Dear All of Us,
It's really good.
Thank God there are
so many fine folk
generously intent on
social and planetary justice.
They work hard for us
and our world.
These noble souls
do make a change
for the better,
lots of them, actually.
Regrettably, though,
such good efforts
can't make possible
a radical righting
in society and
for our planet.
It’s like trimming
wilted leaves
off a rotten,
dying tree.
The only thing
that will save
peoples and planet
is a genuine,
radical,
change of heart
by the populus.
That means
a profound
spiritual reset.
Huge changes
would flow from it:
attitudinal, lifestyle,
allocation of recourses,
embracing diversity,
priority given to
The Common Good,
economic and
civic parity,
reordered and
realized community,
converting spears
into plowshares
- loving people
and planet.
I believe in miracles.
I pray that we all
keep right at it
working for
social and planetary
justice and health.
And I also doubt
the populus
is willing for the
change of heart
needed.
They prefer
to keep watering
that dying tree
rather than uproot it
and plant a completely
new and health tree.
Put another way, the
military-industrial complex,
media meanness/madness,
the haves and too bad
for the have nots,
polluted power politics,
anti-Gospel
white nationalism,
me-me-ism,
systemic racism,
gated communities
of head and heart
will trump
goodness and real,
will foil and fowl
Good and Godly Ways.
Our societal structure
is designed by and for
the benefit of Empire.
While many of us work
to care for
people and planet,
Empire has a
steel strangle hold
on the
values, structures,
and operation
of society and
our treatment
of planet.
It is degraded,
controlled
thinking, doing,
and abusing.
It is power and opulence
for an elite
less than one percent.
It is bread and circus
for their middle-class
support system.
It is crumbs for the poor.
It is devastating,
dehumanized
squalor and scraps
for vast million
world-wide.
Establishment Religion
has
failed.
Mostly it has signed on as
chaplain to Empire.
We carefully read
the Gospels.
Not much of that
shows up in
Establishment Religion.
The Beatitudes
don't make it
off the biblical page
to communal and
prevailing attitudes
much less
substantive actions.
Establishment Religion
does not have a heart
for a radical change of heart
and all that it would mean.
Too invested
and comfy.
For all of that,
there’s a heaven of
a lot more and better.
Jesus pointed us in prayer
for right and real:
“Thy Kingdom come
on earth
as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:9-10
Well, it
has!
The Father answered
and is answering
that prayer.
From Jesus
into our now
many much
have embraced
Kingdom Life.
They are living
the alternate to and
opposite of Empire.
It is real community
living actually
and practically
living Jesus -
what and how
he
lived, taught
and initiated.
It is a
Lived Love
of
God, neighbor
and self.
It is embracing
Beatitude Attitude
and putting it into play.
It is the
Sermon on the Mount
actualized at work and home.
It is people gathered, bonded,
in deeply loving and caring
Christian community,
warts and all.
It is people doing to others
as they sure hope
others would to them.
It is constant companionship
with Jesus and the Father,
for real "abiding" in each other,
tight togetherness.
It is a "pearl" of great price
at the cost of all they have.
It is a no-notice "seed"
springing up
to towering fullness.
It is being
last, ending first.
It is greatness
being servant
of all.
It is
Passover anew.
It is loving
enemies.
It is living as family.
It is sharing and supporting
people, place and planet.
It is a vibrant
"kin"
domain
of all Creation.
It is taking a pass
on judging others and
getting a pass
on being judged.
It's together being
counter cultural,
with each one of us
supporting all in that.
It is a readiness for
the Master’s return.
It is caring for
the least and the lost.
It is full Gospel living.
It is people welcoming
the promised
Rush of the Spirit.
It is
“Thy Kingdom come”
that has.
It is light in
the midst of dark.
It is life giving
in the midst of
death dealing.
It is community in Christ,
real, practical,
accepting and supporting
each and all in a
GOD GOOD
ONENESS.
It is hope
lifting above despair.
It is home and way of life.
It's here and now.
It is working for
a just society and
a healthy planet.
It is our real residence.
It is God's
KIN DOMAIN
******
CHOICE
"I have set before you
life and death,
blessings and curses.
Now choose life,
so that you and
your children
may live
and you may love
the Lord your God..."
Deuteronomy 30:19
NEXT ONLINE POSTING
Tuesday Afternoon/Evening
September 24,2024
East Cast USA Time
NEXT EMAIL DELIVERY
Friday
September 27, 2024
frankly speaking
spirituality for the street
johnfrankshares.blogspot.com
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Thanks for our
time together.
It so good
for all of us
from many
lands and ways
to connect and
share here.
Every week
we welcome
first time visitors.
Among them this week
was a large group from
Hong Kong
A Warm Welcome
to you
and to all.
No matter our address,
may we all be
Kingdom Resident.
Have a good week.
Love to all.
God Bless,
John Frank
