Category Archives: Uncategorized

My ex-boyfriend wants you to know some things about me (or–God’s not done with me yet)

On Saturday I received a text message from an ex-boyfriend that reminded me of the worst part of myself and one of the most painful periods in my life. He wanted you to know things from his perspective rather than just from mine, so I thought I’d share the text as he wrote it (withContinue reading “My ex-boyfriend wants you to know some things about me (or–God’s not done with me yet)”

The false dichotomy of fit versus fat

Why I’m eager to get healthy but not eager to get thin I’m on a juice fast for Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter in the Christian calendar). I’m on day three and it’s going pretty great. It’s been about a year since I did the first one, and this time has beenContinue reading “The false dichotomy of fit versus fat”

To the guy who told me to “loose weight” before he would “make out on the porch swing” with me

Dear “Nice Guy” (Your name choice; I’m glad irony is not dead on craigslist): I received your response to my craigslist ad last night (posted below), responding to my ad, in which I sought a “nerdy radical with great race analysis.” I assumed this title would draw people who had an interest in politics and alsoContinue reading “To the guy who told me to “loose weight” before he would “make out on the porch swing” with me”

Donate to the Outside-the-Box Emergency/Solidarity Fund TODAY!

Ministry comes at a cost to the minister, and it’s a cost s/he takes on gladly, because it’s worth it to get to be a part of the daily miracles that happen in a powerful spiritual community. This is a story of a cost that a minister, and a community, should not have had toContinue reading “Donate to the Outside-the-Box Emergency/Solidarity Fund TODAY!”

The Cross and the Lynching Tree—Atonement Theology and Beyond

Several people have expressed interest in my recent sermon about my concerns with atonement theology. Let me first say that I might never have preached this sermon if our church weren’t doing a sermon series on “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Bible But Were Afraid to Ask,” where congregants got to submitContinue reading “The Cross and the Lynching Tree—Atonement Theology and Beyond”

Who profits from violence in Oakland? Who bears the cost? (or: Oakland–the vomitorium of the American Empire)

My favorite game to play these days is “spot the end of the empire.” At the end of the Roman Empire (although the practice pre-dates that, according to one of my Greco-Roman scholar friends), wealthy Romans would eat until they were full, then throw up so they could continue to eat. The term for whereContinue reading “Who profits from violence in Oakland? Who bears the cost? (or: Oakland–the vomitorium of the American Empire)”

A meandering reflection on why I care about gun violence

I was born in a small village in England. I grew up in a suburban/rural area twenty minutes outside of Akron. In high school, I joke that I was the poorest kid in a VERY rich suburb 30 minutes outside of Chicago. I did not know people who had been shot. I did not knowContinue reading “A meandering reflection on why I care about gun violence”

Belly dancing v. pole dancing and the “culture of rape”

Prelude: A joke I recently learned: Knock-knock. Who’s there? A feminist. That’s not funny!!!   My daily e-mails from Living Social (a company that offers deep discounts on restaurants, goods and activities) often include a great deal on pole dancing lessons. This makes me a little crazy, hard as I try to be a light-heartedContinue reading “Belly dancing v. pole dancing and the “culture of rape””

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.