Mary, THANK YOU for choosing to love people even when it is a gut punch to lose friends. Yes, we still try to be friends with both sides even if they differ. As long as we keep talking there is hope. A Klansman once accused Clarence Jordan of being a Communist for people he associated with. Clarence , without missing a beat responded, Talking with them no more makes me a communist than talking with you makes me a JACKASS!! Yep we can still laugh, it's sacred.
Thank you for sticking to your beliefs and values. It is a very difficult time in our country since Donald Trump made it ok to hate He encouraged it. We can’t fall victim to what he says or what others say. I am watching funny you tubes at night to end my day on a high note! Love listening to you also 💕🙏
An open letter to FLORIDA AND THEIR NEW LAW and to all the meanness during this campaign toward THEM, others not like us…………….
Jesus once said, “for those of you who are listening: love your enemies! Do good to people who hate you! Bless people who curse you! Pray for people who treat you badly!.........Whatever you want people to do to you. Do that to them…………….love your enemies, do good and lend without expecting any return. Your reward will be great! You will be children of the Highest! He is generous, you see, to the stingy and wicked. You must be merciful, just as your father is merciful. Don’t judge………Don’t condemn…..Forgive……..Give, and it will be given to you: a good helping, full measure, overflowing.”
It seems that the kingdom that Jesus preached and lived was all about a glorious, uproarious, absurd generosity.
Think of the best thing you can do for the worst person, AND GO AHEAD AND DO IT!
Think of what you’d really like someone to do for you, AND DO IT FOR THEM!
Think of people to whom you are tempted to be nasty, AND LAVISH GENEROSITY ON THEM!
These instructions have a fresh, springlike quality. They are all about new life bursting out energetically, like flowers growing through concrete and startling everybody with their colour and vigour.
Ah, but is this possible? Jesus’ point is not to give his followers a new rule-book, a list of dos and don’t’s that you can tick off one by one, and sit back at the end of a successful moral day. THE POINT WAS TO INCULATE, AND ILLUSTRATE, AN ATTITUDE OF HEART, A LIGHTNESS OF SPIRIT IN THE FACE OF ALL THE WORLD CAN THROW AT YOU………….WHY………..you are to be like this because that’s what God is like. He is generous to a fault providing good things to the deserving and the undeserving, astonishing merciful. HOW CAN WE HIS CHILDREN BE ANYTHING LESS!
With shame, some Christians know little or nothing of the God Jesus was talking about. They believe instead in a gloomy God, a penny-pinching God, a god whose only concern is to make life difficult, and salvation nearly impossible………but if we really have ears to hear and obey…..there wouldn’t be any violence, revenge, divisions of class or caste. Property and possessions wouldn’t be nearly as important as making sure your neighbor was all right. Imagine if even a few people around you took Jesus seriously and lived like that. Life would be exuberant, different, astonishing. People would stare.
Well that is it……..simple, obvious, clear, direct and memorable………….but of this there is scarcity ………………………………just saying
Mary Katherine, it was this very side of you, seeing that you were protesting in University, just like I did, that made me become a subscriber. I happen to be Canadian, but what happens in the US affects Canada. Not only that, but my degree was in Political Science. I started out a bit more right wing, family based, but as I saw more and learned more, I moved more to the left of centre. I also struggle with past trauma and mental health issues.
Your heart is pure and everything good in this world. I agree with you about 2016, but I believe it truly started with the 2008 election. People carrying monkeys entering republican ralleys. Then, when President Obama actually won, well, I believe there was panic in the land.
2016 hurt my heart and soul, with the nastiness, hatred, bias, racism, and misogyny. I cannot say that it still doesn't hurt. I will say that we need people like you, speaking truth as you do. Love to you and your family!♥️✨️
I have a few family members who I feel like I hardly know or like anymore. These are intelligent people who somehow have become indoctrinated into this cult of Trump worshippers. The things that come out of their mouths shock, anger and sadden me.
I'm there with you and feel your pain. I lost some friends as well as a result of the 2016 election. Also could not reconcile their loudly professed Christianity with the man they stood behind...and still do.
I’m afraid I am not as brave as you. It’s a forgone conclusion that Tr__mp will carry my state and my town in 2024. But, unlike you, I continue to keep my mouth shut and try not to engage MAGA neighbors. In the 1700’s John Wesley said to a friend who disagreed with him, “Although a difference in opinions or modes of worship can prevent an external union, need it prevent our union in affection? Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike?” Judging by what I read and hear, loving alike is out of fashion. Thank you.
Yes, yes & yes!!! I couldn’t agree more! 💗I rarely watch the news but every time Trump opened his mouth, I felt the same way you described: THIS will be it. THIS is what will get people to wake up, stand up, tell him to shut up … but no, every time I thought it can’t get any worse, it did.
I have always admired you and your care for all of humanity. I feel we connected in high school on that level. And I completely feel your position in this post. I had to end my social media involvement in 2020 because it was impacting my mental health too much. But I am glad I have other formats to remain connected to you and show my love and support. Keep fighting the good fight. We are making a difference even though the media doesn't show it.
Funny how language seems to be a little meaner these days....heard the old term......German word used in a movie last night that I was watching that I haven't heard in years.......Shattenparker......a wimp, I guess literally one who parks his car in the shade.......hmmmm guess you can get a point across w/o being mean about it......keep smiling Mary K
Mary, THANK YOU for choosing to love people even when it is a gut punch to lose friends. Yes, we still try to be friends with both sides even if they differ. As long as we keep talking there is hope. A Klansman once accused Clarence Jordan of being a Communist for people he associated with. Clarence , without missing a beat responded, Talking with them no more makes me a communist than talking with you makes me a JACKASS!! Yep we can still laugh, it's sacred.
