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Honest Abe & the Logic of Equality

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

Thanks to historian Carter G. Woodson, we celebrate Black History in February to coincide with the birthday of President Abraham Lincoln, born today, February 12, and the birthday of abolitionist and freed slave, Fredrick Douglass, born on February 14.

While this administration is intent on erasing Black history, controlling content at African-American cultural museums, rejecting the values of diversity, equity and inclusion, and even promoting a narrative that slavery wasn’t so bad for slaves, historians (both black and white) are intent on telling the truth.

One historian that I follow is Heather Cox Richardson. Today, she wrote about Abraham Lincoln’s logic for opposing enslavement and enslavers like South Carolina SenatorJames Henry Hammond, who adamantly rejected the “ridiculously absurd…dogma of Mr. (Thomas) Jefferson that ‘all men are born equal.'”

In response to Hammond’s renunciation of equality, Lincoln made the following argument:

“If A. can prove, however conclusively, that he may, of right, enslave B.–why may not B. snatch the same argument and prove equally that he may enslave A? You say ,’A. is white and B. is black.’ It is color, then; the lighter, having the right to enslave the darker? Take care. By this rule, you are to be the slave to the first man you men with a fairer skin than your own., You do not mean color exactly? You mean the whites are intellectually the superiors of the blacks, and, therefore, have the right to enslave them? Take care again. By this rule, you are to be slave to the first man you meet with an intellect superior to your own. But, say you, ‘It is a question of interest; and if you can make it your interest, you have the right to enslave another.’ Very well. And if he can make it his interest, he has the right to enslave you.”

Richardson concludes, “Lincoln saw clearly that if we give up the principle of equality before the law, we have given up the whole game…. Once we have replaced the principle of equality with the idea that humans are unequal, we have granted approval to the idea of ruler and ruled. At that point, all any of us can do is to hope that no one in power decides that we belong in one of the lesser groups.”

At creation, God made human beings–both male and female–in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) You either believe that or you don’t. Either all humans are born equal or they are not. You can’t have it bother ways.

The world of Jesus was as stratified as our own, but Jesus continually crossed the lines of hierarchy, giving every social group equal access to the blessings of God. But even after walking with Jesus and listening to his teaching for 3 years,, his followers struggled to live out the equality he modeled. Old patterns persisted and only changed when challenged through the movement of the Holy Spirit and the words of the prophets and apostles of the nascent church.

The apostle Peter struggled with racism until was confronted through a vision (see Acts 10). He came away with a new understanding, entering the home of Gentile and announcing, ““I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism.” (Acts 10:34) 

The apostle Paul confronted the hierarchy he saw in the church at Galatia, declaring, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) This was both a theological and a sociological statement of equality.

The apostle James rebuked those who discriminated between those who were rich and those who were poor, naming their classist favoritism “sin” that was antithetical to God’s command to “love your neighbor as yourself.” (James 2:8-9)

While we have abolished chattel slavery and made progress toward equality–even electing a Black president–we are watching that progress erode. The demon of social hierarchy is reasserting itself as human beings are divided into classes and hierarchies of value based on skin tone, national origin, gender, intellect, gender identity and orientation, documentation, wealth and other arbitrary characteristics. Sadly, the demon is taking up residence in the church as well.

We would do well to hear the word of the prophets and apostles and heed the warning embedded in Abraham Lincoln’s logic. Equality isn’t optional. It is essential to our faith and our freedom.

Good Bunny

~ Bruce Ray ~ 1 Comment

Yes, I watched the Super Bowl this year, primarily because of the hype (and hand-wringing) around the halftime performance by Bad Bunny. From the time the NFL announced that Bad Bunny would be the headliner, there was backlash. He wasn’t American enough (even though he is a US citizen); he didn’t sing in English; and his gender-bending identity and his LGBTQIA affirming stands were not compatible with the family-friendly Super Bowl; blah-blah-blah.

There was so much angst about what he might do on stage that Turning Point USA organized an alternative “All-American” halftime show that would focus on the correct American ideals–Faith, Family, and Freedom–featuring Kid Rock, who made the comment: “[Bad Bunny has] said he’s having a dance party, wearing a dress, and singing in Spanish? Cool. We plan to play great songs for folks who love America.”

