JESUS CHRISTIANS NEWSLETTER #124, JUNE, 2010
Film Production
All around the world we have been working on interviews for the two documentaries that we are producing. In Kenya, shortly after doing an interview with a prison warden and a police officer, where they pretended that mob justice is rare in Kenya, Casey and Joe walked into a situation of mob justice on the streets. A man accused of being a thief was attacked by a passer-by. Casey got between the man and the attacker, which led to him taking some blows himself. Joe was able to hold back two other attackers who had started to pummel the "thief"'s head and body. However, it seemed that overall Casey and Joe's presence had a pacifying effect on the crowd, deterring others from joining in, unlike what usually happens in such situations. Interfering in a "lynching", as Casey and Joe did, can be quite dangerous, as the mob often believes that anyone defending the "thief" is an accomplice and should also be killed.
Jesse and Jayme visited (and filmed an interview with) Suelo, also known as "Zero Currency Man", in Utah, USA. They lived with him in his cave, and slept in the open air under the stars one night. On the way back to L.A. they distributed in Las Vegas, which could possibly be the hardest city in the world in which to distribute Christian literature!
Jesse did quite a few other interviews with people on the streets of L.A., and a lot of editing for the film project.
Back in Kenya, Joe and Alf interviewed a Peace Team Coordinator who was impressive in terms of describing the efforts of himself and his co-workers in restoring relationships between warring sides in East African countries like Rwanda, and the District Republic of Congo. He spoke of using face-to-face dialogue, often between genocide members who had killed more than 40 members of the opposing tribe, and friends and families of those killed by the other side.
Bob and Alf interviewed a local representative for M-Pesa, an advanced banking service enabling people to send and receive money through their mobile phones. Apparently 90% of people in the local (very rural) area use this service. The lady they interviewed felt that a microchip implant (which is obviously much safer than a mobile phone for the storing of credit) could well take off in future. It shows how people, even in a tiny, poor village in rural Kenya, are being primed to accept the Mark of the Beast.
Joe and Bob were also able to arrange interviews with theology professors at two leading Kenyan universities about the topic of justice and mercy.
Man on the street interviews were also conducted by team members in Sydney and London.
Freeganism
In the U.K., however, the media was busy interviewing Alan, as a national TV film crew went on a two and a half hour bin raiding trip in preparation for a future broadcast. The producers were astounded by the vast amounts of food that Alan was able to lead them to, and they plan to confront the supermarkets over their (false) claim that no food was put into bins while still in date.
Ambulance Rescue Missions
On two separate occasions, our vehicle in remote Kenya needed to be used as an ambulance for a serious victim of a nearby road accident.
In addition, two of our volunteers, Obed and Harro, contracted serious cases of malaria, with Harro admitted to hospital for treatment.
"Dental" Outreaches
The L.A. team has been combining outreaches with trips to the dentist. They have spent more time than normal in an area of L.A. where there is a friendly and very helpful dentist who has treated all members of the team.
Jayme, who needed some more complex root canal treatment, went to Mexico, where the cost of such a service is much cheaper. The dentist mistakenly thought that the nerve had already been removed, and so he ignored Jayme's repeated pleas for pain-killers as he drilled away. While Jayme was being subjected to this tribulation type torture training, a few miles away, the others were receiving a good reception at colleges and car parks of selected shopping centres in San Diego, where they were distributing copies of our books.
The Cruise
Dave and Cherry have been busily finalising the bookings for the cruise later this year, which will accommodate 21 Jesus Christians and 21 friends and relatives. Bookings have included many flights from overseas, as well as hotel and train reservations within Australia. The excitement continues to build as the date approaches.
Personnel Movements
People are already starting to work their way toward Australia for the big reunion which begins next month.
The team in Los Angeles has sold one vehicle, with four guys crowding into the other until they depart. Reinhard was kept busy with maintenance jobs on both vehicles during the month.
Fran and Kim arrived in Sydney, where they spent around two weeks with relatives before joining Dave and Cherry in the secret location where much of the reunion will take place. The four of them are working on final preparations.