Thank you for sticking to your beliefs and values. It is a very difficult time in our country since Donald Trump made it ok to hate He encouraged it. We can’t fall victim to what he says or what others say. I am watching funny you tubes at night to end my day on a high note! Love listening to you also 💕🙏
An open letter to FLORIDA AND THEIR NEW LAW and to all the meanness during this campaign toward THEM, others not like us…………….
Jesus once said, “for those of you who are listening: love your enemies! Do good to people who hate you! Bless people who curse you! Pray for people who treat you badly!.........Whatever you want people to do to you. Do that to them…………….love your enemies, do good and lend without expecting any return. Your reward will be great! You will be children of the Highest! He is generous, you see, to the stingy and wicked. You must be merciful, just as your father is merciful. Don’t judge………Don’t condemn…..Forgive……..Give, and it will be given to you: a good helping, full measure, overflowing.”
It seems that the kingdom that Jesus preached and lived was all about a glorious, uproarious, absurd generosity.
Think of the best thing you can do for the worst person, AND GO AHEAD AND DO IT!
Think of what you’d really like someone to do for you, AND DO IT FOR THEM!
Think of people to whom you are tempted to be nasty, AND LAVISH GENEROSITY ON THEM!
These instructions have a fresh, springlike quality. They are all about new life bursting out energetically, like flowers growing through concrete and startling everybody with their colour and vigour.
Ah, but is this possible? Jesus’ point is not to give his followers a new rule-book, a list of dos and don’t’s that you can tick off one by one, and sit back at the end of a successful moral day. THE POINT WAS TO INCULATE, AND ILLUSTRATE, AN ATTITUDE OF HEART, A LIGHTNESS OF SPIRIT IN THE FACE OF ALL THE WORLD CAN THROW AT YOU………….WHY………..you are to be like this because that’s what God is like. He is generous to a fault providing good things to the deserving and the undeserving, astonishing merciful. HOW CAN WE HIS CHILDREN BE ANYTHING LESS!
With shame, some Christians know little or nothing of the God Jesus was talking about. They believe instead in a gloomy God, a penny-pinching God, a god whose only concern is to make life difficult, and salvation nearly impossible………but if we really have ears to hear and obey…..there wouldn’t be any violence, revenge, divisions of class or caste. Property and possessions wouldn’t be nearly as important as making sure your neighbor was all right. Imagine if even a few people around you took Jesus seriously and lived like that. Life would be exuberant, different, astonishing. People would stare.
Well that is it……..simple, obvious, clear, direct and memorable………….but of this there is scarcity ………………………………just saying
The thought of having to go through this again is making me lose my mind!
So true.
Mary Katherine, it was this very side of you, seeing that you were protesting in University, just like I did, that made me become a subscriber. I happen to be Canadian, but what happens in the US affects Canada. Not only that, but my degree was in Political Science. I started out a bit more right wing, family based, but as I saw more and learned more, I moved more to the left of centre. I also struggle with past trauma and mental health issues.
Your heart is pure and everything good in this world. I agree with you about 2016, but I believe it truly started with the 2008 election. People carrying monkeys entering republican ralleys. Then, when President Obama actually won, well, I believe there was panic in the land.
2016 hurt my heart and soul, with the nastiness, hatred, bias, racism, and misogyny. I cannot say that it still doesn't hurt. I will say that we need people like you, speaking truth as you do. Love to you and your family!♥️✨️
I have a few family members who I feel like I hardly know or like anymore. These are intelligent people who somehow have become indoctrinated into this cult of Trump worshippers. The things that come out of their mouths shock, anger and sadden me.
I'm there with you and feel your pain. I lost some friends as well as a result of the 2016 election. Also could not reconcile their loudly professed Christianity with the man they stood behind...and still do.
Yes ... "I have a hard time connecting with levity" .. this & the entire article is also me .. thanks for sharing ❤️
This could be me.
Hate is rampant in our country right now. Thanks for standing against hate!
Hate is rampant in our country right now. Thanks for standing against hate!
I’m afraid I am not as brave as you. It’s a forgone conclusion that Tr__mp will carry my state and my town in 2024. But, unlike you, I continue to keep my mouth shut and try not to engage MAGA neighbors. In the 1700’s John Wesley said to a friend who disagreed with him, “Although a difference in opinions or modes of worship can prevent an external union, need it prevent our union in affection? Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike?” Judging by what I read and hear, loving alike is out of fashion. Thank you.
Yes, yes & yes!!! I couldn’t agree more! 💗I rarely watch the news but every time Trump opened his mouth, I felt the same way you described: THIS will be it. THIS is what will get people to wake up, stand up, tell him to shut up … but no, every time I thought it can’t get any worse, it did.
Using religion and nationalism to control people is the oldest trick in the book. People need to wake up!
I have always admired you and your care for all of humanity. I feel we connected in high school on that level. And I completely feel your position in this post. I had to end my social media involvement in 2020 because it was impacting my mental health too much. But I am glad I have other formats to remain connected to you and show my love and support. Keep fighting the good fight. We are making a difference even though the media doesn't show it.
Funny how language seems to be a little meaner these days....heard the old term......German word used in a movie last night that I was watching that I haven't heard in years.......Shattenparker......a wimp, I guess literally one who parks his car in the shade.......hmmmm guess you can get a point across w/o being mean about it......keep smiling Mary K