Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of a beloved community is under threat. It is a dream of a community grounded in peace, justice and a fair sharing of resources and wealth. It is a dream rooted in the biblical vision of a covenant community, dear to the hearts of Hebrew prophets such as Amos and Micah, who were dear to the heart of King.

With trust in police and police training declining each year, according to polls, local sheriff’s chaplains act as ambassadors of hope and reconciliation between communities and their police departments — especially in light of Tyre Nichols’ fatal beating at the hands of five police officers in Memphis, Tennessee.

A few months ago, I saw a post on Instagram that read: God provides when He guides. I was really drawn to that post and wrote it down on my list of Truths to Remember that I have on my bedroom wall. It’s a message that I’ve been reflecting on since the day I found it.

The Sikh Coalition, a civil rights organization, has teamed up with researchers and academics to launch a nationwide online survey that asks Sikh American students about bullying, diversity and inclusivity and how much support they receive from teachers and other school staff when remarks are made about their race, ethnicity and religion.

My church, like most, closed its doors in 2020 asking people to stay home and stay healthy. Without my weekly worship service, I worried that I might find myself drifting from the anchor that those special meetings give me. The opposite happened. My teenage son and I held our own Sunday service, complete with hymns, the sacrament and uplifting messages. It was a time never to be forgotten. We were more personally engaged in our worship. It was closer to our hearts and minds, and we felt the Lord was watching over us.

The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee has invited controversial U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) to be the keynote speaker at its annual Lincoln Day Dinner on Saturday (Feb. 11), the group’s largest fundraiser of the year.