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Write about the book of Amos in 500 words... the theme of the book and how it connects to Jesus. A tall order! But I accepted the invitation by my friends at Simply Jesus and Group Publishing. Here are my 500 words. (This essay will be included in The Jesus-Centered Study Bible, available now!)  *** When I think of Amos, I think about Martin Luther King, Jr. I see the black and white reel flicker before my eyes as he…

Write about the Song of Solomon in 500 words... the theme of the book and how it connects to Jesus. A tall order! But I accepted the invitation by my friends at Simply Jesus and Group Publishing. Here are my 500 words. (This essay will be included in The Jesus-Centered Study Bible, available September 1, 2015!) *** The Song of Solomon makes my toes curl; my cheeks blush. This collection of love poetry is not coy about sex, bodies or…

Exodus might inform my worldview more than any other book in Scripture... liberation, adoption, midwives,  mothers, daily manna and stone tablets are all packed in there. We walk near the Great Nile River and cross the Sea of Reeds, we stand in awe at Sinai and wander the wilderness before catching a glimpse of the Promised Land. We study Moses and Miriam, we remember Pharaoh. We learn that God hears the cries of the oppressed, God acts, God delivers. We…

Write about the book of Exodus in 500 words... the theme of the book, how it connects to Jesus and even your own story. A tall order! But I accepted the invitation by my friends at Simply Jesus and Group Publishing. Here are my 500 words on Exodus. (This essay will be included in The Jesus-Centered Study Bible, available September 1, 2015!) *** Each generation has its song, the anthem heavy with meaning and movement propelling people forward with hope. When you’re down…

In preparation for the annual Amahoro Africa Gathering in 2010 I began reading about creation care rooted in Scripture and science. I've been reading ever since, and here are the books that have most shaped my thoughts on the connection between Christ, creation and community. [one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor by Leonardo Boff This book was recommended by Brian McLaren. I remember him saying that this book left him in a posture of worship. It left me…

Jesus stood in the synagogue and read from the Isaiah scroll: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he has anointed me to bring good news the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To let the oppressed go free, To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19) Then Jesus handed back the scroll and took his seat. What more needed to be said after…

The killing of Trayvon Martin woke me up. I’m the mother of a brown son, and brown daughter. The world no longer sees them as sweet adopted African babies, though they will always be babies to me. Now they are brown bodies at large in a frightening world with a deep and tangled history I was too privileged to learn. In school, in casual conversations and on the news I learned things about slavery, race and the push for civil…

I saw the cover of this book and was instantly transfixed. The image broke something open in me. Something felt became something named – or closer to it as I entered into the bold colors and bolder revelation. The artwork is the cover of Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God by Kelly Brown Douglas. The image shows Trayvon Martin, with hoody and spilling Skittles, draped across the lap of his black mother. It evokes another Mother…

"Which of Jesus' stories comes to mind when you think about reconciliation?" ‪This was the question asked a few days ago by my Simply Jesus friends. My response was almost immediate: "I think of Zaccheus reconciled to his community after his offering of concrete restitution." Here is a bit more on my friend, Zacc, as I like to call him: Walking through Jericho one day, Jesus looked beyond and above the crowds and saw a small man perched in a…

I watched the police officer grab the young black girl by her thick cords of hair, swinging her off her feet, off the ground and then onto the grass. I saw him put her head into the sidewalk, ebony hair cascading down like a veil covering her face. DaJerria yelled for her mom the entire time, cried out for someone to come to her aid and comfort her while the officer perched on her back with both knees. This image…