As June comes to a close and businesses reopen, I’ve noticed that my anxiety is less at times. Yet there remains a cloud of uncertainty as the number of infections escalates in states where leadership chose defiance over caution. And the catastrophic failure of...
Pastor Tommy
Pastor’s Book Club News
Our plan is for a few of us to meet in person beginning this Wednesday. This also means moving our time back to 12 Noon. We will continue to be online for those who are not ready to meet in person or who do not want to wear a face mask. Unfortunately, the virus is...
Freedom: Coming July 5
July 4 is traditionally a big day in this country. But not for everybody. For a lot of people, the promise of freedom described in our country’s declaration is elusive. For persons who must argue for, demonstrate for, and put their life on the line for every policy...
Diverse taste: Pecans, maple, apple, and peanut butter
Writing an article about Father's Day is much easier than writing an article about Mother's Day. I have personal experience with fathering. And I was blessed to have a father in my life that I remember fondly. Theologically, the word "Father" is loaded with meaning....
Flies, camels, and lemonade: Claiming the moral high ground
I might as well get this out at the beginning since it's bound to come up at some point. I'm a hypocrite. I try hard not to be a hypocrite, but the truth is that I fail to do what I claim I want to do. Sometimes my actions don't reconcile with my beliefs. I bought a...
Speak: When silence is betrayal
Emotions are running high across the world. Here in Michigan, life is searching for normality as the number of new cases of COVID-19 reached safer levels. And a couple of weeks ago, our conversations focused on our hopes for a new normal where systemic equities are at...
Empathy: Our sons & daughters
Is there a shortage of empathy today? According to Kaitlin Luna, host of Speaking of Psychology, this is precisely what is going on. In a 2019 podcast, Ms. Luna stated that "Concern and care for others' feelings are virtues we seek to instill in our children." But...
When? Sheep, goats, and decisions
Our conversations for the past few weeks centered around the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, where the pandemic is highlighting inequalities in our systems. As a result, groups of people are disproportionately affected. Meanwhile, there is growing tension and...
Live: Coming May 31
What does life look like in the new normal? Forgetting for a moment that life is a constant sea of change and doesn’t go backward, will we ever feel like life is back to normal again? We come to the end of our series, Risen, on May 24, and begin a new series titled...
Older together: The wisdom of the elders
Last week our conversation looked behind some of the biblical metaphors that make scripture applicable in all generations. Labels such as widows, orphans, and foreigners are much more than their simple definitions. They offer powerful lessons for us as we consider...