Recent Articles
Witness, An Advent Series: See No Evil?
See Laken Riley run. A United Nations report found that last year over 51,000 women and girls around the world were killed by a family member or an intimate partner. This number does not include strangers like Riley’s killer.
Advent: Incarnation and the Sacramental Life
This Good News doesn’t show up in holy places; it shows up in ordinary places and makes them holy. The Christmas story reminds us that all of life is a sacrament, and Christ can be seen in each and every face, particularly in the eyes of those we’d rather not look.
How Will We Survive the Coming Days?
Last week, an underground fire was steadily burning behind the outlet malls in town. Its heat caused part of the back parking lot to collapse, and the smoke from the burning asphalt was thick and black, compromising the air quality for those who live near the...
A Thanksgiving Message from Good Faith Media
We are thankful for the Good Faith community and the many ways you continue to support our work.
Decolonizing Thanksgiving
According to data from the National Congress of American Indians, around a thousand K-12 schools across the U.S. still have Indigenous-themed mascots. In addition, the myth of an original Thanksgiving meal that was a peaceful gathering between Pilgrims and Native Americans continues to be perpetuated in schools and other public spaces. It seems almost impossible to disentangle ourselves from the violence and lies.
The Cultivation of Gratitude and the Practice of Thanksgiving
The Black Friday gods and their fashionista agents are relentless in their assurance that you need more—more goods, second helpings, esteem and recognition. Surround yourself with a community that says otherwise.
Finding Hope in Christ After the Election
The political climate feels fraught, with deep divisions and uncertainty about the future. Yet, the lectionary readings following the election offer profound lessons about trust, resilience and the enduring hope we find in Christ.
Lack Of Motivation Tops Reasons Given For Not Voting
For respondents of the November 2024 Harvard CAPS/Harris poll who said they didn’t vote in the recent presidential election, lack of motivation, at 28%, was the highest reason they gave for staying home.
How Long Should We Pray?
It is impossible to know about every group and solve every problem, but some problems are so significant and convict us so much that we cannot help but pray, “Come quick, save, Lord!” (Psalm 38:22).
Thanksgiving and Other Lies
“I’m not upset that you lied to me; I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you,” Friedrich Nietzsche explained. No truer words said, I aim to tell the truth and shame the devil on America’s shoulder. Where are those “better angels”?
The Melody of Faith: Embracing Old Hymns in New Ways
Editor’s Note: The following appears in the November/December issue of Nurturing Faith Journal. In 2025, the publication will receive a new look and name – Good Faith Magazine, which will be free for all Good Faith Advocates. Last year, our church celebrated its 175th...
Public Trust in Scientific Community Remains Divided Along Partisan Lines
At 76%, public trust in the scientific community is up slightly from 73% the previous year but still lower than 87% in April 2020 during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Struggling to Give Thanks, But We Must
No matter how desperate the world seems, remember you are not alone. A big community of Jesus followers is ready to welcome and stand beside you in our pursuit of inclusion, freedom, and justice for all.
BHHS launches free resource to introduce Baptist heroes to children and youth
Portraits of Courage: Stories of Baptist Heroes has been re-released as a free downloadable e-book designed specifically for older children and youth to discover the stories of remarkable Baptist heroes.
“Heretic” Casts Doubt on Belief and Disbelief
Throughout the short film, I found myself pondering how and why so many religious traditions send out their young people to do the work of proselytizing. I was reminded that this is less about winning souls and more about retaining them.
America, I’m Exhausted
Recently, I have watched progress go back fifty years, whether from a countercultural reaction to feminism or record-breaking inflation. It is hard to keep going and have any sort of hope beyond myself.
Love and Justice Wait for Us
Justice is love. The place to find the love we need is among those least served by the justice system.
Good Faith Media Remembers Tony Campolo
The team at Good Faith Media (GFM) is mourning the death of Tony Campolo, an influential author, speaker and sociologist who passed away on November 19, 2024.
Transgender Day of Remembrance: Why I’ll Keep Sharing My Pronouns
The so-called “identity” issue getting the most post-election attention is the effort to make life more just and inclusive for LGBTQ+ Americans, particularly transgender individuals.
Whose Rights Are the Right Rights?
There is no savior coming to our rescue. Even if Jesus descended from the heavens, we’d fight over what he “should” be or do. In one way or another, he wouldn’t tick off all the boxes we’ve put him in, so we would most likely ignore his message and shoot him as the messenger. Again.
Support for the Death Penalty Declining, Generational and Partisan Gaps Widening
Support for the death penalty in the U.S. has declined slightly over the past two decades. However, according to recently released data from Gallup, the gap between how younger and older citizens view the practice has significantly widened.
Howard Thurman Home Offers Pilgrimage to Honor Thurman’s Legacy
The Howard Thurman Home—New Birth Inc. held a special “Pilgrimage Celebrating the Birthday of Howard Thurman” on Monday, November 18. The event, held in Daytona Beach, Florida, on the 125th anniversary of Thurman’s birth, honored the man who has been called “the pastor of the Civil Rights Movement.”
From Misfeasance to Willful Malice: What Election Post-Mortems Get Wrong
Do Democrats need to do better? Do they need to work on their language and policy priorities? Of course. But, if we think that’s the main story, we’ve lost the plot.
On Staying Curious
One thing I’m learning is that I have a lot to learn. When I open my eyes and heart each day to the morning light, I ask myself, “How can I be curious and not judgmental.” (Even though I’m a big reader and love all things literary, I must admit I learned this Walt Whitman quote from Ted Lasso.)
Happy 125th Birthday, Howard Thurman: A Patron Saint of Somebodiness
Today would have been the author, mystic, pastor and one of the greatest theologians of the twentieth century’s 125th birthday. A patron saint of somebodiness, Thurman believed, “At the core of life is a hard purposefulness, a determination to live.”
Church of England Abuse Report Sends Shockwaves Through Anglican Communion
On November 12th, the Archbishop of Canterbury announced his resignation in response to the publication of a report that detailed decades of unreported and unchecked abuse within the Church of England (COE).
Stark Political Disparities In Views on the Prevalence of Crime
From 1989 to the early 2000s, there was little statistical difference between how Republicans and Democrats viewed the state of crime in the nation. Since then, people who identify with each party have diverged, with beliefs about crime shifting with the political winds.
A Call to Action for the Confessing Church
We must not fool ourselves into thinking what happened in Germany can not happen here. Today, if you purchase a copy of “Mein Kampf,” most will include an introduction explaining why the book is still in print — it serves as a warning to future generations.
Why We Need Howard Thurman Now
In this season in the life of our nation, caustic-partisan rhetoric is the order of the day. Much of what we hear in the secular marketplace of ideas and sacred pulpits is marred by a xenophobia and divisiveness that has created an “us versus them” dualism. As all this has resulted in deep chasms in our communities, churches, and even some families, we again need Howard Thurman’s work and witness.
By the Way | The Enemy Is Us
Now, we must come to terms with the fact that Donald Trump is who we are. In the immortal words of the Pogo comic strip, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”