Americans In the Line To Get Into Heaven

    I have this vision of being on line to get into Heaven. An angel is standing at the gate. She says, “Do you recognize this?” And she holds up one of those little yellow plastic corn cobs with … Co

Mind of the Minister

"The spiritual life is not life before, after, or beyond our everyday existence. No, the spiritual..."

“The spiritual life is not life before, after, or beyond our everyday existence. No, the spiritual life can only be real when it is lived in the midst of the pains and joys of the here and now.” - Hen

spirituality presence attention Henri Nouwen

Ten years of Boy in the Bands

Ten years ago, today I made my first blog post: a prayer. In the meantime, I have written more than 3,400 posts, developed some resources and welcomed more than 7,100 comments. The last 10 years seen

Blog administration

Re-Imagining UUism: Part 3: Rene Girard

Part 1 Part 2 I don't know why I first read Gil Bailie's Violence Unveiled. It was quite a while ago, perhaps ten years or more.  I don't even remembering reading it for the first time.  I do remember

Morning Prayer May 23, 2013

Awake, my heart, to how Love calls me today. Like the rose welcoming the songbirds fleeing the hawk, may I make refuge and way for those seeking safety and love. Like the songbirds, after fear may I c

Religion

Evening Prayer May 23, 2013

Beloved, help me hold onto the courage I have, nurture it, and follow it through for love, for mercy, for goodness' sake. When I have had to scurry away, flee, or retreat, may I have the courage to go

Religion

Southside Presbyterian Church: Transforming the Heart of America Part II

In 2009 there were some anecdotal stories surfacing of water bottles being vandalized and border patrol agents shooting holes in the bottles.  THe government stated this was not true and it was all an

Unitarian Universalism immigration SOAWatch John Fife SOAWatch Delegation USA Border Border Patrol Lila Watson Southside Worker Center US Human Rights Violations

Southside Presbyterian Church: Transforming the Heart of America Part 1

In the afternoon the SOAWatch Delegation went to Southside Presbyterian Church to hear Rev. John Fife, past minister of this congregation and Stephanie and Alejandro of the Southside Day Labor Center,

Unitarian Universalism immigration SOAWatch John Fife Sanctuary Movement SOAWatch Delegation USA Border

A fiddle-and-lecture order of service

In one step, from the medieval to Modernism. The Western Conference Unitarians — think of the middle third of the United States a hundred and more years ago — were known for a kind of bibical rational

Worship History

Sermon: "Faith's Future, Humanity's Future" (Delivered 5-19-13)

Call to Worship [This call to worship was read by a member of the youth group.] Good morning.  My name is Reverend Thom Belote. Today I was going to preach about the future.  So I built a time machine

"Where none work but slaves, usefulness becomes degradation."

“Where none work but slaves, usefulness becomes degradation.” - Lydia Maria Child, An Appeal in Favor of That Class of Americans Called Africans (1836) p.30 (Unitarian, author, reformer)

vm: Monique Truong

This week we celebrate (belatedly) the birthday of Monique Truong, who wrote, “Although we strap time to our wrists, stuff it into our pockets, hang it on our walls…it can still run away, elude and ev

voicemail Monique Truong

Acts of God

People are dead, including children. Whole neighborhoods are utterly destroyed, brought down to foundations and rubble. People are injured, traumatized, bereft. And there is no one to blame. No bomber

climate change god grief suffering loss Environmental issues acts of God crisis global warming Oklahoma tornado tragedy

"Comforts can strengthen us, but they cannot fight our battles for us. Only we can do that. Only we..."

“Comforts can strengthen us, but they cannot fight our battles for us. Only we can do that. Only we can rebuild our lives. Only we can overcome our denial and redefine ourselves in the wake of tragedy

responsibility relationship comfort Rabbi Naomi Levy

Re-Imagining UUism -- Part 2

Part 1, in which I describe becoming disenchanted with the theory that providing "religious community" was the purpose of Unitarian Universalism. "Religious Community" did not answer the question, "ho

"Liberty, once lost, is lost forever. When the people once surrender their share in the legislature,..."

“Liberty, once lost, is lost forever. When the people once surrender their share in the legislature, and their right of defending the limitations upon the Government, of resisting every encroachment u

Morning Prayer May 22, 2013

Blessed is the morning and the new day, the bearers of peace and the creators of peace! Lover of Life, may I touch the peace at the center of Abiding Love today, and bear that peace wherever I go, how

Religion

Evening Prayer May 22, 2013

Blessed is the evening and the new night, the bearers of mercy and the creators of kindness! Lover of Life, may I live in mercy and for mercy, kinder than I find easy or even than I always want to be,

Religion

Isabel Garcia: Not About Papers

This morning the SOAWatch delegation met with Isabel Garcia, Coalicion de Dereche Humanas (Coalition of Human Rights)  and attorney here in Tucson.  This is a summary of her talk. THere is a broader v

Unitarian Universalism justice immigration Immigration reform SOAWatch delegation Immigration rights Isabel Garcia School of America's Watch

What I'm doing

I’ve graduated - that’s one thing - so what am I doing now? I’m still doing chaplain work at the Veteran’s administration hospital. That’s in Kansas City for another month. I’m getting my Master’s of