Leadership transitions are critical occasions that call for insight, humility and wisdom. The choice to relinquish power and hand it to a successor has a big impact on continuity and legacy, whether it’s in politics, ministry or any other institution….
A week at Chautauqua has me pondering the future of the Protestant Mainline
I was fussing over a jigsaw puzzle when somebody turned on the Biden-Trump debate. As the combatants droned on in the background, my attention remained firmly fixed on the task before me. It was all birds and foliage. A thousand…
Church/state mandates then and now: A tenuous freedom
Church/state mandates began early in the American colonies. On July 19, 1651, three Baptists — John Clarke, Obadiah Holmes and John Crandall — traveled from Newport, R.I., to Lynn, Mass., and the home of William Witter, who requested their visit…
Vital life lessons learned on the Camino de Santiago
“Buen Camino.” This is the phrase every pilgrim uses on the Camino de Santiago — a 500-mile spiritual pilgrimage in Spain — when walking past another pilgrim. Considering my walking pace was slower than everyone else’s, I often heard, “Buen…
Christian Zionism: the blind spot in faith-based activism against Christian nationalism
Christian nationalism in the United States seems more alive than ever. Project 2025 threatens to erode the separation of church and state, Donald Trump is hailed as a messiah following his assassination attempt, and at the state level, Ten Commandments…
At Wild Goose Festival, ‘I found my flock’
Attending the 2024 Wild Goose Festival at Van Hoy Farms in Harmony, N.C., was a first for me. Even though I’d heard about the annual gathering of progressive post-evangelicals, I really did not know what to expect. However, as David…
The Supreme Court is afflicted with a deadly empathy deficit
The Supreme Court has upheld a ban on sleeping outdoors in a homelessness case. By a 6-3 vote along partisan lines, the court ruled homeless residents are prohibited from sleeping outdoors. My own sense of the prophetic, especially when indignant,…
Silenced bells: Gaza’s cry amidst devastation
In the aftermath of unimaginable horrors inflicted upon Gaza, the indomitable spirit of its inhabitants shines through like a beacon of hope amidst the desolation. As a Palestinian Christian deeply troubled by the plight of my people, I feel compelled…
Christian friend, come on into the 21st century
Are you enjoying the Olympics? I am, too. How about the aftermath of the opening ceremonies? The backlash in social media by some in the Christian movement was swift and ferocious. After a weekend of watching the ranting and railing,…
‘Same Old Stuff’: Focusing our attention on God’s good word
I am thankful for the interesting people I meet working the early-morning shift at the front desk of our local YMCA. These interactions are pleasant and encouraging as we all try to wake up and get the day underway. One…
I don’t hate Donald Trump; I just don’t like him
My critics swear I hate Donald Trump. Set the record straight: I do not hate Donald Trump. After writing two books opposing his rhetoric and actions, The Immaculate Mistake and Good and Evil in the Garden of Evil, and more…
Do any of these Bible stories remind you of Donald Trump?
The evangelical Trumpians are at it again. In 2015, Donald Trump rode down an escalator announcing his intention to become America’s political messiah. He knocked off his primary opponents and general election foes one-by-one, dismissing them as “low energy” Jeb…