2021: Same Old Song? Just Another Verse?
2021 is here. Another year in a string of years that, when bookended together, represent your life, and mine. Just two days ago a friend of mine passed away. Unexpectedly. The final bookend to his life was 2020. I was profoundly saddened for him and his family. ...
Washington Math: 1 Step Forward, 2 Steps Back. But There’s a Better Way
As we wrap up 2020, it’s clear that half of America is exhilarated over this year’s electoral results. The other half is anything but. One side is cheering. The other side is jeering. One side will watch with eager anticipation for what Washington will now do. The...
Your Vote. Just One More Test
All of life is a test. From the first moments of creation, God gave Adam an infinite number of wholesome choices, and only one restriction: “you shall not eat...” This was man’s first test. Likewise, today you and I face numerous choices that confirm that God...
When Bullets Litter our Streets
This last weekend I was volunteering at a church being used as a #COVID testing site, in a predominantly African American neighborhood in Chattanooga. I’m grateful to my friend Bill Ulmer, the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, and the many healthcare...
Jesus, Peter, Paul, & Masks
Pandemics are nothing new. They’ve been around throughout the history of this globe. How we respond though has differed, as we're seeing in 2020. From the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, we have seen fear as an overriding emotion, along with anger,...
Hagerty v Sethi: Who to Vote For?
Once again election season is upon us. While America is already deeply divided between blue and red, democrats and republicans, Trump and non-Trumpers, these various factions are finding themselves even further divided as they squabble over who to vote for in...
Fear God. Act Differently.
Nehemiah was a great man who accomplished amazing things for God and his Jewish people. Billions of men and women since his time are aware of his success of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem in just 52 days. But Nehemiah’s success would have never been...
The Consequences of National Sin (of Racism)
“‘The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth...
The Virus of Racism. Will Pride Prevail or Love Heal All?
The year was sixty, The lines were drawn T’was 1860 And hate lived on The forces were firm Convinced with pride That truth and right Was on their side The war did come And bodies torn Six hundred twenty Thousand...
Why Jesus Did Not Seek to Change the Political
Politics. It is deeply divisive, even amongst family and friends, including God’s family. Even these fallible thoughts on my part could be divisive, although they are not shared in order to do such. So why do I share them? I suppose it may be the...