David Dashifen Kees (they/them)

A panoramic photo showing a group of people both seated and standing posing for the camera at the Church Lab's 10th Anniversary celebration. Visible are both men and women, some casually dressed and others more formally, and some wear visible symbols of their religion including jewelry and hijabs. Below the panorama, it reads "Your donations support bi-weekly interfaith dialogues." Further down, an explanation of Amplify Austin Day instructs folks to donate by 6PM Central time on March 5th to help the Church Lab reach it's $5000 goal.

I've been a part of the Church Lab for over ten years, first as a dialoguer and now also as a board member. The vital work of bridge building in a world that seems far more interested in tearing them down (literally and figuratively, these days) needs your help: www.amplifyatx.org/p2p/628608/d....

“They got money for wars, but can’t feed the poor”—Tupac

Toad is buried under the covers in bed. From "Spring" In *Frog and Toad Are Friends*

Toad went back into the house. He got into bed and pulled the covers over his head again.

Frog swam back to Toad. “I am sorry, Toad,” he said. “Everyone wants to see how you will look.”

“Then I will stay right here until they go away,” said Toad.

The world could be such a nice place if we allowed it. It's all so goddamn unnecessary. There's no need for any of it. It's so beautiful here. It should be so cool to be alive

This is amazing.

www.getyourfuckingmoneyback.com

I'm planning to do a story about the Kansas SB 244 (the anti-transgender bill) for @thewildhunt.bsky.social. If you are a trans member of the Pagan community and would like to give a comment about the bill, please send me a DM and we can connect on Signal.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

So sick of being told by centrists that we have to be bigots to win over the bigots.

No, fuck that.

Wow.

Sometimes I remember Reagan removing Jimmy Carter’s solar panels and I think we’ve been enduring this shit for way too many years.

Heard during a board meeting, "Well even if we don't have funding, we can still have fun!" 💙💙💙

Controversial opinion but what if we made the world better instead of worse

Holy Powers hear my prayers and grant to us all the tools & strength we need to resist the boots of tyrants, murderers, and oppressors no matter how they cloak their actions.

2025 was a lot of things, but it's almost over. Happy New Year, everyone. May 2026 also be a lot of things, better, on the average, than not.

Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn't nirvana, soundgarden, pearl jam, or alice in chains.

I don't think most Americans have any idea how dangerous it is for a president to declare an entire ethnic group to be "garbage." This is how the worst atrocities in human history have begun.

A Light the Darkness Cannot Extinguish At the close of an awful year, a religion scholar offers reflections on resisting despair in dark times, for the religious and non-religious alike.

Our politics nationally and here in Texas is now firmly in the grip of a narrow, petty tribalism that feeds on enmity. Each day brings new horrors; scrolling through social media inevitably becomes doom-scrolling.

But they can't extinguish our light.

Merry Christmas everyone from Zooey and I :)

To the trans and queer readers, know you are all part of a community that looks out for each other and holds space when so few others do.

And I know days like today can be tough.

So please feel free to spend as much time here if you need to get away 💜

A drawing of a fluffy cat in the snow. The caption reads, "you are good enough, you always have been"

Give me Becky Chambers sci fi worlds any day, I like those way more.

📣 LOST: 51,000+ former DCist readers are out there — and we know we can find them.
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Remember: Almost all of us are the descendants of immigrants who fled persecution, or were brought to America under duress, or sought better lives for themselves and their descendants.

Politicians who stoke fear and hatred over immigration want you to forget this.

Do not.

I don't want gen AI in my browser
I don't want gen AI in my pc
I don't want gen AI in my art
I don't want gen AI in my games
I don't want gen AI in my music
I don't want gen AI in my movies
I don't want gen AI in my books
I don't want gen AI in my cart
I don't want gen AI in my life

Anyway shout out to 2025 for being the worst year of the decade so far. The competition was stiff, but by golly, you've done it.

“AI is clearly sticking around so you have to get used to it” wrong. I don’t have to get used to shit. I am a practiced hater and I can keep this going for decades if I am required to

The Church Lab

Happy to answer any questions about TCL, how I became involved (especially as a non-Christian), what we do, etc.

You can also find a lot of information at our website (thechurchlab.org) and you can donate there as well (thechurchlab.org/give).

The Church Lab

And, because we're a small, but mighty, group of people, your donation goes almost entirely toward helping us fulfill our mission: to explore innovative paths of spiritual growth for all while discovering the Church's future and the future of faith practice. (3/4)

The Church Lab

TCL is an organization dedicated to bridge building and peace making. We're a community that seeks to understand each other because we're each different and walk different paths through life, be those paths religious or otherwise. (2/4)