Religion

I thought my intro column here would be different, lighter. I thought I’d tell you about my 15 years as a religion reporter and why I chose this peculiar and remarkable path. And I will, eventually.

Transgenderism is neither normative, nor acceptable. To insist otherwise is dangerous and lacks true compassion for those struggling with gender identity.

A Eucharistic Family Rosary will be held at Avista Stadium Sunday at 7:00 p.m.

Dear Katie, Claire and Andy, At the beginning of his 1966 novel, “The Gates of the Forest,” Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Weisel tells a simple, ancient Jewish parable. At its conclusion, Weisel gently declares “God created man because he loves stories.” I believe that too, kids. Our family has wonderful stories.

Basic to human nature is our tendency to compare ourselves with others. We know better intellectually. But, in practice, many of us get caught in the comparison trap and can’t seem to find our way out.

I felt and heard the CRACK! of my back as the chiropractor found the right spot on my vertebrae to bring my back into re-alignment. I don’t have this procedure done often, but occasionally one leg seems longer than the other. Others I know have more serious alignment issues. I recently read a stimulating book about alignment – but not spinal alignment as you might suppose. Not literally anyway, but the metaphor of “alignment” drew me into the fuller story. The Rev. Colby Martin spoke of his being out of alignment with his church, and the Bible. I was intrigued!

Billions of dollars are spent to celebrate Easter. Nearly 90 percent of Americans will buy Easter candy this year. More than 60 percent will buy Easter gifts. Almost 40 percent will buy Easter flowers, according to the National Retail Association. Considering those and other categories, Americans will spend $18.4 billion this year to celebrate Easter, the organization learned in a survey.

The days between Palm Sunday and next Sunday’s Easter are cues from our very calendars to slow down and marvel at God’s great love for people like us.

The Mormon church plans to build five more temples across the globe.