I have been facing the fact that a lot us, Christians, and Church folks, talk like we belong to a cult. We do not need a name like Peoples Temple, Heaven’s Gate, or Children of God. Regardless of the denomination or doctrine, many of us sound, and arguably, act, like we are members of a cult. Days 120-126 of my year of quitting the Bible compelled me to revisit this part of my life. Don’t get me wrong, Christians are... Read more
Black conservatism is not a new phenomenon. However, emerging stories suggest that more Black people are exiting the Democratic party, declaring their freedom from the plantation, in favor of becoming free thinkers by joining the Republican party. For some time now, I have been observing this issue, and I think it demands a substantial analysis of the rhetoric that equates free-thinking with switching political parties. Seems like a low bar for “free-thinking.” In this post, I discuss four issues underlying... Read more
When we do not face an issue, it can fester and grow. Last week, I continued to witness the violent results that come from ignoring racism and White supremacy within a nation. During days 113-119 of my year-long Biblical sabbatical, I thought about how ignoring these issues can be synonymous with denying Christ. Recently, bombs were mailed to prominent public figures who have been outspoken against the President of the United States. Two Black people were killed at a grocery... Read more
Terror has been a tool utilized by those maintaining a racial hierarchy across institutions to actively recolonize people within a colonized nation. Take White privilege and put it on racial steroids, and you will find White people using domestic terror in attempt to recolonize People of Color and reassert a race/gender hierarchy within the United States of America. This practice of recolonization through terror does not end with White people, either. In this post, I discuss how domestic acts of... Read more
Think about the people we make famous because they bring us to laughter. Laughter is a big deal to many of us. We pay people to “make” us laugh. We watch comedy through various media and in real life. I get it. Laughter has helped me get through a lot of challenges in life. Last week, I received some unpleasant news and laughter was like a word from the Lord. Ugly Laugh As I spoke to one of my close... Read more
If you visit a church and see the image of White Jesus, it is most likely symbolic of the whitewashed Christianity you have on your hands. If you choose to run like mad before church service begins, I can’t blame you. A church building might not display pictures of White Jesus, but He might be “hidden in their hearts.” Contemporary churches of different ethnic and racial makeups still teach and preach a whitewashed Christianity-one that is invested in maintaining institutional... Read more
When it comes to relationships, do you prefer quality over quantity? I do. I want real. Gimme authentic. As idealistic and fanciful as it might sound, have found the quest to be a challenging and genuinely fantastic path. I do not recall a time when a person rejoiced when I confronted her/him about destructive behavior, whether lies or manipulation. On the other hand, I recall rich memories formed from choosing the narrow road of real friendship. During days ninety-nine through... Read more
During a recent conversation, a friend described a situation where a person was causing considerable trouble in her life. I responded, “Sounds like you are dealing with a Bully-Victim.” At those words, a light bulb went off in her head. It was like someone brought clarity to ambiguity. Been there. I recognize more people are dealing with Bully-Victims than we care to realize. What is a Bully-Victim? You have probably figured it out like my friend. A Bully-Victim is a... Read more
His name was Bob*. He wanted to talk to me. And I did not want to be bothered. Instead, I desired to be tucked away in my mind, left to my own thoughts. If Jesus had decided to return at that moment, it would have gotten awkward. After experiencing a tug on my heart to engage, I went with it. Darn, that tug. Apparently, “the flesh is weak, but the spirit is willing” applies to more than the gluten-free lemon... Read more
In case you are convinced that Judge Brett Kavanaugh was the best of the best of the best possible nominees the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), I am here with seventy-five reasons to invite you to reconsider your opinion. I present these reasons, in the form of Women of Color who serve as federal judges, as a matter of principle, not politics. As a SCOTUS nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s dishonesty about a range of matters while under oath and... Read more
Race and Grace
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