Where the land lacks curvature, it may cause its inhabitants to imagine that the earth is indeed flat. Such is the case with the landscape of the Arkansas Delta where I grew up. There are certain redundancies to the Delta where I frequently return to visit family and friends, as I did last week. These … Continue reading Falling off the edge →

“Once upon a time there was a woman, and she was wicked as wicked could be, and she died. And not one good deed was left behind her. The devils took her and threw her into the lake of fire. And her guardian angel stood thinking: what good deed of hers can I remember to … Continue reading Not an onion’s chance in Hell? →

Dear Mr. Wilson,  Hello sir! We have yet to officially meet as you have yet to arrive. Rest assured we are all eagerly anticipating your arrival. I’m one of your grandfathers, emphasis on grand! You’ll understand when we meet each other and I’m sure the admiration will be mutual. Feel free to call me Appa … Continue reading Dear Mr. Wilson →

My first memories of my oldest brother do not center on his presence, but on his pictures. My parents first born, Jimmy, as he is known to all of us, is a professional photographer. By the time I came along, my brother had left the homestead and was embarking on new adventures in California, of … Continue reading My elder brother was a prodigal son. →

Occasionally in the teaching profession students will find away to say thank you. I know this was true for me growing up. Now that the roles are reversed, and I'm the teacher, it is nice to receive words of affirmations. The following was penned by my student Donald Garrison and appeared in Oklahoma Baptist University's … Continue reading I made the paper… →

Recently I had the opportunity to share with my friend Sydney about the changing nature of my faith in Christ. It is challenging to be transparent about such a personal issue as faith, but I give it a shot here. I'm sure there is still much to change in me, and I'm sure there is … Continue reading Faith that is still growing →

“Give a man a mask and he will tell you the truth,” observed Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde, and after watching the latest iteration of the iconic dark detective superhero in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, I certainly agree. I found the film exceeded my expectations, especially since I wasn’t initially impressed with the casting … Continue reading What is disguised but never lies? Lessons from The Batman. →

The past six months have been difficult for our extended family, as many loved ones have died. Most recently my cousin Michael. My heart is saddened at yet another loss and I know that his family is grieving as he was loved by his wife, daughters, sisters and all of us. This season of loss … Continue reading More than a bus driver →

Trayvon Martin's hoodie with a bullet hole through the heart is now displayed in the African American History Museum. This is a reminder of the tragic death of a promising young man some ten years ago, because someone thought him not worthy to walk through a specific neighborhood. In the ten years since his death, … Continue reading Hoodie with a hole in the heart: Trayvon Martin Ten Years Later. →

I was struck today while rereading the parable of the lost sheep, that traditional notions of evangelism in the modern iterations of Christianity often get the concept wrong. If you are unfamiliar with the story Jesus tells in Luke 15, here it is in the language of Eugene Peterson's The Message with the context of … Continue reading The “Ninety-nine” doesn’t exist →