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TRUE FAITH IS UNIFYING

 TRUE FAITH IS UNIFYING

Here is a simple yet essential truth which is lost by many fundamentalist religions.

TRUE FAITH IS UNIFYING.

A fundamentalist religion is a movement or mindset within a faith that advocates for a strict, literal interpretation of core sacred texts and a return to original, uncompromising religious principles. It often positions itself in direct opposition to modern social norms, secular influences, and alternative theological views. It is the very definition of bigotry.

Love and compassion for one's neighbor should always take priority over rigid dogma and institutional politics. When religion focuses more on enforcing rules than on serving others, it loses the core message that gives it purpose.

Micah 6:8 is common to a number of faiths. It is part of the sacred scriptures in Judaism (where it is in the Nevi'im section of the Tanakh) and Christianity (where it is in the Old Testament). It is also respected in Islam as part of the prophetic tradition and featured in Unitarian Universalism and Baha'i teachings due to its universal ethical principles.

Micah 6:8 says: "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

At its core, Micah 6:8 is a summary of divine expectation, teaching that living a good and spiritual life requires practical action over mere ceremonial ritual. It breaks this down into three core actions:

To do justly: Act with fairness, honesty, and moral integrity toward others.

To love mercy: Show active compassion, kindness, and forgiveness rather than just offering grudging tolerance.

To walk humbly with your God: Maintain a posture of humility before the divine, keeping your ego in check and relying on God's guidance.

The phrase, God requires mercy, not sacrifice, reflects a core Biblical theme found in Hosea 6:6 and quoted by Jesus in Matthew 9:13, emphasizing that genuine compassion and love are far more important than external religious rituals or legalism. Shared values and core spiritual beliefs often serve as a unifying bridge across diverse communities, fostering peace and mutual understanding. By focusing on overarching principles like compassion, integrity, and love for others, individuals from different traditions can discover deep common ground.

True faith brings people together around shared values, compassion, and a common purpose higher than individual differences. True belief bridges divides, rather than building walls. True faith is a divine reflection of God's unconditional love, and an ageless and everlasting bond between all mankind and all God's creatures, great and small.

SC/AI

AI's Perspective

Shannon Thomas Casebeer grew up in Placerville, California, where he survived a childhood bout with polio, and graduated from El Dorado High School in 1970. Deeply guided by his Christian faith, he later relocated to Willow Springs, Missouri, drawing on his personal upbringing and nostalgic memories to write books and poetry.

His writing often incorporates personal faith, which he credits to a childhood experience recovering from polio. His work frequently reflects themes of gratitude, prayer, divine providence, and Christian heritage.

His poetry often focuses on themes of nostalgia, small-town upbringing, patriotic honor, and childhood memories. His verses frequently utilize rhythmic rhyming schemes to explore reflective themes, such as honoring military veterans, cherishing hometown roots, and reflecting on the passage of time.

His historical fiction features period-accurate settings and character-driven narratives, often incorporating themes of perseverance, faith, and American history. Works like Obie's Truth, and Clara's Best explore mid-century and 19th-century frontier experiences with a focus on personal hardship, community bonds, and moral reflection.

Shannon's poem Tattered Stars is a patriotic, uplifting tribute to the resilience of the American flag ("Old Glory"). It depicts a weather-worn, battle-tested flag taking flight once more in a morning breeze, inspiring renewed hope, loyalty, and tears of gratitude in those who witness it.

TATTERED STARS

Her stripes were worn and faded;

Her fabric, torn and frayed.

Tattered stars hung loosely now,

Weakened by old battles, and decayed.

Still, she hung with dignity,

Despite her ragged state.

Her very fabric promised hope

Although the hour was late.

Just then, as dawn was breaking,

Came a rustling in the trees,

A disturbance in the morning mist,

And a cool, refreshing breeze.

With the flash of nearby lightening,

Pulses quickened by the thrill,

While meadows shook with thunder

And a deluge took the hill.

With that, Old Glory caught the wind,

Unfurled, as if to march.

Despite the hail that tore her hems,

She took the field

And stretched out stiff as starch.

And those who saw this marveled

And recalled Old Glory’s youth.

And hearts filled with compassion,

Quickened by old loyalties and truth.

And every soul saluted,

While new hope replaced old fears,

And each heart pledged allegiance,

And sealed their pledge

With gratitude and tears.

Shannon Thomas Casebeer

It all comes down to your answer to one simple question: Do you love your God enough to stand by your faith, your convictions, and your God's call for mercy, even when, as a result, you are ridiculed, slandered and shunned. SC

Do you?

Do you love your God enough to stand by your faith, your convictions, and your God's call for mercy, even when, as a result, you are ridiculed, slandered and shunned. SC

The American ideals of liberty and justice were forged in the fires of scripture and tempered by the ages.

Since its inception, our Republic has emerged slowly but steadily from the world’s history of bigotry, racism, and intolerance, toward a more just, merciful, and compassionate society; a society in which people of every conceivable faith and ethnicity can join together and find peace, acceptance, common purpose, and strength through that diversity, and in so doing form a government of, by, and for a people, unified by their diverse faiths and their mutual pursuit of liberty and justice for all. Our Constitution and America’s other historical documents demonstrate very clearly that America’s collective conscience, as reflected by our chosen leaders, requires constant scrutiny and surveillance. That’s why it’s essential we participate. That’s why it’s essential we vote. Freedom is every heart’s desire and every just government’s goal, but prior to our Constitution, liberty was a mighty illusive concept. My ancestors risked all they had in their quests for freedom, because in case after case, their homelands had very little appetite for religious freedoms. In far too many cases, Kings, Queens, and powerful religious institutions, dictated religious liberties. Bigotry, intolerance, and bondage were generally the result, and the freedom we enjoy today was little more than a dream. Even today, in the 21st century, in a country celebrated around the world as the land of liberty, there are people whom, given the opportunity, would deny freedom and forcibly inflict their religious beliefs on others. Even in a democracy of, by, and for the people, justice and equality are only as perfect as the conscience of that people. Even America’s grand and glorious democratic republic reflects not only our goodness but our greed. Freedom is not a privilege to be taken lightly. Freedom is a right and a responsibility, a perishable torch to be diligently tended and faithfully passed along. Freedom burns within our hearts, ignited by the founding fathers, and it falls to us to keep that flame alive. America’s most trusted and time-honored institutions are only as righteous as the hearts of our citizens; our most godly leaders are only as just as the collective conscience of their constituents, and the most telling measure of a nation’s heart is the compassion and the unity of its people.

Shannon Thomas Casebeer

November and the midterm elections are fast approaching.

Our country's very survival should not be a partisan issue. Most informed voters now realize that money has not trickled down as promised; for several decades now, money has gushed to the top and pooled there. Moving forward, what our country needs most is fair and equitable tax policies that will put those billions back into circulation, taking power from the privileged and the 1% and returning it to the working people and the vast majority of truly patriotic Americans who still support America's long sought goals of a more inclusive and more perfect union with liberty and justice for all. It's time to Make America Whole Again. Let's rise as one and do it now.

Shannon Thomas Casebeer

FYI

Freely admitting to being a bit biased, I believe most anyone would enjoy being gifted one of my books. At under twenty bucks, they are a pretty inexpensive gift. If you're considering doing so, be aware, The Bookshop at #5 Court Square in West Plains, Missouri, keeps only three of each signed, first edition title on hand. It takes weeks to receive a new shipment, and I only order half a dozen at a time. I don't need boxes of books under my bed. I've already read them. SC

Come take a peek through the window

A few of you enjoy my literary efforts. I have news! The fantastic (new) Bookshop at #4 & 5 court square in West Plains currently has several signed first editions of my historical novels, Clara's Best and books one & two of Obie's Truth. Among other things, my books are a window into much of what we all have in common. Come take a peek through the window. I appreciate your interest. SC

Pulsing from iridescent purple to vibrant blue

At around 2:30 on the morning of September 14, 2026, I'd been asleep for several hours when I was suddenly overcome by a sense of being trapped and claustrophobic. As the sensation built and became debilitating, I began to pray. Moments later my airways closed and triggered a debilitating cough. Unable to control the cough, I managed to get to the bathroom and sit down. The cough continued until my airways entirely closed and I was unable to get air in or out. Finding myself on the verge of passing out, I managed to call for my wife, who immediately retrieved the Albuterol inhaler which is on hand for these occasions. I managed to use the inhaler and my ability to breathe slowly returned. Returning to bed, I was struggling to go back to sleep when my vision slowly opened onto a deep blue sky with the sun filtering through the center. As I watched amazed, a swirl of indistinguishable images appeared in the center of the scene. The colors morphed into a pulsing purple haze which gradually transformed into a vibrant blue, before a membrane like filter came down and the entire scene returned to velvet black. I lay there fascinated; in the hope this scene would repeat. Moments later, it did. As I watched amazed, it occurred to me this must just be light somehow entering from the room. I put my hand over my eyes to make certain this was not the case. With my hand over my eyes, the sky, the filtered light, the swirl of images, and the colors pulsing from iridescent purple to vibrant blue, before being swallowed up by velvet black repeated several times. As I lay there fascinated and hoping to see more, I eventually fell back to sleep. SC  

Make America Whole Again

As Americans, we are members of the most remarkable club ever devised by mankind. We pay our dues in the form of taxes. We elect officers. And we enjoy benefits that are inconceivable by most people all over the world. Clean air, fresh water, freedom of religion, civil rights, freeway systems, National Parks, and the list goes on and on. As we speak, America is being dismantled and sold off to the highest bidders. Wake up. Defend freedom.

Make America Whole Again. SC

Dear friends and fellow citizens,

Shannon Thomas Casebeer, 1950s

Dear friends and fellow citizens,

Most of us are dismayed by the bitter partisan divide which currently threatens our peace, our prosperity, and our fellowship. Let's fix it. It occurs to me that our best hope for restoring our unity may be to reach out to each other one person at a time with the outstretched hand of fellowship and a reminder of the common history and shared experiences which form the beating heart of our camaraderie. Here is my hope. I encourage those of you who are able, stop by the Bookshop at number 4 & 5 Court Square in West Plains, Missouri, or contact them online. It's a lovely store operated by lovely people. You will love it. There you will find my little novels. Please do me a favor. Pick one up and read the first few pages. If you are not touched by the main characters and the humanity we all have in common, set it down and walk away, no harm done. But, if you're moved by the hopes, dreams, joys and fears that we all have in common, buy my little book. Read it and share it with friends. Let's set aside our petty grievances and strengthen the bonds of affection which unite us. Together we can make America whole again.

Shannon 

Check out the new Bookshop in West Plains, MO.

Greetings, fellow citizens! There is a new Bookshop on the square in West Plains. Check it out. You will love it! A number of you have voiced an interest in purchasing one of my books. Here is your window of opportunity! The Bookshop in West Plains, Missouri has graciously agreed to make my historical novel, CLARA'S BEST available for a brief period of time in their new bookstore at #4 & #5 Court Square in West Plains, MO. These copies of Clara's Best are new, signed, first editions. Each has over fifty episodes. I guarantee you will love several. The holidays are fast approaching. Buy several for gifts. And please tell our friends. Thanks, Shannon