“Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” (Mark 1:41) Leprosy is curable today, but in Jesus’ day it was the most feared of all diseases; so much so, lepers were not allowed to live in cities. “All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.” (Leviticus 13:45) When they did come into town, some communities required them […]

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) Many of you know that I work in a political arena so I am used to the name-calling that is often associated with my profession. As a Christian, particularly an evangelical Christian, I have also been subjected to a lot of labels over the years – fanatic, bible-toting believer, zealot, religious right, homophobe – the list is growing. This is familiar territory […]

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7) The Raleigh (NC) News & Observer had an article several years ago that caught my attention. The headline read, “Southern Accent in Danger?” It went on to report that regional accents in the southern United States are changing, largely due to urbanization and in-migration from other regions of the country. In short, southern accents in the southern United States […]

“Do your utmost to come before winter.” (2 Timothy 4:21) Now that Christmas is over, our thoughts quickly turn to the year ahead. The truth is January can be one of the most depressing months of the year. Credit card bills come in from all that Christmas overspending, and winter, if not already here, is approaching, which means that we have very few days over the next couple of months that will permit us to pursue all those outdoor activities that we enjoy. Winter doesn’t have to be […]