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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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Agitators are dangerous. They can insight fear and frustration, and often violence, with or without knowing it. Last Saturday I participated in a counter-rally calling out presidential frontrunner Donal Trump for his racist, misogynistic, and down-right hateful rhetoric. We were there to agitate, but also raise the flag on the language coming from a person who is vying for one of the most powerful positions in the world. Prior to Saturday, opposing Donald Trump’s run […] 
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 […] 
[Author’s note: This post is a bit more “stream of consciousness.” I wrote it reflecting on Walter Brueggemann’s book, Reality, Grief, Hope: Three Urgent Prophetic Tasks, which I’m reading for a class as part of my Doctor of Ministry studies at McCormick Theological Seminary. So, as you read, be kind in your thoughts. This is a vulnerable piece for me, but I wanted to offer it as is.] Mary and the Child Jesus […] 
At UKIRK Presbyterian Campus Ministry on the Tempe campus of ASU we have begun talking about practices of Christian faith. Last night we talked about different kinds of praying: from the Lord’s Prayer to silence and meditation to even running as prayer. We talked about the five different kinds of prayer often touted by Sunday School teachers and confirmation leaders: praise or adoration, repentance, petition, thanksgiving and intercession (we had trouble remembering them […] 
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 […] 
The Rev. Theresa Cho, associate pastor at St. John’s Presbyterian Church in San Francisco and one of the most creative pastors I know who “gets it” when it comes to sharing the gospel with people of all ages, presented yesterday at the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) for the Committee to Review Biennual Assemblies (make sure meeting every two years is working and how we […] 
My inner pride over the congregation I serve (99% white) taking on questions around race, racism and Christian faith is beginning to bubble over. Our guest for the first of four weeks in our annual Mission Month was the Rev. Dr. Joseph D. Small, former director of the Office of Theology and Worship for my denomination, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He caused my breast to be filled the air of pride by encouraging […] |
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