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CONTENTS
Dear Friends
Christ is King, NOW
The Hawk and the Pigeons
Heaven in the News
Radio Interview
Heaven Road Report
Gandhi Embraces Kingdom
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If you think you're too small to be
effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito!
Bette Reese |
May the Kingdom of Heaven
come unto you.
Our hearts and prayers go
out to all who are suffering. Some are heartbroken because their spouses are being
destroyed by alcohol abuse or drugs. Others are alone because their spouse will not live
with them unless they obey the laws of the State. This is the bearing of the cross, to
forsake wife and children, and even our own life, to be His disciple. We pray that as you
cleanse yourself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, your spouse will see your
holiness and be converted.
A woman who recently
visited commented, "Your message does not appeal to me." She considers it too
heavy a burden to separate from the kingdoms of this world. "Why don't you just
promote loving Jesus?" she asked.
She thinks a loving God
would not place any demands upon her. She wants to "love Jesus," without obeying
Him. She is like a woman who says she loves her husband, but won't submit.
There are many who call
themselves Christians who say they "love Jesus," but they do not take the
responsibility of giving their allegiance to Him as their Lord. Their attitude is,
"Smile, God loves you."
Yes, God loves us, but He
wants us to repent and obey His commands, or we will be lost for eternity.
Our recent visitor does
not want to give her allegiance to anyone. Yet, because the State threatens her with force
and violence, she submits to the State and it becomes her god.
Too many people loyally
serve the State and turn their relationship with God into a lofty romance, instead
of a relationship that requires loyalty, allegiance and obedience. Salvation is more than
saying, "I love Jesus." Salvation is a full relationship between us and God.
"He is the Vine. We are the branches." (John 15:5) And that relationship is not
just some romantic notion. It is a full commitment. We must love and obey God, and in
loving God, love our neighbor. Then we will know God's love and protection. When we cry
out to Him in our trials, He will hear us because we are His, not the world's.
There are millions who say
they "love Jesus," but by their fruit, they owe true loyalty and allegiance to
the State. Instead of holding fast to God's government, as superior to those of the States
and nations, they submit to the heavy burdens of men's statutes. By uniting with the world
and its traditions, they separate from the Source of their strength. Becoming friends of
the world, they become the enemies of God. (James 4:4)
When our visitor looks at
separating from the State, she sees only the giving up of comforts, possessions and
friends, and the beginning of persecutions. Yet if she conforms to the State, what will be
her end? Those who remain in Babylon share in her sins and shall receive of her plagues.
(Revelation 18:4) Those who come out from among them and are separate are the ones our
Father receives as His sons and daughters. (2Corinthians6:17-18) When she says she
"loves Jesus," she has a form of Godliness, but she denies the power thereof. (2Timothy3:5)
If she does not separate from the world, she will never have the Power to overcome
the world.
Our visitor says it is no
big deal if she has State licenses and insurance. She does not see the driver license as
an act of allegiance to the State. It is just a nuisance. But that nuisance could cost her
salvation.
When Jesus calls us, He
calls us to die. Giving our allegiance to Jesus Christ involves dying to the things of
this world and setting our heart on the heavenly things. But let us not focus on what we
give up, but on what we gain.
Following Jesus and
forsaking the world means being set at liberty. We are delivered from those who once held
us captive against our will. We begin to see the Light, after having sat in darkness. In
Jesus, our guilt and shame are removed and our broken hearts healed.
Finally, if we draw near
to Jesus Christ, he draws near to us. Through Him, is the peace the world cannot give,
eternal life and a river of living water. We need never be thirsty again.
Don't be a part-time Jesus
lover. Give Him your all.
Paul Revere, Pastor
Do not forget Heaven's
last retreat before winter.
The retreat begins
informally on Thursday afternoon and ends Sunday afternoon. Simple, wholesome meals and
campsites are provided. Donations are appreciated.
Mark your calendar and
plan to fellowship with us in the woods. Call and ask for "RETREAT BROCHURE."
by Charlie Samples
What do you think would
happen to you if you went around telling everyone that you had a different King than the
rest of the world? What would happen to you if you told people that you were not subject
to the same government that they were? Well, if all you did was talk about it, you'd
probably be left alone. But what if you started living it? What if you lived your life as
if you truly had another King?
