Just a few years ago, I traveled to stand in solidarity with a brutalized community. When I arrived, I followed the lead of local activists. They were ready to go. When we arrived at the authorities’ designated protest site, we started to march. For days, we marched along the same path. I even heard someone say, “If we march how we’re told, we’ll get what we want.” Ultimately, I realized that the designated spot was more about control than change.... Read more
As the lightening crashes on this night, the passion of Rev. Charles Moore visits me again… Originally written on July 3, 2014 The fiery passion of 79-year-old retired United Methodist pastor The Rev. Charles Moore is raging in my soul right now. On June 23 around 5:30pm, Moore exited his vehicle in Grand Saline, Texas, doused his body with gasoline and set himself on fire. After rescue efforts by bystanders, Moore was taken by helicopter... Read more
On January 18, 2017, two Dallas police officers trapped a stolen car in the back of a parking lot. When the car started to move, the officers discharged their weapons into the car. Genevive Dawes was mortally wounded and bled out a short time later. The 21-year-old unarmed mother of two was murdered. In the police account of the events, they said that Dawes hit their patrol car and they had to discharge their weapons. The tape doesn’t... Read more
Today is the first Sunday after the acquittal of Officer Jeronimo Yanez. Nearing a year ago, Yanez murdered Philando Castile during a traffic stop. The entire incident was streamed live. The video seems clear. When police officers are involved, nothing is ever clear. How many pastors have mentioned anything about police brutality? How many have they spoken their names? I suspect very few. Chicken shit pastors rule the roost. Thankfully, we don’t have to wait on pastors to do... Read more
Humanity mixed with divinity is a lethal combination. Explanations are fleeting. Jesus is the full incarnation of God. Jesus is God. On the way to the cross, there is no doubt that Jesus is terrified of what’s next. From the anxious blood to the pleas for help to the shouts of abandonment, God was afraid. In the midst of pain and death, God wanted out. Moments like this are not foreign to humanity…nor are they foreign to divinity. If... Read more
Pandemonium filled the church. The television cameras rolled. I beamed as one of the top elected officials in our county walked up to receive an award. Everyone listened intently as I described the official’s accomplishments. Then, the moment we’d all been waiting for arrived. I extended the award and gave the official a hug. Pandemonium broke out again. In the midst of the joy, I saw the cross out of the corner of my eye. Slowly, sickness came upon... Read more
Jesus promised loyalty. Jesus promised care. Jesus promised miracles. Jesus promised salvation. What happened? Jesus left. Jesus doesn’t care. Jesus is powerless. Jesus has damned us. What in the hell happened? I believe in you. I don’t believe in you. In the chaos of belief, I follow Jesus. Amen. Read more
Music boomed. Lights flashed. Hands raised. By the time the minister came on stage, the crowd was ready. “Isn’t it wonderful that God died once and for all for all of our sins?” The statement was meant to reassure the assumed safe/saved in the room. Evangelical theology misses the point. The pastor and many others believe that God only had to die once. They are wrong. The problem is that a God who dies once cannot be incarnated in... Read more
Years ago, I was a youth minister in a small town church. As churches go, people took ownership of certain things. There was the music lady who protected the hymnals as if her life depended on it. There was the Bible teacher who refused to allow anyone else to teach. There was the usher that refused to let the congregation touch the offering plates. The sound guy was especially horrific. After an older woman touched the sound system, Sparky... Read more
In the past couple of years, I’ve learned just how ferocious I can be. If you get nasty with my children, you can expect to get nasty back. Earlier today we were in a thrift store, when a woman declared, “Your little girl has such pretty hair.” Immediately, my child said, “I’m just me.” Undeterred, the woman responded, “I know what you are now…Tell your parents to cut your hair so that you’ll stop looking like one of these... Read more
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