Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Myanmar Baptists Celebrate 200th Anniversary
Baptist World Alliance (BWA) General Secretary Neville Callam offered praise to God and encouragement to Baptists in Myanmar during the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Baptist witness in the southeast Asian...
Divinely Called Caregivers Must Also Set Boundaries
Luanne poured another round of sweet tea as she told me about how caring for her mother affected her as a caregiver. When she placed the pitcher on the coffee table and settled back into her seat, I saw shadows under...
Throughout Holidays, Churches Invest in Local Community
Local churches engage in important, ongoing ministries in local communities across the U.S. They support local food banks and Meals-on-Wheels with financial gifts, food donations and volunteer service throughout the...
Honor Nelson Mandela “ Be Truthful about Our Past, Prioritize His Virtues
Apartheid was good. So said Curtis Caine, a director of the Christian Life Commission, later renamed the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Caine said on Sept. 14, 1988,...
9 Actual Ways You Can Put Christ Back into Christmas
Brace yourselves. The calendar has turned over to December, which means that the inevitable discussion on the "War on Christmas" will soon see its opening salvo for 2013. It is inevitable. There will be an outrage by a...
Caregivers among Hardest Hit by Economic Downturn
Some economists are concerned about lost revenues during the holiday shopping season, and many others contend with the new healthcare laws. Meanwhile, a silent population of Americans – namely the 28 percent who...
Apartheid Not Only Limited to Racial Separation
Pope Francis issued his first official "apostolic exhortation" on Nov. 24, a lengthy reflection on the mission of the Roman Catholic Church in the context of the challenges of our time. It placed clear emphasis on the...
Stuff people hand to the preacher
By John Pierce Regular churchgoers know the traditions well: when to stand, when to sit, when to bow one’s head in a prayerful manner to check the time when the third point of the sermon seems a bit extended....
Captured World War II Soldier Learned to Forgive
A year ago at this time, I wrote about "God's Samurai." That was what Capt. Mitsuo Fuchida, the lead pilot of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, was called after he later became a Christian. This column is more about...
Can Pope’s Words on Unequal Wealth Make a Difference?
"Pope attacks 'tyranny' of markets in manifesto" (Chicago Tribune, Nov. 26); "Pope Assails 'New Tyranny' of Unchecked Capitalism" (Wall Street Journal, Nov. 26); "Pope Francis the Revolutionary" (Wall Street Journal,...
Advent: Taking the Scenic Route to Christmas
In the 1970s, when Interstate 20 opened between Atlanta and Birmingham, Ala., many local residents were looking forward to faster travel on the new freeway. For years, my family had traveled to Birmingham from...
Quality Education a Factor of Educator, Parent and Student Collaboration
The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) recently released a report noting a decline in the global rankings of U.S. students. U.S. students ranked 25th in math, 20th in science and 11th in reading in...
Thankful for this Kind of King
A sermon by Jim Somerville, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Richmond, Va. November 24, 2013 Christ the King Sunday Luke 23:33-43 Just a few hours ago, my daughter Catherine got up and went to church. It’s not that she’s...
A Place of Peace
A sermon by Michael Cheuk, Pastor, University Baptist Church, Charlottesville, Va. December 1, 2013. Isaiah 2:1-5 In Farmville, I had in our bedroom an overstuffed chair that Beth and I bought when we got married. It...
Be Prepared for the Unexpected
A sermon by Robert Browning, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Frankfort, Ky. December 1, 2013 Luke 1:26-38 Communion Devotion Mary had a lot on her mind, like most brides-in-waiting do. She was engaged to a fine man by...
Not Interested in Christmas
A sermon by Randy Hyde, Pastor, Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ar. December 1, 2013 First Sunday in Advent Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 24:36-44 Are you ready for Christmas yet? “Oh, goodness no. It was enough...
What Kind of King?
A sermon by Keith Herron, Pastor, Holmeswood Baptist Church, Kansas City, Mo. Christ the King Sunday Colossians 1:15-20 November 24, 2013 Isaiah 58:3-9a; Matthew 25:31-40 We measure time two ways it seems. All...
Jesus: King of Kings
A sermon by Randy Hyde, Pastor, Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ar. November 24, 2013 Jeremiah 23:1-6; Luke 23:33-38 Of all the things Jesus said during his three-year ministry in Galilee and thereabouts,...
Re-Imagining Christ
A sermon by Michael Cheuk, Pastor, University Baptist Church, Charlottesville, Va. November 24, 2013. Colossians 1:11-20 Back in 2007, some 425 Wal-Mart stores nationwide began carrying faith-based action figure toys,...
Finish Strong
A sermon by Robert Browning, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Frankfort, Ky. November 3, 2013 2 Timothy 4:6-8 Communion Devotion As we gather around this table this morning, I want us to do a couple of things before we...
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
A sermon by Robert Browning, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Frankfort, Ky. November 10, 2013 Luke 19:1-10 Today’s text reminds me of a Charles Dickens novel, A Christmas Carol. You recall Ebenezer Scrooge was the main...