I'm a Tennessee boy. I grew up in East Tennessee most of my life, then came up to Philly to go to college and fell in love with this city, and particularly, my neighborhood on the north side of Philadelphia.

I think a lot of people view the death penalty as a debate class or something. The cost and what's at stake is really, really a big deal.

Governments can do lots of things, but there are a lot of things they cannot do. A government can provide good housing, but folks can have a house without having a home. We can keep people breathing with good health care, but they still may not really be alive.

It's impossible to separate our contemporary practice of the death penalty from our history around race and slavery, and specifically, lynching. Where lynchings were happening 100 years ago is where executions are happening today. And that's a haunting and eerie thing.

Perhaps there is no more dangerous place for a Christian to be than in safety and comfort, detached from the suffering of others.

Mother Theresa always said, "Calcuttas are everywhere if only we have eyes to see. Find your Calcutta."

There is a difference between feeding someone and eating dinner with them. If every Christian at home just made room for the stranger we would end homelessness overnight.