The calendar flips to December and the old, familiar talking points begin. The White House tweeted, “We’re saying MERRY CHRISTMAS again!” along with a photo of President Donald Trump standing stiffly next to a Christmas tree. Laura Ingraham has warned…
Why I eat an orange every Christmas
Things were not merry and bright for Edison Cantwell and his five children during the 1932 Christmas season. Christmas was not a welcome time for the Cantwells. Even so, the Christmas of 1932 was going to be a memorable one….
OU joins a Hall of Shame
The University of Oklahoma is the latest school to debase itself in deference to Donald Trump and evangelical Christians’ false claims of religious persecution. Trump and white evangelicals have this in common: Both claim persecution when they are instead the…
Letters to Mary: Women are open to the impossible
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” — Maya Angelou Dear Mary, This is my final letter to you this season of Advent. Lest we journey too…
Is Wicked: For Good the gospel story we all need this Advent?
An unconventional Christmas tree sits in our living room this year. Sparkly pink trimming wraps around its breadth. Green and white striped candy canes hang from the branches, and twinkling jade lights glow in their midst. A thin gold ribbon…
12 things a pastor should not say Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is one of my favorite services of the year. As a pastor, I’ve had a few more verbal gaffes than I care to admit. It’s a busy season for everyone, including church staff. For some, in addition to…
I’ll side with the Catholics on this one
ICE came to Baton Rouge for Christmas, and at least one Southern Baptist pastor welcomed them. Lewis Richerson, pastor of Woodlawn Baptist Church, told The New York Times, “I would not knowingly extend Communion to an illegal immigrant who is…
We need to remember the real meaning behind these carols
Christmas carols I have been enjoying at church, on my devices and in my car are lifting my spirits once again. The familiar lyrics and melodies blanket my consciousness like a snow shower I wish we could experience in my…
The carol that won’t stop singing a subversive song of hope
It tends to be the same every year: Soon after the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers is consumed, I sit down at the piano to plunk through an archaic collection of Christmas carols. Without fail, “O Holy Night” has long…
Anxiety versus gratitude
Ask me what my superpower is and I’ll answer with no hesitation: It is gratitude. I have a rich spiritual life supported by many practices including labyrinth-walking, prayer, Scripture memorization, active participation in my faith community, and meditation — especially…
Upside Down Advent: Unloved versus loved
Editor’s note: This column includes strong language near the end that may be offensive to some readers. Of all the four themes of Advent, love is the one that seemingly ties a bow around the others — both positively…
Kirk Cameron’s Growing Pains vs Al Mohler’s Arrested Development
I laughed to keep from crying as I read Al Mohler’s response to Kirk Cameron’s recent podcast in which he discussed the doctrine of hell. Annhilationism is the notion that hell is not a place of eternal conscious torment for…