I have just finished reading the wonderfully insightful and disturbingly powerful book by Isabel Wilkerson, Caste: The Origins of our Discontents. For a full review, see this from the New York Times. The basic thesis is expressed by Wilkerson early in the book, and it is worth sharing: A caste system is an artificial construction, … Continue reading Caste →

As I read in the 12/16/20 issue of The Christian Century, Loretta J. Ross, who teaches a popular class at Smith College, is challenging her students to address “call-out” culture—the practice of publicly shaming someone for behavior or speech deemed inappropriate. Ross, a radical Black feminist and a longtime activist, believes call-out culture is toxic. … Continue reading Call-In Culture →

Our friend Julie Rowe taught school as usual last Thursday and then, tragically, suffered a devasating stroke after she got home that afternoon. She died Sunday night, December 6, 2020. Julie was 41 years old. My wife Jamie has been close friends with Julie’s husband, Kyle, since high school and close friends with Julie for … Continue reading Julie Rowe Education Fund →

Brene Brown talks about learning about having a strong back and a soft front from Joan Halifax. The strong back is self-respect, strength, and courage. The soft front is openness and vulnerability. She quotes Joan Halifax: “All too often our so-called strength comes from fear, not love. Instead of having a strong back, many of … Continue reading Notes from my journal →

Like a lot of people, I’ve been thinking about karma a lot the last few days. The idea of karma is what’s reflected in a parable Jesus told that is the gospel text in many Christian churches around the world tomorrow. The story Jesus tells in this parable for tomorrow’s reading is this: The landowner … Continue reading Karma vs. Grace →

Sometimes I need to get my thoughts down on paper to clarify them and calm them down. *Jamie has inspired me to start doing “morning pages.” Morning pages is when, right after you get up in the morning, you get out a notebook and write down whatever comes to mind in a stream of consciousness … Continue reading Scattershooting →

I have just finished reading the new book by Robert Jones, White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity. It is very well done and disturbingly, brutally clear in its examination of the intertwining of American Christianity and the supremacy of white people from the beginning of our nation’s history to the … Continue reading The Mark of Cain →

Last night Jamie and I walked over to a small taqueria down the street to eat dinner on their patio. We brought our dog, Jayber. Shortly after we sat down, a group of about 10 bikers came in. Big and loud. We gave them our table and moved over to the other side of the … Continue reading A Short Story →

"Christianity Will Have Power" - The New York Times Jesus was born into the kingdom of Herod, and Herod was a very powerful king. But Jesus quickly realized that his way of leadership would not be Herod’s. "My kingdom," he says to Pilate, "is not of this world." The temptation of Jesus, of course, would … Continue reading Power →

One of the best books I have read recently, and probably the best book on writing I have ever read, is Several short sentences about writing by Verlyn Klinkenborg. Jamie picked it up for me when we were at a bookstore a couple of months ago thinking I would like it. Klinkenborg has a Ph.D. … Continue reading Several short sentences about writing →