The “bond of Liberty”…I’m in Portugal traveling and relearned about the 1974 Carnation Revolution when the National Guard turned on Dictator Salazar and helped liberate Portuguese from 43 years of fascism and form a democracy. The oppression of free speech and the role of women sounds like something out of Project 2025! Celeste dos Cravos (1933-2024), a nun, ignited the protests with citizens to celebrate and placed white carnations into the barrels of the soldiers’ rifles. It can be done!
Thank you for this. Especially this: "You feel angry with and for others." Not AT them. I keep saying "for the common good." It is important to keep that framework. And the virtues, as you said. We all struggle against self-indulgence, FOR self-discipline, for the greater good in community. We do what we can. Freedom is something I see through a glass darkly now. I am trying to do what I can, in the framework of my life as it is. Not rebelling, but trying to honor commitments and be as generous as I can. Even as I am diminishing with age, getting befuddled, and somewhat more afraid.
Diana, thank you for this. It was my spiritual nourishment this week. I have struggled with my anger. But then I remind myself that Jesus got angry, too--really angry, sometimes--and said some things the Gospel writers recorded that were so harsh, Christians today would typically rebuke anyone not named Jesus for saying them. Maybe that's why I still feel guilty about my anger. I wondered if I was just rationalizing it. Your sermon helps me frame it as anger on behalf of neighbors who are being wronged and also suggests how to channel it for good.
I also read your sermon to my wife, who has been struggling with messages at church suggesting that we not read the news and be at peace because God is still in charge and God's love and justice will ultimately prevail. That is not the message she needs to hear right now because it does not acknowledge a place for righteous anger and lament. It seems to dismiss the honest fears and anguish that our own scriptures acknowledge when people cry out to God. My wife has been feeling a bit estranged from church lately because it feels to her like she is being told there is only one way to respond to our national situation and to the assaults on God's justice she sees all around her. So for her your message yesterday was like rain on a thirsty garden.
A People's History of Christianity is also "my favorite book" Though I like the rest as well. Thank you for this reflection on freedom and on Galatians!
Some years ago I was talking to a person from South Africa who had come from South Africa and asked him what his first impression of arriving in Australia and he said "the smell of freedom" I had never thought of that idea and it gave something to ponder
What hole are you digging or what hole are you falling into when you fight with words against the reality of what is (we voted, he won, it's over) instead of moving on to do whatever you can, and doing it?
Had hoped to hear you preach this text today at Lake Junaluska but couldn’t make that happen. I wish it had been recorded. Hope you have a great week there. I enjoyed doing it last summer.
My earliest perceptions of freedom were predominantly being free to express my opinion and being free to vote. This was in an environment where these rights were supposed to be a given for everyone. I learned very quickly that the freedoms were selective. Thank you for advocating freedom to love one's neighbors, which is maybe the most important freedom needed at a time when many people are being hurt by many other people. The last thing anyone wants to do is to add to the harm that is coming upon the weak, or to add harm to those harming the weak.
Great narrative today. It’s just what I needed to hear at this time. I will go back to it periodically when my anger sometimes wants to spill over because of what is being done to our neighbors and communities by those wielding cruel and false power. More and more often, I find myself thinking about Rev. MLK, Jr’s adherence to nonviolent protest and John Lewis’s “Good Trouble”. Thank you!
The work of Love is often subtle and hard to pinpoint. But Love is working, all the time. As we become true Christ-followers, laying down self and loving all people, the world changes. I have to believe that the sum of these many subtle love-changes adds up, and makes a difference.
This time is one of the truest tests of a lifetime. Thank you for being a light in the darkness and another reason to put one foot in front of the other and try the best to remember that GOD IS LOVE and all that means. Bless you.
The “bond of Liberty”…I’m in Portugal traveling and relearned about the 1974 Carnation Revolution when the National Guard turned on Dictator Salazar and helped liberate Portuguese from 43 years of fascism and form a democracy. The oppression of free speech and the role of women sounds like something out of Project 2025! Celeste dos Cravos (1933-2024), a nun, ignited the protests with citizens to celebrate and placed white carnations into the barrels of the soldiers’ rifles. It can be done!
