I don’t listen to contemporary gospel or Contemporary Christian Music like I once did. Although talented and faithful remnants remain, and God continues using them, much of the genre today, at least what tops the charts, can feel mediocre or…
A letter to the broken beloved: Let’s talk about godliness
If you are a fire-baptized, Holy Ghost-filled disciple whose deepest allegiance is to Jesus Christ, then we need to talk as adopted brothers and sisters of every tribe, tongue, nation, race, language and ethnicity, who strive to worship God in…
Get in the water
I dream of one day gliding through the clear waters of a pool, with its abundantly chlorinated surface reflecting light like a beacon of sanctification. Against all odds, I envision myself as Michael Phelps’ significantly shorter, less talented, but far…
Pastoral workaholism: The struggle is real
Let me give pastors some advice: Run away as fast as possible from anyone trying to convince you that burning out or upholding unhealthy expectations (your own or from others) is a rite of passage. It is not. I agree…
A benediction gone bad
As sociologist Orrin Klapp observed in his 1962 book Heroes, Villains, and Fools: The Changing American Character, “The celebrity cult celebrates the triumph of ordinariness — charm without character, showmanship without ability, bodies without minds, information without wisdom.” The critique…
Why we should know better about political idolatry
Beyond the campaigning that constantly exposed me to innumerable unsolicited ads in the mail and on television, what has bothered me most this election season is the bipartisan gullibility of Christians. We should, and many of us do, know better,…
A lesson from the Philadelphia Flyers: When inclusion becomes exclusive
To champion sexuality and gender inclusion while denying respectful disagreement reeks of hypocrisy. Take the recent case of National Hockey League player Ivan Provorov, a defenseman for the Philadelphia Flyers. For their Jan. 17 game against the Anaheim Ducks, the…
The truth about police brutality
Leadership is a privilege. It is not a right. I wonder when we will get that through our thick skulls. Jesus said rather plainly, “To whom much is given, much is required,” which underlines the differentiated, increased expectations that come…