Author: EStevens

As a Christian, I support making Juneteenth a national US holiday.

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.  Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19^th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.

Continue reading “Juneteenth”

Another month immersed in the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns … are they necessary, are the economic impacts worse? Is social isolation having a negative impact on the mental health of humanity? Does anyone know? 

This month ends with the senseless murder of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, by a white police officer in Minneapolis – the country cries out for justice with peaceful protests that escalate into violent protests that result in another senseless murder of a black law enforcement officer, Patrick Underwood, in Oakland, CA.  A black firefighter, Korboi Balla, spent his life savings building a new sports bar in Minneapolis; it was set to open in March, but Covid-19 delayed the opening until June, but a few days ago, rioters destroyed it.  News headlines announce that George Floyd protests also erupt in Berlin, London, and Toronto.

Nike, whose motto has long been, ‘Just Do It’, has been trying a new slogan for the last few days, after some of their stores have been targeted: ‘For Once, Don’t Do It.’ 

This month has been, for me, a reflection on what it means to be a Christian.

Continue reading “2020 May Review – What is Going On?”

What happened to us? What are we here for? What is our purpose? Where did we come from?

Why is life so hard? What are we supposed to do? Who is responsible? How do we fix this?

Mankind throughout history has always asked these questions. 

Continue reading “Who Rules?”

In Matthew 18, Jesus is speaking to his adult disciples and instructs them: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

He delivers a warning to them as well: “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

Continue reading “Jesus Loves the Little Children”

I cannot look at too much news, it hurts my heart.  For that, I ask God for His strength to remain firm in my faith and I ask for His comfort and peace, so I will always remember that the God who created us, sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins and to give believers eternal life, is the same God that sees all that is happening.  In fact, He allows this to happen. He is the God of both love and justice.  He has vindicated the evil in this world; our Easter celebration is supposed to remind us of that victory. But until that victory is realized in the eternal world, we live the rest of our days in this broken world where we see the effects of the continued presence and power of sin.

Continue reading “Last Call – Maybe”

At a time when we are being obedient to social distancing, it is easy for some Christians to become distracted by the events of the day and to forget that we are not alone.

Continue reading “Happy Easter 2020”

2020-January

This year, I want to end each month with an intentional exercise in Remembrance.  What am I learning and more importantly, what is He showing me?  So, for January 2020:

Continue reading “2020 January Review”