A Prayer for Sandy Hook

December 18, 2012 by Miguel De La Torre

Oh Lord, my God, how majestic is your name throughout the earth. Your love and mercy abound and endure forever. A young innocent sparrow does not fall without your knowledge. And yet, I again find myself asking where you were while the innocent were being…

Equal Time with Al Mohler

November 19, 2012 by Miguel De La Torre

Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., was quoted widely concerning the re-election of President Barack Obama. If afforded equal time, here’s how I would respond to comments attributed to him Nov. 8 on NPR, the New York Timeson Nov. 9 and…

Will You Eat Less to Reduce Global Hunger?

August 28, 2012 by Miguel De La Torre

Then, they will reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and fed you?” (Matthew 25:37) Seldom did I see an overweight person while living in Indonesia. In fact, at the food market I noticed a jamu (indigenous medicine) whose properties were supposed to help…

Could Those Who Make Your Shoes Afford Them?

July 9, 2012 by Miguel De La Torre

They sell the just for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals. – Amos 2:6 Recently, I went cycling through Javanese villages not far from my home in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. I visited rural communities and spent the day at small cottage industries. During my…

Ignoring Ethical Questions About Military Drones

June 18, 2012 by Miguel De La Torre

There are times when our technology advances faster than our ability to contemplate the ethical use or misuse of the latest gadget. When we fail to seriously consider the ethical ramifications of employing new hardware, especially when it is military hardware, we run the risk…

The Parable of the Vineyard from the Margins

June 7, 2012 by Miguel De La Torre

One early morning, a certain vineyard owner sets out to hire laborers. He goes to the local bodega where laborers usually wait to be hired, negotiates a fair day’s wage and sends them to his fields. Several hours later, mid-morning, he comes across some individuals by the…

The Sin of Heterosexism

May 16, 2012 by Miguel De La Torre

I met Tommy (not his real name) back in the 1980s at our local church where I served as deacon and Sunday school teacher. We became close friends and talked about many things. Both of us being young and single, not surprisingly one day our…