Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Praying for Victims of Violence

 

Greetings Sisters and Brothers, peacemakers in the Name of Jesus…

Today I bring an appeal for much prayer regarding violence in general and gun violence in particular.

I don’t know why people feel the need to express their fear, anger, hatred, confusion by exercise of violence, and I don’t excuse them of their responsibility. But I believe that something has gone wrong in their lives. Either they have experienced extreme trauma such as war, or perhaps have become otherwise mentally or emotionally troubled.

But the effects of such violence are devastating.

In the past few days there have been many shootings involving physical harm and death. These shootings have created much emotional trauma.

Imagine, your child or grandchild goes to church, school, or a movie, and never returns home.

I present four news reports of such shootings here in these news links. There are many more.

I request that you read one or more, they are short, and then say a prayer for those involved.

Those people are hurting emotionally and physically. Most shootings never gain the kind of national news coverage as did the Columbine shootings in 1999 or Uvalde in 2022

Most shootings never arouse the public swelling of compassion, leaving parents and others to think "doesn't America care about my child?"

My appeal is that we care enough to pray.

Please read these four news reports and pray.

 

These four just since September 28…

Highland Park, Michigan

https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/quadruple-shooting-during-game-dice-highland-park-was-random-polices-say

 

Eagle Pass, Texas

https://www.wilsoncountynews.com/articles/suspect-in-eagle-pass-casino-shooting-arrested-in-stockdale/

 

New Orleans

https://wgno.com/news/crime/bourbon-street-shooting-leaves-one-dead-three-injured/

 

Grand Blanc, Michigan

https://www.ksl.com/article/51382044/gunman-killed-after-killing-1-injuring-9-at-latter-day-saint-church

 

Hoping and praying for Peace, Pastor Mike

Saturday, September 27, 2025

Comments on Mexican Declaration of Independence 1821

 

Area of Mexico in 1821


While many folks in the United States celebrate Cinco De Mayo (victory over the Second French Intervention), I recognize September 28, 1821 as Mexican Independence Day, a victory over Spanish colonization.

It was on that day that the Mexican Declaration of Independence was signed and published.

As a student of national Declarations (mostly of North and South America) from colonial powers I submit a few comments of respect regarding this Mexican Declaration.

1. The Mexican Declaration, as with most I have read, became in effect only after the war was completed, treaty signed, or other sense of victory. The Declaration of the united* States was declared in the midst of conflict without surety of victory.

2. The Mexican Declaration presents no formal list of grievances as does the united States declaration, though three hundred years of oppression are mentioned.

3. The third paragraph of the Mexican Declaration provides homage to “heroic efforts of its sons”.

4. This Declaration provides for “First Chief of the Imperial Army of the Three Guarantees wisely established and which it will uphold at all costs and with all sacrifice of the means and lives of its members”; this statement resembles the pledge made in the united States Declaration…” we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

There are other similarities. I encourage the reader to compare and contrast this Declaration with the Declaration of the united States.

I present the text here as a sign of respect for our neighbor and ally, Mexico.

Declaration of the independence of the Mexican Empire, issued by its Sovereign Junta, assembled in the Capital on September 28, 1821.

The Mexican Nation, which for three hundred years had neither had its own will, nor free use of its voice, leaves today the oppression in which it has lived.

The heroic efforts of its sons have been crowned today, and consummated in an eternal and memorable enterprise, which a spirit superior to all admiration and praise, out of love and for the glory of its Country started in Iguala, continued, and brought to fruition, overcoming almost insurmountable obstacles.

Restored then this part of the North to the exercise of all the rights given by the Author of Nature and recognized as unalienable and sacred by the civilized nations of the Earth, in liberty to constitute itself in the manner which best suits its happiness and through representatives who can manifest its will and plans, it begins to make use of such precious gifts and solemnly declares by means of the Supreme Junta of the Empire that it is a Sovereign nation and independent of old Spain with which henceforth it will maintain no other union besides a close friendship in the terms prescribed by the treaties; that it will establish friendly relationships with other powers, executing regarding them whatever declarations the other sovereign nations can execute; that it will constitute itself in accordance to the bases which in the Plan of Iguala and the Treaty of Córdoba the First Chief of the Imperial Army of the Three Guarantees wisely established and which it will uphold at all costs and with all sacrifice of the means and lives of its members (if necessary); this solemn declaration, is made in the capital of the Empire on the twenty-eighth of September of the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, first of Mexican Independence

Amen.


Congratulations Mexico, conquerors of colonial powers.

·       I use a lower case “u” in the word "united" because original copies of our Declaration do so...

From National Archives