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Stories by Joseph O'Brien

Discovering your purpose with John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany

Pioneer Ocean View United Church of Christ Contact: 2550 Fairfield St, San Diego (619) 276-4881 www.povucc.org Membership: 154 Pastor: Mary Sue Brookshire Age: 50 Born: Winslow, NC Formation: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC; Candler School …

September 27, 2019
William Eusebius Andrews: Catholic critic of Protestant historian John Foxe

William Eusebius Andrews The very common manner of judging of human things by the abuses made of them, sometimes by the wicked and sometimes by fools, is vicious. If man has natural, religious, political and …

September 20, 2019
Rabbi Ron Schulman compelled by Milton Steinberg’s As a Driven Leaf

Congregation Beth El Contact: 8660 Gilman Drive, La Jolla 858-452-1734 www.cbe.org Membership: Over 600 families Rabbi: Ron Shulman Age: 63 Born: Chicago Formation: Brandeis University, Waltham, MA; American Jewish University, Los Angeles; Jewish Theological Seminary, …

September 13, 2019
Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism derived from the Kena Upanishad

Kena Upanishad When freed (from the senses) the wise, on departing from this world, become immortal. The eye does not go thither, nor speech, nor mind. We do not know, we do not understand, how …

Hugo Grotius: man ruled by a lasting cooperative peace

Hugo Grotius Among all good men one principle at any rate is established beyond controversy, that if the authorities issue any order that is contrary to the law of nature or to the commandments of …

Minister to the last, the lost, and the least at Donovan Prison

Ocean View Church Contact: 2460 Palm Ave., San Diego 619-424-7870 www.oceanviewchurch.com Membership: 1,400 Pastor: Steve Boschen Age: 50 Born: Springfield, MO Formation: Drury University, Springfield, MO Years Ordained: 12 San Diego Reader: What is the …

August 16, 2019
Lord of the Rings, or Christ and the resurrection?

Community Lutheran Church Contact: 3575 East Valley Parkway, Escondido/ 340 Rancheros Drive Suite 160 San Marcos 760-739-1650 www.clcfamily.org Membership: 500 (Escondido and San Marcos campuses) Pastor: Bob Hiller Age: 39 Born: Aurora, CO Formation: Concordia …

August 2, 2019
John Lingard: used history to demonstrate truths of the Catholic Church

John Lingard According to the Catholic belief, the bread and wine in the sacrament of the Eucharist, are made verily and indeed, the body and blood of Christ. This doctrine is grounded on the express …

The Response Church: a Pilgrim’s Progress

The Response Church Contact: 1499 Venice St., San Diego 619-354-8463 www.theresponsechurch.com Membership: 180 (adults) Pastor: Joel Webbon Age: 32 Born: Tomball, TX Formation: Dallas Baptist University, Dallas, TX Years Ordained: 5 San Diego Reader: How …

July 19, 2019
Wang Yang-Ming: Neo-Confucian doctrine during the Ming dynasty

Wang Yang-Ming Benevolence, justice, propriety, and wisdom are nature manifesting virtue. There is only one nature and no other. Referring to its substance, it is called heaven; considered as ruler or lord, it is called …

Sharing love and suffering with Henri Nouwen’s Wounded Healers

Incarnation Lutheran Church Contact: 16889 Espola Rd., Poway 858-487-2225 www.godamong.us Membership: 400 Associate Pastor: Tim Mason Age: 58 Born: St. Cloud, MN Formation: University of Minnesota, Morehead State University, KY; Lutheran Northwestern (Lutheran-St. Paul) Seminary, …

July 5, 2019
Horace Greeley: Universalist, founder of the New York Tribune, and defender of human rights

Horace Greeley Love God with all the powers of your soul, and love every man as yourself; for every man is like a part of yourself, and must at last become, like you, one with …

Meridian Baptist Church: Rolland Slade finishes the work of slain police officer Ronald W. Davis

