The rapidity of senseless mass murders continues to provoke the debate concerning gun control violence within our culture and the idea of preempting these events with such things as the “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign. Without question, gun-control laws and societal awareness play a significant role in this evil phenomenon within our culture.
PREFACE: As a number of you know, I was very involved in the civil rights movement in Berkeley in the 1960s, and I have remained deeply concerned about race issues. In our work in THE STATESMEN PROJECT, we have just added to our Public Policy Focus Group a subgroup called, “Equality and Wealth Creation.” In
The world system operates under the assumption that to bring change to a situation or person, that change must come from the outside-in (external to internal) and the top-down (centralized to local). Even though virtually all evidence is to the contrary, modern secular culture stubbornly persists in this nonsense. As students of the Scriptures, we
June 2019 As many of you know, both cats and I have had nine lives. Back in my days at UC Berkeley, radicalized by the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and the Realpolitik the general public seldom hears about, I was enthralled by Karl Marx’s early philosophical manuscripts. They were utopian, insightful, and very
May 2019 As many of you know, both cats and I have had nine lives. Back in my days at UC Berkeley, radicalized by the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and the Realpolitik the general public seldom hears about, I was enthralled by Karl Marx’s early philosophical manuscripts. They were utopian, insightful, and very
April 2019 “Be Careful What You Pray For.” —The Wisdom of God Few things are more grievous than discovering something you’ve worked on for God ended up advancing Satan’s work instead, at least in the short run. The Apostle Paul reminds us that “God causes all things to work together for good” (Romans 8:28), but
March 2019 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth. —Revelation 5:10 So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas
February 2019 Western society, identified by the icons of capitalism, democracy, and the fading social momentum of historic Judeo-Christian values, is fighting for its public life. True Christianity remains guarded in the hearts of God’s people, but public Christianity is under siege and equivocating in its response. It has yet to resolve the question, “Whose
January 2019 A “good report” is not so much news that makes us feel good about something; it is a report that is accurate, true, framed in proper context, and helps us respond properly. Like all of you, I emotionally like good reports more than “bad reports,” but over the years I have tried to
December 2018 I have closed off a very busy year of travel with my first visit to Israel, which seems hardly possible with so many trips all over the world. That said, the timing of going there now seemed present for me. Like those of you who may have never gone, I was profoundly curious,
November 2018 Our upcoming elections are obviously very important for the momentum and direction of our nation. While speculations vary as to the outcome of the Republicans maintaining control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, I expect a relative dead heat in both cases; neither party will make major gains, and they
October 2018 In a period of crisis and uncertainty, it is a really bad time to be confused about the basis upon which sound decisions are made. In a crisis, a clear head is largely the only ticket out. Indeed, most social crises are caused by large numbers of people—especially leaders—being “lost” relative to the
September 2018 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law. —Proverbs 29:18 The recent televised events surrounding John McCain’s memorial service were profoundly moving. They featured the last three Presidents of the United States, a host of famous political leaders of state, and truly profound sharing
August 2018 When the first set of wars began in Iraq, we were repeatedly told that we would all be pressed into “shock and awe” as we beheld the US air assaults on our television sets. Indeed, it was an amazing display of “smart bombs,” big bombs, and penetration bombs. Since those bygone days (and
July 2018 What could be worse for the Democratic Party than President Trump appointing four Supreme Court Justices? I know: The majority of African American clergy declaring an anti-racist war on abortion. Well, it looks like it has started. The Church of God in Christ, a global African American church with over 6.5 million members,
