Minister’s Musings

Rev. Johnnie Bloom-Ramirez

  • The Start of “True” New Year
    September and October are my favorite months, not because September happens to be my birthday month and Samhain happens to be my favorite holiday, but to me it is the start of true “New Year.” I love the Fall: the crispness in the air (which admittedly doesn’t happen until twilight in California) and the feeling of renewal that occurs for me this time of year. School started in the fall, so there was new learning to be had and a new teacher and classroom to get to know. There were new clothes (or in my case, new-to-me clothes), there was … Continue reading The Start of “True” New Year
  • Interdependence
    On July 18, 2024 the world, for the most part, grounded to a halt. Any computer running Microsoft Windows displayed “the blue screen of death.” Air Travel, hospitals, and law enforcement were greatly affected. I myself, along with several other flight crews, were stuck in Vancouver, B.C. for 13 hours! Tensions were high and folks wanted to blame everyone that was visible for their delays. I became the voice of reason and broke up several verbal and near-physical altercations by simply being calm and assertive (my vertical privilege and the fact that I’m cis-male presenting probably made it easier).  The … Continue reading Interdependence
  • 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 unitedwepledge.org). Let’s put that into perspective: I have the freedom of the pulpit. Ostensibly and within reason as your minister I’m allowed to do anything I wish from said pulpit. You are free to disagree with my views and presentations and are encouraged to share … Continue reading Liberty vs. Freedom