George of Sylvania

Category: theology

  • Prayer Service Reflection

    Prayer Service Reflection

    Jesus said to his disciples, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you– that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

    Luke 24:44-53

    Every other week, I have the privilege of leading a noon prayer service. This week I decided to use the Ascension of Jesus early, and this is what you get.

    Jesus has a way of revealing to us what is already present, but we, like the disciples at times, are unaware.  In the Sermon on the Mount, he drills down on the underlying feelings that we can harbor until they become too much and come out in various ways. Whether that is anger that turns into murder, lust that turns into adultery, or praying and giving money to the poor so we can be seen doing it. When he speaks about the kin-dom of heaven in Matthew 13:47 and speaks of it as a fishing net that is full and brought into the boat, then the bad fish are discarded. Something that makes sense when we realize that in a new heaven and earth, where love and justice reign, those who continue to choose and seek power over others would not be happy there.

    In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus teaches the Parable of the Sower, where the different seed falls on various terrain, and the plants that grow reflect wisdom and following his teachings, or the rejection of it. These are people that the disciples would have experienced first-hand but presented to them in a new way. We all know the Parable of the Prodigal Son where we are confronted with our own internal conflicts of being the younger son, older son, and parent in that position. However, what Jesus does here is something kind of new, but what their ancestors would have wrestled with. While God sends the power of the Holy Spirit to the disciples, that power is all around us. It is easy to forget that at the time God showed Godself to Abraham, religion was regionally based.

    When the Temple was destroyed and the ancient Israelite’s found themselves enslaved in Babylon, they believed God left the temple and went to dwell with them. When they moved back to ancient Palestine and rebuilt the temple, God went back to dwell in it. Even in parts of Christian theology when the temple curtain is ripped from top to bottom, it has been said that was when God left the temple because of Jesus’ sacrifice. The idea being, there was no barrier between God and God’s people anymore.

    But what Jesus points out in this part of Luke’s gospel, is that Jesus’s students will be sent what was promised. The power of the Holy Spirit will come to the disciples after Jesus ascends to be with God. While the delivery may look differently, Jesus is telling the disciples to expect something that has always been around them. While I cannot remember if I had read it, or was told this, but there was an idea that the burning bush Moses found himself in front of had been on fire or generations. This bush that was on fire but not consumed by fire was just sitting there for who knows how many years just waiting to be noticed, and it wasn’t until Moses came along that it was. Similar to Jacob waking up after seeing the dream of the ladder and realizing God was that place and he did not know it.

    What comes to mind when I find myself in this dichotomy is the ending of the Obi-Wan Kenobi television show from Disney+. Kenobi has just completed a mission and re-found his purpose in a new way. Through the season, Kenobi is desperately alone and calling out to his old Jedi Master, Qui-Gon Jinn for guidance. It is believed that the living force can bring those from beyond to the present. When we think the series is over, out in the desert, we see an image appear. A blueish ghost of Qui-Gon appears, and Kenobi is surprised. In his reaction to seeing his old master, the Jedi responds with, “I was always here Obi-Wan, you were just not ready to see.” It is easy to compare spirituality of today to Acts 1 and forget that the same Spirit Jesus promises his students here, is the same that is alive and well today.

    Friends, may we remember that, although some of us don’t speak in tongues, we do have the ability to awaken to the spirit around us unrealized.

    Amen

  • Spirit, hope, and conviction.

    Spirit, hope, and conviction.

    This past Sunday I had the honor to preach at my home church. Below is the sermon, but if you feel like watching it you can start the above link at 27:20 and enjoy all the little jokes I put in.

    I’d like to open with a quote that I couldn’t find a home for, but it has latched onto me. It is from one of my favorite theologians, Ben Witherington. “It would appear that Mary’s announcement of the good news was insufficient to transform the mood of these male disciples.”[1]

    I doubt, at times, there is any disciple more relatable than Thomas. I mean, you miss one hangout with the crew and suddenly, you’re supposed to believe your teacher is alive. It makes no sense. It sounds like a giant practical joke if you’re Thomas. It would be difficult not to respond with the, “I won’t believe anything until I put a finger through his hand!”

    After all, it wasn’t like people came back from the dead all the time. But when Jesus comes back, and Thomas sees him, and while we are not told Thomas touches the wounds, we know for Thomas, the world is turned upside down.

