This time of year, many churches in the southern US open their doors for homecoming services. What was it like at Jesus’s homecoming? Homing services are a traditional Southern practice, where churches invite former pastors and evangelists to speak. They also invite people who have connections to the church yet have not attended in years. Coupled with lavish potluck meals, these special times are sort of like a combination of Back to Church Sunday and a good old family... Read more
This year, the Fall Equinox is September 22. Neopagans observe it as Mabon. Christians also observe Michaelmas and the Feast of St. Matthew the Apostle. Breathe deeply this time of year, and you might just catch the scent of Autumn. Crisp morning air invites the mist to linger longer than it did in Summer’s heat. Borne on the fog, a hint of hearth fire reminds you of cozy days to come. But by midday the gloom has gone, shying away... Read more
Should your church offer resources for mental & sexual health, & addiction recovery? I respond to objections to the Church doing social work. Harm Reduction Two recent articles I wrote about harm reduction generated an interesting comment. What is harm reduction? In my article, “Substance Use Harm Reduction: What Would Jesus Do?” I define harm reduction as “mitigating potential harms caused by risky behaviors.” HealthLink BC explains it further: Harm reduction is a public health approach to substance use (including... Read more
You’ve heard of the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn fear responses. Trump supporters demonstrate each of these. But what are they afraid of? It’s easy for liberals to become frustrated with conservatives. Especially when that conservatism turns to White Christian Nationalism and Trumpism. While you may disagree with their politics, it’s important to recognize that anger is fear turned outward. At its core, Trumpism utilizes fear as its greatest tool. Trump followers show signs of the fight, flight, freeze,... Read more
Shootings, elections, wars, and other unrest can lead to anxiety and fear. The Prayer of the Weaned Child can help you find peace. Many people I work with struggle with restless hearts and anxious minds. At times, we can collaborate and solve problems together. But on other occasions, those difficulties are more than we can solve. In those cases, what they need more than answers is peace. If I were a doctor, I could prescribe medication. But as a behavioral... Read more
It’s hard to trust in what you can’t see, hear, or grasp. Jesus and Lao Tzu demonstrate confidence in the divine mystery. Jesus and Lao Tzu knew that people want to rely on sure things. They also knew that the divine mystery isn’t exactly a sure thing to most people. The author of the New Testament’s book of Hebrews says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” How can you be... Read more
God’s people have become experts at traumatizing one another. But two men I met after a trauma conference gave me hope for peace. I’m writing this from a hotel room in La Jolla, California. With a team from work, I have spent the past few days at IVAT’s 29th San Diego Summit on Violence, Abuse, and Trauma Over the Course of a Lifetime. I’ve just learned that Israel has moved its attacks beyond Gaza, to the West Bank. Because of... Read more
August is Overdose Awareness Month, and August 31 is Overdose Awareness Day. How can your church end the stigma and save lives? Image by Лечение Наркомании from Pixabay I am uniquely qualified to write this article. Having pastored multiple churches over twenty-six years, I can appreciate the church’s aversion to addiction. Many devout Christians see addiction as sin. Now, in my second career as a behavioral health specialist, I work primarily with individuals experiencing homelessness. Many of these... Read more
During an opioid epidemic with so many dying of overdose, would Jesus promote harm reduction practices and products? As a professional harm reductionist, I regularly give out harm reduction products like fentanyl test strips, condoms, Narcan, and meth cookers. I counsel people about safer use techniques like using with a friend or smoking versus injecting. And, as a Christian, I’m okay with that. What is Harm Reduction? Simply put, harm reduction is mitigating potential harms caused by risky... Read more
Jesus taught us how to pray like Goldilocks. It’s about seeking balance—not too hard or soft, hot or cold, but a life that’s just right. You might call the Lord’s Prayer Jesus’s “Goldilocks Prayer.” In the story of Goldilocks, the titular character tries out one chair and declares it too big. Then she tests another seat and finds it to be too small. Finally, she settles into a third and says it’s just right. Next, she tries some... Read more
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