Over the last week, I've been listening to my Black clergy colleagues, talking with other Doubting Believers and doing some of my own research on how we can help right now. There are is an overwhelming amount of information out there, so here is a short list of resources that I (and people who know a lot more than I do) are finding helpful right now. For people who think ...
Read MoreMay the Holy Spirit burn bright in our hearts and lives this Pentecost https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twz5d6dGKXs
Read MoreWhat if it were your son?What if your unarmed son had been killed by armed men sanctioned by the government? Maybe your son had been casing housesMaybe he had been trying to pass a phony billMaybe he hadn't been doing anything but walking around in the color of his own skin. But whatever he did or didn't do, he was dead. And there was no justice. You called the police.You badgered the district attorney.You ...
Read MoreLord knows white people are just plum wearing me out. And if someone as white as me is tired of white people, people of color must be so weary, I can't even imagine how they're still standing. Just this week (within walking distance of my apartment) a white woman called the police on a black man who simply asked her to follow the rule and leash her dog. This ...
Read More
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4V-qRR4zMg Join me starting June 1 (or whenever you want any time after that) for the free five-day Chill Out Challenge. Sign up below
Read More
I am not very good at quoting scripture chapter and verse, but I know my Bible stories. It might have something to do with being an only child in an era before cell phones and the internet and having a mom who made sure I had a TON of Bible story books. As the country begins to open up, and we're all having to discern how to move back ...
Read More
As churches begin to consider what worship post-pandemic will look like, many are looking at gathering in smaller groups (often at people's homes) before coming together as a whole. The beginning of a new group and new ways of being together is an excellent time to establish some rituals that will not only help bond the group, but also help to keep people safe. I am a huge hugger and absolutely ...
Read More
I've been using the same Mother's Day prayer for years now. I've adjusted it this year to reflect our realities. May we mindful of the myriad of emotions Mother's Day stirs up for people we love--especially this year. Today we pray for moms. We pray for the moms who bake cupcakes, wait in car lines, pack lunches, juggle sports schedules and preside over petty playground squabbles. We pray for moms who are ...
Read More
A young woman on the news captures what's wrong with our world in one sentence. A young woman from a few thousand years ago shows us a better way. https://youtu.be/4KpdYk_hPhI
Read More
Check out this video on a ritual for naming your grief and get further instruction in the text below. https://youtu.be/vWvx5RVAAag Items you'll need: a small box or container paperwriting instrumentsymbol of your loss Light a candle to signify the light of Christ. Invite God into the space. You might choose to sing Kum ba ya (which means Come by Here). If you're familiar with the song, you know there are a ...
Read More
Rituals don't always have to be super serious. They can be fun...even playful. And a little play is good for all of us, especially now. Since most of us are at home and sitting down at the table together more than ever, why not add a prayer ritual to dinner? Or maybe just adjust one that you already have. Here's one that can be more meaningful than ...
Read More
Take a listen to this song from Kate Campbell. It's one of her best. https://youtu.be/7xkaSNQJ_3o If you check out chapter 24 of Luke (which you can do in about five minutes in this handy video from the Bible Project), you'll see that it starts with people who are looking for Jesus, then some that have given up on looking for Jesus and then are totally surprised when Jesus shows up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb24Lk1Oh5M I ...
Read MoreAs important as it is to nurture our faith, encourage one another and keep a positive attitude, we must also make space for the grief we are feeling during this time. And the grief felt in the midst of this pandemic runs a wide gamut. It goes from grieving the loss our twice-weekly exercise class community to the cancellation of a milestone event or a regular tradition to the loss ...
Read More
What we can still learn from Peter--even though he chose to get out of the boat, and we all got tumped out of ours. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z655-4vw4Lc
Read More
People are coming up with great ways to celebrate birthdays in these shelter-in-place Covid-19 times. Zoom parties, drive-by parades, balloon bouquets and surprise lawn decorations are all being employed to celebrate those special days. But like everything else in these Covid-19 times, not getting to gather in person with the people we love is a bummer. Here's a short ritual you can do at home to celebrate you. I've attached ...
Read More
As we remain isolated in our respective homes, all of America (or at least the majority of America) is engaged in a profound act of community right now. It's not voluntary for many, nor is it always done with grace and love, but it is an act of community nonetheless. Not only are we staying in to protect the most vulnerable among us, we are staying in to make sure our ...
