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Welcome.

This is a space I created for distilling my thoughts as I discipline myself in my craft.  At heart – I am a writer… a poet…  Clarity finds me when I can put a pen to paper or rest my finger tips on a keyboard.  Sanity comes as the swirling thoughts in my overloaded mind make it the page… Most times it feels like I’m just rambling, but every now and then the end result is actually something intelligible….

You are welcome to join me on this journey.  Who knows?  We may actually learn something from one another.  Maybe you’ll inspire me or be inspired by me – I certainly hope so!  Maybe, I’ll piss you off – or maybe you’ll frustrate me – that may be even better.  You see, I have this strange theory that conflicts needn’t be avoided.  Conflicts need to be managed.  They are the friction that causes motion! I actually believe that we learn more from those with whom we disagree than from most any other source.  The discord is actually an opportunity for harmony.  Thesis… Antithesis… Synthesis… Growth.  We will all end up a bit wiser, broader in our experience and perspective, more tolerant, and more compassionate.  That is my hope, at least.  I guess we will have to wait and see what happens!

Peace

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You Know What’s Right…


February 3, 2026 – BHM

When I was about six years old, standing in the yard with my mother, while I can’t remember what was going on at the time, or what I had said or done, but I remember clearly her saying to me,

“Adam, you know what’s right.
No matter what’s going on.
No matter who’s around you.
You know what’s right.”

As a young man, I resented her words. They haunted me—returning at the most inopportune moments, interrupting my mischief.


As I grew up, however, I began to appreciate her words. And as I’ve grown older, I feel the full weight of her words. Way back then, Sarah Nell was speaking words that would one day give—and save—my life.


I can hear the voice of the Spirit in her words…


We must not lose our souls.
We must not yield to easy assimilation masquerading as integration.
We must not surrender our distinction.
We must not allow frustration to become despair—
despair that tempts us to collude with the powerful.
We must not mimic their ways.
We must preserve our integrity.


With justice and reconciliation as our goal,
and love as our sole motivation—
joy, creativity, resilience, compassion:
these are our weapons.
This is our protest.

I say to you—brothers and sisters, men and women of faith:

We know what’s right.
No matter what’s going on.
No matter who’s around us.
We know what’s right!

We know what’s right. Now let’s get to it.

He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you,
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8


Good Morning, I love you all!


ihs,
just adam

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The Storm is Passin’ Over…

BHM – February 2nd, 2026

While there are so many things that are not right in this world, let us not overlook the many things that must be right for us to be here in this moment.

Let us realize the miracle of this moment.  Let us be fully aware of the conspiracy of time and space that makes our very lives possible…

Air to breathe…
Blood running warm in our veins…
A right mind…
A reasonable portion of life, health, and strength…

Can you feel that?

This awareness did not begin with us.


Our enslaved ancestors, while confronted with horrendous circumstances, cultivated hope and creativity that sustain our communities even today.

I can hardly imagine what their lives must have been like, but I am regularly inspired by how they mustered the resilience to endure so that we might have even a chance!

All is not well in our world, but so much is. Otherwise, we would not be here.

God’s faithfulness, met by their courage and creativity, is the foundation of our present hope—even amid pressing crises.

Thank God for the witness of our ancestors. 

May we draw on their strength to stabilize us in the midst of our storms.

May we sing—not in denial of our present reality, but in defiant hope for a brighter future:

“The storm is passin’ over.

The storm is passin’ over.

The storm is passin’ over.

Hallelujah…”

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

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Good Mourning…

January 29th, 2026

There is no escaping grief.  Sorrows will surely come.  We will all eventually encounter the pain that accompanies loss.  

But if there is any blessing or goodness at all in this disturbing reality, it is this – Grief and sorrow are moments that we pass through – but we needn’t live in it.  Grief and sorrow are not our final destination!  

While we cannot escape, we needn’t ignore, and cannot avoid it, we also don’t have to bear it alone.

We can share our grief with our community, we can carry our sorrows to the compassionate Creator who cares, who comforts us, and who is able to do something about it…

The hymn writer says:

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged;

take it to the Lord in prayer!

Can we find a friend so faithful,

who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;

take it to the Lord in prayer!

While we may not escape grief and sorrows, we do have a refuge in a loving God, who can transform even these…

You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.

Psalm 30:11

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

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Invisible…

January 30, 2026

Years ago, during an anniversary program, my wife stood up at the end of the service and jokingly referred to being married to the invisible man.

Ouch.

She spoke of seeing the impact of my presence everywhere—while often not seeing me.

Yikes.

Her words still give me pause today.

She wasn’t wrong. I’ve always worked a lot—behind the scenes, below the radar—pulling strings, holding doors, cleaning up messes, fixing things, filling gaps. Keeping my head down. Helping out. Avoiding attention. Seeing without being seen.

This, I told myself, was faithful ministry. Or at least, that’s what I believed at the time.

“The invisible man,” she said. I understand what she meant. I can’t dismiss the piercing, painful truth in her words.

But I may offer a slightly different perspective.

Invisible? Perhaps. But I am not invisible—though I am often unseen.

There is a difference.

Invisible suggests absence. Unseen suggests presence without recognition.

And somewhere along the way, I’ve learned to be okay with that… sort of.

Unseen… impactful.

Unseen… integral.

Unseen… evident.

I’m okay with that.

But it’s a slippery slope.

Because unseen can become ignored. Unseen becomes unacknowledged. And over time, unseen becomes invisible.

And that matters.

So I have a question for us today:

Who are the unseen yet impactful—the unseen but integral people who have blessed us behind the scenes, simply because?

Who has God used to refresh and encourage us?

Here’s my challenge for us:

Don’t let them become invisible. Don’t allow those who have influenced us, sustained us, and quietly inspired us to fade into obscurity.

Though they may be unseen, do not let them become invisible.

Because invisibility is loneliness. It is the quiet ache of being present, faithful, and forgotten.

No one really wants to be invisible.

So choose to see. Choose to remember.

Although others may be blind to our benefactors, let us not allow them to become invisible to us.

“…for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.” 1 Corinthians 16:18

Good morning. I love you.

ihs,

just adam

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It’s Cold Outside…

It’s Cold Outside

Winter’s chill is here, and many of us complain about the cold. But let’s remember: it’s supposed to be cold outside this time of year.

What isn’t supposed to be cold, though, are our hearts.

As a Black man and a Christian, standing on the shoulders of my ancestors, I cannot accept or celebrate the emotional coldness gripping the nation I call home. For centuries, my ancestors and their allies have warned of this chill—raising their voices, protesting, and urging us to prepare for a winter of the soul. Now, that winter is upon us.

This icy blast doesn’t just sting noses and ears; it numbs the hearts of those who believed that whiteness, or proximity to it, would shield them from the cold. The temptation is to say, “We told you so,” and to find satisfaction in being right. But I know that high places are slippery—especially when coated in ICE.

Instead of giving in to bitterness, I choose to stoke the fires of hope and compassion. I offer warmth—a hat, a scarf, some gloves, perhaps. I refuse to surrender love to hatred or compassion to coldness. Even when it’s difficult, I will not abandon the warmth of grace. I cannot stop caring.

What about you?
How will you keep your heart warm this winter?
Will you choose compassion over indifference?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew 5:43–45

Yes, it’s cold outside. Stay warm—in body and in spirit.


Good morning. I love you all.

ihs,
just adam

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In Times Like These…

January 26, 2026

When we are witnesses to injustice, violence, and suffering while saying and doing nothing, we diminish our own humanity and undermine our credibility as witnesses to the grace of Christ.

Instead of the seeds of love and compassion, we sow selfishness and apathy that allow for injustice to flourish.

There is no ‘peace in our time,’ so long as we acquiesce to brutality and bullying.  Our silence, our compliance, our avoidance will not protect us.

So, what do we do?

How do we protest the darkness and resist the fear and hopelessness that paralyzes and stifles our willingness to push back?

How do we cultivate the resilience that these hard times are requiring of us?

This morning, I have three things that may help us:

  1. Pray – The temptation to abandon faith in crisis is real.  Prayer grounds us and keeps us tethered to the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit.  Prayer also provides a means for us to support and remain connected to those more immediately impacted.  Prayer is not the ‘last resort,’ but our primary line of defense! And prayer is certainly not the same as doing nothing. 
  2. Participate in kingdom work in whatever ways you can.  One of the practical ways we stave off despair and depression is by committing ourselves to do some good right where we are. We needn’t traverse the globe in order to be salt and light.  Pay attention to who is in proximity, tend to your neighbors – right where you are!
  3. Practice disciplined self-care. Since quitting is not an option, we must learn to rest when we can.  We cannot sustain resistance if we starve ourselves of the things that renew and revive us.  Rest, so you don’t quit!  A pause is not a period – it’s a comma! 

I hope this helps.

 Now, go and be good and do some good!

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. 

James 4:17

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

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Why & How? 

