Opinion
Returning to the Baptismal Waters
The baptismal act, regardless of mode, remains one of the most significant moments in a Jesus-follower’s pilgrimage. Returning to these waters mentally, emotionally and spiritually offers both renewal and refreshment.
Why I’m Giving Up the Hustle for Lent
Our culture demands that we constantly do more, produce more, engage more, be more. It’s a hustle economy that will run us ragged if we let it. This year for Lent, I’m saying every day, “I’m enough.”
The Insurrection, the Big Lie and the Constitution: Part Two
The “Big Lie” – another manifestation of white supremacy – emerged again during 2020. False claims of widespread voter fraud continue to be spread in order to legitimatize efforts to disenfranchise people of color.
People of Faith Must Engage Mental Health Crisis
The link between public health crises and mental health has been known for decades, but the full impact of COVID-19 on the nation is still unknown. People of faith need to step up and reach out to those who are hurting.
Smarter and Nicer – This Is Your Brain on Books
A 1980s PSA presented an egg frying in a pan as an illustration of “your brain on drugs.” Recent studies have found that reading can make you both smarter and nicer. This is “your brain on books.”
Why You Should Enter the Shadow of Lent
Lent is a guardrail against spiritual bypassing, requiring pilgrims to do the hard, but necessary, work of entering into aspects of the human experience we’d rather not endure. These rhythms keep us pain-avoidant human beings honest.
The Insurrection, the Big Lie and the Constitution: Part One
The January 6 insurrection was horrific and disturbing. We now face more furtive efforts to undermine U.S. democracy, with some elected officials seeking to restrict voting rights under the false pretense of “election security.”
Millions Suffered Polar Vortex Impacts, Particularly the Unhoused
The polar vortex brought unprecedented weather events and challenging times for everyone, particularly for the unhoused. That hundreds of thousands are homeless in a wealthy nation like the U.S. is a tragedy and travesty.
Meet-and-Greet with a Convenient Savior
Adored in song and sermon, his teachings are often ignored by the most fervent singers and sermonizers. Step right up and meet the popular, conveniently contrived Christ of Americanized Christianity.
Systemic Racism, Caste and the Global Pandemic: Part Two
What does the caste system of systemic racism have to do with the global pandemic? Such systems create disparities in the health status of individuals that is the result of unequal treatment based on caste.
Systemic Racism, Caste and the Global Pandemic: Part One
Isabel Wilkerson’s book Caste describes systemic racism as a caste system. This choice of language fits well with my experience, and her argument is compelling that the impact of caste remains in play today.
Name-Calling Derives from Lack of Love, Truth and Justice
Two Baptist pastors used the term “Jezebel” in reference to Vice President Kamala Harris. Such name-calling has a long, tragic history in the U.S. that is deployed when the speaker doesn’t have love, truth or justice on their side.
Our Words Hold the Power to Bring Life or Death
Words have power – to build up or to tear down, to bring life or destruction. The Jan. 6 insurrection reveals the true potency of our speech. Let’s use them wisely.
Walter Rauschenbusch’s Concern for Justice
Conscience and compassion drove Rauschenbusch’s passion for justice. Advocating for distributive justice, he sought to create a social order that placed the common good of all above the economic profits of a few.
Do God’s Promises Extend to Savlanut, Sarah and Tseba?
Ever heard of Savlanut, Sarah and Tseba? Though not identified in the Bible, these could have been the names of the wives of Noah’s sons. They needed to know, just like women today, that God’s promises are for them.
The Cold Reality of Climate Change
Temperatures plummeted across the U.S. this week when a polar vortex swept across the nation, leaving millions without power. We must act now to address climate change, which is causing both extreme warm and cold weather patterns.