Religion

How has your faith changed your life? Or has it?  In my daily Bible reading, I came across this nugget: “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey...

Today I share with you a recent letter to the entire membership of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America from our Presiding Bishop, The Rev. Yehiel Curry. He addresses the debate about recent trends in our country to champion particular religious beliefs and divide our...

The United States recently celebrated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The authors and signers announced that they were no longer subject to the king of England. They declared they were independent.  I want to mention another word; interdependence. We...

The last week or two in July can mean a number of things. For children, summer vacation is starting to wrap up and thoughts start turning to the coming school year. This is also the time for the Gilroy Garlic Festival.   But if you live...

The Fourth of July has passed. The birthday is over. Our nation is officially 250 years old. I’m old enough to remember America’s last big birthday, the Bicentennial of 1976 when we celebrated 200 years. It was great. The mood was euphoric, a feeling...

In 2006, Congregation Emeth in Morgan Hill welcomed Debbie Israel as a part-time student rabbi from the Academy for Jewish Religion in Southern California. When she was ordained, the Jewish temple’s Board of Directors enthusiastically invited her to become their permanent rabbi. Over the next...

I’m grateful to be celebrating our country’s 250th anniversary and for the freedoms and liberties we enjoy. I’m grateful for the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and the subsequent Bill of Rights and later amendments that outline the freedoms preserved for us.  I’m grateful...

Every day, global headlines remind us of a painful reality. From the Middle East to Eastern Europe, conflicts rage on with no end in sight. Nations fight with advanced weapons, driven by deep mistrust and fear.  History shows us that these external wars rarely bring...

Do you remember the road atlas? For many of us, it was a staple of every family road trip, tucked into the glove compartment or wedged between seats. If construction popped up ahead, there was no warning. If traffic was backed up for miles,...

Each year, Muslims around the world mark the beginning of a new year on the Islamic, or Hijri, calendar. This year the new year will begin on June 17.  While many people are familiar with New Year celebrations on Jan. 1, the Islamic New Year...