Category Archives: religion and politics

Eight Minutes and Forty-Six Seconds

Posted on June 6, 2020 by tmrichmond3

Eight minutes and forty-six seconds is a long time. In grand scheme of things, it is not that long. But eight minutes and forty-six seconds is a long time if you are kneeling silently in prayer in the hot sun. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ahmaud Arbery, Black Lives Matter, BLM, Compassion, George Forbes, Justice, Racism, religion and politics, Social Justice, Social Ministry, Spiritual Growth | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BLM

Posted on June 3, 2020 by tmrichmond3

When I first saw the signs, I was a little puzzled. BLM. Why were people carrying Bureau of Land Management signs at a protest rally? Then I had the “doh” moment. Being from Alaska, I saw the initials BLM a … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Lives Matter, BLM, Current Events, George Forbes, Injustice, Racism, religion and politics, Social Justice, Social Ministry, Spiritual Growth | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The One About Faith and Flags

Posted on September 7, 2019 by tmrichmond3

Whether or not we should fly an American Flag in places of worship Continue reading →

Posted in Global Christianity, Pastoral Ministry, Patriotism, religion and politics, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Praying the Psalms in Detention

Posted on July 20, 2019 by tmrichmond3

Every morning, when I do my morning devotions, I read from the Psalms.  About every two months I work my way through all the Psalms at least once. Psalms are prayers, so when I say I read through, I am … Continue reading →

Posted in Compassion, Current Events, Devotional, Evil, Immigration, Lament, Mission, Old Testament, Prayer, Psalms, religion and politics, Social Justice, Social Ministry, Spiritual Growth, spirituality, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ecclesiastes for Everyday: Day 16

Posted on March 23, 2019 by tmrichmond3

The one where Qohelet talks about wisdom and politics.  13 Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king, who will no longer take advice. 14 One can indeed come out of prison to reign, even though born … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional, Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiastes for Everyone, Lent, Lenten Devotional, religion and politics, Spiritual Growth, spirituality, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Preaching the News (NOT)

Posted on March 1, 2019 by tmrichmond3

  In my previous post I confessed my addiction to the news. Throughout my day I keep up with national and international events, from a variety of sources. I talked about how the news helps form my prayers, and my … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church Growth, Current Events, Karl Barth, Musings, News, Preaching, religion and politics, Social Ministry, Spiritual Growth, spirituality | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spiritual Politics and other Rare Breeds

Posted on January 2, 2019 by tmrichmond3

  Writing almost 50 years ago, Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk in Kentucky, wrote about what he called political principles spiritualized by the Gospel. In his book Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, Merton’s reflections on society at large, he starts … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Compassion, Hope, Musings, Poor, religion and politics, Social Justice, Social Ministry, Uncategorized, Virtue, Wealth | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Leading From Below

Posted on October 22, 2018 by tmrichmond3

  An old friend of mine, Joe Moran, took his son to a Catholic worship service when he was visiting his family in New York State. Joe was a former priest, and his family was very Catholic. After Joe left … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church Growth, ministry, Mission, Preaching, Presbyterian, religion and politics, Sermons, Spiritual Growth, spirituality | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Presbyterians and Politics Part Deux

Posted on July 28, 2018 by tmrichmond3

06-16 Back in the 2000s, during the presidency of George W. Bush, I saw a bumper sticker that said, “I never thought I would miss Nixon.” A few weeks ago I saw one that said, “I never thought I would … Continue reading →

Posted in ministry, Musings, Preaching, Presbyterian, Presbyterians, religion and politics, spirituality | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Presbyterians and Politics

Posted on July 20, 2018 by tmrichmond3

  Note: At this summer’s General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the following statement was passed. “No congregation, session, presbytery, synod, or national office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), nor any individual acting on behalf of or in an … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Musings, Preaching, Presbyterian, religion and politics, spirituality, Theology | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment