The Theology of the Smirk

If you find yourself recognizing JD Vance’s smirk, or even agreeing with it, right now you are doing great harm to our world. I know you’ve been taught otherwise. I know you’ve been taught the toxic lessons that White men are supposed to “lead,” and everyone else supposed to follow.

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When God’s Love For Immigrants Makes People Mad

Here is my sermon from January 26, 2025 at Kessler Park UMC. It weaves together the Gospel of Luke and the conflict between Bishop Mariann Budde and President Trump’s supporters.A written essay that also speaks of these issues is here.

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Bishop Budde and Progressive Christianity

The debate surrounding truth in America has extended to differing interpretations of Christianity, particularly highlighted by Bishop Budde’s sermon advocating mercy for the LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities. This polarized response reflects a larger issue: the recognition of Progressive Christianity, which, contrary to assumptions, constitutes a significant minority within American Christianity.

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The Emperor of Mickey D’s

A new song of resistance, in honor of the Inauguration Day of Trump 2.0.

I wrote this song the day after RFK’s ridiculous McDonald’s plane ride with all the Trump Bros. Tracked and released for you today.

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The Candle of Peace

“In meditation we catch ourselves waging violence on parts of ourselves. This is the seedbed of War. All violence is the act of acting out our own violence toward our own heart.”— Jim Finley I’m doubling-up this week, to catch up with some Advent meditations for you. This one is about PEACE, typically our second […]

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The Path To Hope in a World of Cynics

This Fall, I found a social scientist whose new book has been deeply helpful to me, as I try to unpack Hope this Advent season. The book is “Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness,” by Jamil Zaki.

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Reminders On Thanksgiving and Worry

The angels were holding a washcloth over my mouth, and I was struggling against them.My arms and legs were thrashing.I was suddenly afraid that I could not breathe. I had awakened to find them basically on top of me, and I didn’t know what was happening. The angels were using a spray bottle to pour […]

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Christian Nationalism: Disregarding Bodily Autonomy

The MAGA-GOP really IS saying “my choice” to the autonomy of actual women.
But theologically they also say “my choice” to “the Body of Christ.”
The two are, horrifically, interconnected.

One is the actions of actual human men toward human women, demanding an ownership of actual women’s bodily autonomy.
The other is a prior “theological ownership” over Jesus….demanding the control of the Body of Christ.

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A Last Appeal to Trump Voters

“If not for thirty years of God’s grace, the forgiveness of friends, and a near constant repentance for my sins, I could be a Trump voter.
I think about this a lot. I think about the White men who will be voting for Trump, and everyone else in his “post-Republican Party coalition.” I’d like to speak to them one final time before this election…”

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