Truth & Love Blog
In the Bigger Picture of Life: Super Bowl, Race, and Faith
In the Bigger Picture of Life: Super Bowl, Race, and FaithAll the buzz in Chicago is about “Da Bears!” The Chicago Bears are headed to the Super Bowl headed by Coach Lovie Smith. There are so many intriguing story lines in this match-up of the Bears and the Colts.One...
Here’s the Thing
Here's the ThingI just returned from the wonderful experience of engaging two-dozen graduate students in a week-long course on the history of soul care. One-third of that course focused on the history of African American soul care. Here's the thing . . . (as "Mr Monk"...
Founding Fathers, Part II
Founding Fathers, Part II[1]Over 100 years before the historic I Have a Dream speech of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., African Americans were preaching Dream messages. Reverend Absalom Jones’ Thanksgiving Sermon, is a tremendous example.Rev. Jones chose as his text,...
Founding Fathers, Part I
Founding Fathers, Part I[i]Historians of American history frequently emphasize our “founding fathers.” Politically speaking, they highlight white males like George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Paine, and James Madison....
It’s a Jungle Out There
It’s a Jungle Out There The hit TV show "Monk" follows the detective work of Adrian Monk, a sleuth with OCD—Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The show’s theme song, "It’s a Jungle Out There," pictures Monk’s life, and often ours:"It’s a jungle out there.Disorder and...
Who Is Saint Nicholas?
Who Is St. Nicholas? The origin of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At the time, the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout...
Deep Teaching/Preaching and High School WrestlersIf we listen to the so-called experts, we are forced to believe that “young people” (Gen Y, Post-Gens, teens/twenty-somethings) want absolutely nothing to do with content. All they want is experience.I beg to...
A Chaotic or Kenotic Christmas?
A Chaotic or Kenotic Christmas? The “in” Christmas greeting no longer seems to be, “Merry Christmas!” It’s not even, “Seasons’ Greetings!” It is now, “Got your shopping done yet?”Such is the chaotic nature of how we celebrate Christmas in America.I am aiming for a...
Tank Johnson and Historical Spiritual Care
Tank Johnson and Historical Spiritual CareThose who read my Blog and my books know my conviction that history is relevant today. Even more, they/you know my conviction that the history of spiritual care is relevant to how we relate to one another today. Today, I’m...
How to Ruin a Good Church, Part II
How to Ruin a Good Church or Para-Church Organization:Treat It Like a BusinessNote: For Part I, See Previous PostIn 2005, Jim Collins, author of the best-selling Good to Great, penned a brief but time-worthy monograph Good to Great and the Social Sector. His subtitle...
