Author: Aaron J. Smith
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ATMN: Ell-Jesus was a Union Man
Hello friends! This week, we are talking to a new friend, Ell. Ell is a co-host for The Word in Black and Red podcast, a member of the IWW, and a board member at her church. She was raised Presbyterian, sent to catholic school as an atheist, and then graduated with a BA in anthropology… Read more
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Casting out Demons with Grief
Grief erupts. It interrupts. It disrupts. Grief can’t be infinitely ignored or forever contained. Grief will rear its head and cause chaos in its demand to be expressed. We can only suppress grief for so long, and that suppression wreaks havoc on our body. From our neurology to our autonomic nervous system to our somatic… Read more
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The Found Family of Peace
When I was 18, I broke up with the girl I was dating because God told me to. I didn’t have a reason (still don’t), I just felt like that was a divine mandate and in order to be faithful to God, I had to break up with her. There was no rhyme or reason… Read more
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ATMN: Adam Ericksen-Was Jesus Woke?
Hello Friends. This time, we are talking to Adam Ericksen. Adam Ericksen is….The Pastor Clackamas United Church of Christ in Milwaukie, Oregon who is always posting provocative church signs calling out injustice, rebuking police brutality, standing up for rights of refugees, the humanity of Muslims, and the dignity of trans people…you know, like Jesus would. Bluesky: Pastor… Read more
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To the Unknown God
Where are you, God? Don’t you see? Can’t you hear? There is so much suffering, injustice, oppression. It’s happening the world over. There is war, genocide, and destruction running rampant through the streets. Here, in my own country, there is upheaval and turmoil as racist, capitalistic, patriarchal people throw the country into utter chaos.… Read more
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The Imagination to Testify
I have notebooks full of church curriculum. Bible studies. Sermons. Worship events. I even have the notes for a discipleship class/program I helped put together. I spent a lot of time in my twenties thinking about how to help people be better Christians, how to help people get the right doctrine, how to help people… Read more
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The Consistency of Conversion
A meditation on Acts 9.1-20 and Revelation 5.11-14. How often do we breathe out murder? Violence is our second language—often our first. We respond with dominance, anger, might, and all the tools of violence that have infiltrated our psyche since birth. Someone’s disagreeing with you? Shout louder. Someone standing in your way? Push past them.… Read more
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Ashes and Alleluias, Episode3-Grief of Creation
The ache I feel every time something I create is met with silence. Obscurity, truth, and connecting with the right people. One of the best way to support my work is to share what you’ve read here with your friends and acquaintances. Every share is an invitation to our little community. Thanks! For anyone looking… Read more
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Ask for the Body
The body of the King of Life hung dead on the cross. Violence, fear, and the Roman Empire had executed the Christ, the hope of Israel, indeed the Hope of the world. His body was shredded, pierced, raw, broken. Death had enveloped the living God. A man stepped forward into Pilate’s court. He was a… Read more
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Rejoice! The Broken God Calls
This is a sermon I wrote for the Llama Pack based on Luke 22.28-40 and 22.14-27. Listen to the sermon here: There are always two processions. One is driven by a war horse and a cohort of violence and militaristic strength. This procession thunders down the road, with announcements of security for those who are… Read more