Freedom in Context: Telling The American Story
Freedom in Context
Telling The American Story
I visited the church at Leyden, in which our forefathers worshipped when they fled from hierarchical tyranny and oppression. I felt a respect and veneration upon entering.
Abigail Adams
Pieterskerk
In celebration of my country’s Semiquincentinnial, I am visiting sites in the Netherlands important to its history. One site is the very old Pieterskerk of Leiden, which John and Abigail Adams explored in the late 1700’s. This Church is also where the exiled Pilgrims worshipped, and where their pastor John Robinson is buried beneath the floor. As Mrs. Adams remarked the Church brings one to veneration and a deep respect for those who fled oppression to its doors.
While touring the Pilgrim Museum that is in the Pieterskerk, I thought about William Bradford who also worshipped there. He would later set sail on the Mayflower to Plymouth, and be elected thirty times to serve as the Colony’s governor. Yet, in his later years he witnessed a decay. A decline that made him worry for the place he helped to build.
Plymouth
The decay that grieved Bradford was young people losing faith. The Puritan roots that had anchored him in the Netherlands and the New World. Younger men and women had failed to grasp their Elders’ story, which gave their freedom meaning and showed its costs and worth. They needed context for the things they wished to leave, so, Bradford wrote a booklet that could help them understand.
Stephen’s Tompkins mentions Bradford’s work in “Journey To the Mayflower”, which is a conservation between the ancient English and the English of his day. The ancients tell of trials like the Marian persecution, and the voyage of the Pilgrims who left home for better shores. Bradford fostered understanding for the younger generations, an act that many feel my country needs within this time.
Present
At present the United States continues on a path of tensions and conflicts that have eroded friendly bonds among compatriots. Instead of Americans we are a host of different labels and look upon each other more as foes rather than neighbours. Like Bradford’s Plymouth we have come to a decay; a decline that makes our younger ones begin to, religious or otherwise, lose faith. Worst of all they fail to get the context of their freedom. The liberties that they enjoy despite the current tensions.
To halt the decay I think that Bradford gives the answer. We must resolve as best we can to rightly tell the American story. From the Pilgrims in Leiden to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s, we must be good stewards of our past navigating the present. And should we do this we will foster understanding, and help our young, as well as our old, to flourish in the future.
My Soul: A Poem To A Lynched Relative
My Soul
A Poem To A Lynched Relative
My home state has the third highest number of lynchings on record, and one of the people killed was a cousin of my maternal grandmother. During college I sometimes imagined what his final thoughts were and wrote a short poem in his honour. This poem is a prayer that, while showing him in pain, ends with him in peace. May his memory be eternal.
My Soul
Though I am led to the end
A break upon my heart doth mend
Sing on to me an earthly choir
With crack of rope and flames of fire
Young man this fate I do not dread
Young lady do not give me bread
For my soul is going beyond the physical and mortal thirst
My soul is going higher than the heavens and deeper than the earth
Some people say this soul of mine, a thing, should not exist
For to their eyes of hate and mortality it be a simple mist
Once was the night, the mist it lay and life was in my eyes
Now comes the day and I must go, the mist, my soul, shall rise
Though I am led to the end
There is no break, no tear to mend
And so fades out the earthly choir
Drowned out by the crack of a rope and fire
There is no pain for blessed be
I hear not flames, but that great choir heavenly
Sing on, O melody vast and broad
Sing on, my soul, a martyr before God
In heaven,
Forever and ever,
Amen
The images featured in this post are from Scotty J. Williams.
This poem is © Scotty J. Williams
Protestant Pumpkins: Reformation Day Humour
Protestant Pumpkins
Reformation Day Humour
As many welcome Halloween with jack-o’-lanterns, my family and I make another lamp to mark another holiday. On October 31st we carve a Luther-lantern and celebrate the birthday of the Protestant tradition.
Apart from shining gourds some Protestant throw parties, while others simply go to Church and pray in humble services. Reformation Day is a time of joyful celebration where we honour the past with gratitude, hope, and merriment. We also celebrate with a bit of jest and humour, like my yearly jack-o’-lantern posts in paintings of Reformers. Here are some from previous years.
2021
Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli at the Marburg Colloquy arguing over what Jesus said about jack-o’-lanterns.
2025
COMING SOON! HAPPY REFORMATION DAY!
Mission 21 Webinar -Decolonizing Theology
Decolonizing Theology
Webinar
Mission 21 (September 3, 2025)
On September 3, 2025 I took part in a webinar on Decolonizing Theology. With the Rev. Dr. Christian Weber and Dr. Thandi Gamedze I helped attendees to better understand Colonialism within the Western Church context. Here is a recording of the webinar.
Our True Allegiance (A Prayer For World Communion Sunday 2025)
Our True Allegiance
A Prayer For World Communion Sunday 2025
On October 5th many Christians will gather at tables and altars to observe a celebration called World Communion Sunday. Started in 1933 at the Shadyside Presbyterian Church, it has since become a symbol of unity in various denominations. Along with celebrating our unity this day a bold proclamation our true allegiance, which is not to nations, factions, or clashing ideologies. As believers our allegiance is first and foremost to the Risen Christ and, though from different lands, our ultimate citizenship is in His Kingdom. In this time where many things are sowing division in the world, may we boldly proclaim to Whom and where we belong with faith, hope, and love.