    Jesus has pulled one over on humanity, and the rest of the world because here was someone who has moved from death to life, from cursed to redeemed.

    When Jesus asks Thomas, “have you believed because you have seen me?” what answer could be expected other than yes?

    When I read this section of John’s Gospel, the space between the crucifixion wound, the time it took for Thomas to hear of Jesus’ resurrection and seeing him really stood out.

    How many times do you think the Spirit tried to make contact with Thomas that week?

    Where their times when Thomas was sitting alone at night, awake wondering if this was true that Jesus was back, and was he pushing the door shut while the Spirit was trying to break it open?

    What makes the Apostle Thomas so relatable for me, is there is space for his doubt. Space for his thoughts. And space for him to allow God to enter his midst and partner with him.

    It is that doubt that drives Thomas back to meet with the other disciples, and it is that doubt that shatters in the face of hope.

    There is no way we get to our first reading from Acts without doubt. Everyone one in that group was Thomas, except for the people the entire history of the church owes its allegiance to, and that is the women.

    Now, this newfound hope in the future of the world changes the disciples in a way that is still echoed almost two thousand years later into this very room. I say this because there is no way we go from doubts of resurrection to the hope of the holes in Jesus’ palms and not end up in the position Peter and the apostles find themselves in, in Acts 5.

    So, this council that Peter and the others find themselves in front of, what the heck is it? Well, according to the Oxford Annotated Mishnah, we can be certain of a few things.

    When we ask, who was this council we can say:[2]

    • It is the judicial and deliberative body that was presided over by the high priest
    • This was the justice system for ancient Palestinian Jews
    • This group covered civil and penal law
    • There were two courts of judges depending on the severity of what was being decided, 23 judges or 71 judges
    • It was made up of the elders, sages, and various priestly factions of the day
    • Because it was controlled by the high priest, this group the apostles find themselves in front of, the same group that fought for the condemnation of Jesus, are the Sadducees

    What did this council do?[3]

    • Yes, they deliberated over civil and penal law, but that meant a few things
    • They oversaw when civil procedure and criminal procedure acted as a fulcrum, depending on how the case went it would be a fulcrum for criminal proceedings
    • They also were in charge of the criminal execution and capital crimes, along with the liability for each one

    Finally, who ran this council:[4]

    • At this time, the Sadducees. The Chief Priest Caiaphas that we heard from taking Jesus to Pilate during Holy Week was in charge of this group
    • According to Rabbi Jacob Neusner the Sadducees their name means “righteous one” so that’s hard to argue with
    • But they also, at the time in first century Palestine, rejected the “recent belief” of the afterlife and resurrection. Resurrection and afterlife theology belonged to the Pharisees.

    The Sadducees are only spoken of a few times, as we see Jesus mostly go toe-to-toe against the Pharisees in the Gospels.

    So why does all of this matter?

    The Apostles are standing in front of people that have the ability to kill them. The Mishnah I quoted from earlier also says that there are, “…four execution methods—stoning, burning, decapitation, and strangulation—and, while it lists almost thirty capital crimes, it gives greatest attention to blasphemy…[5]”

    Now, something I want to be clear about is, this is not a bloodthirsty group, and if not careful, they can be portrayed as one. The Mishnah says, A Sanhedrin that executes a transgressor once in seven years is characterized as a destructive tribunal. Since the Sanhedrin would subject the testimony to exacting scrutiny, it was extremely rare for a defendant to be executed.[6] The care for the life of a person was extremely important to this council.

    But, if you are a person preaching of the resurrection of a perceived blaspheming rabbi, it is easy to see why the high priest would want that locked down. Not only do the Sadducees in charge not believe in resurrection or an afterlife, they had just had Jesus killed.

    Peter says, “we must obey God rather than human authority.” The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.” Part of the culture in first century Palestine with members of ancient Judaism is calling out scripture in conversation.

    Everyone sitting in that room knew that Peter was connecting what happened with Jesus to Deuteronomy 21:22-23 which reads, When someone is convicted of a crime punishable by death and is executed, and you hung him on a tree, his corpse must not remain all night upon the tree; you shall bury him that same day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse.

    Scholar Ben Witherington writes that Josephus, a Jewish historian who was alive during the first century in Palestine, “indicates that such a public hanging of the body followed stoning and was the punishment for the crime of blasphemy”[7] So if someone blasphemed, and they were stoned for it, their body was hung on a tree as a deterrent. If you know your American history, it should be no surprise that the incredible Dr. James Cone connected this in his book The Cross and The Lynching Tree.

