Love Truth Blog

A colleague of brought to my attention this new hit “Born this Way” telling me of its haunting lyrics. I sort of shrugged it to the back of my mind. I can’t say I listen to much top 40 music, but I noticed it was the number 1 download on iTunes, so I just thought to check this one out, found a free preview on YouTube and had a listen. It had all the components of what I would have expected from a 21st century pop artist—very techno but loud with provocative lyrics. There’s of course all the pop music critic clichés about the song—the whole “been there done that,” “There’s nothing new under the sun,” or “Sounds like Madonna’s ‘Express Yourself.’ ”. But I think Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, a.k.a. Lady Gaga, produced something that is really in tune with the pulse of modern spirituality. Lady Gaga has experienced the pain of lost love, even battles against her own personal demons, but she has her own spirituality, and speaks of God watching over her. She has even sought out N...

After days of non-violent civil protest, the people of Egypt unified to bring about a change in regime, which came to realization with the resignation of Hosni Mubarak on February 11, 2011. Was social media the weapon in this revolution? Perhaps we might begin to say that the social network is mightier than the sword. Egypt has certainly inspired others living under totalitarian regimes. Whatever the case, many people wonder what would become of Egypt after the changing of the guard? Are we just witnessing one totalitarian rule being replaced by another? Pray for the best to come out of this situation, and I say, “Let there be democracy!” Modern democracy can offer a representative form of government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people. This does not mean the majority rules, but that the common good can be upheld. 1 Modern democracy can also offer a system of government with checks and balances so that civil leaders can be kept accountable to fulfill the duties ...

Lately I have been meditating upon the parable of the talents. Jesus’ earthy story communicates a pretty much straight forward divine message about being faithful with every blessing that comes from God until the end. In this parable, each servant was given a portion of the master’s wealth for the sake of investment. When the deadline came for each servant to settle accounts, the servants who invested their money according to their master’s wishes were commended and received greater responsibilities, but the one who buried the money against his master’s wishes was condemned. Since this is a parable, and earthy story, we need not think there is a one-to-one correspondence between the master and The Master. The wicked servant may have had good cause to point out some of the possible flaws of the master (25:24), which really did not help his case, anyways, there are things about the master in the story that are not really the case with The Master—God. Matthew’s Gospel unveils many tru...

One of the bitter-sweet chapters of the Bible is Leviticus 25. Here we find about the Jubilee celebration, which was to be an annual fifty-year holy day, when Yahweh’s people would return to their properties, cancel debts, and rejoice in all the divine blessings bestowed upon them (vv. 1-22). The poor who had to sell part of their property to escape poverty were for the most part able to have a kinsman redeem back what was lost (vv. 25-34). The Israelites were to take care of those who fell into hard times (vv. 35-43). All this was done because all things ultimately belonged to Yahweh (v.v. 22-23). Then, Moses makes this proclamation: As for your male and female slaves whom you may have—you may acquire male and female slaves from the pagan nations that are around you. Then, too, it is out of the sons of the sojourners who live as aliens among you that you may gain acquisition, and out of their families who are with you, whom they will have produced in your land; they also may become ...