Category: politics
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Pub Theology: MLK Edition
This week our Pub Theology Group met and discussed the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. It was an absolutely wonderful gathering filled with great insights and engaging conversation. We started our gathering by reading some quotes from MLK’s speeches, sermons, and letters later in his career, wondering together–how are MLK’s words still relevant, challenging,…
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Change is Coming
Isaiah 35:1-10 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus 2it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of…
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GUEST POST: Disciples Take Their Faith Public
This past Sunday my congregation was honored to welcome a guest, the Rev. Gloria Yi, into our pulpit to preach. She was and is a gift to our church, and her powerful words, proclaimed in the aftermath of an incredibly emotional week for so many folks, were well-needed. As a pastor, I give thanks for voices…
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Owning my Racism
It was a chilly winter evening in December back in 2005 when my college boyfriend and I headed out together to attend a friend’s ugly Christmas Sweater party off campus. I was a senior at the University of Southern California, right in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. I love my college experience–as a super-involved, type-A…
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Out of the Mouths of Babes…
Late last week I was waiting at the bus stop for my daughter. The bus stopped on the corner and the neighborhood kids streamed down the steps of the bus and into the afternoon light. One of the students, a young girl who goes to my church, started talking about something that had happened in…
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After Election Day…
I had the honor of writing this letter, which was signed by nearly 45 area clergy. It represents our hope and prayer for our country in the days following the election on November 8th. On November 9th, we awake to the results of an election that has bitterly divided our nation. It is tempting to…
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The Lord Indeed is God
1 Kings 18:20-39 So Ahab sent to all the Israelites, and assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel. Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people did not answer him a word. Then…
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The Politics of Pastoring
One of the most frequent questions that people ask me when they find out that I am a pastor (other than the classic “you look so young to be a pastor!”) is this: Do you talk about politics when you preach??? The folks who ask this question are varied–they are young and old, rich and poor,…
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Jesus Changes Lives
Rev. Rami AlMaqdasi grew up in Basra, Iraq, and shared with us how his life as a Christian from Iraq has been marked and defined by war. His earliest memories are of fleeing the violence of the Iraq-Iran war, coming of age during the Kuwait War, and of serving the church in Syria as Iraq…
Deeper in me than I 