DEEP WATERS

Why do children pay for the idiocy of adults? Today Russian President Vladimir Putin  signed a law  that bans adoptions of Russian children by U.S. citizens. This ban was reportedly developed in retaliation for a US law punishing Russians accused of violating human rights. As the mama of an eleven-year-old boy adopted from Russia  in 2003, my heart breaks for the children that will never be adopted due to this new law.  According to UNICEF  there are approximately 740,000 children without parental care in Russia. "Alternatives to the institutionalization of children are essential, including permanent foster care, domestic adoption and inter-country adoption," said Anthony Lake, Executive Director of UNICEF. "All children deserve an environment that promotes their protection and well-being . Russian children -- indeed all children -- need to be in protective and loving families ..." Amen, Director Lake. Why has it become so hard for adults to get ...

Okay, I'll admit it. I can't say I loved the movie Talladega Nights , but quite of few of the lines made me chuckle. As a matter of fact, the main character Ricky's prayer over the family meal actually has me in stitches every time I think of it. Here's a sampling: "Dear Lord Baby Jesus... Dear Baby Jesus, we also thank you for my wife's father, Chip. We hope that you can use your Baby Jesus powers to heal him and his horrible leg... Dear Tiny Infant Jesus..." In the middle of his prayer, Ricky's wife Carley interrupts. "Hey, um... you know, sweetie, Jesus did grow up. You don't always have to call him baby. It's a bit odd and off puttin' to pray to a baby." Ricky, frustrated with his wife's assertion says, "Well, look, I like the Christmas Jesus best when I'm sayin' grace. When you say grace, you can say it to Grown-up Jesus, or Teenage Jesus, or Bearded Jesus or whoever you want." He later con...

Most of you have heard the news  already. A young man of about 24 entered an elementary school in the small town of Newtown, Connecticut and killed 26 people. I've heard that twenty of those people were mere children. As the news drones on and on and the facts stack up about this heinous crime, many of us are dumbfounded. How could someone enter a school and randomly kill so many young, innocent children? Why didn't someone see this coming? And what can we do to prevent another massacre like this one? Well, I don't have any answers to these questions. But I do want to share what I plan to do in the midst of this national tragedy. Look Up At times like this, no one has any real answers. We debate about gun control and the government setting the example for the rest of the world by getting along. We stress that we've got to be more vigilant about stressing mental healthcare for our family and friends. But really there are no answers. So, at this time I...

Today marks the 30th Anniversary  of King of Pop  Michael Jackson's   Thriller , considered one of the greatest albums of all time. 30 years ago, this album was released and went on to sell over 42 million certified copies (with estimates actually reaching 110 million). With hits like "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and "Thriller," this album is still  the best selling album of all time. I was a young lass when this album hit stores -- back in the day when you had to physically enter a store and purchase an album. (For my younger readers, those were also the days that dinosaurs roamed the earth.) I can't remember exactly who in my household purchased the album, but I'd guess that my sister -- ten years older than me -- made the transaction. What I do remember? For me,  Thriller was love at first hearing. Over the years, I've come to love a lot of music and many artists of various genres, but I don't think anyone's music has be...

You most likely woke up this morning feeling one of two ways: Some of you feel dismayed and discouraged over the election results Others of you feel triumphant and hopeful over the very same results I actually have mixed feelings about the election. I'm happy that an African American man not only pulled off the election one time, but twice. Last night's election proved that Barack Obama's clinching of the country's top seat back in 2008 wasn't a fluke. For an African American woman that has studied our country's sordid past in the area of race, this fact makes me smile. On the other hand, the election results around the country reveal some disturbing trends that give me pause... I. The states of   Washington and Colorado  legalized the sale and recreational use of marijuana for people over 21.  For years, marijuana has had the reputation of being a harmless drug that many claim has desirable health benefits. However, according to a recent ...

Today is Orphan Sunday, and at Mosaic Church , we'll spend the entire morning highlighting the needs of orphans in our country and around the world. The statistics are staggering: there are more than 150 million orphans in the world. In the United States alone, 100,000 children are languishing in the foster care system, while waiting to be adopted. Many are older children. Some have physical or mental disabilities. Most have deep emotional scars. Few are in their situations because of their own fault. Almost all have been grossly neglected or abused by the adults in their lives -- the very people they have trusted to feed, clothe and care for them. This problem can seem so overwhelming, you might be asking, "What can I do?" There are several things YOU  can do for orphans around the world. 1. Pray for orphans in this country and around the world Psalm 68:5 calls God "a father to the fatherless." If He is their true Father -- and ours too -- we mu...

Last year, on September 11th, I published a reminder for us to never forget the nearly 3000 people that lost their lives on September 11, 2001. I remember that day like it was yesterday... Do you remember where you were on that day? Well, if you can remember that day, then obviously you were not counted in the number that died that fateful day. You are here for a purpose . Do you know what that purpose is? I believe we all have a special assignment from God that we were created for. I believe we all have gifts and talents and influence that God wants to use to impact the world. But I also believe that we all have a general calling in life. It may take on different forms and utilize different methods. I believe this calling can be found in the Bible: He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy  and to walk humbly with your God.*  No matter where we live, where we work, who we are, G...

