I arrived at church on a Sunday morning in 1996. I was pastor of a congregation in Miami Beach. Walking in the door, a group of people asked, “Do you know about Richard?” I learned that the night before Richard, a white man in his late 30’s had been murdered.… Read More »Hatred and Violence: The Importance of Safe Communities
I’ve just returned from Oberlin College outside of Cleveland, Ohio. It was there I watched election night coverage which left me nothing less than stunned. Oberlin College: a place that served as a way-station along the Underground Railroad helping to move Southern slaves to new lives in Canada. Yes, a… Read More »Reflections on the Election by a Progressive Christian Minister
When life becomes difficult, what get’s you through? There are times when all of us face difficulties in life. Many of our difficulties are related to loss: the death of loved ones, the ending of a significant relationship, unemployment, financial failure, or the loss of our health. When faced with… Read More »This Is the Day
Are there times when you remember your loved ones who have passed from this life? Goblins and ghosts; zombies and vampires: as creatures of the night begin to stir, we know that Halloween is upon us. But how could we miss it? My grocery store is surely much like yours:… Read More »The Hallowed Eve
What does it mean to find happiness in life? As I scanned the headlines of a news service I use on my smart phone, I saw a number of articles on the pursuit of happiness. Like this one from Quartz (http://tinyurl.com/jqcqvy8), such articles explain that direct attempts to find happiness… Read More »Finding Happiness
Inspiration and spiritual growth can come from many sources, often from the unexpected. Have you been inspired by someone you least expected? The religious landscape of the United States is changing. The Pew Research Institute has found that over 20% of people in the United States describe themselves as having… Read More »The Patron Saint of the “Nones”
When faced with a major transition in life, how do you decide which way to go? Sometimes, it’s difficult to know which path to follow in life. There are those who believe that God has a perfect plan for us to follow. Our job is to discern God’s will for… Read More »Decisions
Have you considered your role in bringing peace on Earth? The stream of news continues unbroken: the ravages of war continue to tear apart Syria and South Sudan. People live with unrelenting oppression in North Korea and Iran. In many parts of the world, children die from hunger and starvation.… Read More »Peace in the World; Peace in Our Lives
