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In every age, there are those who seek to manipulate the imaginings of God in a manner that guarantees their power. Those who seek to refract the imaginings just enough to remove the Imago Dei from fellow imagebearers. Pull the tent of humanity just tight enough so when they are asked “who is my neighbor” they can confidently answer, “not them.” And in every age, God’s faithfulness is such that God inspires a cohort of the maladjusted who proclaim another imagining of God. An imagining where flourishing is not exclusive, an imagining where cruelty is not a default setting, an imagining where hearing “that’s just the way it is” is not acceptable.

I’m having a lot of fun doing these Substack Lives!

Went to the beginning of my book of notes and covered:

John 2 and the omnipotence of Jesus

Leviticus 3 and the peace offering

Hebrews 9 and Christ as perfect and permanent sacrifice

1 Peter 3 and honoring your wife

Psalm 83 and the tradition of lament

Proverbs 28 and reparations

Jon 28 and wisdom

Ruth 1 and provision

Amos 5 and repentance

Acts 20 and falling asleep in church

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Peace and blessings!

Taking another cruise through scripture making stops in:

Peter’s Denial of Christ (Matthew 26)

David on the run from Saul (1 Samuel 21)

Job’s friend talking terribly about him again (Job 11)

Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9)

AND MUCH MORE

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.baddestchaplain.com/subscribe

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Yesterday I had the joy of preaching at First Congregational church of Montclair. It is a church that was founded by abolitionists and where my brother, Rev. John Rogers, co-pastors.

In this sermon, I explore the essential nature of rest and its relationship with peace.

When we long to rest or dream of freedom, we are imagining a particular type of peace. How do our imaginings of peace overlap with the divine promise of rest?

So if you’ve been following me on social media (@BaddestChaplain on Facebook, Threads, and IG) you occasionally see me post “Morning Meds.” It’s a snippet of me exploring a principle or story from scripture.

Today I am trying a new format I am going to call “Morning Meds Deluxe” where I let the commentary breathe a bit.

Let me know what you think!

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It is always a joy to speak with George Cruz!

I am such a fan of his music and am excited for you to check out his music too.

He is a key part of the burgeoning Jazz scene in Richmond, Virginia and on this episode of BaddestChaplain, we talk about his journey.

From growing up in Norfolk, living in the Philippines, and blending his roots in the church with his brilliance in jazz, this is a conversation you will want to hear!

Follow George at his website www.georgecruzmusic.com

BaddestChaplain’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.baddestchaplain.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.baddestchaplain.com

I had a great time preaching in my new call as Associate Pastor at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church. It is a special week in my work there as next Sunday I am formally installed and ordained into this role.

It’ll be on YouTube and I’ll be sure to post it here next week!

Speaking of YouTube, today’s service can be viewed in its entirety below.

Get inspired by today’s conversation with Dr. Sadler where he emphasizes the importance of love in action within governance. He discusses how faith, moral values, and community engagement can transform North Carolina’s policies and society.

Learn more about Dr. Sadler’s vision for North Carolina here.

BaddestChaplain’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.baddestchaplain.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.baddestchaplain.com

Earlier today I had the joy of returning to Davidson College to speak at Baccalaureate.

Very much still processing this wonderful opportunity. For now, I can say that it was truly an honor to share some words with the graduates and I hope what I shared is helpful.

Watch the full service here.

Today I had the honor of conversing with Alia Azariah from Safe House Project.

We discuss the complexities of human trafficking, the importance of long-term aftercare, and how faith-based and community efforts can make a difference.

Our conversation emphasizes trauma-informed practices, survivor-centered approaches, and the vital role of community in eradicating exploitation.

Learn more about Safe House Project here.

Resources

Safe House Project

OnWatch Training Series

Simply Report App

Trauma-Informed Admission and Intake White Paper

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Aftercare in Human Trafficking

04:16 The Role of Partnerships in Aftercare

05:33 Identifying Gaps in Traditional Shelter Models

08:02 Restorative vs. Safe Environments

10:22 Faith-Based Approaches to Aftercare

17:57 Individualized Support for Survivors

22:10 Trauma-Informed Intake Processes

26:09 Myths and Blind Spots in Professional Training

27:29 Media Narratives and Public Perception of Trafficking

29:43 Understanding the Reality of Trafficking

32:34 The Lifelong Impact of Trauma

35:23 Faith and the Call to Action

40:56 Safe House Certification: A Gold Standard

45:25 Legal Barriers for Survivors

49:25 Upholding Dignity and Choice

Favourite Quotes from this convo

“Hope without resources is cruel.”

“Lifelong trauma requires lifelong support.”

“God is closest to us in our suffering.”

BaddestChaplain’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.baddestchaplain.com/subscribe