While I don’t want to speak for him, I suspect Michael I. has more trouble with the united states than with America. I’ve always made a distinction between the two because I agree with President Kennedy that “we can do better.”
America is a dream that can be as rich and beautiful as we dare make it. That’s why Ray Charles could cry out in this tribute “America, I love you America”, even though he was oppressed by his country throughout his life.
Throughout our history, each generation is called upon to judge the future in terms of personal dignity, individual freedom, and human solidarity. Against this backdrop, the three fundamental interrogatories that define the future must be address: 1) what kind of people do we want to be; 2) what kind of country do we want to create; and 3) what kind of relations do we want to build with the people of the world. To respond to these questions with a view to dignity, freedom, and solidarity is a never-ending process, generation after generation.
But, no matter how one period decides and acts, America always remains a dream that flows from the deepest yearnings of the human spirit. Thus it always ranges beyond our ability to comprehend or make it real. It is our duty to struggle continuously and attempt to transcend our prevailing condition.
On this Fourth of July, let’s hope that we are always engaged in recreating America. Let us pray, at the same time, that we always judge America to be beyond our grasp! If we can strive, and never yield to the temptation to stop striving, our example to the world will be worthy of respect.
“America always remains a dream that flows from the deepest yearnings of the human spirit.”
For my money, give me the kingdom of God, coming on earth as it is in heaven, flowing from the deepest yearnings of God the Spirit.
“God bless America, land that I love!”
I’m afraid God the Son already has a list of what he blesses (the poor, peacemakers, those who mourn, those who are persecuted). America just ain’t on the list.
“America always remains a dream that flows from the deepest yearnings of the human spirit.”
For my money, give me the kingdom of God, coming on earth as it is in heaven, flowing from the deepest yearnings of God the Spirit.
“God bless America, land that I love!”
I’m afraid God the Son already has a list of what he blesses (the poor, peacemakers, those who mourn, those who are persecuted). America just ain’t on the list.
big mistake…don’t tell my wife…I forgot to log out of the ‘jolynnephotography’ account. those were my comments :(
Kurt, it’s not a matter of underestimating the wideness of God’s grace. I guess I could say right along with you God Bless America, land that I love.
But there’s a current of thought in American Christianity that would gladly call America blessed and ignore what God explicitly calls blessed.
To borrow a word from the prophet George W. Bush, calling America blessed is ‘misunderestimating’ God’s mercy. In giving America undue allegiance, we underestimate the wideness of his explicit blessing on other poorer nations, underestimate his blessing of prophetic correction on our own, and underestimate the unique call of the church to be an ingathering of all the nations.
And to you as well! (wincing in anticipation of Michael I.’s inevitable accusation of idolatry)
John Henry,
While I don’t want to speak for him, I suspect Michael I. has more trouble with the united states than with America. I’ve always made a distinction between the two because I agree with President Kennedy that “we can do better.”
America is a dream that can be as rich and beautiful as we dare make it. That’s why Ray Charles could cry out in this tribute “America, I love you America”, even though he was oppressed by his country throughout his life.
Throughout our history, each generation is called upon to judge the future in terms of personal dignity, individual freedom, and human solidarity. Against this backdrop, the three fundamental interrogatories that define the future must be address: 1) what kind of people do we want to be; 2) what kind of country do we want to create; and 3) what kind of relations do we want to build with the people of the world. To respond to these questions with a view to dignity, freedom, and solidarity is a never-ending process, generation after generation.
But, no matter how one period decides and acts, America always remains a dream that flows from the deepest yearnings of the human spirit. Thus it always ranges beyond our ability to comprehend or make it real. It is our duty to struggle continuously and attempt to transcend our prevailing condition.
On this Fourth of July, let’s hope that we are always engaged in recreating America. Let us pray, at the same time, that we always judge America to be beyond our grasp! If we can strive, and never yield to the temptation to stop striving, our example to the world will be worthy of respect.
God bless America, land that I love!!
“America always remains a dream that flows from the deepest yearnings of the human spirit.”
For my money, give me the kingdom of God, coming on earth as it is in heaven, flowing from the deepest yearnings of God the Spirit.
“God bless America, land that I love!”
I’m afraid God the Son already has a list of what he blesses (the poor, peacemakers, those who mourn, those who are persecuted). America just ain’t on the list.
“America always remains a dream that flows from the deepest yearnings of the human spirit.”
For my money, give me the kingdom of God, coming on earth as it is in heaven, flowing from the deepest yearnings of God the Spirit.
“God bless America, land that I love!”
I’m afraid God the Son already has a list of what he blesses (the poor, peacemakers, those who mourn, those who are persecuted). America just ain’t on the list.
jolynnephotography,
Never a good idea to underestimate how widespread God’s grace, mercy and blessings extend.
big mistake…don’t tell my wife…I forgot to log out of the ‘jolynnephotography’ account. those were my comments :(
Kurt, it’s not a matter of underestimating the wideness of God’s grace. I guess I could say right along with you God Bless America, land that I love.
But there’s a current of thought in American Christianity that would gladly call America blessed and ignore what God explicitly calls blessed.
To borrow a word from the prophet George W. Bush, calling America blessed is ‘misunderestimating’ God’s mercy. In giving America undue allegiance, we underestimate the wideness of his explicit blessing on other poorer nations, underestimate his blessing of prophetic correction on our own, and underestimate the unique call of the church to be an ingathering of all the nations.
The Church is God’s nation in the world.