A Day for Remembering

 I am thinking today of all the Gold Star families I have had the honor to pastor and befriend.

I think of the woman who lost two brothers — one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. 

I think of the dear friend who lost his dad in the early days of Vietnam, and then a decade later went to fight there himself. 

I think of the photos and flags that have hung in so many homes where I’ve paid pastoral visits.

I think also of so many whose fathers, and brothers, and now sisters have also died by suicide after serving in combat theaters. 

Memorial Day is a day for remembering. Beloved ones, know may the LORD of all remembrance continue to bring you strength and peace. 

On the Cult of Death

 The NRA goes on with its meeting today, and that is because worship in any religion must always go on -- no matter what.

It is a religion, baptized in the blood of 21 more just Tuesday.

It is a death cult, sharing the same characteristics of any other death cult in any time, place, or culture:

1. The human-made invention of idols whose worship promises to deliver a people from death. All cults of death are based upon the anxiety and fear of death and the ability to control it.

2. The socio-religio-economic-political complex which profits off of the cult and assures the election of its Temple priests. This is why there is so much power in gun industry -- because a supermajority in the Senate can never get elected without its money.

3. The myth that the cult is synonymous with the nation and its god(s). To be a good worshiper is to be a good citizen. To refuse to worship is to be accused of refusing to be a good patriot and atheist.

This is the power of death at work in America.

Yet, I sense this week also the power of life.

I sense the power of Resurrection - a word which the ancients had which meant "uprising".

May there be an uprising against the idols of this nation; and may the power of resurrection life rebaptize an America which is dead in its sins under the powers of the cult of death death.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Kissing Them Goodbye

 Last night we told our 9-year-old what happened to the children in Uvalde.

"You know, how you practice getting under the desks at school?" we said. "This is why you do that."

"Did they not practice getting under their desks at their school?" he asked.

And that is when the innocence was lost, the charade was over.

We want so badly to tell our children we adults will keep them safe. But last night, our nine-year-old exposed that for the lie it is.

I am a preacher. I've taught people to pray all my ministry. But we don't need anymore prayers now. We know what is necessary.

Sadly, however, we won't do what is necessary. We aren't ready yet. Not enough blood has been shed yet.

So, for now, we keep our children practicing hiding under tables and behind chairs. And as we drop them off at the curb we tell them we love them and keep kissing them goodbye.

It really would be better for this nation if a millstone were tied around our necks and we were thrown into the bottom of the sea.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Daily Lesson for May 24, 2022

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 13 verses 18-23:

18 ‘Hear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.* 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’

Last night I was with a group from church working on issues of social justice in the community. We were talking about sustainability and how important it is to really dig down and root our efforts so it has the chance to be something significant, rather than just fleeting and/or performative.

It's easy to sprout up quick and be seen. But in the end, it's a lot more important to grow down deep than it is to grow up fast.

What we are doing today should not be judged by what is seen today. It's what's happening beneath the surface that matters most.

It's the underground where the real action is.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Daily Lesson for May 20, 2022

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verses 9 through 12:

The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, 10and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false, 12so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.

What a scripture for the times in which we are living.

There is indeed a profound refusal to love the truth and so be saved as a nation.

But God sends a powerful delusion? How could that be?

Augustine said something that is helpful here. Reflecting on the Scripture that says God hardened Pharaoh's heart, Augustine noted that the sun hardens clay, yet it melts wax. The same sun, but acting on very different properties.

The truth is a delusion to some, and delusion the truth; all determined by the hardness of the heart.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.  

Daily Lesson for May 19, 2022

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Matthew 6 verse 34:

"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today."

Jesus did not say don't worry; he just said don't worry about tomorrow.

By that I think he meant we are to be concerned, but only over the things which are within our reach.

What will Russia do? Where will our kids go to college? How will the market do next year? Will inflation continue to rise?

These are questions and worries we can't do much about right now.

So, let's take a deep breath, recognize the things that are within our control, and focus our time and energy there.

We can only take on so much. Let's not borrow trouble, but let today's worries be enough for today.

They're plenty, in fact.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Daily Lesson for May 18, 2022

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 6 verses 19 through 21:

19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.'

We have to hold the things of this world loosely.

There are objects of beauty and status and some which really bring us a lot of happiness.

But we have to hold them loosely. We can't allow ourselves to treasure them too much. We can't become overly attached to them.

Moths eat out favorite coats. Rust corrodes old Corvettes. Jewelry gets lost or stolen. Something inside us wants to scream when these things happen.

But they will happen; so let us not hold on to any of these things too tightly.

They are things; and no "thing" lasts forever.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Daily Lesson for May 17, 2022

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 6 verse 11:

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

In the book of Proverbs it says, “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but feed me with the food I need.”

I am praying for enough. 

Too much and we become arrogant and no longer live on faith. 

Too little and, of course, we can’t make the ends meet. That is the worry and the reason we have taught ourselves that it is okay to have more than we need.

The disciple of praying for one’s daily bread keeps things in balance. It also keeps us humble and trusting in the Lord and not in our own selves. 

Pray for daily bread today:

Bread for the table.

