Master Jesus' Basecamp, Cortez BaseCampJesus.org Cortez

[The laborer is worthy of his meat, gospel Jesus. My soul keeps teaching me by the day what master Jesus base camp is supposed to be. 

Master Jesus Base camp is never here to impose, but it absolutely is here to be available, the way of Jesus kingdom in our midst. He made clear that the reason, the entire reason we are here, is to be workers for the father. Not sometime, every breath. Because that's where the joyful abundant life is. 

Master Jesus Base camp is for individuals that are at a point in their life where they're doing that. To serve everyone. But only those at that point in their life, living to serve, and serving to live, will be here.

What work will people at Master Jesus Base camp be doing every breath? The same as apprentice James:

Working to better themselves (they are part of the community, right?) through clear documented study and self-improvement of various types. Unmistakable. 

And or they will be serving the community, in groups like Church of the nazarian, Grace's kitchen at the Episcopal Church, salvation army.....

And/or gainful employment where they are clearly putting away their savings. 

Some combination of the above.

8 to 10 hours a day, and then solitude at Master Jesus Base camp at no charge to the guests, so they can repeat the next day. 

James violates this everyday, because he can't resist the joy of it. Not 8 to 10 hours a day for him, rather every waking breath.]

Someone can only be helped when they are already helping themselves.

Master Jesus base camp is for those one in 10,000 Souls devoted to working on their lives and those of others. Everyone else is loved, but MJB is not for them.

Step 1. Preliminary discussion to see if it is a mutual fit, and a good idea for the potential guest to demonstrate if it is a great fit. Up to a 13-day trial. If the trial is successful day by day.... 

Step 2. Then whether James permits the guest additional nights is dependent upon whether their behavior during the day makes clear that the purpose of Master Jesus base camp for them, is so they can rest and prepare for the next day's work. 

Everyone is loved by Master Jesus base camp, but being a guest here is strictly conditional on these two steps. Working on their lives can include for example aggressively serving the community at reputable Service Groups, serious self-education, working during the day and putting away savings. These are just some examples. There's no time for games here or facades or deceit. Any suspicion of that will disqualify the guest from further participating in the rest and strict Solitude that Master Jesus base camp offers. But no one not paying the mortgage here, james, is entitled to be here one minute more than James designates.

If you are considering referring someone, or considering it for yourself, read this material or listen to it as frequently as you need to, so that you don't set us up for failure, okay? 

Reading difficulty? You can listen to the following paragraphs here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oFQnDQjJ6QAtpHYy7

This is shaping up as an important pilot, for cortez, for Montezuma county, for the mass unemployment, unhoused wave descending upon us all. Nothing but what people in material destitution need, a strictly silent safe secure legal place to rest for the next day's work. James will do whatever it takes to protect this pilot, and any guest needs to realize that. There is no room for Behavior that could even slightly risk this pilot going forward. No mistakes. Understand that there is no hesitation to call the police, who are in aggressive support of this pilot.

Sacred, for master Jesus base camp, is the spirit inside ourselves that is holy, dead in most of we adults, but trying to fight for life in a few of us. Helping people with that fight with safe secure legal welcoming Solitude at night, for those that embrace the way here, it's the only reason that Master Jesus base camp is funded by James, and exists.

If you are stabilizing and building your life and you need affordable safe secure night time 100% solitude to do that, Master Jesus Base camp might be your solution. Providing  safe secure sliding scale ($0 plus) 100% silent solitude is the only reason that MJB is here. 

Many folks need what MJB offers. Few realize it, sadly. 

Text James 202-603-8857 if this sounds like exactly what you need. If we come to agreement, then you'll be given the opportunity to try to demonstrate that it is a perfect fit for you. 

Security cameras, privacy fences, excellent working relationship with the police, safe and secure. Floor space, tent space outside,  toilet, microwave. Pack it in, pack it out, everyday.

If we reach prior agreement, arrive at 5:00, get yourself out by 6:30 in the morning. 

Anything or anyone that takes even one second of James solitude, cannot be here. They are loved here, but they cannot be here. 

