When I was a young woman, I had an unsettling experience after being invited to another church to sing. Before my solo, I began sharing thoughts about the song. Suddenly, a man came up behind me, placed his hands on my shoulders and pushed me to the side. I thought this man was trying to…
Life is difficult! Those words appear at the beginning of the book, The Road Less Traveled, by M. Scott Peck. By nature, I am an optimist. It’s easy for me to see the good, even in tough circumstances. But I’ve come through a few situations lately that caused even me to say, “Life is difficult!”…
Justice is a primary theme in the New Testament from Matthew to Revelation. In the earliest stage of His ministry, Jesus announced that His mission was going to be directed toward the poor, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed (Luke 4:18-19). This inaugural address provided a signal that Christ’s heart would be toward the…
I remember the first time I heard someone mention the term, “the dark night of the soul,” something resonated in my Spirit. I believe everyone has experienced their own dark night of the soul at some time or another. To me, the term now has more meaning because of the beautiful lessons the dark nights…
Tuesday evening, March 19, 2019, leaders from black, white, and Hispanic churches gathered at the historic Mason Temple, the world headquarters for the Church of God in Christ in Memphis, Tennessee, for a “Celebration of Reconciliation: 25th Anniversary of the Pentecostal Charismatic Churches of North America (PCCNA) and the Memphis Miracle. From the pulpit where…
Wow,” I said. My one-word-is-enough description was my response to what I noticed as I parked the car. I stared at vehicles covering the parking lots, people of all ages and nationalities walking in the cool December air and children ice skating outside. We were there with the crowd to attend a Christmas presentation at…
The prophets of the Old Testament saw the needs of people. Seeing the lack of instruction and desperate need of redemption from oppression, they became mouthpieces for the God who sees. An unfortunate condition of the poor and outcast is their invisibility. Author Christopher Wright says the poor are both invisible and inaudible—but not to…
The first woman preacher I remember was Sister Katie Campbell. Almost yearly she would come to my father’s church in South Norfolk, Virginia, to hold revivals. She came so often that she became “Aunt Katie” to me. In those days, evangelists usually stayed in the homes of host pastors. Sister Katie was known for her…
In Lady Justice’s most popular form, she appears blindfolded to signify that justice is impartial. Evidence is simply weighed in her balance, and the decision goes in whatever direction the weight falls. The sword reminds us that justice is to be enforced authoritatively. All of these concepts are valid ways to think about justice, but…
The Joseph narrative in Genesis describes the ascent of Joseph, an Israelite, from a dungeon to the highest political positions in Egypt. With almost absolute economic control of Egypt, Joseph led the kingdom through a severe crisis. Through his leadership, Joseph also saved his father, Jacob, and his brothers. For a season during and after…
