Coming To The Father

Jesus didn’t really say “believe in me.” What he said was “be like me.” (see the article below.) He also said “you can do this, the same amazing stuff I do, even more amazing things than I do.”  There is only one very simple caveat. All that is necessary is to act like him. (John […]

Relax, this is not political

  I’m going to ask you to suspend your natural reaction to this statement: “The Cure Is Worse Than The Disease”   OK, I get it. That’s way too much to ask.  How about this then: “Kids Are Better Off In School”   What are we saying about ourselves when every important issue of the […]

A Better Place

Last night I was needing and searching for a way to get back to “a better place.” Not that there was ever a time that didn’t present its own challenges but I think you’d agree there have been times in the past that seemed sublimely free of the challenges we face today.    This morning […]

Don’t Say “I’m Your Ally”

I’d like to challenge you to a small wager … hopefully large enough to get your attention. You think you’re a liberal and progressive person? I’ll bet you $100 you’re not liberal enough, or progressive enough, to hear this interview without at least one time saying to yourself “this guy is really pissing me off.” […]

Revolutionary Change

If you’ve heard this you understand why I say: “I cannot recommend this podcast too highly.”   If you haven’t heard it, please find the time to listen.    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rumble-with-michael-moore/id1490354763?i=1000477268870   PS: Emily Mann could have been a star of stage and screen. To our very great benefit she chose instead to write and direct. […]

Exquisite Anguish

Dear reader,   Some of you have had this experience … those very special times when a certain song reaches so deep inside you that you burst into tears. If the beneficent universe hasn’t yet blessed you in this way I encourage you to seek for it.   I woke to a whole pile of […]

Earth Day

A Movie for Earth Day Please use this link to view Michael Moore’s Planet of the Humans. This is an incredible movie – important to see. It will hone your vision of our human condition. I hope you will take a moment to watch this film  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk11vI-7czE&t=68s  

Music Therapy For These Challenging Times

I don’t know where I’d be these days without music and my memories of music. For example I’m thinking about one piece right now. 40 years ago when I was with the Oregon Repertory Singers we sang Rachmaninoff’s “Bogoroditse Dyevo”. Back then the Rep Singers had 2 guys that could go down to a low […]

Two Trees In Palestine

I’ve previously shared on this blog Frederick Buechner’s always entertaining daily offering. Here’s another great example of how, in my opinion, religion should always be done, not taking itself too seriously, but always aware of its importance in the overall scheme of things. DEBORAH WAS ISRAEL’S ONLY WOMAN JUDGE. She looked like Golda Meir and […]

The (ahem) Deal of the Century

Let me be very clear. For Palestinians the so-called Deal of the Century is a complete non-starter. To begin with, at least five of the key demands it puts forth are ludicrous from Palestine’s standpoint. Netanyahu knows that. Jared Kushner knows that. Who knows what Donald John Trump knows? The point is, Israel’s leaders and […]