Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
March 16, 2016
Hiker Finds Rare 2,000 Year Old Gold Coin in Israel (CNN) Historian Uncovers Secrets of Reformation Hidden in England's Oldest Printed Bible (Phys.org) Southern Baptists Set to Pay $6 Million to Worship in What Was...
Faith-Based Homeless Programs Among Organizations Receiving HUD Grants
Local programs working to end homelessness across the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands were awarded $1.6 billion from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) last week....
Despite Twitter Posts, Easter is a Christian Holiday
I bought Easter candy for my students. It was a mistake. Although the students made a valiant effort to eat as much as possible, they left a few Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs (a particular weakness of mine) in the candy...
How Should Western Churches Respond to Syrian Refugees?
I have received a number of invitations from the West to speak about the crisis in Syria and particularly about the massive refugee migration into Europe. The question that keeps coming is: "How should the church in...
March 15, 2016
Man at Trump Rally: 'We Might Have to Kill' Black Protestor (CNN) Ben Carson Endorses the 'Cerebral' Trump (Washington Post) Missouri Religious Discrimination Amendment Could Hurt KC's Bids for Sporting Events (Kansas...
Taking a look at ‘Look-at-me’ missions
By John D. Pierce A man with leprosy came and knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”...
Why UK Should Continue its European Union Partnership
A group of refugees from religious persecution in England made their way to The Netherlands in 1609 and found a welcome in what was then a more tolerant society in Amsterdam. As Separatists from the English state...
Observing Lent: A Season to Bury the Alleluia
We buried the Alleluia on Feb. 14. It was strange to do this on Valentine's Day, but we made it work. On this first Sunday of Lent, several children came down the center aisle carrying a banner that had one word on it:...
A formidable woman
Her material legacy is small -- an oval-shaped semi-precious stone less than an inch across, engraved with 12 ancient Hebrew letters -- but it speaks volumes. It speaks so loudly because the 12 letters -- written...
Not OK! Our Leaders Teach Bad Lessons to Our Kids
A video went viral recently showing a young African-American woman being removed from a presidential campaign rally. She was pushed and prodded by numerous campaign supporters while others voiced insults or filmed the...
Is Your Church Different Than a Wal-Mart Greeter?
One of the major emphases among church health specialists the past few years is the need to create an atmosphere that is "friendly" to visitors (or guests, as they are preferably called). Churches have responded well,...
March 11, 2016
Southern Baptist Lobbyist Says Government Not Allowing Evangelical Christians to Discriminate Against LGBT Community is Nazism (Dalton Daily Citizen) Georgia Lawmakers Blast 'Hitler' Comparison by Southern Baptist...
Do Your Words Sustain Others or Tear Them Down?
When writer Rick Bragg was young and struggling to find his way in journalism, he won a prestigious fellowship to Harvard University. While there, he felt out of place. He hadn't finished college, and he was in classes...
7 Ways to Respond to Violent Extremism
A group of students stood behind the two banners bearing these slogans: "We refuse to be enemies, Spread Hummus not Hate." They were from all faiths, nations and cultures and had come together to express their unity...
U.S. Majority Wants Regulation of E-Cigarettes
A strong majority (79 percent) of U.S. citizens want e-cigarettes to be regulated, according to a Gallup poll. Sixty percent desire regulations comparable to those for tobacco cigarettes, while 19 percent seek FDA...
March 10, 2016
Baptist World Alliance Seeking Harmony (Baptists Today) Missouri Discrimination Bill Advances in State Senate (ABC News) LGBT Groups Seek NCAA Sanctions for Schools that Discriminate (Baptist News Global) An...
BWA seeking harmony
FALLS CHURCH, VA – Both good news and troublesome tensions were in the air as members of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) Executive Committee gathered for their annual spring meeting in Falls Church March 6-9. In his...
Competition from within and without
By John D. Pierce One Sunday morning I exited a hotel elevator and walked toward the front desk. In the lobby I passed and greeted a young man in jeans with a guitar in one hand and box of donuts in the other. I...
10 Modern Rules for Seeking Public Office (Apparently)
I have come up with 10 directives for seeking public office, at least on the national level, based on watching this election season's political debates. 1. Eliminate middle ground. Moderation must be viewed as the...
When the Rich Wash Their Feet in Tears of the Poor
Economics eventually lead back to God. Justice and injustice, generosity and greed, compassion and callousness, sharing and possessiveness, these and many other contrasts in the human condition are inextricably woven...
U.S. Affirms Human Rights Commitment, Seeks U.N. Council Membership
The U.S. reaffirmed its commitments to promote and defend human rights last week in preparation for seeking election to the United Nations' Human Rights Council in November. The statement listed three broad commitments...