I'm not talking about not
smoking, drinking, cussing, and messing with women. I'm not talking about not going to
movies, or dances. I'm talking about living under the Kingship and authority of no one but
Christ! I'm talking about turning your back on this wicked, ungodly, Christ hating, Bible
hating system that everyone participates in.
I'm talking about a real
separation from the world's system and a walk under the Kingship of Christ. I'm talking
about not entering into any covenants and agreements with a "foreign government"
or any earthly government for that matter.
The one who has licenses,
participates with social security, files 1040's and is in the good hands of Allstate is
entangling himself with the affairs of this life in violation of II Timothy 2:4.
Living without those "entanglements"
is not some lifestyle that is chosen out of the clear blue. It is because
we have another King. Our King does not make those requirements of His subjects. Our King
rewards the Laborer -- He doesn't tax him. Our King gives freedom to His subjects -- not
restraint. Our King deals fairly and honestly with His subjects. Our King wants men to
flourish because of the work of their hands. Our King wants His subjects to live without
debt because He knows that the borrower is servant to the lender. (Proverbs
22:7) Conversely, the kingdoms of this world, encourage men to be in debt by giving them
tax breaks and incentives for incurring debt and racking up interest.
While
"Christians" are supposed to be walking in LIFE with Christ as their King, they
are hopelessly bound and chained to this world's system. While they claim LIFE in Christ,
they have MORTGAGES for their dwellings. Did anybody ever tell you what that word meant?
Well, the prefix, mort means death and the combining word gage means pledge.
So we have "Christians" living their lives with death pledges. That sure is walking
in the Light, isn't it? Paul told those striving to live in the ways of the
Kingdom to "Owe no man anything". . . . (Romans 13:8)
Conformity to the Kingdom
of Christ means non-conformity to anything that would jeopardize your obedience and
allegiance to your King. It means a change of government. You were following the systems
of this world and its "non-governments," but now you have a relationship with
the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and you will now walk in His Kingdom and walk in His
ways. This is not popular. This is not fashionable. Walking in the Kingdom of Christ now
poses a threat to those wicked men who have designed and planned for their New One World
Order.
If we believe on Him, then
the "government" (non-government) will come and take away both our cars
and our houses, and our wives, and our children, and ourselves. But praise be to our Great
King who is also our Protector and Provider. When we came to Him, we gave up our earthly
possessions, and we took up our crosses and followed Him. He will sustain us in our hours
of need. He alone is our Defense and Shield.
Living in conformity to
the Kingdom of Christ means living a life of obedience and subjection to Him in every
single aspect of life; every single breath that we take. Every single word that we speak.
Everything that we do and say needs to conform to His Kingdom -- NOW!
Charlie Samples will be
speaking at our Wilderness Retreat, which begins September 15, 1994. Charlie Samples is
the author of They All Call Him King and The Greatest Hoax.
An Aesop Fable
A HAWK long had had his
eye on a flock of pigeons, but no matter how often he had swooped down upon them from the
sky they always had been able to reach their cote in safety. Thinking that it might be his
shadow they had spied, he waited for a cloudy day for his next attack, but still to no
avail.
At length the hungry hawk
decided to use craft instead of attack. From the top of a near-by dead tree he called down
to the pigeons: "Why do you prefer this life of constant fear and anxiety when, if
you would make me your king, I could patrol the sky and make you safe from any attack that
could be made upon you?"
The foolish pigeons,
believing the hawk's interest in their welfare to be sincere, called him to the throne as
their king and protector. But no sooner was he established there, than he issued an order
that every day one pigeon would have to be sacrificed for his dinner.
Application: THEY
WHO VOLUNTARILY PUT THEMSELVES UNDER THE POWER OF A TYRANT DESERVE WHATEVER FATE THEY
RECEIVE.
(See I Samuel 8:5-22)
Is This Oregon?
No, It's Heaven, Pastor Says; State Disagrees
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| Religion: Paul Revere
claims a flock of 200 and exemption from worldly laws, including taxation. But officials
say unless he pays $10,000 in overdue levies, his 'kingdom' will be confiscated. |
By BETH HEGE
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SUBLIMITY, Ore. - For
pastor Paul Revere, getting into Heaven is easy. It's getting out that's a problem.
The last time Revere drove
his white car out of the 34-acre Kingdom of Heaven, he wound up in jail for displaying
Heaven license plates and carrying a Heaven-issued driver's license.
