Significance of Numbers
A census is not a spiritual matter, but numbers play an important role in church life. Numbers are a bit like a temperature. It is a first line of judgment but not the only one.
Rethinking White Privilege & How We are Really Blessed
Southern Baptist pastor Alan Cross reflects on controversial comments on slavery by Louie Giglio and says that perhaps it’s time for white American evangelicals to rethink what privilege and blessing mean to us.
The Plague Within Us
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to infect millions around the world and kill hundreds of thousands, we shouldn’t make the mistake of only considering the dangers of the microbiological world. This time is also revealing the plague within us with which we’ve infected others.
Finding Wow Factors
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the wow factor. It’s those moments or things in your life that make you instantly pause and have a profound moment of appreciation. If you’re lucky, it sometimes even takes your breath away.
Four Ways to Tell a Prophet From a Political Puppet
In the streets of Washington, D.C., we have seen religion used as a political prop and we have seen it exercise its prophetic voice.
Please and Thank You
Please and thank you are phrases that we all are used to saying. We say them so much that they may seem like formalities. Even if they are formalities, they are important to say and hear. In a way, Psalm 116 emphasizes the importance of
Prayer Is Essential. Protest Is Required. Policy Is Necessary
In my lifetime, I have never seen more white people involved in the deep and growing movement to address systemic racism, structural injustice on many fronts, and, specifically, the violent policing and killing of black people. Never. What does that mean? What will it change
Why Cops Attack Racial Justice Protesters
I took part in a racial justice protest in New York City. It was lively and joyous and passionate — until police ran up from behind, cornered a group of us and detained us, assaulting people in the process.
Pandemic Lessons…If We’re Paying Attention
COVID-19 has created an avalanche of death, disease, suffering, and uncertainty. One helpful coping device is to find the positives in the midst of all the tragedy. I sat down recently and listed some takeaways. See if you can relate.
Taking the Lord’s Name in Vain (Amid Tear Gas)
It played out like a scene straight out of Isaiah 6. Apocalyptic, vision-like stuff. But then the script changed.