A good question for this time of year

One Advent tradition in many churches is having a Nativity set in which the cast of characters grows each week until baby Jesus is placed in the empty manger on Christmas Eve. Another is to have a family within the congregation light the appropriate Advent candle,...

‘Bobby first’ seems out of order

The Florida State Seminoles will play in the Gator Bowl on New Year’s Day. With a record of six wins and six losses, they don’t deserve to be there.But longtime coach Bobby Bowden announced recently that he would be tossing in the towel at the end of this season — and...

A season for not believing

There is a lot of competition for consumer dollars this time of year. It seems that many companies — especially those who hawk their goods on TV – are relying on buyer’s gullibility.Have you ever watched a commercial or infomercial and wondered, “Do people...

In the giving spirit, all year long

So many people brought so much stuff to Odell and Johnnie Riddle’s home that their garage kept overflowing. Now they gather, sort and share clothes, furniture and other items out of a warehouse in downtown Dalton, Ga.Their destination is Appalachia — and the...

What’s in a name?

In an address to the Tennessee Cooperative Baptist Fellowship a few years ago, I noted that hometown obituaries often include the phrase that he or she was “of the Baptist faith.”Typically, the obit will say something like: “He enjoyed fishing,...