State officials haven't
heeded Revere's claims of celestial citizenship. Nor do they believe the forested estate
Revere calls the Kingdom of Heaven Embassy belongs to God and is thus exempt from county
tax rolls.
Heaven owes more than
$10,000 in property taxes, and the county plans to foreclose.
The saints strongly
object.
"The Kingdom of
Heaven is not of this world," Revere says. "The county has declared war on the
saints."
Revere, the slender,
bearded leader of the Embassy of Heaven church, says it is impossible to serve both God
and the state. He and his followers have renounced their worldly identities and function
solely as citizens of Heaven.
Revere said his flock
numbers 200, but only five of them currently reside in Heaven: Paul and his wife, Rachel,
their daughters, Brooke, 14, and Skye, 11, and a scholar named simply Abraham.
The road to Heaven is full
of potholes and dust, but the paradisiacal plot is lush with trees, wild berries and a
garden. The Revere family and their pet cat live in a spacious wood cabin with a deck
overlooking a stream. A small hydroelectric plant provides Heaven with light.
A typical day features
Revere preaching on various topics, Abraham working on his own translation of the Bible,
and Rachel, Brooke and Skye baking bread and carrying out clerical duties.
"We are an earthly
kingdom," Revere said. "Jesus has established his government on Earth, just as
it is in heaven."
Verily, he said, there are
no taxes in Heaven.
"Jesus did not pay
taxes," he said. "My rule is simple: Love God, love neighbor. I don't need 10
books of Oregon statutes to tell me how to live."
Marion County tax
collectors say that if the taxes aren't paid during the two-year redemption period, Heaven
will be placed on the market.
Jo Stonecipher, the
county's assistant legal counsel, said every time a notice is sent to the embassy,
"the note comes back asking God to bless us and informing us that the embassy is not
part of Oregon and they do not owe taxes."
Revere said he intends to
stay faithful to his claim that the state has no authority over God's property.
"I would rather lose
my body," he said, "than my soul."
Twice under arrest this
year, Revere allowed his body to erode with hunger fasts. He refused every order by police
officers, impassively stating that the state had no authority over him.
Revere's speech, sprinkled
with admonitions and blessings and a "saith" here and there, offers only harsh
words for worldly governments. In short, the state is the Antichrist, and the courts are
the Halls of Satan.
"The court is Satan's
religion carried on by the state," Revere said. "There is a reason why everyone
has an attorney, why the judge wears a black robe. It is part of their satanic
worship."
For Revere, to participate
in a worldly government is blasphemy. And that is the one charge worthy of expulsion from
Heaven.
Revere asks his followers
to do what he has done: Become "unyoked" from the governments of the world.
Throw away state-issued
driver's licenses and Social Security cards, close bank accounts, give up voting, leave
public schools, and tear up library cards. Reject the worldly bonds of car insurance and
vehicle registration.
For modest prices, Kingdom
citizens can carry Heaven documents, kindly issued by Revere from the embassy in
Sublimity, about 20 miles southeast of the seat of State power in Salem.
Revere has issued between
200 and 300 license plates for use in the United States and Mexico. Recently, he began
printing passports, complete with embossed gold lettering and a watermark from Heaven.
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"I'm a bureaucrat for
Jesus," he said, |
Currency may be next,
although Revere said, "I don't believe handling a Federal Reserve note is
condemnation." He said the group prefers to use gold and silver. They also rely on
generous gifts, ranging from bags of wheat to computer systems, from area Christians.
Revere said Heaven's
income from cash sales of license plates, documents and brochures is God's business, and
no one else's.
Membership lists are
closed as well, and Heaven citizens are impossible to track except by their former worldly
identities, which are secret. Revere refused to utter his former name or that of his wife,
Rachel.
Revere considers the
Kingdom a sovereign nation. He established the outpost in 1987 to serve citizens living in
what he calls foreign lands such as Oregon, Utah and Texas. He hopes to have embassies in
every foreign state someday.
Heaven citizens are
accountable only to God, Revere said, and he considers "arbitrary regulation"
such as the speed limits to be no more than a good idea.
At least a dozen Heaven
drivers have been caught speeding in the United States, then carted off to jail for their
other-worldly documentation.
Revere said he expects to
be arrested again himself for not showing up for his next court date this month, but he
doesn't seem concerned.
