Author: Sweet Tea and Front Porch Storyteller
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A Prophetic Cry for Our Time
The world is on fire. Ukraine bleeds. Gaza and Israel groan. Nations rage while leaders cling to power. At home, extremism poisons hearts and fear divides neighbors. God is not silent. The Spirit still cries out: “What you do to the least of these, you do to Me.” Every child buried, every refugee displaced, every…
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Empathy Is Not a Sin: A Biblical Response
In recent years, a curious argument has emerged in certain Christian circles: that empathy itself may be a kind of sin. Voices like Allie Beth Stuckey, Joe Rigney, Pete Hegseth, and J. D. Vance warn that empathy can cloud our judgment, compromise our convictions, and even lead us into affirming sin. They argue that empathy…
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Facing Reality with Eyes of Faith
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:32 Jesus never asked us to close our eyes to the pain of the world. In fact, in three powerful passages of Scripture, we are reminded again and again that the Christian life is not about painting a rosy picture,…
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Truth and Brightness: Telling the Whole Story of America
Recently, President Trump criticized the Smithsonian museums for putting “too much emphasis” on slavery and not enough on the brightness of America. His words made me pause, because they touch on something I’ve wrestled with for a long time. When I was in school, we were never really taught the full ugliness of slavery or…
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Being a Bridge Builder in Springfield: Living as Salt, Light, and Temperate Spirit
In a world that often feels divided and hurried, it can be easy to feel powerless to make a difference in our own communities. Yet, Scripture offers timeless guidance on how each of us can have a meaningful impact. Jesus calls his followers to be the salt of the earth and the light of the…
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Becoming a Bridge Builder in Springfield, Missouri
In a time when America feels increasingly divided, it’s tempting to think that the only choices are to take sides or to withdraw altogether. But I believe there is another path—one that we can walk right here in Springfield, Missouri. It’s the path of being a bridge builder. At its heart, bridge building means working…
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A Scholarly Reflection on My Theological Progression
Introduction Religious identity is never static; it evolves in conversation with scripture, tradition, personal experience, and the cultural context of one’s life. My own pilgrimage has carried me through three distinct traditions—Free Will Baptist, United Methodist, and Episcopal—each contributing to the shaping of my theological outlook. This progression illustrates a movement from a biblicist foundation,…
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Temperance as a Fruit of the Spirit: Lessons from F. D. Maurice and John Stuart Mill
Paul tells us in Galatians 5:22–23 that one of the fruits of the Spirit is temperance—or self-control. This fruit reminds us that Christian maturity is not just about passion or conviction, but about living with balance, restraint, and wisdom that serves the good of others. When I think of temperance, I see how it shone—though…
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Rediscovering the Kingdom: From Adam Smith to F. D. Maurice
When we hear the phrase “the kingdom of God is here now,” many of us imagine a spiritual ideal, a distant reality yet to come. But Jesus’ teaching often emphasized a present, active kingdom — a call for justice, mercy, and love to transform society today. Surprisingly, there’s a historical thread linking this vision of…
The Curious Pilgrim 