Christian First, Black Third
My identity has always been built around what I value most Recently, sports commentator, podcaster, and Black influencer Stephen A. Smith asked a question that generated a lot of discussion: "What's wrong with identifying yourself as Black first?" My answer is simple....
A Few Seconds of Anger, A Lifetime of Consequences
Hotheads. That's what they used to call them back in my day. You know the type. Quick to pop off. Ready to fight. Always looking to escalate a situation instead of keeping it calm. They have a short fuse, a quick temper, and a habit of making bad situations even...
Remaining Teachable
Everyone Wants the Honor. Few Want the Correction That Produces It. One of the clearest signs of wisdom is the willingness to be corrected. That is harder than it sounds. Most of us naturally resist criticism. We defend ourselves. We explain ourselves. We justify our...
Vindication Is Coming
Psalms 52:7–9 (NIV)“Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!” But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. For what...
You’re Built for Crisis… But That Might Be the Problem
Why thriving under pressure might be holding you back I’ve always been the kind of person who prides myself on being able to handle tough situations. Pressure, chaos, uncertainty, those moments don’t rattle me. If anything, they tend to bring out my best. While some...
Who Is Discipling the Culture?
Every culture is shaping behavior. The real question is, who or what is shaping ours? Nobody drifts into beliefs, values, or behavior by accident. Culture is always teaching. It teaches us what to celebrate, what to condemn, what to normalize, and what to reject. The...
David’s “Having Had Enough” Prayer
A reflection on Psalm 109 Have You Ever Had Enough? Have you ever had somebody talk bad about you, lie about you, misrepresent you, or drag your name through the mud? Most of us know what that feels like. You try to do the right thing, you try to treat people well,...
The Devil’s Stew
Dealing with Cultural Anxiety When you look around today, you can feel something in the air. It is not just politics. It is not just the economy. It is not even social media. There is a heaviness and a confusion that seems to sit on people. You see it in...
They Not Like Us
Built for the Storm. Willing to Pay the Price. As I sat in the room honoring Deputy Gabriel Ramirez and Deputy Michael Hislope, I could not help but feel the weight of their sacrifice. These two brave men stood in the gap for our community. They served with courage,...
I’M CONCERNED
Hope is anchored in Christ. And when it is anchored in Christ, it stands Concerned at the quiet drift,the slow fade of conviction,the subtle trade of Scripture for sentiment. I’m concerned about the number of Christianswho are abandoning the faith,the truth of the...