Today, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was a visionary man who eloquently gave voice to hopes and dreams common to Americans but often denied people because of race and/or economic status. He pushed the system to acknowledge the ugly truth so often denied: that white folks – especially the wealthy and the middle class – enjoy privileges and rights denied to others because of color or earning power. He challenged us to work together to challenge systems that worked in the favor of some, but denied basic rights to others.
I sat in a pew in Ebenezer Baptist church several years ago reflecting on books I had been reading about Dr. King’s life, Brown vs. Board of Education, biographies on presidents and more. Anticipating my time there, I thought about Continue reading On MLK Day →
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Here’s news that to some may be shocking: There are bullies in the church. OK, maybe that’s not news. Anybody who has been Continue reading The Bottom Line of Bullying in the Church →
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You know the value of good friends when you can sit down with them and share what’s going on in your life. My wife and I did Continue reading Burgers and Beer: Signs of God’s Intent →
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Dear Crabby One, Something pretty amazing happened recently. You apologized for harsh words spoken. You really surprised me and I was Continue reading What I Want the Crabby Guy to Know →
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I’ve always been intrigued by the story of Jacob. He is a deeply flawed character blessed by God to carry the promise of the covenant God made to Abraham and Sarah into the future. He is a scoundrel. As he made his way back from exile, he stands at the edge of the Jabbok River and Continue reading Standing At the Edge →
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Working with the good folks of my congregation, I called our leaders to think about the importance of tending to issues of trust in the community of faith. We did this by reflecting first on Galatians 5:13-26, a passage of scripture we have been studying at the church council table for the past couple of months. In it, Paul contrasts life in the Spirit with life in the Flesh. What follows is Continue reading Broken Windows: Trust and Missional Leadership →
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I recently had somebody ask me whether the Church still matters, today. I responded that I definitely think the Church has a role to play. His question was posed more than three weeks ago, and yet it is still with me. It’s been rumbling around in the back of my head and I don’t always like some of the new answers I’ve been thinking about. Some answers are in the “yes” column… Others are in the “no” column.
When does the Church matter? The Church matters when Continue reading Does the Church Matter? →
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God calls us to trust God's future. Jacob did it at the Jabbok. Jesus did it in the grave. What will the church do?
Jabbok's Edge 