Celestial Lands The Religious Crossroads of Politics, Power, and Theology

Category Archives: Uncategorized

Who Matters?

One way to understand human governance is to ask the question “who matters?” More than “who has the power”, the question of “who matters?” defines the form and practice of governmental systems. Fascist and corporate oligarchy systems say that corporations matter. Feudal systems say that the nobility and professed loyalties Read more →

O flaming chalice, symbol of a free faith

O flaming chalice, symbol of a free faith, Burn with the holy oil of helpfulness and service. Spread warmth and light and hope; Warm hearts grown cold with indifference; Light dark places with justice; rekindle hope in despair. May we bring fuel for thy fire of love. May the oil Read more →

May the World that is One in its Life — Charles Eddis

May the world that is one in its life, a rich blue top spinning in the endless night of space, a world that is one in its interdependence and fragility, be one in our hearts and minds and deeds also. —Charles Eddis from the ICUU and the Canadian Unitarian Council—cuc.ca

Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate Read more →

John Steinbeck

“This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which Read more →

Joseph Campbell

“I think it’s important to live life with a knowledge of its mystery, and of your own mystery.”

Resources for Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day

Every year, I receive requests from ministers and worship associate teams from across the United States, and sometimes across religious denominations, asking if I will help them to plan a Memorial Day or a Veteran’s Day worship service in their congregations.  Now, obviously I cannot directly aid all these various Read more →

Beginner’s Mind — Sermon by Rev. David Pyle

Last preached on January 20th, 2013 Meditative Reading But we have only begun to love the earth.  We have only begun to imagine the fullness of life. How could we tire of hope?  So much is in bud. How can desire fail? We have only begun to imagine justice and Read more →

Captain Travis Patriquin and the Awakening of Iraq

This is a repost of an Article I put on Celestial Lands every year on December 6th.  It was 5 years ago today that my friend Travis was killed in the Anbar province of Iraq. This year, the book on his life was published (see below) I wear his memory Read more →

Standing With Labor in Michigan

Today, a group of Michigan UU Ministers cut short our monthly UUMA Cluster meeting to join in the demonstration called by organized labor at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. I’ll leave it to professionals to determine how many were in attendance, though many of them were union workers Read more →

A Short Leave of Absense

Due to an unexpected personal crisis I will not be checking or updating Celestial Lands for a few days. I know there are some pending posts, but I just dont have the energy to look at them at the moment. I will get to them in a few days. Thank Read more →

We Begin Again in Love — Sermon by Rev. David Pyle

Last preached January 26th, 2010 Reading    Excerpt from “A Treatise on Atonement” by Rev. Hosea Ballou  1805 Part II, chapter 2. Necessity of Atonement, and Where Satisfaction Must Be Made I have already entered my protest against the necessity of atonement on the principles upon which christians have generally believed Read more →

CLF UU Military Ministries on Facebook

As we begin to expand the awareness of the military outreach ministry of the Church of the Larger Fellowship, we will be using some social networking sites… including Facebook.  Check it out! CLF Unitarian Universalist Military Ministries on Facebook

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 →

About the Right Age

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy Growing up, I wanted nothing more than to be an astronaut.  I had no real idea what it might mean to get there, but it was my regular childhood fantasy.  It became clear that my eyesight (very nearsighted, Read more →

Straddling Worlds

This past week, I have been both serving on Active Duty for Training (ADT) as a U.S. Army Chaplain Candidate, and serving as the Summer Minister for the Unitarian Church of Evanston, IL. In the mornings, I get up early, sit Zen meditation, and then put on my Army Combat Read more →

Independence Day

Every Fourth of July I begin my day the same way, I read the entirety of the Declaration of Independence. It is a yearly reminder to me that this nation was founded on the spirit of liberalism, and that to be a liberal (a true liberal) in this nation is Read more →

In Uniform at General Assembly

It was an amazing and enlightening experience for me at this General Assembly, in that I spent much of my time in uniform as a Chaplain Candidate. I was in uniform so much, some people might think I wear it often. In fact, I purchased the class B shirts just Read more →