James can't afford to give up one second of his solitude. He can afford to pay every penny he has so that this place is available, but he can't afford to sacrifice one second of his solitude. Don't ask to be here unless or until you understand, accept, and embrace that. Why set yourself up to fail?

Any guest that in any way requests anything more than outlined above, is announcing that this is not the place for them. If someone has verifiable employment and they need adjusted hours, that will be considered. 

No belongings may be left here during the day. This is nobody's home. It is a night time base of rest and recovery so that the next day people can work to secure such things.

When someone demonstrates by their behavior that this is a good support for them, then people can be here up to 13 days in a month. Tragically, horribly, the spiritual destitution in the middle and upper classes in Cortez is so acute, so severe, that no one has offered to help when someone's days 13 run out. But at least it's up to 13 days a month when someone behaves according to the above. And maybe someday someone else will step up.

111 South Elm Street, Cortez 

Note: not sure how things are going to go when it gets really hot this summer. James uses a tent. There's a cool area under the porch outside, and there's space for one or two more tents, including using one that is already set up.  an emergency $9,000  plumbing project* has put us right on the edge of barely surviving financially. Point being, there's no money for you utilities in fact they may soon be shut off by James to conserve funds and to try and keep this place viable. FYI.

* Turns out the sewer pipe underneath this slab foundation home is broken. Turns out anyone that knows anything should have told me that a 30-year-old sewerpipe needs to be replaced/fortified. I wasn't told. Somehow the pre-purchase inspection missed it. 2 months ago I received a quote from the outfit in Durango that can do it. Approximately 49,000 ratings on Google maps, 4.9 out of five stars. I'm not sure I've ever seen such a thing. I should have had it done immediately. But I'm putting it off probably until the fall, hoping it doesn't fully collapse, to try and build up from a negative cash position. In case of emergency. Another emergency. Smh. By the way, local plumbers said they can't do it, it requires a $40,000 machine, only the outfit in Durango, and they literally raved about the outfit in Durango. I've explored whether there are less expensive options, and there are not. People throughout Cortez are really nice folks. With the exception of the city department directors who are extremely competent and professional, the lack of competence and professionalism throughout the rest of the community, I suppose the hospital CEO is also an exception, but beyond that the level of happy incompetence is continually spinning my head. And it's not going to go well for this city. The easy times are over.

IMPORTANT EVOLUTION:  up until now it has been 13 days within a 30-day segment for any guest that by their behavior makes themselves welcome.

As I've made clear, there is a deadly moral hazard here in cortez. Endless free stuff for otherwise able-bodied human beings, is a daily deadly corrosive. 

There's been a guest here for a little more than 13 days, has been behaving perfectly. The input of that individual was requested as to whether it makes sense this endless free stuff at Master Jesus base camp. I suspect the individual wanted the answer to be yes, but I believe they found in their soul that the answer was no.

Like many in Cortez they are handcuffed here on probation, 2 years in the case of this extremely able-bodied individual. A death sentence. Sequestered away from their natural Community wherever that might be, Marooned in shark infested toxic water.

What the individual proposed was the equivalent of $7 a day, and at $15 an hour labor, that would be satisfied by about 3 hours of service to the community per week 

Will places allow someone to do only 3 hours worth of service a week? There's one place that I know of. I'll be exploring to see if there are others.

By definition anyone wanting to do such service has been pretty stringently vetted by adhering to the way here for a full two weeks time. That's about as safe a bet as Cortez is going to get for doing a little part of helping someone to bridge to a more thriving life.

...... 

If you read, understand, embrace the above, there's probably no need to read further. But if you would like, Further detail and thoughts.......

Fyl. Finally got around to registering Master Jesus base camp on Google maps. 

Many many hundreds of nights now, of complete solitary rest and solitude, have been administered to some of our street siblings, that were ineligible for bridge shelter for any number of reasons, and could respect the solitude, strict solitude, of everyone here, including me. It has been a lifesaving privilege and blessing. Additional photographs and a brief video tour on Google Maps. 

