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January 2025

January 29, 2025

ANNOUNCING: National Preaching Survey Launched

My team and I have launched a national preaching survey on ministry, preaching, and social...

October 2023

October 15, 2023

How to Honor Veterans and Military Personnel at Church – Appropriately, Compassionately

A church can honor veterans and current military personnel in a ways that are appropriate...

September 2023

September 26, 2023

ONE HOME ONE FUTURE Campaign Launching for Congregations, Creation & Climate

29 US denominations and faith organizations are joining together to launch One Home One Future...

September 04, 2023

End the NDA in the Church: ‘Confidentiality’ is a Cover for Toxic Secrets

Some churches and denomination use a non-disclosure agreements (NDA) to silence clergy and congregants. It's...

August 2023

August 05, 2023

Review of Rev. Kenneth Wheeler’s US: The Resurrection of American Terror

Rev. Kenneth Wheeler, a Black ELCA pastor & elder stateman of the church, has written...

June 2023

June 29, 2023

The Big Red, White, and Blue in the Room: A Sermon about Deliberating the Flag in Church

What if the U.S. flag showed up at a church Bible study ? “The Big...

June 28, 2023

This Flag Has Legs: A Sermon Inviting Dialogue about Flag Placement in Church

The sermon "This Flag Has Legs" invites dialogue for listening to conflicting ideas and meanings...

June 26, 2023

Supply Preacher’s Checklist: Being Prepared to Guest Preach and Lead Worship

Here’s some guidance and a Supply Preacher’s Checklist for leading worship as a guest preacher. Preparation...

January 2023

January 14, 2023

Weight Shaming and the Church: Let’s End This Theological Malpractice

Weight shaming and sizeism have no place in the church. It's time to embrace all...

July 2022

July 30, 2022

White Fragility in the ELCA: 5 Things We Can Do About It

A 2021 clergy survey indicates that White Fragility in the ELCA is muzzling Lutheran preachers....

July 11, 2022

Honoring and Protecting the Oaks of Mamre: Genesis 18:1-10a

Here are ideas for reading and preaching Genesis 18:1-10a, the story of Abraham’s hospitality under...

January 2022

January 17, 2022

Habla la Esposa del Rev. Nelson Rabell: El Año del Dolor

¿Cómo es ser el cónyuge de un pastor sometido a acusaciones infundadas de mala conducta?...

September 2021

September 14, 2021

The Politics of Faith – The Bible, Government, and Public Policy: Book Review

The Politics of Faith makes a compelling biblical case that Christians not only can but...

September 04, 2021

Abortion and the Progressive Church: Is It Time to Break the Silence?

What does the Texas abortion law mean for clergy? Are progressive pastors willing to address...

August 2021

August 20, 2021

The Church’s Racist Code of Silence: One Pastor’s Story

There is a racist code of silence in the U.S. church, and it's choking the...

August 19, 2021

Pastoring in a Racist Church: One Pastor’s Story

This is one pastor’s story of being in a racist church. She's not alone. We...

January 2021

January 05, 2021

The Pastor of Cobra Kai – Surprising, Relevant & Redemptive

Season Three of Cobra Kai gives us one of the most realistic & redemptive scenes...

October 2020

October 23, 2020

Election Resources for Faith Leaders: Defend Democracy and Resist Tyranny

Here is a list of election resources for faith leaders so that you can be...

October 20, 2020

Will Our ‘Night on Bald Mountain’ Ever End? Election 2020

Will Nov. 3rd bring an end to our 'Night on Bald Mountain' - or prolong...

October 10, 2020

The Gospel People Don’t Want to Hear: Book Review

I'm always on the look-out for resources to equip preachers in this perilous time. Lisa...

August 2020

August 13, 2020

Church Leaders Need Climate Ambition: Grassroots and Treetops

An open letter to faith leaders: we need your climate ambition to galvanize people of...

August 05, 2020

6 Bible Texts for a Sermon on Racism & Why Your Church Needs to Hear It

So you want to preach a sermon on racism. Where to begin? Here are 6...

July 2020

July 04, 2020

Announcing: Clergy Emergency League! Resist, Reclaim, Renew

Announcing the official launch of the Clergy Emergency League (CEL)! We support and challenge clergy...

June 2020

June 28, 2020

What is a ‘Prophet’s Reward’? The Bad, The Ugly, and the Good

What did Jesus mean by the phrase, “a prophet’s reward”? Christians in America are learning...

June 07, 2020

Being Theological in a Political World

Being theological in a political world means standing up for justice because the Word of...

June 02, 2020

Trump Invades Church with Military Force. Christians Must Speak Out!

Trump invades church, violates separation of church and state. Christians must speak out!

June 02, 2020

Trump Has Crossed the Line: A Call for Pastors’ Emergency League 2020

Trump has crossed the line. How will people of faith respond to this blasphemy?

May 2020

May 31, 2020

Will White Churches Find Their Pentecost Courage?

Will white churches find their Pentecost courage for justice, peace, repentance, and restoration?

May 24, 2020

The Ascension of Jesus – Shifting Our Focus

The Ascension of Jesus shows us that sometimes we need to pivot and shift our...

May 10, 2020

In God’s House There Are Many (Zoom) Rooms

In the age of COVID-church, we’re rediscovering Jesus's astonishing truth: God’s house has many rooms. Or,...