Alabama – Apprentice 2 Jesus

How systems are set up to oppress

This is an eye-opening piece on the oppressive tax and legal system in the state where I now live. Much of it I have seen and there are things in the piece that confirm my suspicions. Some examples: While almost every state in the country, both red and blue, levies fines and fees that fallContinue reading “How systems are set up to oppress”

Racism isn’t “behind us”

We just celebrated MLK Day and I am reminded once again, here is “Sweet Home Alabama” that when people down here wish people would “get over” things, like the notion of “racism”… that’s not easily done by those very same folks.

The work we still have to do

Governor Kay Ivey tweeted out that the state is BANNING the teaching of Critical Race Theory. They are sticking with teaching reading and writing.

Policing and Racism

I sat on a call with two local pastors and a retired police lieutenant to discuss policing in our area and then approaches to policing in general. You can catch the podcast HERE. Also, find me on Apple Podcasts. You can catch it on YouTube HERE.

Sabbath for nature in the time of coronavirus

We were able to visit the beach in Alabama last night. The governor relaxed orders on the beach, asking everyone to still be responsible in social distancing. Our family walked the shore of the Gulf at sunset. The birds were feeding like crazy. We saw a lot of dolphins, baby sharks (just so THAT songContinue reading “Sabbath for nature in the time of coronavirus”

The complacency of the white church

The week leading up to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday is becoming increasingly important to me. (NOTE: Moving to Alabama has it’s jarring effects on just how deep the issue of racism still runs in our nation. Monday will be “Robert E. Lee Day” in Alabama and Mississippi.)

True justice is not into shaming “the other side”

Today’s cultural environment has a call for “justice.” The danger is that in some segments, that call is also coupled with a “calling out” meant to shame a particular person and drive them from our visual existence. David Brooks has an excellent column HERE to dive into that segment. Justice has to move past vengeanceContinue reading “True justice is not into shaming “the other side””

Day One

When we began this journey away from Heights Church and ministry in the Twin Cities, I thought about Paul’s journey to Troas in Acts 16. Initially, I thought the journey to Troas would include the move to Alabama. A few weeks ago the Lord let me know the journey to Troas was the four monthsContinue reading “Day One”