Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, seemed horrified and fragile as she spoke a few days ago about being afraid of Donald Trump and his retribution tactics. I understand the fear. I respect the fear. Sometimes, it is good to allow fear…
Meditating on Psalm 37
In a little while the wicked won’t exist! If you go looking around their place, they won’t be there. But the weak will inherit the land; they will enjoy a surplus of peace. — Psalm 37:10-11 I am reading Psalms…
In times of fear, this is what artists do
In an article about the recently completed St. John’s Bible — the first handwritten and illuminated Bible produced by the Benedictine Order in more than 500 years — Duke University professor Ellen F. Davis asks, “When is beauty a moral…
‘The church of fear is still in effect,’ author says
The fear and rage that drove evangelical support for Donald Trump has not abated since his return to office, journalist and author Christine Emba observed during a webinar on Christianity and democracy hosted by the Brookings Institution. On the contrary,…
American values and a tale of two islands
In a move that is more publicity stunt than workable policy, President Donald Trump has ordered his administration to prepare to house tens of thousands of “criminal aliens” at the Navy base at Guantánamo Bay. “We have 30,000 beds in…
A god of their own making
During his inaugural address Jan. 20, Donald Trump sought to assuage a long-held fear among religious conservatives. “My recent election,” he said, “is a mandate to completely and totally reverse … all of these many betrayals that have taken place…
Creating a sanctuary in times of fear
“Can’t we just agree to disagree?” This has been a common thread lately on social media and among conversations with people I know. Certainly, we can. I like vanilla, and you prefer chocolate ice cream. I cheer for my alma…
My journey from fear to a whole new way of seeing grace
Grace is amazing — or can be. It depends on the God giving it. The grace that is truly amazing flows from a vulnerable God of love, expressing that love by showering grace freely toward all in an ever-widening flood….
Look past fear and scarcity to embrace migrants, Carvalhaes urges
Bringing compassion and mercy to migrants means looking past the fear, resentment and scarcity mentality conservatives are bringing to the immigration debate, Cláudio Carvalhaes said during Fellowship Southwest’s Compassion and Justice Conference. “It means to continue to live with those…
Faith leaders urge Springfield residents to resist the fear of Trump and Vance
Clergy, social justice activists and other community leaders are urging residents of Springfield, Ohio, to resist the fear Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance are spreading by slandering Haitian and other immigrants who have settled in the city. During…
Skinny-dipping at a church picnic
The first time I went skinny-dipping was at a church picnic. If I’m lying, I’m dying. As of this writing, brothers Ron and Steve Wilson are still alive — by some miracle — and can verify the bare facts of…
As Trump stokes more fear, immigration advocates plead with Biden administration not to succumb
Human rights advocates are pleading with the Biden administration to take legal action to block new Texas laws designed to counter illegal border crossings and to give state law enforcement officers the right to arrest undocumented immigrants. Gov. Greg Abbott…