You'd think after I ruffled more than a few feathers with my last political post, Republicans vs. Democrats: Who Gets It Right? , that I'd leave this presidential race well enough alone. I don't think there's any other topic that gets people more riled up than politics. And I can't think of many other topics that people will go to their graves believing they are absolutely 100% right, and everyone else is absolutely 100% wrong. It baffles me. It amazes me. It annoys me. So today, I begin with a disclaimer. I am 100% sure that my political thoughts and beliefs are not 100% right. And as you read, I beg of you -- would you consider that perhaps your political thoughts and beliefs might not be 100% right either? That being said, on this first day of the Democratic National Convention , I'd like to share some thoughts about the Republican National Convention from last week. I'll start with some highlights: Condoleezza Rice: Condie's spee...

In my  last post in Deep Waters , I raved about Gabby Douglas. After watching her Olympic Gold performances and her even more inspiring interviews with reporters, I had to be the 4'11", 90-pound powerhouse's biggest fan. Perhaps I still am. This 16-year-old's courage to leave her home and family in Virginia to train in Iowa exceeds that of most adults I know. ...Her courage to shine and smile her way through the ups and downs of life on the uneven bars, the balance beam and the floor exercises of the Olympics, even when she'd lost her winning streak. ...And her courage to face the criticism and questions in cyberspace about her family's financial state, her absent father and worse of all -- her hair. The ignorance that I've seen from others, mostly African Americans, about Gabby's hair, brought to mind a favorite song of mine by R&B recording artist India.Arie... "I Am Not My Hair" Little girl with the press and curl ...

Intrigue, exhilaration, disappointment, triumph. These words describe the emotional roller coaster I rode the other night watching the Olympics. I was intrigued by the beauty and precision of these amazing athlete's bodies. I was exhilarated by their displays of strength and talent. I was disappointed by the elimination of Jordyn Wieber from the all-around gymnastics competition. And I felt triumph whenever our country seized another medal. But the moment that brought the most radiant smile to my face was during gymnast Gabby Douglas' interview after qualifying for the all-around competition. Nicknamed the "Flying Squirrel" for her aerial performance on the uneven bars, this 4'11", 90-pound powerhouse has completely stolen my heart, with her infectious smile and sweet spirit. When asked how she kept her nerves at bay at the Olympics, Gabby replied, "I meditate on scriptures like, 'Be confident in this.'" She went on to say that the...

My life has been full of surprises. I'll share a few of them: I said I'd never marry a preacher. Well, I didn't marry a preacher, I married a corporate guy who, seven years later, became a preacher .  When my husband Anthony and I decided to adopt a newborn baby girl from the United States, the Lord chose a 2-year-old toddler  boy from Russia for our family instead. After relocating cross-country from Tennessee to Northern Virginia in hopes of planting a new church there, after only one year, the Lord clearly directed us to Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas . (Note: In case you haven't noticed, Arkansas borders Tennessee. Surely moving costs would have been a lot cheaper if we would have moved right to Arkansas from Tennessee.) As I share this list, I must admit, I wouldn't change not one of them. My life has been enriched by the surprises, the unexpected circumstances, and even the challenges of God flipping the script that I had joyfully wri...

I don't know about you, but I'm a little weary of all the bipartisan talk these days. Television campaign ads, candidate signs and Facebook posts of people blasting or singing the praises of politicians are wearing me out. Honestly, I'm looking forward to November 7 -- the day  after  election day. I recently read an article in Relevant Magazine  entitled "Broken Politics" , which took a hard, but fair, look at Republicans and Democrats. Authors D.C. Innes and Lisa Sharon Harper examined how both parties get it right and how both parties get it wrong. Their conclusion: "Christians must all recognize their ultimate hope should be in Christ, not in any earthly institution or human theory. Neither one's country nor one's party is the Kingdom of God." I must agree. Over the years I've heard many Christians proudly tout the Republican party as the Christian party. As if Jesus Christ Himself would be a Republican if He were walking the f...

This week I watched "Dead Poets Society." A lover of quotes, this movie was made for nerds like me. I've been quoting lines from the movie ever since. I offer you one here, delivered by John Keating (played by Robin Williams), an English teacher at a prestigious prep school for boys: "Boys, you must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all. Thoreau said, 'Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.' Don't be resigned to that. Break out!" Do you strive to find your own voice in the world? Have you ever felt that "quiet desperation"? Have you known the urge to "break out" of the mold of your life? I believe there are two facets to this need, this desire, this desperation. 1. We are called to something bigger than ourselves As far back as I can remember, when I was but a little pigtailed girl in Baltimore, Maryland, I've believed that there...

This week my mind returned to the issue of race in our country. I've recently written about race as I revisited the  20th Anniversary of the Rodney King riots . (Coincidentally, this same Rodney King was  found dead at the bottom of his swimming pool on June 17. Rest in peace, Mr. King) Our Sons Are Trayvon examined the balance of justice and mercy in the racially-charged  murder trial of George Zimmerman. I've also written about results of the 2010 US Census and what those results predict about the changing face - literally - of our country. And of course I had to write about that book that had us all talking about the history of race in the South, The Help. Recently two occurrences got me thinking about race once again: one being the  election of the first African American president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and the second being my husband's participation in a local panel examining and discussing race relations in our community. Let's take a l...

