Scott Lencke
@sacredthoughts.bsky.social
In just a few minutes from now, South Carolina will execute Stephen Bryant by firing squad. God, have mercy.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
South Carolina to carry out third firing-squad execution this year
Stephen Bryant, 44, convicted over 2004 killing, to be shot dead despite growing backlash to ‘barbaric’ method
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:55 PM
In just a few minutes from now, South Carolina will execute Stephen Bryant by firing squad. God, have mercy.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
A fool constantly beating the drum at night wakes up the neighbors.
November 9, 2025 at 12:31 AM
A fool constantly beating the drum at night wakes up the neighbors.
A little history behind All Hallows' Eve, dating back some 1300-1400 years ago. You might be surprised...
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/is-hallowe...
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/is-hallowe...
Is Halloween Essentially Evil?
Marked every year by the calendar date of October 31st, Halloween is a debated day, at least for many a Christians.
sacredthoughts.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:38 PM
A little history behind All Hallows' Eve, dating back some 1300-1400 years ago. You might be surprised...
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/is-hallowe...
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/is-hallowe...
Read more in my recent article: sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/the-driver....
October 26, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Read more in my recent article: sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/the-driver....
I have come to believe that all love languages — whether received or given — are about one thing alone: feeling safe.
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/the-driver...
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/the-driver...
THE Driver of Love Languages
Many have heard of Gary Chapman's five love languages. But what drives these, or any other, love languages?
sacredthoughts.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:13 PM
I have come to believe that all love languages — whether received or given — are about one thing alone: feeling safe.
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/the-driver...
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/the-driver...
A new book to enjoy from @ivpress.bsky.social. 📖
October 23, 2025 at 2:32 PM
A new book to enjoy from @ivpress.bsky.social. 📖
Do you rulers indeed speak justly?
Do you judge people with equity?
No, in your heart you devise injustice,
and your hands mete out violence on the earth. –Psalm 58:1-2
Do you judge people with equity?
No, in your heart you devise injustice,
and your hands mete out violence on the earth. –Psalm 58:1-2
October 19, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Do you rulers indeed speak justly?
Do you judge people with equity?
No, in your heart you devise injustice,
and your hands mete out violence on the earth. –Psalm 58:1-2
Do you judge people with equity?
No, in your heart you devise injustice,
and your hands mete out violence on the earth. –Psalm 58:1-2
“Jesus is the ultimate border-crosser.”
–Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield
–Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield
October 17, 2025 at 4:35 PM
“Jesus is the ultimate border-crosser.”
–Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield
–Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield
The doctrine of election is not primarily about being chosen for salvation, while others aren’t. Election is about being chosen to bring blessing into this world.
October 16, 2025 at 5:33 PM
The doctrine of election is not primarily about being chosen for salvation, while others aren’t. Election is about being chosen to bring blessing into this world.
As many know, the National Guard is being deployed to certain cities in the US, including Memphis, my city. This is being pitched as a way to deal with crime in high-crime urban centers. I offer some short reflections on what this might mean.
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/memphis-sa...
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/memphis-sa...
Memphis Safe Task Force
Some reflections on the National Guard coming to Memphis
sacredthoughts.substack.com
October 6, 2025 at 3:37 PM
As many know, the National Guard is being deployed to certain cities in the US, including Memphis, my city. This is being pitched as a way to deal with crime in high-crime urban centers. I offer some short reflections on what this might mean.
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/memphis-sa...
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/memphis-sa...
The ever-burning question within our current American context...
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/should-the...
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/should-the...
Should the Church Be Political?
What about all of this right/left, republican/democrat, elephant/donkey talk in America?
sacredthoughts.substack.com
September 29, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The ever-burning question within our current American context...
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/should-the...
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/should-the...
My friends, please remember that one nation (Britain, etc) declaring another nation (Palestine) as a state has nothing at all to do with the last days. The last days began a long, long time ago. Peter made that clear at the Feast of Pentecost. sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/is-this-th...
Is This the End Times?
Eschatology is simply defined as the study of "last things."
sacredthoughts.substack.com
September 22, 2025 at 3:01 PM
My friends, please remember that one nation (Britain, etc) declaring another nation (Palestine) as a state has nothing at all to do with the last days. The last days began a long, long time ago. Peter made that clear at the Feast of Pentecost. sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/is-this-th...
God, I believe & carry hope that you will do something in the future. But, God, what are you going to do RIGHT NOW?!
September 19, 2025 at 4:38 PM
God, I believe & carry hope that you will do something in the future. But, God, what are you going to do RIGHT NOW?!
When we determine that some group of people are not worthy of dignity, compassion, care, and definitely not worthy of God’s grace, then we can easily put those people out of our minds and not worry what happens to them.
