“Our ancestors were working these fields long before they were,” spoke Deshawn, one of the newest members of the Lancaster, PA, Amish community. “They may have brought experience from the old country, but the land here runs in our bloodline.” Deshawn is one of the many faces of the new…

In 150 words — You know what I hate more than cats? Kittens. When they come out, they’re blind. How are they supposed to catch mice like that? Their mother refuses to carry them with her hands. Kittens are like baby cows. They taste better when fattened them up. You ever see how…

Located in Bridgeport, CT — This week, I review a black church in the heart of Bridgeport, CT. I knew God led me to the right place because when we pulled up in front, my daughter said, “I’m so nervous.” The church’s name is Mount Aery Baptist Church, but I didn’t know the church’s name…

Plus, God is Gay — I’m a former pastor. But now, I’m a disgraced former pastor. Being a pastor is hard. First, you can’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. Second, you can’t touch people either underage or without their consent. This is all very difficult. However, the most challenging thing about being a pastor is…

I’m a church critic. Often, people ask me, “who appointed you as a church critic.” And my reply is, “God.” Yes, it is true. God, him/her/theyself, knocked on my noggin and thus spoketh the holy spirit, “Ryan, I want you to be a church critic. For starters, I think it…

DBT is a type of therapy that helps a person manage emotions and navigate conflicts in a relationship (lover, family, etc.) If you want the technical definition, you can head over to Psychology Today and hear words like “dialectical,” but I don’t know what that word means. So, I’ll give…

Without expectations, you’ll neither have sadness nor happiness. Expectations make you happy, and they make you sad. For example, you crave a delicious breakfast sandwich from Wendy’s. So you drive over to buy this egg-and-sausage masterpiece. From there, one of two things will happen. Either that sandwich will meet your…

There’s little difference between you, me, and the crazy people. — I learned something important while I was in the mental hospital: there’s a fine line between “us” and “them.” Us, meaning all the crazy people locked up inside, including me. Them, being the people I’d watch outside, driving to Wendy’s for their breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I spent a LOT…