Hebrews 10:19-25 Mrs. Cline, my elementary school Sunday School teacher, once told us a story about how priests would enter the Holy of Holies deep in the center of the Temple. Only one could enter, she told us, and he must be perfect and purified. There was a specific ritual which must be carried out... Continue Reading →
A Long Overdue Apology to a Good Man I Tried to Destroy: A Letter to Chris Hedges
Dear Chris Hedges, I only met you twice, but in those two meetings, you left a mark on my life. The first meeting was at an event hosted by the Poverty Initiative at Union Theological School back in the late 2000s (2009, if memory serves me well). The second meeting happened in McDowell County when... Continue Reading →
Enemies: A Confession
The past two Sundays I have felt compelled to include a prayer "for our enemies" in the Pastoral Prayer section of worship. This is not unique to my style of worship--I often do this. But during Lent it seems doubly important to remember that God's grace and the gift and sacrifice of Jesus Christ isn't... Continue Reading →
An Open Letter to my Childhood Bully
"Jay" (that's what I'll call you)--we grew up together. We lived in the same neighborhood. Our mothers had also been school mates growing up in this same neighborhood together. You would think we'd have gotten along a bit better. But for the most part we just seemed oblivious of each other. We were often in the... Continue Reading →
This Is What Seventy Times Seven Looks Like
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm... Continue Reading →
Forgiving the Inexcusable
"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you." ~C.S. Lewis Lord, you have forgiven so much in me. I am foolish and hardheaded, stubborn at times, and too unsteady at others. I know what is right and yet, on too many occasions I've chosen convenience rather... Continue Reading →
When They Stop Believing, Do We Get To Stop Loving?
Recently, I read an article on the NPR.org about Teresa MacBain, a former Florida minister who no longer believes in God. (Click here for a link to the article). In a nutshell, MacBain, the daughter of a pastor, had been raised in a conservative Southern Baptist family and eventually became a pastor in the United... Continue Reading →