For those of us who grew up in Southern Baptist or other evangelical circles, “revival” is a well-known phenomenon, especially for those older than I am. Some remember “big tent revivals.” Others remember special guest weekend preachers at their churches,…
Braving the small room: Opportunity and challenge for American Baptists
A black gospel violinist. A Puerto Rican receiving a historic selection for a top board position. A fiery, 60-year-old Native American woman preacher. A Korean-born man newly appointed as the director of a doctor of ministry program. A young adult…
Seeing God (a short tale)
A devout, Christian man was told that he was going to be given an opportunity of a lifetime: he was going to get the chance to see God. He did everything he could to prepare for the occasion. He spent…
How those who claim to protect the church are actually undermining it
There’s a social dynamic that is no stranger to history and seems especially at work in our country today, but is too seldom talked about. Let’s take a look at a few institutions. First, there are public schools. The fundamental…
Looking at the cross and seeing our own violence
As a minister, I’ve noticed that even the previously dependable Easter attendance bump has become not so dependable. It seems that I used to see more in town visitors or members on the margins who only come on holidays, but…
More for machines that kill, less for people’s needs. The word for that? Sin.
During the time that Gen. Raymond Odierno was U.S. Army Chief of Staff, he testified in congressional budget hearings for three different fiscal years that the Army didn’t really need any new tanks or upgrades to existing units. He told…
The Beatitudes retold
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he started to teach them. He began: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of…
Finding balanced resolve: Our common reactions to current events and why they don’t work
Bruce D. Perry is a renowned psychiatrist who published a book in 2007 called The Boy Who Was Raised As a Dog. The book is horrifying yet fascinating. Perry relates stories of children he has worked with who suffered neglect,…
‘Do you see this woman?’ A model for Christian engagement
Luke 7 tells the story of Jesus being invited for dinner at Simon the Pharisee’s house. During the visit, we’re told that “a woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s…
Recovering the soul of the Church
Jesus and his disciples were truly the “silent majority” in ancient Roman-occupied Palestine. It was inhabited mostly by Jews who were allowed to exist but had no political power and paid taxes from which they did not benefit. They were…
Of presidents and popes: how we’re looking too high
I know a pastor who left a large, suburban church where he served for 25 years to plant a new church in one of the poorest areas of town. He joined with another non-profit and they formed a new LLC…
A confession of racism from a non-racist
I drove slowly and nervously down a narrow street on a sunny, humid morning, hoping the Google Maps lady wasn’t leading me astray. There were crumbling, dilapidated row houses as far as the eye could see. “This might be one…