“'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10 Ancient peoples often attributed natural disasters, including earthquakes, to the power of angry gods. Anger the gods, the … Continue reading Grace that won’t be shaken
Love
The work of hearts and hands
“Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” Matthew 15:10-11 All those listening to these words would have been raised under Mosaic Law – a collection of 613 laws that governed every aspect of life, from birth to death and … Continue reading The work of hearts and hands
The light of life
Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because … Continue reading The light of life
Asking in the name of salvation
Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. John 16:20, 23b Jesus has just told the disciples he'll … Continue reading Asking in the name of salvation
Crying out in the wilderness — a reflection on love
Wednesday was the Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, which gives us a good opportunity to pause and reflect on the meaning of evangelism, and how we are meant to evangelize. First off, let's dispel with any perceived differences around the term "Evangelical Christianity," and the socio-political implications of that phrase. Wherever you fall in … Continue reading Crying out in the wilderness — a reflection on love
Diwali, Light and Christian Love
Today marks the last day of Diwali, the five-day Hindu festival of light also celebrated by followers of the Jain and Sikh faith traditions. I must admit, my knowledge of Diwali is limited to a high school religion class a quarter century back and some online searches to refresh my memory. What I remember and … Continue reading Diwali, Light and Christian Love
Fear not: An open letter
To my conservative, Evangelical brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ, I am writing in a spirit of love, and with more than a little concern for our shared walk in Christ. You and I may not agree on some things. In fact, we may disagree on quite a lot. But, I’d like to … Continue reading Fear not: An open letter
The most segregated hour
ENID, Okla. — More than half a century after Martin Luther King, Jr. called 11 a.m. on Sunday the most segregated hour in America, eighty percent of the nation’s congregations still are made up of predominantly one race. That statistic is slowly shifting toward more diverse congregations — in 2012 all-white congregations made … Continue reading The most segregated hour
Its name is love
I was very honored today to deliver a sermon on Christian unity, below, at the historic St. Stephen AME Church in Enid, Oklahoma. We had six ministers, including myself, preach on Matthew 24:14 in this ecumenical service. For a budding Episcopal lay preacher to have the opportunity to preach alongside pastors who have been in … Continue reading Its name is love
Not much has changed
"Not much has changed." Those were the words yesterday of a 73 year-old museum curator and Black Indian activist I was interviewing when I asked her how much, in her estimation, had race relations changed since her childhood in the 40s and 50s. She grew up in a segregated school system, in a race-zoned … Continue reading Not much has changed
