Grace vs Gatekeeping

subllibrm

subllibrm

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I have a personal connection to this story. There is a comment at the end written by the president of the ministry that I work for.

The title of this thread came from the blog post.

www.patheos.com

Dusty Spencer, Our Daily Bread & A Florida Execution

Reflections on how Our Daily Bread transformed the life of Dusty Spencer, a Florida death row inmate scheduled to be executed on June 25.
www.patheos.com www.patheos.com
 
subllibrm said:
I have a personal connection to this story. There is a comment at the end written by the president of the ministry that I work for.

The title of this thread came from the blog post.

www.patheos.com

Dusty Spencer, Our Daily Bread & A Florida Execution

Reflections on how Our Daily Bread transformed the life of Dusty Spencer, a Florida death row inmate scheduled to be executed on June 25.
www.patheos.com www.patheos.com
Click to expand...
Did you sign it?
 
For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Romans 13:4 NIV

I'm not signing anything. Dusty rightly earned his spot on Florida's death row. Has he since been redeemed by God's grace? It would seem so and that is a very distinct possibility for which I rejoice.

However, what he did in the flesh nearly 35 years ago has consequences. It had consequences for his victim and her son. It has legal consequences for him as well. (See the verse cited above.) The one ray of sunshine that prevails is the apparent fact that he has surrendered his heart and life to God's grace which, clearly he hadn't when he committed his crime.
 
If it's true that Spencer has found Christ and been truly redeemed, I would rejoice in that. Should Gov. DeSantis conclude that he was rehabilitated, and commute his sentence, I would also rejoice in that.

But from what I've heard about Spencer, he was a violent criminal, and that violence culminated in the brutal murder of his wife. There's no question of his guilt, and despite multiple appeals, there have not been found any procedural errors that would have invalidated his trial.

Perhaps he will be given mercy, but if not, he earned his death sentence, and will receive only his due.

I don't trust Jeff Hood. According to his bio on Patheos, he organized the 2016 protest in Dallas against the killing of Alton Sterling, at which five police officers were shot and killed, and nine others injured along with some civilians. I question the consistency of his opposition to violence.
 
subllibrm said:
I have a personal connection to this story. There is a comment at the end written by the president of the ministry that I work for.

The title of this thread came from the blog post.

www.patheos.com

Dusty Spencer, Our Daily Bread & A Florida Execution

Reflections on how Our Daily Bread transformed the life of Dusty Spencer, a Florida death row inmate scheduled to be executed on June 25.
www.patheos.com www.patheos.com
Click to expand...
The Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood is a Catholic priest (Old Catholic), theologian, and nationally recognized activist based in North Little Rock, Arkansas. A spiritual advisor to death row inmates across the country, Dr. Hood has accompanied more people to their executions than any other advisor in the U.S., including the first-ever nitrogen hypoxia execution in 2024. His work sits at the intersection of justice, radical compassion, and public theology. ... Author of over 100 books—including the award-winning The Courage to Be Queer—Dr. Hood’s writings and activism have been featured in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, NPR, CNN, and more. ... On July 7, 2016, Dr. Hood led the Dallas protest against police brutality that ended in tragedy.​
​
1781726210587.webp
:ROFLMAO: ...tsitfel a ton er'uoy yas uoy dnA​
 
Act 25:11 If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.”
 
I have no issue with the article or the response from ODB. I’m thank for his salvation but didn’t sign the petition.
 
abcaines said:
For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Romans 13:4 NIV

I'm not signing anything. Dusty rightly earned his spot on Florida's death row. Has he since been redeemed by God's grace? It would seem so and that is a very distinct possibility for which I rejoice.

