Loving God, In a world where people so many cannot escape the violence, help those of us who are not under constant threat be radically committed to non-violence. May we never glorify our friends, our family or our elected officials threatening others with harm. May we never remain silent when others use language of hate when speaking of or to any of Your beloved children. Help us to measure our ...
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The day that Hamas launched an attack on Israel that killed at least 800 people at this posting will be one of those days like 9/11. October 7, 2023. A day that will divide so many lives into what came before and what happened after. Will we end up using 10/7 for shorthand as time goes by? (Disclaimer: We can agree that none of us is going through anything close to ...
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Tuesday, October 10 is World Mental Health Day. Last week in Brooklyn, a young climate activist and advocate for those with drug addiction was randomly stabbed to death by a teenager. It was all caught on video, and the teen has been arrested. To make the tragedy worse, the alleged perpetrator has a history of mental illness. Two months ago his aunt called the police to say that her nephew was "mentally ...
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You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only don’t let this freedom be an opportunity to indulge your selfish impulses, but serve each other through love. Galatians 5:13 If you follow me at all you know that my unofficial tagline is: a faith that struggles with questions is always stronger than one that never asks any. Did you realize that our national anthem—the one that’s so hard to sing—ends in a ...
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Although we knew it was coming, I am terribly grieved by the supreme court's decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. "But you're a pastor!" you say. "You HAVE to be pro-life." Actually, I'm pro-choice because I am pro-life. Pro WHOLE life. Abortion is a difficult topic to talk about, because, contrary to what a lot of people would have you believe, it’s an extremely complex issue. First of all, taking away ...
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We see you and we celebrate you We see the good you do We see the love you share We see the people you serve We hear the names people call you Names that we do not recognize or publicize, lest we legitimize For those names don’t define you We know you by one name: Beloved Child of God Created in God’s own image We don’t pretend to know your pain But when you hurt, we hurt, too We may not ...
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Across the country, states are passing legislation that will do untold harm to many, many young people. If you are serious about caring for and protecting children, here are five reasons you should oppose this kind of legislation. https://youtu.be/MTIuorM24uw No child (or adult) should ever be made to feel like life is not worth living because of who they are. No one, especially those of us who profess Christianity, should ever ...
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So yes, I know that someone as white as I am might not be your first go-to for recommendations for Black History month reads. Mine is by no means an exhaustive list, simply books that I've found educational, inspiring and/or convicting. Check out these books at your locally-owned bookstore. If you are near one of these Black-owned bookstores, be sure and patronize them as you build you expand your reading. ...
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Today Is the fifth anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting. It happened early on a Sunday morning. I remember the day of the week because I woke up to the tragedy as I was getting ready for worship, and it changed the trajectory of what we did and said that morning. It was also the day of the Tony Awards--the year that Hamilton would sweep those awards, its cast performed ...
Read MoreIn honor of International Women's Month, here are seven women who weren't just the first women, but the first anyone achieve the following: Anne Edison Taylor was the first woman to survive going over Niagara Falls in a barrel. The woman at the well in John 4 is the first person to tell people the Good News about Jesus. Marie Curie was the first person to win a Nobel Prize ...
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I'm ever so weary (and offended) by the continued label of "baby killer" targeted at anyone who is choosing not to support our current president. The very flawed premise behind this moniker is that, since the Democratic platform is pro-choice, anyone who supports a candidate from that party is clearly out to slaughter infants. I'm not pro-abortion. I would love to live in a world where no woman ever had ...
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Hating the "other" feels like it's become the national pastime. The world and our lives are so much better when we can embrace those who are different from us and love people just as they are. Here are some great books to start kids off on the right foot when relating to and befriending others who are just trying to be accepted and loved for who they are. BTW: as ...
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Today is World Suicide Prevention Day. A day reserved for raising awareness, sharing resources and letting everyone know there are alternatives, success stories and reasons to live. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list suicide as the 10th-leading cause of death in the United States. It ranks second among those ages 10 to 34 and LGBTQ youth contemplate suicide at three times the rate of their straight, cis-gendered ...
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For when you want to learn and laugh. Like just about every white person I know, I've been trying to listen and learn and work at becoming an anti-racist activist. The danger we face as we embark upon this journey is becoming so overwhelmed by just how little we've been paying attention, how much we've ignored and what all we've allowed to happen right under our noses, that we just ...
Read MoreA lot of anger is floating around out there. I'm not talking about the anger that stems from the lack of access to healthcare or the injustice that black people in our society still face. I'm speaking of the anger that comes from the many people whose only sense of worth has come from the idea that they are "better than" because they are white...or straight...or male...or Christian. Now they ...
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Doubting Believer is asking our readers to make your voices heard regarding affordable insulin for all who live with diabetes. Over the next few weeks, we will have guest posts from people who live with the disease about the importance of access to life-saving medication. Links to ways you can help are found at the end of this post. What does the Lord require of you, but to seek justice, love ...
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Doubting Believer is asking our readers to make your voices heard regarding affordable insulin for all who live with diabetes. Over the next few weeks, we will have guest posts from people who live with the disease about the importance of access to life-saving medication. Links to ways you can help are found at the end of this post. What does the Lord require of you, but to seek ...
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I wrote this post three years ago. While my location and circumstances have changed, the rest still holds. When Will and Grace made its heralded return last year, one episode (featuring the always-adorable Ben Platt) pointed out how the experiences of young gay people today are vastly different than those of the folks who came along (and out) 20 years ago...even 10 years ago. My daughter goes to a public arts ...
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