As I sit with the reality that white supremacists broke into the Capitol building in Washington yesterday, meeting what can only be accurately described as a friendly police opposition, I’m struck by how uniquely American the whole scene is. We have nearly 500 years now to witness to the fact that the existing power structures…
“Are there no prisons?” asked Scrouge. “Plenty of prisons,” said the gentlemen… “Oh! I was afraid from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them from their useful course,” said Scrouge. “I’m very glad to hear it.” –A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens, 1843 For the last century and a half Charles…
I’m sure I won’t change your mind on this point, or any other, but that’s not my goal in writing. My goal in writing is to bear witness to what I see and believe. As an additional disclaimer here, if you’re looking for a theological or exegetical defense of all things LGBTQ+ this is not…
The first job I ever had out on my own was in the front of the house in a restaurant. Back then I was a fairly clean-cut seminarian who didn’t drink or swear. It’s fair to say that those days have shaped me. What I will never forget from those early days especially, was watching…
Am I my brother’s keeper? Nothing surpasses the joy and wonder of a child. The possibilities, the potentialities, the first steps, the crazed screams of jubilation arising over the sighting of a dog call each mother and father, each aunt and uncle and plenty of unsuspecting strangers to attention. This is inherent in what it…
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The story of humanity from the beginning has been a long witness to the creations’ struggle to listen to the voice of the Creator. At first, the instructions were simple. “Breathe.” And it was so. “Be fruitful and multiply.” And it was good. But then then…
We are right smack in the middle of week 3 of Advent 2011. From last Sunday to this coming Saturday, we focus on the joy that the coming of Jesus has given us. There are two words on the subject of joy (this week’s Advent theme) so far that I want to pass along. Joy…
Come, Thou long expected Jesus; Born to set Thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in Thee. Early on in the professional wanderings of Jesus, the misfit band of God-in-flesh and his fishermen entourage came across an infirmary. This particular group of handicapped folks hung out in…
One little phrase from David sums up this strange relationship we have with the love of God. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him. Love is only for the frightened. Camaraderie is reserved for those who are willing to be weak. Jesus can only be our homeboy if we are scared…
The prophet Amos had a rough life. He was born and raised to be a shepherd when, all of a sudden, one night in the fields, the word of the Lord came to him. That was it. His life was never the same. Instead of speaking softly to sheep, fending off wolves, Amos found himself…
