For the people of the United States of America, we are in the middle of a presidential election. In fact, many have already voted. But there might be people who still have not made up their minds, or who are considering changing their mind. So, in this blog post, I am providing a way to help people decide or to be a little more sure of their decision. I admit this method is a little brainy but this is a very important decision and using our brain in addition to our emotions is not a bad idea. You may use... Continue reading

Who are the "we" in "We the People?" Many of my friends were upset by the first so-called Presidential Debate. My response is: Don't let your upset-ness stop you from staying engaged. Instead, channel that energy toward discernment. If you are an U.S. citizen, you have the power to choice with your vote. The question is: how do you decide? Begin with the first line of the Constitution. Appreciate how radical that is to begin such a nation-forming document with "We the People" and not "I the dictator" or "We the bullies." Even though the "We" had evolved and changed... Continue reading

In this uncertain no-touch time, I pray that this song will help people experience the up-close and personal Joe Biden - his kindness, gentle voice, caring touch. The verses are inspired by the stories of Brayden Harrington (the young man who stuttered and Jacquelyn Brittany (the elevator security guard). If you appreciate this song, please share with others and make a contribution to Joe's campaign at: https://joebiden.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jun9PO3oLCk Ode to Joe (Biden) by Eric H. F. Law You put your hand on my shoulder and you whisper in my ear, "Hey friend, you got nothing to fear. If you tell... Continue reading

"It began with the simple hope that love can help in community. That hope led to a social enterprise called Thistle Farms and that led to learning that we reap a hundredfold the seeds that are sown in a loving community. I became a student of herbs, teas, and trees because of my work with women. I am a farmer, not because I grow plants well, but because I love all of creation and tend to the parts of it in my own vineyard. Healing on this path is the central sacrament." Becca Stevens, Letters from the Farm. Join us... Continue reading

"So no mater how singularly focused we may be on our worthy goals of peace justice, and equality, they actually can't happen without an undergirding sense that we belong to each other. Seek first the kinship of God, then watch what happens." Fr. Greg Boyle wrote in his book, Barking to the Choir. Join us on August 6 at the Kaleidoscope Summer Online Institute and learn from Fr. Greg Boyle, the founder of Homeboy Industries. We will have amazing and insightful conversation about the Power of Radical Kinship. Of course, we will also learn how the kinship-based social businesses sustain... Continue reading

"... seeing diversity as proof of new life can become a powerful tool for our emotional journey. [This] change in perspective can be so powerful that it could bring as much comfort as suddenly recognizing a street when we're lost in an unknown place." Doug Avilesbernal wrote this in his book: Welcoming Community. He is the current Executive Minister of Evergreen Association of American Baptist Churches, which is an faith organization that began with making the vision of diversity as proof of new life a reality. "Everyone was invited to build the table, set the table, decide the menu, and... Continue reading

Braver Angels is a citizens’ organization uniting red and blue Americans in a working alliance to depolarize America. According to their website: We try to understand the other side’s point of view, even if we don’t agree with it. We engage those we disagree with, looking for common ground and ways to work together. We support principles that bring us together rather than divide us. When I read Braver Angels' mission statement, I immediately realized that Braver Angels and the Kaleidoscope Institute share a common vision for creating brave and gracious space for dialogue. At our Summer Institute, we will... Continue reading

I am so excited about the conversations I will have, during our Summer Institute, with amazing people like Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Fr. Greg Boyle, Rev. Becca Stevens, Dr. Alexia Salvatierra, Dean Kelly Brown Douglas, Rev. Rudy Rasmus and many more. Take a sabbath and join me, Aug 3-13. You can register for one day or for the whole event or anything in between. Learn about creating social business/ministries from the founder of Homeboy Industries and Thistle Farm. Learn how to create a truly multicultural community from Evergreen. Learn about faith-rooted community organization from Alexia Salvatierra. If you are a... Continue reading

