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Calling Audibles Part I: “Sudden Destruction”

When they say “There is peace and security,” then suddenly destruction will come upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape. ~1 Thessalonians 5:3 The Defensive Coordinator at a place that plays blue-collar/smash mouth football like Penn State surely appears heroic. Jerry Sandusky’s “Linebacker U” defense was known for its strength and dominance. There were also simultaneously whispers around college football that Jerry and his “Second Mile” charity were less than heroic. Now that the scandal at Penn State is out and heads are rolling, people are comparing notes on the things they had … Read the full post

Digging, Dying, Dancing

These days it feels hard to believe in anything. Maybe believing is so hard because to believe in what can be might mean some things need to die. “We believe now, not because of what you said, but because we ourselves have heard him.” John 4 What, why, and how we believe is a mysterious dynamic. Mainline Protestants have a love/hate thing going on with Jesus. We like to trot him out occasionally in sermons to prop up a social ethic. We use Him in the polished endings to appropriate prayers. We can tell the story of the Christmas … Read the full post

I Witness Guest Blogger: Ruth Moose

In a writing workshop about Wide Open Spaces: Women Exploring Call through Stories and Reflection, participants were asked to choose a prompt to write about from the end of the chapter I wrote in the book called “More than Skin Deep.” Ruth Moose, a Chapel Hill author and poet, chose to use the prompt “God as poet of the world.” This phrase is a quote from Alfred North Whitehead’s writing about God that I mention in my essay. Below is what she wrote in response to this prompt. Thank you, Ruth, for being an “I Witness” guest blogger. Oh Lord, … Read the full post

Being Both/And People in an Either/Or World

Can Christians be both/and people in an either/or world? Several people have asked for a copy of the sermon I preached at Growing Together on September 17 at White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh (the fall education program of the Presbytery of New Hope). The following blog post is that sermon. The scripture passage is John 3:1-21 Jesus said, “Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born anothen.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. … Read the full post

Speaking from the Heart

If I speak from my heart about the Presbyterian Fellowship’s talk about leaving the PCUSA to set up a “new reformed body” then I have to say it hurts. “Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope.” ~Psalm 119: 116 In the powerful documentary, Two Rivers, whites and Native Americans in the Northwest find their way into an honest conversation about their tragic past and their strained present. One of the Native Americans in the film says to everyone in the group, “we need to speak … Read the full post

Dominique Strauss-Kahn and God’s Rivers in the Desert

The Dominque Strauss-Kahn case confirms what I already knew: the waters of justice rarely flow freely for victims of violence. “I am about to do a new thing… do you not perceive it…I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” ~from Isaiah 43 The news that the rape case against Dominque Strauss-Kahn will be dropped comes as no surprise to me. As a rape survivor I was not optimistic that such an affluent and influential man would come to justice. Even when I heard that other women were coming forward to tell of violent sexual encounters with … Read the full post

Football, Frailty, and Finding Our Way

With all that’s been going on in the football world at University of North Carolina, I’ve been wondering if Wisdom would show up. God’s Wisdom calls out to any who will listen and says: “The one who finds me, finds life, and the LORD will be pleased with you.” ~Proverbs 8:35 God’s Wisdom comes in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes she is hard to miss. Other times, I wonder when she will finally show up. You might be surprised to hear me say that Wisdom sometimes uses football as a vehicle. For obvious reasons, football is more than just … Read the full post

Lessons from the Multicultural Movement

“Multicultural,” like lots of words that have to do with different races and ethnicities coming together, has contested meanings and must be handled with intentionality and care. When I use the word “multicultural” here I am pointing toward an intentional way of being in relationship, an intentional way of forming communities that sees differences and power-sharing as requirements.. I am sensitive to the fact that for some people of color this term is suspicious and requires unpacking. I am aware, too, that for many white people the way I am using this term does not provide an attractive invitation, but instead … Read the full post

Wrestling with Rest–A Feminist Inquiry into Sabbath

Rest is an elusive thing for most everyone in American culture–and I am wondering if it actually is possible especially for people who take care of others on a daily basis. Consider this post a mother’s questions to God on a morning of a day set aside to rest that starts like every other.

The Sound of Emerging

On Tuesday, May 10, the final votes were cast to pass an amendment to the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) removing the ban on the ordination of gay and lesbian people who are not celibate. This decision brings with it blessings and challenges–change always does. Read on for what the thirteen year cicadas can teach us about what it could all mean. The thirteen-year cicadas have been emerging for the last couple of weeks in the North Carolina woods. The sound is a primal shrill bottomed with the hum of creatures who sound relieved but also pressed for time. … Read the full post

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