Sermon In Response to the Dallas Shootings

July 10, 2016.Reading time 23 minutes.

This is different, isn’t it? We’ve been here before. We’ve been in church, the Sunday after some mass shooting…somewhere…and we’ve viscerally felt the horror and the shock. You’ve heard me preach on those Sundays. But this is so different. This is our home. Our city. Violence toward our police. In our downtown, where some of […]

Signs That Are More Than Ink On Paper

June 16, 2016.Reading time 25 minutes.

When I was a kid, there was a program called “Helping Hands” that was supposed to help kids feel safe. The idea was that families would put a paper sign inside the front windows of their house. The sign was a very simple hand print. The theory was that if a kid was ever walking […]

Donald Trump’s Christian Mirror

February 3, 2016.Reading time 11 minutes.

Donald Trump holds up various mirrors to American society. If you don’t understand this, you’ve probably misunderstood why he’s so popular. Trump’s outrageous political statements are a kind of Political Mirror for many Americans. Personally? I believe Trump does not share the core values of many of those who see their reflection in his Political […]

Thoughts on Breath, And Dad

November 11, 2015.Reading time 18 minutes.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about breath. Those of you who know what’s been going on with my Dad will know why. For those of you who haven’t heard, my Father has pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable disease that slowly robs you of the ability to breathe. I posted on FB about it a few […]

I am not Charlie. I am not AFDI. I am not a Shooter.

May 4, 2015.Reading time 10 minutes.

In the wake of a shooting last night, at an anti-Islamic event that took place in Garland, I am drawn to this section of the powerful Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi: “O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; […]

Bake for them two

April 6, 2015.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Originally posted on Ten Thousand Places:
In Jesus’ time, the nation of Israel was under Roman rule. The Israelites were allowed to live there and practice their faith for the most part, but they had to pay taxes to Caesar and obey the Roman laws. To the Israelites, the Romans were evil and ungodly. They…

Dear American Christians

April 3, 2015.Reading time 5 minutes.

Dear American Christians, You need to get a grip, and I am tired of speaking to you politely. You are not being persecuted by being required to serve all customers in your store. If you serve all people in your store, you are simply being American. As a fellow Christian, I can assure you, your […]

My Interview on Radio Azad

March 6, 2015.Reading time less than 1 minute.

This week, I was proud to be the guest of Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation on their Radio Azad program. I had a great hour-long interview with Halima Leak Francis, on the topics of interfaith cooperation, the current concerns about hate against Muslims in the community, and the 2nd Community series that Northaven hosts. You can […]

Look No Further Than This

January 30, 2015.Reading time 2 minutes.

Yesterday was “Muslim Day” at the State Capital. Hundreds of Muslims gathered peacefully and exercised their constitutional right of speech and assembly. But, right in the middle of their peaceful gathering, this happened: A question, a comment, and a request… First, a question: Why was this woman not arrested?!! Second, a comment: If you want […]