Cross Sections | July 2026
America at 250, Nolan Epics, World Cup and More...
Last month included earthquakes near Lake Michigan, unbreathable air, and excessive heat indices that threw off my exercise routine. Bummer, because I was truly planning on losing another 30 pounds before my next doctor visit! Anyways, In spite of the appearance of an imminent apocalyptic event, the month ended up providing a few glimpses of grace per my usual channels: literature, TV, film, and music. Here’s my July wrap up…not as extensive as usual, but consistent nonetheless…for the two or three of you who actually read my work, haha.
Anthea Butler, Black Church, and American Religion
I dusted off my copy of the 1619 Project last month, in light of the July 4th Holiday…and America’s 250th Anniversary. Consequently, I stumbled across an important essay from religion professor, Anthea Butler (new to me!), whose entry on the Black church explores how this critical institution has historically invoked the gospel’s emphasis on mercy and love, as it seeks to inspire the nation to live up to its espoused ideals. Butler references the Black liberation theology tradition (including Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, Henry McNeal Turner, and MLK) who called out America’s hypocrisy not because they hated their country, but because they were deeply invested in its promise. We tend to criticize more stringently, that which we love most affectionately. The essay seeks to mediate that persistent tension between a blind patriotism that ignores the ugly parts of our history versus a complete disavowal of our nation’s history and culture. For another take on Butler’s essay, you can read this article from The Christian Century.
Modern Wellness Culture…with a ‘Biblical’ Twist
Remember the Daniel Fast? Or the Maker’s Diet? Biblical food trends seem to resurface every few years, promising that the right eating habits can bring us closer to God’s design for our bodies. The latest iteration of this fad blends wellness culture with biblical language, raising familiar questions about the difference between receiving God’s good gifts versus turning those gifts into a new form of righteousness. In a recent article, Lauren Gilger of KJZZ, a public radio station in Phoenix unpacks the implications of healthy eating, following Biblical mandates, and legalism. You can read the full article here.
The Odyssey…of course, right?
This month-end recap would be incomplete without my thoughts on The Odyssey…which I am not going to proffer as others have already spilled enough ink over what will almost certainly be remembered as the film of the year…if not the decade. Below, are just a few recommended reads on Christopher Nolan’s rendition of Homer’s epic poem.
Over at Mockingbird, Will McDavid reflects on The Odyssey and considers how our ordinary desires and relationships can become signposts of grace amid our search for something more enduring. It’s a thoughtful meditation on romance, ritual, and the deeper longings that reveal our need for something beyond ourselves.
This essay from Word on Fire explores how the ancient story speaks to timeless human questions of identity, failure, restoration, and what it means to find our way back home.
From 1517 Ministry, Caleb Keith argues that The Odyssey offers an implicit depiction of the Law at work in the world, revealing both the virtues and failures of human beings and the responsibilities that accompany our various vocations.
New Favorite Discovery: Jason Earls
While channel surfing late one night, I stumbled across comedian, Jason Earls who occupies a unique lane in standup comedy. It is very difficult to approach religious topics in a way that avoids both sacrilege and corniness. Earls carefully tows that line between the sacred and the profane, while crafting a nearly R-rated approach that remains neither family friendly nor outright explicit. As he warmed up his set, I rolled my eyes because he defaulted to some of the more tired tropes of invoking double entendre meanings of well known swear words…yet, as he persisted, I caught on to the way he was able to reach adult audiences…without completely delving into outright Adult content. Well, you just to have see/hear it for yourself. Below is a link to his special ‘7 Jokes I Couldn’t Tell at Church’. His anecdote about having ‘the talk’ with his son is comedy gold…in my humble opinion.
World Cup Redemption
Did you watch the World Cup last month? I did…well, I watched the final game - and not because I follow soccer or any sport…because I don’t, except when my team is in something like the World Series (2025) or the NBA Championship (2021). Instead, I watched it because I didn’t want to look back years later and realize I hadn’t paid attention to something so contemporary and culturally significant. More importantly though, I watched it because soccer had been use intentionally to desegregate my childhood neighborhood. I played like everyone else on the block, but I was never any good at it. Still, it defined our community in ways I would not appreciate until years later when our neighbor published a history, giving important context and meaning to a game I merely took for granted as just another pastime like basketball, baseball, etc. If you are interested in learning more about how a game which transcends the barriers of ethnicity, language, nationality impacted a local Milwaukee community in the 1980s, check out Paul Geenen’s Sherman Park: a Legacy of Diversity in Milwaukee.