Bread for the pocket. 

Bread for the mind. 

Bread for the soul. 

Bread for our cities, schools, and governments. 

Bread for our churches. 

Bread for the journey. 

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. 

The “Blood-dimmed Tide”; Monday After Buffalo

 There will be more.  

Ten beautiful souls were murdered by the hatred of White Supremacy and the demon-possessed soldier it sent Saturday to Buffalo.

Ten people were killed, and three others were injured; eleven of the victims were African American. A whole community and race were re-terrorized and re-traumatized.  The terrorist’s life is now in a sense taken also. 

“Replacement theory” is the new recruiter. It was exactly the propaganda tool Pharaoh used to stir up the nativist attitudes against the Israelites in Egypt. 

Meanwhile in America, we are outlawing — not “replacement theory” hate speech, but CRT. 

And the guns just keep on getting manufactured, sold, modified, and used. 

This is America. 

It will get worse.  It will get much worse. The “blood-dimmed tide” will be loosed; and not all Black people will be content to be drowned — nor should they be. 

It is time that we wake up. It is time that responsible White people put a stop to this madness. 

If the wind keeps being sown on all the channels and in all the speeches; then we shall all one day reap the whirlwind. 

It will get worse.  More will die. We must understand this and act. 

Solidarity must overcome polarity, love must disarm hate, and harmony, belovedness, togetherness, and peace must prevail. 

It’s up to us, kindred. We can put a stop to this madness. 

Daily Lesson for May 13, 2022

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 5 verses 33 through 37:

33 ‘Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.” 34But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No”; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

The great Czech poet and dissident turned statesman Vaclev Havel said, "The only way to resist tyranny is to live the truth."

Truth telling is supposed to be one of the hallmarks of the Christian community. It's so very sad then that so many have come to accept untruth and outright lies as a matter of course. Jesus said, this comes from the evil one.

We resist with truth telling. Truth telling on on our taxes. Truth telling in our promises. Truth telling in our pledges. Truth telling in the smallest and most mundane things we can imagine like what time we'll be home from work in order to throw the football with the children. Truth telling in the news we consume. Truth telling in our work. Truth telling in our reports. The expectation of truth telling from our institutions and public servants.

I've written before about interning for a congressman from my own district many years ago, and being instructed on the first day that if anyone ever called to ask to speak to the congressman I was supposed to tell them he was on the House Floor voting.

If you'll lie about something as small as that then you'll lie about anything. And if you can get away with lying about anything then you'll lie about everything.

The only way to resist this is by living the truth.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Daily Lesson for May 12, 2022

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 5 verses 21 through 23:

21 ‘You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgement.” 22But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement; and if you insult* a brother or sister,* you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool”, you will be liable to the hell* of fire. 23So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister* has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister,* and then come and offer your gift.

Anger can rob us of all joy. It can warp our sense of balance. And it can rob us of all our grace.

Yes, there are things to get angry about. Jesus got angry. You bet. But BEING angry is no place to be.

We have to search ourselves. We have to find and name the places of anger and resentment which trip us up, hold us back, and can really in the long run disable opportunities for reconciliation and connection, and can also have us doing all kinds of little passive aggressive things that freshman in high school psychology class could tell you just ain't right, much less healthy.

When Jesus said for us to leave our gift at the altar and first go and be reconciled with our brother, he was bringing to mind the story of Cain and Abel and the gift Cain gave that was rejected by God, perhaps because Cain was so angry and bitter inside.

Anger's desire is to consume yes. We have to control it.

St. Paul said, "Do not sin in your anger."

We all have anger inside us. Sometimes this is a good thing. It is a natural reaction to the unfairness and injustice of life. I wouldn't take that kind of anger away from anyone.

But the anger cannot consume us. We have to master it. We have to use it. But we cannot be overcome by it.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Daily Lesson for May 11, 2022

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Matthew 5 verses 17 through 20:

17 ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Love is the fulfillment of the law.

Justice is love in action.

The beloved community is a community of love and justice.

When I was in high school I was taught that Christianity was "all about a personal relationship with Christ".

Christianity is not "ALL" about our personal relationship with God and Christ. That, I have learned, is a mark of a White supremacist theology that worked to privatize faith (and schools) so that the demands of our more communal obligations to one another were no longer necessary in order for us to be good followers of Jesus.

It was "all about the relationship with Christ."

We can't have a relationship with Christ outside our relationship with others.

And Christ told us where we would find him -- amongst the poor, hungry, naked, and imprisoned.

If we want a personal relationship with Christ, we know where to find him.

We also know how to help and stand in solidarity with him.

Jim Wallis says our faith is "always personal, but never private."

And that's because we can't love God without also loving, and caring for, and seeking justice with someone with skin on.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Daily Lesson for May 10, 2022

 Today's Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 5 verses 14 through 16:

14 ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

In my benediction each week I say, "The world needs your light."

It does. We do.

The hopeless and afraid need a light to know that that are people out there to come and be a part of.

Those walking in darkness need a light to show them the next step.

A student needs the light to open their mind and also their soul.

The vulnerable need a light so the wolf can be warned, "This is no place to prowl."

