Chicago, Memphis and Portland are not war zones—you knew that—but they do have amazing deep dish pizza, soul food and donuts, respectively. Maybe that is the common thread.

I collaborated on this with a colleague, Rev. Kim Ingram. How do we sustain ourselves and our ministries while living through a natural disaster? This is a part of our story. Thanks for reading, sharing and being on the journey together. #wncstrong #hurricanehelene #compassionfatigue

Thoughts for a week of loss, violence and remembrance. Join us at Grinding the Beans on Substack.

Amid the toxic stew that is Xn Nationalism, we must strengthen the clarity of our core—Jesus was non-violent, a healer, he had compassion for the multitudes and came to elevate the poor, Jesus transcends the nation-state. All of this is the antithesis of Xn nationalism.

Not as easy as it reads. From Meister Eckhart’s Book of the Heart’📚🙏❤️

A prayer of gratitude, for the changing seasons and an unchanging God who loves and sustains us through it all. (Two minutes)

Yes, at our worst this has been and is true, and is at the core of how people of faith do harm. When the image of God is love, there can be a different outcome.

Join us at Grinding the Beans.

A gift to listen to Brian McLaren preach this morning at Lake Junaluska Assembly (near #AVL). From now on all human activity will be judged in accordance with how it is mutually beneficial to the human-earth relationship. See his book, Life After Doom (St. Martin’s).

Join me at Grinding the Beans.

(Senator) Kay Hagan was a personal friend, a wonderful person and an effective and selfless leader.

I’m an expert on ageing. Here’s what I know about thriving in later life | Kerry Burnight

The morning office @ Waynesville, NC. Altitude affects Attitude. @giveusthisdaylp.bsky.social

Grinding the Beans on Substack-Creekside Blend at Panacea in Waynesville, NC; A Case of You, Herbie Hancock interprets Joni Mitchell; and thoughts on public witness in a summertime when the living is (not) easy.

More Evolved Ways to Handle Fish. “Let’s get real. People want photos of fish. I’m also not going to stop taking photos of fish. But I’m just not going to take five minutes to stage dopey photos with the rod and reel balanced delicately on my shoulder..." #keepfishwet

Yes. And this is why our image of God is so important. And why training programs in spiritual direction begin with image of God. If we get this wrong, nothing good follows.

CARTOON OF THE DAY 🇺🇸 😕 #July4th (from Matt Davies)

Maga: voting against MOST of their own interests.

On the record. I called Chuck Edwards’ office, twice. We need the healthcare in Franklin and Spruce Pine. And in Florida, FEMA $ is shifted to building a concentration camp in the Everglades. Many people in the WNC mountains and immigrant communities voted to place this administration in office.

Thank you to a respected spiritual voice in the United States.

Tragic. Excellent reporting on the dismantling of vital institutions.

I have so much respect for public school teachers and administrators.

A sad reality in the assassination of Speaker Melissa Hortman: I was not surprised that the suspected killer a) had attended MAGA rallies and b) was active in an evangelical church. If I am wrong in this I will retract. If Jesus is relevant, read Matthew 5-7. #nonviolence #peace #Minnesota #Jesus

Today in @giveusthisdaylp.bsky.social, a remembrance of non-violent teacher and practioner James Lawson, who was a @unitedmethodist.bsky.social pastor in #losangeles. May his courage and wisdom guide us today. #immigration #donoharm #resistance

100%. and watch the word choices they all use to describe the protestors.

How $290 million becomes $38 billion, the memory of prophets is a blessing, and reflection, respite and recovery. #WalterBrueggemann #HurricaneHelene

Yes

No #fema, no public health, no #snap, our data exposed, stock market decline, no right to due process…we are literally in the same boat…

@giveusthisdaylp.bsky.social thank you for today’s #MemorialDay reflection by Fr. Daniel Groody of @notredame.bsky.social.

The attack on libraries in the #WNC mountains is misguided and another attempt to dissolve the functions of government that serve ordinary people.

Intercession is the path to empathy and allyship, not to mention koinonia and fellowship.

Join me at Grinding the Beans on Substack!

Gathering up the week—a new vision statement for the United Methodist Church, an evening of jazz in Chicago, marking the retirement of Greg Popovich and speaking to “why” the dismantling of our democracy harms so many. It’s all at Grinding The Beans on Substack, and it’s free. Blessings!

It was never about people harmed by Hurricane Helene in #WNC or the price of eggs or the impoverished elderly. It was always about #cryptocurrency + massive government tech contracts. The work now is among the economically vulnerable, to partner with them, to learn from them + to protect them.

Thank you for this. Praying for the Catholic Church now and in gratitude for #PopeFrancis.

#PopeFrancis He embodied humility, curiosity, faith + courage, + led in a season of challenge + secularization in the west. Yet the residual memory of Jesus came alive as he washed + kissed the feet of imprisoned women on Maundy Thursday. See his “Hope Does Not Disappoint”, from Romans 5 (2/2).

#PopeFrancis “I am among you as one who serves”, Jesus teaches in Luke 22. Pope Francis identified with the people of Argentina, Catholics + people of other faiths, the marginalized + especially the #immigrants, + indeed the whole of creation amidst #climatechange. He embodied humility, (1/2)

This is excellent.

Easter is the Journey from Hatred to Love (3 minute read)

Thank you. I love baseball and the work here is essential. Stay with it!

Celebrating Jackie Robinson Day!

A thought experiment: Imagine if the ivies, the public ivies and the aspiring ivies had made common cause to support separation of powers; diversity, equity and inclusion; and protection of international students? I went to three of these schools, so I am complicit in this. Imagine.

Thank you. And I love your work.

Words looming larger in our #wordcloud: Authoritarianism Recession Insider Trading Measles

Great article about the Junaluska Peace Conference.

3.5 million+ gathered and said, in public, #handsoff. No property destroyed. No police officers killed. No swastikkkas. We love our country. It’s for *all* of us. Proud to be an American. Western North Carolina, survivors of Hurricane Helene, my people!