Within 24 hours of each other, one assassin walked into a church and shot a doctor who provided late-term abortions, while he was handing out orders of worship, and another assassin shot up a military recruiting center, killing a soldier right out of basic training, and wounding another. Both of … Read more →
Category Archives: Prophetic Voice
Biblical Literalism and Out of Context Scripture
When I first learned of reports that certain high level government reports from soon after 9/11 had been framed using Judeao-Christian scripture, I was neither surprised nor outraged. Perhaps I have become desensitized, but it is little more than I have come to expect from that time in our nation’s … Read more →
A Moment of Awe and a Moment of Regret
,, A few months ago, I sat in awe as I watched a young U.S. Army National Guard Infantry First Lieutenant violate Title 10 of the U.S. Code on the Rachel Maddow Show, by saying three words… “I Am Gay”. He said it knowing full well the consequences of that … Read more →
Why Janeane Garofalo is Dangerously Wrong
, Any time I hear someone begin to refer to whole groups of individuals as “these people” or “those people”, my brain immediately begins to shout that there is some kind of dangerous prejudice being promoted. I found it amazingly ironic that when Janeane Garofalo launched into her prejudiced diatribe … Read more →
The Failure of Mass Protests and the Political Right
I have written several times in the last few years about how the era of effective mass protests is over, how governmental and business power structures have become immune to them. In the late 60’s and early 70’s, such tactics were so new that they actually did change policy at … Read more →
Grudgingly for State Recognition of Marriage Equality
I grudgingly support the equality of state recognition of all people to get married, regardless of their sexual orientation. Why grudgingly? Not because I do not believe in the rights of each and every person to have equal protection before the law… I certainly do. Not because I do not … Read more →
Obama-Rama Mania Gone Way, Way Too Far
I know I live in Hyde Park (actually, I live on the border of Hyde Park and the neighborhood to the south of Woodlawn, but we work, shop, and go to class in Hyde Park). I know that less than 10 blocks from my apartment the secret service is sitting … Read more →
The Prejudices around a Personal God
If there is any issue about my personal faith where I have found others have both the most assumptions and the most confusion, it has been around my theological stance of having a personal relationship with God when God does not have a personal relationship with you. I believe I … Read more →
Article on the UUA Advocacy and Witness Blog
I was honored to be asked by the UUA Advocacy and Witness Staff Group to write a guest article on their blog “Inspired Faith, Effective Action” for the 6 year mark of the War in Iraq. Here is a short bit of the article: One of the most common questions … Read more →
The Political Assumptions of Progressivism
I have found that most of the people who identify as some kind of religious “progressive” have done at least some basic work around the worldview and assumptions that they are implying by linking their religious faith so clearly with the concept of progress. While it is not the kind … Read more →
The Danger of Progress as a Source of Meaning
In a conversation with a fellow seminarian who had read my article “Why I’m not a progressive”, it became clear to me that though I laid out the reasons why I call myself a Liberal and not a progressive, I did not highlight what problem I have with the word … Read more →
Why I’m not a “Progressive”
I remember a conversation with a religiously and politically conservative U.S. Army Chaplain while I was at the Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio. This Chaplain had found Celestial Lands, and had specifically read the article entitled “Unitarian Universalism and Military Chaplaincy“. About two days into the two-week course, … Read more →
Diversity as Good Business Sense
The past few days I have been struck by how obvious is the practical need for diversity in the workplace, be it the offices of mayors, the offices of a major newspaper, or a piping factory in Paris Texas. Lets step away from such issues (for a second) as institutional … Read more →
Continuing to Normalize Military Ministry
On his blog, “UU A Way of Life”, David Markham offers the opinion that military chaplains who are Unitarian Universalists are not living the principles of Unitarian Universalism. While I honor his opinion, I believe it in part arises from an incomplete understanding of Military Chaplaincy, as well as a … Read more →
No More Books, Please!
I am asking for your understanding. Perhaps I am speaking a prophetic voice for Seminarians in and beyond our Liberal Faith. I am writing to all so I can ask for this favor, this boon. Please stop giving me books you think I just have to read… please! I know … Read more →
Tuning in or Tuning out in Times of Tragedy
I just turned my television off, because there is no point in watching anymore. The television was covering the tragic crash of Flight 3407 outside Buffalo New York. My heart and prayers go out to all the families, to the victims, and to the community. The crash is especially difficult … Read more →
Dare to Dream
There are many hopes that I have for Liberal Faith, and for Unitarian Universalism specifically, but the greatest of these is that we dare to dream. Not necessarily as individuals, for I have met dreamers aplenty in our congregations. No, my hope is that we learn to dream, to vision … Read more →
It’s More Complicated than White
This past week, I have been taking a January Intensive course (a semester’s worth of lectures and class time crammed into one week) taught by the Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed. He has a new book out, In Between, but his most well known work is Black Pioneers in a White Denomination. … Read more →
Unitarian Church of Evanston IL Spied Upon by Army Intelligence
In doing some research into the history of the Unitarian Church of Evanston, Illinois during the era of the Civil Rights Movement and the opposition to the war in Vietnam, I have come across a little known and courageous moment in American history. It is a moment that touches three … Read more →
Building a Just Peace
Below is an excerpt of and collection of resources for the speech on Building a Just Peace that I presented at People’s Church Chicago on November 22, 2008. I am thankful for all the wonderful engagement and questions, and look forward to continuing the conversations with those who were there, … Read more →
They Just Fade Away: Veteran’s Day Sermon
For Veteran’s Day, I am posting to Celestial Lands my Veterans Day sermon from last year… I hope it inspires thought. This past summer, I had the honor and privilege to attend the retirement ceremony of the senior military chaplain of our Unitarian Universalist faith, Chaplain Colonel, the Reverend Vernon … Read more →
Tired of Negative Apologetics
Perhaps it is that I am deeply involved in reading Reinhold Niebuhr, but I am tired of people attempting to prove their own beliefs by showing what is wrong with everything else, or negative apologetics. I’m tired of listening to political candidates discuss everything that is wrong with their opponents, … Read more →
How Far Will We Go?
When I heard that a young woman, a McCain campaign volunteer, was allegedly attacked by someone who beat her up and scratched a B on her cheek, I felt my heart drop. In large part, it was out of sympathy for the young woman, because no one deserves to be … Read more →
Rejectionist Theology
If I had to describe my own faith journey over the last fifteen years in one sentence, it might be that I moved from understanding my faith only in terms of what I was against, to building a faith based upon what I am for. For years, whenever someone would … Read more →
Unitarian Universalist Peace Ministry Network
The Congregational Study Action Issue Core Team on Peacemaking has unveiled a new website, designed to provide communication and connection for Unitarian Universalists as we move forward in our work to create a more peaceful world. The website (http://uupeacemakers.org/) founds the Unitarian Universalist Peace Ministry Network, and I encourage all … Read more →
Now I’m Really Concerned
It might come as a surprise to some of you now, or who know me now, but for years I was an avid listener and dare I say fan of right wing talk radio. In my office and workshop I nearly forced my crew to listen to Rush, G Gordon, … Read more →
Yzma – Palin
I wanted to share with you all my wife’s nickname for Governor Palin. Though I put the pictures up here, it is not looks that have inspired this nickname. Rather, it is the character’s “tag-line” that has inspired this “nom de guerre” for my wife, and it makes me laugh … Read more →
The Privacy of Politicians
It’s possible I am going to ruffle some feathers with this post, and I know I have been more focused on politics than on liberal faith this past few weeks. It’s that time in the political year. And, there is a parallel to life in the ministry that I think … Read more →
I’m Beginning to Become Concerned
Here lies a toppled God. His fall was not a small one. We did but build his pedestal, A Narrow and a Tall one. — Frank Herbert I recently watched the new Music Video by supporters of Barrack Obama, titled “An American Prayer”. Rev. Sean Dennison had commented on his … Read more →
Drill Here, Drill Now… With What?
For many reasons, I am not going to mention my support for any particular candidate in this election, and I am going to stick to discussing issues. Recently, there have been calls in this election to increase the amount of off shore oil drilling, to lessen our dependence on foreign … Read more →
In The Tradition of Jesus
A conversation yesterday at church reminded me of an earlier conversation I had at the Chaplain School with a very conservative and angry evangelical preacher and fellow Army Chaplain candidate. In that conversation, he mentioned that he had now heard two Unitarians preach, and neither of us had preached about … Read more →
Creating a Culture of Peace
How can we as Unitarian Universalists best work towards a world where violence is no longer a viable option for humanity, not only as Nation-states but also in our personal lives? How can we work to finally “lay down our sword and shield”? It will not be done through internal … Read more →
A Vision of Fear or of Hope?
Last night, as I listened to the speech of Barrack Obama acknowledging his clinching the nomination of the Democratic Party for the office of the President of the United States. As a preacher, I am always fascinated by his ability to gather an audience together, and bring them along with … Read more →
Never Again… Remember Me…
I thought I understood the meaning of Memorial Day. I thought that uniform hanging back there taught me the meaning of Memorial Day. I thought that growing up the child of a soldier, and the grandchild of a sailor taught me the meaning of memorial day. But I was wrong. … Read more →
Keep the Faith SPC Hall and Rev. Matt
I do not usually cross-post to other blogs here on Celestial Lands. I use this blog as my public pre-writing for sermons and other essays… to clarify my own thoughts, to get them down in written form, and to do so while practicing my public, prophetic voice. But as many … Read more →
Defining Religous Language: Social Engagment… Action, Justice, and Witness
Social Action, Social Justice, and Social Witness… forms of Social Engagement These three phrases are used interchangeably by many in Liberal Faith, but to me they are very distinct kinds of engagement with the social problems of the world. Social Action is the effort to address the direct needs of … Read more →
Defining Religious Language: Salvation
I am a Unitarian Universalist who believes deeply that salvation is an inherent aspect of my faith. Not just my own personal salvation, though through this faith that has happened, but the salvation of the world. My faith is not about the salvation of individual souls for a perceived afterlife. … Read more →
Well, At Least It Wasn’t About Sex
It has taken me several days to write and reflect on Hillary Clinton’s claim that she had come under sniper fire when her plane landed in Bosnia in March of 1996. The reason has been that it is hard for me to properly reflect on something when I am angry … Read more →
Defining Religious Language: Crucifixion and Resurrection
Of all of the religious language that I have worked over the past few years to define for myself, these two words and concepts have by far been the hardest. I think there are three reasons for that. First, they are probably the two most sensitive words in the Christian … Read more →
Preachers, Politicians, Vision
Yesterday, after I preached a guest sermon at Unity Temple, a woman shook my hand and told me she was hoping that Barack Obama was elected President so I would not have to go to Iraq. When I said something like “Well, we’ll just invade somewhere else” she chided me … Read more →
A Missionary Faith
Last night, I attended a gathering of Micah’s Porch, a Unitarian Universalist missionary outreach in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago. It was perhaps not what most people would conceive of as being mission… and I’m sure that there are more than a few people who might have an adverse … Read more →
Message of Fear or of Faith?
Earlier this week the “No-War in Iran Coalition” held an event at our church, which we co-sponsored through our Peace and Justice Committee. The two speakers for the event were both men whom I had known of before. Scott Ritter is a former Marine officer, and a former Senior United … Read more →
A Dream and a Young Boy
I grew up in what I can only describe as an integrated community, at least as far as race is concerned. Simply put, the subject never came up. You see, I grew up in the military. The other children that I played soccer with, played marbles with, went to classes … Read more →
Votes, Volunteers, or Vision?
A friend recently told me (by commenting in this blog, no less) about an email that she read on one of her church email lists concerning the religious background of one of the current presidential candidates. The email was apparently a smear about whether that particular candidate was really a … Read more →
Prophets and Evangelicals
As I was driving to the church yesterday after posting my reflections on the one-year anniversary of my oath as an army officer, I was a little worried. I am trying not to be so “out front” when something going on in the military community annoys me. I know that … Read more →