The Penny Dropped

My name is Claresa Baggs. I do not possess a title of Pastor, Minister, Reverend, or Prophetess. I don’t sit on any boards. I do not have a big certificate of degree handing on my office wall. I never expected to stand before you in this format, on this day. Quite frankly, I learned that I can only run for so long, before God caught me and wore me down. Who am I, to stand before you and allow teachings to flow from my mouth that I would otherwise keep to myself? I am but a retched soul, desperately in need of prayer, on a twisted and potholed path trying to find my way back to God. I have nothing to offer you but my own truths. I do not speak of things I have not experienced. I have been on a sad, angry, lonely journey. How could God; therefore, require this of me? How could He ask me, out of all who have suffered to stand before you and provide guidance? I cannot quote a bunch of biblical passages to support this presentation. I cannot list authors of self-help manuals used as refer...

In today’s environment of self-righteous indignation when it comes to the treatment of animals, our nation should be astonished by the lack of outrage concerning the mistreatment of our most valuable resources. The human animal. Our children. For years, we have taught our children to be afraid of the dark character in the black coat and hat lurking in the shadows, offering candy and other enticements. We never took the time to teach our children about the dark hearts of the people we call family, friends, and acquaintances. Oh, we may have whispered, “Tell me if someone ‘touches’ or ‘bothers’ you”. When told, this information usually falls upon the deaf ears of those responsible for protecting and ensuring the safety of the child. Mostly for the sake of keeping the family together or to smother the supposed shame brought upon the family. The laws of the land are written as to accommodate this by minimizing the true heinousness of the crimes against children. One way of a...