Joe, Alf, and Bob flew out from Kenya to the U.K. on Sunday. They will be travelling with a large contingent from Europe in a bit over a week.
Paul and Ulrike have joined up with Ross and Barry in Sydney for outreach work there. It has been a blessing having a bigger team for fellowship and counsel. They will be on hand to greet the others as they arrive into Australia.
Visits with Friends and Relatives
Just before Joe, Alf, and Bob left Kenya, Karl made a brief visit to see his family in Western Kenya, since he will not have many other opportunities to get away while the centre is short-staffed during the reunion.
Most of the Kenya team spent a day visiting Collins, a frequent volunteer at our compound, who is now organising volunteer work for handicapped people in his own village. This includes a project at a local school and one at a tree nursery.
A surprise visit from Jesse's family included an invitation to dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles. It was an enjoyable experience for everyone.
A friendly supporter (April) stayed with the U.S. team for a few weeks, getting some good insights into our lifestyle and teachings during that time. We continue to maintain positive links with her.
Grace invited us to a 40th anniversary celebration of the Catholic Workers in Los Angeles. It was a great party, and we were able to get to know many new people. Jesse brought his saxophone over, and played alongside the dance band that had been booked for the afternoon. It was good practice for him as he has not played the instrument for quite some time.
Simon had a trip to see his aged grandmother in the U.K., who spent a brief time in hospital.
Roland and Alan went to the south coast for a surprise 60th birthday party for Alan's sister.
A friendly South American contact invited Paul and Ulrike to her home for some nice Latino food. She teaches English to children with special needs, and was keen to get a whole set of Easy English books.
Other News...
Bob had the unpleasant job of executing those chickens which have not been laying eggs, in a bid to use up the meat stocks here at our compound in Kenya. The result has not only been some great chicken dinners, but also the remaining hens deciding to get their act together in the egg-laying department!
A churchy crusade (organised primarily by a South African preacher) ran for a week in the small field next to our compound. It was very noisy, but it brought together the local community, turning into something of a family event where people could dance and listen to the preaching (which varied in quality).
Roland fitted the second of our U.K. vehicles with a solar panel this month.
Simon has been taking driving lessons, and he should be taking his test in the next week.
Ross was invited to sing at a Uniting Church mission in Sydney, where a special (and unexpected) offering was taken up for him at the end of the meeting.
New Articles
There is an important article on the difference between how Christians react when talking about sin, and how they react when talking about crime. It relates to some of what we will be covering in the documentary video that we have been calling "Beyond Justice". It's called "Crime vs Sin":
Crime vs Sin:
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www.jesus-teachings.com]
In addition, Dave has done two more articles on phrases from the Lord's Prayer:
Lead us Not into Temptation:
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www.jesus-teachings.com]
And Thine is the Kingdom:
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www.jesus-teachings.com]
The Forum
Here are some topics that have been raised this month on the forum, and links to where you can read what people have been saying about each of them:
The New World Order and conspiracy theories (by Ross)
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www.jesus-teachings.com]
Are Christians really Jews? (by D. Brown)
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www.jesus-teachings.com]
The root of all evil. (by D. Brown)
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www.jesus-teachings.com]
What is Truth? (by CrossReach)
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www.jesus-teachings.com]
Media talk about microchip implants (by Sue)
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www.jesus-teachings.com]
A new song by Fran
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www.jesus-teachings.com]
Comments on "Crime vs Sin" article by Dave
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www.jesus-teachings.com]
It only takes a little bit of faith (by Paul)
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10 Ways to Tell if You're Brainwashed (by Joe)
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www.jesus-teachings.com]
Messages from the other side (by Mandy)
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www.jesus-teachings.com]
Ten "Unless" statements by Jesus (by CrossReach)
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www.jesus-teachings.com]
The Violence Debate... source of the "Killers for Christ" myth (by Christine)
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www.jesus-teachings.com]
A Letter from a Visitor
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www.jesus-teachings.com]
The amazing prison system in Greenland (by Frytan)
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www.jesus-teachings.com]
www.jesuschristians.com