WILDLY good management and officiating by Guido Gonzalez Jr, Alan Kelly, and co. for the #TST 7v7 final. There’s a clear trust from the players, and the game moves on from simple fouls quickly…which doesn’t always happen, especially in small-sided games!

#10 3 rules to live by, according to my CPE instructor:
1) Show up.
2) Do no harm.
3) Try to do some good.

#9 “You’ve got to remember, they’re the best [name] they can be…even though that [name] is the shitty little [name] that you’ve been dealing with.” —a beautiful call to compassion from a very wise aunt

#8 “Spiritual practices in any tradition…are meant to help you live what is yours to live, not make you rise above it…They’re meant to give you a tiny bit of breathing room inside what is wholly unbearable. That’s not at all the same thing as making your pain go away” (Devine, 50)

…you are, the person you were, and the person this loss will have you become” (Megan Devine, “It’s Okay that You’re Not Okay,” 63).

#7 On reimagining grief: “I know you didn’t mean to be part of the revolution. I know you’d gladly give all this up just to have your old life back. It isn’t a fair trade. And we need you. We need you to claim your right to be supported in ways that honor the person…

I apologize for the misnumbering. Three master’s degrees, but still can’t count.

#6 Our Día de los Muertos ofrenda for the best girl, who passed earlier this week. QEPD, Tovka— every now and then I’ll throw up a prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Confusion.

#5 “A mature theological reflection cheerfully admits it is provisional. ‘For now, this is the best I can do,’ says a mature theologian. ‘But by the generosity of God’s Spirit, I hope to have a better insight tomorrow.” —Leanne Van Dyk, “Growing Up Theologically”

#5 “To expose injustices may cause division and pain; but to ignore injustices will result in the destruction of the church as an instrument of God’s will.” —Katie Geneva Cannon, paraphrasing Lloyd Green

Like, all of us. Get in, loser, we’re going to get better.

#4 Just wrapped up a theological conversation on the sending of the church with several black colleagues. My conclusion: white people, collectively, have gotta go to therapy.

#3 Yesterday my #therapist asked if she could take off her therapist hat and just talk to me as a black woman, and it was one of the most moving displays of vulnerability I’ve ever seen, especially as someone who struggles so mightily with accepting his own embodiment.

Empire promotes the lie that we live in a paradigm of scarcity, that “more for you” means “less for me.” The βασιλέα of God is one of abundance, though— something to think about this election season.

#2 From my Greek exegesis prof, talking on Mark 7:24-30: “the woman’s response suggests that the children in v. 28 are intentionally dropping food scraps because of their relationship with the dogs...the dogs aren’t stealing from the children, but want to share a meal with them.”

#1 “If angels flew low enough, we’d probably eat them, too.” My family can be a weird and challenging place for a seminary student.

Finally figured out how to log back into my Xitter account, and I’m gonna follow through on my original idea to import some of the more important ones onto here…so here’s a thread of the last 5 years over there:

There are a bunch of scriptures that are exhortations to be different— to be a holy people, set apart. They feel heavier than they usually do…when just surviving feels like it takes everything, being set apart feels like a bridge too far.

Also, Diego looks like Zorro and I unironically love it and if you don’t, too, you’re wrong. #RSL #MoonBoy

Do I love that Ajago lost the ball in 77’? I do not. Do I love that his reaction was to spring into our penalty area and help our back line win the ball back? I very much do. #RSL #DaleReal #CONCACAF

I know it’s apples and oranges, but I gotta say how discouraging it is so see an expansion team look so much better against the MLS cup champions than #RSL did against the wooden spoon holders.

Moon Boy is SO good. Loved the spots he was popping up on, the hustle, the leadership. For most of the rest, I’m hoping an incomplete and rotated roster is playing a big role for #RSL. Rough night, but it’s a long season.

Man, playing against Chicho is so much less fun than playing with him. #RSL

Already whizzed one by the post, less than 3 minutes in. I’m ready to co-sign this prediction.

Catching a little bit of the #RSL preseason match vs #NYRB. Forgot how good the Ojeda/Eneli partnership can be— hope Emeka gets the armband sometime this year!

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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.

With mass deportations starting today across the country, it is vitally important - for both citizens and non-citizens - to know your rights.

You have the right to remain silent. Assert it. You have the right to a lawyer. Ask for one.

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@frankturner.bsky.social’s “Wave Across the Bay” opens with a beautiful portrait of grief: “I spoke with Scott last night. I was tired, but I wasn’t sleeping; despite what you think, I wasn’t drinking. I was just finally ready to listen.”

And also, though I have ZERO affection for the Galaxy, there’s no doubt my disdain for the Sounders runs deeper. Come on, you Red Bulls!

I knew I’d be pulling for the Eastern conference champion before yesterday…as an #RSL fan, I feel there’s a contractual obligation to enthusiastically hate on both the Sounders and the Galaxy. But I’m glad LA won— I think they and RBNY make for a fun, high intensity shootout in the #MLS final.

I think I will, eventually. But for now, I’m pretty loathe to dip my toes back in over there, even if it is for something I think is worthwhile. I don’t really get any satisfaction out of hating on X, but I can’t think of it or its owner without feeling sad, angry, and exhausted.