I was opposed to Donald Trump long before he entered politics. His long and well documented history of abuse towards women, his racism (Central Park Five, housing discrimination, etc.), his lying, and blatant greed made it utterly baffling why anyone would admire the man. Then he entered politics and I couldn’t believe what I witnessed. At the beginning in 2016, I just assumed he wouldn’t even make it far given his reputation, especially among Christian voters. But as he rose in prominence,...
7 days ago • 5 min read
Hello my friends, Several of you have asked me why I remain a Christian in the midst of all the damage that is happening in our world today under the banner of Christianity. Well, today I wanted to process that question and the thoughts it brought up for me. I hope you find it helpful and encouraging. Recommended Resources -How to Change the World by Hidden Brain This episode is older, but I have thought of its significance so often lately. It interviews a researcher and author who presents...
13 days ago • 9 min read
Hello my friends, I pray you had a safe and grace filled week. While I was processing some complicated emotions around Independence Day, I wrote this short essay about grief being a form of patriotism too. I thought I would share it here with you in case you found it helpful. Today, I wanted to reflect on both Jesus' frustrations and healing words in Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30, where he laments the hardheartedness of people and brings invitation to rest in the midst of weariness. In the midst of...
20 days ago • 9 min read
Remember: Grief Is a Form of Patriotism, Too. This 4th of July, many of us won’t be waving flags or watching fireworks. Not because we hate our country, but because we love it too much to pretend everything is fine. When we see the powerful wield their influence to harm the poor, when policies are passed that will strip people of healthcare, housing, safety, and dignity, when we watch the planet ravaged for profit, when cruelty is packaged as strength and injustice paraded as “God’s will,”...
22 days ago • 2 min read
Hello my friends, Given the events of this last week, I wanted to focus on the topic of the separation of church and state and why I think Christians should defend it, especially in our world today. Below are some resources on this topic you may find helpful: -Christians against Christian Nationalism this organization is founded by and run by Christians dedicated to the gospel of Jesus and opposing Christian nationalism. They have a lot of resources on their website as well as ways to get...
27 days ago • 8 min read
Hello my friends, Today, I want to reflect with you on Matthew 10:24-39 and how Jesus speaks exactly to the kind of painful division we have been experiencing in our culture along the fault lines created by Christian Nationalism. I know many of us have experienced this kind of painful division, so my hope in today’s reflection is to not only provide comfort in knowing you are not alone but to also provide scripture and language you can use to tell your own story if you are struggling to do...
about 1 month ago • 10 min read
Hello my friends, Today I want to reflect with you on Matthew 9:35—10:23. Jesus gives some very specific instructions to his disciples that I feel are often overlooked. As I contemplated them this week, it really helped to put my spiraling between despair and determination into perspective. I hope it does for you too. Resources to consider: -Following Jesus In A World Obsessed With Empires. I recently wrote a 30 day devotional in hopes of providing an encouraging resource for those who are...
about 1 month ago • 9 min read
Hello my friends, With June being Pride Month, I receive a lot of questions about the Bible and passages that are often used against the LGBT community. So, I just wanted to share a few reflections for you here as well as recommend a few resources that might help you process any questions you might be having. I will be sharing two reflections in this piece. The first will be a reflection on God's use of a rainbow and the second will be on Sodom and Gomorrah. I pray you find them encouraging...
about 2 months ago • 11 min read
Hello my friends, I hope this finds you well. This week, I want to reflect on how our beliefs about the nature of God impacts how we live our lives and how that dynamic shapes the world we live in today. RESOURCES: -I was recently given the book, "The Word of a Humble God: The Origins, Inspiration, and Interpretation of Scripture." by Karen R. Keen. I have not begun to read it yet, but I am excited to get started. Karen works to bring together both historical criticism and theology, this...
about 2 months ago • 8 min read