Why Art Matters Now | In times of crisis humans have turned to art for solace, perspective, and courage

To what do we turn when the world rocks and tilts, and we lurch about for something firm to stand upon? What has our collective tribe--us, homo sapiens--turned to whenever the fear, the outrage, and the uncertainty of the times have left so many of us bereft of hope and courage, struggling to find a way in the new wilderness? From the dawn of time, we've sung our songs and muttered our poems and painted on cave walls, created tales and plays and carved in stone or wood. Art is no mere luxury; it is a necessity.

In this sermon, I explore its spiritual power for us in this time of crisis. Meditating on the contribution of artists like Elizabeth Alexander, Audre Lorde, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Leonard Cohen, the prophet Daniel and Saint John, as we'll as what you yourself might bring to light in this time of our world's trouble, I invite us to find courage for our times. . . .

Friendship as organic activism | How to build bridges over which disagreement and outrage can travel

There are ways to build bridges between us over which our disagreements and even outrages can flow. This sermon, preached on March 1, 2020, at Davis Community Church (audio sermon recording here), reflects on Romans 12.9-21 and addresses the friendship, long term, patient, and gutsy can bring about social transformation.

1.

“People are hard to hate close up. Move in.”

It’s a quote from sociologist Brene Brown's conversation with Krista Tippett around the theme, “Strong backs, soft fronts, wild hearts.” They're talking about the life-giving, healing link between vulnerability and courage that helps us move beyond the present crisis of destructive communication. . . .

We weaponize our words, but that's not what words are for

The divisions and conflicts in our world are real and we feel the impact every day. In this sermon, preached on February 23, 2020, at Davis Community Church (audio sermon recording here), reflects on James 3.3-18 and addresses the ways we can use our words for healing rather than injury.

1.

One of the usual readings for today is this story of the Transfiguration of Jesus: one day Jesus took his friends on a hike up a mountain. When they got to the top, no one else was there. Suddenly, everything about Jesus changed; he was transfigured and even his clothes shimmered with light. They saw Elijah and Moses standing beside Jesus, talking quietly with him. Peter, not knowing what else to do or say, said to Jesus, “Teacher, it’s a good thing we were here. If you’d like us to, we can make three small shrines to commemorate this moment—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Just then, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice spoke, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!’ At this, they were filled with fear. Seeing this, Jesus came close to them and touched each of them and said, “It’s okay; you don’t have to be afraid.”

“You don’t have to be afraid.”

Maybe, but we are. Jesus, we are often afraid. . . .

On why we can't do without any of us, even those with whom we most vehemently disagree | A sermon

Krista Tippet (OnBeing.Org) writes: “Our young century is awash with questions of meaning, of how we structure our common life, and who we are to each other. It seems we are more divided than ever before – unable to speak across the differences we must engage to create the world we want for ourselves and our children.”

This February 16, 2020 sermon reflects on the ways we can participate alternatively, intentionally, and in concert with the divine impulse that knits the cosmos together so we can work for the wellbeing of the world.

“We Are God’s Forest” | Based on readings fro 1 Corinthians 3.1-9 and Krista Tippett (OnBeing.Org “Our young century is awash . . . )

1.

For all our advances and improvements over the centuries, one thing seems unchanged—our disharmony, our divisiveness, the way we find ways to fracture our societies, the penchant we have for creating hierarchies of value, importance, power, and privilege.

Not long after the death of Jesus, the early Christians began spreading what they understood to be Jesus’ vision for a new humanity. They were trying to live out a vision for a way to live humanly and humanely; they actively resisted the ways of the kingdoms of the world and embodied what . . .