Have you ever seen a molten blob of super heated sand ready to be blown and shaped into glass? I have and you can too at my blog - EdTechEmergent.com. In his his chapter on how we acheive greater fairness in our nation John Freeman uses the metaphor of sand turned by great heat into glass. Listen as I reflect on how the current protests and inter–related traumas - health, economic, and white supremacy on display in the murder of George Floyd - have brought us to a moment of rupture through which the melting of structures can lead to a more just reshaping of our nation.

This Pandemic Period is showing us how the world looks with somewhat lower CO2 emissions. It is also shining a harsh light on meat packing and the risk of disease for workers in those factories. How should we think about the natural world as we eventually emerge from this crisis and seek to better care for creation? For resources supporting this episode visit www.edtechemergent.com

Its clear to see that over the past decade or so and especially since the 2016 election, there's been an erosion of what is considered "common decency" in our society. There's a shocking indecency specifically in words used to describe others and generally what is acceptable for elected leaders to say or Tweet. Listen as I reflect on how a presidential proclaimation made earlier today to 'open the churches' could be used by relgious leaders to indecently hurt The Common Good. I also share a decent way the Catholic diocese where I live is being kind in inviting people slowly and gently back to face to face worship. See my blog for more info related to this episode - www.edtechemergent.com.

I live in Ohio where our governor talks daily to the "citizens" of our state. Not far away in Wisconsin voters a few weeks ago had a stark choice - stay at home in safety or risk infection and go out to vote. Identifying as a citizen today and demanding a safe and fair vote in November is critical now. See the articles referenced in this episode at www.edtechemergent.com

The next in my series of recordings as we remotely learn. Here is a pair of significant Psalms (149 & 150). A Psalm of joy and trust (41) and a Psalm of lament and anger (17). Each Psalm is read from three translations - the Catholic NARB, the scholarly NRSV, and the modern Message Bible.

The next in my series of recordings as we remotely learn. Here is a significant Psalm (1). A Psalm of joy and trust (27) and a familiar Psalm of lament and anger (22). Each Psalm is read from three translations - the Catholic NARB, the scholarly NRSV, and the modern Message Bible.

Why do good people suffer? This is a foundational question that humans have asked throughout the ages. It is being asked more and more urgently during this time of pandemic. About 2600 years ago, the Israelite author of the Old Testament Book of Job asked this same question in one of the most famous narratives in history. How does Job react when all is taken from him? How does God respond to Job? How does this story answer the perpetual question about the innocent one who suffers? The translation read here is The Message Bible by Eugene Peterson. This recording covers Chapters 1-3; 22-27; 38-42.

In this episode I read from The Book of Proverbs using the NRSV translation. I read 1:7-33. 7:1-27. 11:1-31. 23:19-35. 24:2-22

This is a brief reading of the NRSV translation of The Song of Solomon. Includes 1.2-8. 1:8-17. 4:1-16. 5:2-16. 7.1-9. 7:10-13.

I read parts of the Old Testament Book of The Wisdom of Solomon using the NRSV translation. I read 1:1-11. 3:1-10. 6:12-25. 7:21-30. 8:2-10. 11:1-26.