Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church

John 20:17-29 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold onto me, because I have not yet ascended. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and … Continue reading Stairwell Gospel

Once, in a church staff meeting, I suggested wouldn’t it be cool if we borrowed a donkey for use on Palm Sunday? Support for my idea dropped like the NCCA tourney hopes of a Virginia fan on the night they faced UMBC. One person started reeling off a list of names of people likely to … Continue reading Donkey Duty

But do you believe it really happened? That’s a question I get every Easter. Usually, I dodge it. On one side of that question are those of you who want me to say directly, no it didn’t happen. Armed with historical facts that show the many resurrection stories about people other than Jesus circulating in … Continue reading Flee or Follow?

“Charges Filed on Church Union Services,” the headline blared on the front page of the Baltimore Sun, April 20, 1937. “Brown Memorial and First [Presbyterian] Linked to Heresy of Modernism.” I was excited to find the headline if for no other reason than it’s proof that you had problems long before I got here. You … Continue reading Belief and Condemnation

Wes Moore, author of The Other Wes Moore, and a fine human being that I’m sure many of us know personally, has spoken of a pivotal moment of clarity in his teenage years. He was away at military boarding school when he was 13, sent there by his mother to get his act cleaned up. … Continue reading Life and Death

Jesus is so frustrating. The stuff he says is sometimes offensive, the actions he takes don’t always make sense. His behavior is erratic, his spiritual life chaotic, and his choices inconsistent. I think that’s probably what keeps me coming back to him even with all other choices available in the marketplace of spirituality today. I … Continue reading Is it Possible to Embrace the Cross without Glorifying Suffering?

Of all the stories in the bible, Noah’s ark is probably one of the most marketed. Most toy companies that are otherwise secular in every way still have a Noah’s Ark line for kids. Fisher-Price captures it well: “Noah, using all he knew, built himself a floating zoo with lots of animals, all times two, … Continue reading Reminders

Please pray with me: Holy God, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, Oh Rock and our Redeemer. Amen. Today’s text is known as the “Transfiguration.” Similar accounts also occur in the Gospels according to Matthew and Luke. To “transfigure” is to … Continue reading Mountaintop Moments

“It makes me ill to look at that,” I heard someone say outside of my office the other day. I judged the voice to be female speaking to another female friend. They were looking at the wall of white men who have served as the head pastors of our church over the years. “I know,” … Continue reading Healing Decisions

If God were in charge, violence would be put down.  We wouldn’t have to worry about youth with nothing to do, corruption in the police department, kids dropping out of school.  If God were in charge, we wouldn’t be in the political mess that we are in.  The government would be open and white supremacy … Continue reading If God Were in Charge