Friday, 04 July 2008, 11:18 am PDT
Featured Ministers
Presbyterians to consider Ordaining Gays
“An engineering professor is treating her husband, a loan officer, to dinner for finally giving in to her pleas to shave off the scraggly beard he grew on vacation. His favorite restaurant... [read more]
A Unitarian Universalist Minister in Mississippi
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how's the wrist coming along?
Went to the doc yesterday. He says I'm healing and gave me a referral for a physical therapist. I'm to see her twice a week for the next six weeks, initially, and then we'll see how it goes. L... [read more]
One More Step
Friday Max Blogging
Hi everyone One day I went to Petco this week but i don’t remember and got my nails clipped whichwas terrible it was the worst adn Idid squirm alot which you are not supposed to do but I f... [read more]
PeaceBang
A Brief Sabbatical
E. B. White of "Charlotte's Web" and "Stuart Little" fame, is believed to have said, "I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a de... [read more]
Sexuality and Religion: What’s the Connection?
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Why I Do Not Respond to Anonymous Posts
As you may have read, there is someone posting to this blog under the pseudonym John Brown. Though I have little doubt this is a caring, sincere person, I have declined to engage in dialogue with t... [read more]
Just Wondering
A Declaration of Interdependence
There is no doubt in my mind the American Declaration of Independence is one of the signal documents of human history. And if the 4th of July served no other purpose than to draw our attention to t... [read more]
Monkey Mind
Week 6: "The Darkside" & "Suburban Sprawl & Alcohol" by L.P.
I first heard the Brooklyn-based rock band L. P. by accident. I went to hear Kansas City’s own punk-rock band The Architects at The Record Bar, one of KC’s best venues, and L. P. was on the bi... [read more]
RevThom
Some Information About Me
At the suggestion of a frequent reader of this Blog, I have decided to add an “About Me” section, mostly so I can add a link in the side-bar:CONGREGATIONS SERVEDShawnee Mission UU Church, Overl... [read more]
RevThom
Driving Tragedy
I was stuck behind a black Toyota Highlander this evening at a red light and then at the drive-through at Mc Donald’s (I cannot tell a lie) and first noticed the Christian messages plastere... [read more]
PeaceBang
Changsha Takes A Step
Changsha had a monk ask Master Hui, “What about before you saw Nanquan? ” Hui sat still for a little while. “What about after seeing him? ” “Nothing special. ” The monk returned and to... [read more]
Monkey Mind
Quilting
I have been remiss in posting some quilting pics for my dear reader in Maine. I'm always flattered by the question, "How do you have time to quilt? !? " I don't. I believe that this... [read more]
Auspicious Jots
GA ID Checks Footnote
In many circles I’m a part of (POC, Ministers, Lefty Anarcho Syndicalists) within the Unitarian Universalist world, General Assembly is getting a full wrap up discussion. On the subject of... [read more]
RadicalHapa
Question FOUR
So here we are, the question at which so many religious traditions--or, at least, so many religious professionals--usually begin the conversation: Whose am I? The traditional theistic response, of... [read more]
A Minister’s Musings
Remembering a Founding Mother on July 4, 2008
Should we think that our current problems as a nation—the falling value of the dollar, a perilous dependence upon overseas products, an administration that favors the wealthy over the ordinary ma... [read more]
Beacon Broadside
Rockin' Hob Nobbin
You Tube - The Baseball Project This is my first attempt at blogging a video. I think I've just linked it instead of getting the cool screen look. Well, what did you expect from a Luddite at 2:30 ... [read more]
Auspicious Jots
Microblogging 2008-07-02
Capitol Hill in DC: exquisitely beautiful examples of mid-Atlantic row house architecture. # In front of the Air& Space museum: a boy flies a paper airplane. His dad isn’t interested. Th... [read more]
Yet Another Unitarian Universalist
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Wednesday's TV Report
So as much as I disliked last night's "Secret Life", I made myself watch NBC's "The Baby Borrower's" tonight. It's the story of several teenage couples who are ... [read more]
Sexuality and Religion: What’s the Connection?
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Two More Paintings
I received two more paintings from my brother’s most recent show. Here they are: Martyrdom of St. Ursula, 2008 Fall of the Rebel Angles, 2008 [read more]
The Latest Form of Infidelity
let the healing begin
My house has been suffering with broken appliances in apparent sympathy to my broken wrist. Finally, now, some things are starting to be fixed. The water heater took three visits from three diffe... [read more]
One More Step
Fourth of July plans!
It's the second day of my month off and so far I haven't done much that can be considered vacation-y, but that will change tomorrow morning when I get up about 5 a. m. , hop in the car with a cup... [read more]
Ms. Kitty’s Saloon and Road Show
Rock Bottom as a Solid Foundation
J. K. Rowling’s Commencement Address earlier this month at Harvard was wondrous. I just finished reading it (taking a break from reworking my course outline for The Bible as Literature). ... [read more]
Sunflower Chalice
workshop in occasion of finishing roof of Church in Nyaradszereda
image made by Eng. Viola Paskutcz [read more]
Good will
Question THREE
The third question we all must answer--that is, if we want to live the "examined life"--is "Where Am I? "When I was in Japan I asked my friend Takeo how to ask this ques... [read more]
A Minister’s Musings
I Like Celebratory Behavior in Worship
After experiencing another UU GA Worship with admonishments for celebratory behavior in worship, my heart is even sadder. I’ve already heard the criticisms of young children’s voices... [read more]
RadicalHapa
Suddenly Everybody Has One, Part Two
I recently posted about having my 19-year-old nephew on hand for awhile. I suggested this offers a great opportunity for my religion, Unitarian Universalism, to stay connected with its young... [read more]
PolityWonk
New Book from Beacon
A new book by our own Beacon Press, Sundays in America: A Yearlong Road Trip in Search of Christian Faith By Suzanne Strempek Shea received a blessing of review in this morning’s Boston Glo... [read more]
Sunflower Chalice
Microblogging 2008-07-01
Dining car: supper with a sculptor, breakfast with retired military, lunch with a homeschooling mom. # [read more]
Yet Another Unitarian Universalist
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Obama's faith-based initiative won't work
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. .. " Today, Senator Barak Obama revealed his basic plan for establishing... [read more]
Keep the Faith
Update on yesterday's post
A subsequent message from the parole officer I'd contacted about a sex offender who wanted to find out about visiting our church reveals that the state of Washington already has some pretty good r... [read more]
Ms. Kitty’s Saloon and Road Show
Poetry Stop II
Another poem while we wait for Godot, courtesy of Panhala this morning. Proverbios y Cantares XXIX by Antonio Machado(translated by A. Trueblood)Wayfarer, the only way is your footsteps, there is ... [read more]
UU Jester
Why Dissent?
The end of the Supreme Court's term gives me a chance to reflect on some of the dissents that the justices wrote. The question I want to explore – which I deal with in some of the essays accompa... [read more]
Beacon Broadside
Back from GA
We flew in this evening from GA. I’m sorry I didn’t post more, but I just couldn’t bring myself to pay $10 per day for access at the hotel, and I was too busy to post much during ... [read more]
Just Wondering
UU-Jester's Poetry Stop
Well, hello there. It's been a while. Sorry about that. The hat and bells were at the laundry, I'm afraid. While we wait for them to dry, perhaps I could regale you with a poem. This one has been... [read more]
UU Jester
Terminating Fellowship and New Media
The UU World has changed its headline to reflect accurately on the new by-law change. Apparently I wasn't the only person who complained. Hopefully, someone thought to complain directly, which... [read more]
iMinister
worshipful goodness
Yesterday's morning worship was the best GA service I've seen, in the almost-decade I've been attending. Rather than *telling* us to be "appropriately" worshipful, the leaders cre... [read more]
the yes church
Terminating Ministers
"Ministers can be terminated for incompetence," screams the UU World headline. It's a misleading headline with nasty overtones, and I expect better from the UU World. Aside from th... [read more]
iMinister
Can we do better than God?
A disciple asks the rabbi,"God, who is perfect, took six days to create a world that is not. How is this possible? " The rabbi scolded him, "Could you have done better? ... [read more]
Keep the Faith
Dorothy Parks, RIP
My grandmother died today. Born Dorothy Eleanor Richey, on January 26th, 1922, she married Charles Naylor, gave birth to my mother; then divorced and married Ray Parks. She often baby-sat my sist... [read more]
the yes church
The Giant of Provence - defying the Ventoux
Believe everything you hear about this mountain. I'm just back from climbing it via the East from Bédoin: 21 km over 1610 m. Here's how the Wikipedia entry puts it:"This is the most famou... [read more]
Caute
Spirituality: what is it?
There has been over the last few days an interesting conversation on spirituality on the minister’s chat list. What is it? How do we define it? How do Unitarian Universalists who hav... [read more]
A Unitarian Universalist Minister in Mississippi
See all blogs entries from A Unitarian Universalist Minister in Mississippi
Simple Gifts
As you know if you’ve been reading this blog for long, there are lots of losses in my life just now. Trouble with my son and a recent separation after 11 years with my partner. Both the... [read more]
ministrare
Go By Train
I am in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida at the moment attending the Unitarian Universalist Association’s General Assembly. On something of a lark I took the train down from North Carolina. It was a ... [read more]
The Latest Form of Infidelity
Sermon: La integridad del orgullo
La integridad del orgullo Por el Revdo. Sean Parker Dennison 8 de junio de 2008 (Trad. Francisco J. Lagunes G. ) Sociedad Unitaria Universalista del Valle Sur 6876 South Highland Drive (2000 East... [read more]
ministrare
Light Perpetual
Henry Chadwick has died, apparently just short of his 88th birthday. Why is this important? Because if we are ever going to reclaim our knowledge of classical Unitarianism and Universalism -- those... [read more]
PolityWonk
On the Move….
In the GA Universe, there are rooms and there are ROOMS. I booked myself into the Hyatt Regency Pier 66, not so much for its cuisine or its location, but for its Internet access for those of u... [read more]
Rev Rose
Garden Academies
I realise that a few people who read this blog don't go on to read any comments that are posted but my last post has opened up a conversation with someone by the name of Jonathan that is proving q... [read more]
Caute
Liminal Ft. Lauderdale
So, I am in Ft. Lauderdale, the site of our 2008 General Assembly. As a member of the UUA Board, I have work to do, starting at noon Tuesday. As a member of the UU Ministers’ Associatio... [read more]
Rev Rose
After the storm
Tonight there was another thunder storm, one of the strongest of the many brief storms to pass through our neighborhood. The rain came in slanty through the windows, the lightening was bright and ... [read more]
Carrots and Ginger
Most This Amazing Day
Today, to celebrate the first day of summer and the last day of the regular Fellowship year (though we're not taking the summer off, things get pretty casual around here until early September), we... [read more]
The Arc of the Universe
The self-reliant and the social reformers
IDEAS: Transcendentalists were divided into several camps, just like their Unitarian Universalist heirs. [read more]
Ideas from UU World
Why Blog?
