In the 1930s the economy of the most powerful country in the free world was eviscerated by an enormous and egregious stock market crash that ushered in a season known as the Great Depression. The United States of America was wrecked and withering in the worst economic climacteric of the century. It lasted from 1929 to 1939. President Franklin D Roosevelt responded by signing the Social Security Act on August 14, 1935. As part of Roosevelt’s New Deal economic program, it was designed to provide income for retired workers aged 65 and older. Social security was also expanded to provide income security for millions of American retirees, disabled persons, and families of retired, disabled, or deceased workers. According to the Social Security Administration, about 65 million Americans will receive over one trillion dollars in social security benefits in 2020. So, for millions of people social security is an economic anchor that gives them security. However, will that anchor hold in a country that is spending more than it can afford? Are you aware that the U.S. national debt reached a record of $24.22 trillion in April 2020?
Read MoreI have a couple of questions for you: When your soul is thirsty for peace, power over fear and doubt, perseverance, protection, and purpose, from what container will you consume or drink? Who, what, when, where do you turn for truth? Especially in unprecedented and unpredictable times. Do you know that what we believe and how we behave, especially in a culture of committed ominous oppression, reveals where we drink to replenish, restore, and reinforce our hearts and minds?
Read MoreIn this psalm, the Spirit leads David to express his confidence in the flawlessness and faithfulness of the Scriptures (Word of God) in a culture of oppression. Like David, we should also have a heart that is able to apply biblical assurance, which is blessed assurance, in the face of overt oppression. In an overwhelming oppressive environment, David still believed that God gives seekers His salvation, a rich refuge, and a rewarding relationship with Him.
Read MoreNot too long ago, I found myself in a conversation with some fellow believers about the topic of compassion. Specifically, the significance of compassion, its source and how we show compassion toward others. According to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary compassion is defined as: “a suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration. Compassion is a mixed passion, compounded of love and sorrow; at least some portion of love generally attends the pain or regret, or is excited by it.” A broader definition of compassion is said to be sympathy and concern for the sufferings of others as well as a desire to alleviate such suffering. The Hebrew and Greek words translated as "compassion" in the Word of God (the Bible) renders compassion as having mercy or being moved with sympathetic clemency.
Read MoreThere is no doubt that at this moment in our country’s history the ubiquitous winds of identity politics, vociferous political correctness, judicial activism, anarchy, cultural conflict and the newest arrival, the cancer culture, have captured and controlled the consciences of many. Even evangelicals, the church culture, and professing Christians are being tossed about by what I have labeled the winds of the world. As it relates to these winds of the world, the Word of God admonishes us to be anchored and attached to the rock of the Word and truth.
Read MoreWhen I committed to this conversation on race relations, I purposed to address the people of God. Specifically, people who enjoy citizenship in the Kingdom of God. We all became citizens of the Kingdom of God when we experienced the new birth by becoming born again: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, KJV). Therefore, as citizens of the Kingdom of God we should consistently maintain a conscience that captures all conversations about injustice, maltreatment and discrimination with a perspective that is not of this world but from the Lord Jesus Christ’s Kingdom. Remember: the people of this world will always reject our perspective, positions, and even us personally.
Read MoreBack in the early 1980’s, I was a student athlete at Syracuse University. During this time, God, who is rich in mercy, graciously grabbed my heart with His great love (Ephesians 2:4). The good Lord led me to a bible-preaching, bible-teaching and lost-reaching church. As a young man of color (black), I was introduced to the beautiful body of Christ outside of my cultural context. A sovereign and wise God allowed me to experience worship and specifically, sound biblical instruction, with a people group (white) outside of the one with which I was raised and comfortable.
Read MoreHello, blog followers and family! For this week’s blog, I endeavor to embark on a ship of discourse that has dominated our current news cycle. By the Good Lord’s grace, I am praying to process and position this topic in a manner that is put forward in faith and in the Spirit of God. This is an essential objective because what is done in the flesh will never please our Father God. Moreover, it is always unprofitable in the economy of our Eternal God.
Read MoreAs faithful followers of our Father God, we know that we have a gracious and giving God. He shares with us from the Scriptures that we are not deficient when it comes to what we need. And what God gives comes from the goodness of His heart.
Read MoreHello, my fellow blog recipients! This is Bernard, the Baby Boomer, with this week’s blog. Now a “Baby Boomer” is generally defined as an individual born between the years 1946 and 1964 during the post–World War II baby boom. When I was growing up, I remember the government giving me and my family Government cheese. As a child, I always wondered why the cheese did not come from the local supermarkets like A&P or Piggly Wiggly. Also, my grasp of the government, that is the form or system of rule by which a state, community, etc., is governed, was extremely limited as a four-year-old child.
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