Some of us were discussing the recently released National Threat Assessment Center (2019), Mass Attacks in Public Spaces – 2018, by U.S. Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security. The study defines mass attack as when, “three or more persons were harmed – were carried out in public spaces.” Houses of Worship were one of the five environments specifically listed. In 2018, the study said, nearly one-third of the attackers “appeared to have subscribed to a belief system that has previously been associated with violence.” It singled out one of those beliefs, “Incels, or involuntarily celibates, are members of an Internet-based subculture of heterosexual males who view themselves as undesirable to females and therefore unable to establish romantic or sexual relationships to which they feel entitled.” The New Life killer was angry at Christianity about the doctrine of abstinence. He turned 24-years-old on Wednesday before he started killing that Sunday. By…

There is an epidemic of moral failure in ministries; a pervasive pattern of abuse across all denominations. Following is a sample of recent cases. Southern Baptist. A 22-year-old youth leader drove his 17-year-old student home but parked along the way for oral sex. 20 years later he admitted it to the congregation he pastored at, asked for forgiveness and got a standing ovation. While this story first broke in January of 2018, the recent news is of that victim, now a grown woman, fighting for change. Jules Woodson now works for “Such a Time as This.” FSATAT pushes for change in the Southern Baptist Convention on how it deals with credible charges of abuse. This man had been moved and promoted through the years, though SBC leaders knew of the incident. He only asked for public forgiveness after the victim posted about it. Nontrinitarian Restorationist. The self-proclaimed senior apostle of…

Family is important to many; it sure is to us. My grandparents (Maple and Cecil Chinn) had 12 children. Dad, born in 1921, was the 2nd oldest of 11 to survive past infancy. After WW II, those 11 children began to marry and have their own children. By the 60’s, their kids were having children. By 1961, we began getting together each year for a family reunion. We’ve had one every year since, sometimes with over 120 Chinns and friends all together. But things change. Dad, and most of his generation are gone now. So, my wife and I started a new thing. Last week was the first reunion with just our family (my wife and I, and our direct descendants). With just us, our 5 children, their spouses and our grandchildren, all 31 of us came together in one place for a reunion. It was a much-needed time for…