religion – Page 7 – Sandhya Rani Jha

Youtube videos I used at church camp (if you weren’t there, I swear they made more sense at the time)

Last week, I keynoted youth camp at Community of the Great Commission in the Sierras. Several youth wanted links to the videos I used at camp. Providing the links here does not mean I endorse every single word or image–sometimes the video was just used for effect. And I certainly don’t endorse the music ofContinue reading “Youtube videos I used at church camp (if you weren’t there, I swear they made more sense at the time)”

A refelction on the recent health care decision

I was recently asked to write a reflection on the Supreme Court decision about “Obamacare” (or PPACA) for the Young Clergy Women’s Project online journal. Here’s the link in case you’re interested: http://youngclergywomen.org/on-scotus-ppaca-and-other-acronyms/

Seeing God at the Oakland Army Base

There’s a heart, broken in two pieces. Written on it: “Family,” “Community,” “Workers.” And there was a moment on Tuesday, June 12, when those pieces came together—the heart was unbroken, or whole. To me, that was the heart of the faith engagement of the Revive Oakland! campaignfor good jobs at the former Oakland Army Base.

A reflection from election day 2011.

I forgot I had written this piece when I was in a slightly more fatalistic place about my church. I’m posting it mostly because it’s worth letting people know I’m neurotic about honoring church/state separation, that I love voting, that I do still worry about my church, that being bivocational is really hard even thoughContinue reading “A reflection from election day 2011.”

A Holy Week Reflection

This is the week in the Christian calendar when we remember Jesus starting his week on “Palm Sunday” riding into Jerusalem as a form of political protest against the Roman empire’s own procession on the other side of the city who were reminding Israelites that even though they were celebrating Passover, a holy reminder thatContinue reading “A Holy Week Reflection”

Shaima Alawadi’s murder: Where is the outrage?

My heart is really aching, and I have to confess that it’s aching with sadness and also a low-grade anger. I was furious along with many others that on the other side of the country a young black man was killed because of what he was wearing (and even if the allegations are true thatContinue reading “Shaima Alawadi’s murder: Where is the outrage?”

The New Jim Crow and the church (another old post)

Note: This is a devotional piece I wrote for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in October 2010. It uses some church-y references that I’m happy to qualify if anyone wants it “translated.” 🙂 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. HeContinue reading “The New Jim Crow and the church (another old post)”

How do we talk across the divide?

Two things happened today that have me asking the question: how do we foster up healthy conversation about issues on which we differ greatly? The first thing was a fairly frivolous issue. I’m at the PANAAWTM conference right now (Pacific and Asian North American Asian Women in Theology and Ministry) and a fun and spryContinue reading “How do we talk across the divide?”

When we include, who do we exclude?

I had a conversation with someone recently who had considered being active in our church. I would have been THRILLED to have that person’s gifts and real-life experience in the congregation, but it never quite clicked. Then that person told me they appreciated that my church worked with people with addictions and unsheltered folks, butContinue reading “When we include, who do we exclude?”