“Why did you talk to me?” Ty asked my friend Tre over text later that afternoon. Tre answered, “We prayed that the Holy Spirit would guide us and that’s what happened.” Well, Tre, that’s not exactly what it felt like. But why wouldn’t it be true? What does my feeling have to do with theContinue reading “I Guess It Was the Spirit”
Category Archives: evangelism
The Gospel Must Begin with Love
Where does your gospel start? The gospel does not begin with condemnation. It begins with God’s love. Why then do I know so many people who really want me to condemn them and the people they know? I have been accused as a pastor of not enforcing the rules effectively. They tell me I letContinue reading “The Gospel Must Begin with Love”
Why the hell?
Why the hell? I told someone in a coffee shop today that I don’t believe in hell and she thought I might go to hell for that. She wasn’t sure about much theology or even what she believed about God, but she was pretty sure that I was supposed to believe in hell if IContinue reading “Why the hell?”
I want answers!
“Come on! Give me a straight answer!” My friends have actually said this to me as they get involved in Circle of Hope. They are flummoxed by what they perceive to be my vague responses to direct answers. They’re trying to see if they agree with us but I am often more interested in whyContinue reading “I want answers!”
Why Curb Appeal and Everything Else Matters
So we bought a building. I think it was 2011. Now it matters. It matters because it is ours, and we matter because we are God’s. And we are God’s not in a generic sense–because we were created by God like everyone else–but because we are God’s chosen people being built like living stones intoContinue reading “Why Curb Appeal and Everything Else Matters”
Why I take pictures of the sky
I took this picture of the sky 2 years ago and I still remember how giddy I was as I raced up Washington Avenue under this shimmering shelf of clouds. I had a little echo of that joy as I crossed the Grays Ferry Bridge tonight under a slightly less spectacular (in relative terms) eveningContinue reading “Why I take pictures of the sky”
Do what you can now, rather than what you should never
Last night we gathered in Germantown with some folks who were new to Circle of Hope. We were casting the vision and inviting them into partnership in our work for God’s redemption project. Our goal is to create an environment where people can connect with God and act for redemption. This is unique. we cultivateContinue reading “Do what you can now, rather than what you should never”
How slow is too slow?
When I was in third grade my music teacher, Ms. Smedley, taught me all kinds of ridiculous songs that I for some reason remember all the words too. One of them was this little calypso/reggae jam with two verses that had the same melody but two different rhythms that reflected their dichotomous lyrics. “Hurry, hurry,Continue reading “How slow is too slow?”
How do I escape the stereotype?
I got stuck on the trolley for about 45 minutes last week. I also got stuck being a Christian The trolleys were broken down in the tunnel and we were beyond the diversion point. We just had to wait it out. Instead of being consumed by my fantasy novel I struck up a conversation withContinue reading “How do I escape the stereotype?”
Going it together
I went to King of Prussia for lunch today. My friend Phil works in a business park. I had never been to a business park before. It was very interesting. It got me thinking about how incredibly astute we need to be at our isolation to remain separated they way we are. Out of theContinue reading “Going it together”
Invitation
In Circle of Hope we say our vision for fulfilling our mission is this: “We create an environment where people can connect with God and act for redemption. Responding in love to our thirsty region and fractured society, we are birthing a new generation of the church to resist and restore with those moved byContinue reading “Invitation”
Dear Philly University Students : an open letter (it’s about Jesus, ok?)
Dear students, Welcome to Philadelphia! I want to be your friend. What is your name? Will you escape your own personal zone long enough to connect with me? Most of you won’t, but that’s okay because I’m pretty sure some of you will. But really, those people who are ready to connect are the anomaliesContinue reading “Dear Philly University Students : an open letter (it’s about Jesus, ok?)”
Trying to be question marks on July 4th
When you wear a sandwich sign some people will yell across a crowd to you. I learned this and a lot of other things at the Party on the Parkway on July 4th, this past Thursday. The first person to yell across the crowd got my attention by reciting what he had memorized of theContinue reading “Trying to be question marks on July 4th”
“Good Morning” means something… I hope
I stood outside in the rain today for an hour to see who would talk to me. Between 8 and 9 in the morning, especially when it isn’t raining but even when it is, South Broad Street’s sidewalk is a river of people streaming to work. This morning, the bells of St. Rita’s started andContinue reading ““Good Morning” means something… I hope”
Today, if you hear his voice 