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No work springs forth from a vacuum. I have been blessed to have my journey companioned by folks who support and challenge me. I am most grateful to Kim Sadler, who continues to place unconditional trust in my ability to “say it plainly.” I am grateful to Michael Lawrence, who pushes me to “get it done, girl!” My conversation partners—Linda Sroufe, Edward Goode, Ronald Wells, Garfield Byrd, Gayle Dickson, Sheri Bryant, Leila Llewelyn, and Patricia Essex—never let me forget that I have a job to do. They help me know what solid ground is. Their love and support sustained me during the most challenging times of getting this work completed. A special thank-you goes to the students, faculty, and administrators at Pacific School of Religion, who allowed me ample space to whine about how much it takes to write a book and engage in ministry full-time and overtime—and they still encouraged me in this effort. A special word of thanks goes to Chidinma Uzoma, Chris Evans, Johari Jabir, and Rebecca Schroeder. I am grateful to congregations across this country that suffered through my tentative attempts to share the “Good News” through the stories of biblical “bad boys.” And I am most grateful to Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., whose lively and powerful teaching and preaching opened a new dimension of faith and understanding for me and countless others.

Any strength of this volume is due to input from all who challenged my thinking and research. Any weakness is due to my own inadequacies.