I recently finished the podcast series “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill.” The last two episodes clock in at well about 2.5 hours EACH… so, brace yourselves.
Read moreDeceived by darkness
34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. 35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. (Luke 11:34-35, NIV)
Read moreSecond Sunday of Advent
For Christians, Advent is not a time of opening up little windows with chocolates as we await the really big booty of presents under the tree on Christmas morning. That is not what we are waiting for. We are waiting for light, for God to renew and heal the world, a promise that we understand to have been mysteriously embodied in a baby born in a manger.
Advent recognizes a profound spiritual truth — that we need not fear the dark. Instead, wait there. Under that blue cope of heaven, alert for the signs of dawn. Watch. For you cannot rush the night. But you can light candles. Sing some songs. Recite poetry. Say prayers. (Diana Butler Bass)
Why do we need to embarrass people of color?
White supremacy thrives in the darkness. It thrives in a sealed chamber where only those who think they can get away with something act in a way that is below human.
Until a video gets leaked.
Read moreBeing anti-abortion is not the same as being pro-life
Some thoughts from a researcher over on Twitter. (I truly wish the guy had a blog so I didn’t have to read Twitter threads.)
Read moreDeep reading
I am handicapped in my reading. Over the years I have allowed the short attention span of media and the internet and social media drain my ability to read deeply. It is hard work and I’ve too often allowed myself the bad habit of skimming and skipping.
Read moreAdvent and the power of prayer
Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1, CEB)
George MacDonald wrote this about prayer:
And why should the good of anyone depend on the prayer of another? I can only answer with the return question, “Why should my prayers be powerless to help another?”
The Lord taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done.”
Lord, bring me into living, loving prayer.
Loving others in their context needs to happen FIRST
When I was in graduate school, I took a very formative course on black church history with an African American pastor. I vividly recall him saying in class, when discussing racism in the church, “Don’t tell me what you believe about Jesus. Tell me how you feel about black people, and that will tell me everything I need to know about what you believe about Jesus.”
More HERE.
If I cannot love someone in their particular context, it doesn’t matter what I spout as a general principle. This is the missing piece of a truly congruent faith.
The Great Hope of Advent
We have entered into Advent. It is a time of longing. This season brings a renewed sense of longing for the second coming of our Lord. Each year brings a new perspective to me. Sometimes it is remembering his first coming and the longing of Israel. This time it is a longing to see the Lord truly come in justice.
Read moreKeeping perspective
It is good to camp in Isaiah 40 from time to time. In an age where it is easy to be upset because of whatever economic or political situation is going, we need the long view. We are not satisfied with the long view any longer, which is why I need Isaiah 40.
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Apprentice 2 Jesus 