It appears clear that some neighbors want to shut us down. They won't tell me why, they'll just glare with hate. I think it's because mercifully athe pinon mini - bus was driving particularly a handicapped woman here at the 5:00 p.m. arrival. And they spun it into a bus picking up homeless people in Durango and dropping them here in cortez. Nimby. Oh well. We have been the best Neighbors in the neighborhood, a thousand times, 10,000 times quieter than the dogs that keep me awake every night. Spotless additional photos and video tour at this link. Google Maps

If someone sees how I can do a much better job, I sure hope they tell me. I think it's just hard, really really hard. These folks are so damaged by and in a deadly culture, and the deadly culture can't even think of standing up to address the damage it has caused, for the joy of it. Yet, anyway. In an attempt to help one or two future guests make it past the first day, this will be in the bathroom by tonight. Creator willing.

It seems the best way to think about this place: Safe, legal, stealth camping or parking, and there's a bathroom available. Stealth camping. Perfect, as long as you keep yourself "unseen," in this case, by james. Exactly like stealth camping, the instant you let yourself be "seen," you have to go and or the police get called. But it's safe, legal, dignified, and there's a bathroom available. 6pm - bfr 6am, prior approval only. Txt 202-603-8857. 

And if my solitude during the day, when people arrive, when they depart, if my solitude is diminished, then they've got to go, or the place has to be shut down.

Think honestly about how hard you are working to improve your life or others today. I won't work that hard to help you, but I may come close. But not one inch more. Almost everyone that comes here thinks that I'm going to make their life right and they can kind of sit back. No. I won't disrespect anyone that way. Not anymore. If you're working hard today on your life, and you need a little help, let me know. If you're not, don't waste our time here. Our love for you is unconditional. Our support is entirely conditional.

I want people to survive but I have to admit it's way way down on my list. Starting with myself.

And I have to watch myself because I fall into the Trap of putting my priority on helping someone survive and with my scarce time and energy and resources I can't squander it on anything but helping people thrive.

The gateway to master Jesus base camp is this post and as I learn I keep updating it.

How can you my unhoused siblings understand how this place might work for you? How you can successfully be a guest here? Maybe one of these would help:

A. Are you working to better your own life, so that you can help others? Are you working to help others? If the answer is yes, and you briefly explain that to james, things may well work out for you here.

B. If you care about protecting this place, and Apprentice James and his attempts, this place might be helpful to you. If you don't, that's fine, but it won't work out for you here. No point in even trying.

C. Safe, legal, stealth camping, and there's a bathroom available. Stealth camping. Perfect, as long as you keep yourself "unseen," in this case, by james. Exactly like stealth camping, the instant you let yourself be "seen," you have to go and or the police get called. But it's safe, legal, dignified, and there's a bathroom available. 

D. James left industry where he was paid $2,000 a day, so that he could control every second of his own time to best serve his fellow humans. Let that sink in. And he chooses to spend every second for free fighting for the least Advantaged here in cortez. No one today could offer him $2,000 a day, about $200 an hour, to stop using his time for free for our neediest citizens. Let that sink in. If someone chooses to study this web page, this post, and understand it, they can know whether they can choose to remain unseen as a stealth camper. And they can choose whether they want to. And if they are able and want to, that's why this place exists. But if they choose to become "seen," they'll be gone. No one's going to take time that James values at $200 an hour, $3 a minute, no one's going to take that away from his fight for our neediest citizens. No one. Including james.... 

How do you avoid being seen? How do you avoid taking time? Abide by the agreement. Don't violate the agreement. Fulfill the spirit of the agreement. If you do there is no distraction for james. You don't take a second of his time. As soon as you don't completely fulfill the agreement, you become a gigantic time drain for james.

That can't be tolerated.

On a night when that works for you, request to be a guest. The instant that doesn't work for you, exit yourself, and you're likely to be welcome again.

I'm learning. Oh it is so slow. Master Jesus base camp is the sacred thing, unique and Cortez and maybe unique in the country. It is a miracle. 

The possibility of sacred solitude for those that respect and protect it for all, one night, at a time. For those that aggressively protect this sacred place, from their own behavior, they are likely to be invited for another night.

