the REFUGE

Friends, Supporters, Critics, and Everyone else,

We do indeed live in critical times. This is a time where Capitalism, both in the US and abroad is unraveling and crashing. It was inevitable that greed and selfishness would lead to this. Capitalism has always been about greed and power at the expense of the people. Going all the way back to Jesus, we were told that you cannot serve God and Mammon. This collapse and rescue of Wall street has nothing to do with helping the common person, but everything to do with rewarding the criminals, looters, and hooligans that run wall street. This bailout, which by way has alot of ridiculous “pork barrel” bills attached, will not solve the problem. The people know this. It is only the beginning of attempts by the government, in collusion with the Global Corporate Capitalists, to take away our “Freedom” and make everyone a slave class. Those in power know this too, which is why they are preparing for the Military to be used domestically, if necessary, violating the constitution.
As a Follower of Christ, it especially sickens me, and I think it sickens God, that those who claim to follow the one who came to preach the Good News to the poor, to set the captives free, to proclaim liberty to the oppressed, would not only support this sick system, but say God is behind it. No WAY!! They obviously don’t understand and serve the same Jesus, who the early church understood as on the side of the oppressed and poor. We must not serve Empire. We must speak out and rise up! We must organize and create alternatives to Empire!! We must make the clarion call to revolution. A peaceful, nonviolent, direct action, civil disobedient oriented movement is needed. We can no longer just sit by and do nothing!

We cannot rely on elections to change a thing. Both parties are bankrupt, with the exception of a few. Most are bought and paid for by Wall Street, including both Presidential candidates. The corruption is so deep and wide that the only way to bridge it, is if the people rise up as a united class and oust them! We can no longer just sit by.
It also incumbent upon those who claim allegiance to Christ and his teachings, that we also create communities of resistance and prepare ourselves for this collapse that is currently occurring and will continue to occur, by being ready to stand up to the coming Fascism by radically offering hospitality to the hurting and oppressed.
We must also become informed and constantly vigilant to what is happening around us. We must create shared economies, sharing of resources, and alternative energies. We must recognize that those in power will not give up easily. They will fight us in any way they can, including using the media to try to get us to believe that everything is okay.
Tomorrow night, I will, along with several others, share our experiences at the Republican Convention protests, where we saw first had what “Police State” can look like. Please come. It will be at 830pm at the Globe Coffeehouse in St. Petersburg, Florida located at 1st Ave. North and 5th St. North. For more info. call 727 278 1547.
I would just like to say, in closing, that I know many on this email list will disagree with me at some level. And, further, feel that a ministry has no business addressing these issues. But, I am compelled, our ministry is compelled by everything we believe to be is sacred, to speak. We have paid the price for this, we know. And, the Refuge is barely keeping above water, and I am unable to pay rent this month, but I know we must continue to speak the truth!  Please feel free to call me. Stating our situation is not meant solicit help, but say that we are not in an “ivory tower”. Please join us and millions of others in this struggle worldwide for a just and cooperative Society.

Bruce
PS. check out these web sites for more info. www.refugestpete.org, www.economichumanrights.org, www.democracynow.org, www.jesusradicals.com, www.stpeteforpeace.org, and www.lrna.org.