It’s only fitting that I wrap up my last paper for the semester under severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings. What a whirlwind this semester has been!

A Chicago Pope implies the existence of an MLA Pope and APA Pope

The arrest of Reverend Dr. William Barber, and the dramatic police action that occurred with it shines light on the deep hypocrisy of the Trump administration.

religionnews.com/2025/04/28/w...

If you haven’t already, I highly recommend watching The Two Popes today. I am devastated at the loss of someone who was so grounded in the care for the poor and the planet. And I’m quite nervous for the future of the Catholic Church. Francis made great progress, and I would mourn to see it undone.

lol last thing because people be misrepresenting Jesus Immanuel Christ a lot:

Mans loved people truly, hated when people abused their power; he was for the poor, hungry, unhoused, lonely, shamed, and everything in between, and really didn't mess with people didn't help those people out.

“The gold bit on your horse, the gold circlet on the wrist of your slave, the gilding on your shoes, mean that you are robbing the orphan and starving the widow. When you have passed away, each passer-by who looks upon your great mansion will say,

"We know that the world and we are destined for better things. We cannot, must not, be triumphalistic. We must be modest. But we must not lose hope. We recognize that which is the somber, the dark side. But that is not the end of the story. Yes, there has been the genocide of the Holocaust...

Jesus's sharpest criticism & condemnation was directed at those who blamed victims and further oppressed those who were already at the margins of society, which is exactly what the anti-transgender movement is doing today.

It’s always a good time to remind the world that this song exists

They don't want to fund social services through taxes, saying "the churches should do that stuff."

Then when a church actually does something, they put up regulatory roadblocks and then prosecute the pastor about it.

Because cruelty is the point.

I realize now more than ever that despair is a luxury we can’t afford in this moment. Both fear & faith ask us to believe things we can’t see—we must choose to believe that change is possible. That WE THE PEOPLE are entering a state of painful rebirth— in the pursuit of REAL justice. #WokeAF

Lina Khan did some incredible work in 4 short years, discarding the Reagan-era policy of not enforcing the law of the land to protect consumers. She was popular across the aisle because she showed that the gov’t can actually hold real power over mega-corporations.

Had an awesome time chatting with Jon Stewart & @weeklyshowpodcast.bsky.social talking about how to fight the dumpster fire.

Gear up. It’s time to brawl.

That sermon combined with the mild to moderate trepidation I feel facing 4 years of preaching during a Trump admin (not having preached during the last one) makes each pastoral/homiletical decision feel extra weighty. This quote has been sticking with me since 2020. It’s helped.

A note for pastors and churchgoers who have struggled to understand why it’s important to be crystal clear about LGBTQ+ inclusion, rather than just gesturing broadly and saying “all are welcome” - what we saw today is exactly why. (1/4)

I can’t imagine how it must have felt to have this opportunity and responsibility to speak truth to power. Thank you, Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde for your clear, heartfelt, and powerful words. As others have said, they may have fallen on deaf ears in the front row, but you have inspired so many others.

Let's be crystal clear:

Weird that we have to say this, but the government doesn’t get to decide what gender a person is.