Lessons as a Returning Resident to Jamaica

I had the eye-opening experience of returning to Jamaica as a returning resident after four years as an immigrant. After studying my PhD in Canada, my family and I acquired a lot of stuff, many of which we parted with, but others we sought to take back with us.

Our return to Jamaica our homeland was greeted by a money-grabbing system. Instead of the government granting us concessions to come back and help build the country with our acquired experience and knowledge, they made it clear through their institutionalized extortion practices that they do not really want us back. We had to pay for our two Canadian born children to get the right to Jamaican citizenship. Next, we had to pay a huge amount of money to the Jamaican Government to collect our used personal items and stuff (clothing) and a few toiletries and other personal care products, books, documents and stationery that we took back with us. Not to mention the one bed we bought and the other bed that a Canadian church brother gave us a mattress for.

This experience caused my firstborn to reflect and deliver a powerful insight into the injustice of our government custom taxation system. As my wise firstborn put it, paying custom and duties on stuff you return to your own country with is like: the government taking your stuff away from you and “selling them back to you. It isn't fair."


My firstborn is right. The injustice also includes double taxation. While paying for stuff in Canada, I already paid taxes, and any further customs and duties to bring them back with me amounts to paying taxes twice for the right to own or use stuff.

Worse, the system is set up for the ignorant to err and end up paying the dues. You are blamed for not doing your research and not checking the Website. The fault is on you to educate yourself. No brochure is given to persons leaving the island through the airport. 

I am so glad that the God that I serve does not operate like that, but permits us the freedom to use the stuff he created according to our own pleasure, while making us know his standards and expectations. He also institutes a system that if we err, he can erase our errors and remove the blame from being on us for our faults and errors. With Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement nigh, through this experience, I get to recognize how better God's systems are than extortionist national governments.

Mark you, my government is not entirely to be blamed. After all, it follows the extortionist and oppressive principles of the International Monetary Finance (distortion intended) system that lends money to national governments to make them indebted while advocating neo-liberal principles that do more harm than good.

It is the oppression by unjust governance and systems that enables one to appreciate the Kingdom of God. Governments and systems that want you to err and do not care if you err, in order to exact a penalty from you. Governments and systems that want you to pay for the right to use stuff that they did not create. Government and systems that want you to pay for human rights like the rights to live in a territory or call a geographic location home. Governments and systems that rent you stuff that they do not create themselves.

My advice to any Jamaican going overseas for a period of time is to document what you are taking with you out of the island and show/declare it to Jamaican Customs at the airport before you go. Finally, my advice to you all is to realize that the economic and political systems (the kingdoms) of this world will be supplanted by the kingdom that the prophet Daniel saw in his vision. Until then, apply for your citizenship in that kingdom before God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit stop issuing visas for it.

See below some relevant questions and answers that I copied from the Jamaica Customs Website:

Why am I charged duty on used clothing which my relatives send from abroad?

A) All items of clothing are dutiable, whether they are new or used. The duty charged is calculated on the total of the cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value for the items. Rating: Views: 12725 Date Added: 2009-02-12 11:20:08 Category: Duties , General

Is it customary to charge duty on my personal items e.g. cameras and cellular phones, which I take with me on my trips abroad? A) Customs can charge duty on these items if they exceed your duty free allowance, and there is no proof that these items were in your possession on your outbound journey. One way of providing this proof is by declaring these items to Customs Duty office at the airport proir to departure of your flight.

The need to worship and what it does for humanity

I have been having a spiritual feast that I just want to share some of the soul food that I have been feasting on. I have been studying the sanctuary themes of salvation in the Bible and a book on Management principles based on the  gospel of Luke have guided my reflections, and made it possible for me to receive revelations and new insights into the Bible and spiritual principles. In this post, I will share some these insights, reflections and revelations.


To begin, after watching a sermon on the sanctuary, I picked up a National Geographic Magazine entitled: "The Birth of Religion: The World's first temple". In it, I read an article by Mann (2011) who discusses how historians are now theorizing that human civilization is largely the result of religion and human desire to worship. In general, from reading the article I also draw the conclusion that the need to worship is the foundation of society and community. We organize community and society around worship and based on our need to worship.

In his own words, Mann (2011) states:

Through primitive religious practices - burying the dead, creating cave art and figurines- organized religion arose...when a common vision of a celestial order was needed to bind together...big new, fragile groups of humankind (p. 56-57).

