“In a way, the movie “White Noise” has provided a point of grim humor about the situation facing the residents of East Palestine – the joke no one wanted to make.“Everybody’s been talking about that,” Ratner said of his friends and neighbors who are keeping in close touch through the crisis. “I actually made aContinue reading “Memeing Through the Apocalypse”
Category Archives: #BlackLivesMatter
A Prayer for Pentecost #BlackLivesMatter
O God of raging firesO Jesus, who looted the TempleO Spirit found amongst grief and protestWe come before you in anguish We remember this weekend the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit roared into that upper room and breathed new languages on the tongues of the apostles. It’s a time of celebration for the church,Continue reading “A Prayer for Pentecost #BlackLivesMatter”
rev. barber and the heart of democracy
For the past two years, I’ve gone to North Carolina to attend the Historic Thousands on Jones Street with Rev. Dr. William Barber II and the Moral Mondays Movement. I’ve been awe-inspiried the several times I’ve met Rev. Barber. I’m glad last night a much wider audience has been able to experience the presence andContinue reading “rev. barber and the heart of democracy”
frantz fanon, #blacklivesmatter, and american exceptionalism
In my bedroom hangs a poster with the first and last chapter of Frantz Fanon’s book, The Wretched of the Earth. I received it as a gift after seeing the film, Concerning Violence, which I cannot recommend enough. As I looked at it again today, I was struck by these words, “Two centuries ago, a formerContinue reading “frantz fanon, #blacklivesmatter, and american exceptionalism”
walter benjamin, solidarity, and my peace delegation
I spent my last semester at Union Theological Seminary thinking about the past. Ever since I learned, two years ago, about Walter Benjamin’s concept of the weak messianic force, I knew I wanted to write my thesis on it. The idea is mainly found in On the Concept of History. It outlines how a historicalContinue reading “walter benjamin, solidarity, and my peace delegation”
love is love and the politics of recognition
Over the past few days, my Facebook newsfeed has been bittersweet. On the one hand, we celebrate the Supreme Court’s decision to recognize same-sex marriage in all 50 states. Now queer people of any identity can marry their partner. On the other hand, we mourn the life and service of Rev. Clementa Pinckney, one of theContinue reading “love is love and the politics of recognition”
adventure time as a postmodern book of judges
If you haven’t watched Adventure Time, you’re missing out on a delightful, fun, philosophical, and always zany cartoon. Finn and Jake, a young blonde boy and a mustard colored stretching dog, maintain the roles as the heroes in the Land of Ooo. They battle against creatures and kingdoms that harm. And uniquely, there are manyContinue reading “adventure time as a postmodern book of judges”
salvation: theology and theopoetry
Someone gave me some insight once in how to read theology: theologians only answer the questions asked. Augustine answered certain questions that we’re not asking today. The same is true for Death of God theologians and many contemporary theologians do not incorporate #BlackLivesMatter or push against transphobia in their theologies. So why do we holdContinue reading “salvation: theology and theopoetry”
leaving our nets behind: sermon on discipleship
[I preached this sermon last Sunday at Broadway Presbyterian Church in NYC. I’ve included the passage, prayer, and sermon. It was written between overnights at the shelter, a Student Senate Retreat, and supporting another friend who preached earlier that morning.] Mark 1:14-20 NRSV Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the goodContinue reading “leaving our nets behind: sermon on discipleship”
black flag theology 