Karma vs. Dogma
Every time I see it, it makes me chuckle. The saying turns up on bumper stickers, t-shirts, buttons, and other novelty items. I’m sure you’ve run into it as well: “My karma ran over your dogma.” The play on words carries the implication that dogma, often viewed as rigid and… Read More »Karma vs. Dogma
Values to Live By
How do you want to live? What values do you aim to hold as guiding principles for your life? What makes for a good society in which to live? Most of us were raised with a set of values. As children, we were taught that we should share our toys,… Read More »Values to Live By
New Awareness of Spirituality
It was its own kind of ritual. On Sunday mornings, when I would return home from church, I’d visit with my mother. She’d always ask, “How many people were there?” In my mother’s early life, church played an important role. Growing up in a coal town in Western PA, the… Read More »New Awareness of Spirituality
A Spiritually Grounded Response to the Culture Wars
There are times when I get so angry that I just don’t know how to contain myself. Like when I received email from a colleague about events one Sunday at her church. Members of a national organized opposed to gay marriage picketed her church because they perform gay marriages. While… Read More »A Spiritually Grounded Response to the Culture Wars
Death, Life, and Spirituality
I’ve heard the story a number of times in the past. I don’t know if it’s legend or if this place actually exists. No matter the accuracy of the story, it strikes me that that the account coveys a timeless truth. As the story goes, a group of pilgrims visited… Read More »Death, Life, and Spirituality
Spiritual Practices: What Good Are They?
What good are spiritual practices? Why take time to pray, meditate, journal, or spend time to intentionally develop the spiritual dimension of life? There are some critics who claim that a focus on spirituality is nothing more than self-indulgence. I’ve heard this criticism many times. Some of those who make… Read More »Spiritual Practices: What Good Are They?
The Arrogant Preacher
I’m very proud of my association with the United Church of Christ. As a Christian denomination, we tend to be a bit different from other denominations. We are rooted in the Christian tradition. We strive to be radically inclusive of people and their life experience. While we don’t always get… Read More »The Arrogant Preacher
