Almighty God comfort the People of Norway during this time of death and confusion. Give them courage, strength, and bless them with peace allowing each person to find closure. Amen. Why God? Why do these things happen? Do you allow them? Free choice? What was the choice of the people murdered? An Oslo police officer told AP that Norway experienced its first “Oklahoma City” tragedy. Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian accused of Friday’s domestic terrorism, used a bomb in downtown... Read more
In 2011, a poll conducted by the First Amendment Center found that 67% of Americans favor a separation of church and state. Although delighted, I’m skeptical of the numbers. Social conservatives, especially in the South, are far more likely to understand the separation of church and state differently than those in the Northeast. A conservative in Massachusetts or New York is not necessarily the same as from Kentucky. Nor is a Republican from New York City likely to be comparable to one from Mobile, Alabama. In... Read more
“Discover the Joy of Discipline” is an advice chapter offered in Mother Teresa, CEO: Unexpected Principles for Practical Leadership that I was invited by Patheos to review and reflect on. Although I wouldn’t describe them as “unexpected principles,” or that they are always practical … Read More Here. Read more
The New York City Ballet (NYCB) arrived for its annual two week July engagement at its summer home in Saratoga Springs, NY. I have the good fortune to live nearby. Alexander Pushkin aptly described ballet as “a dance executed by the human soul.” There is something sacred about every ballet performance. Dance has the potential to release an indescribable spiritual energy that only occurs in an instant. It is a one-time spiritual charge, a one-time expression of the soul in... Read more
In a headache inducing duet Judy and Liza belted, “Love, love, hooray for love. Who was ever too blasé for love?” Me! That’s who! I’m too blasé for it. I’m tired of it. I have a migraine from all the chatter about a social construct that was recently expanded! As a New Yorker, I’m grateful, ecstatic, and exuberant that I no longer have to read or hear about inane religious objections, calculated political maneuverings, or the teary, starry-eyed hopefulness of... Read more
Holy Sophia, God’s companion at Creation, instruct this Pilgrim in your Creative Ways; Field of Sunflowers, instill this Lover of Christ with the Holy Fire of Creative Love; Morning Mist, bless this Sojourner with Creative Discernment. Holy Spirit, teach this Child to recognize, accept, and not fear Creative Revelation; Gentle Breeze, reveal to me Grand Inquisitors inconvenienced by the Creative One; Evergreen, counsel this Disciple to walk with and not hide behind Creative Divinity. Divine Wisdom, fill... Read more
“We just don’t want this definitive religious freedom to be at the mercy of some government whim,” Archbishop Timothy Dolan of the Catholic Archdiocese of New York said of his opposition to same-sex marriage. He is among the faith leaders concerned that religious freedom is at risk. If prohibiting same-sex marriage protected religious freedom as understood by the Catholic leadership, why is it at the same time a denial of religious freedom for, as one example, the United Church of Christ (UCC)? In 2005, the UCC passed... Read more
The greatest commandment is love. We are called to love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). Christian ethics, theology, and philosophy start here. It is the purest, truest Christianity. In the Wisdom of Mystical Love (WML) brought by Jesus is found the complete dogma, doctrine, and tradition of the church. This mysticism enables us to be “made perfect in one.” It is deification in unity with God (John 17:22-23). Despite what seems to be a very clear revelation about Mystical Love, its... Read more
In a June 14th blog entry Archbishop Timothy Dolan of the New York Diocese lamented about the likely passage of marriage equality in the state. As of June 16th the legislation, with several religious exemptions included, needed one vote to pass the state Senate. It has passed the Assembly. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Roman Catholic, will sign the bill into law if it reaches his desk. The Archbishop equated the passage of marriage equality to Communist social engineering. The last time he... Read more
Christain Darwinian-capitalist logic holds sway among many. Read more
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