We talk often about not judging people’s weaknesses. But more often I see people being judged for their unique strength, their particular beauty, the great and sacred thing only they can bring to the world. And I think that’s even more dangerous.

Without naming your job, tell me something you say over and over again at work. "No matter who you are, no matter what you have done, no matter what has happened to you, you are wrapped in the unconditional love of God, and welcome in this place.”

Since my phone’s update, it is attempting to add human emotion when it reads texts to me. One might think there is nothing creepier than a flat, robotic voice reading “bwhahahahaa,” but one would be incorrect.

Hey you. Yeah you. God loves you. All of you. Even the parts you aren’t sure you love. God loves them too. God loves you.

Day after arrest mood check: I feel like I just came back from a church conference. Some things were super inspiring, some a little degrading, and I sat in uncomfortable chairs for too long.

Every human being is a reflection of the Divine. And we see them mistreated, it is a spiritual crisis. It is the Holy Other thrown in handcuffs, held in ICE detention centers. It is God being deported from our country.

In DC, praying with people of faith and asking the Senate not to give one more cent to ICE. Please pray with us, and call your own senators.

The badonkadonk of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

I haven’t listened to that circulating video of the children screaming from inside the ICE detention center. I can’t. But just knowing it exists makes me pray for God to come with fire and fury, for a God of judgement who will smash down all prison walls.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold[a] of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Not ICE. I will not fear them.

Sunday is a high holy day for dirty minded liturgical peeps. Time to bring out the fishnets!

Listen to me... all the people we have been warned not to trust The Horny The Poor The rebellious The agitator The unusual The Punk The disenfranchised embody prophetic urgency in the earth realm

Did you know: you don’t have to be transgender to get a new name and identity from Jesus? Cisgender people can be disciples of Christ too!

This week kiddo welcomed the Shabbes just like his Mama does, giving everyone a gentle kiss, solemn and joyful.

“One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

Good thing there’s no ice in Greenland.

If you are a person of faith, please pray before and after reading, listening to or watching the news. And when you find yourself particularly upset about it- that’s because you are human and it is deeply upsetting.

“That’s fine dude; I’m not mad at you” = love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (Mathew 5:44)

The largest, most beautiful tree in my neighborhood was cut down. It might be silly, but I considered that tree to be a friend, and talked to it often. I don’t know the property owner, maybe there was a reason it had to come down. But I still think it’s really sad.

ELCA Lutherans, are we doing the same?

Minnesotans should pour water on all their sidewalks and put up signs that read "CAUTION ICE IN AREA" just on the other side so they'll try to come and take them down.

We deserve political leaders who fight as hard for democracy as the average canvasser and ICE observer.

Some important new government policy that Native Americans might be interested in:

Tonight Lightning McQueen welcomed the Shabbes with us. (The kiddo is Jewish. His toys routinely say, and ask for, blessings.)

God is fat. And She twerks marvelously. And you know what? You don’t know if She has diabetes. And it’s none of your fucking business. She’s glorious either way.

Law enforcement officers (and their defenders) are such cowardly babies. The situations they say make them “fear for their life” should disqualify them for any kind of public service.

In the most precise pastoral and intentional theological language I can manage: God damn ICE.

Mourning the loss of our neighbor this morning. This is state sanctioned violence reminiscent of Nazi Germany and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

This afternoon at church: plans being made to bring home cooked meals to homeless encampments, and to plant more edible plants. Plans to march in the MLK Day parade and increase our racial justice organizing. Vicar Jenny is praying the labyrinth and Pastor Lura is grumping about their annual report.

That awkward moment when you find yourself asking Herod where the *real* King of the Jews is....

God have mercy on us.

I’m ok, even happy. But I am also painfully heartbroken. I miss Jess every day, with my whole body. I still don’t want to talk about it. But it continues to deeply impact my social energy, and how I move through the world, so I guess I thought you should know.

Kiddo was having a hard night last night as I was putting him to bed. Later his Mama recounted the following conversation: Kiddo: Lura told me “it’s ok to feel bad.” (She says he immitated my cadence.) Mama: How did that make you feel? Kiddo: Happy

The most intense and terrifying drama in the world is when you look into the eyes of someone you’re falling for and decide if you are going to let them really see you. I’ve never seen a show portray that quite so well, and so quietly, as Heated Rivalry.

Imagine thinking invisible lines in the dirt should stop the natural movement of people around the earth. Imagine thinking they’re worth hurting people for.

Wheeeeee I forgot how not fun it is to have a post get some traction.

Christianity absolutely requires you to welcome immigrants. No exceptions. No “if they follow the law.” No “if they contribute economically.” No exceptions. Welcome them. Treat them as a citizen. Love them.

The forces of evil want you to feel alone and afraid. The ones who are cutting aid and deporting immigrants and making trans care illegal want you to feel powerless. But we are not alone, and we do not need to be afraid. We have each other, and a God whose name is With Us.

The kiddo was very excited about the plush Spidey I got him for Hannukah. After every Shabbes Hannukah blessing, kiddo’s head popped up over the sofa to say “Amen” in his biggest voice, then Spidey’s head popped up to say “Amen” in a little voice.

jalexanderallen.substack.com/p/the-candle... “The Love candle, as with the candles of Hope, Peace, and Joy, is a shared light. It is shared between G/d and creation and it is shared between trans people and our allies. Love is the flame of self-acceptance”

Cute moment at church this week: nonbinary trans femme is telling a story, and as an aside explains to a visitor: “oh I used to look like you.” Visitor, a nonbinary transman, laughs and says “and I used to look like you!” #transjoy

Driving with kiddo when. Little voice says: Lura? When I’m not with Mama and Daddy, I can watch [name of forbidden show.] Me: Is that so? Yeah. We can watch it on your phone. Me: interesting. I love it when they try to deceive but don’t yet have a theory of mind. We did not watch the show.

BREAKING: Judge Paula Xinis orders the immediate release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from immigration custody

Among the confusing cacophony of sensations in my brain when I woke up today was a tactile obsession with my new stole, with a soundtrack of “Don’t fuck a facist” by Chrissa Sparkles.

Hey ELCA: when a Queer or Trans person, or BIPOC give you another chance, that’s grace for you. You should be dancing in the streets, and listening to every word of wisdom that drops from their mouths. Paving the way for them. Not putting up more barriers.

There are no words for the tenderness I feel preparing Christmas services for a congregation I love.

Inside of me there are two wolves. One values sustainability and wants to slowly replace my clothes with quality pieces from natural fibers. The other is chronically ill and wants every piece of soft fuzzy polyester fleece I see. Unfortunately both wolves have access to my credit card.

God does not play dice with the universe, ever since he caught the universe cheating that one time. Can’t play dice with a cheater.