    When Jesus died, he was taken off the tree branches fastened into a cross and buried the same day. What Thomas is feeling in today’s gospel is the same thing the disciples felt walking on the road to Emmaus. It is the same thing Judas felt when he killed himself in the same way his friend died. Despair because the person they loved, the person they thought was going to overthrow power, empire, Rome, etc. was killed and cursed.

    For the disciples before easter, there is no coming back from death, and to be cursed by God in the manner of your death must mean it was all a waste.

    Every blister, every hungry night, every thirsty morning, the family and business you left behind to follow this Jesus around for three years amounted to nothing, because in the end he is cursed.

    That is, until God turns that doubt and despair into hope and conviction.

    This conviction and hope that the spirit burns into Peter and the rest of the Apostles, is the same hope and conviction the spirit burns into us today.

    This is the same Spirit, hope, and conviction that pushes us to say that while some may not recognize our non-binary siblings, we are emboldened to say we see you, we name you, and we love you.

    This is the same Spirit, hope, and conviction that pushes us to say that what is happening in Middle East right now breaks God’s heart, and Palestinian children deserve to grow old.

    This is the same Spirit, hope, and conviction that pushes us to say that Black lives still and always will matter.

    This is the same Spirit, hope, and conviction that pushes us to say that we love all our queer siblings.

    This is the same Spirit, hope, and conviction that pushes us to say that we must protect trans kids at all costs.

    This is the same Spirit, hope, and conviction that pushes us to say that we, know no person is illegal, and we must care and watch out for our neighbors.

    This is the same Spirit, hope, and conviction that pushes us to say that pushes us to wake up every Sunday morning and make breakfast.

    This is the same Spirit, hope, and conviction that pushes us to say that we, like Father Greg Boyle, see and know the unshakeable good in all people.

    This is the same Spirit, hope, and conviction that pushes us to say that at Trinity Episcopal Church, in downtown Toledo, you are welcome, wanted, and safe.

    This is the same Spirit, hope, and conviction that pushes us to say thanks be to God, and amen.

    [1] Witherington, John’s Wisdom, pg. 342

    [2] Cohen, Oxford Annotated Mishnah vol 2., pg. 490

    [3] Cohen, Oxford Annotated Mishnah vol 2, pg. 490

    [4] Cohen, Oxford Annotated Mishnah vol 2, pg. 490

    [5] Cohen, Oxford Annotated Mishnah vol 2 Pg. 491

    [6] https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Makkot.1.10?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

    [7] Witherington, Acts, pg. 232

  • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

    Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

    Prayer meeting reflection from 4/9/2025:

    Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and you do not worship the golden statue that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire, and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?”

    Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.”

    Then Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face was distorted. He ordered the furnace heated up seven times more than was customary, and ordered some of the strongest guards in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire.

    Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up quickly. He said to his counselors, “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the fire?” They answered the king, “True, O king.” He replied, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the fourth has the appearance of a god.” Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men; the hair of their heads was not singed, their tunics were not harmed, and not even the smell of fire came from them.

    Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.

    Daniel 3:14–20,24–28

    There was one question as I was reading this passage from Daniel that I do not have just one answer to.

    It is also really hard for me to read this and not think about the political environment of the past decade. The amount of comparison done between King Nebuchadnezzar and President Donald Trump is at this point, is almost exhausting. I have known and read of so many Christians that have excused voting for him, or his political actions using Nebuchadnezzar saying that God can use sinful people to move God’s will. In 2020 author William Henley released his book titled, Two Men from Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar, Trump, and the Lord of History.

    Henley walks the reader through the creation of the city of Babylon starting in Genesis 10 where he points out the mighty hunter named Nimrod that subdued the neighbors around him and forced them to submit to his rule. In this excerpt Henley writes:

    Centuries later in 620 BC, Nebuchadnezzar, a successor to Nimrod, became the ruler of Babylon and would demonstrate that founders of a nation inject their spiritual DNA into their offspring. Nimrod himself bore the DNA of the “giants,” the “mighty ones” who descended from the Nephilim (Genesis 6:4). The Bible reveals that at the core of the Nephilim spirit was self-pride and a passion for self-exaltation. This is the essence of “all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life” (1 John 2:16).  This also is the essence of Babylon in all its forms. Nebuchadnezzar, in his time as Babylon’s ruler, would pursue these lusts extravagantly— until, in a chaotic period in his personal life…[1]

    In this Daniel passage, Nebuchadnezzar has built a statue of gold and expects everyone to bow down and worship this image. If any of you have been on social media since January when President Trump regained power, you may have seen a gross AI video of his view of Gaza. There were no Palestinians, but instead glitzy hotels, a casino, Trump and Netanyahu relaxing by a pool with drinks, and a tall golden statue of Donald Trump.

    This AI golden statue of President Trump had peaked the comparison between the two, and I remember sitting in almost stunned disbelief. Disbelief not only of my surprise of this video, but that I was surprised by it. But here is what sticks in my crawl with this comparison, I do not believe that Trump could ever be as humble as Nebuchadnezzar.

    In chapter 2 of Daniel, at the end, we see that Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a statue that Daniel interpreted. After the interpretation, the king then fell on his face to worship Daniel and give him a grain offering. He then makes Daniel a ruler of parts of Babylon, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are placed in positions of power. However, we find out in the full context of this chapter, that these three Israelites refuse to worship the gods of the king, and to bow down at the golden statue to worship as well. The king had no problem doing this himself, because it was the god of all gods for him. However, if we know our history, Israelites are forbidden from worshiping graven images and other gods. If we remember, it did not go very well for the ancient Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai during the exodus.

    Now, something Nebuchadnezzar said to Daniel in chapter two was, “truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”

    Two questions about the golden statue:

    1. Why was Daniel not forced to kneel and worship the statue like his friends?
    2. Who was the statue of?

    I am of the mindset that the statue was of Daniel.

    After all, the king worshiped Daniel as God at the end of chapter two, and it is not like Daniel can stand down and worship himself. This for me, is why the argument of President Trump and King Nebuchadnezzar will always fall apart. Humility, when we unharden our heart, will always breakthrough in unexpected ways. Pharaoh did not have to unharden his heart, not because God was allegedly doing it, but because he was never affected directly. That is until the commerce of Egypt was affected by the plague of hail.  

    Today is the last Wednesday in Lent, and this has been such a long journey to Palm Sunday. Citizens have been snatched off the street for voicing their dissent of the current administration and its stance on Palestine. Saturday, some of us participated in the almost 5,000 strong Hands-Off protest in Toledo. The city of ancient Babylon may have fallen, but it does not mean that people don’t want to return to it. Like the Israelites in the wilderness groaning that they could have died slaves in Egypt with pots of meat instead of wandering.

    But what happens in Babylon and the wilderness for the ancient Israelites? God shows up and teaches God’s people a new way to live. To paint with a broad brush, in Babylon they reconstructed what it meant to worship God outside of a Temple, and in the wilderness, they learned reliance and trust.

    So, as I read about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, one question kept coming to mind that I have no answer to:

    What golden statues are trying to be built now, that we must deny so we do not lose our foundation in God?

    [1] https://www.christianpost.com/voices/two-men-from-babylon-nebuchadnezzar-trump-and-the-lord-of-history-book-excerpt.html, pulled 4/9/2025

  • Black History Month

    On Sunday, Black History Month kicked off, and things are a little bit different this year. While the current president made a proclamation on 1/31 of the celebrating of Black history, federal agencies are baring the celebration/observation of it and other things. In this post, I just want to share a few things about it’s official founding, a bit of importance of it, the way my denomination has been impacted by Black history, and some books to read.

    In 1976 Republican President Gerald Ford designated the month of February as Black History Month. This came after years of work from scholar Carter G. Woodson, who established the original, “Negro History Week” which took place the second week of February (make no mistake, Woodson never confined Black history education and celebration to just one week). The reason for this, was it held both Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglas’s birthdays. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASAALH) continues Woodson’s work and continues to be a great resource for learning about Black history. For a reading of Black history and the Episcopal Church, Joyce Crittenden has an incredible article titled, Condensed History of the Black Episcopalian, published on the website for Episcopal Church of All Saints and Ascension’s website that can be reached here.

