Dean P. Johnson wrote a great column on masculinity back in 2006. It remains relevant. Men may have come out of Eden as metrosexuals, but we went in as G.I. Joes. And no matter how cute Ken dresses or shares Barbie’s hair stylist, women want to go home with Duke.
My mom (a.k.a. Mama Max) died on July 4th, 1990. This picture was taken at my 16th birthday meal at Gridley’s BBQ in Memphis. Mom wore her wig with all dignity and elegance. She would die nine months later. I’ll never forget the day. I had been watering greens at a local golf course throughout the night (Memphis summers and bentgrass greens don’t play well together). Dad was already at […]
Today is Juneteenth (a.k.a. June 19th). I was introduced to Juneteenth while living in Texas. I am thankful to reflect on its significance today, especially living in one of the more racist regions of the country. Abraham Lincoln declared the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862. In it he ordered the freedom of all slaves in the Confederacy, effective January 1, 1863. It was a courageous step on the way […]
This just in. Scientists at the University of Tennessee propose a groundbreaking discovery: the gay gene. Their research suggests (or better yet, their interpretation of their research suggests) homosexuality is hereditary. Here’s how they explain their conclusions, upon which we are to rejoice that homosexuality is as biological as one’s hair color or height: ‘The genes for homosexuality have not been identified yet despite a very significant effort,’ said Sergey […]
(Originally written November 5, 2008, the day after the 2008 Presidential election) Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. […]
Spearheaded by the Alliance Defense Fund, a grassroots coalition of 1,500 pastors recently declared October 7, 2012, “Pulpit Freedom Sunday.” The effort asserted the church’s right to publicly address specific political (read: election year) issues without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status. Pastors so inclined would preach sermons in the name of free speech to engage their congregations in particular and pertinent political discourse. While no pastor would endorse who […]
The powers-that-be in Southern Baptist life have decided and will recommend that the convention retain its original name: Southern Baptist Convention. However, they will also recommend for those less inclined to, hindered by or offended by the word “Southern” to use the alternative moniker “Great Commission Baptists.” The chairman of the task force considering the name change even suggested getting a trademark on “Great Commission Baptists.” Not much matters less […]
As far as political columnists go, Jonah Goldberg is a good read. I regularly enjoy his commentary, style and wit. For those of us who aren’t policy wonks or constitutional junkies, Goldberg places keen insight on the lower shelf well within our reach. Today Goldberg commented on the hubbub surrounding Robert Jeffress and Governor Rick Perry. Jeffress, pastor of historic First Baptist Church in Dallas, introduced (and tacitly endorsed) Governor […]
Lebron James (a.k.a. King James) has caused no small stir the world of professional basketball. In what resembled a celebrity divorce, he shook the Cleveland dust off his feet only to wiggle them in the white sands of South Beach. Cleveland got stood up at the altar while Lebron parades around town with his new girlfriend(s). The Heat are in first place and the Cavaliers are dead last. Despite the […]
And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12.17) Abraham Lincoln wrote in 1862 about the conflict over slavery between the Union and Confederacy “In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be wrong. God can not be for, and against the same […]