A balm for the soul Blues artists, the slaves who composed the spirituals, psalmists, and practitioners of the spoken word have much in common. These artists sing and rap about, and testify to, the pain and joys of those inhabiting their songs. They live out raw, jarring, messy, brutal, unresolved, and buoyant experiences through their lyrics. Emotions infuse the blues through the driving wail of a guitar, the lament and spirited tones of a piano, and the voice of a... Read more
“‘God did it’ isn’t an explanation,” said Joseph. He got no account for the baby’s chromosomes, No description of the mechanism that Transmuted the divine shadow into royal blood. “‘The devil made me do it’ would have sounded better to me,” said Joseph, Though it never did him any good When he said it to his old girlfriends. It was a mystery to him, What moved him to listen for the rhyme And puzzle for the reason That Mary gave... Read more
“Yoga mats have become little island sanctuaries of peace. The time for that is over. We are now called to truly build community, to pool our talents, to share our heartaches and triumphs, and to use this energy in service of compassion and justice.” If a person reaches enlightenment with no one to serve, even if it really happened, does it matter? This is a question I found myself asking a few years ago, after years of dedicated yoga practice.... Read more
“If you, like the magi, seek out the newborn Jesus this season, then this is how you must prepare: by seeking out the oppressed of our world, being immersed in their experiences, crying out to God on their behalf, and working against their oppressors, even against yourself.” Advent always begins in the experiences of the oppressed. Advent always begins with the understanding that the world is broken, that people are hurting, and that we do not yet live in the... Read more
“Life is always changing. The space between you is always changing. Marriage is this art form where you never stop exploring, discovering, and you never stop figuring it out.” — Rob Bell, bestselling author and international teacher and speaker It has been a very busy couple of years for Rob Bell. The former Mars Hill mega-pastor and bestselling author who broke from the traditional evangelical ranks several years ago with his book Love Wins has spent the past few years in... Read more
By the Rev. Ellin Jimmerson A factual certainty about the Bible is that the Old Testament was put together in the aftermath of the Babylonian Deportation of Jewish leadership. It cannot be fully understood apart from the central importance of deportation. By the same token, there are theological certainties revealed throughout the Bible. One is the unique identity of God. King Nebudchanezzar, it insists, is not to be confused with God. Pharaoh and Caesar are not to be confused with... Read more
I now have the privilege of watching a remarkable experiment unfold – up-close and personal. And where better to observe an experiment than at a research university? My new colleague and friend, Bart Campolo, is the principal investigator. Bart is the new Humanist Chaplain at the University of Southern California. A former evangelical Christian leader with a national profile in his own right, he is the son of Tony Campolo, the famous evangelical preacher best known as the personal spiritual... Read more
Advent is derived from a Latin word meaning “arrival” or “coming.” The season of Advent on the church calendar marks something momentous. Henry Nouwen, who taught at both Harvard and Yale and authored over forty books, spent the last seven years of his life serving in a community of people with mental disabilities. One Christmas, a member of their community arranged under the altar three small wood-carved figures made in India: a poor woman, a poor man, and a small... Read more
“What the world witnessed last night was democracy on fire.” — Rev. Osagyefo Sekou “We are profoundly disappointed that the killer of our child will not face the consequence of his actions. While we understand that many others share our pain, we ask that you channel your frustration in ways that will make a positive change. We need to work together to fix the system that allowed this to happen.” — Michael Brown’s family statement after last night’s decision from... Read more
The decision not to indict the officer who shot and killed the unarmed black teenager Michael Brown has had the predictable effect: Those who identify with Michael and his family are hurt and angry, let down once again by a country that promises they were created equal. Many of those whose reality is very different from Michael’s, who live in That Other America where the police are always your friends, scratch their heads and wonder why this has to be... Read more
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