A Christmas Letter from God

Here's a good piece that I found on an amazing variety of conservative, liberal, and even one of the atheistic (James Randi Educational Foundation) blogs when I did a Google search for the source or author (still unknown.) So I guess that means it's scratching where it itches in our culture. I posted it today on my bulletin board by my office. Enjoy! -Clair

A Christmas Letter from God

Dear children,

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking my name out of the Christmas season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate my birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. However, I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who I’ve blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate my birth, just get along and love one another. Now, having said that, let me go on.

If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting my birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all my followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can & may remember me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish. I actually spoke of that once in a teaching explaining who I am in relation to you & what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give me a present in remembrance of my birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it.

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way my birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of my birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference. Also, you might consider supporting the local Suicide Hot-Line: they talk with people like that every day.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas", that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families.

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary, especially one who takes my love and good news to those who have never heard my name. You may already know someone like that.

9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them (and I suspect you don't) buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me & they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in my presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

P.S. : Don't forget; I am God and can take care of myself. Just love me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember...

I LOVE YOU!

Wouldn't you agree it's time to create a US Department of Peace?

I urge you to at least scan Marianne Williamson's powerful article entitled "Waging Peace" - published November 16 in the Boston Globe - then peruse the links connected to my own specific comments about it - below:
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There are several practical ways to support all the good things that could come of out this (besides a bunch of us peace promoters getting up to speed about the hopes and intentions of the co-sponsors of House Resolution 3760 and Senate 1756 -- and here's a good place to go to do that: http://www.thepeacealliance.org/content/view/12/67

We need to ask more of our Congressmen/women to become co-sponsors! http://tinyurl.com/y4vept (So far only two Senators in the whole country - what is wrong with this picture?)

You can take action here if you want to be supportive as a local volunteer: http://www.webdataresources.com/peacealliance

And don't miss this additional list of excellent ways to offer tangible support to the emergence of a Department of Peace: http://www.thepeacealliance.org/content/view/86/113

Surely a lot more students could be involved from the various Peace Clubs on campuses across the country as this picks up steam! http://www.thepeacealliance.org/content/view/197/166

Grace and Peace,
Clair

Director's Final Cut of "America: Freedom To Fascism"

The authorized version of Aaron Russo's 2006 documentary, "America: Freedom To Fascism" (AFTF) is at hand. Aaron's movie has been in select theaters around the country since June of 2006, and, true to his word, he uploaded his "Final Director's Cut" of the entire groundbreaking documentary "for free" onto Google Video during the evening of October 19-20. Mr. Russo has done this saying the hour has come for Americans to either be brought to their senses and awakened to help restore our country and our personal freedoms -- or be swept aside by the dark global forces of fascism that seeks to enslave the whole of humankind.

Warning: AFTF just might evoke a personal transformation of sorts -- especially with respect to how one thinks about the purpose and role of government, commitment to taking personal responsibility to make a difference; AFTF provides extensive historical background information and causes one to seriously evaluate (and weigh the personal "costs") regarding whether or not to even pay federal income taxes. In any case, it offers a powerful civics lesson.

When I first viewed AFTF late in the evening of November 12-13, 2006 I thought I might watch a half-hour or so - simply to "get the feel of it" - and then get to bed. However, my full attention was riveted by what I heard and saw, all the way to the end. This movie delivered a powerful kick to the gut of my consciousness; thus I suspect it will also seriously motivate most other viewers to take action -- or at least do more research, questioning and weighing of alternatives.

The viewer will be confronted by the opinions of a variety of experts in their fields - because Aaron Russo has really done his homework. I urge readers/listeners here to make it a priority to block out the 110 minutes it takes to view the whole thing, then share a personal assessment or challenge it offers as a comment below on this blog. Include where and why you think this movie is off-base, or if you agree with it's premises.

For myself, while I wish one or two issues were portrayed differently near the end (such as the current Latino/Hispanic immigration issue) on balance I think it carries an urgent and important message for us all.

Note: after viewing the movie, I invite you to visit http://www.freedomtofascism.com where anyone will be able purchase a "high quality" personal copy of the DVD. If you wish, sign up as an affiliate to sell/distribute copies of this documentary DVD to others. I also encourage you to register there for further email alerts and to tell your family, friends and neighbors about this groundbreaking movie.

Now, click on the title heading above or here to see the movie on Google Video!

Clair

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Later this morning , a friend who saw what I posted replied with this:

Clair Hochstetler writes: "....AFTF just might evoke a personal transformation of sorts -- especially with respect to how one thinks about the purpose and role of government, commitment to taking personal responsibility to make a difference; AFTF provides extensive historical background information and causes one to seriously evaluate (and weigh the personal "costs") regarding whether or not to even pay federal income taxes."

Dear Clair,

You're being hornswoggled again. Here is the reference for the text of the law that requires us to pay income taxes:

Title 26 of the US Code ("Internal Revenue Code"), Subtitle A ("Income Taxes"), Chapter 1 ("Normal Taxes and surtaxes"), Subchapter A ("Determination of Tax Liability"), Part I ("Tax on Individuals"), Sec. 1. ("Tax Imposed")

§ 1. Tax imposed (a) Married individuals filing joint returns and surviving spouses

There is hereby imposed on the taxable income of--

(1) every married individual (as defined in section 7703 http://tinyurl.com/yl5jx2 who makes a single return jointly with his spouse under section 6013, and

(2) every surviving spouse (as defined in section 2(a), http://tinyurl.com/yg6eqh etc., etc. )

Here is the URL: http://tinyurl.com/y49tbq

The people who advance the argument that we're not legally obligated to pay income taxes are scam artists. If you follow their advice, you'll go to jail, as many of them have. cf. Wesley Snipes, the actor who is currently in deep doodoo for following their advice.

Here is a good website for debunking these claims: http://www.quatloos.com/tax_protestors.php

Wesley Snipe's advisors, American Rights Litigators, are mentioned here: http://www.quatlosers.com/eddie_kahn.htm

Kahn's name is immediately below that of Wesley Snipes on his recent indictment: http://news.findlaw.com/cnn/docs/tax/ussnipes101206ind.html

Gene C. Miller
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So...here is a copy of what I sent to Gene in response:

Gene,

Thanks for doing some initial research but you didn't take time obviously, to view the documentary. I respectfully disagree that I am being hornswoggled. I looked at the content of your links and can say that I am already well aware of all of them, including the recent news about Wesley Snipes. I know why he lost his case. I have studied all the critiques from Quatloos for three years already, and am not naive regarding the personal consequences of not paying income taxes - in other words well aware that some are going to jail over their convictions and for not substantiating their claims properly. I nuanced my words very carefully, about the need to weigh the personal consequences.

Sure you can find citations in the Tax code itself, but the law upon which the Tax Code itself has to be based is not there - not clear. (See the documentary!)

I don't think I'll be very interested in responding to any further comments on this thread unless I know that you have actually taken the time to see it - because it's about a whole lot more than the issue of income taxes -- it sets up a whole context for discussion -- the issue of taxes is only a "case study" forming a substantial part of the documentary's concerns in the first half. There are some facts in that movie that do educate, that I think are irrefutable, and point to scenarios we are likely to face in the future - I think they are worth discussing. I don't agree with all the content of the movie myself. I'm hoping we can talk about the macro rather than the micro issues - after establishing some common reference points.

Now, specifically regarding the income tax issue, I have been researching "off and on" as I have time and energy, over the last several years, (not out of a libertarian political motivation, but as a point of concern to find a way to legally withhold my contribution to the "war machine" - my real motivation, since a Peace Tax bill has not yet been passed.) Interestingly, just this past weekend I had the following testimonial sent to me on a list serve I am a member of, and share this as an illustration of LEGAL alternatives, which are out there, and apparently ARE effective:

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"If I may humbly share briefly my story, it may help. I am not a tax expert by any means, but I am a kindred spirit with those who share the need to fight the IRS. Since 1996, I have tried several methods to keep the IRS from stealing my hard earned money. American Asset Protection from Florida (they are all in jail now), to Aegis company in Chicago (several overseas trust were set up, and now they are out of business as they are undergoing trial), Dan Meador (who set up statements to hand to the IRS, and he has passed away since then). For 8 years, they sent escalating threatening letters, including requests for audits, meetings, notice of third party investigations and even criminal investigators coming to my house. They would give me about 2-3 months in between letters, and kept increasing my tax burden through interest and penalty with each letter. In 2004 they placed a notice of levy in my county, and obtained all my money in my checking account (a small amount). They even made threatening calls to the independent contractors I was working with. I was getting a list of lawyers and was almost ready to give up as I knew the next step would be a garnishment of my wages.

I, in desperation, contacted a former collegue of Dan Meador, who assured me that he had new info that may help me. I was skeptical, as I had already gone through 3 different "experts" and had spent tens of thousands of dollars to only have the IRS continue their harassment. It's now been almost a year and a half since I have received a letter from the IRS and there has not been anymore contacts to my contractors. I have been afraid to share this info with anyone but I feel guilty not sharing my good fortune. I do not think it is just a coincidence that the IRS suddenly stopped their letters after receiving my last reply (they were sending letters almost weekly before stopping.) The gentleman who helped me is the author of a recently published book, "Why the Citizens of the Several States Are Not Generally Liable for the Federal Income Tax." He may be visited on www.nontaxpayer.net And I would be glad to give more details if anyone might be interested. Thanks for letting me share."
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All the best,
Clair Hochstetler