Read More
https://youtu.be/lMd-osw61Is Thanks to all who contributed their images of joy. Happy Easter, everyone!
Read More
When we suffer a loss, it's important to recognize and honor that loss. With the current restrictions around gathering together, many are being robbed of that critical piece of the grieving process. Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing ideas for rituals to remember those we have lost when we aren't able to participate in larger ceremonies and observances. I hope you'll share your ideas as well. Note: ...
Read More
Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday with Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Things quickly take a downturn and we move to the tragedy of the cross and then on to the triumph of the empty tomb. Holy Week can get dicey. There's no way around it. The miracle of the empty tomb and the Risen Lord don’t have much meaning unless you travel through Good Friday and witness the crucifixion. ...
Read More
The mandate to stay at home and the cancelling of public gatherings is robbing us of much-needed rituals. So each Tuesday, Doubting Believer will bring you rituals to celebrate, mourn and mark special occasions from home. Most of 2020's high school and college graduates will not have traditional graduation ceremonies this year. It is still an important transition in the life of young people, and it needs to be observed and ...
Read More
As part of my Light Up the World online class, I created a Haiku for every book of the Bible to help us remember what we can find where. I'd thought I'd share a few of those here in the form of a quiz. How many of these Old Testament Books of the Bible can you identify from their Haiku? Not sure if the results say more about how much ...
Read More
What are you doing that brings you joy? During this time, finding ways to experience joy is not frivolous, it's imperative. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knfynL91124&t=21s Send pics and videos of ways you are finding joy to anne@doubtingbeliever.com.
Read More
About 10 days ago, we talked about Psalms of Communal Lament in our weekly Zoom Bible study. Lament (crying out to God) is expressed throughout our scriptures. It is a form of prayer that is cathartic and reassuring at the same time. I encourage you to write your own Psalm of Communal Lament, but for now, here is mine: Almighty God, Creator of all, things are getting really ...
Read MoreThis is the last installment of our Lenten series, It's a Nice Song, But It's Hard to Sing...and it's the hardest song, yet. Blessings upon as all as we navigate this new (but temporary) way of being. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKAOaLPbwfg
Read More
Tonight at the inaugural Wine Wednesday Bible Zoom Bible study, we talked about the Psalms of Communal Lament. A note on lament: I am a big fan of lament. My ordination sermon was on the topic. The thing I like most about lament is that if you're crying out to God--in anger, grief, frustration--it means that even in the depths of despair, you still believe that God is listening. That ...
Read More
In times of great stress, it's important to take radically good care of yourself. When that stress also includes financial uncertainty, it's important to be able to do it without spending money. Here are some free ways to take care of yourself during this most difficult season. Breathe Never underestimate the power of pausing and breathing. Even if you just have a minute, it can make a huge difference. My favorite ...
Read More
For people of faith communities, our first instinct in a time of crisis is to gather together. But what if the crisis makes gathering counter-indicated or even dangerous? Here are five ways to gather with your faith (or friend) community that won't put you or others at risk. Set a Prayer Time Set a specific time every day for prayer. Commit to praying at that time so that you know you ...
Read MoreHad a doozy of a time getting this week's message to upload, but here we go. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffKaiTqX2HE Mark 12:13-17
Read More
The Corona virus (or COVID-19) is disrupting our sense of community in so many ways. Events like South by Southwest in Austin and Seattle's Emerald City Comic Con have been canceled or postponed. These are events that many people attend year after to year to gather with others who share their interests. They gather with their people, to be in community...and those gatherings aren't happening. In some communities, religious congregations ...
Read MoreHere is the second installment in our It's a Nice Song, but It's Hard to Sing Lenten series. The scripture today is Mark 10:32-45. https://youtu.be/VGxtvH8By0w
Read More
If you grow weary of election results and Corona virus updates, here are five movies (some you may not have heard of) that boost my spirits every time. Based on a true story of when the LGBTQ community teamed up with striking miners in the UK, this movie will make you feel better about life and the world. I love it every time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIh0v7nQcXw Available on Amazon Prime and Hulu It's ...
Read More
Doubting Believer is asking our readers to make your voices heard regarding affordable insulin for all who live with diabetes. Over the next few weeks, we will have guest posts from people who live with the disease about the importance of access to life-saving medication. Links to ways you can help are found at the end of this post. What does the Lord require of you, but to seek justice, love ...
Read MoreIt's a Nice Song, but it's Hard to Sing starts off with a doozy. Welcome to Lent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHT0Yr7Z17k If you want to keep up with all things Lent, you can sign up here for Lent-specific emails.
Read More
Ok, good pastors don't play favorites, but there are members who make their jobs easier. If you want to be that kind of church member, check out these 10 things. Tell them when you're sick, in the hospital or if someone has died. Pastors are not psychic, nor do they sense a disturbance in the force when a member has left this mortal coil. If you want their presence and/or ...
Read More
Lent begins Wednesday, February 26. Traditionally Lent is a time to enter into deeper reflection or discipline to prepare our hearts and minds for the celebration of Easter. Some people give something up. Other's take on a particular practice. If you're not quite sure what to do for Lent yet, here are some options. Are you already listening to Parents Take Five podcast with Jen Evans? If you're a parent, ...
Read MoreThis is a saying I picked up from my grandfather. When he used it, he was generally referring to a hymn he experienced on one of those rare occasions when my saintly grandmother could drag him to church. We all know nice songs that are hard to sing, and I think the idea fits the Lenten scripture passages from the Narrative Lectionary this year quite well. They are familiar passages, ...
Read More
Doubting Believer is asking our readers to make your voices heard regarding affordable insulin for all who live with diabetes. Over the next few weeks, we will have guest posts from people who live with the disease about the importance of access to life-saving medication. Links to ways you can help are found at the end of this post. What does the Lord require of you, but to seek ...
Read MoreI just came from a confirmation camp at Johnsonburg Camp and Retreat Center. Part of the focus for this group of confirmands was on interfaith dialogue and how we live our Christian life in harmony with people of other faiths. We were blessed with the presence of Daisy Khan, the director of Women's Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality, who shared her own faith journey with us and answered a ...
Read More
Obviously, Doubting Believer is not a food blog or recipe site, but it is about living a life in Christ and becoming the people God calls us to be. A life in Christ is a life of service and care for others. We all know that one of the best ways to show that we care when someone has just had a baby, is dealing with an illness or has ...
Read More
It’s a long list today, God. Of people to lift up to you. I know you already know, That people are hurting And I know that I can’t possibly name them all here For my world and my awareness are so very small But … So that You know that I know that the world needs You So that You know that I know that You listen when we call So that others might know that they are being ...
Read More
What do we want to bind ourselves to here on earth--judgment, exclusion and disconnection? Or do we want to bind ourselves to love, inclusion and relationship? I have scoured the scriptures and can't find anything that insists that we are bad Christians if we don't police the actions and attitudes of others. But I find a lot that insists that love, forgiveness and welcome is essential to a life in ...
Read MoreThere are a number of "wise" sayings of my maternal grandfather that have been passed down in the family lore. One he was particularly fond of (especially in reference to hymns on those occasions when my saintly grandmother could get him to church) was, "It's a nice song, but hard to sing." We all know songs like this. The Star Spangled Banner comes to mind. Let it Go from ...
Read More
Doubting Believer is an experiment in what an online, progressive, inclusive Christian community can look like and be. We have an e-mail list, a FB page, FB groups and online classes. But one thing we haven't had is a common mission. I've been thinking and praying on and generally searching for what that might be. The world's problems are many and great. In what mission might this small group ...
Read More
Nobody gets out of this life alive, and nobody gets out of this life without losing people we love. Because death is so much a part of this life, you'd think we'd all be well-versed in how to deal with grief and loss, but that is not always the case. So often, we don't know what to say or do when someone dies. Dealing with death is a skill ...
Read More
Taking our faith to work. How do we do it in ways other than walking up to people and asking them if they know Jesus? Actually, I would really recommend against that. To take our faith to work...or school...or into our community, we just have to shift some attitudes and ideas on what it means to minister. The first idea we need to change—or to simply let go of—is the ...
Read More
Religion has had a rough 2019. From the rise of anti-Semitism here in the US and around the world to the Trumpification of evangelicalism to the attempted purging of Muslims by India's leader to watching Notre Dame burn to the heart-breaking loss of Rachel Held-Evans, religion has been hit hard. Yet, religion and religious communities keep keeping on. In spite of all the bad news, I've managed to find 10 ...
