Hope Outside of Prison

Life in prison puts everything in stark contrast to life outside prison. Connections to family and friends are lost. Time passes slowly. Mike Shank, founder of Pardoned by Christ, knows this experience all too well. He was 22-years-old when he was convicted of trafficking cocaine and a served three and a half years in prison.Continue reading “Hope Outside of Prison”

Creating a Culture of Kindess

My heart aches when I hear of another suicide. It’s like the pain from losing two loved ones to suicide comes rushing forward. Nothing can stop the aching. Time heals some wounds, but not this one. The path forward for all of us when we learn about the tragedies at NC State University is toContinue reading “Creating a Culture of Kindess”

Day 6: Civilized to Death

Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.  Luke 12:13-21 In the older sections of this country may be seen old buildings which have housed the same family for three or four generations. When our great grandsires, in some instances our grand siresContinue reading “Day 6: Civilized to Death”

Day 5: God’s Perfecting of Life

The Lord will perfect that which concerns me. Psalm 138:8  God has great thoughts concerning each of us. Upon this physical basis he means to rear a life that will reach up to the skies and will be so beautiful and beneficent, so broad in sympathy, so fruitful in divine ministries. So exalted in character,Continue reading “Day 5: God’s Perfecting of Life”

Day 4: The Christian Life

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second like it is this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other greater commandment than these. Mark 12:30-31 TheContinue reading “Day 4: The Christian Life”

Day Three: Tell Your Story

Jesus said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” Mark 5: 1-19 The story is bewildering. It sounds like foreign language. This should not blind us to the fact of its central message. This has to doContinue reading “Day Three: Tell Your Story”

Devotion Day 2: The Giving of Self

Have mercy on me, O Lord – my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon – Matthew 15:22 A mother with a shadow over her home and over her heart. She has an afflicted daughter. The nature of the affliction we do not know. According to the belief in that far off day, she wasContinue reading “Devotion Day 2: The Giving of Self”

Devotion Day 1: Secrets of Effective Service

When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean. Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8; 1-3 If you read over the accounts of Christ’sContinue reading “Devotion Day 1: Secrets of Effective Service”

Dealing with Angry Customers

It doesn’t take much to set people off. In just a short time of waiting at my eye doctor’s office, I saw some pretty incredible behavior. A mom acknowledged she was late for the appointment with her daughter, then couldn’t find her insurance card and that somehow translated into the daughter’s fault because she didn’tContinue reading “Dealing with Angry Customers”

Book Review: Sweet Potato or Pumpkin Pie: Conversations with My White Friends about Race by William T. Lewis Sr., MSW, PhD

I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Lewis, diversity and inclusion consultant and author of Sweet Potato or Pumpkin Pie, last month at the Evolve Juneteenth panel held at the Crossnore Communities for Children. After hearing about Lewis’s work, I wanted to read his book. One of the thoughts that comes back to me isContinue reading “Book Review: Sweet Potato or Pumpkin Pie: Conversations with My White Friends about Race by William T. Lewis Sr., MSW, PhD”