There are moments we never forget. These moments meet and transform us. I am the product of such a moment. I was a young man with much assumed knowledge and even more conviction about who and what God was. I believed that the Bible spoke clearly and our task was to respond clearly. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary was not a place for doubt. We were expected to be prophets of certainty and I was. The game ran... Read more
you are under my skin what are you doing here? we were so hot now i’m so wet why are you soaking in? the clarity is gone you are cold Read more
“…I was in prison, and you visited me.” Jesus doesn’t say, “I was not guilty in prison, and you came to me.” Jesus binds his flesh with the flesh of those who have no hope. Willie Trottie is left with little hope. Tonight, the State of Texas will kill Trottie by lethal injection. We love to say it like that. If we can name the State of Texas as the perpetrator, we can follow in the footsteps of Pilate... Read more
*Delivered at Greater Dallas Metropolitan Community Church When we think about God…we often go to this pace of thinking about Zeus or something in the sky hurling lightening bolts. This Greek or Roman God is way off and only interacts with us when HE is pissed. This God can only be negative or nasty and then we act like Jesus is the sweet God that comes along to redeem God. I believe we all yearn for the God that... Read more
“We don’t want anyone getting arrested or lashing out in anger. It is your job to keep people calm.” These are the words that a local clergyperson shared with me before I traveled to West Florissant Ave. to participate in demonstrations in Ferguson. Throughout the night, clergy consistently congratulated each other that everything seemed to be going according to plan. On multiple occasions, I heard clergy shout down a young person for getting too angry or confrontational. I grew increasingly... Read more
“Love is going to fuck you up.” The ominous words rang out from a woman standing on the street corner. Pointing at me, the woman declared, “You are going to have to die before you can love anybody here.” I knew she was right. The Prophetess of Ferguson reminded me of all the times I have tried to pretend that I don’t carry my own bigotries in life. I knew that love had brought to this city of death, but... Read more
The phone rang. I wasn’t expecting a call so late. “Would you be willing to go to Ferguson on our behalf?” I was surprised by the question. For the last few days, I told numerous people that I would not be traveling to Ferguson. I didn’t have the money. I knew I would miss the kids. I worried about Emily and the pregnancy. I assumed that more people would only make the situation worse. I told the caller, “I’ll pray... Read more
We are a church…we are a congregation forged out of oppression and marginalization. This is a church that is no stranger to violence. Many of you have experienced violence in your own lives…and against your own persons. The death of Michael Brown and the events that have followed in Ferguson, Missouri have reminded us that ours is a world on fire and I know that this is not a congregation that is willing to sit quietly as people and cities... Read more
I don’t know how much it cost me to set up an account on eHarmony. I just know I got my money’s worth and then some. “We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout…” I can think of no better words to describe the origin of our relationship than the opening lines of Johnny and June Carter Cash’s “Jackson.” We knew each other all of two months. From family to friends, everybody thought we were crazy. ... Read more
The year was 2008. The spring semester at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary was coming to a close. I sat alone in my room staring at my closet. The depression was overwhelming and I didn’t know if I could take it anymore. I tried to get help. Professor after professor told me that my severe depression was a result of my sin and that I needed to truly give my life to Jesus. I tried over and over. One of my... Read more
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