There are occasions when one is faced with the difficult decision of being quiet or being blunt. For me, Sunday, July 12, was one of those days. I’ve never been one to sugarcoat. I’m just not wired for superficial niceties…
Trump’s self-aggrandizement results in ‘Code Red’ environment
According to the U.S. Parks Service, 7,000 fireworks are typically used for pyrotechnics displays in our nation’s capital. For the MAGA-aligned “Freedom 250” Independence Day celebration, Trump insisted on 850,000 fireworks — 120 times the normal amount. Ahead of the…
Trump’s birthday is an opportunity for semiquincentennial ‘pride’
On June 14, Dozin’ Donald Trump will celebrate his 80th birthday; and although he can’t seem to stay awake for much these days, the 47th president will be eyes wide open that evening as he hosts a UFC cage fight…
Be still and know a keyboard crusade will not ‘save’ the church
Over the last decade, the so-called “MAGA” movement has infected nearly every aspect of American life, including Christianity. Evangelicals, Catholics and Orthodox Christians in the United States have been forced to endure what’s been dubbed the “Bro” movement — an…
‘Change for me, but not for thee’
Between 1999 and 2025, there was an average of six active shooter events in K-12 schools in the United States per year. As of April 27, there have been 151 mass shootings in the United States this year, killing 178…
Trump’s 2027 budget request includes plenty of pain to go around
Blissfully naive Americans — particularly those who adhere to the “tread on everyone, except for me” code of ethics — are prematurely breathing a sigh of relief that the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” didn’t impact them. There’s just one…
Keeping Easter alive means embracing the Truth
For some reason, we insist on complicating Jesus. The grave could not contain him. Yet we have the audacity to be believe our theology can. Our complicated theological pursuits have led to self-righteous, self-serving endeavors aimed at being “right” and…
The real reason for the Iranian strike? Padding political pocketbooks
The famed “cowboy philosopher” and social commentator Will Rogers once observed, “The short memory of the American voter is what keeps our politicians in office.” Lest we forget, however, that on Nov. 10, 2013, Donald Trump tweeted: “Remember that I…
My ‘Emmaus’ encounter with Jesse Jackson
Jesse Jackson once said: “I am not a perfect servant. I am a public servant doing my best against the odds. As I develop and serve, be patient. God is not finished with me yet.” On Feb. 17, God called…
This ‘Minaj’ à trois isn’t going to end well
Editor’s note: This article includes strong sexual language. On June 20, 2018, Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, who performs under the stage name “Nicki Minaj,” tweeted: “I came to this country as an illegal immigrant @ 5 years old. I can’t…
Lessons from Minneapolis and beyond
On Jan. 7, federal law enforcement officers in Minneapolis were “doing an enforcement operation.” At 9:35:05 a.m. local time, witnesses observed Renee Nicole Good’s Honda Pilot stopped diagonally on Portland Avenue. Roughly a minute later, a woman who would later…
Without local journalism, accountability falters
I have profound respect for good journalism, especially from small-town newspapers. I spent a good portion of my early career in the industry doing ad sales, then transitioned to writing and eventually management. Today, my column is sent to publications…