Resist evil! Learn to do good! Make justice your aim. Defend the oppressed. (Isaiah 1:17) As the Christian season of Lent begins, I find myself drawn to the words of the Hebrew prophet Isaiah. It’s important to remember the context of Isaiah’s original words. The Jewish homeland was divided into… Read More »Embracing Lent in the United States (2025_
We think of Christmas as merry and bright. Yet we are living through political turmoil, economic confusion, and personal losses, so we may not be sure how to approach Christmas this year. Perhaps the Christmas story can help us rekindle hope for the future amid hardship. The following is a… Read More »Christmas: Hope in Hardship
The following is based on a seminar I developed for The Gathering, a progressive non-traditional community of faith in San Angelo, Texas. Waiting. It’s an experience we all share. Before reading further, take a moment to recall a time when you waited. Maybe it was at a coffee shop or… Read More »The Waiting of Advent: A Foundation for Resistance
Are the experiences people have using hallucinogenic substances spiritual in nature? What role do indigenous practices that include peyote and ayahuasca have for non-indigenous people? Is there something valid with the use of hallucinogens for spiritual growth or is this just some sort of aberration? The following is a text… Read More »Hallucinogenic Substances and Spiritual Experiences
Thanksgiving and gratitude are unique in their ability to grow in our lives. Deep gratitude leads us to give of ourselves to others. To be grateful for what we have received leads us to give. Explore gratitude with me in this video. The following is a text version of this… Read More »Thanksgiving and Giving
What do mystics experience? Is their experience different from the spiritual experiences of other people? How do mystics describe the experiences they’ve had? The following is a text version of this posting. What do mystics experience? How is their spiritual experience different from others? While there’s no one path to… Read More »The Experience of Being a Mystic
In 1980, I was stunned when Ronald Reagan swept the Presidential election, winning 49 out of 50 states. Some saw it as good news. But many people suffered as a result of his presidency. Now 40 years later, Trump returns to office. Some see it as good news. But many… Read More »Faith
Devastating news: it seems hopeless. But how can we move forward without hope? Hope is a spiritual practice, something we learn and develop. It is what empowers us despite all odds. These days, when hope seems empty, I want to talk more about hope. The following is a text version… Read More »Hoping Even When It Seems Hopeless
