Politics
What It All Boils Down To
This evening after church my wife and I stopped by our local grocery store to pick up a few things we had run out of during our busy week. As we turned down the aisle toward the toilet paper, we nearly ran into another shopper who was making a choice at the end of the […]
On Monuments and Honor
I’ve been in the military for about 15 years now but have always been interested in history (except during high school when I failed my American History class!). Not long after I came into the Army as a chaplain, I began to wonder about Army posts like Fort Hood, Fort Hill, Fort Bragg and seven […]
Why This Racism?
Racism is sin. There’s no question about it, racism is destructive to a society and seeks to divide rather than unify. Racism is the antithesis to community. There is no place for it in a country that once boasted being a melting pot with immigrants from nearly every nation on earth. As the events in Charlottesville, […]
Rhetoric, Non-Violence and War
Another day, another dozen Facebook posts about how wrong the President is. I keep reading how he is bringing us to the brink of War with nK. I’m curious what people think would happen if he remained silent. Would Kim suddenly back down? Would he stop developing nuclear weapons? Would he stop threatening his neighbors? […]
What I’m Not Celebrating on Independence Day
I am an American. I am a Patriot. I celebrate Independence Day on the 4th of July. By far, the majority of Americans will be celebrating the independence of the United States as well. Even with our many differences on political, social and religious issues, most people living in America are here because they want […]
Why Do Some Christians Think They Can Love Better Than Jesus?
or Why Sometimes Just War is Necessary It seems like of all people, Jesus’ love would be the most effective to compassionately defeat hate, yet even his love wasn’t enough to overcome hate and violence, thus his death on the cross. So why do some Christians think that our imperfect love has any chance to […]
What Critics of the “Billy Graham Rule” Are Missing
I remember as a young minister hearing about Billy Graham’s “rule” to avoid the appearance of impropriety by not being alone with a woman. I had heard that he would even excuse himself from an elevator, if it was only him and a member of the opposite sex. The explanation I heard was that he […]
Love, Terrorism and Immigration
I’m not making a political statement, but I’ve been wondering how it became an injustice to not extend a privilege. Entry into any country other than your own is a privilege not a right. I remember traveling to many countries and actually wondering if I’d get in or be turned away. Not one of those […]
Thanksgiving is a Christian Holiday
Many practices and rituals which have become nearly routine, or profane, in the United States have very solid and deep roots in Christianity. Christmas, Easter and while not on the Christian Calendar, Thanksgiving have all been Christian observances that look back to the work of God in the world. However, we have seen over the […]
In Defense of Thanksgiving
Within hours of getting up this Thanksgiving morning, I was faced with a Facebook post that instead of celebrating the work of God in our lives and all that He has blessed us with, it condemned Americans for the things we are thankful for today and nearly apologized to the millions who we have mistreated […]
Here I Sit 