First Words
Does God cause our suffering?
God works in mysterious ways, not sadistic ones.
An executive order churches didn't need
Trump says pastors are bullied and silenced. That comes as a surprise to me.
Another “Ask the Pastor” session with the confirmation class
Why are there only 12 disciples? Will we be with our families in heaven? Does God think pineapple should go on pizza?
Living the truth, not just believing it
Well-aligned spokes make a bicycle wheel true. Truthful living gives a person credibility.
I need poetry more than ever
These are not poetic times. We live and breathe prose.
Prayer without answers
The main purpose of prayer is to enjoy God.
When Ruby Bridges prayed for her enemies
In the face of mob violence, a six-year-old responded with love.
A refugee’s gift
In offering another refugee his citizenship, Chuong Nguyen is not submitting a transactional sort of sacrifice. He is giving a gift of selfless love.
A roominess within the soul
In the Bible, freedom is always more than a simple choice or the absence of coercion.
Good habits shape good ministers
Even the most mechanical routines can transform our inner lives.
Our microbes are Legion
My friend Angie’s life is crippled by compulsive acts of decontamination.
All of us are beautiful
Our identities—gender and otherwise—are shaped by community and God.
What drives hate?
Hate isn’t new, but it does appear to be thriving.
Swaddled in an orange jumpsuit
She gave birth to a son in the back of a squad car.
Consumed by the news
Does being a good citizen require keeping up with current events?
Christian conviction in the age of Trump
Practice the beatitudes. Speak truth to power. Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.
Addiction teaches us the truth about lies
Small deceptions work like a narcotic, making us feel nicely respectable. Especially in church.
Make today great again
Instead of glorifying the past, what if we treated the present as precious?
What Glenn Ford deserved
He was exonerated—but the state refused to pay him for his 30 years on death row.
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What to do with that stack of old Bibles (or that stack of old issues of the Century)?