The Offense of Grace: We Desire Sacrifice, Not Mercy
The situation with Bishop Budde pleading with Donald Trump in her sermon last week to show mercy reminded me of a story from my past. The story is from over a decade ago when I …
Faith
Republicans Can’t be Christian
I am going to say something controversial, “Republicans can’t be Christians.” To the vast majority of Christians, I just said something unthinkable, especially if one is of the evangelical stripe of Christianity. I can feel …
A Faith of My Own
A few years ago, the NBC TV show The Office was all the rage. Despite it seeming like everyone I knew was watching it, I couldn’t. It wasn’t that I wasn’t invited to the watch …
Does Christ’s Upside-Down Kingdom Frighten Us?
In my previous essay, which can be found here, I wrote of a fascinating exchange between Governor Felix and the Apostle Paul in Acts 24. To briefly recap, Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and sent …
From Confusion to Communion
“When the Most High came down and confused the tongues, He divided the nations. But when He distributed the tongues of fire He called all to unity. Therefore with one voice we glorify the All …
Never Too Old to Be Too Young
Age really wasn’t the issue. It was just a way of dismissing me. I was too young only because in interfered with their itch being scratched.
Beloved Child of God
The first time that I actually saw my father drunk, I was still a very young child. What I knew of my father was a genuinely funny, affable, playful man who was always up for …
Jimmy Carter and the Crossroads of Faith, Politics, and Character
I remember exactly where I stood when the newscaster called the 1980 presidential election for Ronald Reagan. I was excited and greatly relieved. I remember letting out a deep sigh and thanking God that the …
Remolding Idols of Clay
I grew up in a Southern Baptist world filled with sacred tunes of both the vintage and contemporary variety. Ironically, the tune that has framed my spiritual experience more than any other stemmed not from …
Dear Dad | A Letter of Concern
Dear Dad, You went to be with Jesus 10 years ago. In honor of a decade of the best 10 years of your existence, I wanted to give you an update on how things have …