-
The “Second Coming” and what we may not want
I am reading NT Wright’s biography on the Apostle Paul currently and once again in awe of Wright’s grasp of 1st Century Judaism. He talks about the conversion of Saul and walks the reader through what “preaching” really was in that day (which is far different from what we have in our minds today), along with expectation and LACK of…
-
Reflecting on 2021 Reading
I was curious about the books I read over this year, so I checked my list to reflect on what I read (or listened to). Some folks don’t count “listening” as “reading.” I disagree. I wouldn’t have any fiction in my life without being able to listen.
-
Rise and Fall of Mars Hill
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.
-
Deceived 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)
-
Second 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…
-
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.
-
Being 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.)
-
Deep 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.
-
Advent 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…
-
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…