Wow! That’s a set-up. So, If you love America and hate “woke” DEI, you’ll watch Kid Rock. And if you watch Bad Bunny, you must hate America and love open borders, open bathrooms and men playing women’s sports. I decided to watch Bad Bunny–and I’m so grateful I did.

His show was an amazing journey (literally) that celebrated the history and culture and resilience of Puerto Rico. It was also a not-so-subtle rebuke of white colonialism and the US government’s current efforts to erase brown, black, and LGBTQIA history and presence. It was a multi-generational, multi-cultural, multi-faceted, joyous dance. (I’m a sucker for salsa and merengue.) IMHO, it was the best halftime show ever!. It was so good, I’ve watched it several more times.

Each time I’ve watched it, I’ve thought of my step-mother. She was born in Caguas, PR in 1931. She passed away last May. I’m so sad she didn’t get to see Bad Bunny’s halftime celebration. I know she would have loved it. Even though she lived in the US for many years, she loved her “Isla del Encanto” and returned often. My family was blessed to travel to Puerto Rico with her to experience the island through her eyes and to meet her extended family and see all the places that were important to her as she grew up. Through her, I fell in love with the island, its people, its food, its language and its vibrant and joyful culture. So when I hear a comedian at a Trump rally call Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage” or when I watch the president dismissively throw paper products to residents who had just experienced a devastating hurricane or when I hear someone tell my Puerto Rican neighbor to “go back to their country,” I burn. Puerto Rico is beautiful, and Puerto Ricans are not second-class citizens.

For the record, I did take time to watch the hour+ long Turning Point USA advertisement…I mean, the “All-American Halftime Show.” I came away from it empty. Its definition of “All-American” was white (no performers were people of color) and blue collar (though one watcher posted that a performer was wearing Louis Vuitton) and country (the violin/cello piece was a weird addition). Bad Bunny showed us what “All-American” actually looks like with the flags of the Americas–including the flag of the United States–parading to the stadium exit.

Bad Bunny reminded us that America is–and always has been–a place of linguistic and cultural diversity. He reminded us that we are all richer because of Puerto Rico and every other nation of the Americas. And he reminded us clearly (via the message on the Jumbotron) that “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” It’s the message Jesus announced and lived. It’s the Beloved Community of Martin Luther King, Jr.. It’s heaven’s diversity where every nation, every tribe, every race and every language wave their palm branches and sing God’s salvation song. Love wins.

And for the record, Bad Bunny did all that without putting on a dress.

The Names May Change, but the Cruelty Won’t

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

When the news dropped that Gregory Bovino had been demoted and that some of his Border Patrol officers would be leaving Minneapolis, there was a huge sigh of relief. But before the celebration could start, Trump announced on “Truth Social” that Border Czar, Tom Homan, would be sent to Minneapolis. “Tom is tough but fair and will report to me,” Trump wrote. In a separate post, as reported by The HILL, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote that Homan would be managing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations on the ground “to continue arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens.”

Chicago knows Tom Homan. Tom Homan is not Gregory Bovino, but he is cut from the same cloth. We should know. Chicago experienced Tom Homan exactly a year ago.

On December 9, 2024, Homan, Trump’s “Border Czar,” was in town announcing that mass deportation efforts would “start right here in Chicago, ” and that we should expect to “see an influx of federal immigrant agents after Trump is sworn in.” On January 19, 2025, the day before the inauguration, Block Club Chicago reported that the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times had received information from anonymous sources that “the incoming Trump administration [was] planning large-scale deportations in Chicago” starting Tuesday, January 21, 2025. “Operation Safeguard” was expected to last a week with an influx of 150 – 200 agents on the ground. To prepare, the citizens of Chicago armed themselves with “Know-Your-Rights” trainings and reviewed self-protection strategies like, “don’t open your door,” “ask if the agent has a warrant signed by a judge”, say, “I don’t have to speak to you.” And then Chicago waited for what was likely to come.

“Operation Safeguard” arrived on Sunday, January 26, 2025. ICE posted the following statement on X: “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with federal partners, including the FBI, ATF, DEA, CBP and the U.S. Marshals Service, began conducting enhanced targeted operations today in Chicago to enforce U.S. immigration law and preserve public safety and national security by keeping potentially dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities.” 