“In faithfulness to our Savior who lived a life of non-violence and sacrificial love, we align ourselves with those seeking justice for the death of George Floyd and countless others through the sacred act of peaceful protest.” This the end of one of the first statements that Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Diocese of Washington made in response to President Trump’s deployment of the millitary in riot gear using tear gas and force to clear the Lafayette Square so he could walk over and stand in front of an Episcopal church holding up the Bible. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry... Continue reading

I am grateful for Pastor Adam Ericksen of Clackamas United Church for sponsoring the 3-part book discussion on my new book: Fear Not: Living Grace and Truth in a Frightened World In this conversation, we explore how we can discern which are the real fears that we need to take action and which are the fake fears that seek to manipulate us to give up of our right, money and power. Why is wearing a mask become a political issue? What fears are being triggered that caused us to act on this "issue?" Who stands to gain from making this... Continue reading

Are you a fear-conqueror, fear-bearer or a fear-miner? In this pandemic time, how we deal with our fear is essential to our spiritual and social wellness. In this part 2 of the Fear Not: Living Grace and Truth in a Frightened World book discussion, we continue to explore how we can face our fear and mine from it the gems of ministry and deeper relationship with God. If you can see this video here, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-3Fc86QFDM This discussion series is sponsored by Clackamas United Church of Christ, Oregon. See part one from the previous blog post. I hope to... Continue reading

This is part one of a 3-part book discussion on my book Fear Not: Living Grace and Truth in a Frightened World. I had a great time connecting the first couple of chapters of the book to constructive ways of dealing with our fears during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The series is sponsored by Clackamas United Church of Christ in Oregon. The moderator is Pastor Adam Ericksen. If you can't see the video here, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkPti3Q_cm8 Continue reading

I dedicate this new song, Better Angels, to the creative and courageous frontline heroes during this uncertain and troubled time; this song is inspired by them and Abraham Lincoln's amazing words. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8diH3vci5t4 Better Angels by Eric H. F. Law Lately I’ve seen many better angels Touching hearts without touching hands Playing unplanned concerts without a band Off’ring care and courage without demand Better angels come Hovering over this troubled land Lately I’ve seen many better angels Building up what’s been broken down Searching for the lost who’s yet to be found Spreading wings of kindness soothing the ground Better angels... Continue reading

A friend sent me the words of Julian of Norwich - All shall be well, all manner of things shall be well - after I was diagnosed as having cancer. These comforting words stayed with me while I was recovering from surgery and at the same time, the stay-at-home requirement was enforced because of the pandemic. These words become the chorus of the new song I wrote: Don't Be Afraid. You can find me singing this song with my guitar here at the end of this post and on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q58PyEkrzT4 Don’t be Afraid by Eric H. F. Law Hug,... Continue reading

Last Friday, I offered a webinar called GracEconomic Stewardship in Time of Crisis, part III of our “Gracious Community in a No-Touch World” webinar series. You can't view it here in this post, or you can go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W91UL0U77Zc&feature=youtu.be The goal of this webinar was to - Explore creative ways to share resources to meet each other’s physical and economic needs achieving community resilience. - Learn how to be good stewards of our currencies of relationship, truth, and gracious leadership in time of crisis to foster wellness within our church and in the neighborhood community. Here are some of the... Continue reading

Many of you attended Part II of our “Gracious Community in a No-Touch World” webinar series on Relational Online Worship last Friday. The recording is available at the homepage of our KI website: www.kscopeinstitute.org It is also here: If you find this webinar helpful, please consider making a GracEconomic donation between $10 and $100 on the same website. We are offering a third webinar this Friday (April 3, 2020): GracEconomic Stewardship in Time of Crisis. See invitation below. The Zoom meeting number is the same as last Friday’s. Churches and communities are struggling since the flow of financial resources have... Continue reading

