*Excerpt from my essay “Queering the Fall” in Ellin Jimmerson’s new book Rainbow in the Word In the midst of normativity, temptation unleashes the queer. Queerness is what makes us divine. We all have our own unique responses to temptation. If not for temptation we would be just like everybody else. If not for God’s responses to temptation, God would not be God. God knew that we needed that fruit tree. The Fall is what makes... Read more
Teachers. I wanted to make sure that I sent this message to both of you. As a matter of conscience, I am writing to request that our children stand outside the classroom and not participate in the pledge of allegiance/national anthem to the US (or Texas/not sure if y’all do that or not). As followers of Jesus and social activists, we are deeply convicted that we live in a nation that constantly perpetuates a variety of... Read more
The Nashville Statement and the Irrelevance of Progressive Christianity “Progressives only know how to do one thing…respond.” I was sitting in a classroom at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary when I uttered those words. The topic was, “The Changing Landscape of Religion in the United States.” There are few truths that have remained with me from my journey through fundamentalism and liberalism and progressivism to something far more progressive. This is one. “They will never... Read more
I remember it all very clearly. I was very conservative. Sitting in my girlfriend’s dorm room, we watched the horrific images of people begging for help from their roofs. We’d all just witnessed one of the worst natural disasters ever. In the midst of it all, we were glued to the television. Eventually, we struck up a conversation about the theological ramifications of it all. She offered a quick observation, “Despite their sin, God is in New Orleans.” I... Read more
It’s a long way from Dallas to Ferguson…but I had to go. I knew you couldn’t follow God and sit on your ass. The air went out. Fire was all I knew. Sweat poured down my face. God met me there. When I arrived, I was introduced to the clergy group. One of the other clergy leaned over and said, “Our job is to keep the peace.” I was terribly uncomfortable with such words. Clergy walked... Read more
I never knew her. Then again, maybe I did. I have seen her in the streets of Dallas. I saw her in Ferguson. She was in Baltimore. Heather Heyer has been in the millions and millions of people who have dared to fight against injustice. She has been with us all along. I never knew her. Actually, I guess I did. What was she thinking in the moments before that car smashed her body? Who was she standing... Read more
The Heresy of Salvation: A Parable Lightening crashes. The day is heavy. I remember the past. I don’t know about the future. I just write. The answers have died. The questions are all that is left. Violence exploded. They just wanted to find a safe place. Running from block to block, they were desperate for something open. After they’d all but given up hope of finding such a place, they saw a church. Running... Read more
God Loves A Killer Cold. The visiting room is always cold. Death lingers. I didn’t wear a coat. There is nothing to do but wait. Well, I guess there are a couple of Bibles available…but it’s hard to read it when God seems so absent. The doors rattled. I watched as inmates went to their booths for visitation. Some looked pleased. Some looked bothered. Some just looked. I put my head back down. Cold. I fell asleep. I... Read more
God is with us. I was sitting at the light. I saw the bike first. I wasn’t prepared. The bottle was next. Everything crashed. I couldn’t figure out what was going on. Then, I saw a leg. Instantly, I hit my flashers and ran. I dove to her side. Holding her body as still as I could, I tried to figure out how bad she was hurt. When Sheriff’s Deputies pulled up, I thought help had arrived. As... Read more
I was just a child. When people started to celebrate my Dad, it took me a second to figure out what for. In time, I realized that Dad was a hero. You see, my Dad ran into a hostage situation involving heavy gunfire and saved the life of a police officer. The officer was shot so many times, that Dad had to stuff towels into his guts to keep him from bleeding out. In addition to the psychological scars... Read more
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