Tom Homan arrived in Chicago on that Sunday morning to oversee “Operation Safeguard.” He was joined by media personality Dr. Phil McGraw and his film crew who, in a promotional video, explained the targeted mission to find and arrest 270 known criminals, drug dealers, rapists, murderers and “bad actors.” McGraw promised that Homan’s ICE agents would not be “sweeping communities.” McGraw went on to post videos of the raids on the MeritTV app.

On that Sunday, there was a knock on ______’s door. His wife, a US citizen, was suspicious, but there were no indications that ICE agents were present. The person on the porch was wearing plain clothes. There were no ICE vans on the street. There was another knock. Before his wife could stop him, ______ opened the door and he was pulled onto the porch. Agents did not produce a warrant even though his wife requested it. He was taken away while his traumatized wife and children watched. His crime? He was convicted of a DUI many years before. Now, a year after being taken from his home, ______ is still incarcerated in a Kentucky detention center and deportation could occur at any time–despite the lack of a judicial warrant, despite having a clean record for years, despite the hardship his family has endured. Tom Homan stole a husband and father from his family. They may never see him again. *

At a recent Town Hall, our Congresswoman said that while removing Greg Bovino from his position was good news for Minneapolis and for Chicago (Bovino had vowed to return to Chicago this spring), it is not what we need to keep our communities safe. As an outspoken critic of Kristi Noem, our Congresswoman has called for her immediate resignation or impeachment. But she admits that even the removal of Kristi Noem will not keep our communities safe. Our Congresswoman voted against the appropriations bill that would add more funding for ICE. But even defunding ICE would not make our communities safer. We will only be safe when ICE is abolished and Congress passes a comprehensive immigration legislation.

It doesn’t matter who is sitting in the broken chairs. It doesn’t matter how the broken chairs are rearranged. The chairs are the problem. They are broken, and it’s time to throw them out. Period.

* The story of ________ is true. His wife is an acquaintance of ours and shared her experience with us the day after he was detained by ICE. The past 12 months have been an unending nightmare.

Two Words for Kristi Noem

~ Bruce Ray ~ 1 Comment

To justify the murder of Alex Pretti, Kristi Noem made the following observation: “I don’t know of any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign.” I have two words for her:

“Kyle Rittenhouse”

Remember Kyle? He was the 17-year-old who roamed the streets of Kenosha, WI, brandishing an AR-style weapon during the protests following the murder of Jacob Blake by a Kenosha police officer in April 2020. He explained that he brought the gun to Kenosha to assist law enforcement with protecting businesses during the protests. In the course of events, he used the weapon to kill 2 of the protestors “in self-defense”. He was exonerated.

I guess it’s OK to bring a gun to a protest if you are bringing it to support law enforcement and kill protesters.

Unfortunately, we will never hear Alex Pretti’s explanation why he brought his handgun to the protest, even though he had every legal right to do so, and even though he never brandished the weapon, fired the weapon or killed anyone. But somehow, members of the Trump administration knew everything about his motives, his intentions and the outcomes had agents–some not much older than Kyle Rittenhouse–not shot him 10 times and killed him.

Alex Pretti was a domestic terrorist (Kristi Noem), an assassin (Stephen Miller) who intended to “massacre law enforcement” (Gregory Bovino) and who had “arrived on the scene stop a law enforcement operation and inflict maximum damage on individuals” (Kristi Noem). That’s the administration’s narrative, and they are sticking to it.

There’s just one problem. The narrative is false. It is a lie–and not just a lie. It is pre-meditated deceitful words told to discredit and defame Alex Pretti. This fabrication of “facts” is the pattern of this administration. We witnessed it when an ICE agent shot and wounded Marimar Martinez on October 6, 2025 for allegedly “assaulting federal officers with a deadly weapon” (her car). She was a “domestic terrorist.” We witnessed it after Renee Good’s execution by ICE because she supposedly attempted to run over an agent with her car. She also was a “domestic terrorist.” We have now witnessed the pattern again after the execution of “domestic terrorist” Alex Pretti. See the pattern? Aim and fire. Blame and defame the victim. Claim to be “the Real Victims.” Exonerate the agent(s). Repeat.

The Psalmist, David, who experienced false charges and character assassination, wrote his accusers: “Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceit. You love evil instead of good, lying rather than speaking right. You love only devouring words—treacherous tongue!” Psalm 52:4-6. Sound familiar?

Alex Pretti wasn’t killed because he had a gun; he was killed because he had the audacity to expose the truth about ICE tactics and cruelty. I believe he was also killed to remind everyone who witnessed it that ICE has unregulated power and will use it however they want and against whomever they want–especially those who would dare to get in their way.

But we know the truth. So, I have five additional words for Kristi Noem (and the rest of the administration’s tools):

WE DO NOT BELIEVE YOU.

When Disruption is Necessary

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

On Sunday, January 18, a group of about 30 people joined the worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, MN. The church is a member congregation of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) with close ties to Christ Church DC, the congregation Pete Hegseth attends when in Washington.

Midway through the service, the group, led by Nekima Levy Armstrong, an ordained minister and community activist, interrupted the service with chants of “Justice for Renee Good” and “ICE Out.” In an interview with the Washington Post, Levy Armstrong said that the disruption was aimed at David Easterwood, who is listed on the church’s website as a Pastor of the church. Easterwood is also the acting director of the local field office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In a court filing submitted on January 5, he wrote that federal agents were experiencing increased threats and aggression and crowd control devices like flashbang grenades were important to protect against violent attacks. He also defended ICE’s tactics in Minnesota such as swapping license plates and spraying protesters with chemical irritants. (source)

In an interview with Democracy Now, Levy Armstrong stated: “I believe that if someone professes to represent the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to preach it, that they should not be allowing ICE agents to drag people out of their homes, cut women out of seat belts in their cars and drag them out, bust down doors, bust out car windows, bring people out half-naked in the freezing cold to detain them, taking trophy pictures with Black men and others that they’ve apprehended in their homes, scaring children, tear-gassing children and families, almost killing a 6-month-old through the use of high-powered, military-grade weapons such as flashbang grenades and very strong tear gas…. It’s delusional to pretend that there [isn’t] a significant problem with David Easterwood serving as a pastor and as the overseer of ICE and defending their conduct….”

The response to the incident has been swift and loud–and overwhelmingly supportive of the Cities Church and its lead pastor, Jonathan Parnell.

The Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention, of which Cities Church is a member, issued a statement calling the disruption ”an unacceptable trauma,”

Kevin Ezell, president of the SBC’s North American Mission Board, wrote: “No cause — political or otherwise — justifies the desecration of a sacred space or the intimidation and trauma inflicted on families gathered peacefully in the house of God, What occurred was not protest; it was lawless harassment.”

Albert Mohler, the president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, weighed in on his podcast. “For Christians, the precedent of invading a congregation at worship should be unthinkable,” He also cited Romans 13 to defend ICE, saying the agents should “be recognized for their authority and for the legitimacy of their mission.”

The US Government also took action in defense of the church. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt tweeted: “President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship.” Then, on Thursday, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that Levy Armstrong and two other protesters had been arrested, jailed and charged with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which prohibits interference or intimidation of “any person by force, threat of force, or physical obstruction exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship. (Note: on Friday, all three people were released from jail by order of a federal judge.)

When Vice-president JD Vance visited Minneapolis on that same day, he delivered a stern warning to the people of Minnesota:“Respect people’s rights, respect people’s rights to worship, respect people’s rights to do their job without being assaulted. If you follow that basic principle, the Trump administration is going to do everything that we can to protect your rights. But if you go after somebody, if you assault somebody, if you make a 9-year-old girl cry because you walked into her church and harassed her, we’re going to go after you with every single tool that we have.” .While he said that mistakes may have been made by individual officers, he offered no apologies and said nothing about ICE agents shooting protesters, harassing schools, using chemical irritants on young people or traumatizing a 5-year-old boy.

And that’s my issue. Why haven’t church leaders demanded accountability for ICE brutality? Where were the church leaders when the government announced in January 2025 that federal immigration agencies could make arrests in churches, schools and hospitals–locations that had always been considered protected? Where was the outrage when ICE agents detained Tampa, FL, pastor Maurilio Ambrocio in April 2025 when he appeared for a routine check-in with ICE or when pastor’s wife Maria Isidro was deported to Mexico on June 11, 2025. And where will church leaders be today following the fatal shooting of a second US citizen in Minneapolis by ICE agents under the direction of Pastor David Easterwood. Silence is complicity. Outright support of ICE’s indiscriminate cruelty is morally and theologically indefensible.

