David Brooks on Trump
April 1, 2025
On this April fools day, I thought I’d post something serious. This is a clip of David Brooks speaking at the recent annual conference of
Bill’s Random Thoughts
Archive of Posts
As I spout off my thoughts, I feel like the Lorax. I speak for the environment. I speak for social justice. (Is anyone listening?)
Topics in Posts:
church (10)
Clergy Transition (12)
Compassion (26)
Discipleship (21)
Easter (11)
Ethics (10)
Faith (20)
Finding Shalom (13)
Grace (12)
Holy Spirit (17)
Hope (39)
How2Move (9)
Humility (19)
Jesus (22)
Jesus' Nature (23)
Jesus' Teachings (59)
John the Baptist (12)
Justice (14)
Kingdom of God (12)
Leadership (12)
Lent (13)
Love (15)
Mission (11)
Moses (9)
Politics (39)
Poor (13)
Postmodern (14)
Poverty (12)
Prayer (22)
Prejudice (14)
Psalms (10)
Racism (20)
Resurrection (11)
Sabbath (12)
Salvation (10)
Social Action (20)
Social Justice (24)
Spirituality (11)
Spiritual Passion (13)
Tao of Service (13)
Transition (54)
Vision (25)
Vocation (14)
Wilderness (16)
Witness (10)
A Sneak Peak
March 19, 2025
In my novel, “Martha Finds Rest,” I retell the story of the first Easter. When I get to the part where Jesus visits the upper
No Separate Peace
March 19, 2025
Wars don’t always begin with the firing of a gun. Sometimes they begin with a separate peace. Often what we do to preserve “normal” leads
Grant us…
March 13, 2025
Grant us the courage to resist evil. Teach us to forgive. As we pray for each other, Grant us peace and unity. Amen. I would
So now we stop supporting Ukraine?
March 2, 2025
Russian invaded Ukraine. Its people fought bravely for their freedom. They took the weapons and aid we gave them (without conditions) and surprised the world
How does one build?
March 2, 2025
President Obama was a serious man who carried out his duties as one lays bricks, one square and true principle at a time. People complained
Why Pelicans
December 12, 2024
The early church saw the pelican as a symbol of Christ. I see these birds as symbols of beauty. They gracefully skim a dozen feet
Relief Pitchers & Presidents
November 12, 2024
I don’t know much about baseball, but I’ve noticed that good relief pitchers rarely get asked to start the next game and be a “normal”
Triple Grief
November 7, 2024
I’ve been thinking a lot about grief lately. A sweet sixteen-year-old relative of mine passed away suddenly in September. My dog died at the end
Weaving and Senility
October 21, 2024
I’m getting tired of all the political ads on TV. They push out the more important choices that a man my age has to make,
Joe, the Bridge is Great. Cross it.
July 13, 2024
Of all the questions asked at Biden’s press conference, only one was relevant. NPR’s Asthma Khalid asked about Biden’s promise in 2020 to be a
Why are Small Churches Valuable?
June 1, 2024
#1 Because God continues to use them to nurture his people #2 Because they add social capital to their communities; often standing in the breach
Maya Angelou Poem for Transition
May 21, 2024
“On the Pulse of Morning” was written for the first inauguration of Bill Clinton in 1993. It cautioned the new leader to think first about
Careful, the history you leave out may doom your civilization
May 21, 2024
The honorable Eusebius, writing in the 4th century, did not want to see the book of Revelation included in the New Testament. Why? Because in
Poem: After the Riots
May 20, 2024
I’d like to see the rain come Gentle and warm Reviving the chipmunk Our dog killed last week Or healing the nation Grieving its inability
The Problem with Debt
May 15, 2024
“Are you in debt so as to embarrass the ministry?” There is a reason for that question. Integrity is integrity. When we are in severe
Pastors and Politics
May 7, 2024
I think we have to value compassion, character, and the heart for justice as core biblical values. If we advocate for these things consistently, then
Transition and Aging
May 7, 2024
Aging seems gradual and inevitable, a biological process afflicting all of humanity equally. The truth is not only more complex, but radically other. We watch