separating neighbors
come into our house—there is no honor in dispelling a neighbor
but unruly neighbors are a curse and bad religion is a plague
came the call from every corner with mangled crosses and dubious preachers
came, you came to our land…our lives…our homes
"virgin land," mother earth milk & honey flowing from her breast
—you saw fences
"virgin trees," Sequoia mammoths decorating a vast green park
—you saw timber
"virgin tribes," going…gone—left from a greater civilization
—but you did not see me
land…trees…"ours" you say—and the tribes just a blight on your conscience
cut the land, cut the trees, cut the tribes…
this is the clarion christian call
rape the land, rape the trees, rape the tribes…
ignore my blood and tears when you pray
i am a red Indian, a raped virgin—you make me a "noble whore"
thrown into a dark corner with the trees, and the land, and "lost civilizations"
my spiritual reservations are the places you relegate to me compartments fit for non-human species
—churches made from acreage and board feet
good Indian—come to church, makum' god happy
good Indian get job, makum' government happy
good Indian keep quiet…subdued…silent
quietly turn your vile abuse, your bitter loss onto yourself and other bad Indians
then…you makum' everyone of us Americans...happy cause we got your land
and we got your trees
and never forget…
never, ever forget—that we got god—so we got your souls!
where do the souls of dead Indians go?
where does one go after rape and torture, robbery and slavery,
disease and holocaust?
perhaps we join the land and the trees
lingering with the spirit of Jesus on earth to curse savage christian civilizations
we die slow…but we die early and we die often
yet, we die knowing a secret that you don't even care to know
-that your land will not rest
-and your trees will make only crooked crosses
-and your children will breathe their last breathes in despair
…groping for an identity that you could not steal for them
…grasping for an honor that always eluded them
…clinching for a God…and land…and trees…and
tribes…that were never theirs
and herein is the lesson,
true gifts can't be stolen
because love takes flight where control makes its nest
and Jesus? O, Jesus…
You crucify Him anew with every sacrifice that we make to accommodate you
wasn't it 1491 when there was no haunting?
(This poem is from my friend Randy Woodley)
© 2003 Randy Woodley
wasn't it 1492 when Columbus sailed the azure ocean?
salty water lapping shores separating neighbors
come into our house—there is no honor in dispelling a neighbor
but unruly neighbors are a curse and bad religion is a plague
came the call from every corner with mangled crosses and dubious preachers
came, you came to our land…our lives…our homes
"virgin land," mother earth milk & honey flowing from her breast
—you saw fences
"virgin trees," Sequoia mammoths decorating a vast green park
—you saw timber
"virgin tribes," going…gone—left from a greater civilization
—but you did not see me
land…trees…"ours" you say—and the tribes just a blight on your conscience
cut the land, cut the trees, cut the tribes…
this is the clarion christian call
rape the land, rape the trees, rape the tribes…
ignore my blood and tears when you pray
i am a red Indian, a raped virgin—you make me a "noble whore"
thrown into a dark corner with the trees, and the land, and "lost civilizations"
my spiritual reservations are the places you relegate to me compartments fit for non-human species
—churches made from acreage and board feet
good Indian—come to church, makum' god happy
good Indian get job, makum' government happy
good Indian keep quiet…subdued…silent
quietly turn your vile abuse, your bitter loss onto yourself and other bad Indians
then…you makum' everyone of us Americans...happy cause we got your land
and we got your trees
and never forget…
never, ever forget—that we got god—so we got your souls!
where do the souls of dead Indians go?
where does one go after rape and torture, robbery and slavery,
disease and holocaust?
perhaps we join the land and the trees
lingering with the spirit of Jesus on earth to curse savage christian civilizations
we die slow…but we die early and we die often
yet, we die knowing a secret that you don't even care to know
-that your land will not rest
-and your trees will make only crooked crosses
-and your children will breathe their last breathes in despair
…groping for an identity that you could not steal for them
…grasping for an honor that always eluded them
…clinching for a God…and land…and trees…and
tribes…that were never theirs
and herein is the lesson,
true gifts can't be stolen
because love takes flight where control makes its nest
and Jesus? O, Jesus…
You crucify Him anew with every sacrifice that we make to accommodate you
wasn't it 1491 when there was no haunting?