And james, you have got to come to terms with this. You must allow people to be guests here, and to help you serve the community with this sacred treasure, anyone that comes in contact with this property in this way, must also understand that it is a sacred treasure, and that they must fight to protect it. Physically fight? No. But fight protect the structure, the rules, the spirit, the intent of this place. Trying to control anyone else? Never. Controlling themselves such that they are a protection to everything just mentioned, and not a threat, ever.

Who is perfect enough to do that perfectly? Not james. But James is enough to hold himself responsible for understanding the rules spirit principles, and to protect them every breath. And very importantly, when he screws up, like oversleeping by 10 minutes, he needs to face that, and figure out within himself how not to do it again. And when someone who is a guest, or a helper, at Master Jesus base camp, they must do the same. They must share the weight of protecting the sacred asset. Aggressively taking their own responsibility. Or they cannot be here or be associated with this place.

Who belongs at Master Jesus base camp it doesn't treat Master Jesus base camp as a sacred thing? Nobody.

[ note, this is long and wordy and rambling, with much redundancy. None of which is intentional. But it's the best that's available right now. If it doesn't make sense to you, if it doesn't work for you, if taking the time to understand it is not worth your time, this is not the place for you. Everyone is loved here. Very few people are welcome here, because it is not a mutual fit. Don't leave it to James to figure out which is which. You figure it out.

It is a work in progress. As problems are discovered among guests, where repeated mistakes are made, understanding is lacking, new wording is added. Maybe this winter there will be time to streamline all this. But for now, if what is available here is a good fit for someone, there's a very good chance they're going to take the time to Wade through and understand this post. If it's not worth their time, it's probably a bad fit.] 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19oDPQDdQh/

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19oDPQDdQh/

• https://www.facebook.com/share/p/

There are a variety of safe places to sleep within this compound. Within Master Jesus base camp. There are several tents set up outside. There is floor space inside.

Some people want to be outside in a tent so that no one disturbs them.

Some people are smart, they know themselves, and they realize that to avoid the disturbing anyone, they need to be outside in a tent.

It is strongly appreciated when people bring their own gear. Sleeping bags, and the like. But if they don't have it sleeping bag, there is one in each tent, and a camping pad to put it on for cushioning.

James thinks that anyone anywhere that wants to sleep in a house when they can sleep out in God's creation is crazy. That's just james.

Mission: to be the leaven that Jesus referred to, so that which is inside us, the spirit that is holy, is brought to full rise, full power, full control over our lives. 

This can be devilishly tricky because our culture and the spirit of the world within us, wants to convince us that that is done with buildings, a roof, a place to pitch a tent..... Material things are never The cure per se and we almost always convince ourselves that they are. A scalpel is not a cure, it can much more easily be murder, unless it is in the hands of a skilled compassionate wise deeply thoughtful and careful surgeon. 

Provision of housing to the needy is much more often damaging in our culture than health producing. As my friend Mark says, we use material things to clear our conscience so we can go play golf, or climb mountains, or look at the foliage while the insides of the neediest among us including ourselves rot and die. 

But if wielded very very very very very carefully, with tremendous responsibility, deep thought, guided by the holy spirit, as the scalpel can be life producing, the availability of a safe place to sleep can do that too. 

The potential of Master Jesus base camp in Cortez will be stillborn, unless any and all of us involved with it ponder and come to understand this very very deeply. Without extreme Care on this, it will be stillborn. 

If those senior in the community take this seriously, as a matter of sacred responsibility, then, and only then, can occasional variances from this mission be done successfully, without causing a stillbirth, and for many additional benefits. Except that a lens is kept steady in focus relative to the leaf and the Sun simultaneously, the fall dry leaf will not catch flame. This is not an idle analogy.

[Note. I'm not complaining but I find it interesting. This isn't my place. I don't want this place. I don't want a house. I don't want property. My vehicle will continue to be my dwelling.

But I can't resist the joy of trying to be the best possible neighbor in the city of cortez, and especially for the once or twice a year sibling from the streets or elsewhere that needs a little support launching their life in a better direction away from the slow motion suicide that is the chosen lifestyle here.]

