There are great movements to try to take away the shame of poverty, mental illness, homelessness and addiction.  Removing the stigma that often encourages folks to resist all efforts to help them is a good and worthwhile idea.  However, the negative side effect is that even a negative emotion like shame has a purpose.  Fear…

     Early in my Christian walk I heard of God’s amazing grace and rejoiced.  My impression of God was simply as a divine judge who was just waiting to sentence me to Hell.  At an altar at nearly 22 years old I had surrendered my old self which many tears and true repentance.  That night…

“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.       Our modern world takes a very casual view of…

She stood out by the Walmart gas station with her handwritten sign asking for handouts.  I don’t remember what the sign said, but I do know she has been at this same corner for several weeks now.  The first time that I saw her I gave her an orientation card in how to get food,…