Opinion
Lessons and Insights from Festival of Homiletics 2022
Hundreds of preachers descended on Denver, Colorado, this week to attend the 2022 Festival of Homiletics. The festival is planned by Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and this year’s theme was trauma.
When Bootstraps Are Helpful – And When They Are Not
As a Texas girl, I know all about bootstraps. Yes! Tangible bootstraps are great, especially when you’re puffy and pregnant! But the proverbial ones? Not nearly as much.
Violence at Funerals Is a Grave Offense
Several Palestinian funerals have been disrupted in recent months by Israeli police. The Israel-Palestine conflict is complicated, but interrupting mourners at a funeral is dehumanizing.
A Mass Shooting at My Mother’s Supermarket
A frantic call from my sister is how I learned about the most recent mass shooting in Buffalo, New York. This TOPS supermarket is near my mother’s home, and she shops there frequently.
Navigating the Dark Side of Your Thoughts and Emotions
Even the best and the brightest among us can find ourselves enshrouded in a whirlwind of emotional turbulence or bombarded by thoughts of darkness and despair. Here are some facts, and observations, about mental and spiritual health.
Boundaries and Balance
Practicing balance and boundaries to maintain the sacredness of our being is vital to self-care. Here is why a boundaryless life is problematic.
Jumping Through ‘Hoops’ for Mental Health Services Must End
Around 1 in 5 Americans are struggling with mental health. Too often, people must jump through multiple “hoops” to obtain help that is covered by their insurance. This must change.
Look Back | Creating Sacred Space for Conversations on Abortion
Conversations about abortion often overlook or ignore the stories of people who have experienced them. Rather than dividing into ‘pro-choice’ or ‘pro-life’ camps, a ‘pro-voice’ perspective offers another path.
The Looming Dangers of the SCOTUS Opinion
The leaked SCOTUS opinion that would overturn ‘Roe v. Wade’ shocked supporters of reproductive health care last week. There are other implications that need to be considered, too.
How Do You Preach on the Trinity?
Trinity Sunday, June 12 this year, is the one Sunday set aside for the preaching of arguably the most important and most arduous doctrine in the Christian faith. So, how does one preach on the Trinity?
The Cowbird Dilemma
A bird nest in the garage has revealed a number of unexpected dilemmas. It recalls the various moral and ethical quandaries we face when trying to determine the best course of action.
Have You Heard of the ‘Umms’?
Why there is waning church attendance has been the topic of conversation for at least the past 25 years. You likely know about the so-called “dones” and “nones,” but have you heard of the “umms”?
Righteousness, Justice and the Darkness of Our Times
Generations of sincere people have abused and misused the fourth beatitude of the Sermon on the Mount. We must consider two key terms, “righteousness” and “justice,” to interpret it rightly.
Not Ashamed, but Often Embarrassed
Many Americanized Christians seem more concerned about narrow political goals than about emulating the life and teachings of Jesus. All of this is being done under the guise of “Christian values.”
Radically Rearranging for What Is Just
Working for justice often requires upsetting the norms, but it also requires rearranging systematic practices that violate human rights. A Sierra Leonean proverb provides helpful guidance in this work.
Why I Am Leery of Labels, and You Should Be Too!
Labels can be useful, but they can also be misleading and even harmful. Here is why you should be leery about labels.
The Children Caught in the Middle Don’t Get a Say
While it has been nearly 50 years of political bickering since the ‘Roe v. Wade’ decision, the children caught in the middle often don’t get a say. Here is part of my story and experience.
Is There a Constitutional Right to Privacy?
Is there a Constitutional right to privacy? It depends on who you ask. While this right is the basis for many Supreme Court decisions, many “originalists” do not believe such a right is guaranteed by the Constitution.
The Stars and the Scriptures
To see a woman’s lifelong dream come to fruition in historic and important ways leaves one feeling empowered and full to the brim of curiosity of what can happen when you see yourself represented in spaces not created for you.
Extending to Women the Right to Privacy
Humans have not done well in extending to women the right to privacy. Instead, we’ve held their feelings, experiences and decisions up for public scrutiny. It’s time for that to change.
There’s More to Tell, Especially Now
Good Faith Media has launched its spring giving campaign. We need your help to tell more stories and cover more critical topics so that we can bend the arc of history towards justice. Will you join us?
Why ‘Pro-Choice’ is ‘For-Life’
Many Christians approach the issue of abortion as if it’s as simple as to kill or not to kill babies. The truth is that this issue is incredibly complicated and layered.
When Integrity Leaves the Public Square
Our public life is unsettled, with the values that many profess to hold being jettisoned for the sake of convenience and political ambition. The absence of integrity brings to mind a refrain from the biblical book of Judges.
‘Griswold v. Connecticut,’ ‘Roe v. Wade’ and the Right to Privacy
A leaked draft of a possible SCOTUS majority opinion in ‘Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health’ was published May 2. Until the final ruling is announced, we should consider how a right to privacy could be impacted by this ruling.
You Can’t Sell a Church
Churches across the nation are struggling to make ends meet. Mine is no exception. Now more than ever, it’s important to remember that the church is not a building.
Is a New Labor Movement Emerging?
Amazon and Starbucks employees have sought to unionize in the past year, calling attention once more to wage stagnation and economic inequity. Do these efforts signal a new labor movement?
Count Each Day
An Amish cemetery’s unique headstones serve as a reminder to count each day of our lives. Gratitude and a keen awareness of time provide needed perspectives for both daily living and remembering lives well-lived.
Emerging Voices | LGBTQ+ Youth Inclusion in the Church
Religious involvement reduces suicidal ideation in most youth; for LGBTQ+ youth, religious involvement increases suicidal ideation by 38%. The way churches and families respond is a matter of life and death.
Faith Seeking Understanding | Interfaith Dialogue Vital to Spiritual Growth
Helping plan and facilitate an interfaith event in late March was insightful and encouraging. I was grateful to see a diverse group of students and faculty engage in respectful, civil discourse about their faith traditions.
The Land Grab That Wasn’t
Context is everything. It determines whether two historical situations which may seem parallel to each other share any similarity.