Author: Rev. Johnnie Bloom-Ramirez

Connections and Change

The month of June brings with it a lot of change. Children are leaving their classrooms for the summer break, college students are graduating and inserting themselves into the real world.  We as a fellowship are moving into our summer session, when I expect a lot of folks will be travelling, seeing family, and exploring … Continue reading Connections and Change

Your Romantic Soul

I realize that I have been talking about politics and the effect it’s having on our country, and BIPOC and LGBTQIA (I highlight the T right now because the trans community have become scapegoats for this new regime.  I am taking a break from that this month, to talk about something that is important to … Continue reading Your Romantic Soul

Liberty vs. Freedom

What does it mean to have liberty vs. freedom? I always thought the two words were interchangeable synonyms of one another, but that’s not necessarily true. “Liberty emphasizes the importance of individual rights and the limitations of government power, while freedom is more focused on the ability of individuals to pursue their own interests.” (from … Continue reading Liberty vs. Freedom

Experiencing Joy

Today I’m sitting in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, enjoying a much-needed respite from a very busy week. I’m struck at all the families who are here celebrating various personal achievements and holidays, such as birthdays and anniversaries. My family itself is here celebrating two birthdays and a wedding anniversary! It has been fun interacting with people … Continue reading Experiencing Joy

The Gateway Arch

I just returned from a fantastic trip to St. Louis, Missouri (of all places). The last time I got a chance to really enjoy this city was during the tail-end of the COVID-19 pandemic, so a lot of experiences were closed, including the Gateway Arch. I got to explore the museum, which was free and … Continue reading The Gateway Arch

What is “normal”?

At the start of February, Punxsutawney Phil, that ubiquitous groundhog known for his “uncanny” weather predictions, prophesied that this year in 2024 we’re going to have an early spring. Regardless of Phil’s predictions, we’ve been deluged with precipitation, with what some have perceived as higher than normal rainfall. It’s important to remember that while Punxsutawney … Continue reading What is “normal”?