Churches sing, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” with its lyric “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” Why is there a relationship between hope and fear? My latest with The Christian Citizen christiancitizen.us/the-relationsh…

May we remember something that is as true of God during Advent as it is at Christmas, just as it is true on Good Friday and in the Easter narratives of Thomas and the resurrection. That truth is this: we serve a tender God. christiancitizen.us/a-tender-god/

“Jesus the Refugee: Ancient Injustice and Modern Solidarity,” appeals to Christians to see the ignoble reality of the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt as a story that keeps repeating in human history and in this morning’s news headlines. christiancitizen.us/with-the-poor-…

From the word Advent also springs the word adventure. Imagine considering that there are adventures of faith for you. christiancitizen.us/four-ways-to-p…

In the gospel narrative, Joseph is the backup quarterback. Mary is the star. And that is as it should be. Yet Joseph was faithful, devoted, and played his part well before he faded from the scene not long after the birth of Jesus. christiancitizen.us/joseph-backup-…

In the gospel narrative, Joseph is the backup quarterback. Mary is the star. And that is as it should be. christiancitizen.us/joseph-backup-…

Advent is all about paying attention, waiting, watching, listening. It is about bringing our fully embodied, fully incarnate sensory selves to be as present and intimate and awake as possible with the ever-astounding mystery and glory of being itself. christiancitizen.us/advent-and-ai/

What are some Christmas traditions you used to practice and what are new ones that have gained new meaning? christiancitizen.us/how-still-we-s…

I’m grateful for the people I’ve met who are out there questioning. And I’m thankful for time, a constructed fabrication or not, as it forces me to pause and take stock of the life I get to lead. christiancitizen.us/taking-stock-o…

What are you planning for 2024? Wait! Before you jump in, take a few moments to take stock of this year. Then think about next year. christiancitizen.us/looking-back-t…

Little Rock church hired Josh Duggar’s lawyer then reversed course after lay leaders protest bit.ly/3RIU3Hs

In its new setting, the story that the Book of Ruth tells gets a refreshed lease on life. christiancitizen.us/next-of-kin-a-…

When we, like the magi, decide to follow God into unknown territory, we discover grace, forgiveness, love, compassion, spiritual insight, and even learn new things about ourselves and God. christiancitizen.us/epiphany-aha-t…

A powerful prescription for the survival of our democracy is embedded in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” christiancitizen.us/making-peace-r…

"What if we set spiritual goals this year to be in a more emotionally intelligent and attuned conversation with the earth? Might we hear the ice melting as tears—the weeping of creation?" New today christiancitizen.us/a-new-years-pr…

DeRose-Hinkhouse award winner from ReligionCommunicator

DeRose-Hinkhouse award winner from ReligionCommunicator with thanks to timshriver and Tami Pyfer for their good work on The Dignity Index

Making space for grace. New in The Christian Citizen christiancitizen.us/from-the-edito…