Opinion
When Mourning Comes: 10 Pastoral Observations about Grief
I have walked alongside individuals and families who are dealing with grief for over 40 years. Here are 10 observations I have made about the traits of grief, the grieving process and grieving persons.
Look Back | Toward a Biblically Informed Debate on U.S. Immigration Reform
Immigration is close to my heart and experience because I am the grandson of an undocumented immigrant and migrant workers that carved out a life in the cotton fields of west Texas. Christians must ask the justice question.
Why Do Christian Nationalists Have to Ruin Everything?
A non-denominational Christian church in Texas performed an unauthorized version of the hit Broadway show Hamilton. The changes they made to several song lyrics are illustrative of how Christian nationalists seek to rewrite U.S. history.
The Benefits of Looking Through a New Lens
A recent invocation grabbed my attention and resonated with me in a new way, leading me to further reflection on a friend’s wedding to her same-sex partner the week prior. We benefit from looking through new lenses sometimes.
Faith Seeking Understanding | ‘Little Miss’ Memes and ‘Biblical Womanhood’
As I approach my 40th birthday, I’ve reflected on what I was taught about human sexuality and so-called ‘biblical womanhood.’ The ‘Little Miss’ memes circulating on social media offer a playful means to deconstruct this flawed thinking.
Could New Medical Technology Resurrect the Dead?
Researchers from Yale University have partially revived dead pigs, according to a peer-reviewed study published in Nature on August 3, 2022. What does this mean for our understanding of death and dying?
Nothing to Brag About
Comprehending the significant ways Americanized Christianity is deeply culturalized can be revealing, fascinating and constructive. Defining the word conservative as resistant to change is one tragic manifestation within Americanized Christianity.
The Similarities and Differences Between Modern and Biblical Poetry
The unfamiliar styles of some biblical texts is one of many challenges we face when studying the Bible. Here is a primer on the similarities and differences between modern and biblical poetry.
Celebrating an Icon Who Embodied Freedom
It’s someone’s 200th birthday! But how do you celebrate an embodiment of freedom? The answer is, “All year long.” I recently visited the birthplace of this icon, finding encouragement in her life’s work and witness.
A Clean, Healthy, Sustainable Environment is a Human Right
The U.N. General Assembly has recognized the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. It is well past time for this acknowledgment, and the world must commit to maintaining a suitable earth for future generations.
The U.S. Has a Police Idolatry Issue
One out of every three people killed by police in the United States were fleeing the police. They were moving in the opposite direction – as opposed to approaching or attacking – the people that killed them.
‘And the Oscar for the Greatest Redemption Story Goes To…’
August is often a slow time for sports news in the U.S., but a recent headline about one high-profile professional athlete grabbed my attention. It offers an example of someone choosing integrity over money.
Baseball and Pastoral Prophets: Thanks, Vin Scully and Pastors Everywhere
Vin Scully, longtime play-by-play announcer for the Dodgers, died this week. Scully’s grace and kindness endeared him to fans nationwide, which reminded me that we need to show more grace and kindness to our pastoral leaders.
How to Identify, Respond to ‘Soul Fatigue’
U.S. culture prioritizes busyness and celebrates productivity. It can lead to a weariness that goes down into the depths of your soul. How can we recognize and constructively respond to this condition?
Why Christian Nationalism is Dangerous
Christian nationalism seeks to impose a particular understanding of Christianity and a particular version of American history on the policies, laws and practices of our nation. Here is why it’s dangerous.
The Good, the Bad, and the Obscene
Chanterelle mushrooms are one of the edible mushrooms my wife and I encounter on our hikes. Other mushrooms, however, would be deadly to eat. These differing specimens from the same environment offer food for thought to Christians.