“30′s the new 20, I’m so hot still.” – Jay Z (30-Something) As Jigga declared that age and maturity were to be embraced by hip hop and it’s listeners, many people followed suit. No longer is an older listener of hip hop being portrayed as the clock-rocking Flavor Flav. Now we see older more mature […]
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 My Fear: “Till Death” “Quina, will you marry me?” “Yyyeess…but…is there any way for us to ensure that we’ll grow old together until […]
Most of us have the same recurring experience week in and week out. We show up to church. We sing songs of worship to God. We hear a message about God. We have a powerful encounter with God. Maybe during the songs our passions are stirred. Maybe during the sermon something really hits home. Maybe […]
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” Philippians 2:1-2 Paul’s experience with the city of Philippi is no mystery to […]
Be Still, My Soul Psalm 131 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is […]
Observing young children play any sport with a ball is entertaining. Aside from the fact that their hand and feet coordination are still developing, they have little awareness of the other players around them. When I watch my six-year-old niece play t-ball, I cringe every time I see two or more children sprint as fast […]
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10-11 Psalm 46 is a song of triumph that declares the Lord’s adequacy to provide stability for his people. The psalmist magnifies the Lord as his people’s secure defense from two exceedingly unstable […]
Over the last decade, Christian involvement in “social justice” has gained popularity and momentum in America. However, Christian engagement in social justice is not new to the landscape. Contributions by African American Christians to aid free slaves and the intellectual contributions of Walter Rauschenbusch are a couple examples of this. Committing to just a cursory […]
I keep seeing you in that moment. I keep seeing that moment, flipping it around in my mind. I keep going back to that moment. Over the years, I am struck in a different way each time. How can one moment be my answer to everything? How can it encapsulate everything there is? All that […]
Diversity is being pushed big time in today’s marketplace. If you run a business, the topic of diversity will undoubtedly come up. For many companies diversity is one of their building blocks. And schools do as much as possible to ensure that they won’t see a majority of any people group. We have options to […]
“I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to […]
One of the advantages of living in a free society is that parents have multiple options for how they can educate their children, including enrolling them in religious education. Christian education is unique in that teachers can integrate faith and learning in the classroom to unlock academic disciplines from mere materialistic or rational concerns to […]
Everything in our life has a narrative attached to it. A story. Things don’t happen in isolation, but are interconnected and fit within a storyline. This is also true for sex. [pullquote]Sex isn’t just an act, but one that fits within a narrative.[/pullquote] The narrative that God puts sex to is a sub story of covenant […]
I’ve seen it daily for years. Somehow though I was completely unaware. Growing up, I was a white male living in a white world. I had not realized the ways I probably have contributed to it. But it’s been there the entire time. Racial Microaggressions. I couldn’t put my finger on it. Things slightly said, […]
My Facebook timeline and Twitter feed have been filled with commentary about the Michael Dunn trial. It’s becoming an annual event—as expected as the Olympic games, only more frequent. But there are no medals to be won. Just graves to be dug. Questions left unanswered. Parents left to grieve. Much of the Tweets and updates […]
It was yet another invitation to attend a conference on Reformed theology. My close friend, Rev. Bob Amon, was constantly encouraging me to take a closer look at the doctrines of grace, which Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin and others believed. On numerous occasions, I told Bob that I had a firm grip on my […]
“My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20 If you’re a Christian long enough, chances are you’ll have to deal with, […]
In the wake of the of the Trayvon Martin verdict, much light has shone on the African-American community and its ongoing problems of poverty, fatherless homes and failing systems. We’ve come a long way from Jim Crow and cotton fields. But we would be remiss to think there were no issues plaguing African-American society. Poverty […]
If you’re called to full-time ministry, you know the day is coming—if it hasn’t already—when you will have to raise financial support. When I think about support-raising, I hear faint ominous chords playing in my ears. Okay, that’s somewhat facetious, but I have a sneaking suspicion I’m not alone. [pullquote]Let’s face it, raising support can […]
My name is Ameen. I’ve been saved for eight years. I’m reformed and I’m black. My family loves people from all races, so ethnocentrism was never a struggle during my growing up years. For the most part, I was open to making friends with people regardless of their skin color, race or background. Magnificent Truth […]
