The smoke was the first thing I noticed when I entered the dining room. The haze hung around the room like a 1990s coffee shop — only the smoke wasn’t from nicotine-addicted patrons, but from the barbecue pit. The room was small; two oak dining tables filled the space, surrounded by two racks full of … [Read more…]
I took on a challenge, and came out victorious! Picture me, standing atop an Olympic medal stand, holding on to my piece of precious metal, beaming and happy. Just kidding. In reality, it’s much more anti-climatic. There’s no award, no certificate of merit, no orange slices or juice boxes. I signed up for, paid for, … [Read more…]
It’s no secret that I meet myself coming and going these days. I’m on the road, on the run, and always on the way. In fact, my neighbor calls me “Beep beep” because I’m in and out so much. But because I’m hither and thither, I’ve had to develop ways to stay organized, keep my … [Read more…]
A professor in one of my classes asked an open-ended question a few weeks ago, and my hand shot right up for my chance to contribute. “What do you do to manage the chaos in your life?” she asked the class, made of adult seminary professionals. She called on me, noting my eagerness. Boldly, I … [Read more…]
I didn’t want to be there. I was outright sulking as we started singing for the vespers service Tuesday night that my classmates and I mistakenly thought we were supposed to attend as part of our class requirement that night. My peers and colleagues had decided to have an impromptu worship service anyway — despite … [Read more…]
The snacks have been packed. The podcasts are keyed up. Lodging accommodations are secured. It’s time once again to hit the refuge of routine and the road. I’m ready to roll. This year is significant for me as I begin my fourth year in seminary, pursing a Master of Divinity degree from Memphis Theological Seminary. … [Read more…]
Many groups and individuals classify as the “Least of These” that Jesus talks about, but are we actually loving and ministering to and with these folks?
“The hammer of criminal justice is the preferred tool of a society that has run out of ideas.” — Ta-Nehisi Coates This is Part 4 of a 5-part series. Read Part 1, Part 2, or Part 3. As part of my weeklong immersion experience through Memphis Theological Seminary’s class “Jesus, Jails, and Justice,” we were … [Read more…]
Sometimes the best thing we can do is to define the very thing we are after, and in doing so, find out our value isn’t the truth of the Gospel.
Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done, says social justice activist Bryan Stevenson. Why is it so hard to believe that?