As we race into the rapidly changing world of the 2030s and 2040s we are likely to encounter an increasingly challenging climate crisis in the United States that is already demanding our attention. For example, more Americans than ever are living in wildfire areas not just in L. A. The growth of local fires is a concerning challenge for people all over the US and they are playing a major role in growing disasters here.
“Fierce and months of drought set the conditions for the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles this month. But the growth of housing around in the city’s fire prone hills over the past few decades also played a major role. Most of the homes that have been damaged or destroyed so far were nestled in or near hillsides covered with highly flammablevegetation. Even dense neighborhoods like Altadena were vulnerable to embers blown from the burning hills nearby.
Across the country, including California, millions of Americans have been moving to places at risk of burning, particularly developments on the outskirts of cities that bump up against forests, grasslands and shrub lands … (This) has increased the odds of devastating blazes… and more intense wild fires across the west.”
(Mira Rojanaskul and Brad Plumer, Jan 15, 2025)
I urge Christian leaders to learn important new practices from urban planners:
- anticipate new housing challenges many of us are likely to encounter
- aggressively research creative ways to respond to these new challenges
- select the best responses for ourselves and for our neighbors
Our churches can be a resource for both our members and our neighbors, responding creatively to challenges in ways that are most promising for all of us and reflect the Ways of Jesus.
Please contact me if you would like to explore ways your community can learn to both anticipate and creatively respond to these rapidly changing times.
Dr. Tom Sine
twsine@gmail.com
In this episode, Christine Sine and Alan Hirsch discuss their long-standing friendship, Alan’s multicultural background, and the impact of his experiences in apartheid South Africa on his worldview and faith. They explore Alan’s spiritual transformation, his journey into writing, and the significance of his influential works, particularly in the context of the church’s current challenges. In this conversation, Alan Hirsch and Christine Sine explore the centrality of Jesus in the church, the importance of living out Jesus’ teachings, and the challenges faced by modern Christianity. They discuss the need for a reconstructive pathway in faith, emphasizing the significance of community and leadership in fostering spiritual growth. Hirsch shares insights from his book ‘The Forgotten Ways,’ highlighting the factors that contributed to the early church’s exponential growth and the importance of maintaining a Jesus-centered approach in contemporary faith practices.
Takeaways
- Experiences of apartheid deeply influenced personal beliefs.
- Authenticity in the church is crucial for relevance today.
- The Beatitudes offer a more relevant guidance than the Ten Commandments.
- Alan’s diverse background enriches his perspective on faith.
- The centrality of Jesus is crucial for the church.
- Jesus should define the character and content of the church.
- Gospel-centeredness can lead to a de-centering of Jesus.
- Reductionism in theology can lead to heresy.
- The early church grew without the structures we rely on today.
- A bigger understanding of Jesus which includes centering justice, compassion, and equality is necessary for growth.
- Deconstruction must lead to reconstruction in faith.
- Community and leadership are vital for spiritual growth.
Alan Hirsch is widely considered to be a global thought-leader on missional
movements and leadership. Hirsch is the author of numerous award winning books including The Forgotten Ways, The Shaping of Things to Come, 5Q, ReJesus , Reframation, Untamed, and The Permanent Revolution. He has worked with churches and organizations across the world, but mainly in North America, Europe, and Australia.
Alan is a founder of the Movement Leaders Collective, Forge Mission Training Network, and the 5Q Collective. He is movement mentor for NewThing International and is a consultant for Redeemer City To City among others. His experience includes leading a local church movement among the marginalized, developing training systems for innovative missional leadership, training leaders in movement dynamics, and heading up the mission and revitalization work of his denomination.
Alan Hirsch can be found at:
Author & Activist | alanhirsch.org
Founder & Co-Leader | movementleaderscollective.com
Founder & Coach. | 5QCentral.com
Founder & Advisor | Forge International
Movement Mentor | NewThing
Resident Consultant | Redeemer City To City
Leadership Developer | NOVO
It’s time to get ready for Lent and I don’t want you to miss this important season or the guidance that I will give you over the next couple of months.
This post isa reminder to let you know that I am no longer posting regularly on godspacelight. My posts are now being published on Substack and yesterday I published my first post related to Lent – Meditation Monday – getting Ready for Lent. Please consider becoming a subscriber to my Substack site so that you continue to receive reflections, new spiritual practices and poetry from me. You can become a free subscriber or if you are interested in helping support my ministry and the production of quality resources into the future, I would appreciate you becoming a paid subscriber.
In this episode, Christine and Sarah Augustine delve into the Doctrine of Discovery, its historical implications for Indigenous peoples, and the ongoing impact of colonial policies, particularly the ramifications of boarding schools. They discuss the deep-rooted effects of child removal and cultural erasure, while also exploring the intersection of faith and social justice. In this conversation, Christine Sine and Sarah Augustine explore the devastating impact of the damming of Celilo Falls on local Indigenous culture, and the need for a shift from charity to repair in supporting Indigenous communities. They discuss the importance of land back programs and how white people can effectively support Indigenous movements towards decolonization and environmental stewardship.