How do we truly measure success?

If our worth isn’t defined by what we produce, then what standards should guide us? The way we choose our metrics—how we measure and qualify achievement—shapes not only our goals, but also our sense of fulfillment. Instead of simply counting results or focusing on the end destination, it’s worth asking: what really matters in the journey? 

Results or Reasons

Results matter, for sure, but not at the expense of the means and methods of achieving them. Our whys and hows are as important as goals we aim to reach.

Our motivations matter.  Our intentions matter.  Our methods do matter.  And I would dare say that these are at least as important as the outcomes we seek.

I reckon we need to begin to ask ourselves better questions, huh?

Reflections

  • Are my actions motivated by love?  Do my actions elevate others? 
  • Is what I’m saying, doing, or thinking helping to create joy in my life and in the lives of others? 
  • Will my accomplishments only benefit me?
  • Am I operating from a place of guilt and insecurity, or acting from a place of freedom and abundance?  
  • Why am I doing this? How do I apply myself to the tasks before me?

These are better questions that allow us to examine ourselves while developing better ways of being that are actually life-giving and liberating for both us and others.  

The former ways bring exhaustion and frustration, only the latter yields contentment and confidence.

Get it?

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

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Being versus Doing.

The Search for Meaning

From the moment we are young, we begin a lifelong search for meaning. We quickly learn that certain actions bring rewards, while others lead to consequences. Over time, our sense of self-worth becomes tied to what we do—our achievements, our productivity, and the judgments of others.

The Cycle of Busyness

Society teaches us that what matters most is what we produce. The idol of productivity demands constant performance. When circumstances or challenges prevent us from “doing,” our identity feels threatened. This relentless system of busyness leaves even the most successful among us feeling empty, questioning our value, longing for meaning, and searching for peace.

No matter how hard we work, this cycle never delivers true contentment or confidence. Instead, it drives us to exhaustion, convincing us that our lives only matter when we are producing, achieving, or accumulating.

The Invitation to Rest

But there is hope. Thank God for Jesus, who reminds us that our value is not measured by what we produce. We are valuable simply because of who we are. Jesus says, “Consider the birds of the air”—they do not earn their worth, yet they are cared for.

Peace comes with His presence, and rest is not something we must earn. It is a gift of grace, freely given. We do not have to surrender to the grind to find meaning. Instead, we can ground ourselves in grace, remembering that our being, not our doing, defines our worth.

A Gentle Reminder

I need this reminder often, and perhaps you do too:

“…Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these…”
Matthew 6:28-29

Good morning. I love you all.

ihs,
just adam

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Principled Obedience.

January 21st, 2026

In uncertain times, it is essential to cling to simple truths.

There is no justification for disobedience. As stated in Matthew 22:37-40, we are called to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. These commandments form the foundation of all moral law.

Every action, thought, and policy should be measured against these principles. Behaviors or systems that fail to demonstrate love for God and others—exploitation, objectification, or violence—are never acceptable, regardless of how they are rationalized.

Arguments that attempt to excuse such actions are articulate exercises in disobedience.

We must consistently choose to love God and our neighbors—now and always.

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

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Where Do We Go from Here?


In 1967, Martin Luther King Jr. posed a question that still resonates today: “Where do we go from here—chaos or community?” Despite the remarkable achievements of the civil rights movement, King recognized that deep-rooted issues—racism, militarism, and the flaws of unchecked capitalism—continued to foster poverty and despair for millions. Progress had been made, but the journey toward justice was far from complete. 

Where do we go from here?

Today, we find ourselves facing similar uncertainties. Our communities, our nation, and our world are once again at a crossroads. History seems to echo itself, not because we lack knowledge, but because we often fail to learn from its lessons. Even as we celebrate advancements, we are confronted by instability and doubt about what lies ahead. 

So, where do we go from here?

Can technology, politics, or human ingenuity alone lead us into a brighter future? The evidence suggests otherwise. Is it possible that a visionary leader will rise to inspire transformation and peace? Experience tells us this is unlikely to be the sole answer.

Perhaps, the solution is as familiar as it is overlooked. The wisdom of those who came before us—and the faith that sustained them—may hold the key. When we are anxious about the future, we do not need to have all the answers. Instead, we can trust in guidance greater than our own. 

As the Psalmist writes:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Psalm 23

Whether in our personal lives or in the public sphere, when uncertainty arises, we can find comfort in knowing that we are not alone on the journey.

We may not know every step ahead, but we can trust that there is a path—and a Shepherd—who knows the way.

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam