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Trust and Democracy
Great keynote presentation by Jennifer Nadel of “Compassion in Politics” in the UK in today’s “Compassionate Action Conference.” We have a REAL crisis today worldwide, so many people do not believe in / do not support democracy. Autocracy is on the rise. Corruption is being normalized. “Trust is democracy’s oxygen, and we are running out…
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Do Unto Others
We need to “love our neighbors” and find ways to demonstrate both individually and collectively our commitment to “The Golden Rule.” While Jesus Christ famously shared the Golden Rule in his “Sermon on the Mount,” the golden rule is an ethic of reciprocity which has support within other religious, spiritual, and philosophical traditions outside of…
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Lessons from North Carolina
To “heal our culture,” we need to understand our culture. A few weeks ago, I bought a paper copy of “Lessons from North Carolina: Race, Religion, Tribe, and the Future of America” by Gene Nichol. Nichol is a lawyer and academic by trade, he has written several books, and this is my first time to…
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Sing Sing (2023)
I’ve added the 2023 movie “Sing Sing” to my movie watchlist. Here’s the trailer: (2.5 min) Synopsis: “Divine G (Colman Domingo), imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn’t commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group with other incarcerated men. When a wary outsider joins the group, the men decide to stage…
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Cast a Truth Spell
Walter Rhein observes and contends, “Truth is a healing spell.” Walter is correct. Our very words can be powerful. Like the spells of Hogwarts students in Slytherin House or Gryffindor, we have the power to curse or bless with our words. When spoken, those blessings or curses not only affect others, but they affect and…
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Anti-Racism
Healing our culture requires us to engage in the work of “anti-racism.” In the introduction to his 2019 book, “How to Be an Antiracist,” author Ibram X. Kendi explains that “neutrality” in the struggle over racism is not possible. The opposite of “racist” isn’t “not racist.” It is “antiracist.” Kendi argues the process of undoing…
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Together We Rise
This afternoon I had a wonderful opportunity to participate in the first Zoom webinar in a series offered by the Media Education Lab, “Together We Rise: The First 100 Days, Co-Creating Connections and Possibilities in a Time of Transition.” This is not simply a support group for media literacy educators and academics in our present…
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Racial Healing Through Digital Storytelling
This past Monday on January 19, 2025, a remarkable community worship service was held at First Baptist Church of Elkin, North Carolina. During the 80 minute service, pastors, priests, and lay leaders from multiple church congregations around and outside of Elkin participated, sharing their experiences and perspectives, as well as leading different sections of the…
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Elections and God’s Will
This is a slightly edited transcript of a video recorded for Wes Fryer’s “Wisdom with Wes” series. Following the contentious election in the United States earlier this week, these thoughts seem appropriate to share as part of the “Heal Our Culture” project. The full video description is: In this episode of ‘Wisdom with Wes,’ Wes…
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Hope, Community and Preparation
Watch the 13 minute video version of this post, which is episode 35 in my YouTube series, “Wisdom With Wes.” As I sit to write this on October 1st, 2024, the recent onslaught of Hurricane Helene has left a significant impact, spanning multiple states and affecting countless lives. Although my own family and home remain…
