Spotlight Interview with KA Ellis on Maria Fearing, the girl who dreamed of distance lands
Who are your ancestors? Bring your family tree up into your mind’s eye. Who are your ancestors in that biological genetic family tree? Now, think about a different family tree. Who are your ancestors in the faith? Who reached you with the Gospel? Who reached them? So on and so on and so on until…
Read MoreSummer Calling: Serving as Spiritual (or Actual) Lifeguards
“Pool closed.” That’s the sign greeting many urban families across the United States this summer. Why? There’s a nationwide shortage of lifeguards. The lifeguard shortage has been going on for the last few years, but this summer, it is reaching a crisis level. From Minneapolis to Chicago to Philadelphia and New York, hundreds of community…
Read MoreSpotlight Interview with Dewey Williams, Minister on Death Row
2414. No, that is not my projection about the year in which the world will come to an end. 2414 is the number of people in America for whom in all practical ways, the world has already ended. 2414 is the current number of men and women on death row in America today. Persons who…
Read MoreWhat does it mean to be a Good Samaritan today
On the NYC Subway incident and asking what does God expect of us today Friend, when you woke up this morning, what did you expect to happen today? Think about these questions, as you make your coffee or eat your breakfast: What do you expect God to do without you having to ask? What do…
Read MoreWhat’s love got to do with it?
Rock and soul singer Tina Turner has died after a long battle with illness. She was 83. Maybe her most well known song was “What’s love got to do with it?” That’s a very provocative question. I contend that love is much more than a second-hand emotion. In fact, everything is all about love. Where…
Read MoreSpotlight Interview with Jon Ward, National News Correspondent
Jon Ward is a front line journalist in Washington D.C. and a Christian. He currently serves as the chief National Correspondent at Yahoo! News, and has covered American politics and culture for two decades— writing about the what, the who, the how of our national political discourse— including time as a White House correspondent traveling…
Read MoreWhere Everyone Went When Everything Went Wrong
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to…
Read MoreCulture Garden
Culture. It’s a bit of buzzword. We’ve got office culture, pop culture, church wars and even a clash of cultures but do we really know how to define it?. What is culture? From a biblical perspective, a simple definition of culture is what humans do with what God created. Culture certainly includes art, music, fashion,…
Read MoreHappy Rebirth Day!
Each year, we have the chance to celebrate the gift of life by giving and receiving birthday gifts and messages. I appreciate the warm sentiments, silly cards and simple acknowledgments of all the ways in which our lives are woven together. One year, I received a message that has forever influenced the way I view…
Read MoreAn invitation to Lenten Devotional
During this Lenten Season, I invite you to listen to the Word of God that we might hear God afresh and be drawn more fully into His love. We are reminded in Romans 10:17 that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” So when was the last time we honestly, really,…
Read MoreThe Biden State of the Union and the state of our union in Christ
The President of the United States is scheduled to deliver the annual State of the Union address tonight on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. Every year it gets me thinking about the state of my union with Christ, the state of the church, and yes, the state of the union of the nation I call home. …
Read MoreThis Valentine’s day, let’s “phileo”
In the 15th chapter of the gospel of John, Jesus bestows a great gift to his disciples. He says to them, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends.” Jesus demonstrated the value of true and faithful friendship. He knit together a small group…
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