To Serve Human Need
It’s 5:20 when the alarm goes off every morning. It’s usually Steve Innskeep’s voice that wakes me, letting me know some tidbit, a “fait-diverse” or silly headline, before launching into the day’s...
View ArticleTruth in Freedom
Truth in Freedom. Freedom, Truth Sir. I have always maintained, to no one in particular, that one of the advantages of our religion is that we are not at odds with today’s modern narcissist. Indeed,...
View Article“…..and service is its prayer.”
“…..and service is its prayer.” A couple days out of the week I spend volunteering at an organization in San Diego that works primarily with refugees, asylees, and immigrants. Of my various stints as a...
View ArticleThe Quest for Truth
“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” -William Shakespeare “To know that you do not know is the best. To pretend to know when you do not know is a … Continue...
View ArticleLove is the Doctrine
For the past two years, every Sunday morning I spoke the words to James Vila Blake’s poem until I could recite them by heart. At first, I read them tentatively, remembering vaguely of being a young...
View ArticleThe Story of Christmas: By Dr. James T. Brown
Like it or not, we are now into the Christmas season. Let’s take a moment to think about what that means in terms of our free life sustaining faith. Looking through my notes on Christmas and Unitarian...
View ArticleChristmas Miracles
If you read the note from my father on Christmas, then you might be able to understand why it was my favorite holiday. Not so much the presents but there was a special magic that he brought to the...
View ArticleA Violent Peaceful Man
As I watch the barbarous Forsworn mill about their camp from a mountain peak my palms begin sweat. Clocked under cover of night I hide among the trees, knock an arrow to my bow and pray to The Nine...
View ArticleSolitary Moments
“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 New Living Translation “Do...
View ArticleThe Fly Spaghetti Monster is Risen
The Flying Spaghetti Monster is Real, and Did I Mention Ze Is Glorious? The worst part about this whole discovery is that it turns my grand, deep, original thoughts, my quixotic attempt at cognitive...
View ArticleService Essentials
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about my ideal Sunday service – much the same way someone might imagine the perfect meal or trip. There’s a lot to consider – saying Joys and Concerns aloud, or...
View ArticleThe Spiritual Practice of Saying Hello and Learning History OR Why Going to a...
“Are We Living in a Post-Racial World Yet? We get good at what we practice. Research now tells us very clearly what distinguishes amateurs from experts–it’s the amount of time they spend practicing...
View ArticleTears for Boston
“So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, ‘The good outnumber you, and we always will.’” –...
View ArticleWhy Military Chaplaincy Calls to Me
I grew up in a non-political, liberal-ish, secular house that followed the major Christian holidays in the way that department stores do–we put up decorations but didn’t strive to ask questions or...
View ArticleReflections on Military Ministry
I’ll never forget the moment when we pulled up to the guard gate at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, the last moment of civilian freedoms, the moment where I left a world I had always known to...
View ArticleA Reality
I have big boobs. Like, huge. My bra size is a 34H. Yes, my back hurts. Yes, I want a reduction. Yes, I know that they are really really big. Yet somehow, this being my bra size allows for that …...
View ArticleSteubenville
I ache. Deep down in the center of my chest, in my heart of hearts, I ache. My soul burns, restless and writhing in anger and pain. I ache. I ache because our children are raping classmates. No one is...
View ArticleTalking Drums on a Lonely Road
“Are you asleep?” asked my mother. “Mhmm.” I mumbled back. “This road, it’s dark and bumpy.” said my mother. “Mhmm.” I mumbled back. “I am praying.” said my mother. “Mhmm.” I mumbled back. She was...
View ArticleSpiritual and Religious
“What are you thinking so hard about?” Asked my Mum as I sat on the breezy upstairs porch of the family house in Cockle Bay, Sierra Leone. The ocean breeze did much in the way of combating Mother...
View ArticleWrite Us We’re Lonely
WE WANT YOU…. to write send us your thoughts and essays to viveleflame@gmail.com and if we like it we’ll post it Live the Faith, Live the Flame And Happy 4th of July
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