Russellings of the Spirit

violence

  • JUSTICE?

    I used to say I believed in justice.  But today? I’m not so sure. Please understand… I believe one hundred percent whole-heartedly in every person’s RIGHT to justice. I also believe in the principle that promises us justice will ultimately… Continue reading

  • Easter, God’s Will, and the War in Ukraine

    Since the beginning of time, war has been hell.  War costs millions of innocent lives. In the blink of an eye, war destroys people, communities, vegetation, and futures. Some of us have seen war firsthand. Most of us have just… Continue reading

  • High School Heroes

    Following a longer-than-normal walk with the dogs, Joan and I decided to reward them with a trip to our neighborhood Sonic Drive-In. She ordered her customary lemonberry slush while I favored the cold brew iced coffee. The dogs, naturally, snacked on… Continue reading

  • Will It Matter?

    This was about one action in one moment. And yet, it was about so much more than that. The trial of Derek Chauvin that found the former Minneapolis police officer guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter focused… Continue reading

  • The Enemy Within

    Raised voices. Shaken fists. Popped forehead veins. Tensed muscles. We all recognize the signals of anger. We have seen it at work many times before; in ourselves and in others. We are seeing overwhelming amounts of it in our nation’s… Continue reading

  • Thanks Be to All

    I dislike violence. I mean, I REALLY dislike it. I can’t stand violent sports like boxing or Mixed Martial Arts… although I somehow find a way to make an exception for the violence of American football. I immediately turn away from gratuitous… Continue reading

  • Time for a jolt?

    As a child of the 60s, I’d like to think I know a thing or two about protests.  Granted, most of my participation in the anti-war or civil rights protests of that era consisted of watching them on TV from… Continue reading

  • I Can’t Know

    By my not-totally-rigorous estimate, I have officiated at close to 100 funerals during my career as a pastor. This total was boosted significantly by one memorable week in 2014 when there were three. Every one of these formal church services… Continue reading

  • Fear of Being Feared

    I cannot express it more clearly or powerfully than these words of Deltha Katherine Harbin. So I will just step aside and let her speak for herself and her husband Phillip. My thanks to Lindsey Choguaj for the original post.… Continue reading

  • At moments like this…

      “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” Romans 8:26, NRSV Continue reading