We are now three weeks in to 2024 with today serving as the third Sunday of the year. And, I've been blessed to have encounters with several other congregations including two that served at White Rock Center of Hope yesterday Additionally, I hosted and facilitated a small group (aka life group) in my home as part of the ministry of Cathedral of Hope (UCC) in Dallas, TX. How Many Churches? Just counting the churches mentioned above, I've had meaningful experiences with 6 Read More …
My Visit to Mayflower Congregational UCC (#2103)
I've been sharing some of my experiences as a first-time guest in worship in a variety of congregations since 2010, including Last week, I was the guest minister at Central Lutheran Church in Dallas. Today, my wife and I visited Mayflower Congregation United Church of Christ in Oklahoma City for the first time. While we had never attended before, we felt we knew this congregation a bit through their former Senior Minister (1985 - 2020), The Rev. Dr. Robin Meyers. He has been Read More …
Faith: My Star Word for 2024 (#2102)
The practice of choosing a star word was something I first heard of perhaps a decade ago and first participated in last year. For 2023, my star word was clarity. And, it turned out that 2023 became a year of new clarity. This year, I paused at the star filled table to consider some of the many words that might be waiting for me before selecting one. My star word to guide me in 2024 is faith. Faith Faith has always been central to my identity. A few thoughts immediately came to Read More …
Preaching God is Still Speaking (#2101)
This morning I served as guest pastor at Central Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Dallas, Texas. It was a joy to be with them for a second time (last year I joined them for worship as a guest preacher). Central Lutheran Church is among the founding member churches of White Rock Center of Hope. It was also WRCH's founder, Donagene Christian's church. I'm thankful for their continued strong support of WRCH and for Rev. Veronika Czutor's invitation to step in this morning while she is Read More …
Another New Year’s Resolution? (#2100)
Passage for Reflection: James 3:13-18 Happy New Year! How did you celebrate the conclusion of 2023 and the start of 2024? Did you stay home and go to bed well before midnight or opt to ring in the new year with a few people who are dear to you or were you among those who ventured out to be part of a large event? Did you think about the life you want to lead in the year ahead and make some new year’s resolutions or public commitments to live differently or did you choose to abstain Read More …
Best of the Best – 2023 (#2099)
This is the 75th and final post of the year on So What Faith. It joins 2,024 posted between 2009 and 2022. At the end of the calendar year for the last three years, I shared the most viewed posts of all time based on page views according to Google Analytics. Then, this year, on July 1, Google stopped processing new data and all customers lost access to the Universal Analytics interface and API. So, I'm unable to provide a similar update this year. Year in Review Instead, I've Read More …
Wrapping Up The Year of Clarity (#2098)
My first post of 2023, Star Word for 2023, introduced the word I received on Epiphany to guide me through the year ahead: clarity. In that post I suggested that while 2022 had been marked by transition, 2023 would be a season of increasing clarity personally and professionally. Personally Reflecting on 2023, I see numerous ways in which the year has been marked by clarity in my personal life. Three important experiences that have informed my increased clarity Read More …
Worshippers Are Aging Too Fast (#2097)
Have you ever looked around a sacred space during worship and observed that those gathered look quite a bit older than the general population? If so, your anecdotal observation is linked to a broader reality: The average American in worship is significantly older than the average American across the entire population. And, it is also correct to assert that while the both the worshipping folks and Americans in general are aging populations, the average age among the worshipping group has risen Read More …
14th Annual Top 10 Books of the Year (#2096)
Welcome to the 14th annual So What Faith’s Top 10 Books of the Year. This year I read 90 books published in 2023. The top ten are listed below in alphabetical order by author’s last name: Top Two The two books on this year’s top ten that had the greatest impact on me are Both of these books were not only well written, but also intersect with my current ministry. As the CEO of White Rock Center of Hope poverty alleviation is central to my work. And, I've spent more than Read More …
2023 in Exactly 100 Words (#2095)
As a way of seeking to update the Christmas letters that for decades were slipped inside of Christmas cards and delivered by postal mail, I started writing 100 word "year in review" notes in 2016. Recognizing that one must be concise in the current social media era, I've limited contents to a few highlights. This year's edition follows. 2023 in Review In my third year at White Rock Center of Hope (Dallas) my title changed from Executive Director to Chief Executive Officer. I returned Read More …