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That Year I Gave Up Daydreaming for Lent
Anyone who has ever really tried to "take their thoughts captive" knows that they can be quite the wily fellows. Like trinkets on the bottom of a claw machine, a house fly in the dead of summer, a wet bar of soap or even a good man these days, thoughts can't be caught. But one year, I tried. … Continue reading That Year I Gave Up Daydreaming for Lent
Faith When Your Job Is On The Line
Over the past several months, I've shared about how difficult work has been. I would be lying if I said all that's happened wasn't upsetting—because it is—but even so, God has been meeting me and challenging me in the midst of it. This is some of what I'm chewing on at the moment. My Job … Continue reading Faith When Your Job Is On The Line
Whatever You Do, Don’t Make a Black Friend
For Halloween two years ago I dressed up as the token black friend. I double checked the party invitation list to make sure no other black people were going (it was a formality, I pretty much knew I'd be the only one) and then wore whatever normal clothes I wanted as my costume. Easy. To help … Continue reading Whatever You Do, Don’t Make a Black Friend
A Stone That Causes People to Stumble
Last night my small group discussed why the opening of salvation to the Gentiles by faith would have bothered the Israelites. Why was it a stumbling block that it should come that way? And how am I like the Israelites in the story? "But the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way … Continue reading A Stone That Causes People to Stumble
Afraid It Will Break Me
The other day, my friend texted me to ask how I was doing after a jarring exchange I had last week with a Chinese DVD seller on the bus that I had shared on social media. Just ran into my favorite Chinese DVD seller on the bus. I moved to stand across from her and … Continue reading Afraid It Will Break Me
“I Want to Know More”: Resources on black history, culture, and racial justice
First things first: I did not make this list. I surveyed my white racially-conscious, Latino, and black friends for resources that had helped them understand racial justice issues and compiled their results along with a few recommendations of my own. I was, however, happy to provide suggestions for how to get started with the list at … Continue reading “I Want to Know More”: Resources on black history, culture, and racial justice
Race Relations and the False Immunity of Black Achievement
Ask the “average American” about race relations and they go straight to economically depressed black people, black crime and out-of-wedlock childbirth. This exercise in free association reveals that negative stereotypes about blacks are the most dominant and readily available (versus, say, the myth of the model minority for Asian-Americans) and that either the concept of "relations"—implying the … Continue reading Race Relations and the False Immunity of Black Achievement
The Religion Chronicles—Part 6: That Blank Tile in Scrabble
“So that’s it. She reached Enlightenment,” you say, closing the book. Not so fast! That was four years, two moves, and 1.5 extended periods of unemployment ago. A month or so after finishing grad school, when I got to the second interview for a job overseas, they asked me about my faith and how it played … Continue reading The Religion Chronicles—Part 6: That Blank Tile in Scrabble
The Religion Chronicles—Part 5: Fruit from the Land of Suffering
My second year in Seattle was awesome. I considered Seattle like Ephraim, Joseph’s second son. His name means ‘God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.’ After nearly three years of hearing almost nothing from God, feeling almost nothing for Him besides disappointment, and crying or going numb when I tried to … Continue reading The Religion Chronicles—Part 5: Fruit from the Land of Suffering
Feet Cry Mercy 