Why the American Church is failing

The Christianity practiced by the American Church has made it largely impotent and a shadow of what it is supposed to be. Lord, where to even begin? I guess the first place is to note that, while this critique is aimed primarily at the White American Church, there is no version that is blameless and, […]

Why we need Christmas

The seasons of Advent and Christmas are my favorite times of year when I let them be. I’m pretty much a grump by nature, so the joy of the holiday season doesn’t come naturally to me. My mood beginning in late October and early November is one of fussiness, because it is then that I […]

Competing Christian visions of America

I have been writing in this blog space for over seven years, and a very small number of people have faithfully and lovingly followed much of what I’ve said over that time. I write for many reasons, but primarily it’s one of the few ways you can really get to know someone short of having […]

Why hope matters

Depression comes in many varieties. There’s the subtle type that most of us deal with off and on, a slight melancholy that hits us throughout the day for different reasons and passes quickly. There’s the all-consuming experience of panic, which can make you absolutely desperate and tempt you to make drastic choices for any kind […]

A prayer of repentance to truly know God

Father, though we have sinned against you and are not worthy, we humbly beseech you to deliver us from ourselves. We have made you, your Son, and your Spirit in our image and likeness and not sought to know who you truly are. We have prophesied in your name, and in your name driven out […]

Only one hope

I stopped writing in this space months ago to focus on putting together a book that has been incredibly slow going. I haven’t given up on the book, but my progress is depressing to me. It’s easier to think of jotting down my thoughts within the confines of several hundred words here than in the […]

Accepting yourself, accepting love

I’ve struggled with self-hatred for many years. I have a very difficult time giving myself any grace or forgiveness for the mistakes I’ve made and the struggles I’ve had. I hate my character defects and the way I’ve succumbed to fear and panic; the pain they’ve caused others. Over a year ago, a good friend […]