Cultural Issues – Page 2 – Tattoo It On Your Heart

Ray Smith: Secret City Historian, Veteran, Police Chaplain Emeritus

Ray Smith is a man of many missions, a man of many hats and he wears them well: Secret City historian, U.S. Air Force Vietnam veteran, Chaplain Emeritus, having served the Oak Ridge Police Department for 23 years. Mr. Smith is also an engaging storyteller, author, videographer, Tennessee Historical Commission Commissioner, teacher, photographer, documentary producer, multi award-winning citizen, church elder, father, and devoted husband to his beloved wife of 57 years.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Ray Smith in May 2021 when he gave me a tour of the Oak Ridge History Museum as part of my research trip for the book I’m writing on the integration of Oak Ridge in the 1960s. What a delight to discover he was a police chaplain as I’m about to embark on a series featuring law enforcement officers from around the country.

Mr. Ray Smith’s achievements resemble what would take several men a lifetime to accomplish. He calls himself retired but shows no signs of slowing down. I’m honored to host this brave, humble hero in this video interview and share his stories, insights, and resources with you. Enjoy.

The Integration of Oak Ridge ~ The Secret City

I almost quit. I didn’t think I could write the article. But it made the front page of the Friday print edition of the Oak Ridger newspaper under the city historian Mr. Ray Smith’s Historically Speaking column.

The battle to write is fierce. I’ve cried my way through writing articles, written under the weight of discouragement and doubt, thought I’d never finish some pieces, and almost didn’t submit others. But several of the hardest pieces to write opened doors, won awards, and people blessed me when they shared my writing ministered to them. —Don’t quit.

We must each obey our call and trust God to enable and use us as He wills. (Remind me of that tomorrow, please.)
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Created in 1942, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, also known as the Secret City and the Atomic City, was one of the three major sites set up as part of the U.S. government’s Manhattan Project. The scientists at the laboratory in the Secret City developed the materials to build the atomic bomb that ended WWII. But Oak Ridge has other stories. Twenty years after its inception, Black citizens, many of whom the government had brought in to build the laboratory and city, still lived under the oppressive culture and restrictions of Jim Crow segregation laws.

This article is the first in a series Mr. Smith invited me to write for his column. (Thank you.) 🙂 The articles and the book I’m writing on the integration of Oak Ridge in the 1960s were first inspired by the stories of my father-in-law and his best friend. They will feature the accounts of many valiant souls with a message for today.

“Beneath Dr. James Spicer’s charming drawl and calm demeanor lies a steely resolve, a…” Click HERE to read my article in the Oak Ridger newspaper: The Integration of Oak Ridge: A Unique Perspective

Support for Veterans and a Centenarian Speaks

First Class Petty Officer Francis W. Preston, a 102-year-old U.S. Navy veteran, served in the Pacific during World War II. Fran shares his journey from sailing the war-torn seas to becoming a soul seeker.

Domenick Lasorsa is the grateful son of a navy veteran with a heart to serve others, to give back. Domenick shares about support for military veterans and their families in this short, upbeat, informative video.

Remedy for the Malady

The Bible calls us to stand for righteousness, defend the defenseless, combat lies, and vehemently resist opposition that tries to stifle truth. We cannot afford to remain silent while some sanction sin. We must do what we’re able to thwart evil agendas that threaten freedom and seek to cease the advance of the Gospel message.

Wake up! Stand up and speak up, America, before you lose your freedom of speech, the right to raise your children according to your convictions—your parental rights, the right to defend your property and family, your privacy, and freedom of religion.

Some say it’s okay to take a snooze because an issue isn’t affecting them personally. But the Bible says it’s the little foxes that spoil the vine. Some say they won’t vote because they don’t like either candidate. Many are quick to complain but slow to be part of the solution.

Failure to choose is a choice. We either advance good or enable evil.

First, they came for the socialists, but I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, but I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, but I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.

— Holocaust survivor Pastor Martin Niemöller

There are no perfect candidates, but we are blessed with the freedom and responsibility to vote for the ones that best align with our values. For those who are Christians, our values ought to line up with the Bible.

Wake up, America! Your prosperity has blinded you to your poverty. Wake up, Christian! You have become comfortable in your complacency.

