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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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With every step Jesus took into and within Jerusalem, he pushed against the status quo of fear and oppression. He pushed the Jewish leadership in their cooperation with the empire. He pushed the Roman leadership, riding that thin line between nuisance and seditionist. The leaders saw that the crowd was getting behind Jesus, drawn to his preaching of love and justice (probably more the justice than the love). They needed to figure out how to […] 
It’s Tuesday of Holy Week. In Mark’s gospel (11.20-13.27) we find Jesus heading into the deep waters of confronting the socio-religious and political powers of Jerusalem. A series of interactions with Pharisees, scribes, and some wealthy Sadducees puts Jesus on the defensive. But he, according to gospel accounts, aptly volleys the threats back into the courts of his opponents and scores several points—all the more reason to kill him! In one Jesus is […] 
Me with Robin Meyers at The Fountains UMC in Fountain Hills, AZ. This weekend I proverbially sat at the feet (actually the back row) of sage writer Robin Meyers, pastor of Mayflower United Church of Christ (not to be confused with the Church of Christ), professor of Philosophy, and author of several books, including Saving Jesus From the Church: How to Stop Worshiping Christ and Start Following Jesus […] 
Over the years I have been told many times that the Church should not engage in politics. However, having read scripture and come to understand our Presbyterian tradition more deeply, I have a hard time understanding how the Church cannot be involved in politics. To be involved in “politicsâ€? (from the Greek word polis, which means “cityâ€?) is to be involved in the shaping and reshaping of the social structures—formal and informal—that govern how we […] 
This week I wrote a letter to President Obama and to Secretary of Homeland Security, the Honorable Jeh Johnson, asking them to offer administrative relief for Luis and others who have committed no crimes, have been a part of our communities for years, but are under threat of deportation (you can read it here). Yesterday the Rev. Gradye Parsons, stated clerk of my denomination’s General Assembly, also wrote a letter to […]
I’m often told my blog posts are too long. Well, I’m afraid this one is no exception. Part of the problem may be I just don’t blog often enough. It’s hard for me to just “go for the soundbite,” as I’m wondering if that’s part of the problem in our public civil discourses. We are so interested in the soundbites (giving and hearing) that we are unable to go deeper into the […] At this morning’s ecumenical worship at the 221st General Assembly of the PC(USA) the sermon was presented by the Rt. Rev. Mark MacDonald, National Indigenous Anglican Bishop in the Anglican Church of Canada and recently elected president of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in North America. He preached from John 1.1-14. Rev. MacDonald shared that the first fourteen verses of John turn up-side-down the powers of the […] If there is one thing about the General Assembly of the PC(USA), a denomination I love dearly and am committed to though often frustrated by, it reminds me that we are a big Church who follows and partners with a very big God. Yesterday I attended a lunch for the Israel/Palestine Mission Network (IPMN) where Rabbi Brant Rosen spoke, co-president of Jewish Voice […] |
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