"Just because they
pretend that we are not God's people but residents of the State of Oregon," he said,
"doesn't change anything."
The foregoing article
appeared on the Associated Press wire and was printed in newspapers across America from
Everett, Washington to Toronto, Canada. We thank everyone who sent us copies of the
articles that appeared in local newspapers.
As a result of the
newspaper article, I was a guest on radio talk shows and several television producers are
interested in featuring our story.
(Highlights from a one-hour program)
The John and Kent Show
KFI AM 640, Los Angeles, California
6:00 P.M. August 23, 1994
Host |
KFI AM 640 for stimulating
talk radio. Thank you for making us the number one afternoon talk show in Southern
California. |
|
Our guest is Paul Revere.
He heads the Church up in Oregon, called the Embassy of Heaven. His 34-acre property is
known as the "Kingdom of Heaven." He and his followers have seceded more or less
from the State of Oregon and the rest of the country. |
|
Now according to the
Associated Press story which was printed in the L.A. Times Sunday, Marion County claims
that you owe them 10,000 dollars, and if you're not going to pay up during a two-year
redemption period, they're going to seize your house and put it on the market to sell. Is
this true? Is that what they want to do? |
Paul |
That's what they're
threatening. They are actually not threatening to take my house. They're
threatening to take the Embassy of Heaven. And I ask one question, and one question only,
What Church do you know that pays county property taxes? |
Host |
Well, I guess you have to
file the paper work. |
Paul |
We have. We've noticed
them. We've noticed them many times, they refuse to -- |
Host |
They won't recognize you? |
Paul |
They refuse to acknowledge
that we are here and that we have a ministry. |
Host |
Do they think you are
pulling some sort of scam just to escape taxes? |
Paul |
Who would do what we are
doing, like going to jail, just for not paying a few taxes? In fact, we are not talking
about all taxes because we do pay taxes. It just happens to be there are certain
particular taxes that are not owed or due. |
Host |
Would you mind talking with
some of our listeners? |
David |
I just wanted to say to
Paul that I think this is tremendous that he has the fortitude and the guts to stand up
for the individual sovereignty that is not granted by any government on earth but was
granted by the Kingdom of God. If more individuals in this country thought the way Paul
did, I dare say that we would not have nearly half the problems that we do today in this
country. |
|
And there is one thing that
I wanted to mention with respect to the property taxes. If people are so happy with the
services they get from government, why don't they ever volunteer to pay more in
taxes. I have never been able to figure that out. |
Co-host |
Paul, is this some sort of
protest against the idea of having government from a philosophical point of view and not a
religious point of view? |
Paul |
We are a government
ourselves, so how can I be against government? I'm a bureaucrat. I'm a bureaucrat for
Jesus. |
Host |
But Paul, I'm not nearly as
religious as you are. So when I talk about government, I am talking about the United
States government because I pay into it at the moment, OK? |
Paul |
The Kingdom of Heaven is
also a government on this earth. In fact, ours is documented and is much older than the
United States of America. Ours has been here for about 2,000 years. So when you talk to me
about government, we're probably one of the oldest established governments on this earth. |
Host |
Let's go to Laurie here in
Orange. You're on KFI with John and Kent, go ahead. |
Laurie |
OK, I have three brief
points. First, I feel Paul is an embarrassment to Christians. It is people like that,
which make it difficult to be a Christian. Number two, Jesus Christ, when He walked the
earth, He held up a coin when they asked Him, "Do you pay taxes?" And He said,
"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." Third, He also
taught that when people come and start saying that the Kingdom of God is at hand, or the
"eleventh hour" as you put it, that they are false, that there are many more
things to come before He returns. And so I feel total upset at the embarrassment that he
causes me being a Christian. |
Host |
That is a rather stinging
rebuke. Paul, do you have a response toward her? |
Paul |
Sure, I'd like to respond.
The foundations are being overlooked. Actually, you need to draw up an organizational
chart. And let's put it really in perspective. It turns out that most churches which claim
to be Christian churches are technically State Christian churches. |
Laurie |
Paul, you are comparing
yourself to other churches. I am speaking to you. |
Paul |
OK, I am assuming you are
coming from a State Christian church incorporated under the State, rather than your church
being incorporated under the Kingdom of Heaven. |
Laurie |
I am assuming that you
drive the roads of your town and that there are certain taxes for the upkeep of those
roads. |
Paul |
Yes, we do pay those taxes.
