Kim Jong-un. What the fuck is wrong with you? Earlier today, you assassinated your own brother? You are developing nuclear weapons capable of killing millions? You starve your own people? You continuously execute your opponents? Is this your way of showing love? I don’t think so. This is never the way you show love. Such things are always evil. I don’t think you have any love in you. I’m told not to think this way. I’m told to think... Read more
For the past few decades, the church has worked hard to keep pedophiles out. Remembering that the love of Jesus extends to all people, I’m wondering how we get them back in? A few years ago, I sat nervously in my office. Watching the clock tick, I wondered what I was going to say. I didn’t have a clue. I’d never met with a pedophile before. When the door chimed, I was slow to answer it. I was... Read more
The body of the Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan in St. Louis Frank Ancona was recently found close to a river in Missouri. This is the same man who threatened lethal force against protestors in Ferguson. I was one of those protestors. In some small way, I guess Ancona threatened to kill me too. When I saw that he was dead, I briefly had a moment of celebration. Then, I remembered Jesus. In the midst of it all,... Read more
*Letter written for various newspapers. Dear Editor, Imagine a scenario. You’re in your apartment. Your favorite show is on the television. The kids are resting in the floor. You give your partner a hug and a kiss. When the show is over, you help your kids to bed. Once they’re underneath the covers, you bend over to gently kiss them on their foreheads. As you close the door, you pray for their safety. Giving your partner a... Read more
Early this morning, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed. I couldn’t help but notice the numerous press conferences pastors are holding all over the country. In each one, pastors put on their stoles and jump in front of the cameras. The problem is that such performances are unbelievable. Just this morning, I saw pastors loudly about social justice. Most of them are the laziest workers for the marginalized and oppressed that I know. It’s all a charade. How... Read more
A few years ago, I was studying history at the University of Mississippi. I was in a class on Latin American history. As we discussed ancient history, I made the observation that we couldn’t prove any of this happened. “Time is a relative construct.” Immediately, I took it a step further and further declared, “I’m not even sure we can prove that we exist.” For historians, such observations are a declaration of war. Historians believe that the past can... Read more
Over the last few months, I have been astounded by the fake news bubbling out of our new government. It seems like there is no lie too big for the Trump Administration. Official after official just claims whatever they want. Twitter is the vessel of choice. The good news is that many people realize that you can’t trust everything you read on social media. The goal in all of this is to master the art of manipulation. Perhaps, they’ve... Read more
Middle school is a time of dumb decisions and lively discovery. I soaked it all up. Thinking I would be the next Barry Sanders or Emmitt Smith, I tried out for the football team. Taking hit after hit, I proved myself to be pretty tough. I think my coaches were surprised that so much strength could come out of such a little body. I made the team. I was so excited. They told me I was the smallest kid... Read more
Yesterday, my son and I were coming home from his preschool. In the midst of our ride, I got a message. Someone I’d known for a long time had passed away. After processing the news, I expressed my sadness. In the midst of my grief, my son spoke up and said, “Dad, don’t you remember that Jesus died.” In his mind, the fact that Jesus died makes death ok. Maybe in death we are simply following Jesus. ... Read more
This morning, I had the opportunity to watch the National Prayer Breakfast. Rarely, have I seen such a display of national/civil religion. Every speaker lifted up the United States as the home of God. The flag was waved over and over. There was a shared belief that peace could only come through blunt force. God was invoked repeatedly. As everyone asked God to bless America, I thought about the scene last weekend. I thought about people being denied entry into... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In