Over 60 people attended last Friday's webinar (March 20) where we: Learn how to deal with our fear constructively Find ways to form small-group communities via zoom and other media to foster spiritual and social wellness. Explore creative ways to share resources to meet each other’s physical and economic needs achieving resiliency. Discuss how to create liturgies in this no-touch world. You can review the recording of the webinar at the homepage of www.kscopeinstitute.org. The video is also here; If you find this webinar helpful, please consider making a GracEconomic donation between $10 and $150 on the same KI website.... Continue reading

The Kaleidoscope Institute invites you to join us in a live webinar On Friday, March 20 at 1PM Pacific Time/4PM Eastern Time to explore ways to form Gracious Community in a No-Touch World with the Rev. Dr. Eric H. F. Law At the webinar, we will: - Learn how to deal with our fear constructively - Find ways to form small-group communities via zoom and other media to foster spiritual and social wellness. - Explore creative ways to share resources to meet each other’s physical and economic needs achieving resiliency. - Discuss how to create liturgies in this no-touch world.... Continue reading

(Brad Lyons, the president and publisher of the Christian Board of Publication, Chalice Press, wrote this article about my book: Fear Not. You can also find this and other articles at the website of Chalice Press: https://chalicepress.com/blogs/news/why-we-re-publishing-fear-not.) Why We’re Publishing “Fear Not” Here’s a little experiment for you. Sometime in the next month, sit down and watch one hour of broadcast unbiased news coverage, including the advertising. Filter what you see and hear with attention to fear, intimidation, truth, and gaslighting. Then watch a good movie, a well-written one with an engaging storyline and conflict. Watch how the characters will... Continue reading

My new music album Up-Side-Down Town has just be released and is available through Amazon, iTunes, CDBaby, Apple Music, KKBox, and Spotify. You can hear samples of the songs at: https://erichflaw.hearnow.com/ The album has its beginning the night of the 2016 election. In my struggle that night, I began writing songs, the first of which is called Weeping May Spend the Night inspired by Ps. 30. (In the album, the final version of the song is simply titled: Weeping.) Four days later, I posted the first version of the song on Facebook, and the video got over 4000 views that... Continue reading

A Q&A with Author Eric Law from Chalice Press's blog: https://chalicepress.com/blogs/news/conquering-fear-a-q-a-with-author-eric-law With the political season ramping up and our collective fears being stoked with every news feed, we invited Eric Law, author of the new book, Fear Not: Living Grace and Truth in a Frightened World, to share more about why it's so important to closely examine what's going on with our current culture of fear. What's at the heart of your new book Fear Not? I want to expose how fear is used to control, divide, and incite violence and for my readers to learn how to recognize the... Continue reading

While the impeachment process continues with all its divisiveness and negativity, where do we, as a nation, find the spiritual support in this horrific time? Here is the sermon I preached right before Thanksgiving to address this. Eric Law Continue reading

Pledge Card for Currency of Place We have been exploring the currency of place, both internal and external, in the last few weeks. These activities were like making an inventory of the assets that you have, not just the physical properties, but also the blessings and wellness that these places provide. This week, you are invited to explore how you can further offer these places for ministries which will continue the flow of blessings in specific ways and then commit to making it happen by making a pledge. Answer the following questions and then fill out the pledge card. Name... Continue reading

Learning the Truth about Un-Wellness in the Neighborhood Following up on the tour of your neighborhood two weeks ago, I invite you to describe at least 3 places that you noticed that are showing signs of un-wellness in your neighborhood. Select one of these places and do some research this week to discover the truth of why this place and people are not doing well. You can begin with looking through social media. Demographic data and statistics are useful, but don’t be afraid to go out to listen to the powerless in your neighborhood who know the truth from their... Continue reading

Finding Partners for Wellness Last week we asked you to take a group of people to tour your neighborhood in order to discover the places of wellness and un-wellness. This week, we will build on that the learning beginning with wellness. Select 3 places in your neighborhood community that show signs of wellness. Name the wellness (social, physical, economic, spiritual and/or ecological) that this place provides. Do some research on who is involved in fostering this wellness? How do they do it? You can do this research by searching the internet. Don’t stop there; go and visit the place. Listen... Continue reading