Opinion
When Pastors Go Through Seasons of Doubt
Pastors go through seasons of doubt. During my current sojourn through such a season, I found respite and renewal in an unlikely place. Here is what I’m learning from this journey.
Faith Seeking Understanding | Love Your God; Love Your Neighbors
With the phrase “your God” pinging in my recent thoughts, I began to seek greater understanding of the divine call to “love your God” and “love your neighbor.” This imperative is found in multiple faith traditions.
New Resources on Baptismal Identity and The Raceless Gospel
Baptism offers a radical theology of liberation. Yes, too often it is seen as only one of the requirements for church membership and an addendum to the regular worship service. It is so much more than this.
The Threat of Christian Nationalism to U.S. Democracy
Congresswoman Lauren Boebert’s statement about the church directing the government is historically incorrect. Keeping church and state separate is essential to a functioning democracy.
Creation Care and Seeking the Welfare of the City
Jeremiah 29:5-7 offers an ongoing word for God’s people in every age. It is a call to seek the welfare of the land we are in. This imperative also applies to caring for creation.
Remembering Frederick Buechner and His Permission to Be Fearless
Facing a difficult prognosis several years ago, Frederick Buechner’s words reminded me not to fear becoming or letting go because God was there — in the terrible and the beautiful. I’m thankful for his life and ministry.
Why the U.S. Must Adopt a Prevention-Focused Approach to Public Health
The United States spent over $4 trillion on health care in 2020, a number that is expected to increase in the years ahead. The nation’s focus on treatment rather than prevention must change to improve public health.
SCOTUS Ruling Erodes Church-State Separation in Public Schools
No student should ever be made to feel excluded in school. Yet, the Kennedy v. Bremerton SCOTUS ruling could result in students feeling pressured to participate in religious expressions that do not reflect their beliefs.
Lott Carey’s 125th Annual Session
Over 400 disciples met in New Orleans, Louisiana, this week to celebrate the 125th session of the Lott Carey Global Christian Missional Community. Good Faith Media attended the gathering, providing coverage of the event.
Evan Dhu Cameron and the Expansion of Public Education in Oklahoma
Minister Evan Dhu Cameron was the first state superintendent in the newly formed state of Oklahoma. He worked to establish thousands of schools across the state at the expense of taxpayers where all the children could be educated.
I Do! I Like Them, Sam-I-Am!
‘Green Eggs and Ham’ by Dr. Seuss came to mind when my wife and I began shifting our diet to most plant-based meals. Here are a few things that I’ve observed and learned through the process.
It Takes a Community
I have worked in public education for over 20 years, and I can say with assurance that improving the outcomes for our nation’s children will take community-wide efforts. Houses of faith can play an important role.
How the Up-Front Contract Can Create Healthier Churches
An “Up-Front Contract,” or UFC, is a mutual agreement between the salesperson and potential client before a meeting is scheduled. Here is how this approach can create healthier churches.
Albuquerque Shooting Demonstrates Why We Must Stop ‘Othering’
The Muslim community of Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been reeling over the bizarre murders of four male members. This tragedy must be condemned, and we must learn to stop ‘othering’ in the wake of the violence.
Why You Should Send Your Children to Public School
Any time you are quoted on Twitter, you must brace yourself for the subsequent comments. Here is my response to two recent tweets about a statement I made on public education.
Returning to the Baptismal Waters Is Essential to Post-Racial Identity
Reading lists and seminars will not lead us to a post-racial society. It requires the baptismal waters, where Christians are led to die to being self-made by race. No one else can do this work for you.
Religious Liberty in Public Schools Requires Looking out for Students and Teachers
This August brings a new question for public school districts that no one would have predicted a year ago: Can public school teachers lead students in religious exercises?
What Umpiring Baseball Can Teach Us About the Life of Faith
I love baseball for many reasons, which led me to begin umpiring youth baseball games in recent years. A required training for umpires offered guidance that is applicable to the life of faith.
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.