We all saw it: President-Elect Donald Trump raised his right hand to take the oath of office for the second time, while Melania Trump slowly approached him, holding two Bibles. Yet, as Trump recited the Oath of Office, he never…
The testing of our faith
With Monday’s inauguration, we have entered a new phase of the testing of our faith. I’m supposed to be a regular BNG columnist, but I’ve only written one piece since the election — one about our need to resist what…
A god of their own making
During his inaugural address Jan. 20, Donald Trump sought to assuage a long-held fear among religious conservatives. “My recent election,” he said, “is a mandate to completely and totally reverse … all of these many betrayals that have taken place…
A prayer for President-elect Donald John Trump
Gracious God and Father of Jesus Christ our Lord: Today — Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 — the inauguration of our president-elect will take place. We pause to give thanks for the freedoms bestowed upon us in this nation called the…
Jesus is still woke
Despite the stampede of corporations running away from any identification with diversity, equity and inclusion work, the gospel has not changed. Jesus is still woke. In the Second Coming of Donald Trump, we’re seeing a flood of headlines declaring the…
Silence is a dangerous thing
The year was 1967. The United States was in the middle of the Vietnam War. Many citizens wondered why troops were sent there and exactly why they were fighting. In this year, many Black and brown individuals raised their voices,…
Jill Biden’s renewed faith could light the way
A few years ago, I had the privilege of interviewing First Lady Jill Biden’s prayer partner, Robin Jackson. You can read about that here. From the moment Jackson said hello, I knew we would be lifelong friends. In fact, I…
‘He’s gone, but he ain’t gone far’
President Jimmy Carter died Dec. 29, 2024, at the age of 100. For the American nation, his death could not have come at a more teachable moment given that the proceedings of his state funeral occurred barely two weeks before…
Memory is the power to gather roses in winter
Editor’s note: Although written about a wildfire that ravaged Malibu, Calif., in 1993 — a fire not nearly as devastating as the Los Angeles-area fires of 2025 — this piece offers important reflections on what it means to be both…