Manuel. I am grateful for your sobering words that bring to life the tragedy and sorrow of Good Friday in the world we know today which you described so well. It is so absolutely opposite the kindom of God that Jesus stood for and died for.
So very true Manuel. It's quite a stretch to think of what we as a society have done 2000 years ago or yesterday as something to be happy about. 99% of us are immigrants and yet for some reason we think it's ok to put up the "closed" sign. Where is the love and compassion that defined the first Christians?
When does a person become Christian, Mark? It could be that love and compassion are not uniquely "Christian". And perhaps each generation needs to undergo its own transformation.
When ? When they say they are I guess. "Christians" definitely do NOT have a monopoly on love or compassion. In 2024 it seems to be the opposite if you lump everybody who says they are a Christian together. Anyone can say they are a Christian but that has little correlation with whether or not they make sincere efforts to follow the teachings of Christ / Jesus. Being a "Christian" has always been an extremely vague term just the same as being a Jew - cultural, religious, or orthodox Jew. If someone told me they're a Christian, I would want to ask - what do you mean by that? Then I would try to be slow to judge.
Manuel: Gracias GRACIAS!!! 1000% (MIL) de acuerdo con Usted. La hipocresía de los que se golpean el pecho, declarándose cristianos da nausea. Muy bien dicho. Lo aprecio. Usted es un gran hombre.
I'm pretty sure Jesus doesn't like the so called Christian-nationalist. He would be so low key and hang with the homeless, the addicts, the sex workers, the poor. That's how Jesus loves. He is love. I no longer go to church the hypocrisy and wanting smart women to drop their lives and stay home. I can't stomach any of it. I'm pretty sure Jesus would feel likewise. I believe just in my own way.🫶✨️🫶
Thank you, Penny. We are getting together with family this morning. We are all on our journey trying to understand reality. Maybe all roads lead along different landscapes to our common destination. As Antonio Machado said, we make the path by walking it. Peace to you.
Peace and a happy Easter to you, Penny. Thanks for your comment.
Manuel. I am grateful for your sobering words that bring to life the tragedy and sorrow of Good Friday in the world we know today which you described so well. It is so absolutely opposite the kindom of God that Jesus stood for and died for.
Thank you for your comment, Donna. It is up to us to collaborate in bringing about the Kingdom of Justice, Peace, Love. Have a blessed Easter.
So very true Manuel. It's quite a stretch to think of what we as a society have done 2000 years ago or yesterday as something to be happy about. 99% of us are immigrants and yet for some reason we think it's ok to put up the "closed" sign. Where is the love and compassion that defined the first Christians?
When does a person become Christian, Mark? It could be that love and compassion are not uniquely "Christian". And perhaps each generation needs to undergo its own transformation.
When ? When they say they are I guess. "Christians" definitely do NOT have a monopoly on love or compassion. In 2024 it seems to be the opposite if you lump everybody who says they are a Christian together. Anyone can say they are a Christian but that has little correlation with whether or not they make sincere efforts to follow the teachings of Christ / Jesus. Being a "Christian" has always been an extremely vague term just the same as being a Jew - cultural, religious, or orthodox Jew. If someone told me they're a Christian, I would want to ask - what do you mean by that? Then I would try to be slow to judge.
Exactly. Perhaps a person needs to be convicted of being a "Christian" through behavior and actions.
Easter Promise
I’ll share memories of Easters gone-by if you like, read on.
As a child, I longed for the world to go dark on Good Friday afternoon.
Store fronts shuttered. School closed. Remember?
Marking a time outside of time.
I longed for three hours of pure-quiet,
spiritual darkness like it did when Jesus hung on the cross.
Three hours where we would rediscover Love never dies.
I wanted that.
My college dormitory was across the street from Forest Hill,
the oldest cemetery in Ann Arbor. A walk up the hill
among the well-cared for gravestones,
along the stand of Eastern White pines,
nestled in the grass, I’d find a place to sit and talk to Him
about sorrows and loss and pain and hope.
To pray for the guidance every slightly adrift young adult craves.
That’s where I’d go for those three hours.
That’s what remained of my Church.
As a child, Saturday might have included coloring eggs.
Saturday might have just been a playday after chores.
Saturday likely included one more Easter dress fitting as Mom put on finishing touches.
There was always a hat.
Patton-leather shoes, a small, child’s purse.
By Easter of sixth grade, anklets were traded out for that first pair of mesh stockings.
Then there was Sunday sunrise service.
We gathered in the parking lot of our little Methodist church with other families.
Bundled up against the chill of pre-dawn Michigan early-spring.
I didn’t care
about waking up too early, about being hungry, about the cold.
This is where magic happened.
This is when life restarted,
in the parking lot of a little Methodist church, while
the women in the WSCS were preparing plates of pancakes in the basement.
There was quiet anticipation,
silent prayers, shuffling feet,
a few stern shushes for a restless child.
And then the horizon began to glow.
And the sun rose – as promised.
Songs rose.
Love rose.
Jesus rose (again, I’m just sure!).
I’m still that child that holds on to mystery.
Love never dies.
... may I be the change. Manuel, I so appreciate your outrage.
Thanks for sharing those beautiful recollections and sentiments. We are such fools, so easily distracted...
Thanks for sharing your undying faith and hope.
As you say, Karen, "Love never dies."
Have a blessed Easter.
Manuel: Gracias GRACIAS!!! 1000% (MIL) de acuerdo con Usted. La hipocresía de los que se golpean el pecho, declarándose cristianos da nausea. Muy bien dicho. Lo aprecio. Usted es un gran hombre.
Con palabras fuerte y verdad.
Thanks for your comment, Mark. And thanks for the restack. Peace to you.
What she said, yeah!
Thanks, Anna. Peace to you.
Gracias por sus bondadosas palabras, Verónica. Que este fin de semana le traiga paz y gozo.
Thanks for your kind words, Verónica. May this weekend bring you peace and joy.
I'm pretty sure Jesus doesn't like the so called Christian-nationalist. He would be so low key and hang with the homeless, the addicts, the sex workers, the poor. That's how Jesus loves. He is love. I no longer go to church the hypocrisy and wanting smart women to drop their lives and stay home. I can't stomach any of it. I'm pretty sure Jesus would feel likewise. I believe just in my own way.🫶✨️🫶
Manuel, have a nice Easter if that's your thing. Do you. I'm not down on organized religion. Just not for me anymore. Anyway, enjoy your Sunday. 🌅
Thank you, Penny. We are getting together with family this morning. We are all on our journey trying to understand reality. Maybe all roads lead along different landscapes to our common destination. As Antonio Machado said, we make the path by walking it. Peace to you.
A favorite quote: What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean/A
I like that Penny