When Jesus said that unless we receive the Kingdom as a child, we can have no part of it, I always interpreted that as equal parts vulnerability, innocence, and curiosity. Kids ask lots of questions. Victoria Robb Powers and Cameron Mason Vickrey have coauthored a book about the many questions kids ask about God’s presence, … Continue reading
Deconstruction is one of those buzzwords. It’s either being used by those who have or are experiencing it or those that want to criticize it. The reality is that Jesus invites us to deconstruct. From a biblical perspective, isn’t Jesus’ invitation to follow him an act of ongoing deconstruction, leaving the old and discovering the … Continue reading
With the murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, among many others, the country came to this flashpoint of awakening that racism is not a past but a lived experience of black and brown people. There was so much energy and moment around real change. And then, well then, White people struck back. … Continue reading
Long before chattel slavery dominated the American South, human subjugation had been perfected by the Spanish conquest of the Mississippi Delta. The Conquistadors’ colonization, displacement, and enslavement of the Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Creek laid the foundation for the later formation of chattel slavery, post-war terrorism by the KKK, the migration of Black Americas to places … Continue reading
As Cooperative Baptists, we know that there is a disparity among men and women pastors within many church traditions. Not only is the gender balance off, but the pay is even more inequitable. What can churches do about this? How can we begin to develop a more equitable culture through spiritual formation? This week’s episode … Continue reading
Let’s do a cognitive visualization activity. Try to relax by putting your shoulders back and firmly planting your feet on the floor, and take a couple of deep breaths. As I guide you through this experience, I want you to pay careful attention to what you visualize. Imagine you walk into an Evangelical church. What … Continue reading
For those that think the Bible is boring, clearly, they have never read about the sea monsters. Apparently, I missed that one, too, in my various Old Testament courses. “In the ancient world, sea monsters were mythical creatures that functioned as forces of chaos, as agents of fear and disorder. They lived in the dangerous … Continue reading
Sometimes, we have more intriguing interviews than episode spots. This week, we are dropping three fascinating interviews. Josh Porter, Death to Deconstruction Everyone knows someone who is formerly Christian. We sat down with Josh Porter, a former musician and current teaching pastor in Vancouver, Washington, the author of Death to Deconstruction. You can learn more … Continue reading
Raised in an Evangelical Baptist tradition, I bore witness to the church’s condemnation of the evils of the world and how culture is misleading us down a road on sexuality, body image, and more. When all along, this same church was dispersing warfare of their own. Among many things, girls were taught to be modest … Continue reading
How comfortable are you with nuance? The pandemic accelerated and forced change upon everyone and every organization. Moreover, we keep hearing more about how A.I. is rapidly changing our present and future. But how comfortable are you with nuance in your understanding of God? How accustomed is the church to shifting its understanding of how … Continue reading