Weaponized shame is the intentional use of shame to lower another person’s status. Underlying all bullying, is the intent to cause someone shame.  In addition to being crucified, Jesus was bullied and shamed to death! Often overlooked because of the pain of crucifixion is the Roman’s primary objective of inflicting maximum public shame and humiliation…

Recently I was watching a college football game. The call made by the referee on the field was being reviewed in the instant replay booth. The announcer pointed out that indisputable video evidence, beyond all doubt, was required in order to overturn the call on the field.  This made me think. Is there indisputable evidence,…

“You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you or shakes your arm, making you spill your coffee everywhere. Why did you spill the coffee? “Because someone bumped into me!!!” Wrong answer. You spilled the coffee because there was coffee in your cup. Had there been tea in the…

The rare neurological disease that I have has left me with permanently damaged vision. Everything I see is somewhat foggy. The density of the fogginess is constantly changing. Sometimes it is wispy and I see relatively well and at other times, it is dense and disorienting. As a result, I can no longer drive. My…

Christmas is a birthday celebration in honor of Jesus Christ. Take a close look under your tree on Christmas morning. The one whose birthday we celebrate will likely be the only one with no presents under the tree. What is the best gift to give to our Savior? Our best gift to Him, is to…

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was from Nazareth. No prophet had ever come out of Nazareth. In John’s Gospel, the people wondered if anything good could come from that town. When you look at the wounds and brokenness in your own life, do you sometimes wonder if anything good can come from you? As we…

It seems strangely paradoxical to assume something can already be and not yet be at the same time. Oddly enough it is possible. It is the stuff movies are made of. Understanding how this can be is of utmost importance to you and me. A day of reckoning is coming. There is an urgency to…

In A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, the ghost transported Ebenezer Scrooge to his Christmas past. He was saddened by his misdeeds and past mistakes. He was permitted to peer into Christmas future. He saw his death and was terrified. His Christmas present was no less disturbing. He knew he had to change. We are…

Life presents us with two big lies. The first lie tells us that we are supposed to have our act altogether. In response to this lie, anytime someone asks us how we are doing we often say, “I’m fine”.  The second lie tells us everybody’s life is perfect except mine. Our response to this lie…

During this past month, several people have shared stories with me about their pains, struggles and unimaginable grief. Too often, people try to face difficult life issues alone and in silence. For much of my, life I tried that too. It didn’t work well.  It was a bad idea. Through this ministry, I try to…