Category Archives: culture

The world is too much with us

Posted on May 27, 2016 by jim

When I shared this on Facebook recently, this was one of the comments: “There were years when this was true for me – why that stopped is beyond me.” Considering a response, I was reminded of a poem by William … Continue reading →

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The Bible

Posted on April 16, 2016 by jim

The Bible is a collection of 66 (or 73) different books, some history, some poetry, some songs, some letters, as well as the rules of an ancient religion . . . written over the span of 1,600 years. Problems arise … Continue reading →

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“To make gentle the life of this world”

Posted on April 3, 2016 by jim

April 4 marks the 48th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr. King has been dead nine years longer than he lived. Every year, I revisit the response of Robert Kennedy in Indianapolis, Indiana, following the assassination. This … Continue reading →

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Risen – a movie review

Posted on April 2, 2016 by jim

I strongly recommend the movie Risen. According to distributor Sony Pictures Risen “follows the epic Biblical story of the resurrection, as told through the eyes of a non-believer. Clavius, a powerful Roman Military Tribune, and his aide Lucius, are tasked … Continue reading →

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Marginalizing moderates

Posted on March 23, 2016 by jim

In many faith traditions, moderates are usually marginalized by the vocal extremists. Ted Cruz, “conservative Christians,” “evangelicals,” Franklin Graham, Liberty University, and so many other “Christians” in the mainstream don’t represent the true message of Jesus. (Here’s a simple hint, … Continue reading →

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We must take sides

Posted on March 20, 2016 by jim

A simple checklist to determine if you support Authoritarianism or Christianity. If you support a candidate who announces to the world an intent to violate basic human rights and civil liberties; If you think mass incarceration and deportations based solely … Continue reading →

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American Jesus

Posted on March 19, 2016 by jim

The United States has the second highest obesity rate in the world. Despite easy access to proper nutritional information, healthy food and clean water, as a nation we remain committed to unhealthy, and ultimately deadly, behaviors and beliefs. As a … Continue reading →

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Where is God in your smile?

Posted on February 2, 2016 by jim

I happened to be thinking about Joel Osteen the other day, and here he is talking with Stephen Colbert, a Christian. I have serious concerns about mega churches, but which faith leader best exemplified the joy of Christ? Osteen or … Continue reading →

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Beware of false prophets

Posted on January 28, 2016 by jim

“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” – Jesus The past two weeks have been an interesting time for Evangelical Christians. On Jan. 19, Franklin … Continue reading →

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Too many Christians do Christmas wrong

Posted on January 2, 2016 by jim

If you’re a Christian who thinks the Christmas season ended on Dec. 25, then you’re already a casualty of the ‘war on Christmas,’ and you don’t even know it. In the United States, the annual commercial assault on Christmas begins … Continue reading →

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Watch Night

Posted on December 31, 2015 by jim

I learned of Watch Nigh” at my historically black seminary (one of the many, many blessings I received by attending the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University). In the African American community, Watch Night services on … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Rights, culture, in the news | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment