Beyond Religious Persecution in an Age of Intolerance
Delivered on the Lord’s Day | August 15, 2010 Micah 6:6-8 | Luke 4:16-19 The recent uproar about the proposal to build a new mosque known as Cordoba House near the former site of the twin towers in New York City has given me pause about the nature of religious tolerance in our nation. The […]
Bridging the Gap
Delivered at the United Methodist Men’s Prayer Breakfast. January 9, 2010 A Jewish street preacher exiled to Babylon issues the poignant admonition; a cry of desperation to the people of Israel. “I looked for a man who would stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to […]
Judges, Households and the Law in Ancient Israel
1250-587 BCE Delivered on the Lord’s Day “Honoring our Judges Day.” | February 11, 2009 Judges 2: 6-23 Two scriptures are important for our hearing today. Judges 17:6 says that in “those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” Judges 2:16 which says, “God raised up judges who saved them.” They were […]
Religion and Politics
Panel Discussion Freedom Institute, April 26, 2007 Cobo Center Detroit, Michigan Historically speaking, the Christian religion began as a kind of religious and political movement and has always utilized politics both within the infrastructure of religious institutions themselves and within the superstructure of secular society. Religious faiths, structures and hierarchies often use politics as a […]
Where Have All The Prophets Gone?
Delivered at the Martin Luther King Jr Celebration. Oakland County Ministerial Alliance, Pontiac, Michigan, January 15, 2006 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze […]
Renewing Our Commitment to Theology and Social Justice. In Growing African American Churches: After The Spiritual Breakthrough, Then What?
Delivered at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary | February 24, 2005 In keeping with this year’s theme of the Church and Black Experiences Family reunion, I would like to focus my attention this morning on growing African American churches through ministries of social justice. Of the numerous African American super churches that have exploded with membership […]
The Political Responsibilities of the Christian Church
Delivered on The Lord’s Day | September 26, 2004 Proverbs 31:8-9 Ecclesiastes 4:1-12 Matthew 5:14-16 James 2:14-26 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly: defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9 “You are the light of the […]
“Our Common Ground.”
Delivered on the Occasion of the Governor of The State of Michigan’s First Annual Interfaith Service January 10, 2002 Isaiah 43:14 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert […]
