Bishop's Blog
“Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love…
In part 1, we examined how God uses a new rector to bring a new beginning to a church, and that the new beginning must start with a common vision. We examined that “common vision” and concluded that it must contain a view of the centrality of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.…
In last month’s post, we discussed how the Christian life does not come without problems. In fact, Scripture tells us both that God is our salvation (Isa. 12:2) and that Christians will face opposition, even death. We mentioned our brothers and sisters across the globe who have suffered for their faith. A Question to Consider…
We live in a crazy world right now—not only what’s happening in the United States, but across the globe as well. And when we read in Scripture about wars, famine, pestilence and earthquakes (see Luke 21:5-19) the stories really could sound like front-page headlines. It’s almost like a checklist, where you could say, “Yes, that’s…
The day of the Pulse shooting five years ago, I was traveling home to Orlando from Louisville. As I waited in the airport, CNN and all the other news services were blowing up. And before long, my phone was blowing up too. Deacon Nancy Oliver called me early on to make sure I knew what…
In my last post, we traveled with the two on the road to Emmaus and recorded their initial responses to their Savior. We closed with the biblical statement that, even before they recognized him, their hearts burned within them as they heard him speak (see Luke 24:32). Opening Their Hearts Jesus’ words do that to…
In Luke 24:13-35, we are invited to walk with the two who were making their way home to Emmaus from Jerusalem. When we enter the scene, according to the Gospel of Luke the two are walking together and, in the anonymity of a country road, talking freely. Processing Their Grief In some ways, the language…
The passage I bring to you today is actually a command: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me” (Matt. 11:28-29a). Only One Thing This is actually one of the hardest things to do in the…
Feb. 28 marks the day we give special thanks for two extraordinary pioneers. Anna Julia Haywood Cooper Anna Julia Haywood Cooper was born in 1859 in Raleigh, North Carolina. She was a teacher; she went to what was at that point the embryonic version of what we know as St. Augustine College and, through an…
When I think about what I saw on television yesterday, I was brought to tears, nauseated and completely stunned. What I saw was a raw display of fury, rebellion and sedition. I saw the United States Capitol Building defaced. I saw the cross and the Confederate flag standing together in procession. I saw a screaming…