Any way you look at it, empathy is hard work. Selfishness always comes easy. Unfortunately, selfishness and empathy cannot occupy the same space in our lives. Every time I scroll through social media I see a few expressions of empathy and many expressions that are anything but empathic. Words that dehumanize and marginalize people are … Continue reading The Hard Work of Empathy
Falling in Love with My City … All Over Again
When I moved to New Orleans 15 years ago, I was enamored. The architecture, the music, the art, the culture, and the people inspired me. This young love for the city focused on the positives. Because I lived on the seminary campus, I had a safe place to retreat. I could enjoy the city with … Continue reading Falling in Love with My City … All Over Again
Gaining Clarity and Hope
In the raw pain of writing about CJ’s death a few weeks back (“The Death and Life of an Imagine-bearer”), I could not communicate all I wanted to say with clarity. Here is an attempt to connect the dots. This is an honest effort meant to address difficult issues of race and culture. Talk will … Continue reading Gaining Clarity and Hope
Who is my neighbor?
Who is my neighbor? That can be a scary question to ask. And there is more than one way to ask that question. One is positive, and one is not. In the context of a larger discussion on keeping the Law (Torah) and gaining eternal life, an expert in the law posed this question to … Continue reading Who is my neighbor?
Lessons from a Car Burglar
Car burglaries are an urban reality. Just last week, using the daily crime report that I receive via email, I could track a criminal’s movement from the evening before as he went from address to address taking things from cars. In the 10 years I have lived at my current address, my car has been burglarized at … Continue reading Lessons from a Car Burglar
Death and Life of an Image-bearer
Will you weep with me over another life snuffed out too soon? It happens way too often in New Orleans. Over the past 15 years, I have heard countless news reports of young, black, teenagers shot to death on the streets of New Orleans. On some level, I have grieved over these deaths, but only … Continue reading Death and Life of an Image-bearer
Unexpected Flowers
I received unexpected flowers last month and they really made my day. Before you start wondering why I was sent flowers or who sent them – these flowers simply appeared in my yard. I didn’t plant them. I didn’t water them. But I am enjoying them. Several months back I noticed sprouts appearing throughout my … Continue reading Unexpected Flowers
From the Subtle to the Sublime: How Archaeology Benefits the Church
A massive pile of rocks and rubble greets the visitor to the ruins of Lachish, 60 kilometers southwest of Jerusalem. The remains of a 2,700-year-old Assyrian siege ramp, this pile of rubble and the other archaeological finds at Lachish bear witness to the trustworthy nature of Scripture. More often than not, archaeology serves as a … Continue reading From the Subtle to the Sublime: How Archaeology Benefits the Church
The Empty Tomb: Archaeology, Early Church Writers Point to Jesus’ Tomb
The thought of Jesus stepping out of the tomb on the first Easter morning is simply overwhelming. Jesus’ atoning death was punctuated by the miracle of His resurrection. While the cross remains the undisputed symbol of Christianity; the empty tomb conveys the abundant life found in Christ. Just imagine seeing the empty tomb as it … Continue reading The Empty Tomb: Archaeology, Early Church Writers Point to Jesus’ Tomb
Hurricane Katrina: The Wilderness Years
God delivered in a mighty way and the people quickly forgot. That’s the scene in Exodus 16 and that is the scene that plays out in my heart. After years in slavery, God delivered His people from captivity in Egypt. With His mighty hand, He parted the waters of the Red Sea and His people … Continue reading Hurricane Katrina: The Wilderness Years