Disruption becomes necessary when the Church colludes with cruelty and lawlessness while sanctimoniously claiming that it is being persecuted for righteousness and is in need of legal protection. Disruption is necessary when the church perpetuates injustice. As historian (and a person of Christian faith) Jamar Tisby pointed out on his Footnotes podcast, there is a long history of church disruptors..

Imagine the prophet Isaiah standing at the temple gates and saying, “Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—I cannot bear your worthless assemblies. Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!” (Isaiah 1:13-15 [NIV])

Imagine the reaction when the Prophet Amos stood up and said, “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!“

We know the reaction of the temple leaders when Jesus disrupted “religious business as usual,” turning over tables of the money changers and driving out the vendors of sacrificial animals.”

Tisby also recounts the church disruptions known as “Kneel-ins” used by civil rights activists from 1960 – 1965. One of the most significant “kneel-ins” occurred on Palm Sunday 1964, when an integrated group of students entered the Sunday worship service at Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis to protest the church’s policy of segregation. They didn’t chant; they didn’t rant; but they did disrupt just by entering the church. The group returned for 8 Sundays, forcing the church to reconsider its policy and allow the integration of its service. This led to a church- split in 1965 over the issue with those wanting to maintain segregation forming the Independent Presbyterian Church, but change ultimately happened. Forty-five years later, a new generation of church leaders at Independent Presbyterian Church, made the decision to address its past and entered a time of reckoning through prayer and corporate repentance. You can read more about the history of the”Kneel-ins” HERE.

Disruption is uncomfortable–even traumatic–because it challenges the status quo.. But as we have learned from history, church disruption can result in either steadfast resistance against change or humble reflection and reformation. Sadly, what we’ve seen in the initial reactions to the disruption in St. Paul, MN, is resistance. While we may disagree with the tactics used to challenge church complicity with ICE and participation in the harm done to families and communities throughout Minnesota though one of its leaders, we should not–WE MUST NOT–vilify those who have been bold enough to raise the issue. And we must not conflate disruption with violence or lawlessness.

“The question isn’t whether disruption belongs in church. The question is whether the Church still belongs to a God who overturns tables. The church more offended by disruption than suffering has already chosen its God.” –Jemar Tisby.

Dangerous ICE-y Conditions

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

And I’m not talking about the frigid temperatures and storm predictions.

What is happening in Minnesota is beyond inhumane. It is insane. Someone may accuse me of being biased and subjective, but we now have learned that the video-taped action of ICE agents breaking down the door of the home of ChongLy “Scott” Thao, a US citizen, and removing him from the home in nothing but his underwear and crocs (and handcuffs)–all without a judicial warrant, was not the act of a few rogue ICE officers. It was the implementation of prescribed tactics and training authorized by ICE and DHS leadership.

Yesterday, the Associated Press obtained a copy of an internal 24-page ICE memo. The memo, signed by Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons on May 21, 2025, authorizes its agents to use force to enter a residence based on an “administrative warrant” (one signed not by a judge but by an ICE administrator) to arrest someone with a final order of removal.

As a citizen of the United States, Mr. Thao should have had the protection of the 4th Amendment of the US Constitution, which states: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probably cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be search and the persons or things to be seized.”

The probable cause claimed by ICE that permitted agents to break down Mr. Thao’s door was a suspicion that two men with criminal convictions were residing in the house. The only people in the house witnessing ICE agents break into the house with guns drawn were Thao’s daughter-in-law and his 4-year-old grandson.

Whether you live in Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Annapolis, or any other polis (Greek word meaning ‘city’), this incident and ICE’s extrajudicial memo should send chills down your spine. Citizenship is no longer a protection. The rights outlined in the US Constitution are no longer guaranteed. The guardrails of rules-based law enforcement no longer apply to federal agents who can act illegally with impunity.

Unless we demand that our elected leaders step up to demand accountability and place tough restrictions on ICE leadership, you can be sure that your state and your city will experience the same trauma as Minnesota or worse. Your door may be next.

Dream On

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

“Let us never grow weary in doing what is right, for if we do not give up, we will reap our harvest in due time.” Galatians 6:9 (New Catholic Bible)

Today, I honor the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I am spotlighting this day because there are efforts to diminish and ultimately dismiss King’s work for equality, civil rights and justice. And we thought we had come so far toward fulfilling Dr. King’s dream. We elected Barack Obama, we confronted our racist past following the murder of George Floyd by initiating and promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, and we affirmed civil rights for other marginalized groups. But all of that seems another galaxy so long ago and so far away.

We have been slipping back into the pit of the past, thanks to an administration intent on destroying “improper ideologies” that challenge its MAGA message. Rev. Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King, points to the continued efforts to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and the removal of content that does not properly reflect the greatness of America from government websites and Smithsonian museums as examples of today’s “troubling climate.” We also see it in the attempts to control the curriculum and staffing of Universities, punish school districts that promote Critical Race Theory, threaten sanctuary cities and states with loss of funds, and manipulate the press (and TV networks) through lawsuits claiming defamation. Recently, the president signed an Executive Order to remove Martin Luther King Day and Juneteenth from the list of National Park free days. That might not seem like a big deal, but it is. The executive order replaced those days with a new free day–June 14, Donald Trump’s birthday.

The administration’s war on anything deemed “woke” has been empowered with the aid of sycophants happily lip-synching the “MAGA” song–people like the late Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA–who said publicly that Martin Luther King was ““awful” and “not a good person,” who was “not worthy of a national holiday.” He also claimed that the passage of the Civil Rights Act–the law that ended segregation and prohibited workplace discrimination on the basis of race –was “a huge mistake” and “created a beast, and that beast has now turned into an anti-white weapon.”

In light of the attacks on Martin Luther King and the “beloved community” he dreamt of, we need Martin Luther King Day more than ever. In an interview with the Associated Press, Bernice King said that this year’s observance is “somewhat of a saving grace” for the nation because “it inserts a sense of sanity and morality into our very troubling climate right now,” “Dr. King reminds people of… the ability to challenge injustice and inhumanity,” she concluded.

Dr. King’s dream was aspirational. It awoke us to the possible. It pointed us to the work ahead to shape vision into reality. Like gardening, it is slow, steady, hard work that requires patience and perseverance. It is the work of breaking up the hard soil of individualism, pulling the weeds of mistrust and fear, and planting and tending the seedlings of justice and righteousness so that we will ultimately harvest the fruit of communal love and collective liberation. So, on this day, let’s renew our commitment to the “kin-dom” work. The harvest will come…unless we give up.

“Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

The Stories We Believe

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

“Do not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16 (Christian Standard Bible)

I live in Chicago, “the most dangerous city in America” according to the president of the United States. He has repeatedly called Chicago “a hellhole” and accused our mayor, Brandon Johnson, of being “grossly incompetent.” Because the city is–in the president’s words–“out of control” and a “war zone,” he was obligated to send National Guard troops (from Texas) to bring order to the chaos on our streets and “make the city safe again.” The story of Chicago’s rampant violence was repeated by others in his administration including FBI Director, Kash Patel and Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem. In October 2025, the White House posted a video on social media, depicting the “mess” in Chicago that ICE and Homeland Security were cleaning up. An AFP investigation reviewed the video, and discovered that it pieced together outdated footage highlighting drug busts, arrests and deportation raids in other states, including Florida, Texas, South Carolina and Nebraska.. Only a few clips were actually from raids in Chicago.

THIS ADMINISTRATION GAVE FALSE TESTIMONY ABOUT CRIME IN CHICAGO.. The truth is that ALL crime in Chicago dropped significantly in 2025. Most significantly, the number of murders fell 29% from 2024, and shootings were down 35%. According to Block Club Chicago (a local independent news organization), there were 416 murders in Chicago last year–a 60-year low! And the National Guard had nothing to do with the drop in crime. They were never deployed to the streets of Chicago. .

But people–sincere people, I’m sure–believe the false testimony.

The false testimony of this administration is not an anomaly; it is a pattern.

