Marginalia

Dear Lake Streeters,

I have heard some joyous news as some of our community members received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine. I was inspired to write a short prayer for the occasion that may be recited before you receive the vaccine. At Lake Street, we believe that everything is spiritual, and the c […]

Dear Lake Streeters,
As I write this email, Congress is convening to eventually accept the electoral college results that will usher out the current president at the end of his term. A transfer of power, surely, but not a peaceful one. As domestic terrorists earlier interrupted that transfer of power singing hymns, bowin […]

This article was published in the Christian Citizen on October 1, 2020.

United by Yearning
A different kind of World Communion Sunday is taking shape

As we approach World Communion Sunday, it seems obvious that this year’s celebration will be different due to […]

This article was published in the Christian Citizen on September 3, 2020.

The Jesus who works
How we talk about Jesus’ profession matters this Labor Day

If you were to ask most Christians what Jesus did for a living before beginning his public ministry, most […]

This article was published in the Christian Citizen on June 17, 2020.

It’s complicated: Father’s Day and descriptions of God
The language we use matters in how we talk about God.

There is nothing that will make you more aware of your own behavior than being […]

This article was published in the Christian Citizen on June 11, 2020.

Embracing the new normal—Church was made for times like these

Many churches had to scramble to figure out how to do church online in the wake of COVID-19, and congregations have learned myr […]

Dear Friends and Members of Lake Street Church,
Today at 11AM central, the memorial service for George Floyd was held in Houston at Fountain of Praise Church. I want to give you a link to the services so that you can see for yourself the remarkable resilience and solidarity shown by not only George Floyd’s […]

This article was published in the Christian Citizen on May 26, 2020.

What teaching Baptist history during the pandemic taught me:
Our tradition offers the tools we need for the present moment

We only got to meet in person one time before we took our American Ba […]

This article was published in the Christian Citizen on April 11, 2020.

The triumph of the quotidian—What making bread during the COVID-19 crisis taught me

With the waning cultural influence of church, my first instinct as a pastor is to strive for creative an […]