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Things worth the effort
We close 2023 on a Sunday. A day to reflect. I find myself left a bit spiritually breathless at the end of this year and realize so much of it stems currently from the conflict in Gaza. The sheer magnitude of loss has overwhelmed me at times. The grief over Israel’s leadership and their determination to wipe out an entire…
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Lead with love not fear
The currency of our culture today is fear. It generates political activity and holds people in power. To the “right” or to the “left,” the currency of our political religions is fear. It raises money fast. It gets people to vote. And all of that is going to lead to power and control. This is not the way of Christ.…
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Book Review: The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory by Tim Alberta
I found myself earlier this year in the midst of a study involving Bonhoeffer’s Discipleship, the Book of Revelation, and White Christian Nationalism. It’s a weird intersection, but I was deep into some notes and rewriting those notes when this book came along. I would like to say I’m off the hook with my project. I fear I am not…
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Remembering the children slaughtered
Today is the Feast of Innocents. It is to remember the children slaughtered in the time of Christ as Herod tried to kill the young boy Jesus. We are in another time of slaughter. It is senseless the number of children lost in Gaza.
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It is Christmastide, so don’t quit celebrating!
You can find daily readings for this season HERE.
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We are shoved around by fear
Fear raises money. Fear drives hasty decisions. Fear brings deep divide. Fear is the currency of American politics. And American politics is our new national religion.
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Study war no more
The Old Testament reading for Christmas Day is from Isaiah 9:1-7. These verses are familiar to us, especially if you remember Handel’s “Messiah”:
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Jesus among the rubble
A nativity scene in Bethlehem this year placed the baby Jesus among a pile of rubble. Bethlehem is silent this year. The Church of the Nativity is nearly empty. And in our darkness, he still comes. In the brokenness of our world, he comes. In the destruction we choose, he still comes to bring hope. When we are bent on…
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The hope I have for the white conservative American church
From Tim Alberta’s book, The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory:
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Lament and mourning in the time of darkness
Two stories this morning cause my heart to grieve.