Read More
Need some guidelines for the year ahead? Here's an A to Z list of things to remember as we dive into a new decade! First, a classic ABC song to get you in the right frame of mind. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFpIxHLEyh4 And now... Absolve yourself (and others) from guilt and shame. Believe in people (and let them know it). Call out racism and hate. Create beauty. Care for the least of these. Doubt--because ...
Read More
I have gotten a bad rap. I’m not even in Luke’s version of the nativity story and yet, in Christmas pageant after Christmas pageant for the last 2000 years, I’m made out to be the bad guy. I mean, I’m no Herod, but still…I don’t come off looking good. Somehow, I became the guy who turned poor Joseph and great-with-child Mary away from the inn so that her baby had to ...
Read More
Even if he were the most devoted and dedicated angel in all of heaven, Gabriel must have been taken by surprise The Almighty, Immortal, Omnipotent God of all Creation Was going to become one of those frail, fallible, fearful humans. Before Gabriel could decide if he had heard correctly, God springs another surprise. Gabriel must go to the backwater town of Nazareth And tell a poor, peasant teenager that she is to ...
Read More
Find traditional Christmas music grating, irrelevant or just plain silly? I've never been a fan of separating music in to sacred and secular categories--particularly at Christmas. What better time to be reminded that the holy and the human are inextricably intertwined? I think all (most?) music can be sacred if it touches your heart, reveals to you a universal truth, expands your understanding of God and God's people or just ...
Read More
Do you ever have dreams that seem so real, you’re not sure if they happened or not? When I was in my twenties, I used to have a re-occurring dream. Actually, it was a series of dreams with a re-occurring theme. If I had been out somewhere that night—a party, the movies, a restaurant, a friend's home—when I came home and went to bed, I would dream that I was ...
Read More
We Protestants don’t put as much emphasis on Mary as do our Catholic and Orthodox brothers and sisters. We don’t say the Hail Mary. We don’t pray to Mary as an intercessor. In most Reformed Protestant churches, Mary gets trotted out at Christmastime and is packed away with the rest of the nativity scene until Advent rolls around again. I think we need Mary front and center more often. Mary is ...
Read More
It's the second Sunday of Advent. The time is drawing nigh. Houses are being decorated. Christmas cards are being addressed. Menus are being planned. Cantatas and children's pageants are being rehearsed. Budgets are starting to strain, and nerves are beginning to frazzle. We swore last year that we wouldn’t do it again. We would not spend our weekends and evenings elbowing through crowds or driving around in the rain searching ...
Read More
In the midst of the darkness, we hang on to the light. The prophet Isaiah said, “The spirit of the Lord is upon me,because the Lord has anointed me;he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,to bind up the broken hearted,to proclaim liberty to the captives,and release to the prisoners;To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,and the day of our God.” Hope is convinced that God will keep ...
Read More
This year, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is one of the shortest ever. So you barely have time to finish off those leftovers before the Christmas onslaught begins. While many of you will have wonderful holiday experiences and make lasting heart-warming memories, time with family does not always (often?) look like something out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. There are bad histories, old grudges and deeply held resentments ...
Read More
Make your holiday a happy one. Based on my experience and extensive research, here are the top 10 questions to avoid this Thanksgiving Day. So, what do you think about the impeachment hearings? When are you two getting married?When are you having kids/another kid/trying for a boy/girl? (basically stay away from all talk of people's sex lives and reproductive choices)Do you have a job yet? Or the related: When are you ...
Read MoreI would like to believe that our institutions of higher education are places where white people acknowledge our own struggle with racial bias and are working to identify and address the places where we fall short. They are not places where ugly, overt racism lives. Such nastiness is relegated to backwater bumpkinvilles where people are just too ignorant to know better. This week racist graffiti was found scrawled on the ...
Read More
Gracious and loving God, On Veteran’s Day, we pray for all who have served our country on land or sea or air, at home or in far away lands. We honor those who never made it home. We pray God’s peace and mercy for those who still long for the presence of lost loved ones around the holiday table this year. We pray for those who made it home alive, but for ...
Read More
When I took my first call in ministry, I was not prepared for people to think of me as a respected member of the clergy right away. I figured I would have to earn my stripes and build some credibility, and therefore have some time to grow into it, but...no. Some folks just jumped right in to tell me about intimate relationship issues, family members involved in illegal activity, illnesses ...