Meridian Baptist Church Contact: 660 S 3rd St, El Cajon 619-444-3171 www.meridianbaptist.com Membership: 100 Pastor: Rolland Slade Age: 60 Born: San Diego Formation: University of San Diego; University of Redlands; Bethel Seminary; Gateway Seminary, Ontario …

June 21, 2019
Calvary Lutheran Church: Cycling to Hope with refurbished bicycles

Calvary Lutheran Church Contact: 424 Via De La Valle, Solana Beach, 858-755-2855, www.calvarylutheranchurch.org Membership: 450 Pastor: Lawrence L. Hand Age: 63 Born: Philadelphia, PA Formation: Susquehanna University, PA; Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia Years Ordained: 37 …

June 14, 2019
Two poems by San Diego Reader’s poetry editor Joseph O’Brien

To Arena That day the beach crept up on us, Its shallow sideshow of seashells, We began our sunburn early, Soaked in cold beer against curly- Cues of canvas, regatta sails Drowned in the chalky …

May 30, 2019
The Village Community Presbyterian Church motto: Following Jesus for Life

The Village Community Presbyterian Church Contact: 6225 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe 858-756-2441 www.villagechurch.org Membership: 1100 Pastor: Pastor Jack Baca Age: 62 Born: Socorro, NM Formation: University of New Mexico-Albuquerque; Princeton Theological Seminary, NJ; Fuller …

May 24, 2019
Zhu Xi: considered the second most influential Chinese thinker after Confucius

Zhu Xi [Someone] asked: “Isn’t Tai-ji the general name for a diffuse being that existed before there was a heaven and earth and that was the Li of heaven, earth, and the myriad creatures?” [Zhu …

Religious science in the name of Ernst Holmes’ philosophy

Seaside Center for Spiritual Living Contact: 1613 Lake Dr. Encinitas 760-753-5786 www.seasidecenter.org Membership: 1100 Pastor: Christian Sorensen Age: 59 Born: Hollywood Formation: California State University-North Ridge; Ernst Holmes College (Holmes Institute), Los Angeles Years Ordained: …

May 10, 2019
Billy Graham: Death, for the Christian, is overcome by the reality of hope — Heaven

Billy Graham “I don’t think I would be afraid to die if I knew what to expect after death,” said a young man with an incurable disease. Evidently, he had not heard of what God …

Windsor Hills Community Church: through our lives together

The Hill Church Contact: 7485 Orien Ave., La Mesa 619-463-1201 www.thehillsd.org Membership: 150 Pastor: Jimmy Steele Age: 35 Born: Atlanta, GA Formation: Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC Years Ordained: 1½ San Diego Reader: …

April 26, 2019
Zisi: grandson of Confucius who wrote on relativity of human knowledge of the universe

Zisi “How far-extending was the filial piety of King Wu and the duke of Zhou! Now filial piety is seen in the skillful carrying out of the wishes of our forefathers, and the skillful carrying …

Father Toufic Nasr: Lebanese churches can be home to Roman, Melkite, and Maronite Catholic community

St. Ephrem Maronite Church Contact: 750 Medford St, El Cajon 619k-337-1350 www.stephremchurch.com Membership: 310 Pastor: Father Toufic Nasr Born: Beirut, Lebanon Formation: Maronite Patriarchal Seminary, Ghazir, Lebanon; Our Lady of Lebanon Seminary, Washington, D.C.; Oblate …

April 12, 2019
Bishop William Poynter: English writer, Catholic bishop, and college professor who was once imprisoned by French revolutionaries

Bishop William Poynter Christianity is that form of Religion, which was taught and instituted by Christ. It embraces the doctrines of faith, which Christ revealed; the supernatural moral precepts, which he delivered; the sacred rites, …

Avery T. Willis’ MasterLife book changed Alan Thompson’s ministry

First Baptist Church of Clairemont Contact: 3219 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, 858-273-4642 www.fbcclairemont.org Membership: 120 Pastor: Alan Thompson Age: 67 Born: Weatherford, Texas Formation: Grand Canyon College (now University), Phoenix, AZ; Midwestern Baptist Theological …

March 29, 2019
Farmer Bottega’s Rosie Elephant inspires one’s inner Rainbow Warrior

When the Farmer’s Bottega bartender Shannon Pierce created The Rosie Elephant, she looked to local farmlands and African savannas for inspiration. “It really originated out of nowhere!” she says. “I had tasted all of the …

March 15, 2019
Bishop John Milner: one of the greatest opponents of the Cisalpine movement in English Catholicism

Bishop John Milner Admitting, however, the obligation of worshipping my Creator, these men will sometimes say: “What necessity is there of my being shut up in a particular building or of my joining with other …

Lorina Pyle finds God in guilty verdict at the Telluride courthouse

First Spiritualist Church of San Diego Contact: 3777 Forty Second St., San Diego 619-284-4646 www.1st-spiritualistchurch.org Membership: 87 Pastor: Lorina Pyle Age: 52 Born: Price, UT Formation: “After an intense search of self-healing and self-understanding…I turned …

March 8, 2019
Estimate the enemy with Sun Tzu’s The Art of War

Good Shepherd Missionary Baptist Church Contact: 390 South 39th St, San Diego 619-263-5557 www.goodshepherdmbc.com Membership: 40 Pastor: Gregory O. Morgan Age: 62 Born: Monroe, LA Formation: Faith Evangelical Seminary (Faith International University), Tacoma, WA Years …

March 1, 2019
Quentin Tarantino cocktail suite at Union Kitchen & Tap in Encinitas

Mobsters generally don’t like surprises – and yet to stay in the game they have to be full of surprises. Just ask Nice Guy Eddy, Mr. Pink, or Mr. Black in Reservoir Dogs – or …

February 22, 2019
“There’s something about the power of love” at Congregation Beth Israel

Congregation Beth Israel of San Diego Contact: 9001 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego 858-535-1111 www.cbisd.org Membership: 1200 families Rabbi: Michael Berk Age: 66 Born: San Bernardino Formation: University of California-Berkeley; Hebrew Union College, Los Angeles, …

February 15, 2019
The Dude abides with 619’s White Russian

619 Spirits North Park is the tasting room and eatery for its mothership, 619 Vodka. Both were named for San Diego’s area code, but that doesn’t mean 619’s founder and master distiller Nick Apostolopoulos is …

February 8, 2019
Sabine Baring-Gould composed lyrics to “Onward, Christian Soldiers” among other perennial Christian favorites

Sabine Baring-Gould Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus Going on before. Christ, the royal Master, Leads against the foe; Forward into battle See His banners go! Onward, Christian soldiers, …

The “transforming-the-world conversation” of Christ United Presbyterian

Christ United Presbyterian Church of San Diego Contact: 3025 Fir Street, San Diego 619-239-2346 www.christunitedsd.org Membership: 100 Pastor: Nathan Byrd Age: 54 Born: Washington, D.C. Formation: University of Delaware, Newark, DE; U.S Army; Princeton Theological …

February 1, 2019
Fruits, nuts, and flowers instead of Glocks, gin, and blunts

Pacific Beach Alehouse is brewing up more than beer on its menu these days, says Pacific Beach bartender Sierra Berryessa. The surfside suds factory still spins its palate wheel of beers and ales, Berryessa says, …

January 25, 2019
Eternal life with God

Pomerado Christian Church Contact: 12708 Stone Canyon Rd, Poway 858-487-7312 www.pomerado.com Membership: 100 (Attendance: 150) Pastor: J.P. Charfauros Age: 34 Born: Santa Clara Formation: Azusa Pacific University Years Ordained: 1 (12 years pastoral experience) San …

January 18, 2019
Neither smoke nor sweet

The Maguey Agrio served at Banker’s Hill is the Mexican answer to the whiskey sour, says its creator, Banker’s Hill bar manager Colin Berger. Referencing mescal’s plant of origin and the Spanish word for “sour,” …

