It may be too idealistic to believe that one day the U.S. will elect a pacifist as president or that Gen. Stanley McChrystal will be convicted by the wise words of Dispatch. Perhaps we will never see President Karzai, Abdullah…
Thousands of protesters converged on Chicago last week to demand banking reform, challenging bankers gathered at the annual meeting of the American Bankers Association. Chanting “the bankers got bailout, we got sold out,” the protesters, representing unions and community and religious…
Every day churches across the country respond to the economic crisis by supporting families in need, assisting those in search of a job, and reaching out to people on the back streets of America. At no time is the credibility…
Halloween is over. I was standing in the kitchen tonight pilfering through the bowl of chewy, crinkly wrapped treats that my children acquired last night. Poor things. They do all the work of running up and down the sidewalks, climbing…
After nearly two years of collective scripture study, discernment, and dialogue, on Oct. 8 the National Association of Evangelicals spoke publicly for the first time in support of immigration reform. The resolution passed with no dissent from the 40 denominations…
These remarks were presented on October 13, 2009 at a press conference in Aurora, CO urging Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) to take a public stand in favor of comprehensive immigration reform. The event was one of hundreds of actions across…
After all the financial turmoil that 2009 has already brought, one would think that it would somehow be logical and practical to bring accountable reforms to the same banking institutions whose reckless practices brought about our current recession. Unfortunately, that…
Nearly five years ago my friends, Hector and Gabby and their five kids, entered the U.S. legally from Mexico in order to join the pastoral staff at my church, Willow Creek. They have built a vibrant ministry with Spanish speaking…
Living in Maricopa County, Arizona, we are used to seeing our Sheriff, Joe Arpaio, in the headlines, even national ones. Staying in the public purview seems to be a large part of his perceived duties as our county’s top law…
The Los Angeles Times reported last week that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) is considering raising its fees in order to resolve a $118 million budget shortfall. As fewer people are applying for citizenship and other immigration benefits,…
The economic crisis that started last fall and was remembered last week brought to light a lot of things: the vulnerability of our mightiest financial institutions, the value of thrift, and the degree to which the American dream has relied on…
Glenn Beck has received a lot of attention for his inflammatory rhetoric lately. Recently, he shared a personal story about his daughter who has cerebral palsy, which gets to the heart of his fears about health-care reform:
Organic strawberries were $5.99 the other day at our local grocer. $5.99! Their more toxic twins, the non-organic variety, were on sale for $3. Darn this pesticide-free living. I stood staring at that clamshell of bruised strawberries and fought with…
August is women’s month in South Africa, with Woman’s Day celebrated on August 9. So the visit to South Africa by one of the world’s most powerful women, Hillary Clinton, was an inspirational moment in continuity with the spirit of…
Jim Wallis and other faith leaders from across America kicked off “40 Days for Health Reform” – a massive effort to ensure that Congress passes reform legislation that extends quality, affordable health care to every American family. The launch included…
“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. ‘Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.’ But in your hearts revere…
In most cases in Occupied Palestine at this point, Palestinian refugees live in UN-administered camps that are essentially urban slums–overcrowded apartment blocks with high rates of poverty. But there are still some refugees that live in tents. Case in point–when…
I’ve heard from many of you who liked last month’s post, or were at least relieved by its more positive tone. It turns out a lot of folks have been thinking all this ghetto reality is bringing me down, and…
The government of Zimbabwe, in a groundbreaking move, dedicated this past weekend to renouncing political violence and promoting national healing. It is a time for all Zimbabweans at home and abroad to “renounce and report all forms of political violence, in…
Halloween is over. I was standing in the kitchen tonight pilfering through the bowl of chewy, crinkly wrapped treats that my children acquired last night. Poor things. They do all the work of running up and down the sidewalks, climbing…
