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Welcome from 
Thanks for stopping in. Pour yourself a cup o' jo, take a load off your feet, and check out what's here. You are looking at my ramblings about issues of faith, life and culture—they are my own and are not necessarily shared by those with whom I work, live or otherwise engage. My journey has led my family and me across the country where I have been introduced to a lot of people and a lot of different ways of doing things. One passion, though, runs through all these experiences: building beloved and sustainable community. "Sustainable" community is kind of a strange notion, as communities (people) change constantly, and things are always in motion. So, the latest chapter of my life has led me to the notion of "impermanence"—not an idea that comes naturally in a culture that likes to build monuments to our greatness for future generations to view and admire. But, I'm trying to practice my awareness of impermanence—the idea that nothing is permanent, nothing is forever, and things are always in flux. Feel free to share your comments and engage in any conversation that may be happening here, but just know that I do reserve the right to delete any spam or anything I deem inappropriate or offensive. I look forward to dialoguing with anyone who cares to dialogue! Peace and blessings, |
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It’s Monday. For many, it’s the day of dragging ourselves out of bed after a couple of days of not having to think about work, and trudging to that place that sucks much of our time and energy. I’ve read a number of articles and blog posts over the last several years about the Church losing it’s way and continually living in a confused Monday-mindset. I used to think we were finding our way […] 
For the past several weeks I have been in deep thought and reflection. I am disappointed and saddened by events in our country. I am saddened by the divides and the hate that so many of our leaders seem to have encouraged and spawned. It is one thing to have an opinion and share it. It is another when those who have a different opinion are demonized. I have been accused of deepening the divide, […] 
I haven’t posted anything the past couple of weeks, since the election. I have been listening to people’s reactions and trying to process what happened and what it might mean for our nation and world. Each year our local Tempe Interfaith Fellowship hosts an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service. It is an amazing service, and a highlight of the season for many. This year I was asked to offer the Prayer of Thanksgiving, which also served as […] 
In the Presbyterian Church we wrap our vision around three ideas discerned over hundreds and thousands of years of the Christian Church: Confessional, Constitutional, and Connectional. We are confessional because we confess our faith and are guided by historical confessions written over thousands of years in response to particular situations and contexts. We are constitutional because we shape our communal life together around a constitution, which includes the Book of Confessions (Part I) […] 
Whew! The final debate in the presidential election is over. It was heated. It was challenging (to watch and listen). The mud being slung all over the place in both the gubernatorial race and all the races down ticket is astonishing. It feels like it’s more than in the past. Yet, looking back at history it’s mild compared to Thomas Jefferson declaring John Adams to be a “hideous hermaphroditical character” in the 1800 […] Caring comes naturally to some, but that does not mean it isn’t hard work. The art and practice of pastoral ministry challenges a culture which values individualism, which makes it hard to ask for help. We are torn between our desire to be self-reliant and realizing that we need one another-scripture would suggest that we are even responsible for one another. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Cain defiantly responds to God’s inquiring about Cain’s now […] 
Stewardship is more than just “managing,” but learning to maintain and USE what we’ve been given for the good of humanity. Like we maintain our homes, we need to maintain our spiritual, physical, and mental health in order to have healthy relationships. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel, or subscribe to this blog in the column to the left. 
There is a game that is as old as humanity, maybe older. It’s called: “The Blame Game.” It goes in and out of popularity, but seems to come back as anxiety increases (whether or not it is factually justified). Leaders often respond to The Blame Game either by joining in and trying to thrust as much blame on other leaders as possible, or by trying to justify or defend their positions against the onslaught of […] |
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