Recent Articles
Is There a War on Epiphany?
A “war on Christmas” has been posited by politically conservative commentators for the past few decades. This claim has diminished recently, but I wonder if what we’re actually facing is a war on epiphany.
Three Resolutions for a New Year
Many of us make resolutions at the start of a new year. So, let me propose three that move beyond goals typically found on such lists.
January 6, 2023
An Image of the Prophet Muhammad Ignites an Academic Storm; The Breakup of the United Methodist Church; Prayers for Damar Hamlin Show Bond Between Football and Faith; Catholic Church Mixes Ancient Rituals and New Precedents in Historic Ceremony (and more)
Lincoln Lessons: The General Store
Missy and I are living in Lincoln, Vermont, during the month of January, while I serve as the guest pulpit minister of the United Church of Lincoln. I’ll be sharing about our experiences and lessons throughout our time.
Bringing Freedom to the Captives
Human trafficking is big business, and it is happening all around us – sometimes hidden in plain sight. Let’s work to bring freedom to the captives and release all of us from the darkness of human trafficking.
How Two SCOTUS Cases Could Strengthen White Affirmative Action
Affirmative action has always existed, but it favored white, euroamericans until the 1960s. Two cases currently before the Supreme Court could revive and strengthen white affirmative action.
January 5, 2023
Congress Remains Far More Christian than the Country; Shawnee Tribe Asks to Take Over Former Boarding School in Kansas; Faith Leaders Urge Passage of Illinois Assault Weapons Ban Ahead of Vote; White Contractors Wouldn’t Remove Confederate Statues. So a Black Man Did It. (and more)
A Good Man Is Hard to Lose
We put a good man in the ground last week, or at least, the shell he last inhabited. He wasn’t the only good man I knew, but the only one I called Daddy.
To Address Sex Trafficking, We Must Reduce Demand
Sex trafficking operates on a market system. Where there is demand for commercial sex, traffickers capitalize on the opportunity to make an astronomical profit. So, how do we reduce demand?
All the Gifts: A Reflection on 2022
I’m sick of hearing about New Year’s resolutions, so as I begin 2023, I hereby refuse to make any. But thinking back on 2022, I’m struck by all the gifts that this past year provided.
January 4, 2023
Wilmington Church Hosts Gullah Geechee Watch Night and Emancipation Day Celebration; Staten Islanders Celebrate Kwanzaa at Fellowship Baptist Church; Benedict Leaves German Homeland with Complicated Legacy (and more)
A Case for Ditching New Year’s Resolutions
Have you already made some resolutions for the new year? Before you make another, take a minute to read my case for why we should ditch our resolutions – and find out what I propose we do instead.
“Explain It Like We’re Kids, Jesus”
Sometimes we need to get into the weeds. That’s what Jesus did with his first followers. And it’s a central part of one of his parables in Matthew 13.
U.S. Adults More Likely to Support Building Churches Than Mosques
More U.S. adults favor adding new churches than those who say the same about mosques, according to a YouGov report. Younger adults are generally less supportive of having more houses of faith than older generations.
January 3, 2023
The Most Significant Religion Stories of 2022; Why Some People Celebrate Christmas in January; Buffalo Pastors Rescued More than 100 People and Housed Them in Their Church During the Historic Blizzard (and more)
Three New Titles Available from Nurturing Faith Books
Three new titles are now available from Nurturing Faith Books, Good Faith Media’s publishing imprint: ‘Windows for the Journey’ by Wallace W. Horton, ‘Think (Or Else!)’ by Maralene and Miles Wesner and ‘Stumbling to Zion,’ also by the Wesners.
Winter Solstice, Religious Festivals and Being the Light
Awakened early Christmas morning, my mind turned to what has been called ‘a shimmer around the edges’ and ‘a gleam.’ Considering common themes amount religious festivals this time of year, I felt a renewed call to be the light.
Look Back | Reflecting on Your Past as You Prioritize Your Future
New Year’s Day is right around the corner. We should use such moments to mark out fallow time to think back and think forward. This is a vital part in seeking to live wisely.
December 30, 2022
How the War in Ukraine Dominated This Year’s Online Search for Bible Verses; How the Battle Over Christian Nationalism Often Starts with Homeschooling; UMC’s North Georgia Church Conference Blocks Church Departures (and more)
Good Faith Media: 2022 Year in Review
As the world emerged from a global pandemic, Good Faith Media celebrated the global emergence by generating and distributing more educational, challenging and inspiring content than ever before. Here are some highlights from 2022.
Midnight Phone Calls and Maintaining Friendships
I love the night, but I’ve come to agree with my great-grandmother’s sentiment that ‘nothing good happens after midnight.’ Evening phone calls, like one I recently received, leave me feeling anxious and cold.
Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need Roads
If the turmoil of the past few years caused you to reconsider any of your relationships, then you’ve likely already found this to be particularly true in the evangelical church, especially concerning issues of race.
December 29, 2022
State Lawsuits Defend Abortion Access with Religious Freedom; In Ireland, Primary Schools to Teach Foreign Languages as Religion Time Cut Under New Proposals; Orthodox Church In Lithuania Condemns Russian War in Ukraine, Calls for Greater Independent from Moscow (and more)
Religious, Spiritual People Actively Seek to Understand Differing Views
A Public Agenda survey shows religion and spirituality are quite common among Americans. Religious and spiritual people tend to actively seek to understand those with differing viewpoints.
It’s Immoral to Allow Inmates to Die of Treatable Diseases
A report found that more than 1,000 people in U.S. prisons died of complications related to Hepatitis C from 2013 to 2019. This is tragic and immoral, particularly because there is an effective treatment available.
A Third of U.S. Adults, Half of Christians Say We’re ‘Living in the End Times’
More than one third of U.S. adults believe that we are “living in the end times,” according to a Pew Research Center report. Historically Black Protestants and evangelical Protestants are the most likely religious groups to agree.
Questioning an Unspoken Holiday ‘Tradition’
With the Christmas tunes and décor being packed away, we need to change our tune and address an overlooked and under-appreciated part of the holiday: the work mostly done by women.
Learning From a Scorched-Earth Sermon
Matthew 23 is a barn burner, a scorched-earth sermon. From this chapter, we learn that Jesus has little patience with religious hypocrisy. Actually, that is a profound understatement.
U.S. Majority Says Social Media Bad for Democracy, Uncertain of Religious Impact
Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults say that social media has been bad for democracy, according to a Pew Research Center report. The nation is less certain about the impact on religious groups.
Embers in the Street: A Christmas Morning Story
The Christmas season provides an opportunity to remember those whose presence matters most to us and to shine a light on them.