Have we come to rely too narrowly on retribution as the only legitimate form of justice? I reflected on this question as news outlets covered the Jodi Arias trial over the last few days. Earlier this month, Arias was found guilty of killing her boyfriend Travis Alexander. After convicting her, a jury determined that due …
Continue reading In Light of Jodi Arias – Revisioning Our Justice System
We all reach a moment in our lives when we have simply had enough. For far too long, we have tolerated pain, injustice, heartache, or whatever else and are simply ready to do something about it. In that moment, we are ready to act, ready to be a catalyst for change, ready to make a …
Continue reading Enough Moments: What Do You Do When You Can’t Stand ‘It’ Anymore
In a post that I wrote a couple of weeks ago, I asked what is the process in which we are to address wrongdoing in the past in order to bring about reconciliation. I want to follow up that post by pointing to 2 Samuel 21, hoping it will shed some light: "Now there was a famine …
Continue reading Addressing the Sins of the Past in Four Not Quite So Easy Steps
One of my dearest and oldest friends grew up in a home where she was verbally abused and emotionally neglected by her father. Though her father never laid his hands on her, I don’t think she has even received a spanking in her life, the words that he used against her over the years affected …
Continue reading Addressing the Sins of the Past in the Present to Move Forward in the Future
One of the most poignant scriptures in all of the Bible (for me) lies in Matthew 7. It says: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did …
Continue reading Reflecting on My Pentecostal Heritage (and Remembering Brownsville, too)
A few mornings ago, I snuck out of bed early to spend a little time in prayer and Bible reading. After reading a few chapters in Numbers about our dear friends, the Israelites, and their tendency to complain about everything, I found myself in Hebrews 10, encouraging myself to hold fast to maintaining my faith …
Continue reading Developing Endurance (or How I Learned Not to Be Like the Israelites)
Ebony Johanna 