STOP-AND-FRISK

During the first Presidential Debate New York City
was used as an example of effective use of stop-
and frisk, when it was in effect.  Here are the
statistics.

..Stop-and-frisk, as it was practiced in New York City,
was ineffective in reducing violent crime. But it had an
overwhelmingly disproportionate impact on young
black and Latino men. The New York Police
Department’s data shows that 90 percent of stops
conducted under stop-and-frisk were young men of
color who had done nothing wrong. And the level of
racial profiling went from discriminatory to absurd:
In 2011, more young black men were stopped and
frisked than there were young black men living in
New York City. This suggests that many young men
were stopped multiple times. That same year,
weapons were found on 1.8 percent of black and
Latino people who were stopped, but on 3.8 percent
of white people who were stopped — nearly double
the rate.

Racism is America’s original sin, and we saw that
racial sin again in the first presidential debate.
—@jimwallis

BE A MESSENGER OF JOY

Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the
heart, and good news gives health to the bones.
Proverbs 15:30

 Today, let’s greet everyone we see with a bright
and cheery disposition. Who might we bring joy
to today? Who can we get to smile? How can we
make someone else a little bit happier?
When we live our lives looking for ways to make
others more joyful, we are rewarded richly for our
kindness. God gives us joy in our own hearts and
strength to our spirits.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

PERSONAL FORGIVENESS

 "Father, forgive them for they don't know what
they are doing" (Luke 23:34a).
If you wish to see forgiveness, look to the cross
of Christ. There you will see forgiveness in its
purest form. Even as the Savior hung upon the
cross, even as every one of the world's sins --
your sins, my sins, everybody's sins -- rested
upon Him, even as men gambled for His clothing
and laughed at His pain, He called out: "Father,
forgive them for they don't know what they
are doing" (Luke 23:34a).
Do you prefer forgiveness to be more personal?
Look into your own heart, at your own conscience,
 and know the worst sins that you find there are --
because of Jesus' suffering, death, and
resurrection -- gone.
Forgiveness? Look to the cross and remember that
place where died all our dark and devious deeds,
all our foul and filthy feelings.
Forgiveness? Look to the cross where your
forgiveness was won. Look into the Savior's empty,
open tomb and see His victory. Because of Jesus,
the Father -- rather than cursing and condemning
us -- redeems and restores us.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may my prayer echo that
of the tax collector, as I say, "Lord, be merciful to
me a sinner" (Luke 18:13b). Then, knowing that
through Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection,
I have been forgiven, may I lead a life that glorifies
You. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen. 
(taken from Lutheran Hour Ministries Daily Devotion­)

WE CANNOT WAIT

We cannot wait for the next tragedy to address gun
violence.  As a nation, we cannot say we’ve already
moved on only two months after the deadliest
shooting in our recent history in Orlando and the
fatal attacks on law enforcement in Dallas and Baton
Rouge.  As people of faith, we cannot allow our
culture to continue to be overrun by gun violence or
hold any more vigils without taking action.
The power to change our culture is in our pews.

AS CHRISTIANS WE MUST TAKE ACTION NOW!
VOTE FOR THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO END GUN
VIOLENCE!!!!!!!

ALL IN

Scripture:  Galatians 6: 7-16

One of the poetic phrases handed down from early Pietists
reminds us to live "for God's glory and neighbor's good."
This echoes the Epistle mandate today: "Whenever we have an
opportunity, let us work for the good of all: (v. 10)

     There are no apparent boundaries to who might be the
recipient of our good work, even as there was no limit to Jesus's
understanding of who is our neighbor.  We extend good for all.
To our own people most certainly----family, neighbors, acquaintances.
Yet to others as well----strangers and immigrants, younger and older,
followers of Jesus and believers in Allah.  There are no boundaries to our
responsibility to "work for the good of all."

     Each day there are many opportunities to do good in life.  And with
the opportunity to do good comes the responsibility to do it----FOR ALL.

Prayer:

Make me mindful this day, blessed Lord, to live for Your glory and
my neighbor's good.    Amen
(Covenant Home Altar, David L. Parkyn author)

GOD IS FOR YOU

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect
in weakness. -  2 Corinthians 12:9
If you're down to nothing, God is up to something. I want to
tell you something - no matter how deep you are down the
hole, God is up to something in your life. If you respond
with faith, good things are gonna happen.
If you need hope, get it today. Good things are happening
because God loves you, God is not ignoring you, He has
not abandoned you, He's not taken a break from you, He's
not cut you off, He is with you. He is on your side, He is
for you. And if you feel as though you've lost everything,
have faith, have hope, and even have joy. God's up to
something in your life. Good things are are going to happen.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, help me to see what you are up to in my life.
Help me have the faith to carry on and have joy in my trials.
Thank you for being on my side. Amen.
What is God doing in your life today?

GOODNESS

Scripture:   (Psalm 14)
Seeking after God creates wisdom and goodness in and
through us. How can we not help but "become good" when
we orient our lives towards God who is goodness?  Richard
Rohr writes, "God does not love you because you are good,
God loves you because God is good. And then you can be
good because you draw upon such an Infinite Source." God
is the source, the origin of all goodness, which is love. 
When we live in love we are wise and we become that which
we seek.
Prayer:
May we seek you this day, O God, and grow in wisdom as
we do.
(excerpt taken from the Covenant Home Altar, Deb Auger author)

SPEAK UP

 Verse
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Proverbs 31:8
Voice
Weary or bitter or bewildered as we may be, God is
faithful. [God] lets us wander so we will know what it
means to come home.
Marilynne Robinson
Prayer
Lord, teach us to notice our surroundings, to see the
beauty we pass by, the pain we look away from, and
the ways in which we can serve others.

JOY

Nehemiah said, 'Go and enjoy choice food and sweet
drinks, and send some to those who have nothing
prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'" - Nehemiah 8:10

No matter who you are, if you have Jesus, you have joy.
If you have Christ within you, you have joy.
No matter how depressed, no matter how blue, no matter
how sick, I think it's in there. So much of living a joyful life
is not about having joy, but about releasing joy.
You are a joyful person. Claim that! Think to yourself
"I am a joyful person." Joy is a good thing. Joy is happy,
and joy is holy. The joy that you have in your life gives joy
to others. Your joy gives strength and hope and life to
people who are struggling. And although sometimes we're
struggling ourselves, one of the best things you can do is
release your joy into a hurting world.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for the joy in my life.
Help me to claim that joy and share it with others. Amen.
REFLECTION: How is Jesus bringing joy to your life today?
(Bobby Schuller)

GLOBAL CHRISTIAN

Verse
And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love
of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the
end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will
be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all
the nations; and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:11-14
Voice
We must be global Christians with a global vision because
our God is a global God.
John Stott
Prayer
Lord, remind us that the command to love our neighbor is
not constrained by geographical boundaries. Amen.

PRAYER FOR THIS HOUSE

THE PRAYER:
Dear Lord, "Oh, blest the house, whate'er befall, where
Jesus Christ is all in all! Yea, if He were not dwelling
there, how dark and poor and void it were! Oh, blest
that house where faith ye find, and all within have set
their mind, to trust their God and serve Him still, and
do in all His holy will! Oh, blest the parents who give
heed unto their children's foremost need, and weary
not of care or cost! May none to them and heaven be
lost! Blest such a house, it prospers well. In peace
and joy the parents dwell, and in their children's lot is
shown how richly God can bless His own. Then here
will I and mine today a solemn covenant make and
say: Though all the world forsake Thy Word, I and
my house will serve the Lord!"  In Jesus' Name may
it be so. Amen.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, pg. 625).