“But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go. Which of the two was obeying his father?” (Matthew 21:28-29)

The Oregonian printed a modest article today that questioned the value of many short mission trips. On the trips under discussion, well-meaning Christians fly around the globe to spend a week or two in their target location building, digging, and painting. The article suggested that much effort was often wasted on projects not really needed by the foreign communities selected to receive attention. In one of the silliest examples, six different groups flew overseas to paint the same village wall six different times in a single summer.

In John 15:17 Jesus says, “I command you to love each other.” The verb choice stands out. It had better be a command, and even then, I’m not sure it’s enough.

I have had this week the incredible pleasure to have been to two live Kirtan events. The first was last Tuesday when Krishna Das was in town, sitting with his mates on a humble stage at the First Congregational Church. We went with Felix and we danced! It was a blessed evening.

Then last night Lisa Mae and her mates gathered a few score faithful to sing and praise God and Goddess in all their forms. It was a benefit for Bobby Jo and her family, and i am so touched with all the loving energy that we were able to manifest and send her way.

"Experiences can shape not only what information enters the brain, but the way in which the mind develops the ability to process that information." Such i read in "The Developing Mind" by Daniel J. Siegel.

Recently I’ve been dwelling on two Bible passages—James 4:9-10 and 1 John 4: 16-18. I’ve always been a fan of the book of James because it insists that faith must be practiced in the world not just pondered at one’s desk. First John has always given me a good kick in the pants, and I’ll tell you why.

The writer of James notes: “Sometimes [the tongue] praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against those who have been made in the image of the living God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth.”