Anabaptist and Quaker essays, sermons, and other writings
The doorbell rings, and there, standing on the mat, are a pair of door-to-door evangelists: Jehovah’s Witnesses, maybe, or Latter-Day Saints, or something else. We’re sure that if we let them in, we’re going to end up disagreeing in a way that leaves everybody feeling icky. They’ll want us “saved,” […]
The author has requested a link be provided to the Langston Hughes poem “Let America be America Again.” Please consider meditating on the poem before reading the sermon below. Thank you. Let’s start off by each answering one question, just for ourselves: How far back are “the good old days” […]
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” In John 16:20-22, Jesus gives an example of a difficult experience that ends in comfort and joy. The intensity of labor seems like it will never end, but new life lies on the other side. In Revelation 7:13-17, the martyrs […]
In 2017, I was blessed to be able to travel to Europe for the third time in my life. My first trip was in early 2005, when a companion and I went to visit a relative who was studying at the University of Uppsala in Sweden, and from there spent […]
I began my role as Prison Justice Learning Action Community Organizer with On Earth Peace in October of 2019. My faith background as a Quaker led me to pursue this position. Some of the Quaker testimonies that are most valuable to me are Community, Equality, and Simplicity. Being exposed to […]
A friend recently asked me to name three things I’d want from a faith community. I think it’s an excellent query for every Christian to ponder. But my first response was, “What would the Lord want me to want?” and I think that’s a better question. It took a few […]
As we dive in, let me remind everyone that we are preaching through the narrative lectionary, meaning that we’re skimming through the Old Testament to be ready for Jesus’ birth at Christmas. And this, though we might not realize it, is the first mention of Elijah, one of the most […]
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” The beatitudes are some of Jesus’ most important teachings, and they can be found at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5:1-11. The beatitudes are attitudes, dispositions, and virtues that are to define […]
There have been dozens of movies made about the life of Jesus over the years. And in each of these, the directors have understood that the part of Simon Peter needs to be played by a strong actor – such as a swarthy, barrel-chested Italian, like James Farentino in Franco […]
Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations. – Psalm 82:8 KJV Fast with me: fast and pray on Election Day. The fasting is not to make your prayer any holier, or any more acceptable to God. It’s only to remind you that you’re at prayer, […]