As I drove my children to school the day after the election, my middle school daughter began to ask questions. Days, weeks and months leading up to the election, there were questions from both of my daughters. They could see…
What my apartment’s visitor spot has to do with biblical interpretation
I live in an apartment. At my apartment, my roommate and I each have a designated parking spot, painted with our address number to indicate who should park there. There is also a “visitor” spot, not specifically assigned to our…
Church historian Richard Hughes reflects on a lifetime of ‘Troublesome Questions’
In his latest book, The Grace of Troublesome Questions: Vocation, Restoration, and Race, historian Richard Hughes shares his intellectual and spiritual journey, inviting readers to consider how they treat their neighbors and where their allegiance as Christians lies. Now in…
‘Deconstruction’ is not a dirty word
On a fateful day during my third-grade year, my family was playing a board game and I was nearing victory. I rolled the dice and landed on a square that read, “Go back 17 spaces.” My family all laughed, as…
Where to see Jesus in suffering, even in the war in Ukraine
Tatiana Perebeinis was a 43-year-old accountant working for a California start-up company in Irpin, Ukraine. She became famous this week as her photo appeared on the front page of the New York Times. It wasn’t a flattering photo. Along with…
‘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.