    The importance of learning Black history can never be understated. Black history is the history of America, and we are tied to it in ways that will never be undone, no matter how may people try. It is a history that must be celebrated even if it is embarrassing or hard for white people to read. With that, I’d like to recommend a few books that changed my life for this month that will open your eyes and break your heart for the better (in no particular order):

    • The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
    • Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America by Michael Harriot
    • The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby
    • The Assassination of Fred Hampton: How the FBI and Chicago Police Murdered a Black Panther by Jeffery Haas
    • Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope by Esau McCauley
    • On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed
    • Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
    • Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experiments on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present by Harriet A. Washington
    • Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre by Brandy Colbert
    • The Sword and the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. by Peniel E. Joseph 
    • The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone
    • Black Against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party by Joshua Bloom and Waldo E. Martin Jr.
    • The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley
    • Tears We Cannot Stop by Michael Eric Dyson

    As I close out this first short post on Black History Month, I would like to share the following prayer by Canon Carla Robinson. It was prayed at a Circles of Color meeting in 2023 and can be found here. This was shortly after the death of another young Black man, Tyre Nichols. Nichols was beaten by five police officers during a traffic stop, and died in the hospital three days later:

    May God bless the memory of Tyre Nichols. We pray for his family during this time of unspeakable loss and grief. His life mattered. Tragically we have been here time & time again. Lord, grants us the strength and courage to never accept injustice & cruelty as the price for public safety. And give us grace to truly strive for justice and peace and to honestly respect the dignity of every human being.

    Creator, we lift up and thank you for our Black siblings who have shaped history. We pray that the learning happening this month in schools, homes and workplaces will be meaningful and deep-rooted. We pray for open hearts and minds, and spirits willing to learn and be transformed by you. May this month be a time of curiosity and sharing, conversations and celebrations, challenge and encouragement. Loving God, help us to dig deeper, look closer, and think bigger.

    In Jesus name, amen.

    As we celebrate our beloved siblings and continue to work towards being beloved community, may we continue to learn what we do not know, and celebrate from the mountain top.

    Black Lives Matter.
    Black Trans Lives Matter.
    Black Queer Lives Matter.
    Black Women Lives Matter.
    Black Men Lives Matter.
    Black Children Lives Matter.
    Black Healthcare Matters.

    May we never stop saying it, may we never lose sight of it, and may we never forget it.

    Grace and peace friends.

  • Lemon, it’s Wednesday

    There is a good chance that if you’re reading this, you’re aware of the Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin meme from 30 Rock. If you don’t, look it up, I don’t want to ruin the fun.

    It has been a long week, and the year is just getting started.

    Over a decade ago, I was given the book, The Sabbath, by Abraham Joshua Heschel because I was leaving paid ministry. The person who gave it to me had the unfortunate position of letting me go due to financial problems created by the previous senior pastor. There was no longer any room for my position in the budget, and as one of her first acts as the new senior pastor, she had to let me know.

    In the twelve years since that conversation, there have been a lot of ups and downs. Many dark nights of the soul, and bright shining mornings. But one thing I will always be grateful for, is her gift of that book. The Sabbath changed my life in ways I had never imagined. But something else that I have come back to time and again, is the blessing she copied and placed in the book as well. This is a week that we all need encouragement, and I’d like to share this blessing as it has continued to help me down the path:

    May you listen to your longing to be free.

    May the frames of your belonging be large enough for the dreams of your soul.

    May you arise each day with a voice of blessing whispering in your heart that something good is going to happen to you.

    May you find a harmony between your soul and your life.

    May the mansion of your soul never become a haunted place.

    May you know the eternal longing which lives at the heart of time.

    May there be a kindness in your gaze when you look within.

    May you never place walls between the light and yourself.

    May your angel free you from the prisons of guilt, fear, disappointment, and despair.

    May you allow the wild beauty of the invisible world to gather you, mind you, and embrace you in belonging.

    Right now it is easy to be cynical. It is easy to look around and see the abuse, violence, and greed that rule and get lost in the natural response of despair. But like Mr. Rogers always said, look for the helpers, you’ll always find people who helping.

    Be the helpers, we need you now more than ever.

  • MLK Day 2025

    Photo by Gotta Be Worth It on Pexels.com

    It is an irregular day for a post, but considering all that is happening, I thought I’d write a little something. An attempt to put a little good in the world.

    A few years ago, I was asked to preach on MLK observance Sunday, and it was my first time preaching at the new church I was on staff at. To say it was a little intimidating would be correct. But, a few good things came from it, and as far as sermons go, not the worst I’ve preached. This is a bit of an updated excerpt from it waking toward the idea of how we can move forward.

