Pastor Chris Russell has identified five ways God’s people can gradually slip away from walking with Christ: They get lost in an out-of-control schedule. They find joy in the wrong activities. They become discouraged in times of difficulty. They choose pleasure over worship as they prosper. They fail to confess moral failures which drag them…
In 1935, the NAACP began working to end segregation in public schools. But it was not until 1954—19 years later, that the Supreme Court ruled racial segregation violated the 14th amendment of the Constitution. The ruling came in that historic Brown vs. the Board of Education of Topeka Kansas decision. It would take a second…
The first African slaves arrived in the United States in 1619. For 250 years, they endured the cruelty of working cotton and tobacco fields in the hot sun. The Emancipation Proclamation ended chattel slavery in 1863, but they continued to suffer segregation and discrimination under brutal Jim Crow laws. 2019 marks 400 years of Africans…
Leaders often have the task of resolving complaints from those they serve. It isn’t always easy, but resolving conflict typically includes principles like these: Listen—Hear out those who complain. Investigate–get the facts. Decide what is just for all concerned. Communicate to all parties that need to know. Follow up–check the outcome later. These principles were…
In the 1830s, 17,000 Native Americans were forced to leave their homes in the eastern mountains to live in the prairie. Historians say some 4,000 of them died on the way. Researchers also document that many towns and villages across our country have few or no African Americans because local people chased them away or…
One woman has decided to retire on a cruise ship. She says it’s cheaper than a nursing home. On a cruise ship you get a luxury bed every night, 10 scrumptious meals a day, three swimming pools, a workout room, washer, dryer, entertainment, a doctor on call, and a chance to visit countries the world…
We’ve all heard that “What we do speaks so loudly, others can’t hear what we say.” It reminds us to make sure our actions match our words. If they don’t, people will not respect us and our words will fall on deaf ears. In Matthew 23, “Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,…
La Crosse, Wisconsin recently adopted a resolution admitting it once prevented non-white groups from settling and living in their town after sundown. The resolution acknowledged and apologized for the pain and suffering those practices caused. It pledged to work for the common good, to build a warm and welcoming community where all people can live,…
Article 18 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights says “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion”; “freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom”; and “freedom to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” This declaration is intended to foster people to live in…
Concert soloist Marian Anderson was once asked about the greatest moment of her life. To the surprise of many, it was not singing at the White House, or for the King and Queen of England, or even to that crowd of 75,000, which included members of the Supreme Court and members of congress. She said,…