Happy Siblings: Jada, Christian and Joelle When I share my heart on the topic of adoption, I usually don’t know where to begin. My compassionate heart for orphans – around the corner and around the world, as I say – was truly birthed out of my heart for God. When I view God’s heart in the scriptures, I see a loving, merciful God Who continually looks out for the underdog. The poor, the alien, the widow – and yes, the orphan – may oftentimes go overlooked by the world. But the poor, the alien, the widow and the orphan are much like Hagar, mistreated by her master Abraham’s wife, Sarai. In Genesis 16:7 we find Hagar alone in the desert, having fled her tormentor’s home. She is hungry. She is thirsty. She is completely alone in the world. Or so she thinks. While she withers under the desert sun, the angel of the Lord visits Hagar and speaks life to her. He tells her she is expecting Abraham’s son and that her descendents would one day be too numerous to ...

Okay, so let me start by saying that I'm not the first to pick this bone. The buzz has already started. Apparently others have written about this. Even MSNBC has shared some  unfavorable sentiments about it. But it makes a lot of sense. Usually when you're fighting mad about something, someone else is too. And it feels good to know I'm not alone. But this past Friday night when I sat in a dark, crowded movie theater watching the hit Disney movie "The Avengers" with my husband, I felt all alone during one particular line. Here's the backdrop: Thor, a demigod and member of the Avengers, has an evil brother Loki, also the villain of the film. While discussing Loki's wickedness, Thor begins to defend his brother. His spiel sounds a lot like, Well he's not all that bad . Then fellow Avenger Black Widow makes the huge observation, "He killed 80 people in 2 days." Thor replies with, "He's adopted." Now, let me begin ...

I've been reading a book lately that's absolutely breaking my heart. This book tells the story of Maria who walks the streets of a slum in Uganda to beg for food every day. It's the story of Rose and Brenda, orphans that were abandoned and left to grow up in an orphanage. It's the story of David and Bashir who were abducted, sold as slaves and forced to kill as child soldiers. And it's the story of a petite, Caucasian twenty-something young woman who left her home in wealthy  Brentwood, Tennessee to live in Uganda, East Africa to serve the poor, forsaken children there. (By the way,  I lived in the neighboring town to Brentwood for almost a decade and had the privilege of meeting Katie on a few occasions.) This young woman is relentless in her love and passion for these forgotten children. She is relentless in her pursuit to live out the Gospel of Christ. Katie's  words are enlightening. "Adoption is wonderful and beautiful and the gre...

The Hendricks Clan "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."  Did you grow up hearing that adage? I don't think I reached age ten before I realized how false that saying is. The scars of sticks and stones heal with time. The scars of hurtful words? Many of us will take our share of those scars to our graves. If you have adopted, you've heard your share of ill-timed/insensitive questions and comments. Many will come from the lips of perfect strangers. This can be annoying, but in the end, feels rather harmless. Yet sometimes the offenses come from the people closest to us -- parents, grandparents, siblings, long-time friends. Some of those words have left scars on your soul. And maybe on the souls of your child. This post is not only for those of us that have adopted. This post is for our family members, our close friends, our fellow church and community members. This post is for our loved ones who may be very happy for us, b...

I've got a bone to pick. I'm sick and tired of something, and I can't think of a better place to vent but here in Deep Waters . Now let me just say, I'm a fan of print media, especially magazines. Just today I was doing my thing on the elliptical machine fully absorbed in a recent copy of Ebony . So absorbed that a dude I see in the gym all the time said, "Wow, you were in a zone." Of course I was. I was getting my read on. But I digress. So, about that bone I've got to pick. I'm getting so tired of popular women's magazines and their covers. And not just the photo-shopped images of perfection. I'm tired of the headlines. Here's a few I've seen recently: A testimonial from a star I'll leave unnamed: "How I Lost 30 Pounds and Got My Confidence Back!" "Feel Great Naked: 9 Foods that Burn Fat While You Eat"  "131 Little Ways to Your Best Body" And this little beaut from a billboard on an...

“Can we all get along?” Five words. Spoken by an assaulted man. Repeated countless times since that day twenty years ago. Last week marked the twentieth anniversary of the Los Angeles riots incited by citizens furious over the acquittal of four L.A. police officers that had brutally beaten L.A. resident Rodney King . Rodney King happened to be African American. The officers happened to be Caucasian. And while Rodney King was no saint (he was a 25-year-old convicted robber on parole at the time), his speeding violation and intoxication didn’t warrant the inhumane beating he received at the hands of the men commissioned to “protect and serve.” And when those overzealous officers received an acquittal, the city of L.A. turned upside down. The upheaval from those riots led to more than 50 deaths and $1 billion in property damage. After three days of riots, King emerged from seclusion to speak those infamous five words, “People I just want to say, can we a...