A Heart for the Harvest ~ Pastor Ron & Kathie Banet, Missionaries to South Africa

It is my pleasure and honor to introduce via video, Pastor Ron and Kathie Banet, missionaries to South Africa. In this interview they share:

Pastor Banet’s journey from U.S. Marine to missionary and how it prepared him to pastor.
Their conversion to Christianity
Insights on raising up disciples
Orchestrating ministries to train in skilled trades and to help the drug addicted
Life on the mission field
The local response to their daughter and son-in-law’s interracial marriage and race relations in South Africa
Navigating COVID as a church
Church planting and more

Pastor Banet and Kathie were sent out of The Potter’s House Church, Prescott Arizona in 2004. They pastor the Potter’s House Church in Eldorado Park, a suburb of Johannesburg near Soweto. The Potter’s House in Eldorado serves as a leadership and bible conference center for the region and has planted churches in South Africa and beyond.

Protesting Prejudice, Pursuing Peace

“You’ll like this one,” she said as she thrust the sign in my hands and ran off into the crowd, leaving me in a dilemma. I attended this peaceful anti-racism protest organized by friends of my seventeen and twenty-one-year-old children to keep a watchful eye for any trouble, to support several involved whom I love, and to learn. Well, it was a peaceful protest until we arrived at the state police barracks where the march ended. It got a little hairy for a bit when a couple of women attempted to take over while hurling a high decibel, disrespectful tirade of questions and demands at the law enforcement officers who stood in front of the barracks. “Once the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace,” the quote on the sign I held read.

#FaithOverFear from the Perspective of a Mom, Nurse, and Teacher

There’s only one explanation for Robin—Jesus. And also for her sons Miles and Jake. Robin and Jake are nurses currently caring for Covid19 patients. Miles serves as a teacher in Malaysia. Robin is also an award winning author, speaker, and leader of Higher Ground Outreach ministry for incarcerated women. What an honor to interview them during Teacher and Nurse Appreciation Week and in time for Mother’s Day, and to share their timely and timeless, inspiring and joy filled stories with you in these two videos and the article that follows.

Happy 4th of July, America!

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Let Freedom Ring ( My Country ‘Tis of Thee ) Abby Anderson – with Lyrics

CLICK HERE FOR: My Country, ‘Tis of Thee: The Story behind the Song by Kenneth W. Osbeck (on CBN)

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May God guide and bless you and your families. New blog posts coming soon:)

**Click here to read my article, In Step with My Father, published on Southern Ohio Christian Voice**

CLICK HERE to sign up for the TATTOO IT ON YOUR HEART NEWSLETTER to receive my blog posts, occasional notifications of special events, offers, and free downloads by email.

Alert! Freedom of Speech, Parental Rights & Religious Freedom in Jeopardy: Massachusetts Senate to Vote on Senate Bill 70, (the Counseling Ban)

Update from Massachusetts Family Institute on Massachusetts Senate Bill 70 (The Counseling Ban)

Updated April 9th, 2019

MA Senate Bill 70 violates freedom of speech, parental rights and religious freedom

SEE YOU IN COURT! Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed the Counseling Ban last night, April 9th, 2019.

Massachusetts Family Institute is already hearing from potential PLAINTIFFS and is prepared to help them protect their rights in court.

PLEASE CALL or TEXT my cell phone at (978) 204-9131 if you know a minor (age 17 or younger) and parents that want therapy to escape LGBTQ lifestyle OR a Licensed Therapist that desires to give such therapy.

The only way now to protect free speech and access to therapy is through the courts. We NEED your help!

Read more about current LGBTQ activist plan to continue to assault religion and family values here: https://tapit.us/lYiuO Please SHARE with EVERYONE YOU KNOW!Michael King
www.mafamily.org
(978) 204-9131 (cell)

__________________________________________________

Updated March 28th, 2019

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UPDATE Friday 3/29/19: Unfortunately, Senate Bill 70 passed on Thursday March 28th, 2019 with a vote of 34-0. But I urge you to read this post if you have not already so you can be informed and know what next steps to take to try to stop this threat to freedom of speech, parental rights, freedom of religion and the safety and well being of children. Massachusetts Family institute is urging residents to call Governor Charlie Baker at Phone: (617) 725-4005 NOW and ask him to veto the bill which is set for signing early next week. His office staff informed me today that you may leave a message voicing your concerns after hours and your request will be tallied. *I added more information on the results of the vote and some of my thoughts on them at the end of this article. (A strike-through indicates that information has been updated.)

