The shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston is heavy on my heart because 10 years ago I, too, stepped into an AME church as a young white man. I didn't know anyone there and was anxious about how I would be perceived. But the pastors and members showed me hospitality that forever changed my life. I went on to become a member of the AME Church and learn from its rich heritage of faith in Jesus in the face of suffering and injustice. I joined the choir, attended prayer meetings and Bible … [Read more...] about Learning from our Brothers and Sisters after Charleston
mourning
Devotions: Beatitudes (2) —Joyful Mourning
You're blessed that when truly broken, God gives you what you need the most. – Matthew 5:4 This is the second of a series of nine Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus has been laying down the ethics of an "upside down" kingdom in these short, pithy but profound declarations. Rather than focusing on how we feel or the way we operate our lives, or on our distinctive personalities or preferences, Jesus forces us to go much deeper and much broader at the same time. These are … [Read more...] about Devotions: Beatitudes (2) —Joyful Mourning