I’m coming up on one of those high school anniversaries I don’t want to admit. And despite my denial of my age, a part of me also doesn’t like reminiscing about a period of my life filled with getting it wrong, not liking who I was, and wishing I could change the past. And yet, … Continue reading
Do you think you have an inclusive church? Are your members and ministry staff prepared to ministry to and with the neurodiverse and those of varied abilities? What about advocating for their needs and rights? The CBF Podcast hosted a workshop at this summer’s General Assembly in Dallas with a focus on the inclusive church … Continue reading
“Master, I want to see,” said the old blind beggar. It was an emphatically clear and concise answer to a bold question asked by Jesus of Nazareth. And this answer was met with a clear resolution: restored eyesight. In the Gospels, we see Jesus healing the sick and relieving the infirmities of the broken. In … Continue reading
Who shapes your worldview? As people of faith, we want to believe that so much of our belief system and ethics are shaped by our journey with Jesus, let alone the Bible. But what if so much of how we view these things is really shaped by our upbringing, cultural influences, political persuasion, or media … Continue reading
You can sense it from the nature of how this case has been portrayed among Conservative Christians. It’s got that “One man standing up for God as he defies the godless school boards orders not to pray in school” feel to it. The only question that remains is whether or not Kirk Cameron or Dean … Continue reading
As a child, I had a wild imagination. So, you can imagine my disappointment when I expected to hear the audible voice of God when I prayed. No sound was met with a sliver of an opening from one eye, followed by both eyes halfway opening, only to end with eyes wide open in complete … Continue reading
In May, I was allowed to take a mini-Sabbatical of sorts. Between pastoring University Baptist Church of Baton Rouge and starting my new role as the Associate Executive Coordinator of CBF North Carolina, I had time to invest time in my family, sleep in, and enjoy long runs and walks without a meeting or deadline … Continue reading
The worst possible circumstances typically can’t be seen from a way away, at least in my experience. You can spend your entire life preparing yourself emotionally, spiritually, and physically to face difficult situations. Still, nothing truly prepares you for the jolt that hits the fabric of your existence when you realize this is not where … Continue reading
I can remember it like it was yesterday. Bored out of my mind in the balcony of Salem Baptist Church’s 11:00 am worship service, I started thumbing through the Bible. And that’s when an 8-year-old Andy found a naughty word in the sacred text. Surely, I misread it. Heavens be, there couldn’t be such a … Continue reading
Do I stay Christian? It’s a fascinating question when you consider the deconstructive journey of someone who has battled through the contradictions of the American Christian landscape compared to Jesus’ ministry and teachings. The fact of the matter is that many people have left the American church over the last decade. A recent Gallup poll … Continue reading