In her poem “The Fourth Sign of the Zodiac,” Mary Oliver observes that the fox and the snake move silently in the woods. And then she asks why we should be surprised that cancer could silently enter the forest of…
Five ideas for pandemic praying
A young professional in my church recently reached out to me with some prayer concerns. As we talked on the phone, he searched for words. It turns out he was struggling with more than his prayer life; he was struggling…
Making the gospel only about private righteousness is too easy
My spiritual birthplace was in a tiny Southern Baptist church in rural northwest Missouri. In the evangelical ethos of that time and place, spiritual maturity was defined in private terms. Confess Christ, get baptized, join a (cooperating Southern Baptist) church,…
The blight of insecure leaders in the wake of our national crises
Confronted by the plagues of coronavirus and racism, our country needs clarity and focus from its leaders, something insecure leaders are incapable of offering.
10 pandemic takeaways, personal and pastoral
I sense our country is at a rare moment, quietly listening. The gospel message is going deeper than usual. The crucified, risen Messiah is relevant.
Amid this catastrophic pandemic, beauty will save us – if we pay attention
The coronavirus pandemic unveils what is already present in our hearts, good and bad; it uncovers what is broken in our political and economic order just as surely as it shines a light on all that is beautiful about the human spirit.
The church in exile: How will we respond to the marginalization of Christianity in American society?
Assuming the posture of exile is difficult and lonely. But could it be that the church’s loss of standing in American society is an opportunity to trust in God rather than in our privileged position?
In a messy election year, let’s remember that the ‘Golden Rule’ applies to politics too
The 2020 election might be the church’s best witnessing opportunity. Or our worst.
50 years later, I still grieve my brother’s death: Looking back in order to look forward
In looking back on irretrievable loss, perhaps we can do a better job of capturing the here and now.
The gospel and the limits of consumerism
The Gospel of Luke has important words for the down-and-out; but it also has just as much to say to the up-and-out. The message is clear: God’s love liberates us from the tyranny of more.
Improving our ‘backpack’ self-awareness – for our sake and the sake of others
We all carry invisible backpacks or baggage. Just make sure the contents are appropriate and the straps are secured. And be aware of others. They’re carrying a load, too.
Love the church you have
Churches must be courageous and open to change. But sometimes, amid all the pulse-taking, evaluations, strategy planning and critiquing, we forget to love the church we have.