However, what he did in the flesh nearly 35 years ago has consequences. It had consequences for his victim and her son. It has legal consequences for him as well. (See the verse cited above.) The one ray of sunshine that prevails is the apparent fact that he has surrendered his heart and life to God's grace which, clearly he hadn't when he committed his crime.
Click to expand...
conversions in prison are often conversions of convenience.... ... a true prison conversion would see a condemned murderer wish to pay compensation and restitution to those he wronged .... and to their families if the victim is dead.. .. to do all within his power to rectify what he has done..... .and that includes being willing to fully accept the sentence he was given after his conviction..... even if that sentence is a sentence of death. .....

true conversion would not see him pursue relief of his sentence or even allow others to petition for relief on his behalf.. ..i firmly believe this based not only on what i have experienced first hand - but also from what i see in scripture......

the thief on the cross who was converted was assured by Jesus that he would be with him in paradise.... but he was not taken down from the cross and allowed to walk away - nor did he ask for any mercy in relation to the punishment for the crime he committed... ....in fact - he told the other thief their punishments were just..... . ..that;s the image of a true prison conversion... ......
 
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subllibrm said:
I have a personal connection to this story. There is a comment at the end written by the president of the ministry that I work for.

The title of this thread came from the blog post.

www.patheos.com

Dusty Spencer, Our Daily Bread & A Florida Execution

Reflections on how Our Daily Bread transformed the life of Dusty Spencer, a Florida death row inmate scheduled to be executed on June 25.
www.patheos.com www.patheos.com
Click to expand...
Not even one mention of Christ?

Hmmmmm...
 
The email I received today at work:


Dear ODBM,

Last week, this testimony was shared with me. It’s written by the Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood. You can read the blog here. I have not met Dr. Hood and before this blog post, I did not know who he was. He is right, we disagree on some essential matters, but I appreciate his generous and gracious spirit and the work he does with people who are inmates on death row. I respect his willingness to share what he has written in this post.

I am also grateful that he shared Dusty’s story. I wrote Dusty a note, and I am hoping it gets to him before his execution.

We have no idea just how much God has used us and will continue to use us. It’s humbling! I hope you will join me in praying for Dusty and in giving God thanks for His grace in Dusty’ life.

Boldly unhindered (Acts 28:31),

Matt

**********

The whole point is that God is using the Our Daily Bread devotional. The beauty of this is that the gentleman who wrote the blog post was moved to mention it and also swallow hard and give credit where he admitted that he didn't want to.

Also to his credit, he chose grace over gatekeeping.

*********

I have been in the printing industry for over forty years. I'm am confident that 99.8+% of everything I have ever produced has ended up recycled or in the landfill. As I wrap up my working years, I'm encouraged to know that the material I am now helping to produce carries a message with eternal consequences.
 
Ransom said:
Check out the "New Theology School" he founded.

Hood's a joke.

His god is activism, not Christ.
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I definitely picked up on that vibe. If he can pick up on a definite change, and the source seems sound, that is a good thing. Maybe it's a message for him.

I do shudder at the fact that this guy is Spencer's "spiritual advisor".
 
subllibrm said:
The email I received today at work:


Dear ODBM,

Last week, this testimony was shared with me. It’s written by the Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood. You can read the blog here. I have not met Dr. Hood and before this blog post, I did not know who he was. He is right, we disagree on some essential matters, but I appreciate his generous and gracious spirit and the work he does with people who are inmates on death row. I respect his willingness to share what he has written in this post.

I am also grateful that he shared Dusty’s story. I wrote Dusty a note, and I am hoping it gets to him before his execution.

We have no idea just how much God has used us and will continue to use us. It’s humbling! I hope you will join me in praying for Dusty and in giving God thanks for His grace in Dusty’ life.

Boldly unhindered (Acts 28:31),

Matt

**********

The whole point is that God is using the Our Daily Bread devotional. The beauty of this is that the gentleman who wrote the blog post was moved to mention it and also swallow hard and give credit where he admitted that he didn't want to.

Also to his credit, he chose grace over gatekeeping.

*********

I have been in the printing industry for over forty years. I'm am confident that 99.8+% of everything I have ever produced has ended up recycled or in the landfill. As I wrap up my working years, I'm encouraged to know that the material I am now helping to produce carries a message with eternal consequences.
Click to expand...
Well said.
 
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