The closeted need a light to know that maybe one day they too can live out in the open.

A mother needs to see the light of life once again in the eyes of her child.

The world really does need your light.

And that's why the first thing God said was, "Let there be light."

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Daily Lesson for May 9, 2022

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 5 verses 1 through 10:

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus saw them, the scriptures say:

The poor, the desperate, the grieving, the aggrieved, the abused, those who have lost all hope for the future, those imprisoned in the past, the ones struggling to forgive, the ones struggling to make peace, the people who would jump up and down and cry and yell and even scream if they thought it would do any good, those who can’t breathe, those who can’t move, those who can’t stay — but must, the sick, the disabled, the raging, the resigned, todos los pobres de la tierra.

He saw them all; and he called them Blessed.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Daily Lesson for May 6, 2022

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 4 verse 12:

“Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.”

Jesus withdrew. 

After the stunning and traumatic arrest of his cousin and mentor, Jesus withdrew to near the Sea of Galilee.

It was there that he set up his home base and began to connect and organize with others. He withdrew into a place of safety, got his bearings, and began to plan and prepare with others. 

You may need to withdraw right now. You may need to find a place of safety and sanctuary. You may need to find others who will care for you physically and emotionally. 

Jesus withdrew. Don’t think you shouldn’t have to. 

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Daily Lesson for May 5, 2022

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Exodus chapter 20 verse 7:

“You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.”

Last year my friend Pastor Michael Bell and a couple other clergy colleagues addressed the FWISD School Board regarding CRT and what — as Pastor Bell said — a “hobgoblin” it is.

Later in the meeting, someone on the opposite side of the CRT debate stood up to criticize us pastors for not mentioning the name Jesus in our remarks. My immediate reaction was to remember those in the Bible who said to Jesus, “Did we not do many things in your name.”  Yes, they did; and Jesus wasn’t happy about it. 

Blaspheme isn’t about using bad words. It’s about misusing good words.  

Be careful what you say and do in the Lord’s name.

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Daily Lesson for May 4, 2022

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Psalm 38 verses 1 through 8:

O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger; *

do not punish me in your wrath.

2 For your arrows have already pierced me, *

and your hand presses hard upon me.

3 There is no health in my flesh,

because of your indignation; *

there is no soundness in my body, because of my sin.

4 For my iniquities overwhelm me; *

like a heavy burden they are too much for me to bear.

5 My wounds stink and fester *

by reason of my foolishness.

6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; *

I go about in mourning all the day long.

7 My loins are filled with searing pain; *

there is no health in my body.

8 I am utterly numb and crushed; *

I wail, because of the groaning of my heart.

Last year, I read Brad Kelle’s book “The Bible and Moral Injury: Reading Scripture Alongside War’s Hidden Wounds”.

There are many hidden wounds in the Bible.  There are also many hidden wounds in all of us. 

The ugliness of our public discourse or simply seemingly-ordinary conversation dredges up all kinds of sorrow and pain. 

Victims are made into criminals. The helpless are made to hurt.  The past comes back to punish and haunt. Unseen wounds are reopened. 

Please be gentle and kind to one another.

Understand, the person before you — in person or on social media — may be carrying many, heavy stones. 

If we knew, we would see — they are a miracle. 

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Daily Lesson for May 3, 2022

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Colossians chapter 1 verses 11 and 12:

11May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father . . .

We need to be made strong now. 

We need to be prepared to endure. 

Powerful forces are at work now to put in order a certain moral vision for the United States of America. 

The separation of church and state is being abrogated. 

Guaranteed rights are being challenged, curtailed, and left to state legislatures to decide. State legislatures!

The ultimate right that buttresses and protects all other rights — the right to vote — has been whaled.

We must draw strength now, friends. We have to organize. We have to stand firm. We have to resist. And we have to endure.

Open your eyes, beloved. Summon your strength and your spirit. It’s a long road to freedom, and hard as the times are and we have to keep walking. 

We cannot be overcome. 

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Daily Lesson for May 2, 2022

 Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Exodus 18 verses

14When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, ‘What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?’ 15Moses said to his father-in-law, ‘Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16When they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make known to them the statutes and instructions of God.’ 17Moses’ father-in-law said to him, ‘What you are doing is not good. 18You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.’

John Ortberg once said that leadership is “disappointing the people at a rate they can stand.”

One way to really disappoint people is to take on too much. 

This is a spiritual malady, an inability or unwillingness to recognize boundary and limitation, and a real ego trip. 

It’s also a prescription for crashing and burning and losing a whole lot of credibility in the eyes of others. 

We can’t do it all. We definitely can’t do it all alone. We need others to help. We need others to lead.  That means we’ve got to learn to share the burden. 

With al that is at stake right now, we are tempted to move on every front. Every cause, every case, every good and bad thing to stand up for or against. 

But surely, as Moses’ father-in-law said, we’ll wear ourselves out, and the people too.

Every week at the end of the service, in the way of benediction, my dear pastor friend Kyle Childress has the people stand up and hold hands.  “Hold on tight,” he says, “because we’re going to need each other.”

We really do.  

Ryon Price is Senior Pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.