Dear All of Us,
Lots and lots of life ago
I had a student in class
whose father was
a major Mafioso Boss.
That was a challenge!
It's also a story
probably not for
another day.
A bit more tame was
having a different student
in another class
who had a bit part
in the movie,
The God Father.
With ever more rampant
cerebral stall out
in this my dotage,
I can't remember his name.
What I do ever so clearly
remember, though,
is that telltale, tell-all line
in the movie spoken by
the Mafioso Chieftan,
Don Corleone:
"I'll make him an offer
he can't refuse."
Refuse it and you die.
That's in absolute and direct
opposition to Jesus and his
OFFER
to us
Accept it and do we ever live!
Jesus offers us himself as our
lifesaving and life-giving
Sheperd
That's an
OFFER
we don't want to refuse.
John 10:1-18
"I have come that
you might have life
and have it to the full."
John 10:1-18
Accept and we live
full torque,
all eight cylinders,
an unstoppable forever
of God Good
Kingdom Life.
Me-ism, commercialism,
a culture of consumption,
mass media's and Empire's
indoctrination of diabolic lies,
arrogance and social pressure
rival for our
attention and acceptance.
Do so and we die
into a forever nothingness
and
that so sadly sure would be
Hell
Could have been,
never will be.
Our whole life,
how we live it,
speaks our
choice and
consequent forever.
There are no
two ways about it.
We can't straddle a
YES
trying to live both
the lie of Empire
and life in the
Kingdom of God.
That attempt
at compromise
has stalled
and neutered
Christianity terribly
over the centuries.
So, faithfully, religiously,
driving to church
every Sunday,
and that in a
high end set of wheels.
doesn't quite cut it for
thy Kingdom coming.
That rattles,
challenges,
cushy, comfortable
church goers,
and yet it's
God Gospel true.
"It is easier for a camel
to go through
the eye of a needle
than for a rich person
to enter the
kingdom of God."
Mark 10:24-25
Accepting Jesus' offer
is not primarily nor mostly
a matter of moral purity
and orthodox belief.
We all stumble
and stammer
over those.
What matters is
FAITH
Faith is lived trust,
a cohesion, a oneness
with God in Jesus.
We entrust ourselves
flat out, fully.
We accept a folding in.
We follow,
give ourselves over
to Jesus and
let ourselves
be filled with
the life and love
He is and gives us.
Out here on
the street
of everyday life
that means
a spirituality
of
All in All
Yes
to
discipleship
and
community
lived out really,
practically, vigorously
in
our value system,
our employment,
our lifestyle,
our address,
our car,
our wardrobe,
our entertainments,
our recreations and vacations,
our "collectables"
our friendships
our portfolio
our meditation and prayer
our soaking in scripture
our sharing of time and means
our care of others in their needs
our media morals
our robust Christian community life
our earth care
our dedication to social justice
our home life and friendships
In short it is not
WWJD
What Would Jesus Do.
Way, way better it is
WJID
What Jesus Is Doing
for us
in us
through us
really
personally
practically
communally
right here and now.
And that is inclusion in
The Kingdom of God,
a
Spirit Life
in community
joyous
positive
creative
regenerative
divinely intimate
altruistic
generous
vigorous
strongly gentle
fulfilling and fulfilled
care full
one with all that is
God and Creation centered
open
justice dedicated
given and giving
It's reaping,
experiencing,
living,
delighting
in
the fruits of
the Spirit:
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self-control
Galatians 5:22-23
WOW!!
No two ways about it.
What an
OFFER
******
Together
here at
frankly speaking
we are sharing a
YES
to Jesus' Offer.
We live it in
many ways and lands.
We articulate it
in many and varied
accents of response.
We welcome and support
ALL
in our
Affirmation of Yes
******
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MAY 27, 2025
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May 30, 2025
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******
A Major League
THANKS
for sharing
frankly speaking
with others
******
As a
Memorial
this weekend let's deepen
our commitment to
The Peace of Christ
Great to be together.
Thanks for
the wonderful company.
See you next week.
All the best.
Love to ALL.
God Bless
John Frank
frankly speaking
spirituality for the street
johnfrankshares.blogspot.com
******
