Central View

Pulling the World Toward Love “Can you come pray for a man who is dying?” a nurse from a nearby hospital asked. “He won’t last much longer.” After I agr eed, she explained the sit uation. “The patient is dying of AIDS, and his family does not want his partner in the room.” Fresh out of seminary, I was ill equipped for the moment. Nothing in the ivory tower of academia had prepared me for what was about to happen. When I stepped off the hospital elevator, I found the man’s partner doubled over in a chair wailing in grief. I thought perhaps the AIDS patient had already died. I was wrong. The patient was alive, but the man sobbing in the hallway had no legal right to enter his room. After introducing myself, I sat down while he sobbed into his knees. Fumbling and awkward, I confess  that my silent pleas for God's help were mixed with regret that I had picked up the phone. In hindsight, I realize that the call was a tremendous gift.   In a few moments, those two men taught me more abou

Where the Hell Are the Referees?   The world is dying for referees. Flagrant fouls keep slamming down on God’s black and brown children with deadly force. Protests against the horrors of white supremacy are met with more police brutality. We need referees to enforce the rule of love. Where in the hell are they?  Oh wait, that’s right.  I am supposed to be a referee and so are you.  People of faith are called to know and enforce the rule of love. We can’t wait for the government or anyone else to do it for us.  Now more than ever, the church must be on high alert. When we see a flagrant foul, we must to call it immediately and demand change. Police who lack integrity and compassion need to be ejected from their positions. If they commit a criminal act, they should be arrested and charged.  If businesses discriminate against employees or customers because of race, gender, or sexual preference, they should be held accountable.  These are the moral laws that support a just and functiona

An open letter to Texas Lt. Gov.  Dan Patrick Your God  is a Racist ...          just like you                                                                         Dear Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick,  Contrary to your recent statement on Fox News, an old-fashioned revival will do nothing to eradicate racism. You recently accused the left of trying to kick God out of the country. To be clear, the only God we want to bounce out of our lives is the judgmental old white guy in the sky who acts like you. Progressive Christians have replaced that oppressive god, with a humble servant from Galilee who gave his life in a quest to reveal divine love for all humanity.  Let me introduce you to this God we love.  The God we love crossed geographical boundaries and led a poor people’s campaign against authoritarian, oppressive leaders.  The God we love stopped to feed the hungry, embrace the sick, and empower women, even when it jeopardized his r