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Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD

@marlenagraves.bsky.social

3K followers 1.3K following 980 posts

Asst. Prof of Spiritual Formation-AOS: U.S. cultural history; religion, politics, and inequality in Am. history; Christian nationalism; public memory; political/public theology historical trauma. Seeking our flourishing Rochester, NY🇵🇷

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Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD @marlenagraves.bsky.social · Nov 15

Hoping to reunite with friends/make new ones here! I'm a Puerto Rican writer, speaker & professor with a focus on Christian spirituality & Christian nationalism. One of them is not like the other. My PhD is in Am. Culture/Social History-race, gender, immigration-trying to love *all* of my neighbors.

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Joyce White Vance @joycewhitevance.bsky.social · 13h

This administration is flooding the zone so furiously that people have largely lost track of the lethal attacks on boats in the Caribbean, the gov’t shutdown, the economy, failed release of the Epstein files & so much else. It’s a tactic of would-be strongmen.

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Kat Abughazaleh @katmabu.bsky.social · 15h

I can’t believe I have to say this, but historically, masked men who kidnap families in the middle of the night are usually not the good guys.

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Eileen Clancy 🧿 @clancyny.bsky.social · 16h

On ICE raids and attacks in Chicago, local reporters have consistently shown up the national outlets attempting to report remotely.

Locals continue to break story after story even as the nationals are summarizing govt press releases. They've shown physical bravery in very dangerous circumstances.

COURIER @couriernewsroom.bsky.social · 1d

"With local news in a severe tailspin for decades, there was a real question about whether Chicago’s media would meet the moment. But they have indeed," writes @markjacob.bsky.social in Stop The Presses.

The press steps up as Trump targets Chicago

Local journalism is under siege, but still makes itself indispensable

www.stopthepresses.news

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JeffTrnka @jefftrnka.bsky.social · 1d

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John Pfaff @johnpfaff.bsky.social · 1d

Um, ICE just coldly shot an unarmed PRIEST in the head w a pepper ball when he (and everyone around him) clearly posed no threat.

For the crime of … complaining about government policy.

Core 1A speech.

With cameras rolling, they’re sniping priests for sport.

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 1d

Here’s video of the incident

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Joey Cochran @jtcochran.bsky.social · 2d

When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!
(Isaiah 1:15 NIV11-GK)

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Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD @marlenagraves.bsky.social · 2d

Who Would Jesus Entertain/Eat Dinner With? And if we don't like the answers, what does that say about us, especially those of us who claim to follow Jesus? open.substack.com/pub/christia...

Who Would Jesus Entertain/Eat Dinner With?

How Do We Feel About That?

open.substack.com

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Katie Sawade Hall @bluesawadeshoes.bsky.social · 4d

When Paul says to Timothy, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you" that might just be one of the loveliest statements in all of scripture." 🥹

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Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD @marlenagraves.bsky.social · 4d

My daughter is a first year college student and reported that she received the following police alerts: “Man in Winnie-The-Pooh panhandling aggressively” and “Person throwing wet laundry at building.” #collegelife 😂

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Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD @marlenagraves.bsky.social · 5d

“It is far more difficult to speak truth to power when you enjoy the trappings of power. When you are sipping the king’s wine, and enjoying the king’s food, you are much less likely to stand up to the king when you must do so.”

- Jared Alcantara

via Bible study small group tonight

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George Takei @georgetakei.bsky.social · 6d

History has many painful lessons.

A screenshot of an X post by Q. Anthony Ali (@NobleQAli
, 12h ago) featuring a black-and-white historical image of a person lying on the ground while others, including a woman kneeling and several standing figures, are around them in what appears to be a park or open area. Below this, a reply by Antonio Benetto (@Tony_Benetto
, 1d ago) to @drmistercody
states: "I don't believe US troops will fire on American citizens."

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Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD @marlenagraves.bsky.social · 6d

This is another reason why I love Rochester, NY! Proud of our people!
uscatholic.org/articles/202...

Rochester, New York faith groups stand in support of immigrants

Reverend Myra Brown, the pastor of Spiritus Christi Church, shares how her faith inspired her to protect immigrants and resist ICE.

uscatholic.org

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ACLU @aclu.org · 6d

BREAKING: Our client Mario Guevara, an Emmy-winning journalist detained by ICE in retaliation for livestreaming law enforcement activity, will be deported tomorrow to El Salvador.

Mario and his family are being punished for his reporting. This cruelty is meant to stifle our free press.

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Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 6d

Talarico: if you read the new testament, Jesus doesn't spend most of his time preaching or teaching or even praying. He spends most of his time healing the sick.

Right now, we have politicians in congress with Christ follower in their Twitter bio, but they are kicking the sick off their health care

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Saad Asad @realsaadasad.bsky.social · 9d

San Diego County steps in to provide lawyers for 300 unaccompanied kids in immigration court after federal funding ends. Uses existing unused program funds.

Children shouldn't face deportation proceedings alone, period.

Supervisors vote to expand immigrant legal defense program

The vote expands the county program that began in 2021 to provide legal representation for migrant children appearing in immigration court.

buff.ly

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Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD @marlenagraves.bsky.social · 6d

Tell Homeland Security, to bring those children, who are apparently a threat to National Security, to usher them to the door step of all of our churches here in the U.S. We will take care of them and reunite them with their families. Seriously. I can't imagine anyone abducting my three daughters.

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Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD @marlenagraves.bsky.social · 6d

In a time where those who once supposedly championed free speech are limiting it, we need to know: why is free speech so important. Here are 11 reasons: open.substack.com/pub/christia...

#freespeech #UnitedStates

Why care about free speech?

Here are eleven reasons.

open.substack.com

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Images By Jon Evan @imagesbyjonevan.bsky.social · 9d

Black and White photograph of Angel Oak tree in Charleston, South Carolina. #art #love #artist #artstyle #fanart #piece #artwork #nature #photo #travel #picoftheday #blackandwhitephoto #photooftheday Please refer to link for info and pricing buff.ly/3ZBu1tO

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Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD @marlenagraves.bsky.social · 8d

Excellent!

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June Lewins @joonloons.bsky.social · 8d

Gorgeous day - summer's last hurrah - so went for a long walk across the cliffs.

Met these gorgeous lads - the one in the middle was outstanding in his field.

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Marlena Graves MDiv, PhD @marlenagraves.bsky.social · 8d

Keep it up!

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Sarah Taber @sarahtaber.bsky.social · 8d

US farmers are saying they "just need temporary help, until things get better."

Here's the thing. US farm exports- which are mostly soy- CANNOT get better.

Other countries expanded their soy industries to fill China's demand.

We've walled ourselves out of the global market, folks. This is it.

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Asha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · 8d

I can’t believe I’m watching interviews of city mayors talking about how they are coordinating with other mayors to discuss how to protect their residents FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

I know we are “used to it” but it is absolutely insane

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Amy Joy 🦒 @aymiejoi.bsky.social · 8d

"It was immediately obvious to anyone that slavery was wrong, which is why it was only allowed to continue for hundreds of years." ~ Philomena Cunk

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Zohran Kwame Mamdani @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social · 8d

Five days ago, an ICE agent shoved a woman asking questions about the detention of her husband.

Today they attacked two journalists.

We cannot accept or normalize what has now become routine violence at 26 Federal Plaza. It has no place in our city.

ICE agents assault amNewYork reporter at Federal Plaza immigration court; another journalist seriously injured after shove | amNewYork

ICE agents assaulted amNewYork's own Dean Moses, and allegedly attacked another journalist, on Tuesday morning as they were documenting the ongoing arrests of

www.amny.com

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