  • All immigrants are characterized as “pedophiles, rapists, abusers, armed robbers, murderers, and violent thugs” — the “worst of the worst.” Peaceful protesters are labeled “rioters” and “paid agitators.” According to ICE data (as reported by CBS News Chicago), only 3% of the people arrested and detained in Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago and surrounding suburbs had been convicted of a violent crime, and almost 80% had never been charged with a crime.
  • Every small boat in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific is said to be delivering drugs to the US. Every Venezuelan is a suspected member of the drug cartel, Tren de Aragua. The videos of their deaths are shared freely, but no evidence is given in support of Department of War claims.
  • And this week, US citizen, veteran and devout Christian Renee Nicole Good was killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Immediately–without a shred of evidence–the administration labeled her a “domestic terrorist” who was part of a “radical-left network.” ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents were depicted as heroes who are doing the job of “keeping our streets safe.” Anyone who opposes ICE and CBP is assumed to be a “leftist lunatic.”

And people–good people, Christian people, I’m sure–believe the false testimony.

But why? Why do good, sincere, Christian people accept the falsehoods as fact without question or reservation? Have they lost the ability to discern truth from false testimony? It would seem.

I recently read a social media post from a Christian grappling with what happened in Minneapolis that confirmed my suspicion. In the post, the writer made the following assessment: “He (the ICE agent) could have done better but so could she(Renee Good).” This was followed by an assumption: “Was she right? No. Was he making a good choice? Of course not, but it will go through due process…(because) that’s what’s great about America… We get that chance for fair trial and truth will be investigated to the full extent.”. Then the writer confessed: “I don’t speak out on political things at all, but I follow and listen to all sides to find what is the same and what is different because the stories that follow the same narrative will have more truth than the ones who have different narratives.”

Three things struck me as I read the post:

  1. There was a “both sides are at fault” assessment–without recognizing the power dynamics at play. ICE and CBP agents have more power in the situation. They have the backing of the Federal Government and they have lethal weapons.. Renee Good, a citizen, had only her words and a drivers license (and maybe a whistle). Those with greater power have greater responsibility and should be held to greater accountability.
  2. There was the assumption that the truth would be revealed through a “full and fair” investigation. Given that the FBI has already refused to allow local law enforcement access to the investigation, it is reasonable to suspect that the outcome of their investigation may not be fully transparent or accurate.
  3. Finally, there is the assumption that truth can be discerned by following the most consistent story. This is dangerous reasoning since we know this administration consistently distorts the truth in interviews and social media to support its own agenda, ensuring that their message is repeated and reposted. Again, the pattern of giving and repeating false testimony should give us pause about accepting the loudest voices as the most truthful. The better question we need to ask is, “Are the sources of the narratives trust-worthy?” In this case, Kristi Noem and J.D. Vance announced the “true” story about Renee Good just moments after the shots were fired and before any investigation could begin, and then they doubled down on their story even after video and eye-witness accounts challenged their narrative.

Discernment is not just about listening. It is about testing the message and trusting the messenger. Heed the warning from 1 John 4:1. “My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world.” (The Message) And as Jesus reminded his disciples, “You’ll recognize them by their fruit.” (Matthew 7:16)

Renee Good’s last words to the ICE agent were, “I’m not mad at you.” The ICE agent’s last words to her recorded on his cell phone video were: “Fucking Bitch.” Discern that.

Wicked Songs

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

Spoiler alert: This post has nothing to do with the book, musical or movie, “Wicked.” However, I hope you’ll still take a few minutes to read it.

“Sin lurks deep in the hearts of the wicked, forever urging them on to evil deeds. They have no fear of God to hold them back. Instead, in their conceit, they think they can hide their evil deeds and not get caught. Everything they say is crooked and deceitful…. They lie awake at night to hatch their evil plots…. — Psalm 36:1-4a (The Living Bible)

The Hebrew word ‘rasha’ (an adjective) is used 263 throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, and often is translated like a noun–“the wicked.” The Psalmist David identified this class of people as those who live in rebellion against God’s morals (having no fear of God), and who are corrupt, arrogant, lawless, deceitful, calculating, conniving, self-serving, lying, godless doers of evil. They go about their business as if they are above the law and assume they will never be held accountable for their actions. They slander “the righteous” who live by God’s truth and seek God’s justice, and they oppose any constraints to their unbridled greed. David’s song is honest about the current state of things.