Sarah Augustine, who is a Pueblo (Tewa) descendant, is co- founder and Executive Director of the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery. She is also the co-founder of Suriname Indigenous Health Fund (SIHF), where she has worked in relationship with vulnerable Indigenous Peoples since 2005. She has represented the interests of Indigenous community partners to their own governments, the Inter-American development bank, the UN, the Organization of American States Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the WHO, and a host of other international actors including corporate interests. She is a columnist for Anabaptist World, and co-hosts the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery podcast with Sheri Hostetler. She has taught at Heritage University, CWU, and Goshen College. In Washington State she serves in a leadership role on multiple boards and commissions to enable vulnerable peoples to speak for themselves in advocating for structural change. She is author of the book The Land Is Not Empty: Following Jesus in Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery (Herald Press 2021), and co-author, with Sheri Hostetler, of So We and Our Children May Live: Following Jesus in Confronting the Climate Crisis (Herald Press 2023).
Sarah Augustine can be reached at:
- website: www.dismantlediscovery.org
- Facebook: @dismantlediscovery.org
- Instagram: @dismantlediscovery.org
- YouTube: @dismantlingthedoctrineofdi7536
In this episode of the Liturgical Rebels podcast, Randy Woodley shares his diverse life journey, rooted in his Native American heritage and shaped by his experiences in Western Christianity. He discusses the challenges and insights gained from his faith journey, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous values and the concept of Eloheh, which represents living in harmony. Woodley also reflects on his book, ‘Shalom and the Community of Creation,’ exploring the values that promote a harmonious existence within communities and the natural world. In this conversation, Christine Sine and Randy Woodley delve into the profound themes of harmony, Shalom, and Indigenous values. They explore the interconnectedness of creation and the importance of living in harmony with the environment and each other. Woodley shares ecological and spiritual insights from his children’s book ‘The Harmony Tree’. The discussion also touches on his collaborative work with his wife Edith at the Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice, emphasizing the need for regenerative practices and the teaching of Indigenous spirituality. They conclude with a reflection on universal values that can lead to a more stable and happy society.
Takeaways
- Randy Woodley questioned the assimilation into Western Christianity and sought a deeper understanding of his Native heritage.
- Woodley emphasizes the disconnect between Western Christianity and the teachings of Jesus.
- He believes that God works outside traditional church settings. He and his wife, Edith, decided to follow Jesus within their own native cultural context.
- Eloheh represents the idea of living in harmony and peace within Indigenous cultures.
- The concept of Shalom encompasses living in harmony with creation and community. It is a way of living, not just a greeting.
- Woodley identifies core values shared among various Indigenous peoples.
- The Eloheh Indigenous Center promotes Earth justice and teaches Indigenous spirituality.
- Decolonizing and indigenizing is a journey for everyone.
- Storytelling is critical for passing on values.
Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley is the co-founder, with his wife, Edith, of Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice and Eloheh Farm & Seeds in Yamhill, Oregon, a regenerative teaching farm. He is a Cherokee descendent recognized by the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians and is Distinguished Professor of Faith and Culture Emeritus at Portland Seminary. Randy has written numerous chapters, articles, and 13 books including Becoming Rooted and Journey to Eloheh which he co-authored with his wife. The Woodley’s have been serving Indigenous people and others for over four decades. See eloheh.org
In this engaging conversation, Christine Sine interviews Rev. Danae Ashley, an Episcopal priest and psychotherapist, exploring her journey of faith, the significance of liturgy, and the role of rituals in therapy, particularly in the context of fertility struggles and liminal times. Rev. Ashley shares her unique perspective on how liturgy shapes personal faith and community, and how rituals can help individuals navigate complex emotional experiences. In this conversation, Rev. Danae Ashley shares her insights on healing through personal rituals, the importance of community engagement, and the significance of Hildegard von Bingen’s legacy. The discussion explores how rituals can help individuals navigate life’s transitions and the transformative experience of pilgrimage. Rev. Ashley also delves into her newfound purpose in connecting Hildegard’s teachings with psychotherapy, emphasizing the intertwining of spirituality and mental health.
Takeaways
- Rev. Danae Ashley emphasizes the importance of community in spiritual journeys.
- Liturgy is a powerful tool for shaping personal faith and identity.
- Rituals provide a framework for understanding and processing life’s transitions.
- Art and creativity play a vital role in healing and therapy.
- Rev. Ashley’s journey reflects a deep connection to her faith and community.
- Understanding the history and meaning of liturgy enhances spiritual practice.
- Rituals in therapy can create a safe space for exploring grief and loss.
- Rituals help mediate big feelings in life.
- Pilgrimages can lead to unexpected discoveries.
- The teachings of Hildegard von Bingen, a polymath and healer, can inform psychotherapy.
- Understanding Hildegard deepens our connection to nature.
- The intersection of spirituality and mental health is vital.
The Rev. Danáe Ashley is an Episcopal priest and licensed marriage and family therapist who has ministered with parishes in North Carolina, New York, Minnesota, and the Seattle area and is a psychotherapist at Soul Spa Seattle, LLC. Danáe uses art, music, drama, poetry, and movement in counseling, spiritual direction, and creation of ritual. She has written for a variety of publications, as well as being a contributor to podcasts, books, and producing a play about fertility struggle. Her latest adventure has been on pilgrimage with St. Hildegard von Bingen: speaking and writing about Hildegard, viriditas, and psychotherapy. She is working on her forthcoming book about these subjects. Danae’s favorite pastimes include reading, traveling with her husband, making sure their rescue dog Cooper is living his best life, dancing with wild abandon to Celtic music, and serious karaoke.
Learn more about Rev. Ashley’s work at soulspaseattle.com.
Website: https://www.soulspaseattle.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/soulspaseattle
IG: @soulspaseattle
Find out more about Christine Sine on
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