The prophet Amos’s declaration—”But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24)—offers a majestic, lyrical vision of societal perfection. Yet, this poetic ideal immediately clashes with the complexity of human reality. Here in North Carolina, we have learned that water, while life-giving, is also an undeniable, powerful force capable…
A Time For Joy
Advent season has always been for me a time for joy. We would decorate our house and tree, attend festive parties with friends and colleagues, even shopping could be a whole lot of fun if you did it the way my friend and I did on Christmas Eve. I attended a lot of Christmas pageants,…
Rage bait
“Rage bait” is the Oxford English Dictionary word of the year. Apparently the fact that rage bait is actually two words didn’t stop the scholars from awarding their highest honor to a phrase that means, “online content deliberately designed to elicit anger or outrage by being frustrating, provocative, or offensive.” Just a few months earlier…
The Call And The Cost
Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. — Matthew 4:22. The abruptness of this verse is stunning. Today, we read headlines about high-profile figures—whether coaches, CEOs, or executives—making career transitions. These moves are often preceded by months of negotiation, lucrative contracts, and carefully planned press conferences. The sheer financial magnitude involved…
Advent
Advent is meant to be a deliberate, hushed space in the calendar—a season of deep spiritual preparation, quiet anticipation, and reflection on Christ’s coming into the world. Yet, the moment Thanksgiving concludes, the media blitzkrieg begins. We are immediately barraged by a feverish commercial insistence that Advent is merely a four-week sprint toward maximum consumption:…