I am ignorant. I have a confession to make. Until a few months ago, I was almost entirely ignorant of the issues addressed here on RAAN. My view of racism was tremendously truncated. I was not aware of the subdominant and dominant culture group dynamics and had not given much thought to the problem of […]
The Bible declares, “seek peace and pursue it” (Ps. 34:14; 1 Pt. 3:11). This phrase has implications for all areas of life, especially multi-ethnic ministry. Live in Peace We know that we as believers have been reconciled to God through our Savior (Rm. 5:1). But this reconciliation extends not just vertically between God and humankind […]
Kids are screaming, dinner is not done, bills need to be paid, homework needs to be checked, and you feel like you are on an island by yourself even though your spouse is a few feet away from you. Both husbands and wives have felt this before. Not only may one feel this way when […]
How’s it coming? In a previous post, I elaborated on a certain kind of friendship—encouraging your friends towards their calling. In light of the Great Commission and Christ’s radical call, this kind of friendship makes sense. A strategic and intentional approach towards the growth and betterment of my friends makes sense, in theory. But since this […]
One the best arguments against the growing tentacles of the social assistance welfare state into the lives of people who are suffering is the practice of the Christian practice of adoption and orphan care. Progressives often charge classical liberals and conservatives as being heartless toward the poor because only progressives are willing to make sacrifices […]
Have you ever given much thought to what it means to be a good friend? Sure, friends and relationships are familiar realities to us. But have you ever given some intentional thought to this question? Ever strategized for say 30 minutes, on how you could be a better friend to a specific person? I, personally, […]
Here is a sermon on singleness by Mike Campbell of Redeemer Church, PCA. It’s one of the best sermons I’ve heard on the topic, so I thought I would share it with the RAANetwork family. Campbell challenges the church by calling us to a balanced and healthy view of marriage, sex and singleness reminding us […]
“So what are you?” a new acquaintance asks me. “If you don’t mind me asking…” “Well, what do you think I am?” “Oh, I don’t know. I’m not sure… umm…” (stares intently) Silence. “So… are you going to tell me?” “Well, give me your most educated guess. And then I might tell you.” In past […]
The biggest risk facing young, Reformed Black men is being thrust into ministry too soon. The acute need for the unique blend of theological and cultural gifts these young men offer sometimes causes churches to send them out before they’re ready. Sincere and Sincerely Misguided The landscape is littered with the crushed hopes of churches […]
My son identifies himself as peach, the crayon color. His grandmother, my British mother in-law, asked him what color he thought she was and he said, without hesitation, “Peach!” She said, “Good.” There are times when I wish we all would identify with each other in such creative descriptors. God is much more creative than […]
A few weeks ago, a new friend, Justin Fosu-Jones, introduced me to the story of Jordan and Jessica, who were widowed in their 20s and by God’s grace found each other. Their story has been covered by ABC News, Huffington Post, Daily News, and Essence to name a few. Jordan is actually a follower of […]
Several years ago, a friend of mine asked me for my opinion on a fiction manuscript. While I had many things to say about it, one of my comments stood out to me: “There was one thing I thought I’d mention, though there is really no need to address it. It’s a pet-peeve of mine, […]
I named my hair Wild Mike. And that’s what we call him, whether he’s been recently tamed by the flat iron or has just been washed and is jutting away from my head in all of its stubbornly-straight-yet-wildly-frizzy glory. Though I’d been bereft of the “kiddie perm” (a slightly milder version of the sodium hydroxide […]
Learn to love whether marriage is in view or not. “Look, I can testify about seeing something that isn’t there. You buy the off-brand crackerjacks and start chowing down with gusto, anxious for that prize. Halfway through, you realize they don’t taste just right, but you just keep eating. You’re sick before you realize the […]
What do you do when Father’s day hurts? What happens when our view of God is shaped more by a father figure who has harmed us than it is by God’s own self revelation? This father’s day, let’s wage a war against depression, anxiety, and despair by storing these precious truths into the treasury of […]
[I approach speaking of war imagery with sobriety, knowing that many people live in such a reality every day. As God may turn even the most horrible sins upside down for his good purposes, I pray that any association a person may have with war is used for encouragement and perseverance in Christ.] Growing up, […]
Double Consciousness “There’s a way you act at home and a way you act at school,” my mother would remind me as I recapped the events of the school day. I learned quickly how to speak, act, and look in a world dominated by white faces. I learned to value what the majority population valued, […]
By the age of 12, I had lost my mother and father to the AIDS virus in Uganda. My aunt, whom I now call my mother, adopted my brothers and I here in the US. Through my earthly adoption and as God continued to reveal himself to me, I’ve come to understand the awesome privilege […]
by Karen Ellis, Regular Contributor A curious command and promise opens Isaiah 54: 1 “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! 2 For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,” […]
Recently, Pastor Eric Mason released his new book entitled Manhood Restored: How the Gospel Makes Men Whole. RAAN is excited about this book and we intend to do whatever we can to spread the word about it. As promised, we will release several excerpts from the book hoping that our readers will become intrigued by its content. We […]
