The Theology of the Smirk

February 8, 2025.Reading time 31 minutes.

If you find yourself recognizing JD Vance’s smirk, or even agreeing with it, right now you are doing great harm to our world. I know you’ve been taught otherwise. I know you’ve been taught the toxic lessons that White men are supposed to “lead,” and everyone else supposed to follow.

When God’s Love For Immigrants Makes People Mad

January 27, 2025.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Here is my sermon from January 26, 2025 at Kessler Park UMC. It weaves together the Gospel of Luke and the conflict between Bishop Mariann Budde and President Trump’s supporters.A written essay that also speaks of these issues is here.

Bishop Budde and Progressive Christianity

January 22, 2025.Reading time 18 minutes.

The debate surrounding truth in America has extended to differing interpretations of Christianity, particularly highlighted by Bishop Budde’s sermon advocating mercy for the LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities. This polarized response reflects a larger issue: the recognition of Progressive Christianity, which, contrary to assumptions, constitutes a significant minority within American Christianity.

The Emperor of Mickey D’s

January 20, 2025.Reading time 3 minutes.

A new song of resistance, in honor of the Inauguration Day of Trump 2.0.

I wrote this song the day after RFK’s ridiculous McDonald’s plane ride with all the Trump Bros. Tracked and released for you today.

Christian Nationalism: Disregarding Bodily Autonomy

November 15, 2024.Reading time 12 minutes.

The MAGA-GOP really IS saying “my choice” to the autonomy of actual women.
But theologically they also say “my choice” to “the Body of Christ.”
The two are, horrifically, interconnected.

One is the actions of actual human men toward human women, demanding an ownership of actual women’s bodily autonomy.
The other is a prior “theological ownership” over Jesus….demanding the control of the Body of Christ.

A PRAYER FOR ELECTION DAY AND ALL THAT FOLLOWS

November 5, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

Here is my prayer for this day….EF

The Election, The “Overstory” of “They Live,” and Jesus

October 24, 2024.Reading time 41 minutes.

If all goes according to plan, this will be my final writing before the 2024 election.I find myself not only anxious about the election itself, but about what might be coming after.So, instead of political election talk, I’d like to turn to societal and theology talk. It was probably in the early 1990s that I […]

The Dangers of Voters Who Don’t Believe Trump

October 14, 2024.Reading time 15 minutes.

Look, I’m on the broad political left. So I get that if you’re a conservative voter and have read this far, you probably think I’m overblowing all of this.

But I’d ask you consider how his former Chief of Staff, General Mark Milley, has called Trump “Fascist to the core…”

A Chilling Effect Even for Basic Decency

July 23, 2024.Reading time 8 minutes.

If you want to know the kinds of “chilling affects” pastors deal with today…trying to balance speaking truth and keeping their jobs…Google the name “Brent Leatherwood.” Leatherwood is a Southern Baptist layperson, whose current job is working for the Southern Baptist Convention. No thinking person would doubt his conservative bona fides, having previously been head […]

This Fall’s Election And What We Don’t Know

July 3, 2024.Reading time 6 minutes.

I haven’t said much about any of the recent political news concerning the debate, the SCOTUS decision, or who should/should not be the nominees this Fall. I’m still super hesitant to say anything, because there is so much noise and anxiety out there right now. Let me just make several quick points that reflect my […]