Author: Sweet Tea and Front Porch Storyteller
-
Walking Faithfully in a World of Extremes
Key Verse “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.”— Matthew 5:13–14 Reflection Our world is marked by extremes. Some voices demand rigid conformity, trying to control thought and behavior. Others swing to the opposite side, accepting everything without discernment. As Christians, we are called to a different way—anchored…
-
Understanding God’s Diverse Creation
I need to confess something that I wrestle with inside myself. I struggle with fully accepting people whose sexuality is different from my own—especially those who are transgender, bisexual, or questioning. These identities are hard for me to understand, and at times I find myself pulling back rather than leaning in. It isn’t anger or…
-
Scripture-Based Response Guide on Marriage, Celibacy, and LGBTQ+ Inclusion
God’s design for human flourishing is broader than traditional marriage. Some are called to celibacy, honored for their devotion, while others are called to covenantal love outside male/female norms. Just as eunuchs were blessed and included by God despite societal exclusion (Isaiah 56:3-5), faithful LGBTQ+ relationships reflect God’s purposes for love and relational flourishing. Spiritual…
-
Order in Mind, Life, and Dress
When I was a freshman at Free Will Baptist Bible College (now Welch College), Dr. Judy Simpson, my English professor, taught me a lesson that has never left me. She graded our essays not only on grammar but on our ability to organize our thoughts around a theme. She often reminded us, “A messy mind…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
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…
The Curious Pilgrim 