God's Love Stories - What a Week edition

OK, so it just won't be links on race relations, which has been a huge topic here in the United States, but there will be other interesting blog posts as well.

First, if you haven't yet watched President Obama speak at Clementa Pinckney's funeral, please do. It's 40 minutes, but it's 40 compelling minutes. Amazing grace indeed. (Start it at the 1:20 mark.)

Race relations:

• Repenting of 'Colorblindness' by Rachel Held Evans is a powerful piece

"Afterwards, a black woman approached me and with far more grace than I deserved, reminded me that to African American listeners like her the image of God as a cosmic master is not only discomforting but frightening and oppressive." 

• What You Can Do About Racism at Love Bids Us Welcome
• David, Goliath, and Emmanuel Church by Rev. Mike Angell, his sermon from last week.
• And just in case you haven't seen Jon Stewart's monologue on the Charleston shooting. Here it is.
• Murder in the Charleston: The Episcopal Church Must Respond by Rev. Nurya Love Parish
• My Children Aren't Colorblind and Neither are Yours by Lauren Casper

Spiritual Stuff:

• Women are Scary by Melanie Dale, guest-posting at Sarah Bessey
• The First Step to Authentic Friendship is a beautiful, must-read story by Jennifer Dukes Lee
• The Church Is Not Dying, It's Failing. There's a Difference by Maggie Nancarrow
• The Imposter in the Garden by Dana

"I often think of a story someone told me about her period of spiritual discernment. She was in her kitchen praying, and asked for a sign from Jesus. As she sat in silence, Jesus suddenly appeared before her. He stood there, looked at her, then shrugged his shoulders. I told her, “Yeah, I know what you mean.”

• Sparking Joy is the Church's Sequel by Pamela Shelberg at The BTS Center 
• God's Crazy Abundance, a sermon by the Rev. Colin Mathewson at St. Paul's Cathedral
• How Do We Attract Young People to the Church? at Love Bids Us Welcome
• Resting Body, Busy Mind by Vinita Hampton Wright at Days of Deepening Friendship
• You're Already So Loved by Sarah Bessey
• On Maitland Streets Monk Spreads a Message of Faith at the Maitland Mercury

And for fun, "Extra Day", what happens when you run the lyrics of "One More Day" from Les Miserables through Google Translate a few times:

And also, here are 19 Photos of Jesus Being a Normal Guy.

Oh, and I actually posted something of substance recently. You can find it here.