Read More
In response to those Christian voices who decry and denounce the celebration of Halloween, my friend Rev. Marie Mainard O’Connell (minister and unapologetic celebrant) penned this ode a few years ago. She graciously allows me to re-post it, because it makes me happy every Halloween. I think it should be read aloud in the town square (if we still had such things) every year. In defense and praise of Halloween! Rally the ...
Read More
All Saints and All Souls day are coming up November 1 and November 2, respectively. Historically, in the Catholic tradition, All Saints Day has been a celebration of the communion of saints, those people who were believed to have made it to heaven. All Souls was a day to pray for all souls--particularly those who may be lingering in purgatory. Today, many Protestant liturgical traditions use the days interchangeably. ...
Read Morehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV8wFANocHY All of you probably know at least something about Zacchaeus. You may be familiar with the song above. If you are of a certain age and grew up in church, you may be able to picture your Sunday school teacher placing the flannel figure of a little man up in a flannel tree on a flannel board. Maybe you really don’t know much about Zacchaeus, but somewhere, sometime, you heard ...
Read More
Dear God, We are tired of the headlines We are tired of the news We are tired of the angry voices We are tired of unarmed black lives lost to guns held by white hands We are tired of arguments over who counts as a person deserving of rights We are tired of men telling women what to do with their bodies. We are tired of trying to win losing battles We are tired of hating and ...
Read More
Today is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Losing a baby is a devastating experience, and it's only been in the last few years that people have begun to recognize that the loss of a baby who never made it to birth can be just as painful a loss as that of a child born during or shortly after birth. We in the Western world are finding new ways ...
Read More
God was lonely. That’s the problem with being THE God. It’s not like being one of the gods of Mount Olympus where you could always find another god or goddess to wrestle for power or to go grab a drink with. THE God is all alone. Even though THE God dwells in community as the Holy Trinity, each of the members is really still God…but not God…but still God. Mystery ...
Read More
What distinguishes Christianity from other religious practices is our belief in grace. The belief that the Grace of God is ours not because of what we do or say or because of who we are but because of who God is. Rabbi Hyam Maccoby says that in most traditions, faith is not about belief but about practice. It’s not about accepting certain irrefutable propositions, but about doing things that change ...
Read More
October is just what we need, God. Just when we think we can't take the heat, cooler weather (or at least the promise of it) arrives. October ushers in change with beautiful and vibrant colors to show us that transition is something to be welcomed rather than dreaded. October offers a master class in the language of letting go, as the trees shed their leaves in preparation for what is ...
Read More
While the legal community may anxiously await the first Monday in October, those of us who follow the liturgical calendar look forward to the first Sunday in October--World Communion Sunday. If you come from a worshipping community that observes communion (aka the eucharist or the Lord's Supper) every Sunday, this may seem like an unnecessary observance. But many communities only take communion once a month, and some traditions may only ...
Read More
We really blew it, didn't we? You gave us this good and green earth, and we have squandered it. You asked us to care for it, and we abused it. It's not that we aren't awestruck. We've stared into the vastness of the ocean with our toes in the sand. We've marveled at the proverbial majesty of the mountains. We've been nourished by the gifts of the ground. We've feasted on its bounty. ...
Read More
In the Judeo-Christian story of creation, humans were gifted with earth and all it has to offer. We were also charged with taking care of it. We have failed at this on a massive scale. How weird is it that many Christians are the leading deniers of climate science, and a bunch of non-believers are leading the charge to save God's good creation from the damage we have done ...
Read More
I'd like to make peace with all the dragons in my headall those dark creatureswho came in the open door of childhoodand bedded down. I've denied them, feared them and fought themall the same, I've fed them rather wellThey've grown fat on my hatred,Multiplied like rabbits in the warm nest of my obsessionOverpopulated my psyche with their kids I'm very kind to other people's dragons,it's my own i'm not able to ...
Read More
There are seasons in life when the pain just seems to pile on. Those times when we don't dare say, "at least it can't get any worse," because we know that it can and probably will. These seasons are difficult enough when they are our own, but perhaps even more difficult when they are happening to people we love, and we feel helpless in our efforts to alleviate ...
Read More
Who is our neighbor? Jesus makes it pretty clear that everyone is our neighbor. Somewhere in the history of the church of Jesus Christ (and I haven’t been able to put my finger on exactly when and where it happened) The church lost track of that notion. The church became the people who... told women what they could and couldn’t do in the church—and with lives, told people who they could and couldn’t love, condemned people who didn’t ...
