Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Uncovering White Evangelical Obsession with Israel
It is not unusual to hear certain politicians, commentators and preachers - and followers who parrot their words in Facebook posts and political arguments - express strong support for the nation of Israel. In recent...
When Extremist Voices Claim the Narrative
William Hordern has been a wholesomely balanced voice in the theological conversation for over half a century. In his 1955 book, "A Layman's Guide to Protestant Theology," Hordern surveyed the development of Protestant...
The Power of Compassion and Courage
A sermon by Bob Browning, pastor of First Baptist Church, Frankfurt, Ky. John 12:20-33 October 6, 2013 “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” Jesus spoke these words somewhere...
What to Remember When You Fall Short
One of the first phrases I learned in the study of the contemporary Greek language is lipame – Greek shorthand for "I am sorry!" As a stumbling practitioner of modern Greek, I learned this word rather quickly and...
Survey: Many U.S. Jews Are Cultural Not Religious
There are more Lutherans (5.5 million) in Tanzania than there are Jews (5.4 million) in the United States. There are more Southern Baptists in the United States than there are Jews in the whole world. While religions...
Is Your Church Filled with Christian Atheists?
In an article in The Atlantic Monthly, author and editor-at-large Jonathon Rauch recalled a time he attended a dinner party and was asked about his religion. Rauch, a self-proclaimed atheist, considered what to say...
Even From Oceans Away, Prayer Changes Things
When something happens a world away, it's easy to remain unmoved. We can lose the urgency of a situation when we aren't in the muck of it. On Sept. 21, armed gunmen stormed the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya,...
Muriel Lester “ Baptist Pioneer for Women in Ministry
A fortuitous moment took place several months ago in a local used bookstore. I purchased a book titled "Ambassador of Reconciliation: A Muriel Lester Reader" without knowing anything about her. The book quickly found a...
Children Participating in Syria’s Armed Conflict
The Syrian war has become one of the widest scale challenges to children's rights. Recent global initiatives highlighted the need for mobilizing resources to provide education to hundreds of thousands of refugee and...
Some really hot heads …
I found an interesting article about some hot heads lately, and amazingly, the story had nothing to do with partisan sniping in Washington. The hot heads in question are 4,000-year-old skulls, containing surprisingly...
On the Road with Jesus: Increase Our Faith!
A sermon by Jim Somerville, pastor of First Baptist Church in Richmond, Va. Luke 17:5-10 October 6, 2013 Believe it or not, it’s October, and believe it or not, we are still on the road with Jesus—watching everything...
The Kings of Israel-Saul: Israel’s Desire
A sermon by Randy Hyde, pastor of Pulaski Heights Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark. 1 Samuel 8:4-22; Colossians 1:9-14 October 6, 2013 They came from all over to the village of Ramah. The elders of Israel, who dwelt...
The Communion of Kindred Souls
A sermon by Keith Herron, pastor of Holmeswood Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo. 2 Timothy 1:1-14; Lamentations 1:1-6; Psalm 137; Luke 17:5-10 October 6, 2013 As a teenage boy Elie Wiesel was one of the few survivors...
Opportunity Knocks
A sermon by Bob Browning, pastor of First Baptist Church, Frankfort, Ky. Luke 16:19-31 September 29, 2013 There is nothing subtle about the parable we are going to study today. It is over the top and in your face, and...
Your Enemy
A sermon by, Howard Batson, First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Tx. Proverbs 25:21-22 September 29, 2013 “If you enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; If he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For you will heap burning...
God Doesn’t Deserve Our Second-Best Efforts
After last Easter, I decided it was time to go back and read through some of the biblical texts that I seldom visit. Since I have read through Genesis on numerous occasions, I started with Exodus whose narrative format...
Baking Ministry Helps Thai Women Leave Sex Trade
In a location sandwiched between bars in the middle of Bangkok's red light district, 10 Thai women have left prostitution and are learning to bake. The sweet scents of fresh focaccia and soft white bread wafted through...
Giving Away Our Trash in the Name of Generosity
Privilege can be a terrible burden. I don't know that I really understood this before the first day that I was in a local village in El Salvador. Some clothing had been sent with our mission team to share with the...
More for me …
The current impasse in Washington is fueled by many things, but one of the underriding issues is plainly old-fashioned greed. A powerful faction whose primary focus is cutting government spending so wealthier folk can...
5 Essential Tools to Make Your Ministry Healthier
Very regularly, ministers ask for my help with ministerial and congregational life in very pragmatic ways. What is the best way to organize, plan, preach, administer, supervise, lead, teach, evangelize, pray, cultivate...
My Last Meal in Kenya’s Westgate Mall Courtyard
I have been really upset over the shooting at the Westgate Mall in Kenya a few weeks ago. It's not just the fact that there was more violence in our world – another senseless shooting leaving people dead because of...