All too often, we take our freedom for granted. We wake up, move through the day, make choices, speak our minds, worship, work, and live as if freedom is something we will always have. But freedom is not small. Freedom is a gift, and every gift should be handled with gratitude. The Bible says, “It is for freedom that Christ…
When I look at many of the challenges we face in America around race and ethnicity, Ephesians 4:18 comes to mind. In simple words, that verse talks about people whose understanding has become darkened, who are separated from the life God wants for them, because their hearts have become hard. That sounds like a spiritual issue, but we see it…
History has a way of coming back around. As Harry S. Truman once said, “There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know.” In plain words, if we refuse to learn from the past, we are likely to repeat its mistakes. America has made serious mistakes before. We have seen racism, fear, division, cruelty, and…
This year marks the 250th anniversary of America, a milestone that invites both gratitude and reflection. There is much to celebrate: the endurance of a nation, the sacrifices of generations, the ideals of liberty, and the hope that has drawn people to this land. Yet anniversaries are not only moments for celebration; they are also moments for honest examination. As…
In a democracy, law is supposed to be the set of rules that applies to everyone, and justice is supposed to be the promise that those rules are fair. Courts exist to protect that promise. They are meant to make sure that no president, governor, legislature, or powerful group can simply do whatever it wants. That is why recent Supreme…
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.” (Ps. 89.14) We cannot heal a broken nation with broken standards. The hour is too serious for shallow words and religious slogans. If justice is separated from God’s righteousness, it becomes whatever people in power declare it to be. And when that happens, the weak…
Law should protect everyone—not just the people with power, money, or influence. Justice should mean that even the most powerful leaders have limits. And democracy should mean that ordinary people have a real voice and real ways to defend their rights. That is why recent Supreme Court decisions about presidential power, immigration, and voting rights matter so much. These rulings may sound…
In 2022, I sensed that the shaking in America was not over. In fact, it seemed to be intensifying. Whatever could be shaken was being shaken—our democracy, our institutions, our understanding of truth, our conversations about race, our politics, and even the way many people talked about faith. Hebrews 12 reminds us that shaking reveals what is temporary and what…
In 2022, I sensed that the shaking in America was not over. It felt as though many of the things people had trusted were being tested—our democracy, our institutions, our understanding of truth, our conversations about race, our politics, and even the way we talked about faith. It was a sobering season. But it also felt like an invitation from…
