Category Archives: Social Ministry

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

Time to Stop Watching

Posted on June 2, 2020 by tmrichmond3

  I have been thinking a lot of Tou Thao lately. He was one of the four cops involved in George Floyd’s arrest. He did not have a knee on his neck, or on his back like the three other … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Lives Matter, George Forbes, Injustice, Justice, Minneapolis, Racism, Social Justice, Social Ministry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Did Ye Get Healed

Posted on January 8, 2020 by tmrichmond3

  In 1987, the singer Van Morrison, best known for his song “Brown-Eyed Girl,” released an album called  Poetic Champions Compose which included a powerful song called, “Did Ye Get Healed.” You may be surprised to see that the title … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church Growth, Communion, Compassion, Growth, Healing, Jesus, ministry, Mission, Musings, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Relationships, Sermons, Social Justice, Social Ministry, spirituality | 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

Posted on June 24, 2019 by tmrichmond3

  The Universe and Us I want to start this by asking you to look at the photo here.  Few years ago some scientists pointed the Hubble Deep Space telescope into what looked like an empty part of space. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Emergency, Current Events, Psalms, Sermons, Social Justice, Social Ministry, Spiritual Growth, spirituality, Theology, Trinity | 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

Total Depravity and Redemption

Posted on February 23, 2019 by tmrichmond3

I have a Facebook friend who regularly posts about the inner peace he finds by avoiding the news like a plague. He has a kind of evangelical fervor about it (you too can enjoy this serenity, and all you have … Continue reading →

Posted in A River Runs Through It, Compassion, Current Events, Evil, Growth, Hope, ministry, News, Social Justice, Social Ministry, Spiritual Growth, Theology | 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

Growth in Grace

Posted on December 31, 2018 by tmrichmond3

    Parenting, as most parents know, can be a terrifying experience. Rewarding, yes, but also terrifying. Somehow you know, that when you hold that little bitty baby in your arms, that you are going to provide a good living … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Compassion, forgiveness, Growth, Jesus, Jesus Boyhood, ministry, Musings, Salvation, Social Justice, Social Ministry, Spiritual Growth, spirituality, Transformation, Virtue | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment