-
My confession — times I just don’t pray well
In the past week we learned that a missions organization our church supports in a major way suffered a great tragedy. The organization is led “on the ground” in that nation by nationals. No Americans are in the country currently that are part of that mission. There is a reason. The country is completely falling apart and it’s down to…
-
Lone gunman? Hardly
Another mass shooting we “can’t do anything about.” Another racist motivation. But… another “lone gunman”? When are we going to wake up? A mass shooting in Jacksonville, FL over the weekend was again motivated by racial hatred. How do we know? The shooter left his manifestos before shooting up a Dollar General, killing three, and then turning the gun on…
-
The widow’s offering
In Luke 21:1-4 there is the story of the poor widow who gave out of her poverty. This is a passage that came out when it was time to raise money for missions or a church project. The sermon would be about sacrificial giving.
-
Understanding Justice
I am working my way again through Fleming Rutledge’s marvelous work, The Crucifixion. The understand the depths of the meaning of the cross and its importance, we have to understand what is meant by injustice. Therein lies the rub.
-
Brokenhearted
“Being brokenhearted leads to clarity about our unwillingness to abide racist behavior. It is very disheartening to hear white people who are not trying to move beyond being allies try to explain acts of racist terror and other daily denigrations of people of color with oversimplifications instead of properly naming them. The energy generated from a broken heart will not…
-
Moving from an ally to something deeper
“Ponder this: If you were dying, who would you prefer to be accompanying you on the journey — an ally or a fellow pilgrim?” — Catherine Meeks
-
Why I keep talking and trying
Most of the time, I would imagine, I can come across to others (not here) as someone who can talk about sports and some news events in the world. A typical white guy. Get me talking about baseball or Kansas Jayhawks or the Chiefs… just look out. And that’s true. And there is a reason for it. It’s as far…
-
Yes, I see color
“…I have concluded that for the most part such comments (“I don’t see color”) are an attempt to communicate a willingness to see beyond color. That’s admirable, but proclaiming not to see color does not get that point across very well. White people who are determined to confront racism in the outer world and in their inner world need to…
-
Fear, rage, and continuing injustice
THIS ONE HAS OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE.
-
A prayer for justice
Almighty God, you created us in your own image: Grant us grace to contend fearlessly against evil and to make NO PEACE with oppression; and help us to use our freedom rightly in the establishment of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns…