Black theology and Anabaptist theology together?
My friend Dr @druhart.bsky.social has just released a new book, offering a pathway for Christian engagement that combines Black and Anabaptist theology.

The first Christmas gig of the year for each of us!

Chestnuts Roasting by an Open Fire is such a beautiful tune. It was a joy to play it with the brilliant Tess Meckling and leading bassist Conrad Good.

Congratulations to Cam Roxborough and Neighborhood Church for a wonderful community event!

Donald Trump called people who have been refugee-d from Somalia, “garbage.”I believe we are well past the point now where it is thoroughly immoral to support Donald Trump’s presidency in any way. There can be no justification for his inhumane, callous, and deeply racist speech and policies.

Guess the Christmas carol. From jazz Matins service, Artisan Church, Vancouver.

Yesterday I went on a pilgrimage to find answers to Trumps new refugee policy. . .
Given Trumps announcements regarding refugees this week, and the shootings in DC, I needed to get a clear head space to think about all this. . .

Thanksgiving: An Ancient Grounding Exercise for Reducing Insomnia . . .
I took this video just before I spoke at Vancouver Christian School high school chapel yesterday. . . when I spoke about my late grandmother's practices.

What is the gospel?

I spoke at a conference &it was clear that for the other speakers "gospel" means that J has died for my sins, period. This then determined the scope of the conference : we are "saving souls", only.

But how is "gospel" is used in the NT? The word "gospel" demands more from us.

A comment on the Trump Administration's all-too-common gas-lighting talk, in light of the Old Testament, specifically Psalm 12.

Psalm 18: "To the merciful you show yourself merciful;
to the crooked you show yourself perverse."
Once again, the bible has something to say about our culture today.

When invited to speak, I often try to add a music event.
Music almost always opens something fresh and surprising at a conference or retreat. Music can heal relationships when there has been distance or harm. It can calm us down and open our imagination to something new in our work.

Perhaps the greatest sin of the MAGA movement is that they break the Third Commandment:
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)

Many conservative American Christians support Trump’s moves toward autocracy because he delivers on issues they see as moral imperatives. In this video I assess autocracy itself in light of Scripture, specifically the law of the king from Deuteronomy 17:14-20.

How can we preach the violent and mysoginist texts in Scripture? There is so much to say; here is just a taste . . .
For more, see my upcoming course, Preaching in a New Key: Crafting Expository Sermons on Post-Christian Neighborhoods.

This Friday,Vancouver: A creative, interactive book launch event about possibilities for preaching. Launching Preaching in a New Key: Crafting Expository Sermons in Post-Christian Communities. An exploration of preaching through music, art, poetry & conversation.
standrewswesley.com/event/preach...

A Beautiful Christian Practice Destroyed by Trump:
Have you heard of sanctuary? “Sanctuary” means providing protection for vulnerable immigrants and refugees from arrest and deportation. It’s offering a place of welcome, of becoming family. christiansforsocialaction.org/resource/enf...