The 14-year old murdered by the state of South Carolina on June 16, 1944 — When I prayed at the Black Lives Matter Rally in Estill County last week, as we mentioned names of black citizens killed by runaway police officers, I mentioned the name of George Stinney Jr. After the rally, a couple of folks asked me who he was. When he was just…

How preserving Confederate statues is perverting American history — One hundred and nine years ago a group still bitter about the loss of chattel slavery at the end of the Civil War set about finding a way to keep hope alive. They petitioned the state government for funds, then set about erecting a statue to one of their Civil…

From the steps of the Estill County Courthouse — These are my remarks at the Estill County Black Lives Matter Rally. But first; before the rally, County Judge-Executive Donnie Watson told the organizers that he did not support their cause and wanted that to be made clear publicly; so we honored his request. What a wonderful joy it is…

A prayer of gratitude, repentance, and petition because black lives matter — Earlier this week I was invited to offer a prayer and some words of hope and motivation at the Black Lives Matter rally in my old hometown of Irvine, Kentucky. I plan to post the entire transcript of my remarks soon but wanted to go ahead and share the prayer…

My experience at a Black Lives Matter rally in Eastern Kentucky (#NoHateInMyHoller) — I got a text this morning from a family member. “I’m warning you…” he said. “Black-on-black crime is worse than white on black crime.” (I honest to goodness just saw those same words on an alt-right person’s Twitter.) “Saying black lives matter is racist,” he continued. (Apparently, we’re seeing the…

Most folks know that I grew up attending very conservative churches. Most of them were Pentecostal. There was, maybe still is, a circuit… — Most folks know that I grew up attending very conservative churches. Most of them were Pentecostal. There was, maybe still is, a circuit of evangelists who would travel around and hold revival services. Depending on the leanings of the pastor, each church had their favorites they’d invite in from time…

a devotional — a devotional Can we start over? Can we forget everything I’ve said and done up to this point? I’d like to erase, delete and disregard all of the minutes of my past now please. I want my next step to be my first. Can we start over? One of the…

How the birth of Jesus is prejudiced… against the church — As a kid in elementary school, I can remember December afternoons hurrying off the school bus and into the house just in time to watch Santa and his puppet reindeer read letters from kids who’d sent their Christmas wish lists into the local TV station. The shows were corny as…

How Kentucky’s Governor can continue or kill tradition — There is a lot of interesting tradition around the transfer of power between the outgoing and incoming governors of Kentucky. Keeping up those traditions is important, if only for tradition’s sake. But a decent respect for keeping them alive is required, especially by the outgoing, and I’m a little worried…