Category: Practical Theology
-
Sting
Read more: StingI write this blog tonight next to two cell phones – one is mine, and one belongs to the hospital I work for. I am the social worker on-call tonight. You might be wondering what we could get called in for late at night, or you may have guessed it already… death. As a hospital…
-
The Complicity of Silence
Read more: The Complicity of SilenceIn light of the Walter Scott and Eric Harris killings, along with the #ShutdownA14 protests against police brutality this past week, I’d like to share an excerpt from my essay entitled, “To Establish Justice at The Gates”, which was published in the Los Angeles Review of Books earlier this month. How can I be well, when my sister…
-
Blind Trust
Read more: Blind TrustThere is a man in our congregation who is blind and he is a sweet old man (we’ll call him Jerry). I often see him getting dropped off on Sunday morning by public transit or walking down the sidewalk after church. Sometimes he is alone and oftentimes, there is a member of our congregation walking…
-
Don’t Rush Holy Week
Read more: Don’t Rush Holy WeekYesterday we celebrated Palm Sunday as the start of the Holy Week. As I was listening to the message at my church, I reflected on the speaker, Chad Glazener’s, comment to not move too quickly through the different events of Holy Week. Often times, we want to rush into the celebration of Easter, that we…
-
The Resurrection and Singleness
Read more: The Resurrection and SinglenessThis past Saturday we completed our third annual online academic conference, Ecclesia and Ethics. This year our focus was on Human Sexuality. We heard several great papers from speakers like Jenell Paris, Tremper Longman III, Preston Sprinkle, Wesley Hill, Irmtraud Fischer, Mark Yarhouse, Andrew Marin, Frank Heinrich, Gabriel Dy-Liacco, and many others. If you’re interested…
-
I Left My Heart In Los Angeles
Read more: I Left My Heart In Los AngelesThis past weekend, I went to the Saturday night closing session of the TogetherLA Conference held in the heart of Los Angeles at the West Temple Cathedral, and listened to Tim Keller talk about our culture and identity. Many Christian leaders from a diverse set of backgrounds came together to talk about the many issues…
-
The Youth Leader’s Greatest Gift
Read more: The Youth Leader’s Greatest GiftLast year, I started “Girl Time with Calvin” on our High School’s Winter Retreat, which was basically a fun way for me to sit down with the female senior class and hang out with them. Girl Time with Calvin consists of me talking with them and answering any questions they have about life, love, and God. Much…
-
Re-Lenting
Read more: Re-LentingWe’re back in the season of Lent, that time of somber reflection, prayer, repentance, and fasting. For many of us, it wasn’t something we grew up with but has grown to become a very meaningful season of reflection and devotion. For me, Lent has come to represent discipline. Fasting and devoted prayer does not come…
-
A Communal Feast Celebrating the Martyrdom of St. Valentine
Read more: A Communal Feast Celebrating the Martyrdom of St. ValentineYesterday, in honor of the martyrdom of St. Valentine, I hosted a dinner party with a few of my girl friends. It was a good time of delicious food and engaging conversation. While Valentine’s Day can be S.A.D. (Singles Awareness Day), I wanted to celebrate the holiday in the truest fashion with having a feast…
-
He Said Transformed?!?
Read more: He Said Transformed?!?A few months ago, while sitting in church listening to the sermon, there was a kid in the pew behind me who was struggling to pay attention. He was fidgety, kicking the pew in front of him, drawing on the bulletin, and whispering constantly to his parents. I recall trying to listen to the sermon, but…