Confessions of a snob
My snob origin story begins in the typical way: with passion.
Does it matter what happened?
After years of listening to people tell their stories, I’ve begun to think that healing depends less on facts than on meaning.
In the valley of echoes
People often respond not to the person in front of them but to reverberations from the past.
Pastoring in a city under siege
As a Black man from the South Side of Chicago, I am used to showing up during a crisis.
Learning from people who can’t quit
Musicians never stop being musicians. I hope it’s the same for justice seekers.
Pastors and professionals
The church doesn’t just need leadership development. It needs processes, ongoing assessment, and shared accountability.
I’m learning to let go of ‘preaching pretty’
Some Sundays, my congregation needs a word that’s more raw than polished.
Knowledge is not enough
Patience, kindness, and love are far more valuable to the formation of our faith communities.
The church has a DEI problem
We love diversity. That doesn’t mean we’re willing to make room for difference.
White supremacy shows up in unexpected places
Supremacy feels so good on the inside that we are all vulnerable to its sirens.
After every election, I turn to Tolstoy
His challenges to the left and right alike are devastating and timely.
Why church marketing won’t work with Gen Z
Equity requires people with power giving some of it up. What if we applied this principle to young adult ministry?
God cares nothing for our algorithms
Embracing the random can open us up to the agitations of the Holy Spirit.
The great man theory is poison for the church
The problem isn’t just that it exists. It’s that so many ministers fall for it.
Religiously fluid
Like a lot of Christian millennials, I don’t need Christianity to be everything for me.