This is not the way of Jesus.
This is not the way of Jesus.
September 17, 2025 at 5:08 PM
When we determine that some group of people are not worthy of dignity, compassion, care, and definitely not worthy of God’s grace, then we can easily put those people out of our minds and not worry what happens to them.
This is not the way of Jesus.
This is not the way of Jesus.
If quotes are truly being taken out of context in recent days, then should we also commit to not pulling one Bible verse out of its context?
Psalm 46:10
Jeremiah 29:11
John 3:16
Romans 8:28
Philippians 4:13
Psalm 46:10
Jeremiah 29:11
John 3:16
Romans 8:28
Philippians 4:13
September 15, 2025 at 6:03 PM
If quotes are truly being taken out of context in recent days, then should we also commit to not pulling one Bible verse out of its context?
Psalm 46:10
Jeremiah 29:11
John 3:16
Romans 8:28
Philippians 4:13
Psalm 46:10
Jeremiah 29:11
John 3:16
Romans 8:28
Philippians 4:13
“I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
– Mahatma Gandhi
September 11, 2025 at 2:39 AM
“I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
– Mahatma Gandhi
Chaplaincy is a growing vocation these days. And I love that nearly 20% of our Master’s students are getting a specialization in this field through the Center for Pastoral Wholeness & Chaplaincy Studies. memphisseminary.edu/2025/08/19/t...
The Center for Pastoral Wholeness and Chaplaincy Studies Update - Memphis Theological Seminary
The Center for Pastoral Wholeness and Chaplaincy Studies at Memphis Theological Seminary continues to expand its academic programming and its presence in the Memphis community. The CPWCS partnership w...
memphisseminary.edu
September 3, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Chaplaincy is a growing vocation these days. And I love that nearly 20% of our Master’s students are getting a specialization in this field through the Center for Pastoral Wholeness & Chaplaincy Studies. memphisseminary.edu/2025/08/19/t...
I’m not sure I’ve ever witnessed such an uproar over a business rebranding.
Now, the money being poured out - $700 million - to do so could definitely be better spent & invested in communities. But rebranding strategies are part of a free-market economy where mammon is central.
Now, the money being poured out - $700 million - to do so could definitely be better spent & invested in communities. But rebranding strategies are part of a free-market economy where mammon is central.
August 23, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I’m not sure I’ve ever witnessed such an uproar over a business rebranding.
Now, the money being poured out - $700 million - to do so could definitely be better spent & invested in communities. But rebranding strategies are part of a free-market economy where mammon is central.
Now, the money being poured out - $700 million - to do so could definitely be better spent & invested in communities. But rebranding strategies are part of a free-market economy where mammon is central.
Remember that summer when so many freaked out about the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony? Yeah, it changed our world a lot. 🤦🏻♂️
August 19, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Remember that summer when so many freaked out about the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony? Yeah, it changed our world a lot. 🤦🏻♂️
I’m not sure if we’ll ever be willing to re-examine our ideas about “hell.”
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/what-the-h...
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/what-the-h...
August 18, 2025 at 12:08 AM
I’m not sure if we’ll ever be willing to re-examine our ideas about “hell.”
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/what-the-h...
sacredthoughts.substack.com/p/what-the-h...
So grateful for the work of Peter Bell, Sarah Bader & @sonsofpatriarchy.bsky.social as they expose abuse in Doug Wilson’s churches. religionnews.com/2025/08/12/d...
Doug Wilson agrees to debate 'Sons of Patriarchy' after dueling events in Moscow, Idaho
MOSCOW, Idaho (RNS) — Peter Bell, the podcast’s producer, said the controversial pastor agreed to ‘a live 1-on-1 with me. ... We have it on record.’
religionnews.com
August 13, 2025 at 12:49 AM
So grateful for the work of Peter Bell, Sarah Bader & @sonsofpatriarchy.bsky.social as they expose abuse in Doug Wilson’s churches. religionnews.com/2025/08/12/d...
“The easiest way to make oneself righteous is to make someone else a sinner.” –Rachel Held Evans
August 10, 2025 at 7:35 PM
“The easiest way to make oneself righteous is to make someone else a sinner.” –Rachel Held Evans
August 5, 2025 at 1:35 AM
I have recently been listening to a podcast series called Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, hosted by Mike Cosper.. This has been an insightful series into the rise of the "Satanic Panic" that took place in the later half of the 20th century.
Stories of the Satanic Panic
Thoughts on the Satanic Panic of the 20th century after listening to the podcast series Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.
sacredthoughts.substack.com
August 2, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I have recently been listening to a podcast series called Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, hosted by Mike Cosper.. This has been an insightful series into the rise of the "Satanic Panic" that took place in the later half of the 20th century.