(This poem is from my friend Randy Woodley)
Native Prayers and Church Prayers
Someone was asking about praying for others. "Why were my prayers necessary that night for my brother? I am quite sure that our Lord could protect him without my prayers, so what purpose did they serve?
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These are pretty big questions for such a little indian... not sure I am qualified to enter into such a mystery... but that hasn't really stopped me before...
If you want a good book on prayer, get Richard Foster's book: Prayer, the Heart's True Home. That will give you a few things to ponder.
My personal opinion is that God wants us to be co-creators with Him, to be involved with Him, His people, even the spirit world - and prayer is one of the ways we participate with Him and each other. Sometimes friends ask for help and prayer and sometime God gives us the opportunity to pray and help others...
But natives see prayer differently... I have never met a native unwilling to pray, although I have met plenty of non-natives who wouldn't. Seems like the majority culture is embarrassed about talking to God, but natives, even drinking and drugging, would pray with you. Most natives who have fallen down will admit they have fallen down.
When YWAM goes door to door on a reservation passing out tracts such as the 27 spiritual laws, hardly anyone gives them the time of day.
Now don't tell YWAM, but if they went door to door, offering to pray for family members, they would probably be there all day! (I know some YWAM-ers are starting to get the message, but they have done the tracts, as have many others "trying to help" the injuns.
Church people are afraid of the sweat lodge, but a lot a prayer and healings happen there. Church people are afraid of the Shaker meetings, but a lot of prayer and healings happen there. Even powwows, that some in churchianity call "a spiritual gateway to the dark side", there are many prayers danced and prayers taken to the drum.
Having a background in a non-native church begins to teach you about prayer, but there is much more for all of us to learn. Since prayer is such a mystery, an invitation to work with God himself, well every culture is going to define it differently. So I am not saying that church prayer or their theology of prayer is bad, but I will say that it is not the whole pie, just a slice.
One last thing. Natives usually eat before and after prayer. Maybe that is why we like to pray, because both our spirits and bellies will be full. Next time your church has a prayer meeting, offer to cater a full meal. Then you will know that this Indian secret is true... thanks for listening... ray+
-------------------------------------------------------------------
These are pretty big questions for such a little indian... not sure I am qualified to enter into such a mystery... but that hasn't really stopped me before...
If you want a good book on prayer, get Richard Foster's book: Prayer, the Heart's True Home. That will give you a few things to ponder.
My personal opinion is that God wants us to be co-creators with Him, to be involved with Him, His people, even the spirit world - and prayer is one of the ways we participate with Him and each other. Sometimes friends ask for help and prayer and sometime God gives us the opportunity to pray and help others...
But natives see prayer differently... I have never met a native unwilling to pray, although I have met plenty of non-natives who wouldn't. Seems like the majority culture is embarrassed about talking to God, but natives, even drinking and drugging, would pray with you. Most natives who have fallen down will admit they have fallen down.
When YWAM goes door to door on a reservation passing out tracts such as the 27 spiritual laws, hardly anyone gives them the time of day.
Now don't tell YWAM, but if they went door to door, offering to pray for family members, they would probably be there all day! (I know some YWAM-ers are starting to get the message, but they have done the tracts, as have many others "trying to help" the injuns.
Church people are afraid of the sweat lodge, but a lot a prayer and healings happen there. Church people are afraid of the Shaker meetings, but a lot of prayer and healings happen there. Even powwows, that some in churchianity call "a spiritual gateway to the dark side", there are many prayers danced and prayers taken to the drum.
Having a background in a non-native church begins to teach you about prayer, but there is much more for all of us to learn. Since prayer is such a mystery, an invitation to work with God himself, well every culture is going to define it differently. So I am not saying that church prayer or their theology of prayer is bad, but I will say that it is not the whole pie, just a slice.
One last thing. Natives usually eat before and after prayer. Maybe that is why we like to pray, because both our spirits and bellies will be full. Next time your church has a prayer meeting, offer to cater a full meal. Then you will know that this Indian secret is true... thanks for listening... ray+
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