I’m a white man. Not everything has been easy for me. Growing up, I was repeatedly bullied for being gay. I suffered a great deal of loss during the AIDS pandemic. I lost a job and was on unemployment for a year – even though I had a doctorate, work… Read More »Injustice is Suffocating Us All
It’s been a challenge for organized religion. Many local congregations face financial collapse. Sampling a few websites for a few churches, what stands out most is not the spiritual care they may offer but a donation button for online contributions. Of course, there are the protests from “true believers” insisting… Read More »The Essential Church
“When one door closes another door opens.” I’ve heard many people say that. I’m not sure that I agree with that sentiment. Let’s be honest: there are times in life when all the doors seem to be nailed shut and there’s no way out. That said, there are indeed times… Read More »When One Door Closes …
Many churches will not have services this week. In the case of churches continuing to hold services, many people will opt not to attend for health concerns. As a way to support the spiritual journey of Christians during this Lenten Season, for the remaining Sundays of Lent, I will post… Read More »Reflections on The Raising of Lazarus
The sermon was high energy. The congregation followed the preacher closely. They laughed at humorous stories, applauded emphatically when she made poignant points, and shouted “Amen!” more frequently than most congregations in my predominantly white denomination. The preacher was a woman considered to be one of the most inspiring in… Read More »Spiritual Transformation: Sounds Great, But….
It’s the middle of February. A couple of weeks ago, on February 2, a welcome messenger delivered good news: Punxsutawney Phil, a weather predicting groundhog, emerged from his burrow and didn’t see his shadow. This legendary sign is a prediction that there will be an early spring This past week,… Read More »Faith and Hope that There Will Be Spring
I hadn’t participated in an event like this before. I didn’t recognize the name of the organization, but as I read the email, I saw that I received the invitation on the recommendation of a young colleague who was a “change-maker” in this organization’s program. The organization works “at the… Read More »Creating Social Change and The Beginner’s Mind
Political drama continues to unfold. The issues are not new. Refugees fleeing from systemic oppression are refused entry to countries. Yet, without entry, they cannot legally make application for asylum. Racial hatred grows and is demonstrated by actions ranging inappropriate calls for the police (as the call complaining about Black… Read More »When Will It End?