We should have had this lesson last week when Franklin Graham’s call to pray for President Trump specifically was all in the news.  As you would expect, I had trouble with that because of Franklin’s deep partisanship and attachment to this particular President.  I don’t recall his asking for special prayer for President Obama, President Clinton or President Bush but I should probably leave that one alone and just focus on the text that calls for us to pray for all people as well as authorities. It’s easy to concentrate on our American authorities and only reinforce our narrow identity as American Christians.  It’s almost as easy to hold up…

Having just turned over the leadership of The Gathering, I am reading Paul’s letters to Timothy with a new interest and perspective. What does the older man say to the younger that is helpful but not micromanaging? What are the few things the younger man needs to hear and what will be useless until he has been in the job for a few years? What is wisdom gained from experience and what is meddling? What is the difference between waiting to give advice when it is wanted and jumping in with it? Paul and I are probably different in our approach but we have the same desire – to help…