We pay 100 percent of all road-use taxes. |
Host |
You just don't want to pay
your property tax. |
Paul |
Unfortunately, we have too
many things going here. |
Host |
Paul, Paul, you have to
understand that what you propose, what you have set up sounds like a "dodge"
that you just don't want to play by the rules the rest of us want to play by. You don't
want to pay the property taxes. You don't want to pay for your license. You don't want to
pay for registration. You don't want to play in the game that we all have to play, and you
have declared yourself a Church. And this sounds like a very slick dodge that you have set
up. |
Laurie |
Which is something that
Jesus Christ would not do, but what Paul professes, the Pharisees certainly did. |
Paul |
Let's go to Matthew 22:21,
which is the one you stated on "Render to Caesar that which is Caesar's. Render to
God that which is God's," and most people forget the last half. |
|
You have to remember, the
Pharisees came to Jesus, "to trick him." It was not posed as a question to get
any intelligence, but to trick Him. And so He said, "Bring me the tribute
money," and of course, what did they bring Him? They brought Him Caesar's coin, and
He says, "Well then render to Caesar that which is Caesar's and render to God that
which is God's." The foundation that we are missing is that the Church of the Lord
Jesus Christ is founded upon the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus, as King, brought us the
Kingdom. We have all forgotten what it says in the Lord's prayer. "Our Father who art
in Heaven. Hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth." |
Host |
Paul! This is boring! |
|
We know all the prayers,
OK? A lot of us have heard all the Bible verses and all. But you set up a Church and you
seceded from the Union, you seceded from the State. You consider all the other States
foreign lands. |
Paul |
You must be "born
again to see the Kingdom of Heaven," and all we are doing is complying with the
Scripture. In other words, I have repented from the kingdoms of this world and I am now
born in the Kingdom of Heaven. |
Co-host |
Actually, I understand
this. He is reverting back to what he believes is the true religious truth. |
Dan |
I'm calling from Sodom and
Gomorrah, better known as Los Angeles. Paul, I think you are doing a good job against our
local talk show hosts. You're putting up a good argument there. |
Paul |
Well, I can see why they're
the most famous talk show around, it's a pretty nice environment. |
Dan |
You know, I don't know why
we pay the property taxes year after year, anyway. It is just like registering your car
every year, why not every month? I think it is totally ridiculous. I am just curious, do
you have weapons in the area, or would you fight to defend it? |
Paul |
Let's make sure I get this
very clear. Yes, we have weapons. It is the Word of God. We do not use carnal weapons. In
other words, we will strictly resort to the Word of God as our defense. |
Host |
All right, thanks for
calling KFI Dan. Let's go to Mark. You're on KFI with John and Kent. |
Mark |
I just want to state that
Mr. Revere is in violation of Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution. And it
states very simply in one sentence, "No new State shall be formed or erected within
the jurisdiction of any other State." |
Paul |
Let me help you out. We
didn't form a new State. Again, our government is older than yours. Ours came before your
Constitution. The Kingdom of Heaven was here first. |
Mark |
No, if you are going to
coin your own money, you are going to issue a passport, you are going to issue a driver's
license, you are, in essence, another State, even if you wanted to call yourself another
nation. |
Co-host |
But he's representing God.
God's a higher authority than U.S. government. |
Mark |
Oh, I see. Well, I'd like
to know who his attorney is because I'm going to establish the State of, the kingdom of
Mars, how does that sound? |
Co-host |
Oh sure, go ahead. It might
fly. |
Paul |
Welcome to the persecution. |
Co-host |
Yes, really, you'll face
what he's been facing. |
Host |
Paul, let me ask you,
you're a devout believer in the Bible and you're representing God, trying to do God's
work. Mark could declare himself a representative of his own god and declare his own
little fiefdom as well. I mean there is no way to prove you're right, him wrong and
visa-versa. |
Paul |
That's right. Scripture
says there are many gods, but for us, there is only one. |
Host |
Well, how do we know you're
not a phony? Or how do we know that you are not some sort of scam artist? |
Paul |
We need to prove all things
and you guys are putting a fire underneath us and we're trying to see how well we do in
your fire. And either there will be a fourth Man with us or not. |
Host |
You know, "Burn in our
fire!" Let's go to Norm. |
Norm |
Hey, I wanted to ask Paul
if I could get involved in this, it sounds pretty good to me. |
Paul |
If you want to contact us
and you want to become a real believer, simply write to: Heaven, 97385-0077 and we will
receive your mail. |
Host |
Thanks for coming on with
us. |
Paul |
I really appreciate this
opportunity, and may His Peace be with you. |
Paul, by what authority
do you do these things? |
I ask
you, by what authority do the birds sing? By that same authority, I do the things I do. |
|
 Heaven License Found Valid
Date of Arrest: August 17, 1994
Ambassador: Larry L. Russell
Mission Field: Ohio
I was arrested for
"No Operator's License," although the citation did indicate that I provided an
Embassy of Heaven Driver License. After six days of fasting in jail, all charges were
dismissed and I was released without signing anything. The written DISMISSAL stated,
"It appears that the defendant has a valid Oregon license."
