Authentic life with God includes sacrifice. That’s what we learn in the Abraham story and again with Jesus. In fact, we do grotesque things to God, our souls, and to our common life when we attempt to engineer life without sacrifice. Sacrifice is the denying or destroying of something to fulfill a holy purpose. Sacrifice is a conscious and gut-wrenching choice. It’s attended by all kinds of loss. Sacrifice acknowledges that we are not the center of the circle. But holy sacrifice produces energy, clarity, humility, power, even partners. It’s…

The statement “All Lives Matter” in response to “Black Lives Matter” is entirely inadequate. It misses the mark by 401 years. “All Lives Matter” bears little resemblance to the lived reality of black and brown people since America’s founding. ALM is either tragically uninformed or dishonest about how our country with the church’s blessing and participation, has worked systematically, legally, economically, politically, academically, theologically and ecclesiastically to un-matter blacks lives. Given the soaring words of scripture and our nation’s founding documents, the very need of a segment of the population…

To speak out against injustice these days is to be labeled as being “political and divisive.” But those seeking to dismiss justice seekers with these labels don’t know just how accurate they are! Jesus was also condemned for being political and divisive. He was political because his life, death and teachings were about the public affairs of his faith and nation. And he was divisive too! He pointed out the difference between abuse and leadership, darkness and light, selfishness and other-centeredness. Why else was he lynched on Calvary in front…

Life expectancy depends greatly on your neighborhood and income. High-income people can expect to live 10 to 20 years longer than lower-income people. If you live in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, you can expect to live to upwards of 87 years of age while in the English Avenue neighborhood ( close to the Falcons stadium) your life expectancy will be just under 64. Though cities like Atlanta are celebrated for upward mobility, actually upward mobility is less common. Rather, Atlanta and cities like her have attracted new upper-income workers…

The Holy Spirit showed up dramatically we’re told. There was fire, and speaking of tongues. This whirlwind connected people across their divisions, if only briefly. Some responded with a question, “what does this mean?” Some responded with an answer, “they’re drunk.” They were wrong. Better questions are more helpful than quick and shallow answers. A rush to answer usually is a manifestation of fear or arrogance or both. I think about this a lot these days. Jesus was a master question maker. He stood steady enough, long enough, to find…

Amos Wilder wrote, “be instructed at the null point, the zero breeds new algebra.” Wilder was commending the very nature of God. When things come down to the zero, when there’s suffering and “fiery ordeals” as St. Peter would say, if we can linger long enough nurtured by our faith, our tradition, and one another we will see God’s new algebra! And get this, the word Algebra means “the reunion and balancing of broken parts!” This pandemic has brought so many of us to a near zero place and some…

Think in terms of readiness and response when it comes to following Jesus. St. Peter certainly does. Here is St. Peter’s checklist: “Be eager to do what is right though it may cause you trouble. Sanctify Christ as Lord.” Don’t just believe in him, set him apart, make him your North Star. Let his teaching and example have the last word. Know your hope and have it on the tip of your tongue. Share hope with gentleness. Keep your conscience clear. Do all the good you can and let the…

Jesus said, “in my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.” In the face of grief and loss, Jesus does an amazing thing, He chooses to grow, reach and include rather than, shrink, be small and afraid. He chooses to see that we’re all siblings and that God is a big God with a large heart and house. It has taken this pandemic for some of us to finally see what Dr. King referred to as the World House. It has taken this pandemic for some to really appreciate that…

“It is true to say that we stand at an intersection of life and livelihood; of fear and of faith. So then it is right for us to lead the state of Georgia in humbling ourselves and reaching out to God in prayer. But, while we know prayer is necessary, we also know prayer is not magic! We know that prayer is the preparation for and perfection of partnership with God. So today, as we face down and faith through this pandemic, we pledge to partner with God. And we…