The Massachusetts Senate ~~will vote~~ voted on Senate Bill, SB. 70, (the Counseling Ban), this Thursday, March 28th at the State House. If this bill goes into law it will violate freedom of speech, religious freedom, and the rights of parents to raise their children according to their moral and religious convictions. This bill would force counselors and parents to go against their beliefs about human sexuality and violates rights to privacy of patients and counselors.

Some think this bill will not affect them as they aren’t facing the situations it addresses. But regardless of where your convictions fall on gender identity and sexual orientation, and whatever your religious persuasion, bills like SB. 70 endanger the freedoms of all. Other states have also been pushing similar bills.

HB. 140/ SB. 70 would make it illegal for licensed health care professionals to offer counselling or talk therapy that encouraged a gender-confused minor to feel comfortable as the biological sex they were born, or to change, suppress, or stop any behavior or feelings in regards to their opposite-sex gender identity or sexual attraction toward others of the same sex. But they would be legally required to promote hormone therapy and sex-change surgery. This applies even if the minor is the one seeking help to change sexual attractions or behavior they don’t want to continue.

Parents who opt for counseling the state doesn’t sanction for their gender-confused child rather than cross-sex hormones or surgery, would be subject to DCF intervention which could result in the child being taken from their home and then receiving sex-change treatments without parental consent.

This bill mis-labels certain counsel as child abuse and dictates and limits healthcare workers in the diagnosis and treatment of their patients. Prohibiting licensed counselors from guiding those who seek help with their struggles by freely discussing and exploring a patient’s symptoms and feelings is negligent medical practice and abuse. If one doubts a healthcare worker’s advice they can choose to get a second opinion.

Many who identify as one sexual orientation shift to another, or between several categories over time. They change their minds. So why the push to alter one’s body with hormones or surgery? What’s the rush? This is especially true for children who do not yet have the capacity to fully comprehend the choices and their long term ramifications.

If a child identifies as a dog should the parent allow them to undergo treatment to become like a dog?

If a child thinks he is Superman, is it abuse if their parent doesn’t allow him or her to leap from buildings with a single bound?

If a white child declares they are a black child trapped in a white body, or a black child identifies as a white child, should their parents be forced to let them undergo treatment to permanently change their skin color?

When my friend’s son was about seven years old he went through a phase where he would drop to all fours and start licking people’s legs. He was convinced he was a dog—but he changed his mind when he grew up a bit. He is currently a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Special Forces, a paratrooper, and is headed to Captain’s School in June. I’m guessing if his parents had hastened to alter him to be like a dog he wouldn’t have the resume he does now. Continue reading “Alert! Freedom of Speech, Parental Rights & Religious Freedom in Jeopardy: Massachusetts Senate to Vote on Senate Bill 70, (the Counseling Ban)”

Why Are We Shouting? (Remembering MLK’s Message)

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. ―Martin Luther King Jr.

The King of all creation, Jesus, shouldered our sin and calls us to bear one another’s burdens.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 (NKJV)

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)

bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Colossians 3:13 (NKJV)

So, why are we shouting?

But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness. 2 Timothy 2:16 (HCSB)

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; James 1:19 (NKJV)

I’m truly sorry for those who suffered and suffer at the hands of others. We must speak out and stand up against injustice for if we say nothing and do nothing when we are called to stand and speak we become part of the problem. We must take responsibility for our wrong actions and when we are treated unjustly we must remember that reasons aren’t excuses for wrong reactions. We must learn from the past, but live in the present and take steps toward a better future.

..in the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. —Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I Have a Dream, speech

“the time is always right to do the right thing”―Martin Luther King Jr.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ―Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34 (NKJV)

We are not our skin; it’s just the stuff we live in. Strawberry, lemon, chocolate, vanilla—let us savor the flavor in each other’s cultures.

Some believe themselves superior while exhibiting inferior behavior toward others. With large mouths, shriveled hearts and tiny mindsets they eke out finite lives in their effort to undermine noble ones. Others say they want equal rights but demand special privileges.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” ―Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

What if instead of looking out for ourselves we looked out for each other?

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Philippians 2:3 (NKJV)

The Bible says:

And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, Acts 17:26 (NKJV)

The Great Seal of the United States of America says we are. “E Pluribus unum, out of many, one.” Our pledge of allegiance states, “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” and our national motto says, “In God We Trust.” But when we seek our own and trust in man, as some do, we end up divided. See, the Gospel has the answers—it is the answer for all that ails us.

