“I’m angry,” I said to Tim. We were driving to the nearby movie theater. “Why are you angry? Did I do something that you’re angry about?” was his quick reply. “No, I’m not angry at you. I’m angry at my lack of control over where I’m at right now.” Tim began sharing his experiences of […]
“Here’s what I have to say to American liberals and leftists: instead of listening to the strategists, who don’t believe it’s possible to dramatically change our society, can we finally be bold and listen to the artists and the outsiders and the radicals and the freaks and the avant-garde and the base and the youth […]
The World Series Chicago Cubs vs. the Cleveland Ball Club, the 2016 presidential election Trump vs. Clinton, and the dilemma of my church charge – close the church and merge vs. close the church and go our separate ways; these three “battles”, options, competitions are becoming entangled in my mind and heart. The emotional ups […]
It’s September already. September holds a bittersweet spot in my heart. September 5, 1981 is the date that Sherrie Rubingh married Tim Grubbs and they took up the new family name of Lowly (the name change happened legally a few weeks later). Here is a photo on our wedding day. I was talking to an […]
Some of my sermon ponderings from yesterday: “Here now is the one who did not make God her stronghold but trusted in great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!” But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. ” Psalm […]
I used the word “bigot” once, actually called out the people across the street from where I stood on a platform in front of a crowd of protesters against Prop 8. I was asked by a dear friend to rise and say something to the crowd as a representative of the church. The word “bigot” […]
(In the photo my mom and I are looking at one of Tim’s paintings of my daughter Temma, titled “Bower” when it was hanging in the Grand Rapids Art Museum in 2014’s Art Prize exhibition.) I had the opportunity to spend some extended time with my mom a couple weekends ago when I was in […]
“Hi sweetie, how are you?” I sit down on the kitchen bar stool that I placed next to my daughter Temma’s bed. It’s a high bed, called a captain’s bed with drawers underneath and then put on even higher stilts by Tim, Temma’s Dad. It’s like Temma’s boat, her captain’s bed on the high seas, […]
SUNDAY, APRIL 10 EASTER THREE READINGS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURES Acts 9:1-6 Psalm 30 Two conversion stories this morning. Two resurrection stories of two men caught in believing their own versions of who God is and what God desires. Two stories of change from breathing threats and murder to mercy and inclusion; from disappointment and confusion […]
(An excerpt from Chapter One of my book project. I’m reminded of this photo again as this day of Lent and our nation’s primary elections collide) “Why don’t you move into the Community?” Pastor says. Bring your worldly goods and come live with us. I think it’s God calling me and it is all that […]
Writing From the Margins 