In addition, the point is also made that it takes religion to sustain both politics and economy (or political economy). Mann also acknowledges that:

Villages would be more likely to accomplish [their] aims if their members were committed to...collective enterprise. (p.56)

 Mann also argues that organized religion

helped justify the social hierarchy that emerged in...complex society. Those who rose to power were seen as having special connection with the gods. Communities of the faithful, united in a common view of the world and their place in it were more cohesive than ordinary clumps of quarreling people (p.57).

Jumping across to the next reading, the book on Management based on Luke's Gospel by Bruno Dyck, I also read

People simply do not have enough willpower to break free from oppressive structures..., especially when those structures reward them with self-interested material and social benefits. People need transcendent revelation and help to develop and implement [new] structures and systems. (p.115-116)

For me, putting all these together, gives me a picture of why it is difficult to change the status quo. First of all, everything that we know exist today was not possible without the intervention of God or the "gods", and so much is at stake when one wishes to challenge the structures that exist, no matter how oppressive. I see in this the Jewish Passover story, where the Israelites could not break free from Egyptian oppression except through the intervention of God through his servant Moses.


Further, another principle is that religion now today perceived as being very divisive terrain, was once used to bring people together in order to achieve great feats. I believe that in the future, there will be a one world religion that will seek to unite civilization and all human beings. However, we are warned in the Bible that there will be two such global religions, one false and one true. However, that is the subject of another post.




References:

Dyck, B. (2013). Management and the gospel: Luke's radical message for the first and twenty-first centuries. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Mann, C. C. (2011, June). Birth of Religion: Turkey's 11,600-year-old pillars reflect a surprising new theory about the origins of worship. National Geographic, 34-59.
Can also be retrieved at: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/06/gobekli-tepe/mann-text/1#close-modal

Immigration and Globalisation in the Bible: Part 5

One of the major themes in the Bible is that of immigration. G-d though creating the earth gave it to human beings to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18). However human beings through Adam failed to live up to their responsibilities and had aliens, Satan and the fallen angels establish control over the earth. However, despite the wrecked earth, Jesus migrated from heaven to spend time here in order to reverse the rule of Satan and establish a revived worldwide mission to reinstate diplomatic ties between heaven and earth. Eventually, G-d and his son Jesus are going to move in and live on earth among human beings which would be the greatest immigration of all time.

It is on that latter point that I must spend some time emphasizing, as most Christians I know have an inverted view. Many songs are sung about Christians going to heaven, when there are so many passages of scripture that declare that God wants to live among us on the earth. It is not God's plan to have a exodus of the righteous people from earth to live in heaven. As Isaiah 45:18 declares, God's plan is not for a desolate and forsaken earth. In Genesis 1:28, God's explicit mission or mandate for humanity is to subdue, rule over, govern and take charge of the affairs on earth. That mission and mandate has not changed, though God has at least once repented about making man (Genesis 6:6).


However, God longs to once again have man fulfilling the mandate of keeping his garden on earth for him as he once did (Genesis 2:15). G-d wants to put his feet on earth, or more specifically, he wants to put up his feet on earth (Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 5:35). He wants a resting place here on earth with human beings. A vacation spot. A get away and resort with human beings who love and want to wait on him.


In Zechariah 14:4, the prophet declares that God's feet will be on Mount Olives, east of Jerusalem. He plans to establish a dwelling in Zion, with headquarters in Jerusalem, Israel.  Jesus tells us to pray that God's plan for earth be fulfilled as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). God wants to make earth like heaven or rather, wants to bring a piece of heaven to earth. While God has built his new city in heaven, he wants to take it down to earth. This is why John saw the vision of the new Jerusalem coming down out from heaven (Revelation 21:2).


God wants to re-establish diplomatic ties between heaven and earth. That's what the entire Scriptures are about. They are about God's attempt to re-establish diplomatic ties and access that human beings had to heaven before they fell. How much is this promise throughout the scriptures. Jacob in his dream saw a ladder stretching from heaven to earth with angels descending and ascending the ladder (Genesis 28:12).

In Psalm 84, the psalmist talks about how lovely it will be to be in God's getaway resort on earth, and about all the pilgrims/tourists that will want to voyage to God's city to hear from him, just as how the people from all Galilee and Judea flocked to hear Jesus. In Zechariah 14:16-19, all the nations of the earth will have an annual appointment to meet at God's headquarters.

