“No one is talking about politics.” I saw this assessment of the communities responding to the utter devastation of Hurricane Helene and noted the takeaway was people could put aside differences in crisis. Being able to work together despite differences…
The Living Stones
In early September, I returned from a visit to Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. Led by the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, my visit was part of a multifaith delegation of Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Quaker, Buddhist and Hindu clergy,…
Megan Basham is lying again
Many of us keep wondering how the evangelical church could have wandered so far into the wilderness of untruth. The answer is evangelical influencers like Megan Basham. She’s not alone, however. She’s in a select group of evangelical liars that…
Traversing the American psychosis with Francis Collins
The National Institute of Mental Health defines psychosis as “a collection of symptoms that affect the mind, where there has been some loss of contact with reality.” The psychotic symptoms can be episodic, or one can suffer a psychotic break…
Looking for God in the midst of the storm
The wind was rushing so strong that it sounded like someone left water running outside as I woke up early last Friday morning. When our kids found their way through the dark house to our room, we looked out the…
Trump or Harris? An open letter to undecided and to open-minded voters
Author’s note: This article began as a response to multiple family and friends who engaged me in constructive correspondence about the presidential election. Dear Kind Family and Friends Who Have Written Me About the Presidential Election: You’ve sent me…
The Supreme Court at a crossroads
Every four years, the people who are most politically engaged in American law and politics tend to focus their autumn energy on the upcoming November election. The annual October kickoff of the U.S. Supreme Court term may be overlooked. That…
Disasters bring out the best and worst theology
In response to a social media post in which I updated friends and family on our condition immediately after Hurricane Helene, a well-meaning cousin wrote, “God was really truly with you all to keep you safe amidst all this chaos…
Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Rosh Hashanah arrives this year at sunset on Oct. 2. Nine days later, at sunset on Oct. 11, the gathering shadows of Yom Kippur will settle over our souls. And halfway between those two sacred sunsets, the sun will rise…
The ripple effect of giving
When I was little, there was a tiny creek in our neighborhood. My sister and I would sometimes sneak away to toss rocks into the water, captivated by how big or small of a splash we could make. What I…
Ghost actions
Much has been made of President Joe Biden’s stepping aside in favor of Vice President Harris as the Democratic Party candidate for president. It’s a clear example of how powerful not doing something can be. Tons of ink and hours…
Why do we pre-slice the bread?
As a child I remember my mother, an elder in our Presbyterian church, preparing Communion. I remember going with her to buy bread a few days before so it would not be too soft to cut in little squares and…