Court Transcript of Arraignment
COURT |
Mr. Russell, let me inform
you, according to the U-10.100, the license which you produced was from the Embassy of
Heaven Church, Sublimity, Oregon. That is not a license which is recognized by the State
of Ohio. |
Larry |
Sir, the State of Ohio may
not recognize the Embassy of Heaven, but the Embassy of Heaven -- Jesus has jurisdiction
over us all. |
COURT |
Mr. Russell, the Court, at
this particular time, is naturally going to regard your remarks as a plea of not guilty to
these charges. |
COURT |
Mr. Russell, you can object
all you want. The record is being made. And due to the fact that you are an out-of-state
resident, there will be a $2,000 cash or surety bond on the "no ops" and a
recognizance bond on the speeding charge. |
COURT |
And the Court orders the
defendant to submit to a psychiatric evaluation -- |
COURT |
-- for the purpose of
determining his competency to stand trial. The Court further orders the public defender to
render such services as can be provided to the defendant, who rejects such assistance. |
Lawyer |
Do you want me to enter on
the case, Judge? |
COURT |
I would think. At this
particular time the Court is making some observation that the defendant is not
sufficiently competent to represent himself. |
Larry |
I object to this. I do not
want an attorney to give you jurisdiction over me. |
COURT |
Well, Mr. Russell, whether
you like it or not, I do have jurisdiction over you, and the Court is exercising that
jurisdiction. |
|
You will be held in jail
until you either post bond or go to trial in these matters, and you will submit to a
psychiatric evaluation. Your refusal to submit to a psychiatric evaluation would keep you
in jail even longer. |
COURT |
You can object again, as I
have noted. |
|
And I will enter you as
counsel on behalf of his defense. |
Lawyer |
We'll enter a not guilty,
request jury, time not waived; and I will enter as counsel for the record, Your Honor. |
Larry |
I object. I do not want any
attorney to represent me. |
COURT |
Mr. Russell, believe it or
not, you may not have that right. |
Larry |
I believe that we're in
America, aren't we? |
COURT |
That's correct, sir, but
the Court also has an obligation, Mr. Russell, not to allow people to represent themselves
if the Court has determined that they are not competent to represent themselves. |
Larry |
Well, I object to that
statement. |
COURT |
I'm saying, based on your
conduct and comportment today, and based upon the statement of facts, you haven't got it
all together right now. You may be sincere in your beliefs, but you are somewhat off the
wall, in my opinion, at this time. |
Larry |
When the people were
murdered out in Waco, when women and children were burned -- and they should have been
basically called as hostages -- and they murdered them, when they killed Randy Weaver's
wife, when they shot Warden Call (sic) in the back -- I don't think I can support your
organization, Judge Romanoff. |
COURT |
Well, your choice, Mr.
Russell. There's a lot of other countries in the world, if you want to move there. |
Larry |
Why don't you export me? |
COURT |
I don't have the authority. |
COURT |
That will be all at this
time. (End of transcript) |
Notice how the judge
applied psychological warfare against Larry, leaving him no hope of getting out of jail
without bowing down to them. Larry did not succumb to the pressures of the court or jail.
He stood firm until the end and established his conviction. All charges were dismissed.
The DISMISSAL ENTRY ordered by judge Jackson made this surprising statement regarding
Larry's Heaven driver license, "It appears that the defendant has a valid
Oregon license."