Why aren't there more places like this? Why don't more people do this? In large part because it is a huge risk. And if a potential guest doesn't take ownership of that risk, well, then they don't need the Solitude here all that much. That makes sense, doesn't it? And that's okay! But only those that take responsibility for the risk can be here.

The laborer is worthy of his rest, Jesus. Paraphrase. Rest, restore, pray, meditate.. for the next day's work.

Jesus was the Good Samaritan, the good neighbor. I've come to realize that everything that Jesus spoke as though he was telling us how we should live, was the description of how he lived. He is the master. And like a true master would do, a true teacher would do, he teaches what he practices first. 

It's important that the name communicate what it is. 

And that the name communicate what it is not:

• It is not something that any of us are entitled to, except by our labor.
• It is not comfortable or fun. In this dying writhing in pain world who's got funds, time, talents for that?
• It is not something that is ours. It is the property of Jesus and God that we have the sacred Trust of using to their delight.
• It is not a hangout. Jesus didn't hang out, ever.
• It is Jesus Sacred Space to be used as such.
• It is a place of sacred mutual respect for people that can do so, and never ever for people that even for an instant do not do so.
• It is a place of Jesus tough love, because he had no other type of love. Nor should anyone else.
• It is not anything but a base camp for neighboring.

Who and what it is for; what may achieve an invite for a place of rest, a safe secure legal place for a tent, 6:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. one night at a time:

• Laborers, servers, those moving themselves and or others toward thriving. Clear unmistakable verifiable obvious evidence that 6 hours that day has been spent serving self or others, and zero time serving the evil spirits within self and others.*
• Gainful low wage non-living wage employment
• Verifiable Library time
• Verifiable community service time
• Verifiable rec center time
• Counseling time
• Group recovery time
• Etc. Any time spent that reasonably moves one toward thriving and away from self-destruction
• - minus. for every hour hanging out in the day center.
• - minus. For any time that remotely looks like hanging out in known drinking and drugging areas. Etc.
• Co-workers. This will take even much more extreme care.
• Live in assistant(s) 
• Invalids
• Elderly
• The son of man has nowhere to rest his head. If Jesus example and words are to be believed, we are not here for one second for ourselves. We are here as God's servants. Every breath. Every single breath. And you know what? That's the only place that thriving is to be found. That's the only place that Joy is. Every step including shutting this thing down will be taken to be sure that this is a moral launching pad, not a moral hazard.

Important point of summarization: there are multiple groups that this kingdom of God project can help move toward full thriving, full joyful abundant life. Remember, this is never a home for anyone, it is a emergency Basecamp, stepping stone so people can achieve a home for themselves. No exceptions, except legally James must be a resident:

1. The board of advisors
2. The sleep-in staff
3. The community, all segments
4. The serving street siblings, 6+ hrs/day
5. The disabled, handicapped sleep-in servants
6. The disabled, handicapped that can and will behave themselves
7. Those returng from residential rehab during transition
8. Transiting thru folks in emergency
9. Those especially vulnerable to molestation, theft, robbery

To be continued. Yes I know it's futile for me to say so, but input desperately needed. James

* free mapping software can be used by those that want to make their use of time verifiable with free applications like this, this being an Android app. Yes, people would have to have a phone if they want to make their time during the day verifiable. Pretty much anyone not responsible enough to hold on to a phone, isn't yet qualified for using Jesus property in the sacred manner in which it was given to us.

Notice: I don't know that the inside of this place will ever be used. Maybe by a permanent staff member(s) whose compensation is being here rent free, and the infinite Joy of helping others. To avoid moral hazard this will be no one's legal residence ever, except for james, the one writing here. And James doesn't expect to ever live in it. He'll be living where he lives now, the only place life is to be found, out on the streets of Cortez serving his least of these siblings, but possibly parking on the property and sleeping in the back of his vehicle at night. Supervision. Or, sleeping on the floor inside the building on a mat so that the otherwise unoccupied building has supervision for people sleeping in tents outside, to come in and use the restroom. If there is ever Furniture in this beside sleeping mats, it might be a bed and chair for a staff member that is infirm and or elderly, and or an individual or small family in the rare case that they are in an emergency and need shelter for a couple of days. Much to figure out. Did I mention, thoughtful, constructive input needed?

