Category Archives: social issues

human rights, liberation

Whom do you fear?

Posted on September 23, 2009 by jlh

        Left: Isaiah’s lips anointed by the angel (Isaiah 6.7)     Isaiah, the greatest of the writing Hebrew prophets, lived in the eighth century BCE. His children become signs, acts of God incarnate. Here are some … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, religion, social issues | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Heating and Cooling 101

Posted on August 28, 2009 by jlh

We’re back in faith basic training. Now, just as the first hospital and medical bills begin to roll in, our heating and A/C has gone out. Paul writes I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what … Continue reading →

Posted in prayer, religion, social issues, Spiritual life | Tagged , | 1 Comment

I don’t recommend films.

Posted on August 18, 2009 by jlh

I saw a film entitled Latter Days. Warning! This film is Sexually explicit Gay friendly In it God is a Girl  Don’t say I didn’t warn you.  It’s about a love affair between a Mormon missionary and a party guy. … Continue reading →

Posted in religion, social issues | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

What does it mean to “be in Christ”?

Posted on June 25, 2009 by jlh

Left: Bonhoeffer As I read A Testament to Freedom, Essential Writings of Bonhoeffer, I think I’ll wrestle with what I read here. I’ve completed the introductory life, and am struck again as I was when reading Bethge’s biography of the … Continue reading →

Posted in reading, religion, social issues, Spiritual classics | Tagged , , , | 136 Comments

Policy: Never admit you’ve seen a Burning Bush

Posted on March 26, 2009 by jlh

Rambling prose. Rabbits multiply. This rabbit took over the post. Excursus: Medical Marvels The mainstream culture — call it white male Western scientific — leaves no room for visions, angel visits, burning bushes, and the like.  It’s a Joe Friday, … Continue reading →

Posted in Playing around, religion, social issues | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Les Mis finished!

Posted on March 19, 2009 by jlh

Left: Victor Hugo I just finished Les Miserables, 1260 pages in the Modern Library translation by Charles Wilbour.  If anyone has read the new translation published by the Vintage Classics, please comment.  I’d like to compare translations, because I’ve read … Continue reading →

Posted in literature classics, reading, social issues, Spiritual classics | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

The Moth and the Flame, a parable

Posted on March 15, 2009 by jlh

 The following is from Les Miserables (Project Gutenburg) St. Denis, Bk 7, “Slang.” Hugo defends recording slang, which he calls the language of misery. Then, as is typical, after several pages I forced myself to read, I found this: Thoughtful … Continue reading →

Posted in literature classics, reading, social issues, Spiritual classics | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Lent is for “lencten”—lengthen what?

Posted on February 26, 2009 by jlh

As, from outside, I endure the extreme misery of my friends, sometimes it gets too much. This week it did. I turned to Victor Hugo’s mythic novel Les Miserables, which I’ve never read, I don’t know, maybe as a way … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, literature classics, religion, social issues | Tagged , , , | 32 Comments

When someone you love suicides

Posted on February 19, 2009 by jlh

What does the Bible say about people who suicide? No passage makes a plain statement, so we have to infer from other passages. Is suicide the unforgivable sin? NO! Jesus states very clearly: 31 Therefore I tell you, people will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, religion, social issues | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

A Post-WalMart World?

Posted on December 2, 2008 by jlh

In the physical realm a flash of lightning exposes reality hidden by darkness. In the moral realm, an event can reveal the stark truth as suddenly. Moral lightning struck on black Friday in Long Island, NY, when a mob of 2000 shoppers … Continue reading →

Posted in religion, social issues | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments