There’s been a lot of focus in media on the prosperity gospel lately. A lament from a brother concerned about church perspectives. The pulpit. A sacred space. The preacher’s domain. I am a young, Black, Christian male seminary graduate—a dangerous thing to say these days. The evolution of the African American pastor has caused many […]
We understand that sometimes it can be tough keeping up with the news and content that is published or occurring each week. Look for weekly posts of “Re-Digest” to find a quick guide to some things you may have missed or only skimmed. This is another chance to digest that material. If we missed something […]
Editor’s Note: This is the first part of a monthly series entitled Lyrical Exposition which will be led by Prince Woodrow. Check back every second Saturday as he examine more songs by various Hip Hop artists. Braille’s Changed Hearts: Notable Lyrics “Search your own heart” “Spark a changed in our hearts” “Praying for changed hearts” […]
Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14 Proverbs 11:14 speaks volumes in the context of the black community. It is no secret that African American communities tend to be plagued with poor school systems, poor medical access, high incarceration rates, broken families, and of […]
“I’ve learned that the good life is not lived in isolation, but rather in community with ‘good people.’” [Tweet ““I’ve learned that the good life is not lived in isolation, but rather in community w/ ‘good people.’””] Christians are adopted into a new family—the family of God. We are God’s children and as Trip explains, […]
Every now and then I run across a series of studies that makes me wonder if white progressives are among the most narcissistic cohort of professionals in America. There seems to be this pervasive myth that simply being around white people adds value to the flourishing of blacks in America. This myth often extends to interpreting data […]
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, […]
As a fan of Hip-Hop and born again Christian, I love gospel-centered rap music. I became a believer at Howard University in late 2004, and when a friend in my dormitory introduced me to Corey Red and Precise’s “Resistance Iz Futile” and Da’ T.R.U.T.H’s “Moment of Truth” albums — I was hooked. I’ve been a sucker for good news […]
Note: Because of our previous discussion we are skipping chapter 4. Today we take a look at The Good Book “God’s Word is the oxygen that He uses to bring us to life. And God’s Word is the very same oxygen that we need to continually breathe as we press forward. If we stop taking […]
Over the past few years, there’s been an undercurrent of frustration among minority leadership in evangelical circles. This has occurred especially among those in the reformed theological tradition. It has often seemed that every conference, leadership panel, or blog entry seems to feature maybe one Black, Asian or Hispanic voice and even that one voice […]
In one of my favorite scenes in The Return of the King, Gandalf and Pippin are defending Minas Tirith. The battle rages all around them. In a stolen moment of calm before the next onslaught of the enemy—with the thudding of a monstrous troll breaking down the door in the background—Pippin says, “I didn’t think […]
The University of Alabama usually makes national headlines for winning football championships, but this week’s news brought more humbling attention to the institution. The U of A Greek system has remained a “bastion of segregation” throughout the university’s history until the present day. A story broke in the campus newspaper, Crimson and White, detailing the denial of an […]
American Christians have a tendency to see their own denomination, local church, association of partner churches, and so on, as “the church.” With this reduction comes a number of blind spots about what the church looks like around the world. [Tweet “American Christians have a tendency to see their own denom, church or network as “the […]
What caused Hurricane Katrina, UFO sightings over Utah, the JFK assassination, the Spur’s NBA Finals loss, President Obama’s re-election, Samsung’s deal with Jay Z, and your flat tire? The answer is easy- The illuminati! Seriously, I wish that it were a stretch of imagination, but not by much. These days, especially in the hip-hop world, […]
RAANetwork is excited about the launch of a new website called The Front Porch. The site was launched by Thabiti Anyabwile, Louis Love, and Tony Carter, three pioneers and spiritual giants. We stand on these brother’s shoulders. Below is an excerpt from the site about what we should expect from The Front Porch: Not everyone has […]
“Whether or not we live the good life depends on what we have faith in. The good life is living by faith in a good God.” (p. 38) Many believe that God exists, but Lee believes that it’s more than simply believing in God; it’s believing what He says and ordering your life around it. […]
The BBC reports on a major hoax pulled by Scottish rappers Gavin Bain and Billy Boyd. The college friends pretended to be Americans and lived a lie for three years in order to secure a record deal and tour the UK and eventually the world as rappers. The hoax lasted until the truth caught up with them […]
Trillia Newbell is a name you should know. This woman of God is a prolific blogger, a burgeoning conference speaker, and now she’s an author. Her forthcoming book, United: Captured by God’s Vision for Diversity, combines Trillia’s touching personal story with timeless biblical truth. In it she conveys her heart for a more racially and ethnically diverse […]
Editor’s Note: This is a short article for the purpose to generate conversation based on the book The Good Life by Trip Lee. Please join us on each Thursdays for our book discussion.* Last week we looked at some of the lies we believe when we consider what the good life should look like. Today […]
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 […]
