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Posted: June 25th, 2007 at 12:58am By: Rev. Kristi Denham
I was a Jesus Freak in the '60s. After my explorations into San Francisco, Haight-Ashbury's darker side (a few rounds with psychedelic drugs, plenty of wild partying in Golden Gate Park, waking up hung over and wondering what it all meant), I encountered the simple faith of the traveling "born-agains" and followed them soulfully into a reawakening of my spirit.
It was a glorious time of profound idealism. My faith did not put me at odds with the Flower Power Movement, but rather gave it substance. I was against the Vietnam War. I stood with the Prince of Peace. I was against the military industrial complex that President Eisenhower had warned us would be the next real threat to our democracy. I was for compassion, justice and freedom, the promises of my newfound faith.
It was a wide-eyed time of innocence. Forty years later I still believe in the Prince of Peace and his call to justice and compassion. Only now I'm against the War in Iraq and the dangers of Halliburton.
I'm having a Jesus Freak flashback, and it makes me very sad.
It is a good thing to have patience with God's timing with us. We are slow learners, we humans. God's love and guidance will prevail. Miracles abound. We have only to keep awake, open our hearts as we open our eyes. We'll see God at work in us. This war will end sooner than that one did. We are growing up. The terrible absurdity of our war games must give way to gentler ways of interacting. We may even learn to talk to one another again. As my kindergarten teacher always said, "Use words!"
"I ain't gonna study war no more!" Country Joe MacDonald sang it loud and clear in the panhandle of Golden Gate Park. I was there. I sang it with him. Yep! I was a bona fide Jesus Freak!
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Rev. Kristi Denham is pastor of the Congregational Church of Belmont, California (United Church of Christ). Her email address is {email RevKristi@aol.com}RevKristi@aol.com{/email}. © copyright 2007 by Kristi Denham.
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I was a Jesus Freak in the '60s. After my explorations into San Francisco, Haight-Ashbury's darker side (a few rounds with psychedelic drugs, plenty of wild partying in Golden Gate Park, waking up hung over and wondering what it all meant), I encountered the simple faith of the traveling "born-agains" and followed them soulfully into a reawakening of my spirit.
It was a glorious time of profound idealism. My faith did not put me at odds with the Flower Power Movement, but rather gave it substance. I was against the Vietnam War. I stood with the Prince of Peace. I was against the military industrial complex that President Eisenhower had warned us would be the next real threat to our democracy. I was for compassion, justice and freedom, the promises of my newfound faith.
It was a wide-eyed time of innocence. Forty years later I still believe in the Prince of Peace and his call to justice and compassion. Only now I'm against the War in Iraq and the dangers of Halliburton.
I'm having a Jesus Freak flashback, and it makes me very sad.
It is a good thing to have patience with God's timing with us. We are slow learners, we humans. God's love and guidance will prevail. Miracles abound. We have only to keep awake, open our hearts as we open our eyes. We'll see God at work in us. This war will end sooner than that one did. We are growing up. The terrible absurdity of our war games must give way to gentler ways of interacting. We may even learn to talk to one another again. As my kindergarten teacher always said, "Use words!"
"I ain't gonna study war no more!" Country Joe MacDonald sang it loud and clear in the panhandle of Golden Gate Park. I was there. I sang it with him. Yep! I was a bona fide Jesus Freak!
— — —
Rev. Kristi Denham is pastor of the Congregational Church of Belmont, California (United Church of Christ). Her email address is {email RevKristi@aol.com}RevKristi@aol.com{/email}. © copyright 2007 by Kristi Denham.
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