Bottom Line

December 2018 I have closed off a very busy year of travel with my first visit to Israel, which seems hardly possible with so many trips all over the world. That said, the timing of going there now seemed present for me. Like those of you who may have never gone, I was profoundly curious,…

November 2018 Our upcoming elections are obviously very important for the momentum and direction of our nation. While speculations vary as to the outcome of the Republicans maintaining control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, I expect a relative dead heat in both cases; neither party will make major gains, and they…

October 2018 In a period of crisis and uncertainty, it is a really bad time to be confused about the basis upon which sound decisions are made. In a crisis, a clear head is largely the only ticket out. Indeed, most social crises are caused by large numbers of people—especially leaders—being “lost” relative to the…

September 2018 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law. —Proverbs 29:18 The recent televised events surrounding John McCain’s memorial service were profoundly moving. They featured the last three Presidents of the United States, a host of famous political leaders of state, and truly profound sharing…

August 2018 When the first set of wars began in Iraq, we were repeatedly told that we would all be pressed into “shock and awe” as we beheld the US air assaults on our television sets. Indeed, it was an amazing display of “smart bombs,” big bombs, and penetration bombs. Since those bygone days (and…

July 2018 What could be worse for the Democratic Party than President Trump appointing four Supreme Court Justices? I know: The majority of African American clergy declaring an anti-racist war on abortion. Well, it looks like it has started. The Church of God in Christ, a global African American church with over 6.5 million members,…

May 2018 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Look…

April 2018 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God… But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot…

March 2018 Does it ever stop? I mean, the absurdities and brutalities of life that so daily flow and seemingly never abate? This most recent, tragic slaughter of school children will likely be trumped (no pun intended) next week by some other act of absurdity, quickly followed by more equally absurd “remedies” offered by those…

February 2018 Las Vegas needs to create an odds-wagering opportunity for those of us in society that want to bet on the timing of societal disintegration. After all, if the masses of American sports fans have high-rewards gambling stakes and the high-flying finance guys have a craps game called the “derivatives market,” then I feel…

January 2018 If you haven’t seen the recently released film, “Darkest Hour,” starring Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill, you really must. It’s a stunning historical portrayal and recreation of a moment when Western civilization hung in the balance as Hitler’s quest for the Thousand-Year Reich came perilously close to becoming a reality. Were it not…

December 2017 In a world where safe places are getting harder and harder to find, Christmas remains a haven from the storm if we will enter into it. “Safe places” can be defined in several ways, but I will describe them this way for our current discussion: A safe place is an activity we engage…

November 2017 In February 1986, I wrote a Bottom Line commentary entitled, “Have We Crossed the Line?” It dealt with the distinction between sin and evil and how God has presented His feelings on this subject in several ways. The issue I wrestled with three decades ago is even more relevant now. When 9/11 took…

October 2017 Regardless of how one feels about President Trump, he is unquestioningly the absolute master of creating controversy and controlling public dialogue. There are varying opinions about his goals, motives, and even social awareness of how and why he does this. I leave those speculations alone for now. What I will say is this……

September 2017 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” —Matthew 4:17 Jesus Christ died to usher in a new era of the Kingdom of God upon the earth. God has, from the beginning of creation, always been the Master or King over His creation.…