Read More
Then God said, “Let us make humanity in our image to resemble us so that they may take charge of the fish of the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and all the crawling things on earth.” God created humanity in God’s own image, in the divine image God created them,[b] male and female God created them. God blessed them and said ...
Read More
Creator of all things, We pray for those who are overworked and overwrought For those who feel like there are not enough hours in the day and for those who fill their hours with that which does not feel like enough For those who are facing layoffs and those who are looking for help to bear the load For those who find it easier to be at work than to be at home For those ...
Read More
This year's MTV Video Awards show gives me hope for the future. A middle-aged female African-American icon was finally recognized for her contribution and absolutely killed it on stage. Earlier this year, Missy Elliot was the first female hip hop artist inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and this week she was awarded the long overdue MTV Vanguard Award for her contribution to hip hop music, culture and fashion--not ...
Read More
Lots of changes going on in my world. Our family moved across the country, we dropped our daughter off for her freshman year at college and I'm trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life. But, hey, where better to do that last thing than in NYC? I'm writing this from a completely over-stuffed apartment in the city. Even after getting rid ...
Read MoreMy daughter and I are about the embark on a three-day road trip to NYC with our 10-year-old cat in a rented mini-van. I imagine the trip will be on par with a Chevy Chase vacation movie. After we survive the trip, we'll be unpacking in our new apartment and re-packing our daughter to head to her freshman year at college. It's going to be quite a week. I'm fairly scattered ...
Read More
I've lived in Arkansas for about 34 of my 49 years--but not consecutively. I've traveled so many backroads and by-ways of the state that I'm surprised when I run across a small town that I haven't heard of (but I have yet to find a town that my native Arkansan father doesn't know about). Before I get out of here this time and head to NYC, I thought I'd share ...
Read More
I'm a little (a lot) overwhelmed these days. And I'm not the only one. Colleagues in ministry are juggling demanding calls with caring for ailing parents or children with special needs. Many of my friends are (like me) preparing to send a child off to college for the first time and illness, accidents or unforeseen circumstances are hindering the preparation process. I'm in the middle of moving half-way across ...
Read More
I'm having one of those what-the-hell-God days. I like to believe that I'm pretty good at trusting God. At knowing that even in the darkest times, God is in the midst of it...somewhere. Even when I can't see it or feel it, I can trust that God is there. But then there are days that leave you asking God, "What the hell is up with this?" A bright 30-something light ...
Read More
Since the Psalms were actually the songs of their day, I've been playing with modern songs and considering how they might be adapted as prayers. I'm not sure how I would categorize this one, but I like to think of it as a hopeful Psalm of Lament. Ever present God, Being in Your presence Takes me back to a better timeWhen I saw everything as goodBut now You're the only thing ...
Read More
Gracious God, This United States is so very divided. We desperately need uniters. Send us leaders who recognize the plight of the white, rural family farmer and of the brown, urban small business owner...and seek to help both. Raise up leaders who value the work of the bus driver as much as that of the board member. Give us leaders who will be truly pro-life, making sure all of our children have healthcare, ...
Read More
I witnessed an almost-car wreck today. Across the street a car was preparing to turn right. To the left was the top of a hill, and you could only see cars coming as they crested the hill. However, there was enough distance between the crest and where the car was getting on the road that, as long as you didn't see a car, you had plenty of time (I know ...
Read More
The world says Do more Be more Get more Make more But God says Do justice Be loving Get along Make a joyful noise For this is the way of God Abundant God, forgive us when we can’t get to enough. Have mercy on us when we are never satisfied, always wanting that elusive “more” that we can never quite find. Be gentle with us when we fail to love people because they have what we think we want. Save us from ...
Read More
Y'all. There are some questions we really should just stop asking. Questions that simply serve to make others uncomfortable or less-than or just plain irritable. Questions that don't move a conversation forward or give us much insight about the person. Let's just stop it. Let's agree to eliminate these questions from our repertoire. When are you getting married? Not everyone wants to get married. Really. It's true. Some people who ...
