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The Problem with Our Response to Controversy
I think there is a problem with our responses to controversy. It isn’t that we respond, though many could argue reasons why our responses aren’t helpful. Rather, it’s that we move on so quickly. Just a few weeks ago, I couldn’t open up a social media site without seeing the words Ferguson. I knew in my heart then that many of us would write about it and call attention to the tragedy and then we’d move on. Right now there continues to be a mother mourning and a community healing, but the rest of us have moved on.
A Mother’s Influence on One Pastor’s Kid: An Interview with Barnabas Piper
It has been said that pastoral ministry is not for the faint of heart. There are pressures that stretch and challenge pastors both in ministry and personally. Evidently these pressures can also spill over onto their children. At least that was the case for Barnabas Piper who wrote about them in his book The Pastor’s Kid: Finding Your Own Faith and Identity.
Ferguson and My White-Looking Son
If you’ve been reading my work, you already know that I am a black woman married to a white man. I have two children, both of which are unique blends of the best of my husband and me. They are unique for biracial children, mostly because they could easily pass as white—only. My son has the most distinctively white features, namely his fair skin and bone-straight fine hair. On more than one occasion when we’ve been out together, I’ve been asked if I was the babysitter or the nanny. His ethnicity is undeniably difficult to pin down. And as I’ve watched the horror in Ferguson, MO unfold, I couldn’t help but wonder what it will be like for my son as he grows into a young man. My experience will be significantly different than his, simply because of the generation gap, but most definitely as well because of the color of his skin…
Pastors Pursuing Diversity: Interview with Dave Furman
Dave Furman moved to the Arabian Peninsula in 2008 to plant Redeemer Church of Dubai and help start a church planting movement. Dave serves as the Senior Pastor of Redeemer Church of Dubai—Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Jesus Loves Me…’Cause the Bible Tells Me So
“Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.” Do you remember singing this as a young child? I do. I didn’t understand a single word of it at the time, except that someone named Jesus must love a lot of people. It wouldn’t be until the age of 22 that I understood that this love meant death, his death. And that part of receiving and understanding fully his love meant my death and new life. It is a rich truth but what I missed then I know now: Jesus loves me this I know because the Bible tells me so.
A Podcast, Lack of Knowledge, and Knowing Christ
In April, I had the opportunity to be a guest on the Mortification of Spin with Carl Trueman, Todd Pruitt, and Aimee Byrd to talk about diversity and the church. It was a great time and they have just posted a link to the podcast (hope you’ll take a listen). In the beginning, they admit that it isn’t a topic that they’ve explored. I was encouraged by their honesty and thoughtful questions. One question stood out to me, though, and as I listened back I remembered why. Trueman began asking me questions about the Black Church. As I listened then and now I’m struck once again by how much I just don’t know. In the interview, I admitted I have no idea but then proceeded to give him a great resource that I pray will benefit him and the whole church: The Front Porch.
Pastors Pursuing Diversity: Interview with J.D. Greear
Pastors Pursuing Diversity: Interview with J.D. Greear
Introducing Tri for Others
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
Why the Crickets
Cricket. Cricket. That’s the sound of a blog that is empty of content.
That’s been the sound here!
But for good reason…
Pastors Pursuing Diversity: Interview with Wes Van Fleet
Wes Van Fleet is the Associate Pastor of Kaleo Church in El Cajon, Ca. He has served in various capacities for over 4 years and has been a pastor for a year.
Guess Who’s Invited to Dinner?
In the 1967 movie Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Joanna “Joey” Drayton, a young white woman played by Katharine Houghton, brings her black boy friend, Dr. John Prentice, played by Sidney Poitier, home to meet her family. Though the parents raised Joanna to be “liberal” and “accepting” they do not approve of her desire to marry Dr. Prentice. The movie was radical for that day—so I’d think. But not so fast. Today we continue to grapple with the same questions and issues.
I do not have a passion for diversity
I received an email encouraging me about United. In the email she wrote that she “loved my heart” and “passion for diversity.” I starred at my computer for a minute, puzzled. I was definitely thankful for her kind words but what I couldn’t wrap my head around was the ideas that, not only she but many others who have read United, now believe I have a passion for diversity…
Pastors Pursuing Diversity: Interview with Steve Henderson
Steve Henderson is the pastor of Munich International Community Church in Munich, Germnay. He has served that congregation since 1999.
Pastors Pursuing Diversity: An Interview with John Erickson
John Erickson is the Lead Pastor of Jubilee Community Church in Minneapolis, MN. He and his wife, along with one other couple, began Jubilee in 2009.
Pastors Pursuing Diversity: An Interview with Irwyn Ince
Irwyn Ince is the pastor of City of Hope Church in Columbia, MD. He helped start the church in 2007.
Pastors Pursuing Diversity: An Interview with Lance Lewis
Rev. Lance E. Lewis is theSenior Pastor of Soaring Oaks Presbyterian Churchin Elk Grove CA. He has been at Soaring Oak for six months but has served as a pastor for well over ten years.
United is out!
Saturday was the “official” release date for United: Captured by God’s Vision for Diversity! I’m excited about this book because I am convinced of the message. United is not so much a book about diversity as it is about loving others. It is a book about the beauty of diversity in God’s creation and design and how we can fellowship with one another because of the blood of our Savior…
Video about United
United is dedicated to my children. My desire is that one day they would be surprised that their mom would write a book about the beauty of diversity in the church and all of life because it would be so commonplace. This video captures my heart and the book so well…
Pastors Pursuing Diversity: An Interview with David E. Prince
David E. Prince is the Pastor of Preaching and Vision at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church and an Assistant Professor of Christian Preaching and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been a pastor at Ashland for ten years.
United and my pastor’s interest in me
I’ve been doing some reflecting as the release of Unitednears. I’ve been thinking about my old church and how United came to be. I never forced my opinion about the racial makeup of my old congregation. I was asked. My pastor sent me an email asking my thoughts about John Piper’s book Bloodlines. He asked me to read and review it. His interest wasn’t merely in the book; rather he wanted to know how he could serve his congregants better. This began a series of email exchanges where I shared more honestly about some of the struggles I experienced and that others may experience as one of the few African Americans at the time.
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