Here is my prayer for this year’s World Communion Sunday (it can also be used in regular Communion services). Please feel free to share it with the proper acknowledgements.
O King of kings, Whose body was broken and Whose blood was shed for us, we thank You for Your Sacrament and the precious gifts it brings. Thank You for the bread and wine which show Your matchless grace and remind us of the faith and hope and love that make us one. And Lord of lords we ask Your pardon for divisions that are wrought from a forgetfulness of our true rest and home. Our allegiance is not to lands or things within this world, but to You and to Your Kingdom that is world without end. Grant us to live in peace and unity through our differences. The peace and unity that You share with the Father and the Holy Spirit. In Your gracious name we pray. Amen.
The images featured in this post are from Scotty J. Williams.
Upcoming Event: Decolonizing Theology (Webinar)
Webinar (Mission 21)
September 3, 2025
On September 3rd I will be taking part in a webinar on decolonizing theology. This event is being organised by Mission 21 (formerly the Basel Mission), and will include Dr. Thandi Gamedze from the University of Western Cape. For more information and registration details, click on the button below.
The image featured in this post is by Scotty J. Williams.
Wisdom, Courage, And Love (Another Prayer For My Country)
Wisdom, Courage, And Love
Another Prayer For My Country
Due to my current role as an international pastor, I must remain non-partisan when making public statements. This includes statements about my country’s present problems, which most agree are disheartening and bring a heavy fear. Nevertheless, I still can publicly pray for its well-being and express the things I wish for it while pondering concerns.
Here is my latest prayer for the United States. Please feel free to share it with the proper acknowledgements.
O Sovereign Lord, Whose eyes behold all nations, comfort us as our eyes behold the pains upon our own. We see the brokenness from a host of deep divisions. We see the discontent in our gatherings and homes. We see the fears made real and fears of what might happen. And we feel a loss that calls us to an outlook of despair. Lord, in Your mercy, give us wisdom and courage; wisdom to guide our actions and courage to act rightly. And give us love that we might hear and speak the truth. The love with which You look on us in every time and season. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
The images featured in this post are from Scotty J. Williams.
Requests
REQUESTS
April 7, 2025
Passage
“May the Lord grant all your requests.” (Psalm 20:5)
Reflection
One misconception of Lent is that it has no room for wants or things that we request of God and wish for Him to give. But this season is really a time of “purifying” our wants through seeing what really matters as we fast, repent, and pray. Like life our desires are a mix of wholesome and unwholesome things, and the Lord calls us to let go of the latter for our good. Our unwholesome wants blind us from seeing what is most important, and they hinder us from taking up a host of wondrous blessings. Truly there is room things we desire in the Lenten season. Wholesome things that are right and good and God wants us to ask for.
Prayer
Loving Lord Who hears all prayers, and especially those of Your people, incline You ear to our requests that are wholesome, right, and good. And by Your grace reveal to us our wants unwholesome, and help us to abandon them for a host of blessed joys. The joys that are found within the things that really matter and help us grow in faith and hope and Your steadfast perfect love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Donut of the Day
Today’s donut is the Long John. This bar-shaped pastry, which is eaten throughout the United States and Canada, can be frosted, glazed, or filled custard or cream.
Dilla of the Day
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Remote
REMOTE
April 2, 2025
Passage
“Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” (Luke 9:12)
Reflection
Sometimes our spiritual lives can feel a bit remote, where we feel distant and even disconnected from the Lord. Though we know that He is ever-present it seems that He is far off. Or perhaps we are far off through things that carry us away? Regardless, He promises to never leaves us nor forsake us, and in the Lenten season we take hold of this promise in our fasting. In the times that feel remote our Blessed Lord is with us. And in the times we go astray He walks in grace with us.
Prayer
Gracious Father, Who is present with us in every time and place, we thank You for the promise that we hold on to this season. You promised to never leave nor abandon those You love, and not just we Who look to Christ and follow Him in faith. Your love extends to all, even the worst of sinners, and by this Your promise is for all and goes from age to age. Amen.
Donut of the Day
Today’s donut is the Boston Cream. This New England classic, which is filled with vanilla custard, has come to be enjoyed throughout all of the United States and Canada.
Dilla of the Day
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Reap
REAP
April 1, 2025
Passage
“Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest.” (Leviticus 25:5)
Reflection
Sometimes the themes of Lent feel like a broken record, and especially the theme of rest or not working to reap. The repetition makes us want to say, “Alright, we get it”, but we only get it in our minds and not within our hearts. Of course, we know that rest is essential to our well-being, but we do not let its importance sink in and change the way we live. We do not let it slow us down from the rush of daily rhythms, and give us different rhythms bearing blessings that transform. These blessings include the things we take up during Lent. Fasting, prayer, and repentance which bring peace in the presence of God.
Prayer
O Lord of the Sabbath we give You thanks for rest, which is more than a Lenten theme and is an anthem for our lives. Help us to embrace it and know its many blessings, and when we forget its importance send reminders through Your Word. And with the Word send us reminders through Your Spirit that speaks to us the promise from the Blessed Christ our Saviour: Come unto Me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. In His name we pray. Amen.
Donut of the Day
Today’s donut is the Moong Dal Pakora. This savoury Indian fritter is made from mung beans, lentils, or chickpeas.
Dilla of the Day
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