Dear Roy, You were the friend of my youth. You are black and I am white. When we became adults, we drifted apart. You served in the military. I served in the ministry. You died too soon for me to tell you this in person, so I’ll tell you now. You endured more than you … Continue reading A letter to Roy. He’s the Black guy in my pictures.
In Solitude
In the quiet spaces of solitude, I find solace An introspective realm where thoughts can freely roamYet in the depths of loneliness, I lose my graceTrapped in a void where echoes are my only home. Alone, I am the captain of my destinyWith freedom to chart my own courseNo need for masks, no need for … Continue reading In Solitude
A life made wider by love
“A miracle serves as a reminder that the world can still surprise us.” This sentiment articulated by Leslie Jamison in her book Splinters resonates deeply and was made real to me during a visit to my childhood home in Arkansas. My mother recently celebrated her 89th birthday, a fact that I’ll not now forget as … Continue reading A life made wider by love
A place you might call grace
The reoccurring theme that I often hear expressed by those who have exited high control religion in its various manifestations, is that upon exiting they are often left with a sense of sadness and loss of community. This is something that I have experienced as well. Being conditioned to only see community through the lens … Continue reading A place you might call grace
How to love your neighbor – a review of Joey Peyton’s “The Second Commandment”
Brené Brown succinctly expressed that empathy fosters connection, but recent narratives within Christianity suggest a significant dearth of connection and the empathy vital for its flourishing. Joey R. Peyton seeks to address this through his work and ministry, exemplified most recently in his book, "The Second Commandment: Loving Your Neighbor in Today’s Changing World." The … Continue reading How to love your neighbor – a review of Joey Peyton’s “The Second Commandment”
Nothing but the blood?
Understanding the teachings of the gospel I learned as a child, the gospel I've come across throughout my life, and the gospel I struggle to grasp now is a challenging prospect. The gospel as I was taught it as a child, and believed into my early adulthood, entailed the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus … Continue reading Nothing but the blood?
Melodrama in argyle socks
As my path grew increasingly narrow as I was coming out of high school, it led me to a specific point so confined it was easy to hoard all the oxygen in the room. And with the Bible I had committed to memory and the mastery of the Pentecostal doctrine, I breathed easy, while others … Continue reading Melodrama in argyle socks
Abandoning the false paradise of familiar narratives
I once jumped off a train trestle into a beautiful Idaho lake. I was a much younger man, and I had to build up my courage to do so. I remember what it felt like to fall. It seemed like it took so very long to plunge into the depths of the lake. As I … Continue reading Abandoning the false paradise of familiar narratives
A Rock that doesn’t Roll
A review of Leah Payne's "God gave Rock & Roll to you" For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with the sound of my voice. Now before you write me off as a narcissist, let me explain. Growing up in rural Arkansas as the last of four children, there weren’t a … Continue reading A Rock that doesn’t Roll
Displays of light
On this side of the high-control culture of religion, I occasionally experience dreams, particularly anxiety-induced ones that are common to everyone. These dreams often revolve around themes related to my past involvement in and around my Pentecostal church. For example, a recurring dream involves me arriving late for church, expected to preach, but finding myself … Continue reading Displays of light
The sad prompt of dry religion
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a powerful voice for change during the civil rights movement in the United States. He spoke passionately about the importance of religion not just as something that comforts us spiritually, but as something that should motivate us to make positive changes in the world. One of his famous quotes … Continue reading The sad prompt of dry religion
Scot Loyd 
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