Thank you for this. Especially this: "You feel angry with and for others." Not AT them. I keep saying "for the common good." It is important to keep that framework. And the virtues, as you said. We all struggle against self-indulgence, FOR self-discipline, for the greater good in community. We do what we can. Freedom is something I see through a glass darkly now. I am trying to do what I can, in the framework of my life as it is. Not rebelling, but trying to honor commitments and be as generous as I can. Even as I am diminishing with age, getting befuddled, and somewhat more afraid.
This is great 👍🏽
Diana, thank you for this. It was my spiritual nourishment this week. I have struggled with my anger. But then I remind myself that Jesus got angry, too--really angry, sometimes--and said some things the Gospel writers recorded that were so harsh, Christians today would typically rebuke anyone not named Jesus for saying them. Maybe that's why I still feel guilty about my anger. I wondered if I was just rationalizing it. Your sermon helps me frame it as anger on behalf of neighbors who are being wronged and also suggests how to channel it for good.
I also read your sermon to my wife, who has been struggling with messages at church suggesting that we not read the news and be at peace because God is still in charge and God's love and justice will ultimately prevail. That is not the message she needs to hear right now because it does not acknowledge a place for righteous anger and lament. It seems to dismiss the honest fears and anguish that our own scriptures acknowledge when people cry out to God. My wife has been feeling a bit estranged from church lately because it feels to her like she is being told there is only one way to respond to our national situation and to the assaults on God's justice she sees all around her. So for her your message yesterday was like rain on a thirsty garden.
I am very excited about this path of looking at history! Thank you, Diana.
Your thoughts helped me see the Apostle Paul’s word in Acts 20: 17-36 in a more expansive way than I have before read.
A People's History of Christianity is also "my favorite book" Though I like the rest as well. Thank you for this reflection on freedom and on Galatians!
Some years ago I was talking to a person from South Africa who had come from South Africa and asked him what his first impression of arriving in Australia and he said "the smell of freedom" I had never thought of that idea and it gave something to ponder
What hole are you digging or what hole are you falling into when you fight with words against the reality of what is (we voted, he won, it's over) instead of moving on to do whatever you can, and doing it?
Had hoped to hear you preach this text today at Lake Junaluska but couldn’t make that happen. I wish it had been recorded. Hope you have a great week there. I enjoyed doing it last summer.
A couple of folks from Hyde Park were here!
Give them my greetings! I'm planning to be a Junaluska when Brian is there in August. Will see you at Epworth!
My earliest perceptions of freedom were predominantly being free to express my opinion and being free to vote. This was in an environment where these rights were supposed to be a given for everyone. I learned very quickly that the freedoms were selective. Thank you for advocating freedom to love one's neighbors, which is maybe the most important freedom needed at a time when many people are being hurt by many other people. The last thing anyone wants to do is to add to the harm that is coming upon the weak, or to add harm to those harming the weak.
License is often confused with freedom. Thank you for pointing out the choice and responsibility of freedom.
Great narrative today. It’s just what I needed to hear at this time. I will go back to it periodically when my anger sometimes wants to spill over because of what is being done to our neighbors and communities by those wielding cruel and false power. More and more often, I find myself thinking about Rev. MLK, Jr’s adherence to nonviolent protest and John Lewis’s “Good Trouble”. Thank you!
The work of Love is often subtle and hard to pinpoint. But Love is working, all the time. As we become true Christ-followers, laying down self and loving all people, the world changes. I have to believe that the sum of these many subtle love-changes adds up, and makes a difference.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom and helping clarify freedom in a way that is more relevant today.
This time is one of the truest tests of a lifetime. Thank you for being a light in the darkness and another reason to put one foot in front of the other and try the best to remember that GOD IS LOVE and all that means. Bless you.