First Words
Peter W. Marty reflects on signs of grace and explores Christian witness
Working with conscience
Our repair person refused to try to fix our fridge. He wanted to be able to sleep at night.
Self-evident truths?
What may have been obvious to Thomas Jefferson was probably not obvious to those he enslaved.
A failure of compassion
Outdoor workers need a little water and shade every four hours. Is that too much to ask?
Reflecting on our reflection
Many of us are unimpressed when we look in the mirror. But we bear a more important image.
In praise of church musicians
Great leaders of congregational song attend to the new community formed every time a church gathers.
Sloth in a bathrobe
Does weariness of the soul make us apathetic toward what is good?
Accumulated faith
Faith is a way of life that acquires its layers and contours incrementally, often imperceptibly.
False prophets and their dog whistles
Jesus warned of them and the fruit they bear.
The eerie call of John the Baptist
His followers realized there was no quick exit from the discomfort of his words.
A clear view
When our congregation designed our new sanctuary, we wanted windows that help us see our neighborhood’s needs.
Eyes of the heart
Mike has been blind since birth. He sees life more vividly than most of us.
Words to avoid at church
They might not be what you’d expect.
The dream and the backlash
Sixty years after the March on Washington, we don’t talk much about how nervous it made White people.
Hostile architecture
In metro areas today, park benches are becoming an endangered species.
Welfare for the wealthy
Half of all business meal expenses are tax deductible. This puts SNAP cuts in helpful perspective.
The interesting life
There is value in experiencing a wide range of emotions each day.