The pursuit of social justice is in the very fabric of faith. Justice is not an isolated term reserved for the individual in the sanctuary of his/her soul. Justice is lived out in the context of community and is, therefore, social. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord […]

by James E. Copple That first sermon, I will never forget it. Less than four months after I found myself kneeling at an alter and accepting Jesus Christ as my personal savior, I was now preaching.  My conversion was radical. I mean, I went from a hell-raising 15 year-old to a Bible carrying evangelist overnight. […]

by James E. Copple The human predicament continues to amaze me.  Predicament is defined as a difficult, trying, and often dangerous situation.  On Sunday, April 7, while sitting in the airport in Amsterdam, I read the New York Times  report on the tragic suicide death of Matthew Warren, the 27 year-old son of Pastor Rick […]

Centuries of evolution, the emergence of empathic impulses, and increased cohabitation on the planet has led to better understanding and cooperation. Quite simply, we have learned how to get along.

We preach the body of Christ and talk about the global church and the global community as if we are all connected and part of a universal, tightly knitted community with a single purpose and goal…Unfortunately, as with many things in the Church – it is a myth of convenience.

This five-hour, one way trip to several communities seemed like just one more humanitarian mission. For reasons I cannot totally explain, it became so much more.

I spent most of the year in the developing world with particular reminders of Ethiopia, Swaziland, and Kenya.  I observed for the first time a Church working underground in a hostile political and religious environment.  I was both amazed and startled by the harshness of religious bigotry and the courage of people who have made commitments to […]

Following the Indian Ocean tsunami that swept across 14 Asian and African nations in 2004, killing 283,000 people, one of the first aid organizations to arrive in countries with body bags and 72 hour kits was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints – the Mormons. The Mormons rallied with 72 hour survival kits, and […]

I think we can all affirm that God is neither Republican nor Democrat and I am relatively certain he is not a member of the Tea Party gang.