This year for my annual backpacking trip, I am heading to Damascus, Virginia. This is a departure from my original plan to hike the Laurel Highlands Trail (LHT). After Hurricane Helene tore through Damascus and other southern towns, I canceled my trip to the LHT to allocate my tourist spending to the communities devastated by the hurricane. Travel On Friday, June 6, I traveled from my home to Damascus, Virginia. The drive was rather uneventful, and after seven hours, I... Read more
Faith and LGBTQ Exploring the intersection of faith and LGBTQ identity reveals a tapestry of complex experiences, where spirituality can serve both as a source of solace and as a challenge. For many, faith provides a grounding sense of purpose and belonging, yet the interpretation of religious doctrines can sometimes conflict with LGBTQ realities, impacting mental well-being. Striving for inclusivity, communities and leaders are increasingly fostering spaces for mutual understanding, honoring both spiritual journeys and diverse identities. As a disclaimer,... Read more
In the “High Priestly Prayer”, Jesus passionately pleads for unity among his believers, a sentiment that strongly resonates today. With themes of Trinity, Divine nature and hints about the nature of who Jesus was, we end up with a Trinitarian prayer that reveals God’s desire to draw humanity into the very heart of God’s divine communion. The unity among believers is a direct reflection of the unity within the Godhead, powered by the love that flows between the Father, Son,... Read more
Jesus, Justice, and the Fall of Christian Nationalism Recently, while preparing for an upcoming backpacking trip, I embarked on a hike that led me into deep contemplation. As an individual diagnosed with ADHD, walking or running has always served as a valuable method for sermon writing or for clearing my mind during challenging days. On this particular occasion, my thoughts were drawn to topics I have recently discussed in class over the past eight weeks, specifically the concepts of nationalism... Read more
Sitting with Mystery In a post I wrote in 2023 around the spiritual practice of Mystery; I offered these words: The spiritual practice that goes with accepting a mystical experience is the practice of mystery. When one engages in the acceptance of mystery, the word acceptance here is important. In my practice as a Christian pastor, I would often bump into people who would look down upon the idea of mystery because it felt too close to the supernatural or... Read more
On May 19, Richard Rohr examined the influence of experience in his morning meditation. Rohr introduces a concept where scripture and tradition represent the back wheels of faith, while experience serves as the front wheel driving it forward. This can be compared to the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, which integrates scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. The comparison highlights differences and similarities between ideas from the 17th Century and contemporary thought, exploring what can be learned from these perspectives. For Wesley, experience was... Read more
I have been reading through the Revised Common Lectionary recently and saw that the recent readings have been in the book of Ezekiel. The proceeding readings all sit in the prophets. A book full of prophetic witness, it stands as relevant today as it did for the Israelites of sixth century BCE. This week, I want to discuss the relevance of Ezekiel to 2025. The Babylonian Exile The Babylonian Exile, also known as the Babylonian captivity, was a period in... Read more
Recently, I taught a section in my World Religions Class around the idea of Religions and Politics. I challenged my students to consider this question: “What role does religion play in politics?” I then had the students consider this: “Though the United States wasn’t founded as a Christian nation, Christianity was always intertwined with America’s self-definition. Without it, Americans—conservatives and liberals alike—no longer have a common culture upon which to fall back” (Hamid, 2021). As a former pastor in an... Read more
Opening Reflection Mother’s Day in the United States has origins in the 19th century, with Ann Reeves Jarvis organizing clubs to improve children’s health and Julia Ward Howe calling for a “Mother’s Day for Peace” in 1870. The official holiday was established by Anna Jarvis, who campaigned after her mother’s death in 1905. The first official celebration occurred in 1908 in Grafton, West Virginia. By 1914, President Woodrow Wilson designated the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. Originally intended... Read more
Prayer: Conversations in Faith I am sitting at my desk this afternoon, beginning my second post and considering what to write. This will be published several days after these first words are struck, but as I sit and consider what to write, I realized that today was the day of International Prayer. From those early Hail Mary’s and praying the hours on a strict schedule to now praying as the moment arises, prayer has been a constant in my life... Read more
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