Sixty-two years ago yesterday in Washington D.C., the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered what became known as the “I Have a Dream” speech. This is without a doubt the most famous of all writings and speeches he produced — a veritable American icon. And yet what most of us remember of it is…

Last Sunday we explored the Christian spiritual discipline of worship. And one facet to our worship — or perhaps I should say “aid” to our worship — that I did not even touch on yet is close to my own heart is symbolism. Even before those first followers of the Risen Christ came to separate from the…

The word of the day is gratitude. This is been one of those weeks that weeks to week week and won’t stop week weeking, you know? And yet I have known God to be with me in undeniable ways — including and beyond those that are easier to point to with others. As an example of…

Last week I pondered access, and I appreciate the number of you who connected with me to share your appreciation for my open wrestling and your affirmation that you understood I was not merely whinging publicly. This Sunday, we will be exploring the Christian spiritual discipline of confession; and as I have been preparing all…

I’m thinking about access today. They are doing some work on the road that fronts the parsonage. As has been my experience with most roadworks projects in every place I have lived, information about what is happening and when is not altogether forthcoming and clear. Right now, I can say with certainty they are digging…

Were I a betting person, I would bet that by this point in the summer (at some point, at least) you have been outdoors without shoes on your feet. Maybe it was a trip to the lake. Maybe it was in your backyard. Maybe it was during some water-play with children. But it likely happened.…

Director of Music / Piano Accompanist Department: Worship Arts Reports To: Senior Pastor Job Type: Part-time Summary: Community Baptist Church (CBC), an American Baptist Church in Warrenville, IL (30 miles west of Chicago), is seeking a part-time Director of Music / Piano Accompanist to lead and grow our music program. This role involves close collaboration…

American Baptist Churches USA elected Joshua Kagi to serve a two year term as President of the Denomination, beginning on January 1, 2026. Below is a video of his remarks at the Biennial Meeting earlier this month.  

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,…

As I hope you realize, there is a lot about these Christian spiritual disciplines that that simply cannot be included on Sunday. My goal is only to make introductions, a bit like connecting people who do not know one another but I suspect would benefit from doing so. I trust God to grow the “relationships”…