Locs, Heels, and the Bible

They say this is the six-million-dollar question: “Why does God allow bad things to happen?” If we want to keep believing in a good, all-knowing, and all-powerful God, you may find that any answer you receive or offer eventually breaks down. In fact, some of the so-called answers cause more harm than good, especially when people are hurting. Scripture does not give us easy answers either. It is difficult to understand how God could allow the pain and suffering we see in the world and in our own lives. In the church, we call this the question of theodicy. It’s when we wrestle with the notion of God allowing or causing suffering and evil in the world and there is no time like Lent to wrestle with this question. Suffering and evil are two extreme realities in our world, and they are not exclusive only to certain people. I am personally and keenly aware that the worst thing that can happen to anybody, can happen to anybody - anytime.  So, how do we talk about this?  What to say?...

I talk about church attendance using Hebrews 10:19-25 with the assumption that it encourages active participation in a worshiping community.  Church attendance refers to the act of regularly attending religious services at a designated place of worship. For many people, attending church is an important part of their spiritual practice and a way to connect with their faith community. Church attendance can also provide a sense of comfort and support during tough times, as well as opportunities for personal growth and reflection. However, church attendance can be influenced by a variety of factors, including personal beliefs, cultural norms, and availability of time and resources. Some people may choose to attend church regularly, while others may only attend on special occasions or not at all. Ultimately, the decision to attend church is a personal one that depends on individual values and circumstances. Many people are becoming increasingly skeptical of organized religion, and some ...

It's Women's History Month and we're in the season of Lent. Hence, it's table-flipping season! (It's always that around here though🤪).  I practice ministry in a contested space (many spaces are that for this Black woman). In this space, white patriarchy is ever present. Some must be corrected that I am not "Young Lady", "My Dear", or "Sweetheart". My role is Pastor, and my title is Reverend Doctor.  Inevitably, if I show up on campus in 'civilian' clothes, and a guest comes by looking for the pastor, they invariably go straight to one of the white men, assuming that he is the pastor.  Overlooked again as the pastoral authority.  The current situation: White men (mostly) show up in the preaching space with pants so tight, generations of posterity carried in their sacs can be heard screaming deep into the future. Yet, a female shows up in the space and OTHER WOMEN police and punish her attire. Her laugh, hairstyle, and mannerisms...