January 11, 2019
The goods and evils of eternity

James Archer God and Reason In defending revelation, I wish not to deprecate human reason, much less to establish Christianity on its ruins. Reason is the most beautiful ornament of our nature, the distinguishing excellence …

Agents of hope

Membership: 550 Pastor: Ryan Rosenbaum Age: 42 Born: Fort Benning, GA Formation: University of Washington, Seattle. WA; Talbot School of Theology-Biola University, La Mirada; Hebrew University, Jerusalem Years Ordained: 18 San Diego Reader: What is …

January 4, 2019
Fruit bound for cocktail glory

Citrus myrtaflora—more commonly known in its native Italy as the chinotto—is a diminutive member of the orange family, and it has a secret. But it’s one of the worst kinds of secret—one that everyone knows …

December 28, 2018
Founder of Mohism emphasizes self-restraint, self-reflection and authenticity

Mozi How do we know Heaven loves the people? Because it teaches them all. How do we know it teaches them all? Because it claims them all. How do we know it claims them all? …

God found in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

La Mesa Church of Christ Contact: 5150 Jackson Dr., La Mesa (619) 465-5150 www.lamesachurch.com Membership: 100 Pastor: Graham Clifford Age: 43 Born: Salinas Formation: Dallas Christian College, Dallas, TX; Center for Christian Education, Irving, TX …

December 21, 2018
A spicy Old Fashioned

Consider the quotidian comforts of the common whiskey flask. The preferred vade mecum of serious sippers, this versatile vessel fits in pocket, purse, or petticoat—a genie in a bottle who, at a moment’s command, provides …

December 14, 2018
Union of the soul with God

Charles Butler Mystical theology is defined to be an union of the soul with God—so intimate, that her essence is, in a manner, transformed into the essence of God, and, in consequence of it, she …

Like getting to the center of a jelly-filled donut

Parkway Hills Church Contact: 1227 Eastlake Parkway, Chula Vista 619-656-3697 www.phnaz.com Membership: 150 Pastor: Tim Fillmore Age: 57 Born: Placerville Formation: Nazarene Bible College, Colorado Springs, CO; Point Loma Nazarene University Years Ordained: 19 San …

December 7, 2018
A Mai Tai that courts the palate with a flourish of flavors

The Monkey King (aka Sun Wukong), a Buddhist superhero of Chinese legend, carries a 17-ton staff and can travel 13,500 miles in one somersault. He can also effortlessly transform into any inanimate object or living …

November 30, 2018
Is human nature inherently good or bad?

Yang Xiong As for the sage’s governance of all under Heaven, he uses li and music as the standard. If there were no li and music, then people would be the same as beasts. If …

“Keep the party going”

First Baptist Church of Bostonia Contact: 1025 N 2nd St, El Cajon 619-444-1374 www.firstbaptistchurchofbostonia.weebly.com Membership: 150 Pastor: Van Tarpley Age: 46 Born: Baltimore, MD Formation: Johns Hopkins, Baltimore; Indiana University, Claremont school of Theology, San …

November 23, 2018
His tenderest mercies

Charles Plowden, SJ Ages succeed ages; empires subvert empires. But the empire of Jesus Christ perseveres ever one and the same, ever persecuted and ever conquering. Because all human revolutions are entirely subservient to it, …

Catholic means “universal”

Marine Corps Recruitment Depot Contact: 1600 Henderson Ave, San Diego 619-524-8720 www.mcrdsd.marines.mil Membership: “More than a thousand.” Chaplain: Father Joseph Coffey Rank: Commander Age: 58 Born: Rochester, MN (grew up in Philadelphia) Formation: La Salle …

November 9, 2018
Is man by nature good or evil?

The Book of Rites As ruling over all, under the sky, (the king) is called “The son of Heaven.” …His death is announced in the words, “The king by (the grace of) Heaven has fallen.” …

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