This past year, we have watched “the wicked” hatch their plots, legislate their policies, pilot their projects and post their plans in the middle of night. We have witnessed their cruelty and acts of violence against the innocent. They have enriched themselves at the expense of the poor, the hungry, the infirm and the unhoused. They have done it without any concern for the damage in their wake, and they’ve done it with impunity. Now, a new year has begun, and the wicked seem just as empowered, just as enabled, just as emboldened to continue their brutal assault on anyone and anything that stands in the way of their power play.

Are “the wicked” destined to succeed in their scheming? David also wrote Psalm 37–a song that compares the destiny of “the wicked” with the destiny of “the righteous.” It is a song to sing while “the wicked” appear to be flourishing. “A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.” –Psalm 37:10-11 (NIV)

Mary sang a similar song when she announced, “[God] has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.[God] has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.” Luke 1:52-53 (NIV)

Then Jesus took up the song of David, quoting Psalm 37:11 on the mountain (Matthew 5) to a weary people, suffering under the oppression of the wicked. The song reminded his followers that “the wicked” have a shelf life and an expiration date. “In a little while” the world will shift, the order of things will be shaken and the “first shall be last” and the “last shall be first.” God’s kingdom will come, and God’s will WILL be done, and earth and heaven will be one.

Now it’s our turn to sing of God’s great day when the world will be turned right side up.. We frequently sing “We are Called.” by David Haas. The final verse calls us to, “Sing! Sing a new song! Sing of that great day when all will be one! God will reign and we’ll walk with each other as sisters and brothers united in love!

. So sing. LOUD! And keep singing. That great day is coming.

This is NOT a Christmas Sermon

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

“We think about God as a God of love. We know that ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but should have everlasting life.’ We know that God loves. But did you know that God also hates? Do you know that God also is a God of war?” –Franklin Graham *

This is NOT the way I would start a Christmas sermon. And if online comments are any indication, few other pastors would either. Rev. Graham spent the next 8 minutes telling the story of God’s “hatred” for the Amalekites after they had ambushed the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 17:8ff). The Amalekites were defeated, thanks to a miracle, but God never forgot the attack. Four hundred years later, God commanded King Saul (1 Samuel 15) to completely obliterate the Amalekites as punishment for their attack in the wilderness. Saul was told to kill every man and woman, every infant and child, every animal–cattle, sheep, camels and donkeys. Saul violated God’s command by sparing the king of the Amalekites and keeping the best of the animals. Because of Saul’s failure to obey, God rejected Saul as King.

Rev. Graham mentioned Jesus’s birth, his death for the sins of the world, his resurrection and the promise of his second coming toward the close of his sermon, but I was so distracted by the first 8 minutes of the message focused on God’s 400-year-old grudge and the retribution God ordered that I couldn’t concentrate on the remaining 5 minutes.

This was a Christmas message? And what was the message those in the audience were to supposed to take from the sermon (especially in the context of the location–the Pentagon, headquarters of the Department of War–and recent military action–the destruction of small boats and the people onboard)? Was it a message that God destroys sinners and uses patriots to accomplish God’s destruction? Was it a message to suggest that God is on side of the modern-day state of Israel and a justification for its ongoing genocide of their enemy, the Palestinians in Gaza? Was it affirmation that God blesses the use of US military might to punish God’s (and our) enemies? Was it a subtle blessing of our leader’s incessant pursuit of punishment of those who oppose him? Was it a reminder to the US military brass that following orders is a moral obligation no matter what those orders are? Was it a warning on the consequences of disobeying the Commander in Chief?

Whatever people took from the sermon, Brian Kaylor, editor-in-chief of Word & Way, noted that “Graham offered the Secretary of War [Pete Hegseth] a Christmas gift by proclaiming a God of war.” Hegseth took that gift and ran with it. On December 17, the Secretary of War issued an order for the destruction of a boat in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, claiming the boats were “engaged in narco-trafficking operations” without providing evidence. Four people were killed in the attack. And then, on December 18, two more boats were destroyed, killing 5 people. Since September 2, over 100 people have been killed in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

Here’s a message from Jesus, the Word made flesh who dwells among us: “You have heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemies.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven, [who] causes [the] sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

* (These are the opening sentences of Franklin Graham’s sermon at the Pentagon’s inaugural Christmas Worship Service on December 17, 2025.)