tears

prisons

What a powerful example of love and justice. What do we care more about: statistics and cost or the value of a single human life? 

“You have to be aware — there’s a logical type of error which is common in debating these things,” he said. “That is, you shouldn’t mix two kinds of principles. The one is about: How do you fight crimes? How do you reduce recidivism? And the other is: What are the principles of humanity that you want to build your system on? They are two different questions.”
He leaned back in his chair and went on. “We like to think that treating inmates nicely, humanely, is good for the rehabilitation. And I’m not arguing against it. I’m saying two things. There are poor evidence saying that treating people nicely will keep them from committing new crimes. Very poor evidence.”
He paused. “But then again, my second point would be,” he said, “if you treat people badly, it’s a reflection on yourself.” In officer-­training school, he explained, guards are taught that treating inmates humanely is something they should do not for the inmates but for themselves. The theory is that if officers are taught to be harsh, domineering and suspicious, it will ripple outward in their lives, affecting their self-­image, their families, even Norway as a whole. Kristoffersen cited a line that is usually attributed to Dostoyevsky: “The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.”

smoke

Martese Johnson, a third-year student in the [University of Virginia] and a member of the Honor Committee and Kappa Alpha fraternity, was arrested at around 12:45 a.m. on Mar. 18 … a state investigation into the use of force in Johnson’s arrest is now underway. Johnson was charged with resisting arrest, obstructing justice without threats of force, and profane swearing or intoxication in public at 4:21 a.m. … Johnson “was very agitated and belligerent but [has] no previous criminal history.” In the course of the arrest, Johnson sustained a head injury requiring 10 stitches.

Smoke. Haze. Fog.

My mind spins as I fall to the ground
In a whole forest but the only felled log
Crashing down, yet no sound

Yell. Scream. Shout.

I forgot that I was supposed to play dumb
I forgot that I wasn’t to stand out
I forgot that I was a fir in a field of tombs

Crackle. Sizzle. Pop.

My actions that led me here all blur together
I remember, my life is considered slop
In the way of land that’s considered better

Warmth. Heat. Burnt. 

The dust settles but you are blind
Clouded by the cataracts you have learned
To refuse to acknowledge the signs

Fire. Fire. Fire.

(another) black life matters

Hundreds hold prayer vigil for unarmed black teen shot by white police officer..

We have heard it said, cops shoot first and ask questions later.

When we see another life lost at the hands of the police, how do we respond

• What are the facts?
  
• What was Tony doing?
• Why did the cop shoot?
  
• What was Tony’s criminal history?
• What was the cop’s history?

As Christians, we should pray first; ask questions later.

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
James 1:19

As Christians, we should mourn first the death of a human being, and not worry about why that person is dead. An individual made in the very image of our God is dead.

Pray for Tony, that God may have compassion on him.

Pray for Tony’s family, as they mourn the early passing of a son, grandson, brother.

Pray for Matt, the police officer, and his family as they wrestle with the implications of his actions.

Pray for the Madison Police Department as they navigate relations with the community.

Pray for the city of Madison, that the Kingdom of God may break through in the midst of trial and tribulation.

Mourn with those who mourn.
Romans 12:15

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

john piper: i was a racist

Preach sir, preach.

Lucy came to our house on Saturdays to help my mother clean. I liked Lucy, but the whole structure of the relationship was demeaning. Those who defend the noble spirit of Southern slaveholders by pointing to how nice they were to their slaves, and how deep the affections were, and how they even attended each other’s personal celebrations, seem to be naïve about what makes a relationship degrading.

No, she was not a slave. But the point still stands. Of course, we were nice. Of course, we loved Lucy. Of course, she was invited to my sister’s wedding. As long as she and her family “knew their place.” Being nice to, and having strong affections for, and including in our lives is what we do for our dogs too. It doesn’t say much about honor and respect and equality before God.

which comes first—the race or the arrest?

Why is it when the topic of race comes out, the Church comes swinging with books on books with facts and statistics? Why don’t we listen? Why don’t we confess?

I praise God for godly men and women who are willing to highlight sin of the American culture, I mourn the Church which constantly feels the need to defend instead of listen.