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Dear People Whom God Loves, We must first understand the vision of God that Jesus had.  Since we believe that God is incarnate in Jesus, this is the deepest way that we have of understanding God. Jesus experienced God as Abba.  That is the kind of love that a good mommy or daddy has for […]

Dear People Whom God Loves, I have been reflecting on what I see within our church among religious, in our local politics, in our national and world politics and, indeed, within families and throughout almost all of our human interactions. What I see is our very human tendency to think that what I see is […]

Dear People Whom God Loves, I believe that as a church, we are called to serve many different kinds of people.  I am not talking about difference because of race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, social and economic status.  These are important, but I am considering: difference in outlook on life, attitudes toward equality and discrimination, […]

Dear People Whom God Loves, A soft soul is essential for doing good.  It is essential for being good.  It means compassion for ourselves and others.  It means loving ourselves as mixed up human beings and loving others as mixed up human beings.  It means recognizing that we and everyone are cherished by the Love […]

Dear People Whom God Loves, In this final column of Angel or Beast, we will also realize that we are not in total control and that our ability to manage everything is an illusion.  It is often a tragic blow that knocks this realization into us. We need to walk the journey with someone.  It […]

Dear People Whom God Loves, In this column concerning Angel or Beast, I want us to reflect on: Dishonesty  Honesty is perhaps foundational for our human, spiritual journey.  I think that this is so.  Honesty leads us to humility, compassion, acknowledgment that we are not in charge, that we cannot walk alone, that we need […]

Dear People Whom God Loves, We now look at sloth.  Like all the rest of our human desires, sloth can move beyond taking time for ourselves and the need to relax from our often over-activity.  I find that my sloth at times takes the form of putting off doing things that I don’t really want […]

Dear People Whom God Loves, All of our images of God limp.  There is no way that we can fully or I would say nearly fully describe God.  The best of our doctrines and images point to what God is.  That is valuable and necessary but God is always much more and beyond the best […]

Dear People Whom God Loves, We now look at  envy in our consideration of being human.  Envy comes from comparing ourselves to other people.  This comparison usually blinds us to what is real.  It can keep us from seeing what our own situation and gifts are.  Reflect on Jesus’ parable about the laborers in the […]