Dear people of God, I can’t breathe. People are so confused. Everyone thinks that protesters are the agitators across the country. Believe me, I experienced who the real agitators are last night. You will find them next to the people who are gasping for air. Throughout the night, over 500 people marched through the streets of Dallas to remind the populace that the real agitators in our city... Read more
On July 17, 2014, Jesus was standing on a corner. Officers confronted Jesus. After a brief conversation, Jesus was placed into a chokehold and slammed to the ground. The last words of Jesus were, “I can’t breathe.” I don’t believe that Eric Garner lived his life as Jesus. I don’t believe any of us do. Based on the exhortation of Jesus to “the least of these” in Matthew 25, I do believe that Jesus inhabits the marginalized and oppressed more... Read more
Our God was born in Bethlehem. Our God became flesh and dwelt amongst us. Our God is bound to the suffering of the world. Our God is bound to us. Jesus declared that he was sick and that he would inhabit the sick. People around the world are sick and suffering with AIDS. Jesus has AIDS. The church is called the Body of Christ. People within the Body of Christ are sick and suffering with AIDS. The Body of Christ... Read more
Has your church ever executed someone? Don’t be appalled by such a question. Think deeper. Perhaps you never hung someone on the cross at the front of your sanctuary, but have you considered the consequences of your inaction? Think about all the times your church could have done something to save a life and didn’t. Can’t think of any? Christians in Texas should have no problem. Texas has one of the largest populations of Christians in the nation.... Read more
Many of us will eat Thanksgiving Dinner today with Darren Wilson. Often, Wilson is someone we love tremendously. Wilson will assure us that there is not a race problem in our country. Speaking of Ferguson and other violence, they will say that those were a bunch of thugs and vigilantes. Citing their plethora of black friends, Wilson will talk about the need for people to just get along like they do with their friends. Wilson will use language that... Read more
I have not looked at all the evidence. I only know that an armed police officer named Darren Wilson shot an unarmed man named Michael Brown over and over and over again. I don’t need more evidence. I don’t need more explanation. I don’t need more analysis. I am angry. For a while after the decision of the grand jury, I prayed for peace in Ferguson. When I heard from Jesus, I stopped praying that prayer. I thought that Jesus... Read more
Running late. I am always running late. The rain poured. I had to get out of the car. Stepping out The puddle overflowed into my shoe I kept walking I had to get to church Pushing into the rain I saw someone I didn’t have time to stop Something pulled me back Turning around She stood there soaking wet I stared She managed a smile Smiling back God was wet too Read more
I am a Southern Baptist. Though I am also affiliated with the Alliance of Baptists and much more inclusive and progressive in my theology than the majority of Southern Baptists, I don’t run from the label. To discard the label of Southern Baptist would be to discard who I am. I am a Baptist from the South. I was brought up, educated and ordained by Southern Baptists. Like many of you, this will always be a reality for me. A few short... Read more
On October 30, I woke up and walked into the bedroom of our three young children. Our oldest children are twin boys. Their little bodies were contorted around stuffed animals and producing loud snores. I watched them sleep for a little while. The room was still dark. I walked further in. Our youngest was curled up in a ball. I watched him sleep for a moment. Shuffling over to a rocker, I sat for a while and let my... Read more
“Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s” -Matthew 22:21 (NRSV) Many years ago, religious leaders confronted Jesus about paying taxes. The group wanted to push Jesus into a corner and make him respond to their political provocations. Should they pay taxes? Jesus responded with a shrug. Picking up a coin and showing them the picture of the emperor, Jesus suggests that if it belongs to the emperor... Read more
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