we never planned we just did no looking back the test said yes what a mess there’s two what do we do no retreat life changed more to explain slowly we grew all i needed was you no hesitation one more child nothing the same three children to maintain then more news another two no distractions the screams the pain life changed no substitutions five children too much not for you you just do what you do you are... Read more
Arpin-Ricci, Jamie. The Last Verdict. Self-Published. 2016. http://www.amazon.com/Last-Verdict-Jamie-Arpin-Ricci/dp/1523952687 I get solicitations for reviews and endorsements all the time. Most, I have to ignore. If I responded to everybody, I wouldn’t get any of my writing done. So when Jamie Arpin-Ricci messaged me about his book The Last Verdict, I was skeptical at best. After multiple exchanges, I sent Arpin-Ricci my address. In my mind, I guess I was thinking that I could read a few paragraphs and... Read more
In 2014, I put together a letter from an influential group of Baptists asking the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles for clemency for terminally ill death row inmate Max Soffar (included below). There were many questions about his guilt then. There are even more questions now. Unfortunately, Max Soffar died of cancer this evening around 5pm without ever getting the chance to prove his innocence. I know that he’s with God. I’m more worried about us. Baptists... Read more
I love Prince. We experienced the loss of a true cultural icon this week. We also experienced another great loss. Earlier this week, Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington, Delaware was the site of a fight. This was a planned confrontation. Before school began, a couple of girls met in the bathroom. Words were exchanged. Fists started to fly. Chaos erupted. One of the young ladies hit her head on the sink. The girls kept pummeling. The... Read more
Beatings. Drinks. Flowed together. Was it a fist? Was it a laugh? Who knows? I just know I got hit hard. Repeatedly. The pain lingers. Photos do too. Read more
The Execution Fear was all I knew Every step drew me closer The line taunted me I refused to stop I forced every step Backing down was not an option Every thump in my chest Every knot in my stomach Every lump in my throat I felt I stood I stared I refused To move Their God is the devil Until the execution was over I stared him down I’ll be back Amen. Read more
“Da-Da!” No sweeter word has ever hit my ears. In the midst of the chaos, Lucas looked up and called out to me with his first word. Each time we send word to the great beyond, I know God feels the same way. Amen. Read more
*Adapted from a post from August 2015. Less than a hundred feet from residences, local authorities discovered the badly decomposed body of a transgender woman of color. The Dallas Police Department put out a detailed description of the body and asked for help. For weeks, no one seemed to know who this woman was. When the woman was finally identified as 22-year-old Ms. Shade Schuler, I realized that she belonged to no one…she was forgotten. In the... Read more
The resurrection is about living beyond death. Live like you believe it. Amen. Read more
Jesus declared himself to be present in the hungry. Why are we so stingy with our food? Amen. Read more
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