Miracles weren’t supposed to happen on nights like that. Gunshots filled the air. Violence was everywhere. Already feeling the contractions, Maria was desperate to find refuge. Just when Maria thought she wasn’t going to make it one more step, a woman opened the door of her shack and invited her in. Within the hour, Maria gave birth to a son and named him Jesus. When José made it to Maria, they knew they had to get Jesus to a... Read more
The Be Loved Community is full of surprisingly raw theology. Rev. Amy Cantrell founded and leads the ministry that feeds hundreds of people each week at a small house near downtown Asheville, North Carolina. I was thankful for the invitation to be in such a space. Though I delivered a sermon, I felt like it was the people who preached to me. One of the dear brothers in the group leaned over and whispered to me, “If it... Read more
After hearing an acquaintance make two racist remarks, I insinuated that his remarks were problematic. I didn’t respond in violently. I simply tried to steer my acquaintance in a better direction. Instead of acknowledging any error, my acquaintance kept making deflecting comments. “Aren’t we all just a little racist?” I tried again and my acquaintance kept deflecting. “Yeah, but we are all racist you know.” The circular conversation was exhausting. When confronted with troubling behavior, I have found that this... Read more
I did not kill I tried to heal I was not fake I can’t escape I have tried to scream I’m on your team You do not listen Because God put me in this position I am dying I will I will not I will Dreams turned to nightmares so quickly Then back to dreams For I am the now and the not yet Forever and ever Amen Read more
J: What do you think happens during communion? C: Communion is the place where we fully encounter the other. We are reminded the way of Jesus is broken and shared among us all. What do you think? J: I believe the elements become God as we ingest them together. We are all made in the image of a God that is queer. We are queer. When all of us queers commune together…we start looking like God. The... Read more
Raised in Georgia, educated in four southern states and presently living in Texas, I am an undeniable product of the South. When I joined in the celebration of the marriage equality ruling of the Supreme Court of the United States last Friday from my speaking tour (currently in California), I worried how the implementation of the decision would go in the region I have always called home. After a few days of news coverage, most of my fears have... Read more
* Derived from a Sermon Delivered at New Heart Community Church in La Mirada, California on June 28, 2015 Justice starts in our beginnings. Too often we run from beginnings. Even when we think about the creation myth in Genesis, we run from the snake, the bite and the ejection to the incarnation of God in Jesus. Just give me Jesus. Just give me Jesus. Evangelicals love to talk like that. Just give me Jesus. Unfortunately, I don’t... Read more
*This is the sixth installment of theological conversation between my intern Christian Parks and I. C: Early in this journey I had the opportunity to witness you baptize your youngest twins, Madeleine and Lucas. As a Baptist preacher, why infant baptism? J: I believe that nothing can separate us from the love of God. I baptize my children as an outward sign of an inward grace. An inward grace that comes by being created in the image... Read more
With celebration of the Supreme Court of the United States’ recent marriage equality decision sweeping the nation, I thought now would be a good time to examine where Christian denominations are at on LGBTQ issues. When I decided to compile a list of denominations that discriminate (based primarily on ordination, marriage and a variety of other indicators of inclusion), I knew that my efforts would not be an exact science. The list I compiled is based on an amalgamation of... Read more
*This is the fifth intentional conversation between my summer intern Christian Parks and I. J: Why is the construct of the church relevant? C: The church is relevant because it is the most diverse construct we have in our world. The gospel of Jesus is a unifying message…no matter language, tradition or creed. Our homogenous spaces suffocate us and the church offers a model for breathing in our diverse oneness. Do you think the church is... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In