Earlier updates -

Update 8/13/25:

Well, there was a known potential disaster and we have passed that. But there is an unlikely disaster ahead, a disaster that is unlikely, but possible, and we should know by early next week what it is, green light, or red light. 

There is every indication that there is no one that is passionately excited about this happening, beside James. It is evident that there are several that won't mind if it does. It remains to be seen if there are those that are vehemently opposed. Seems pretty likely that there will be.

My sense is that my street siblings that are aware of this are intimidated, fearful, somewhat averse. And I don't think that's bad. The Cortez environment makes people that otherwise might move toward joyful abundant life, accept the comfortable life of rotting and dying in Trump's america. And helping to enable their friends to do so as well. Who wants to summon the courage, decency, humanity to face that his Gestapo are now being unleashed on cities around the country, headline news, and it's only a matter of time before both the troops and the vicious sentiment descends on my street siblings in cortez. Who wants to face that? Who can summon the caring of their friends sufficient to propel leadership away? 

And, There is everything about the idea of Master Jesus house in cortez, that speaks an alternative. And change is frightening. And people are averse to change. 

And sometimes life is rekindled when people see the opportunity to change. 

If we get a green light early next week, then it is likely that base camp jesus, Master Jesus house, will be open in the unlikely event that anyone decides they want to relaunch their life toward joyful abundance, beginning mid september.

James will be the husbandman for master Jesus house in Cortez. He doesn't want a house. He doesn't want property. He needs to have both as a potential base camp in the unlikely event that a soul finds that it needs a base camp however briefly, to relaunch itself toward joyful abundant life. Such an interesting adventure. An awesome overwhelming privilege. The most likely outcome, James will simply be even more of a laughing stock of Cortez than he is now. Well, they laughed at Jesus to scorn, why not disciple james?

Update 8/8/2025:

Well, it's time for thoughts and prayers. Regarding the establishment of Jesus House, here in Cortez.

Regarding Jesus house in cortez, I believe that my team and I have done everything that we can to make it so. Final communication to the seller regarding expenses that were determined largely with the help of mark. Mark, please take no offense but I reduced the estimate by about 27% in good faith, not because I found your estimates incorrect. 

And the risk that is in God's hands having to do with the appraisal, well, I'm told that I should know by Wednesday how God is going to play that out. Although, this instant my realtor reminded via a message, lol, me that it isn't that cut and dried. Suffice it to say I am risking the $800 appraisal, funds that would otherwise go to my neediest Street siblings. A risk I will take.

If that property happens, it will physically have the capacity to help as many as half a dozen people a day maybe more. But unless those of passion as described in the post that I shared moments ago, unless people come alongside me with that passion because they can't resist attempting to help those living beating souls, then the capacity of that property will be limited to my ability to administer which will mean probably only one or two people a night at most. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16i7zGq2ti/

My judgment, my understanding, may be incorrect in the following. That what is therapeutic, what was most therapeutic about Jesus was exactly the fact that he saw and treated the neediest in front of him as immediate family in dire need. And that exactly what is the most crippling of the living beating soul is being in dire emergency, at the bottom, and being treated as other than immediate family in dire emergency. It is death blows. It doesn't have to be intended, but intended or not, when someone in life and death emergency is not treated as such, it is death blows to the living beating soul inside them. As near as I can tell Jesus never made that mistake, because he could not. He saw them as family and treated them as such.

Thoughts and prayers. James

7/29/2025:

[Notice: The offer I've made on a property here in Cortez has been respected by the buyer. We've come to terms. There is one major obstacle to get past that could kill the deal. Should know within a week or so. Plan B is A much less physically powerful base camp, is a lot that I probably could buy. If Creator makes this plan A happen, it could be base camp Jesus by mid september.]