Touchpoints on Religious Freedom (Page 2)

Touchpoints on Religious Freedom (Page 2)

Jacob wrestles

Jacob’s Main Event

22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.  25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as…
Jesus and the Breakfast Club

Jesus and the Breakfast Club

11On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he entered a village; ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16He…

Bringing the Fire

“I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already ablaze! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son    and son against father,mother against…
Touchpoint: Do not doubt, but believe

House to home

those who have deeply welcomed me will attend to my utterings.” John 14:23-29 23Jesus said to Judas (not Iscariot), “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me. 25“I have said these things to you while…
Touchpoint: The tradition of the elders. Image by Albrecht Durer of Jesus in the temple with the elders.

Gospel Unshackled

“Good religion becomes bad religion when practices move toward superstitions, rather than a way of being receptive to Presence and the movements of Spirit. No wonder Paul felt free when he was in prison, Peter felt free when he was being whipped like his friend, and Forrest felt free when his shackles were flying off! They live free in the heart.”
Community of the Wild Goose; photo image of a goose taking flight

Wild Goose, Free Spirit

“May we offer an alternative. May we open the doors and windows of our personal and institutional temples. May the cords of Jesus swing with love, agapao love. May it have the snap of compassion, the wind of spirit. May it bring the rain of grace to soothe the wounded. May it be embodied in the bread and juice in a new political and religious party. The new wine party poured into new wineskins and shared to all those hungry for authenticity and a full welcome! May it be for the posers, fakers and wannabes that Brennan Manning describes.”
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