Jesus was born into a culture of violence. Games of brutality were popular with men fighting one another, sometimes to the death. Often they were forced to fight for their lives. This was considered entertainment. Keeping the peace or Pax Romana, was done by military force. It is not so
Continue readingI imagine there are some people who are sad, angry or indignant that the fourth grade mission project, once a rite of passage for parents of California 4th graders, has gone the way of the dinosaur. I am not one of them. One day, after both our children had moved on
Continue reading~Trying Something New~ The first Spiritual Practices of Pomona Meet Up group met last night. 12 people RSVPd who are not associated with the congregation. One actually was brave enough to show up! Four church members were present, the visitor and a Disciples clergyperson serving at Urban Mission in Pomona.
Continue readingThe phrase “politically correct” is most often used to marginalize speech and people. It is used to dismiss and disregard concerns that are legitimately raised by people who desire to bring greater reconciliation among all people. On Sunday during our time of prayer, I stated that there was a time
Continue readingA guiding value for Christians is found in the saying of Jesus from Matthew 25:45, “when you did it to the least of these, you also did it to me”. This phrase is one of the most foundational for Christians, guiding our response to pain of the world we believe
Continue readingThe first two Sundays of July were focused on Christian unity. In what has been called “the priestly prayer” from the gospel of John, Jesus prays for his followers. In the setting, Jesus is alone, praying this long prayer. Who wrote down the prayer? Who recorded it? It is a
Continue readingOne out of every three bites of food you eat is the result of a pollinator. Every third bite we take, we should be thanking a pollinator: butterflies, bees, etc. I learned that there is National Pollinator Week: June 20-26. Thank a pollinator you have strawberries, zucchini, avocados, oranges, almonds
Continue reading~Defining Success~ My 8th grade science teacher required a weekly task. Copy a science article. That’s right, copy it. I’m not sure if he thought we’d actually read it as we copied it, or even hoped we might learn something as we copied. Dutifully, every week, I found a science article
Continue readingThere is an orienting principle that can guide us in these times fraught with easy anger and blame. It is the orienting principle preached and lived by Jesus; love God, love your neighbor, love yourself. As I skim re-posted articles on Facebook, letters to the editor and more, the desire
Continue reading~Covenant~ Our congregation is part of a denomination: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Every congregation in our denomination has the right and duty of self-governance. No one from “on high” tells us how to run the church, what we must believe or how to budget our money. We are connected
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