Throughout the history, the Bible details the migration of so many persons. But the greatest migration is yet to take place. The migration of the Holy God to earth to live in the midst of human beings. May we be ready and look forward for that great day.

The Bible, Immigration and Globalisation Part IV

It has been a while since my last entry, and now, my first time blogging from London, Ontario in Canada. I recently arrived to pursue PhD studies. As such, I have been taking in an entire new world and with it a new understanding of the familiar scriptures.

I now see the Bible as a book that immigrants can connect with. This for me provides a secondary explanation as to why the European American settlers were so devouted to the Christian or Jewish faith and the Bible. Apart from migrating for religious persecution, they were better able to connect with the patriarchs, all of whom were immigrants, with the promise of settling in a promised land. Which immigrant cannot connect with the experience of going into the unknown and being separated from family members and ties and the familiar, then going to a foreign land to face struggles alone and hoping that they had some familiarity around them. Even someone who knew them in a previous life to encourage them and help them adjust.

I am now in Canada, as an immigrant with the mission of studying Library and Information Science. Thanks to G-d for working all things out.

However, being alone, I can only remember Jacob, who left his family to migrate. Secondly, as this is my second night without a bed (I do have a “bed” of sorts, if you count my towels, sheets and plastic bags). This experience therefore helps me to connect with Jacob, who also had a bed of rocks (Genesis 28:11), which he later named Bethel (Genesis 28:18-19). How I hope that my house where I lay will be my Bethel.

Bethel was the place where Jacob met and encountered G-d. It is at Bethel that God reaveled to Jacob  divine purpose and the vision for his life (Genesis 28:11-14). It was also at Bethel that G-d made Jacob to know that G-d's presence was with him (Genesis 28:15).

This was important, because Jacob was to experience 14 years of hardship, for which G-d's revelation would be of comfort and good cheer. That revelation was perhaps the hope that Jacob clinged to in order to overcome the realities of his present hardships.

In fact, Jacob's experience of being physically separated from family members can only be paralleled to Joseph. I can also connect with the experience, being physically separated from wife and daughters and parents and siblings.

However, like Joseph's experience, I know G-d means it for good, and that by going ahead, I can prepare the way for spouse and children so that they can experience London Ontario in a more comfortable way than I have. In fact, I know not how my experiences in Canada, will in the future help my family: parents, siblings, spouse or children.

However, of one thing I am sure, that G-d has purpose for anyone who will be willing for him to use them. Any immigrant, regardless of the your occupation or status in life, can experience G-d's presence and revelation. This was demonstrated in the experience of Hagar, a maid/servant girl, who also had that experience.

Hagar, when ordered to migrate by her master and mistress (Genesis 21:14), now became a single mother immigrant with a boy child,  Abraham's son Ishmael. Despite the fact, she called upon Abraham's G-d, and cried out for her son and herself (Genesis 21:16), as she could not imagine how they were going to make it through life on their own in areas unknown. No familiarity, no one around to help them.

And G-d answered her (Genesis 21:17-19), thereby showing that he will help anyone who calls out for him and express their need. It is thereby reassuring that as an immigrant, that the G-d of the Bible is a G-d who helps immigrants.

Immigration & Globalization in the Bible (Part 3)

I have arrived at the conclusion through meditating on G-d's word that G-d's intent is for people to spread out on the earth and live everywhere on the earth. Based on the scriptures and my discussion of them in Immigration & Globalization in the Bible (Part 1), G-d wants globalisation and population explosion to take place. It is humanity that wants to stop and prevent people from occupying their borders, as well as people (who are lead by Satan's agents) who want to reduce population in fear that they are depleting the earth's resources or that humanity is becoming too much to govern and control.

While early humanity was carrying out's G-d's purpose for them, there was some extra-terrestrial immigration. A group described as 'the sons of God' were attracted to the women of earth. Like Eden, when Satan seduced Eve, these sons of G-d visited earth seduced and wooed humanity's females. Then there were intermarriages between these extraterrestrials and humanity. According to at least one very reliable source in the literature of the Apocrypha (the book of Enoch), those alien immigrants brought with them the magic arts, cosmetology, astrology, herbal medicine, technological know how and many of the things (and sins) that humanity now practices. Note well that: The book of Enoch is reliable because this same book is cited in the New Testament book of Jude verse 14-15 and also by a respected Ante-Nicene father of the early church, Iraeneus (Schaff p.481).

