If you know anything about personality typing, then I can tell you I’m an ENFP, and a 7…and you’ll know that, among other things, I’m an escape artist. On a good day, that means I’m a day dreamer. In healthy expressions and moderate measures, I’m imaginative, creative, a visionary; I can see past the pain or discomfort of a present moment into a more hopeful future. In my dysfunctional moments, it means I bail out out of the present when... Read more
It’s March! You know what that means, right? We can take a break from fighting about politics…and fight about BASKETBALL instead! No matter what team we love–or love to hate– I think we can all agree on one thing this year: it is a cruel trick of the universe, and some poor planning of the liturgical whatever, that the Sweet 16 is going to happen over all of Easter weekend! Like, we might have to miss a game(s) to observe Good Friday. Or... Read more
A team effort guest post today: Three perspectives on the Trump rally in downtown KC over the weekend. This is a long post, but think of it as 3 mini-posts. Variations on a theme… Rev. Tabatha Johnson Given all that has been happening at Trump rallies these past few months it may seem irresponsible– even downright dangerous– to take my kids into the midst of hundreds of people, holding signs affirming the humanity and dignity of those Trump and his campaign... Read more
He’s coming. To Kansas City. Tonight. It is a gray, dull, drizzly day here, which is fitting. As though Mother Nature herself conspired to dress appropriately for the orgy of hatred that is unfolding across the prairie. Nay, across all the land. Yes, I said “nay.” Sorry, something about that man makes me draw up Elizabethan-speak from the bottom of my English major soul. Something wicked this way comes… But enough about him. It’s not about him. As we well... Read more
I really just carried the fruit basket… But I’ll tell you about that in a minute. While Kansas, Arizona, and other states draft fresh, angry legislation to keep refugees from entering their boundaries, hundreds of families are quietly coming to resettle in an American city near you. And 99.99% of them are not terrorists. Despite what some politicians would have you believe. My congregation, like many faith communities, has been deeply moved by images and stories of refugees around the world.... Read more
I need a break. A week off. Not from work. Not even from writing in general. But from the Presidential campaign. Have mercy, it is gross out there. I keep trying to write about something else, but every single day, HeWhoMustNotBeNamed says something else that is so WTF-worthy, I just can’t look away. No more! That business is not the boss of me. It’s not the boss of you, either. Breathe deep. There’s still life happening out there, outside of... Read more
Maybe Jerry Falwell, Jr was right. Donald Trump IS, in fact, like Jesus Christ. At least, in one major way. He has come to set father against son, mother against daughter, and mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law. In many cases, our enemies are members of our own household.” Further, nation shall rise up against nation. He comes not to bring peace, but a sword. Dear Mr. Trump–I do not think that means what you think it means. But he’s beside the point. Sort of. Fact... Read more
I wasn’t going to write about him today. I swear. We need a break from observing the gruesome underbelly of America’s blackened soul (as I have come to think of his whole campaign). I had a post about church growth trends all perking in my head and it was ready to roll. But damn. Are you watching this? Have you seen what is happening? The Trump Rally is the new Klan rally. It’s official. America has lost it’s damn mind. I... Read more
His performance was met with broadly divergent sorts of reviews… But Chris Rock did some truth-telling at the Oscars last night re: the racism of Hollywood. Was it funny? You bet. Was it always in great taste? Not especially. But good humor rarely is–and neither is prophetic wisdom. Sit with that one for a minute. I will admit, my attention was in and out. I watched the opening monologue, then put kids to bed. Then watched a few minutes and loaded the... Read more
Hey, Millennials. Listen. I no longer care if you come to church or not. I know we’ve been sweating you for a decade–ever since we realized that you really were so over the moral posturing, the monotonous praise tunes, and the coffee in unsustainable styrofoam cups. I know we’ve begged you to come back, tried to lure you with pizza and edgy panel discussions; we’ve stayed up nights wondering WHY you don’t love us anymore; we’ve conducted expensive studies trying to win... Read more
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