Dr. Vern Minor

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. I suspect many of us used this response when we were children. Perhaps we even taught it to our own children. It’s a defense against name-calling and taunting. The saying has been around for ages. One of the first mentions of this adage was in the March 1862 edition of The Christian Recorder (1). Despite its longevity, I doubt very seriously that this statement has ever been effective in curbing verbal bullying. ...

I teach an adult Sunday School class and have for many years. Last week we began a new study entitled, “When Life Gets Hard.” One of the core truths of the study is that no one is immune to suffering. Pain is universal. However, what is not universal is how we respond to it. Some grin and bear it, others retaliate against the hurt, some become bitter, and a few give up. The question for all of us who claim to be a believer is this: Will we exercise our faith when life gets hard? If you are...