Drew Downs

Make a New Normal

tradition

  • The one thing that can describe everything in my Facebook feed today is this: all of our news right now involves victims of racism. We can call it something else, because we white folks want to feel better about ourselves than we deserve to feel, but systemic racism is the source of everything right now.…

  • No, I didn’t watch Bill Nye debate Ken Ham. I’m not interested. Besides, it wasn’t for me. It was for two kinds of people: crazy confused people and people who think they have to listen to crazy confused people to be a good Christian. That may sound pretty crass, but this wasn’t a mainstream debate. This…

  • a Sermon for Epiphany 2A Text: John 1:29-42  The Foundation How strange this sight must have been for John the Baptizer. So many baptisms and among them is Jesus, the Messiah, the one whose way John is preparing. What John the Baptizer experiences is so significant that he testifies to its power: the Spirit made…

  • We have two Christmases. We have the one about Santa, gifts, Frank Sinatra & Nat King Cole, snow, generosity, Christmas Spirit, laughter, letting other people cut in line, inviting friends over. The one in which we watch A Christmas Story for 24 hours straight and open presents in Christmas pajamas. The one in which we are…

  •   Those of us who live in the north are reminded this time of year to put together an emergency kit. We put in a flashlight, hand warmers, something to kneel on, jumper cables, and more into a box that we keep in the trunk for the next few months. Because we never know when…

  • Right off the bat. I have to confess that I am predisposed to the modern Lord’s Prayer. Even better are some of the rewrites I’ve heard in the last year or so. Some really good praying is happening. Tonight, I’m now all in. Here’s why. Praying with my son. I used to argue that we…