Painfully Hopeful

Stained Glass

The moment I entered Central’s sanctuary prior to my interview I knew it was a space in which I’d want to worship. After my 5 year exile 1 in “white-washed” Protestant New England 2, I was ready for a beautiful worship space. Central fit the bill, the stained glass is amazing. It’s both theologically rich…

Christus Victor

On Good Friday we invited folks at Central Baptist to come and hammer in a nail to a cross one of our family had made. It’s a powerful thing to be in the silence of the sanctuary, only to have it interrupted by the pounding of a hammer. There’s a violence to the sound which…

Blue Jay

For the last two years I’ve come to the conclusion there is a cardinal in our area which has taken up the mission to mock me. It only appears when I either don’t have a camera, or a lens which can’t reach a focal length to do it justice. This Spring two Blue Jays appeared…

Good Friday Tired

It’s Good Friday, and I confess I’m weary. To be clear, I’m not weary of Central Baptist. The church I pastor is actually a source of great joy for me. I’m weary of wider American Christianity. Perhaps its the confluence of peak allergy season with my busiest time of year, but the more I see…

Stairs

This is another image from Willingboro Lakes Park, it’s another remnant of the Park’s commercial past. Years ago these steps led down from one area of the recreational area, down toward the larger of the two lakes on the property. Now they’re cracked, weed-covered, and partially buried. Sometimes I wonder if these steps look like…

Unpacking Waking Up

This was a difficult scene to write. I’ve never woken up from a trauma like the one Will suffered, and I had to place this moment of deep pain into the context of a satirical fantasy. I hope it turned out ok. Let’s unpack. The Look Bug and Sindy were both secretly relieved when Will…