    How can we fight for a world that is aligned with our kin-dom ideals while making room for those who may not like or agree with us? We advocate. In his letter from Birmingham Jail, Dr. King lays out the four basic steps to nonviolent protesting, to paraphrase they are:

    1. Collect the facts and determine from those facts whether injustice is alive and well in the community you’re focusing on.
    2. Negotiation. Engage in conversation with the gate holders and see if there is a way to work within the law to change what is going on.
    3. Self-purification. The attempt to purge the injustice from oneself, so that their eyes can no longer be shut to them.
    4. Non-violent direct action. Showing up and protesting whether it is a sit in, letter writing, or some other form.

    When I was a student at the University of Toledo, I minored in Peace Studies and Education, and through those courses, these four markers came up in class almost every other week. It’s tempting, when preaching to draw upon the model that Dr. King left behind, at least, the perceived model he left. For a very long time, evangelicals and other white people have used the likeness and words of Dr. King in a way that has almost made him a caricature of who he was. 2018 marked the 50th anniversary of his cold-blooded murder, and Michael Harriot wrote an article for The Root labeled, From Most hated to American Hero: The Whitewashing of Martin Luther King Jr. Harriot does not beat around the bush when he states:

    Contrary to popular belief, when King Died, he was not an icon of freedom and equality. In fact, most of the country disliked him. Sadly, on April 4, 1968, a bullet splattered bits of Martin Luther king Jr.’s brains and blood across the balcony of Memphis, Tenn.’s Lorraine Motel. Then, and only then, was white America ready to make him a hero. [1]


    In part, it was Dr. King’s approach to injustice through non-violent direct action that led to his unpopularity. However, there is another way to put it, a way that I prefer, and it was said by one of his contemporaries, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. To quote Rabbi Laurie Green:

    Upon marching with Dr. King in Selma, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel famously said: ‘I felt my legs were praying.’ Heschel was as passionate about social justice as he was about the Sabbath and prayer. He taught that prayer must be revolutionary…[2]

    Growing up, I was often taught that prayer was a direct communication from myself to God, and that was about it. When I was introduced to concept of praying with one’s feet by my former mentor Don, it kind of broke my brain open about the possibilities of prayer.

    • So, when I say something like, advocate for the world we want, not the one we live in, that to me is an act of prayer.
    • Going after systems of oppression through non-violent direct action is a type of prayer.
    • Realizing that our liberation isn’t just wrapped up in Christ, but the breaking of chains of oppression for all peoples is an act of prayer.
    • Working hard for justice in an unjust is an act of prayer.

    So, on this Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 57 years since his assassination, may we remember that the work Dr. King stood for is still on going, and that in the work, we are called to be merciful, just as our God is merciful. We have a lot of work to do, and a ton of dirt to get under our nails.

    Grace and peace.

  • Welp… it isn’t much

    I took that picture on my way into work Monday. What a nice view.

    This week, I do not have much to say. The writers block has been very present these past few weeks, and it is what it is. It doesn’t help we said so long to the interim priest we have been working with for over a year, and everyone’s favorite staff member is on tour for the North American production of Dirty Dancing.

    So what is blocking the ideas from flowing? Well, we are less than a week away from another nightmare of a presidential term, and I am nervous for friends and loved ones. And if the confirmation hearing of Hegseth that occurred yesterday is a taste of what is to come…

    Speaking of cabinet picks, I will never forget when my wife and I lived in West Michigan, and the first Tr*mp administration had been going for a little while. The church we had attended the majority of the time we lived there was Mars Hill Bible Church, founded by Rob Bell. Bell had been long gone by the time we had gotten there, and the place was changing under the newly called pastor. Things started off well, but the moment Betsy DeVos, who had been the Secretary of Education for a few months, came over to me during the passing of the peace. She gave me the most uncomfortable hug I have ever had in my life, and while she was trying to make small talk, I just kept reminding myself that the person standing in front of me was a child of God. We left the church pretty soon after.

    The look on my wife’s face though, seared into my memory. One of shock, horror, and concern about what was going to come out of my mouth. I was in such shock at what was unfolding before me that I was pretty much frozen.

    Scraping the barrel but still showing up is strength in its self, and that is what I wanted to remind everyone of today. So, to close today, I want to offer up the closing prayer I lead every other week during the Wednesday intercessory prayer services. It was introduced to me by a dear friend who passed away almost a year ago called, The Coventry Litany of Reconciliation. Because it is me however, I tweaked a few things to make it more inclusive.

