One of the most persistent urban legends is that there is a Chinese proverb or curse that goes something like this “May you live in interesting times.” Trouble is – the Chinese are unfamiliar with such a saying. Perhaps the English heard the real Chinese proverb – “It is better to be a dog in
Read More →I received a note from a reader of our web page who asked a question. He wrote “You say in your column that there are many contradictions in the Bible.” I know of no contradictions in the Bible. You are causing a ‘schism’ by saying that there are contradictions in the Bible.” He challenged me
Read More →Mystery? Controversy? What is called the New Testament is a collection of writings that raise more questions than they answer. Christianity is the largest religion in the world and has had a major shaping influence on the culture and psyche of the United States. Yet its scriptures are a collection of writings written more than
Read More →Our association of congregations articulated a set of principles that defined our vision of right relationship in a transformed world. We did not say ‘we believe,’ rather we wrote we would affirm and promote these principles. The principles and purposes were our ethical stance, our articulation of intention. The principles and purposes were visionary and
Read More →The earth is forever turning. And we know this time of the receding sun is taking with it the year 2024. It happens at this latitude every year. Winter Solstice. The Cherokee call this time “Us-gi-yi”. The Time of the Snow Moon. From the dark times of the snow moon, it was understood the sun
Read More →All ancient religions were once new. Ancient innovators of those once-new religions borrowed ideas from even older religions, blending old ideas with new ideas to create a new religion. Scholarly sleuthing exposes this ancient borrowing. For instance, the ancient religion of the Jews, when that religion was new, borrowed ideas from even older religions in
Read More →Over a dozen gathered in the chapel after the service on the second Sunday of September. We began our exploration by looking at the creation stories in the first chapters of Genesis. As we examine the Bible, we will discover a very complex document written over a thousand years by many people. However, as received
Read More →When I was young, say going on 7 years, I remember my grandparents would ask me to remember “our ancestors — who are dancing for you.” I was told they had persisted in the times of danger, that they had walked in the good way. Their lives were a blessing on us who lived now.
Read More →March 8th is International Women’s Day, a day of commemoration and celebration that was born in the USA and is celebrated in many countries with big parades and rallies. It began in New York City on March 8, 1857, when female garment workers protested unfair working conditions and unequal rights for women. News of the
Read More →A congregation is a voluntary organization; that is the employed staff function to facilitate the work of the organization, yet most of the activity and functions are performed by member volunteers. Ideally the members and staff are guided by a common mission and vision. In the middle of the last century there were more members
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