Foley’s work in The Anti-Greed Gospel, comes out of years of historical study on the lynching era in U.S. history, spanning from the post Civil War years to the 1940s. During this period, mob rule in the form of lynchings became common place, especially within the southern states that formerly made up the Confederate states in the Civil War. Lynching was used as a means of punishment, but ultimately something much more devious...

~By Travis Jones~ Growing up, I always wanted to become a police officer. I admired what they do in the community and wanted to help keep people safe. Three of my cousins were also police officers and my uncle was a retired police officer. Needless to say, I grew up with a high view of law enforcement. As I was in my early teenage years, I also became a huge fan of hip hop music, specifically...

~By Travis Jones~ These shallow bars of my security, can only keep out so much. These feeble bars offer me surety, but their protection is just a crutch. Fragility stoking my fears, I put up another bar. Afraid of my own tears, I become a controlling czar. This need for security, turns my focus inward, away from all others. This need for surety, shifts my locus inward, giving me no time for all my sisters & brothers.

~By Travis Jones~ In the days in which the Bible was written, security was a common issue for most people, and the Bible records that it was especially problematic for the people of Israel (both in the OT and NT). Cities needed to have a wall built around them to provide protection from outside forces who might riad or destroy them. This is evident in the book of Nehemiah where Nehemiah went back to Jerusalem to help rebuild the wall so that the people would be safe from their powerful neighbors who sought their downfall.

~By Travis Jones~ I want to start off sharing some song lyrics with you. I still remember the first time I listened to this song and picked up on what was being said. In this song, Derek Minor is describing a family, deeply impacted by poverty, trying to figure out how to survive. The individual who he is speaking for does not have enough food to last them & their family until they get paid next, and so their solution is to turn to crime: Open up the fridge, open up the fridge Ain't nothin' but old milk and rice again Got like 10 more days until my check hit I don't know how I'm about to feed my kids Guess I grab the Sig* or the Draco Run up on whoever till I die or hit my payroll

~By Travis Jones~ I’m just a lazy bum. I want a handout, a free ride. I’m a stupid drunk, a strung-out junkie. I’m violent, I’m schizo, I’m paranoid. I don’t care about anybody but me. I’m on the street because I want to be. I’m a lost soul… Maybe I’m many of these things, maybe none at all - what do you people know?

~By Travis Jones~ Learning about the relationship between poverty and education these last few weeks has been insightful. Today, building off what we have been discussing, we are going to look at how LoveINC works to address issues that arise from a lack of education in our community. LoveINC works to respond...

~By Travis Jones~ Our bodies are so needy sometimes. They need constant attention like food, water, bathing, etc. Much of the maintenance we do for our bodies is such a chore; finding time to exercise, rest, eat healthy, go to the doctor, dentist, and all the other specialists, it all adds up. Trying to be healthy is like a full time job...