Today, I’ll get right to the point.

“The sky is falling; the sky is falling!” “Wolf, wolf!”

I’ve been re-reading the prophets in these days of pandemic. The prophets often speak to a people in crisis — and while they speak hard truths those hard truths are full of hope. The prophet Ezekiel was such a preacher.

Hesitant, Jimmy Braxton entered the store. After all, his old coat still had some wear left. He thought, “Why do I need to buy a new one now?”

Never walk into a Cabela’s wearing jeans and a khaki/tan Columbia brand short-sleeve shirt. Some young man playing checkers, sitting in one of the overstuffed chairs, will pause and tell you to have a good day at work.

In light of the COVID-19 virus and protesting across the nation, let us remember to encourage our youth that we are going to be alright and better days are coming.

Daddy, where does God live?

These are the names: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

It has never been about black or white. It’s about red.

I grew up as the son of wonderful parents who instilled in me a consistent ethic of kindness and fairness.

Don’t think just now of the trudging forward of thought, but of the wing-drive of unquestioning affirmation….

Family and friends surrounded Bishop Nealon Guthrie — with contactless love — outside of Greater Christ Temple Rapture Preparation Cathedral.

Dear Pastor:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published guidance Friday to help prevent exposures to COVID-19 in facilities used by communities of faith.

Now life in Ira Ricketts’ day demanded a certain nimbleness. There were always distractions, interests of various kinds to draw one’s attention to fill any self-gratifying desire. A good day’s work meant money for a nice meal out, a special purchase, enjoying a day of unfettered pleasure or …

Don McLean’s “American Pie” album was a staple of my teenage and young adult years. It’s still among the music that I tend to go back to in times of melancholy. The final track on the album is particularly haunting today.

While St. Mary’s Catholic School remains closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, four young siblings didn’t forget the school’s annual tradition of honoring the Blessed Mother Mary.

Pushing away today’s occurring’s — each minute’s demand and every daily mini-intrusion needing my attention — I make room at day’s end to write. I sit at my computer with a thought I wish to share and coax it onto the page as experience and listening allow me. Quiet guards the house while I …

Whenever we find that our religious life is making us feel that we are good — above all, that we are better than someone else — I think we may be sure that we are being acted on, not by God, but by the devil. The real test of being in the presence of God is, that you either forget about your…

In many Christian liturgies this weekend we hear the story of The Road to Emmaus.

Sunday morning's drive-in Easter services at Coosa Valley Fairgrounds have been canceled because of inclement weather. 

There will be a day, years from now when the sounds of children’s voices have long left our home, when I will look back and remember an unfortunate time in the history of the world that brought some beautifully unexpected blessings.

King Hackney couldn’t get over himself.

Churches in Floyd County have been canceling Sunday morning services as have other churches and religious bodies across the world, and that should cause us to take notice. First, it demonstrates the serious impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) is having on our community. We are, after all, talki…

Robert “King” Hackney exuded confidence without evidence. In conversation, he could bluff most people with his golf prowess and knowledge, though in execution — skill and nuance were absent. King was not a poor golfer, but neither was he accomplished. There always seemed to be a “herk” in hi…

Each of us has times in our lives when we may be challenged or tested.

In the church community in Rome, Pastor Michael Faulks of Summer Hill AME Church is known as the “breakfast pastor.” That’s because, on fourth Sundays, he and his wife, Genevieve “Cookie” Faulks, prepare breakfast for church members and the general community.

During a time of uncertainty, Sherwood Baptist Church is providing families in need with groceries and continuing their ministry with Hope for the Hungry.

The trip holds memories and metaphors best remembered. A bus ride up I-75 toward Sweetwater, Tennessee beckoned adventure as we arrived and hiked up a gentle slope to a hidden hole in the ground into which Blake Cheatham and I and a few more father-son pairs descended.

My path to spiritual freedom has been a long and winding one. And, I must admit, although I now know and possess spiritual freedom, I have yet to fully embrace it.

Allowing intrusion to seep through as I’m oft to do — taking a phone call I shouldn’t, saying yes when I should say no, taking on frivolous endeavors, allowing the trivial to creep in — leads down a path going nowhere, designed for procrastination and avoidance, to be busy at all the wrong t…

Mount Olive Baptist Church will have been in South Rome for 122 years this month.

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:1-2, NKJV).

West Rome Baptist Church is hosting a huge Church Yard Sale that will take place March 6 and 7 in The Well at 914 Shorter Ave. The fundraiser is open to the Rome community. The aim is to raise money to support mission trips to Costa Rico, Mexico, South Africa and Las Vegas as well as Youth C…

As I observe Black History Month, I wondered, what were Dr. Martin Luther King’s Teachings on unity?

“You will never amount to anything.”

Not sure when I first noticed that I was different, or turning this thought around, that all those other people were different than me. Or was it that we were the same? I don’t think it began at too young an age. After all, Sonny and Bilbo were shirtless 4-year-olds just like me wandering Ro…