“The Bible calls on us to develop a theological imagination within which we see the world as a community and not a collection of hostilities.” Esau McCaulley, Reading While Black Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun … Read More
Our Best Efforts Are Useless Without God’s Blessing
“Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” Psalm 127:1, ESV Psalm 127 is a wisdom psalm or poem that’s part of a trilogy:127,128, & 133. And that trilogy is part of a larger collection of “pilgrimage psalms” or “Songs of Ascent” … Read More
A Few of My 2020 Favorite Things
What a year! As a whole, I wanted this post to be commemorative, informative, and encouraging going into 2021. I would be remiss, however, not to acknowledge the pain of those who’ve been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and, especially, express my profound sorrow for those who’ve lost loved ones to the virus. Our family lost two friends (one very close … Read More
A Simple Way to Love Your Neighbors
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 2 Cor. 5:19, NLT This verse captures the heart of God in the gospel and the responsibility of all Christians to be His ambassadors. Although there are many things about the holidays we love, … Read More
Getting Involved in Spiritual Transformation, Part 3 of 4
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:3, ESV A verse like the above can seem so inaccessible in a year like 2020. Like one friend said after last week’s post, “How do you cultivate delight … Read More