Who Decides What Is “Value-Added?”

May 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment

For whatever reasons having to do with time but also interest, I am the one in our family who sits down and pays the bills. I like doing it. I get a feeling of satisfaction from being able to pay the bills, a sense of security and peace of mind, however ephemeral, that we were [...]

Filed Under: Parenting, Uncategorized, Values Tagged With: , , , , Leave a Comment

For You Were a Stranger in Egypt

May 1, 2013 By 1 Comment

There are many biblical passages calling people to offer hospitality to the stranger. Here is one from the 19th chapter of the book of Leviticus: When strangers sojourn with you in your land, you shall do them no wrong, the strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as natives among you, and you [...]

Filed Under: Hospitality, Politics, Religion, Scripture, Social Justice, Uncategorized, Universalist Tagged With: , , , 1 Comment

Standing on Principle

February 27, 2013 By 3 Comments

As the budget sequestration looms, it seems that the government is caught in a stalemate as both sides “stand on principle,” unwilling to compromise on core values. Which would seem to be a good thing. After all, isn’t that what we ask of ourselves and our friends—that we stand up for what we believe in, [...]

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Voting as Spiritual Practice, as a Neighborly Act…

November 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Every day you have less reason not to give yourself away. ~ Wendell Berry ~ On this eve of a national election, so many conversations begin with “well, depending on who wins the election, …” In our representative democracy, a lot does depend on who wins elections. Because of how the presidential election is decided, [...]

Filed Under: Faith Development, LGBT Issues, Politics, Social Justice, Spirituality, Uncategorized, Values Tagged With: , , , , , Leave a Comment

Salvation

November 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I am a Unitarian Universalist who believes deeply that salvation is an inherent aspect of my faith. Not just my own personal salvation, though through this faith that has happened, but the salvation of the world. My faith is not about the salvation of individual souls for a perceived afterlife. I believe that whatever happens [...]

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Run for Your Life!

September 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I have always been fairly athletic, and I enjoy playing a good game that gets my blood pumping.  But I loathe exercise.  I’ll run all day long if I’m on a court or a playing field, but ask me to run to get or stay in shape and I’ll kindly decline.  I’ve tried several times [...]

Filed Under: Faith Development, Gratitude, Healing, Prayer, Relationships, Religion, Spirituality, Uncategorized, Values Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

Fantasy? Myth?

August 4, 2012 By 1 Comment

As a minister, I am constantly learning, and sometimes learning about completely unexpected things. At my congregation, my summer worship services have used movies that are currently in the theaters as the text. I chose the films by reading reviews and story lines online. I chose them before seeing them and sometimes before they were [...]

Filed Under: Diversity, Environmental issues, Social Justice Tagged With: , , 1 Comment

Spending Your Values

July 31, 2012 By 4 Comments

There’s been a lot of controversy lately about chicken sandwiches. Specifically the fact that the family that owns the fast-food chain Chick-fil-A has donated millions of dollars to groups opposing marriage equality for same-sex couples. Suddenly, supporters of marriage equality are calling for boycotts of the chain and opponents of it are feasting there to [...]

Filed Under: LGBT Issues, Spirituality, Values Tagged With: , , , , 4 Comments