Who knew that Jesus’ feel-good story about the good Samaritan would wreck me? In a recent video, Bishop T.D. Jakes reminded me to look more closely at the story. He said that we focus so much on the good Samaritan that we look past the other two men. Do you recall the story? A …
On February 23 of this year, Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year old black man, went out for a jog in the Satilla Shores area of Glynn County, GA. Two white men, Travis McMichael and father Gregory McMichael, who later said they believed him to be a burglar, chased him down in a pickup truck, got …
“That’s not fair!” I’ve said that a fair number of times in my life. Just ask my parents, teachers, or brothers. I’ve always had my justice binoculars handy, scanning my life for unfair, and I’ve found plenty. One day, however, God gently reminded me that I was looking through the wrong end of …
I’ve made the point that if a country that had no laws against—or punishment for—evils like child abuse, rape, murder or battering, that country couldn’t possibly be considered good or loving. Laws and punishment are a reflection of goodness and love. Similarly, God couldn’t possibly be loving if he had no laws against evil …
More Conversations That Matter. The name of my blog. I want to engage conversations about important things. Sometimes, that starts with a question, and I have one that has been stirring in me the last few days. This particular question takes us into some deep waters of heart motive, but it’s important for us …
Bible History is full of desperate mothers. So is modern history. There is a connection. The mother is fleeing through the desert with her boy, desperate to find a home. When her canteen runs dry, Hagar collapses in tears yards from her baby, because she can’t bear to watch him die. The …
The Bible tells the story of Job. Married. 8 kids. 11,000 head of cattle. Healthy. Wealthy. Wise. Loved God. Within 24 hours, his kids were killed in a storm, and raiding armies killed or stole his cattle, killing most of his ranch hands. He then contracted a brutal wasting disease that left painful oozing …
Thomas Jefferson. Robert E. Lee. Thomas Yawkey. They have all been in the news this last week. Jefferson, the slave owner. Yawkey, the Red Sox baseball owner who adamantly resisted integration. Lee, a general in the Confederate army. Racists. Bad guys. The proposed removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee was …
I was never a big fan of the WWJD phenomenon. You know, the one that had people sporting bracelets and bumper stickers and socks and hats with WWJD emblazoned on them. What Would Jesus Do? WWJD? Now I love Jesus, trust him completely, and seek to follow his way and wisdom. It was the …
A police revolver rings out. Several times. Another black man in America bleeds out. Most all agree that these killings are a terrible tragedy. And we–my white brothers and sisters and I–wanting to be helpful, offer our counsel. These deaths could be prevented. The story can end up differently. If only the black man …