    The Lord be with you my friends, never forget you all are loved, and not alone during this dark time to come.

    An updated version of the Coventry Litany of Reconciliation:

    All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

    The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class,
    Lord, forgive.

    The covetous desires of people and nations to poses what is not their own,
    Lord, forgive.

    The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth,
    Lord, forgive.

    Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others,
    Lord, forgive.

    Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the unhoused, the refugee,
    Lord, forgive.

    The lust which dishonors the bodies of men, women, non-binary, and children,
    Lord, forgive.

    The pride which leads us to trust ourselves and not in God,
    Lord, forgive.

    Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.

    In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.

  • Darts

    You can watch the scene here

    There are few scenes from television that I can re-watch like the dart scene from Ted Lasso. I’m sure most of those reading will have seen it but if not, let me set the scene. Two men are playing darts in a crowded English pub, and there is a bet on the line. The bet is that if the former owner of the team Ted works for wins, he can pick the lineup for the rest of the season. If Ted wins, the former owner can’t come near the owners box while Rebecca (his ex-wife) owns the team.

    Ted is down in points, and needs to triple twenties and a bullseye to win the game. Before he takes his turn, he begins to speak to his opponent about how he has been underestimated by guys like him his entire life. Ted points out how those people aren’t curious, and their assumptions of him, had nothing to do with who he actually is. Ted comes to this because, curious people ask questions, they don’t make assumptions.

    It is a such a simple observation by Ted, but personally, it really packs a blow at the same time.

    The ability to be curious in a world we know is such a rare thing found in adulthood. This is why I think Ted Lasso stands out compared to other positive characters written for TV. It is also something I think tends to be lost in the Church, an observation pointed out to me by a former mentor. One of the things I had found most helpful during the major deconstruction phase of my faith were good questions. It took a little while for me to want to be curious about reconstructing my faith, but curiosity is what helped it grow.

    Reading rabbinic materials did a great job in re-cultivating the curiosity that evangelicalism killed. Knowing that there is space in faith traditions to play with the text, imagine what it was like, and disagree was such a foreign concept. Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Weinreb in his article, Korack: Two Jews, Three Opinions, writes:

    It is noteworthy in this regard that every single chapter of the work known as the Mishnah, which is the core around which the Talmud developed, contains a dispute between the rabbis on one point or another.

    With the heaviness of the world to come, and the rhetoric that will continue to ramp up (we saw last week at the capitol over bathrooms), it is good to remember that curiosity and questions belong. Not only do they belong, but it curiosity is how we grow and become humans deeper in the image of God. Only those who are afraid (toxic people, christian nationalists, homophobes, transphobes, etc.) will tell you otherwise. The way the writers of Ted Lasso nail this point home in such a disarming way lends to the longevity of the show.

    Stay curious my friends, it will only strengthen our resolve as we march forward. I needed a somewhat uplifting post because I have been stressed, worried, and even a little scared. I hope this gives you room to jump into something new to help balance the way things are going. You can’t fight fascism without remembering the beauty that exists and is worth maintaining. Try Ted Lasso if you haven’t seen it, or Gardner’s World with Monty Don, two sources that allow you to unplug and be filled for an hour.

    Barbecue sauce.

  • Transgender Day of Remembrance

    Image sourced here.

    Two weeks ago today the election results were announced, and things continue to look dire. Today, as the title gives away, is Transgender Day of Remembrance; while I am not a member of the trans community, I am a staunch ally. Now, I know there are going to be a few people who read this, that do not recognize trans people’s right to exist. There will also be those who read, that also think supporting queer people, and, specifically trans people is heresy. Nothing I say to you will change your mind. To borrow a phrase from someone I respect, I do not make nice with oppressors, and I hope you hear God. For those of you who are here that none of this applies to, welcome.

    Our LGBTQIA+ siblings have been here from the very beginning and to not recognize that, to me, is the same as ignoring Christ on the cross. Those who know their church history, they should be aware of this, and also know they have always had a place in the family of God. If this is news to you, I highly recommend these two books to get started:

    Transforming by Austin Hartke
    Sex Difference in Christian Theology by Megan K. DeFranza

    For Christians, to believe that we are made in the image of God, is to (hopefully) accept one of the Jewish concepts in the Talmud that says:

    Rabbi Yirmeya ben Elazar: In the hour when the Holy One created the first human, He created him as an androgynos (one having both male and female sexual characteristics), as it is said, “male and female He created them.1

    Dr. Rachel Scheinerman wrote an incredible article, The Eight Genders of the Talmud, that you can read right here. The reason why I am posting about this article, is because the Talmud is a compendium of rabbinic commentary, laws, and other writings that has been around for over a millennia. Outside of the Torah, it is the most impactful pieces of Jewish writing. To know that Christianity was a religion born out of ancient Judaism, reading ancient Jewish writings can be very helpful. Of these eight genders, four of them are applicable to our trans siblings.

