Tag: Justice

  • Confronting the powers

    One of the conclusions from Jesus and the Powers is that followers of Jesus will have to confront spiritual and worldly powers in this life. Conflict will happen. When authority goes wrong, it must be held accountable.

  • Jesus and the Powers, Part 8

    The final chapters in the book, Jesus and the Powers, are a struggle for me. Chapter 7 is the struggle. Chapter 8 is the summary. The fact of the matter, for Wright and Bird, is that government of some form is necessary. I can’t disagree. For all the shouting people do about corrupt government (on the “right” or the “left”),…

  • Jesus and the Powers, Part 6

    It’s been a week without writing mainly because I’ve been absorbing the political shooting from last week and then seeing how it might play out in the Republican National Convention. Along with that was preparation for this coming week’s book study group on Jesus and the Powers. It’s been a week of absorbing and reflecting.

  • Jesus and the Power, Part 5

    What will you do with your life? The world needs kingdom-minded Christians now more than ever. This is from p. 89 of Jesus and the Powers, and it is a great question I have carried with me for over 30 years. Where does the Spirit want to have me active in the work of the Kingdom in this world? What…

  • Jesus and the Powers, Part 4

    In leading a discussion on this book, the first week gave me this observation for our group: they wanted detailed definitions and detailed actions. Here is the “problem” with the book (and, also, with how Jesus leads): no finite details are given. Beautifully, when it comes to “actions,” they readily admit this:

  • Remembering the murder of Philando Castile

    Yesterday was the 8th anniversary of the murder of Philando Castile. EIGHT YEARS.

  • Creating what is good

    David Brooks draws from Howard Thurman’s book Jesus and the Disinherited to discuss how to create deep change in our communities. (HERE) Basically, it is hard work. It is worthy work.

  • The command to love is our call

    Our gospel reading for Sunday is John 15:9-17. NT Wright contrasts the texts of laying down one’s life for another and the abuse of that verse in the context of a nation sending soldiers to war.

  • King: A Life

    King: A Life by Jonathan Eig is new work on Martin Luther King, Jr. There is certainly so much that is familiar, but thousands of pages of recently released documents plus interviews with neighborhood friends, church goers in King’s day, and more added new depth to King’s life.

  • A prayer for the peace of the world

    I am long over my pre-tribulation rapture days and looking at “signs” in the Middle East and making wild predictions of the end of the world. Where I find myself these past many years is longing for peace. A longing to “study war no more.” There is a longing when I pray, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on…