Longing for Downhill: Reflecting on the Effort Life Requires
One of my earliest memories is the day I taught myself to ski. I trudged up the neighbor’s hill, tied crude wooden skis to my red boots and proceeded to spend the next hour falling face first into the snow. I was four years old. The initial time my parents took my...
A Review of Karen Swallow Prior’s Fierce Convictions
According to author Karen Swallow Prior, “Hannah More might just be the most influential reformer you’ve never heard of.” But thanks to Prior’s 2014 biography titled Fierce Convictions: The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More: Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist, that’s about...
An Invitation to Listen: African Americans Leaders on Life in the US
Last month I decided that I wanted to share my space and my readers with a few gifted African American thought leaders. All of them have so much to say regarding race, our conflicted history, justice (or the lack thereof), faith, and contemporary culture. I had two...
An Invitation to Listen: Bent, Broken, but Blessed by Tim Russell
Timothy Russell currently serves as the headmaster for Lexington Christian Academy. He's warm, funny, winning, and one of the most compelling speakers out there. (I recently told him if he became a pastor, I'd join that church in a minute.) Tim spoke at Grace Chapel...
Why I Don’t Want My Child to Be Colorblind, by Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
Natasha Sistrunk Robinson is an inspirational speaker, freelance writer, and human trafficking advocate. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Natasha has over 15 years of leadership and mentoring experience. She is currently...
If Love Is the Most Excellent Way, Why Is It so Difficult?
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, boastful, proud, rude, or irritable. I’m curious—does anyone actually loves like this because I don’t. The notion of being loved by someone who never gives up on us, never loses faith in us, always exudes hope and stands...
An Invitation to Listen: Liberating the Incarnation, by Christena Cleveland
Author, writer, speaker, professor, social psychologist Christena Cleveland lives with "a hopeful passion for overcoming cultural divisions in groups." In 2014, Christianity Today magazine named her one of “33 Under 33” (millennials leading the next generation of...
An Invitation to Listen: Has MLK’s Dream Turned into a Nightmare? by Grace Sandra
While sitting in a diversity in publishing workshop at the Festival of Faith and Writing Conference last year, this woman made such a razor sharp comment that I turned around and read her name tag. I had to know who she was. I've been reading Grace's work ever since....
An Invitation to Listen: Is It OK to Use the Word Racist? by Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil
I distinctly remember the first time I had the courage to ask an African American friend if he thought I was a racist. As we sat around the table, there was a long silence as he gathered the strength and grace to respond. When the word yes emerged from his lips, I...
An Invitation to Listen: Go See Selma
I've been going to the movies for almost fifty years. Though I'm no film critic, I believe that Selma should be on the short list of movies all Americans need to see. I was moved to tears by the courage of King and so many other African Americans (and yes, some...