I have found it difficult to become a real “blogger. ” That is, I have trouble making regular posts, using the blog as a consistent source of writing that is updated all the time. I w... [read more]
Rev. Thomas Perchlik
Until summer’s end
Dear Bytes of Grass readers, You’ve probably noticed that things are getting out of date here. I’ve had a number of technical difficulties the past two months, from being hacked to podc... [read more]
Bytes of Grass
Parade Participation
There is a photo (below) in a recent Webster-Kirkwood times edition, where you can see the lawn chair brigade that a dozen folks (including me), featured in the Meacham Park Parade and Homecoming. ... [read more]
Rev. Daniel’s Blog
Eliot member Kevin Mitchell has a new book out
Eliot member Kevin Mitchell has a new book out. You can read about it here. [read more]
Rev. Daniel’s Blog
Plan Now. Revival 2009 All Souls Tulsa
Theme: Jesus' Gospel of Inclusion and Future of world, our churches, our lives. Keynoter Carlton Pearson. Come to the world's largest Unitarian church for the UU Christian Fellowship Revival in T... [read more]
Planting God Communities
Once Again: UUA GA and Church Planting
Hi all. Again this year for the UUA General Assembly I will be looking and love to hear about all kinds of presentations, discussions, workshops, etc. that you might go to that are about church pla... [read more]
Planting God Communities
As You Go
The title to today's sermon is from the closing hymn the Fellowship I serve sings every week, written by my wonderful colleagues Ruben Piirainen and the Rev. Suzelle Lynch of the Unitarian Univers... [read more]
The Arc of the Universe
Capital Rep’s Production of “Doubt”
Did he or didn’t he? That is the question you walk out of the Capital Repertory production of the play “Doubt” with. When the production is done well, the audience identifies with all the c... [read more]
timesunion.com
Wilty
We are all very wilty here in Ithaca. It has been near 100 degrees, but even when I went running this morning and it was 76 outside, the humidity is impressive, and it is hard to get a good breath... [read more]
Carrots and Ginger
Children’s Sunday
As Boy in the Bands will tell you, Children’s Sunday has a long and illustrious history in our church movement. Yesterday, right on schedule, was ours. I usually step far away from the ... [read more]
Parsonage Life
“Some Guys’ Hearts…
…they’re just bigger than others. ” That’s what Brian Scalabrine had to say about his teammate Paul Pierce’s contribution to the truly exciting first game of the NBA... [read more]
Parsonage Life
Religion, People, Values
First Unitarian Society Originally uploaded by psdlund The Executive Committee of the Prairie Star District Board had it’s end-of-the-church-year meeting last weekend at the ... [read more]
Phil’s Little Blog on the Prairie
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Working as a Cashier for Honest Weight Co-op
I’ve been patronizing the Honest Weight Co-op for the last nine years without being a member. They have my favorite brown rice (Lundberg short grain) and a few other specialty items that are... [read more]
timesunion.com
Blogs on a Train
. . . Because I can. This post brought to you by the Southwest Chief hurtling somewhere through Kansas. [read more]
Returning . . .
Question Box sermon
I’ve been asked the topic for this week’s sermon titled “A Question Box. ” There isn’t one, yet! In what I hope to do annually, I’ll be letting you set the quest... [read more]
Bytes of Grass
Three in a thousand
IDEAS: A new survey estimates that 0. 3 percent of American adults identify as Unitarians—a lot more than belong to our churches. [read more]
Ideas from UU World
Economic Inequality is Squeezing the Middle Class
Today's post is from Nan Mooney , author of Not Keeping Up With Our Parents: The Decline of the Professional Middle Class . Mooney is also the author of I Can't Believe She Did That: . . . ... [read more]
Gather: Articles by Beacon Broadside
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Transitions
Apologies for my recent silence. But my life has been over run by boxes and saying good bye. Not to you, dear reader--Kuan Yin's Chalice will continue! I feel like a ghost. I am between churches. ... [read more]
Kuan Yin’s Chalice
An Image of Hope
According to ancient Greek mythology, a curious woman named Pandora once opened a box. Inside that box, sealed tight until her curiosity cracked the seal, were confined all the evils of the worl... [read more]
Nancy McDonald Ladd
Better Never Than Late?
One hesitates to even whisper the name Jeremiah Wright now that it has become a faint echo from, lo, a whole week ago. I'm sure most folk in the Obama camp hope they never hear it again. But the s... [read more]
Isten Aldjon
Listening to Experience
The UUA has been doing a remarkable job of getting exciting resources around growth and leadership into the hands of the people who need them the most–the leaders of our congregations. The ju... [read more]
Phil’s Little Blog on the Prairie
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STRAIGHT FROM THE Press Conference.. yes, that one!
Here I am in Washington, DC. .. meeting with leaders of local affiliates of The Interfaith Alliance, who've gathered from across the country to share ideas and to learn. If you don't know about T... [read more]
Isten Aldjon
Monday Link Roundup: Bill Ayers and Stanley Fish, SCOTUS, YouTube
We recently posted about Beacon Press author Bill Ayers and his connection to Barack Obama. Stanley Fish posted about the controversy on his blog at the New York Times , and "confesses... [read more]
Gather: Articles by Beacon Broadside
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Proving Our Worth
I turned 30 this week. I had anticipated that such a turning point would feel at least a little bit unsettling, but it hasn’t really freaked me out at all. After all – I spent my 25th bir... [read more]
Nancy McDonald Ladd
Words from the Woods
WORDS FROM THE WOODS Like the Lorax of Dr. Seuss we like to speak for the trees, to protect them and affirm their verdant lives. In another way that the trees also speak for us, reminding us of who... [read more]
Rev. Thomas Perchlik
Ah, Spring in New Mexico . . .
70 degrees one day, snow the next. I’ve lived in a lot of communities that have taken strange pride in their weather quirks. They’re all lightweights compared to northern New Mexico. ... [read more]
Returning . . .
Being Born All Over Again
By Rev. John Morehouse Yogi Berra, one of my favorite commentators on the duplicity of the English language, once said upon his Yankees winning yet another World Series. “Wow, its Déjà vu a... [read more]
Rev. John Morehouse
More on Pure Land and Zen
Now that the search process is done (mostly--I still have candidating week), I have found that I can now read things for pleasure once again and not feel guilty about it! For so long I could not pi... [read more]
Kuan Yin’s Chalice
Review of the Large Church Conference in Louisville, KY, March 13 – 16, 2008 Loehr to Sinkford
Since the annual SXSW music and film festival in Austin, TX is one of my annual pilgrimages, I was much chagrined that it fell precisely on the Large Conference dates. Thankfully, part of Austin s... [read more]
The Rev’s Review
Sermon for tomorrow at huumms
We sit in a place of history. On this land, in these halls walked legends of our faith. Those superstars of yester year who shined so bright that they are like the Bono, Madonna, or Cher of today. ... [read more]
Post Modern Preacher
A Divine Push
by Rev. John Morehouse First in a Series on the “Five Smooth Stones of Liberalism” I begin with a story. Ellie walked cautiously into the neo-intensive unit. The machines were beep... [read more]
Rev. John Morehouse
YOU WERE MADE FOR SO MUCH MORE!
You are an innovator, and just as this expansive, growing universe creates each and everyday, you have the capacity to expand beyond your present place to a much more purposed existence. You can ov... [read more]
Rev. John Crestwell
Finding Meaning in The Madness
You know it’s amazing how hospitality works when you drive your car. You let someone over when there’s traffic, then a few moments later, when you need to get over, someone let’s you over. ... [read more]
Rev. John Crestwell
Playing Poker and Ministerial Presence
I enjoy playing poker, but as a grad student my income doesn't support gambling with any considerable stakes. A minister friend introduced me to some of his congregants who host a low stakes tourn... [read more]
Post Modern Preacher
Further on Communion
I included Levertov poem in the UUCF communion (previous post) for a reason: because it speaks to the skeptic in all of us who questions the morality of God who allows the innocent to suffer etc. I... [read more]
thelivelytradition
Denise Levertov's Poem about Thomas
There has been some discussion on blogs and email lists about this poem that I read at the UUCF communion service in Portland, OR this spring. Much has been said about its content and tone. Read ... [read more]
thelivelytradition
Returning Home Again...
The leaves are changing here on these hills and the geese are flying above and calling out their dramatic songs. We remember our roots in the Jewish tradition in the celebration of the Holy Day, Yo... [read more]
help create peace now...
balancing change and constancy...
There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter. ... [read more]