” he may be a white man, but he sure does have a black heart” Read More
SERMON: When Emptiness is a Promise.
in the empty streets, and in the empty tomb, we find a promise: that love will be unfurled on the world. Read More
Binge Watch My Theology
“Who acts like a neighbor to Spencer?… the one who shows him mercy…” Read More
poem: ASHES
my boots are covered in the ashes of bridges burned and the dust of roads less traveled. wisdom calls to me from sacred pages with the reminder to dust off worn out thoughts and tired feet that have traveled too far on scorched earth. and having shaken the ashes from some misguided sentiment or strange… Read More
SERMON: Be a Doer
“A faith that is pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their times of distress” Read More
SERMON: An Epic Battle
“It is hard to stay in tension – even good tension. But it may just be that the interplay between faith and works, grace and law, covenant and gospel is what keeps our faith active.” Read More
My Plan?
What is My Plan? At the turn of the millennium, January 2000, a friend posted this question to the online community: citing that W.E.B. Dubois identified race as the defining problem of the twentieth century, my friend asked “What is your plan to counter this problem for the next millennium?” In response to this question,… Read More
BLOG: A Midrash on Creation
The following is a midrash on the Genesis 1 Creation story, with the understanding that these verses are clear examples of merisms in the Hebrew language. God… as they hovered over the watery chaos… commands silence from the deep. And on the first day, God called into being lightness to darkness, creating everything from Lightening… Read More
LITURGY: Prayer of Reconciliation: July 4th
A PRAYER OF RECONCILIATION for a Nation celebrating Freedom (based on Galatians 5) Forgive us, O God, for how easily we forget that freedom in Christ binds us to love both enemy and neighbor, and calls us to welcome the stranger and alien among us. We too easily fall into the trap of assuming our… Read More
SERMON: Waiting to Exhale
I had the privilege of preaching at Colonial Church in Edina for Pentecost Sunday yesterday May 23, 2021. The full service is here:
A Litany Against Violence
I wrote this responsive litany for our upcoming prayer vigil marking the one year anniversary of George Floyd’s death, and praying for a world where violence can end. Feel free to use it with acknowledgements in any worship service where is might seem relevant. MOVE US TOWARD BLESSEDNESS (A Responsive Litany based on The Beatitudes… Read More
BLOG: Galatians vs. the CRT
We still live in a broken world; and we must continue to work for the vision of the reign of God. Read More
BLOG: An Argumentative Thesis
It was not a hard assignment. Eight to ten sentences of the seventh grade version of an argumentative thesis. Decide whether the statue of Robert E. Lee in Richmond should stay or should go. An article to read and a video to watch. Both sides clearly presented. I listen to my son and his friends… Read More
BLOG: Everywhere and nowhere all the time.
Yesterday, these words came to me through email. They came from my former seminary professor and the Artistic Director of the Penumbra Theatre, Sarah Bellamy. I was so struck by these words, I sat with them all day long. I ponder those of us who get to use our vulnerability as a shield, and those… Read More
A Good Friday Prayer for 2021.
No angry mobs now, Holy God, Screaming “crucify!” It is not anger, but distress, we see in your faces, the faces that we watch over and over and over again. Distress because you stand and bear witness to the suffering that makes us turn away. We turn the channel, put off the screen, say we… Read More
poem: A Benediction for Jelani
A light that bright radiates the Holy. Not meant for earthly realms A light that bright Shines beyond eternity. And now returning to the stellate sun We remain basking in luminous presence Forever changed By a light that bright. And having glimpsed such A brilliant fire Let us turn now To God, and to one… Read More
SERMON: The Courage To Be Angry
This past Sunday, March 7th, I had the privilege to be the guest preacher at Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church in Chaska, MN. You can listen to my meditation on Jesus turning the tables in the temple (John 2: 13-25) here: THE COURAGE TO BE ANGRY
POEM: An Open Letter to the Coach Who Cares
You noticed, and you named it. Over the season, he started to lose his spark. I am profoundly grateful that you noticed the change. You even encouraged him… “if basketball is not your thing, maybe something else…” You had no way to know, it’s not about the game. It’s about learning how to live… Read More
BLOG: A Midrash on Babel.
(This is a retelling of the story of the Tower of Babel, which is found in the Bible in Genesis 11:1-9) Long ago, when the human race was young And all the people spoke the same language, The humans decided to build a city between two rivers where they could all live together, With a… Read More
SERMON: Leaving Our Nets Behind.
What are we willing to leave behind for the sake of greater discipleship?
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BLOG: Thoughts on Inauguration Day.
I have said many, many times before: one of the most important things I learned in seminary was that during Ancient Biblical times, people did not have an understanding of emotions. And that means that when the Bible says “love” it is not talking about an emotional response. (Thank you, again, Professor Brink.) So when… Read More
BLOG: Victim Status
Whenever a life is lost, there is a victim. Victim status is not debatable. Read More
BLOG: Hindsight is 20/20
(Caveat: if you have lost a loved one this past year — whether to covid or suicide or just old age — this post may not be for you, and may seem callous in the face of deep and abiding grief.) When I remember back to January 2020 — the New Year of a new… Read More
BLOG: Santa is a Sacrament.
“For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son…” Read More
BLOG: Illuminating a Word, Made Flesh.
… what has come into being was life, and the life was the true enlightenment of all people… Read More
