(Note: This is a teaser version of a longer more detailed blog that is coming soon) Why am I so committed and vocal about building bridges of inclusion along with personal friendships with our siblings in the LGBTQ+ community? The answer is simply because that has been God’s heart for all His beloved creations since the beginning. Picture this scene with me: As Genesis tells us, the creation is complete, and God had made all things good. But then the fall came, and with it the loss of the perfect fellowship & peace humanity once enjoyed in the garden. Every time I’ve read Genesis 3, my focus has usually landed on the sin itself—and that’s important. But about a year ago, God showed me something fresh in this passage, something I’ve continued to reflect on since. Let’s take a minute to review the text immediately after the passage detailing the fall: “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from ...

I have heard from a few people who have asked why I don’t talk about the sin that is ruining our families, our churches, or our nation. So, I decided I will go ahead and address that sin directly in this post.   The sin of course is the sin that is known as  Christian nationalism.  Oh sorry, did you think I was referring to a different one? A core foundational belief of Christian nationalism is that allegiance to one’s nation, or more specifically the leader of that nation, is somehow a barometer to gauge your allegiance to Jesus. At its core it clearly violates the first of the 10 commandments which so clearly states:  “I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods before me”.  Christian nationalism distorts the beauty and intent of the Gospel by replacing it with an additional required blind allegiance to human governance. We are told in the biblical writings that those in Christ are not citizens of this earth but rather are ambassadors of peace wh...

As the events of the past few weeks (or should I say the past decade) have unfolded it has become increasingly hard to remain rooted in the messy middle. However, at the core of the messy middle, we find a call to a Gospel of “KIND” ness. This is a sacred space where we see each other as fellow humans worthy of dignity & respect, rather than as enemies to be defeated. I developed this KIND acronym for a recent sermon to communicate clearly the true call of the Gospel Jesus proclaimed. Let me unpack it for you. K now your identity. You are created by a God who loves you deeply, who has called you  His unique masterpiece, who smiles every time He thinks of you. This identity should cause you to live your life for the betterment of others. I nclude Everyone You Encounter in your journey. As your life unfolds be sure to create space for the wide variety of fellow humans you will encounter. Seek to build a tribe that includes diverse beliefs, cultural backgrounds, races, religion, a...

I, like any of us who were alive on 9/11/2001, sit in my office reflecting on that day 24 years ago.   On that morning, I was in the Salem Radio office in Louisville, KY when our GM ran in to tell us that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. At first, we thought he was kidding then as we ran to see the TV, we saw the second plane hit live.  I will never forget the feelings of terror that cascaded over me in that moment. Little did I realize, this was merely a taste of the fear that would be felt that day. As news of the crash at the pentagon arrived along with the crash of flight 93 in that field in Pennsylvania, the world began to realize that nothing would ever be the same. As I hear & repeat to myself the words Never Forget I find that the tears have an intensity this year that rivals the tears I cried on that day 24 years ago. I sit here in a nation more divided than I have seen in my life while reflecting on the unity we expressed & felt in ...