We can learn much about
overcoming our adversaries from Mahatma Gandhi. He was a little brown man from India who
led his people to freedom from British tyranny, without firing a single shot. Gandhi was
killed by an assassin's bullet in 1948. Nearly a million people attended the funeral
procession.
Gandhi died as he had
always lived, a quiet man, without wealth, without property, without official title or
office. Mahatma Gandhi was not the commander of armies, nor a ruler of vast lands. He
could not boast any scientific achievement or artistic gift. George C. Marshall said,
"Mahatma Gandhi was the spokesman for the conscience of mankind. He was a man who
made humility and simple truth more powerful than empires."
Gandhi was raised a Hindu.
He purchased his first Bible while he was a law student in England. He read the book of
Genesis, but the following chapters invariably sent him to sleep. He plodded through the
remaining books of the Old Testament with much difficulty and without the least interest
or understanding. He especially disliked reading the book of Numbers.
But the New Testament
produced a different impression, especially the Sermon on the Mount. The words went
straight to his heart. It appealed to him greatly that renunciation of the world was the
highest form of religion. He was excited about attending a church where members hungered
and thirsted for righteousness and loved their enemies. At his first church service, he
fell asleep. He was looking for a congregation of devout souls. What he found was a group
of worldly-minded people going to church for recreation and conformity to custom.
While he was a young
lawyer in Africa, he was refused permission to join a Christian church because he was an
Indian. Yet this young man had fed on the words of Jesus, and wished to join the cause and
embrace the Spirit of Jesus. Even though he never officially became a Christian, he
produced more fruit of a true Christian, than many who claim the name.
Though Gandhi was trained
as a lawyer, he soon found the lawyer's profession was a liar's profession. He knew that
if he encouraged his client or witness to lie, they could win the case. But he always
resisted the temptation. When he started using "passive resistance," he found
something far more powerful than law for overcoming those who oppressed him.
Gandhi taught that no
individual, group, or nation need submit to any wrong, nor need they go to war to right
that wrong. There is a third way - passive resistance. "Don't give suffering, take
it," Gandhi said.
Gandhi used the weapon of
"passive resistance" to overcome tyranny. Passive, in its original root form,
means "to suffer quietly, patiently." Gandhi would resist, not by inflicting
suffering, but by taking suffering on himself. It was really not a passive resistance; it
was an active resistance from a higher level.
The opponent strikes you
on your cheek, and you strike him on the heart by merely turning the other cheek. You take
the offensive from him by refusing to pick up his weapons of violence. He hits your body.
You strike his conscience.
Those who are called to
bring about radical changes in the world cannot do so except by raising a ferment in
society. There are only two methods of doing this: violent and nonviolent. Violent
pressure is felt on the physical being, and it degrades the one who uses it. But
nonviolent pressure exerted through self-suffering, as through fasting, works in an
entirely different way. It does not touch the physical body, but it touches and
strengthens the moral fiber of those against whom it is directed.
Gandhi said "passive
resistance," is an all-sided sword. It blesses the one who uses it and blesses the
ones it is used against. And not a drop of blood is drawn. The sword of passive resistance
never rusts, and it cannot be stolen. It does not require a scabbard and one cannot be
forcibly dispossessed of it. It is quite plain that passive resistance is infinitely
superior to physical force, and that it requires greater courage than the latter.
In winning freedom for
India, Gandhi realized that it could not be secured by reason alone. It must be purchased
with suffering. "Suffering is the law of human beings; war is the law of the jungle.
But suffering is infinitely more powerful than the law of the jungle for converting the
opponent and opening his ears, which are otherwise shut, to the voice of reason . . . The
appeal to reason is more to the head, but the penetration of the heart comes from
suffering. It opens up the inner understanding in man."
It is a Christ-love that
would right a wrong by taking suffering. It is love facing evil, facing military might,
facing injustice, with an infinite capacity to take it without flinching. It is returning
love for hate, overcoming evil with good, and conquering the world by the cross.
The greatness of Gandhi
consisted in the fact that he would not look at the end results. He would use the right
means, and the right result would follow. Gandhi said, "You must not worry whether
the desired result follows from your action or not, so long as your motive is pure, your
means correct. Really, it means that things will come right in the end if you take care of
the means and leave the rest to Him."
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GANDHI VIDEO AVAILABLE
Gandhi's life, principles
and power are vividly shown in the movie, "GANDHI," starring Ben Kingsley. |
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