In our current cultural and political climate, one truth has become increasingly clear: the greatest value in following Jesus is not about religious practice detached from a kingdom-shaped heart. It is not discovered through self-righteous effort, cultural power, or moral gatekeeping. Instead, the greatest value is found in hearts and lives fully submitted to Jesus—lives that seek justice for the marginalized, extend mercy to those pushed to the edges, and love neighbors who are too often treated as threats rather than image-bearers. Jesus’ vision of the kingdom consistently centers people who are our society overlooks or rejects. Immigrants, outsiders, and those whose identities do not fit dominant cultural expectations were never peripheral to His message—they were central. This remains true as we turn to the concluding verses of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:13–29. Before stepping into these closing words, it helps to remember the foundation was already laid in the Beatitudes...

When the venerable monks participating in the Walk for Peace passed through my area—Columbia, South Carolina—my family and I chose to join them. Early that morning, we intentionally intersected their route so we could walk alongside them for a short distance. We wanted to experience, even briefly, the solidarity I had been hearing about—solidarity with those who long for peace in a world that often seems to thrive on division. Later that afternoon, we attended a rally so well attended that it virtually closed downtown Columbia. Thousands gathered as the monks walked to the Capitol, where they challenged us to pursue both personal and communal peace in our lives and in our world. As the walk has progressed, I have heard troubling stories. Stories of Christians standing in opposition to these monks and to those supporting them. I saw fellow believers—both in person and on social media—question or outright condemn those of us who chose to participate, including my own family. So let me be...

Over my last few blogs I have attempted to communicate that having it all together isn't a prerequisite of coming to Jesus. I have argued that we must sit at tables of KINDness while continually examining ourselves in light of the Gospel. This blog is a return to some of the same challenges with an emphasis on the importance of creating safe community. the following is shortened version of a chapter in a book I am working on putting together to challenge churches and individuals to engage and live in the Messy Middle. What does this look like when we build community together? Safe church spaces do not emerge accidentally. They are formed—slowly, intentionally, and with a biblical mandate—by communities that take Jesus at His word when He says that love will be the defining mark of His followers (John 13:34–35). For LGBTQ+ people, and for many others shaped by racial injustice, political marginalization, or spiritual trauma, “church” has often been experienced as a place where lived...

  In life, one comes to understand that we are on a journey shaped by incremental discoveries; small moments of learning that slowly form who we become for the people around us. Growth rarely arrives fully formed. Instead, it unfolds through missteps that teach us humility, core beliefs that are tested and refined, and muscles of compassion that must be intentionally strengthened over time. The journey itself matters, not just the destination. How a person engages these processes determines the kind of presence they become in the lives of others. Some choose to grow into safe spaces—people who can hold tension, listen without rushing to judgment, and extend love, compassion, and grace even when things are unresolved. Others, often without intending to choose a different path. That road can lead to harm: wounding others, marginalizing the vulnerable, or grasping for power at the expense of those with the least voice. The difference between these paths is not perfection, but posture....