Spirit of a Liberal https://www.theliberalspirit.com The blog of RW Holmen, author Fri, 04 Oct 2024 04:15:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 7738755 The Point Man and the Peacenik: America in 1968 https://www.theliberalspirit.com/the-point-man-and-the-peacenik-america-in-1968/?utm_source=subscriber&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss Fri, 04 Oct 2024 04:14:31 +0000 https://www.theliberalspirit.com/?p=5101 In the winter of 1971, I was back at Dartmouth after discharge from the Army the prior Christmas Eve. Contrary to the experience of many Vietnam vets, I was received well–not as a hero but simply as someone who had experienced the most significant event of our generation. As I shared stories with the curious, […]

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]]> 5101 To my Republican Friends https://www.theliberalspirit.com/to-my-republican-friends/?utm_source=subscriber&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss Mon, 06 Jul 2020 14:19:26 +0000 http://www.theliberalspirit.com/?p=4948 You voted for Trump even though you didn't like him. Doubted his character. Questioned his fitness for the job. Yet, your aversion to Hillary was even greater

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]]> 4948 Wormwood and Gall a Midwest Book Award Finalist https://www.theliberalspirit.com/wormwood-and-gall-a-midwest-book-award-finalist/?utm_source=subscriber&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss Mon, 04 May 2020 16:12:44 +0000 http://www.theliberalspirit.com/?p=4924 The Midwest Independent Publishers Association (MIPA) recently named Wormwood and Gall as one of three finalists for a Midwest Book Award in the Religion/Philosophy category. The awards program, which is organized by MIPA, recognizes quality in independent publishing in the Midwest.

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]]> 4924 Where were you when … https://www.theliberalspirit.com/where-were-you-when/?utm_source=subscriber&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss Fri, 19 Jul 2019 13:14:45 +0000 http://www.theliberalspirit.com/?p=4897 Most of us remember where we were when the Twin Towers were attacked on 9-11. For folks my age or older, we remember the Kennedy assassination. Fifty years ago, Apollo 11 roared into history as I arrived in Vietnam. I wrote about those days in my embellished autobiographical novella entitled “Gonna Stick My Sword in […]

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]]> 4897 Ten Questions for Trump Supporters https://www.theliberalspirit.com/ten-questions-for-trump-supporters/?utm_source=subscriber&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss https://www.theliberalspirit.com/ten-questions-for-trump-supporters/#comments Mon, 06 May 2019 12:17:00 +0000 http://www.theliberalspirit.com/?p=4869 If you’re a Trump supporter, here’s a quiz for you in the quiet of your own thoughts. Don’t be defensive; dare to think long and hard and ponder the questions seriously. 1)  Why did Russia want Trump to win? 2)  Why do black voters overwhelmingly disapprove of Trump? Hispanics? LGBTQ? Women? 3)  Why does Trump […]

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]]> https://www.theliberalspirit.com/ten-questions-for-trump-supporters/feed/ 2 4869 Ancient History Made Contemporary and Compelling https://www.theliberalspirit.com/ancient-history-made-contemporary-and-compelling/?utm_source=subscriber&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss https://www.theliberalspirit.com/ancient-history-made-contemporary-and-compelling/#comments Sat, 04 May 2019 12:56:53 +0000 http://www.theliberalspirit.com/?p=4865 Colleen Kwong is a pastor and an artist (potter). We began bumping into each other and exchanging our work a few years ago at church conventions. My fingers trace her clay labyrinth that sits on my desk. I sent her a proof copy of Wormwood and Gall, and she soon replied that she “devoured” it […]

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]]> https://www.theliberalspirit.com/ancient-history-made-contemporary-and-compelling/feed/ 1 4865 More Reviews: Wormwood and Gall https://www.theliberalspirit.com/more-reviews-wormwood-and-gall/?utm_source=subscriber&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss Wed, 01 May 2019 12:44:42 +0000 http://www.theliberalspirit.com/?p=4860 A pair of new reviews have been posted on Amazon. I asked Pastor Phil Eaves and Susan Troselius to review advanced reader copies of Wormwood and Gall, knowing that they had earlier expressed appreciation for A Wretched Man. On one hand, it is fair to say that these are cherry-picked reviewers for that reason, but […]

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]]> 4860 Lutheran “Vision and Expectations” Revisited https://www.theliberalspirit.com/lutheran-vision-and-expectations-revisited/?utm_source=subscriber&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss https://www.theliberalspirit.com/lutheran-vision-and-expectations-revisited/#comments Thu, 04 Apr 2019 12:55:42 +0000 http://www.theliberalspirit.com/?p=4831 The ELCA Church Council meets today at the Higgins Road headquarters in Chicago to consider a document entitled Trustworthy Servants as a replacement for a prior document entitled Vision and Expectations. The proposed document comes to the Council following recent action by the Conference of Bishops. To be sure, the current document purports to be […]

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]]> https://www.theliberalspirit.com/lutheran-vision-and-expectations-revisited/feed/ 2 4831 Early Amazon reviews for Wormwood and Gall https://www.theliberalspirit.com/early-amazon-reviews-for-wormwood-and-gall/?utm_source=subscriber&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss Tue, 26 Mar 2019 10:43:00 +0000 http://www.theliberalspirit.com/?p=4827 Folks who received advance reader copies of Wormwood and Gall have posted five-star reviews on Amazon. Pastor Wesley White has penned his own book centered in Mark’s gospel, entitled, Slow Reading the Gospel of Mark, a reflective, meditative, and introspective invitation into the gospel narrative.  Pastor White’s review of Wormwood and Gall lauds the historical […]

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]]> 4827 Wormwood and Gall–first review https://www.theliberalspirit.com/wormwood-and-gall-first-review/?utm_source=subscriber&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss https://www.theliberalspirit.com/wormwood-and-gall-first-review/#comments Fri, 15 Mar 2019 14:07:47 +0000 http://www.theliberalspirit.com/?p=4818 A few years ago, I participated in a Saturday morning men’s group over coffee and Panera pastries. Mike Allen was another participant. Recently, he responded to my request for an early review and quickly downloaded a digital copy, and he has now sent me his review. First, he contrasts light Christian fiction with heavy theological […]

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