    Less than 1.5% of trans people make up the total population in the United States according to a June 2022 article by the UCLA school of law.2

    350 trans siblings have been murdered globally so far in 2024.3

    321 trans siblings were murdered globally in 2023.4

    391 anti-trans bills have been proposed in the United States in 2024.5

    In 1933, one of the life centers of LGBT+ culture and community was in Germany; and when Hitler came to power, his government targeted our trans siblings.6

    The incoming presidential administration is terrifying for almost anyone who is not a straight, white, cis, republican male.

    Today is a somber day, and unfortunately there is a lot of ground still to cover for our siblings. But I believe it is possible to build a world where they are not only safe, but can be the person God made them to be. And that they will have the support to do so.

    May we remember our lost siblings not just today, but every day.

    May we remember that our trans siblings need us, not just today, but every day.

    May we see the image of God reflected in them, as we do ourselves.

    May we stand for them, even if our friends and family do not.

    And may we take a moment to recite these words from Rev. Marie A. Trato, the Canon for Community Justice Ministry in the Diocese of Long Island:

    Gracious and loving God, you made all of humankind in your image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: On this International Transgender Day of Remembrance, we remember those who were killed because of their all-encompassing humanity; help us to overcome our anger and our fear of those whose lives move beyond our binary definitions; draw us closer to the mystery and complexity of your infinite creativity and creation; teach us to look upon all of God’s children with love and compassion, that we may all live in safety and in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.7

    Sources:

    1. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-eight-genders-in-the-talmud/ ↩︎
    2. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/trans-adults-united-states/
      ↩︎
    3. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiewareham/2024/11/16/350-transgender-people-murdered-in-2024-will-the-violence-ever-end/ ↩︎
    4. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiewareham/2024/11/16/350-transgender-people-murdered-in-2024-will-the-violence-ever-end/ ↩︎
    5. https://translegislation.com/
      ↩︎
    6. https://mjhnyc.org/events/transgender-experiences-in-weimar-and-nazi-germany/ ↩︎
    7. https://allsaints-pas.org/a-prayer-for-transgender-day-of-remembrance-november-20th/ ↩︎

  • Super Tuesday

    I just left the line to vote. This is the first time since moving here that I had seen a line that will last more than 5 minutes.

    The picture above is one I took while dropping something off to a friend back in August. The heart your neighbor sign came from a group trying to reach out to neighbors. Their mission is, “during a year where neighborly love and values are tested through voting, we strive to bring neighbors together in love and harmony.”

    On the surface, it’s a great idea. But I, for the life of me, cannot understand how someone can put a sign like that their yard and vote for hate. Maybe in 2016 I could have understood.

    Maybe.

    But we know better now, and I’m only speaking for myself.

    To love your neighbor is to do what is best for everyone with the privilege you hold. Former Presiding Bishop Michael Curry wrote during the 2016 election:

    Go and vote.  Vote your conscience.  Your conscience informed by what it means to love your neighbor.  To participate in the process of seeking the common good.  To participate in the process of making this a better world.  However you vote, go and vote.  And do that as a follower of Jesus. 

    I would amend that to say, if you are a follower of Jesus;

    If you are someone who seeks justice, cares about the poor, widow, and orphan;

    If you strive to till the soil of this world to usher in the kin-dom of heaven;

    Do not vote for him. Lives are on the line.

    Women’s lives are on the line.

    LGBTQIA+ lives are on the line.

    People of Color lives are in the line.

    Those who rely on social security lives are on the line.

    Those who live on the margins lives are on the line.

    I support Palestinians, and she took too long to talk about Gaza in any “meaningful” way. And I’m not sure I trust the outcome. But like uncle Bernie said, “he must be defeated.”

    I can go on, and on but I’ll end it with this:

    Christ have mercy,

    Lord have mercy,

    Christ have mercy.