Tag: politics
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Connections over Candidates
Today I came across three shocking words on Google. Election Day Anxiety. Sadly this has become an immense concern as many are concerned about anger and fear. Politics doesn’t have to ruin relationships. There is a better way. In today’s increasingly polarized political landscape, maintaining healthy relationships can be challenging. While political discussions can be…
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Don’t Give Up! (Sermon)
November 3, 2024 at New City Fellowship – U. City Sermon from Ephesians 4:1-6 Discussion Questions Read Ephesians 4:1-16. How would you describe the unity that God calls us to? What do we miss out on if we choose not to? Our approach to disagreements? The way we pray for each other? When is it…
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How to Connect with Someone Across the Divide
Many cultural commentators would say that people are becoming more and more divided. While virtually no one would argue against the fact that we all desire community, people are also quite adept at separating from each other. It seems that our need for community is expressed to fault. We don’t just appreciate our own culture…
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3 Ways to Stand Up Against Hate
Recently a group of people held a racist demonstration on a highway overpass in the St. Louis area, my hometown. It was a sad sight. The masked individuals held up Nazi flags and a banner proudly touting white supremacist language. Along with sadness, it was surreal for me to witness this deplorable sight. Unfortunately, I’m…
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People of Reconciliation
When you hear the term “reconciliation” what comes to mind? In America, “racial reconciliation” can be volatile and is usually hotly discussed, or avoided, depending on the setting. While race is a relatively modern concept (concurrent with the transatlantic slave trade), people have always found reasons to separate from each other. Some of these reasons…
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Let’s Talk Politics!
So I did’t listen. Months after graduating from college and heading out of state for my first professional position, I was given the standard rule. Mentors reminded me, “Don’t discuss politics or religion at work.” But I didn’t heed the advice. As I’m having a casual conversation with a few co-workers, during my first week…
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3 Ways to Disagree Well
Do you feel like this when approaching conflict? Most people deal with conflict through avoidance or hostility. They either: Fully avoid disagreements because to avoid being uncomfortable or Make those who disagree with them their enemy, leading to unnecessary hostility There is a better way to deal with disagreements. Focusing on these three things will…
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Unoffendable
As someone that regularly speaks on race and religion (somehow politics seems to sneak its way in too), I often find myself facilitating very polarized arguments. Our society is increasingly embracing the opposite of James 1:19 and instead embracing stubbornness in listening to others, and quickness in getting angry. In the middle of these discussions,…
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Recommendation: The 1619 Project
When I speak and teach on racial reconciliation, one resource that I regularly recommend is The 1619 Project. Named for the year when the first ship containing enslaved Africans docked in United States, The 1619 Project provides a deeper historical perspective of the United States by delving into the atrocities of chattel slavery and the…
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What is Race?
Several years ago I was conversing with a friend about issues pertaining to race and culture. As we were getting deep into our discussion he asked me a question that I had never seriously thought through before, “You know that race is a social construct, right?” It took me aback to the point where the…