But I think we need to focus less on racism specifically because it is a symptom, just like every other sin, of a sinful heart—and the only thing that will change that is a heart changed by Christ. —Pastor Kevin Obermeyer in Threats to the Church and Keys to Revival

We are meant to marvel at the majesty of the Creator in His creation.

There is a root that sustains

There is one Vine—

Jesus

How marvelously He colors our lives with vibrant brushstrokes of many hues—

Facets of Himself reflected in our differences

Let us recognize our common ground

And celebrate

The ongoing work of the The Master Artist.

Portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. by Jean Colby

Link here to read: One Blood, A Civil Rights Story, as told to me by Jean Colby, my mother-in-law and Sara Clay, my sister-in-law about their experiences as Civil Rights activists, about the March Against Fear, MLK, and James Meredith. (Scroll down in my post, See, Stand, Speak.)

Click here to watch the rest of: Taking Down the Ropes of Segregation

Click here to read, Threats to the Church and Keys to Revival, featuring interviews with pastors and pastor’s wives to see what these great leaders have to say about these questions on racial tensions:

What are your thoughts on the current racial tensions in America? What do you feel has fueled them and what do you think we as a nation and the Church can do to quell this and bridge the racial divide?

…The tensions are high and so political. The whole thing upsets me. People’s lives should never ever be political playing cards, and yet they are. They always are. I believe that what we did during the time of slavery was horrifying and we should not be dismissive of those whom it is still impacting today. I believe…

…My wife is Chicana from west Texas, and I, (though Texan as well), am actually a fifth generation Cherokee that left the… Click here to Continue.

Click here for excerpts from and links to: A Series of Interviews Featuring Pastors and Pastor’s Wives. The final article in the series, which features missionaries, will post in a few days.

Photo credit: Holding Hands, by Renee Williams, featuring Simone & Mac

Photo Hands with Wedding Bands, by Marcelo Matarazzo on Unsplash

Photo Hands with Thread, by alexandra marcu on Unsplash

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CLICK HERE FOR: My Country, ‘Tis of Thee: The Story behind the Song by Kenneth W. Osbeck (on CBN)

CLICK HERE to sign up for the TATTOO IT ON YOUR HEART NEWSLETTER to receive my blog posts, occasional notifications of special events, offers, and free downloads by email.

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Update from Massachusetts Family Institute on Massachusetts Senate Bill 70 (The Counseling Ban)

Updated April 9th, 2019

__________________________________________________

Updated March 28th, 2019

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I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. ―Martin Luther King Jr.

The King of all creation, Jesus, shouldered our sin and calls us to bear one another’s burdens.

So, why are we shouting?

“the time is always right to do the right thing”―Martin Luther King Jr.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ―Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches

We are not our skin; it’s just the stuff we live in. Strawberry, lemon, chocolate, vanilla—let us savor the flavor in each other’s cultures.

Some believe themselves superior while exhibiting inferior behavior toward others. With large mouths, shriveled hearts and tiny mindsets they eke out finite lives in their effort to undermine noble ones. Others say they want equal rights but demand special privileges.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” ―Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

What if instead of looking out for ourselves we looked out for each other?

The Bible says:

We are meant to marvel at the majesty of the Creator in His creation.

There is a root that sustains

There is one Vine—

Jesus

How marvelously He colors our lives with vibrant brushstrokes of many hues—

Facets of Himself reflected in our differences

Let us recognize our common ground

And celebrate

The ongoing work of the The Master Artist.

Link here to read: One Blood, A Civil Rights Story, as told to me by Jean Colby, my mother-in-law and Sara Clay, my sister-in-law about their experiences as Civil Rights activists, about the March Against Fear, MLK, and James Meredith. (Scroll down in my post, See, Stand, Speak.)

Click here to read, Threats to the Church and Keys to Revival, featuring interviews with pastors and pastor’s wives to see what these great leaders have to say about these questions on racial tensions:

What are your thoughts on the current racial tensions in America? What do you feel has fueled them and what do you think we as a nation and the Church can do to quell this and bridge the racial divide?

Click here for excerpts from and links to: A Series of Interviews Featuring Pastors and Pastor’s Wives. The final article in the series, which features missionaries, will post in a few days.

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