As a consequence, there were mutants born among the human race. Giants and men with incredible powers, abilities and capabilities occupied the earth, as cross-breeds between humans and fallen angels (the aliens) (Genesis 6:4).

On reading this, I believe that some of you are probably thinking that this is a wild interpretation closer to Hollywood. Unfortunately, Hollywood's motion picture ideas are not very far fetch from spiritual reality. In fact, though I don't have sufficient documentary proof, I believe that some of Hollywood's movie ideas are obtained by necromancy or by demons/fallen angels communicating with Hollywood movie directors, actors, script writers and other artists. That however may be an entirely new area of research that is outside of the scope of this reflection.


References:

Schaff, Philip. ANF01. The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus: Christian Classics. Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 2002. Web. 4 June 2011. <http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.pdf>

Immigration & Globalization in the Bible (Part 2)

So the first ambassador and diplomat was G-d, and the first embassy was located in Eden. Human government had access to good diplomatic relations with heaven.

However, a certain deportee called 'Satan', used the medium of a serpent in Eden, to disrupt the diplomatic relationship between humanity and heaven. Through the serpent, the devil was able to seduce human government to break the first treaty ever established on earth. However, out of it G-d made a new policy for earth's extra-terrestrial relations in Gen 3:15:

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring Or seed and hers; he will crush Or strike your head, and you will strike his. (NIV)

Man who violated the conditions of their access to life and G-d in Eden was also deported. Adam and Eve found themselves denied entry to Eden and forced to immigrate to places where they would have to undertake agriculture for survival. Their visa to heaven was revoked; they lost their citizenship and permanent residence in Eden.

Adam was not only to have strained diplomatic relations with G-d, but also with the earth. Adam was used to picking fruit and nuts from trees, which were adequate to sustain him. Now he would have lack of access to orchards, and would have to create his own. Fortunately, he could till the soil for crops that did not take as long to grow and reproduce, such as ground provision and grain.

Now Cain, the first murderer, also had further strained diplomatic relations with both G-d and the earth. Unlike his dad, Cain had no work permit and could no longer utilise agriculture for his survival. His work permit on earth was revoked and he had to be a nomad in order to obtain food. Plus, he lost access to visits from G-d. However G-d did give him refugee status (Genesis 4:11-16).

Despite his lack of a work permit, Cain managed to build a city (Gen 4:17). So despite having to be a food gatherer and (possibly hunter), instead of a farmer, Cain was able to access food that he could possible store and have time to build a dwelling for himself and his family to settle down. Cain then became an artisan and skilled worker, and his generation followed. His great great grandson Lamech raised Jabal who became the father of tent makers skilled in livestock production (indicating that rather than hunting, they were able to domesticate a supply of animals, so they could have a constant supply of meat, hence remaining settled in one place) (Gen 4:19-20). Another offspring was Jubal, who raised musicians in his family, persons adept at discovering how to pleasantly arrange and organise sound and make instruments (Gen 4:21). This indicated that Jubal's descendants did have time for leisure and recreation, due to some constant supply of food and adequate food provision. How else would they have abandoned the rat race of gathering food and hunting if otherwise?

Finally, Lamech's son, Tubal-Cain, became a skilled artisan at making agricultural and construction tools. He was the first to be involved in the metal industry (Gen 4:22).

These great stories tell me that whatever restrictions are placed on one's working in another country, there are still ways and means to survive. No matter where you go and may be unable to find work, you can find something to do that can bring you an income. You need not rely on formal employment. You can always innovate and find something that humanity is not yet doing or producing and create a livelihood for yourself. Self-employment, innovation and entrepreneurship is also a path to being a successful immigrant. G-d bless you.

Immigration & Globalization in the Bible (Part 1)

It is amazing how much immigration takes place in the Bible. In fact, when reading the Bible, especially the part called the "Old Testament" one will realise that globalization is nothing new. Bible stories all talk about the issues of globalization and immigration.

As I prepare myself for my sojourn in Canada to study, these issues occupy my mind, and the only scriptures that seem relevant to me are those about immigration issues. What are the stories that can inspire me as I leave my home country to a foreign one? What spiritual lessons can I learn? Like the Jews, and as a spiritual Jew, can I draw inspiration from the immigrants of the past? What does the Holy Scriptures declare about the phenomena of globalisation and immigration?

This is hoped to be the first of a series of spiritual exploration of the topic. However, I will write/type as I have time, though my heart, spirit and mind will continuously reflect upon this theme in the Bible, until the L-RD fills me with sufficient stories from the scriptures to prepare me for my study experience in a foreign land among a multi-cultural people.

So let's begin in Genesis and proceed to Revelation. However, in this blog entry we will stop before at Adam. (My children are awake as early as I am, and as such I may not get enough time to write more, before they demand my attention).

So in the beginning G-d stated that his purpose for man was to immigrate and be global. Mankind's mission statement according to G-d was to 'be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth' and to form a global government over the earth's resources (Genesis 1:28). Clearly,  G-d purpose was for globalization and for the spread of humanity all over the earth. In another scripture verse in Isaiah 45:18, G-d declares that his purpose for man was to inhabit the earth and not leave it desolate. Hence people should not be clustered just in part, but must be everywhere on earth.

Another issue is that G-d has no intention for humanity to permanently live in heaven (if ever live in heaven). Numerous scriptures tell us about G-d's purpose and mission for humanity on earth. I will just bullet a few more below:

• Psalm 115:16 (New International Version)'The highest heavens belong to the LORD,but the earth he has given to mankind.'
• Matt. 6:10: - New International Version - 'your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven'.
• Ecclesiastes 1:4 (King James Version) - 'One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.'
• Psalm 104:5 - (King James Version) - "[Who] laid the foundations of the earth, [that] it should not be removed for ever"
• Psalm. 37: 11: (KJV) "But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”

G-d himself established his embassy or high commission in a place call Eden, where he regularly met with the first government (human beings) of the earth. In Eden he revealed his diplomatic mission and was the first ambassador.

Religion and Globalization

Peter Berger, a sociologist, has written what is a really insightful article on the challenge and change that globalization brings to religion.

In the article, Berger begins to show how he and other scholars have had to modify their theoretical paradigm, which argued that as society becomes more modern, then religion will decrease and decline. Berger has argued that the evidence is not so. He declares that if that particular theory was to be held true, then one could not consider the United States of America modern.

Religion in modernity has lead to, a new conflict in society - the conflict between the cultural elite and the religious populace. In Berger's words,

"in many countries including the United States, this intelligentsia or cultural elite is very much in conflict with the religious populace."

Berger also goes on to suggest that globalization has had an impact on religious identity. He argues that what globalization has done is to make societies more plural in religious identity, especially where the legal framework permits the peaceful coexistence of religions.

Peaceful coexistence and interfaith dialogue has had the following impact:

• People have more religious choices


• Religion and churches are now seen as voluntary organisations or associations competing for volunteers or members in the market for religion.


• people are blending religious elements and beliefs to form their own identity

I found this quote very interesting, as it reflects too my own journey and struggle. Berger states that:

"increasingly you find individuals who put together their own particular religious profile. You find this very much in North America and in Western Europe. You find it elsewhere as well. Robert Wuthnow, who I think is one of the best sociologists of religion in the United States, has used the term ‘patchwork religion’: People put together different elements of their own tradition and other traditions and say, ‘Well, I’m Catholic, but...’ The ‘but’ is very important and there are many things included there.

For example, the belief in reincarnation. An enormous number of people in Europe and America believe in reincarnation, which is not exactly Christian doctrine. So that’s part of ‘I’m Catholic, but I believe I’ve been here many times before’ or something like that. Danielle Hervieu-Léger, a French sociologist of religion uses the term ‘bricolage’, which means tinkering. It’s like a Lego, you create your own little version of whatever it is you want to call yourself."

In addition, Berger also suggests that because of the variety of religous choices, people are no longer taking their religoius truth for granted, but are leaving themselves open to discover alternative truth or other truth. Berger states:

"actually our language says this very well. For example, one might say, ‘I happen to be Catholic’ – an extremely interesting phrase. Or a more sort of Californian: ‘I’m into Buddhism.’ Which, of course, suggests that tomorrow I might be out of Buddhism, and in fact chances are that I will; I’ll discover something else."

However, Berger also maintains that globalization has made it difficult for the State or any other religoius institution to control religion or the religious choices of the populace. He argues that even totalitarian states are having difficulties.

Harvard Reference Citation:

Berger, Peter L. (2006). "Religion in a globalizing world." World Association for Christian Communication. available at: http://www.waccglobal.org/fr/20073-media-and-terror/461-Religion-in-a-globalizing-world.html (Accessed 1 August 2009).