Sustained, uninterrupted attention is an unusual gift, both to ourselves and to others. It may be the thing that saves us. The moment of pure attention contains within it the possibility of a future worth having.
Why a monument marking the 100-year anniversary of a race massacre injures rather than heals
A monument recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Elaine Race Massacre will soon be “dedicated,” not in Elaine, Arkansas, but in Helena, across from the courthouse where justice was not served, on ground that also hosts a tribute to seven Confederate generals.
‘You had a future and so should we’: practical steps for climate justice
Yes, the environmental picture is bleak, and we need to know just how dire the situation is. But as people of faith, we are never without hope.
Beto O’Rourke’s debate invective and the new ‘Back to School’ video are the jeremiads of our time
Firearms aren’t on the slippery slope; the American people are. We’re the ones whose kids are scared to go to school.
‘Prophetic or pastoral?’ A trio of black women preachers expose this false dichotomy
In American Christianity today, many pastors and other ministry leaders in the dominant culture are afraid of being prophetically pastoral. As a result, the Church and the Gospel suffer.
Jarrid Wilson’s suicide – and the urgency of pastors being free to be themselves
Who better than a pastor – called to live in a peculiar way on behalf of a group of people unable to live this way most days – to practice the art of prophetically being one’s authentic self, rather than attempting to be one’s best, most marketable self?
I was terrified. Guns were stashed everywhere, right next door to our home
Beneath this star-spangled net of red, white and blue, we are trapped by hate and violence – and entitlement to our weapons.
‘Why do we need mountains?’ A child’s profound question merits a thoughtful response
If we listen carefully to how children ask their questions of God and church, we clergy, parents and other adults might discover ways to “speak Christian” plainly.
Prophetic apologies are coming from a surprising source – law enforcement; churches should pay attention
The prophets’ call to “heal the earth” is being awakened in surprising places — like police forces.
In divisive times, can we find ways to let our ‘better angels’ show?
My advice for living faithfully in these troubled times: Listen carefully to others, speak the truth in love and then . . . well, leave the rest to God.
Think you’re immune to the lures of the ‘prosperity gospel’? Maybe you should think again
We may not spend money on “gifts” to multi-millionaire, prosperity gospel ministers. But we do spend it on expertly-marketed Christian media.
Churches should be more like grand juries – except for the judging part
I spent two weeks on a grand jury listening to stories that make it clear the world needs good churches.