Catholics and Protestants across the globe will observe an important day this week. No, it isn’t Easter. Easter is actually the first day of next week. But later this week, millions of Christians plan to fast and pray on Good Friday (March 29). In doing so, they will remember Christ’s death on the cross and prepare to celebrate his resurrection on Easter – the most important day in Christendom – which is March 31 this year. But not all Christians... Read more
Celebrating a Biblical Heroine During Easter & Women’s History Month Who was Mary Magdalene? She has been portrayed as a sinner, prophet and saint, among other things. She appears in all four Gospels, but only briefly, and the Bible gives no specifics about her life outside her discipleship. She lived 2,000 years ago, yet people throughout the world know her name. And we continue to talk about her. Why does Mary Magdalene continue to fascinate us? “It is Mary Magdalene... Read more
“White Christian nationalism is built upon a fundamental lie,” the Rev. Stephen D. Jones wrote in an article that ran in the Kansas City Star and several other newspapers earlier this week. The lie is “that America was founded by Christians for Christians.” And the long-time pastor determined to unveil the lies behind Christian nationalism. Jones accuses white Christian nationalist leaders of trying to convince Americans “that Christianity, particularly their version of Christianity, should have elevated status and indeed dominate... Read more
The United States is a land of immigrants and always has been. Immigrants have made numerous positive contributions to America’s evolving culture from the beginning, and they are continuing to do so. Yet, many radical right-wing Christians are loudly demanding that the U.S. send today’s immigrants home. Given this outcry, it’s refreshing to see that some evangelical leaders are fighting for refugees and making significant contributions to help them. These evangelical leaders have the right idea. When Christ told us,... Read more
The 2015 movie “War Room” starring author and motivational speaker Priscilla Schirer was my introduction to having a Christian prayer room, closet or corner in the home. Some of my friends have special areas – such as their kitchen table, a sunroom or a recliner – where they have their daily prayers and read their Bibles. I don’t even have that. I’ve wondered at times whether I should have a prayer room. My daughter has one in her home, which... Read more
Another day, another heavy gray sky, another cold rain…. Follow that dreary weather pattern with a huge (and thankfully rare) snowstorm. Then, add a Covid-19 quarantine and an eye infection to the nasty mix, and you might feel downright depressed. But faith helps the winter blues and much more. I’m fortunate that my short-term doldrums are fading, but some people suffer from the winter blues or more serious forms of depression all winter. One source of help for Christians is... Read more
A Deep Hatred February is Black History Month, and although I’m not a person of color, I want to talk about racism in America. More specifically, I want to ask this question: Can we ever heal America’s great racial divide? I have never been the target of racial hatred, but I was involved in a small incident in which people I cared about were targeted. In the scheme of things, it was no more than a tiny, ugly ripple, but... Read more
Black churches in America have played a pivotal role in the lives of African Americans since long before the Civil War began in 1861. As we celebrate Black History Month this February, I would like to look at how black churches have touched African Americans and impacted the nation as a whole. Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. author of The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song and numerous other books, says that you have to understand the black... Read more
The Role & Importance of Christian Music Whether you prefer a traditional church choir accompanied by piano and organ, a rock band backed by guitars and drums, a bluegrass group featuring banjos, or a Gregorian chant, music plays an important role in worship services. Beloved old hymns and today’s best contemporary Christian music can touch your soul. The best music has power and meaning. Power to quiet your chaotic mind and help you focus or energize your tired body. Power... Read more
Thousands of words have been written about the recent Republican caucuses in Iowa. I’m not going to add my thoughts to the mix, but the news did make me think about several questions that have confounded me since the 2016 election. The main ones are these: Why would millions of white evangelical Christians vote for Donald Trump in 2016? And why would Christians trade Christ for Trump, as many have, since 2016? In writing this article, I didn’t want to... Read more
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