Read More
Are you in to rebellion? Resistance? Protest? Then the Sabbath is for you. Think Sabbath is about doing nothing? Wrong! The Sabbath rest is an act of justice. In taking a day off, for that day, you are not living under the rules of a world that say you must be productive in order to be worthwhile. You are not accountable to any master but the true Master. When you take Sabbath, ...
Read More
I've encountered some confusion recently when I've talked about people who have been hurt and abused by the church. Some people think that I'm referring to (and only to) victims of childhood sexual abuse by the church. That's an understandable assumption, as news of such abuse (tragically) continues to be unfolding, and it's something all of us can get behind in our disgust and outrage. But when I talk about ...
Read More
I love a good dive bar, and the best dive bar in Little Rock, Arkansas is the White Water Tavern. It's a good place to stop in any time, but it is at its best when there is live music. Last night Tulsa-based songwriter John Moreland played to a packed house. Moreland is a ridiculously gifted wordsmith with a very loyal fanbase. But I may have missed out on some of ...
Read More
Legend has it that it was this Irish Monk who really discovered America, and that it was his journals on his travels that inspired Christopher Columbus to go out and seek the "new world." Whether or not that's true, Brendan did a great deal of journeying and evangelizing and is the patron saint of mariners and travelers--so you might keep the prayer below in your hip pocket as you head out for ...
Read More
It's a weird juxtaposition to see all the Pride Month rainbow flags flying at the same time much of the world around me is being consumed by flood water. For those of you who didn't go to Sunday school: before the rainbow was the symbol of LGBTQ pride, it was the sign at the end of the story of Noah's Ark that God would never flood the world again. (Okay, ...
Read More
There is no such thing as too much encouragement. There is this misunderstanding that too much encouragement can create entitled, superior, narcissistic people, but that’s simply not true. In fact, it’s exactly the opposite. Behaving like an entitled, self-centered jerk is the mark of someone who feels pretty lousy about themselves. They act like they're better than others, but it's because they don't really think that they are. Encouraging people ...
Read More
In beauty guru circles, there is a saying about eyebrows: they're sisters, not twins. Meaning, that your eyebrows are not going to look exactly alike and to try to make them so is futile. Perhaps we should start using that analogy when talking about faith and mental health. Sure, they are related in that one can positively (or negatively) affect the other, but they are not the same thing. Mental health ...
Read More
It's graduation time. That means lots of top 10 lists and unsolicited advice from all sorts of people. And since I have a daughter graduating this year, there's no way I'm not making my own list. 10 Things I Want My High School Graduate to Know (Okay, I think we all know that there are many more Top 10 things we want our kids to know, but all of them at ...
Read More
Abortion is a difficult topic to talk about, because, contrary to what a lot of people would have you believe, it's an extremely complex issue. Yes, it involves a life, and as Christians (as humans), we believe strongly in the sanctity and value of life. Life is, indeed, a holy and precious thing. But a pregnancy always involves more than one life. There are two to consider. In my ...
Read More
Those in our Bible on Location Bible study have just finished our first week. The location and reflection on Day 3 generated the most discussion and seemed to really resonate with people, so I wanted to share it with you all. The title of this post did not come from me, but from one of our study group who remarked, "I've never thought of God as a laundry woman, but ...
Read More
As much as the card aisle and clever commercials want us to believe that Mother's Day is a warm and fuzzy day of love and gratitude, for many, it is a day to endure and suffer through. Mother's Day shines the spotlight on painful situations and difficult relations. May we mindful of the myriad of emotions Mother's Day stirs up for people we love. Today we pray for moms. We pray for the ...
Read More
As the weather gets warmer, whether or not you're a church member, there are bound to be potlucks in your future. Wanna get credit for bringing something homemade without a lot of work? As a long time potluck-attendee (and one prone to sending my husband out for fried chicken during the offertory), I have developed some fairly effortless hacks to show up with something made at home with love. The ...
Read More
Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.James 1:22 (KJV) Generally the King James is not my go-to translation, but I like the way this verse trips off the tongue in the King's English. We can read and study and discuss and Tweet and even create lovely Instagram graphics of scripture, but we're missing something if we stay only hearers (and even sharers), and fail to be do-ers. One ...
Read More
You hear that a lot. Let Jesus be your guide. Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.Psalm 25:4-5 But what kind of guide does a first century nomadic Palestinian Jew make for 21st Century people? Jesus never had a spouse, or kids or even a real job. Jesus never knew any kind of ...
Read More