Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Government Shuts Down On Day Church Doors Open Wider
Ever heard of a development event for a Baptist organization that featured the testimonies of a Catholic bishop and a president of a Methodist foundation? Not likely. Yet one actually took place on Oct. 1 in Little...
On the Road with Jesus: the Rich Man and Lazarus
On the Road with Jesus: the Rich Man and Lazarus Richmond’s First Baptist Church, September 29, 2013 The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost Luke 16:19-31 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen...
A Message from the Dead?
A sermon by Michael Cheuk, Pastor, University Baptist Church, Charlottesville, Va. Luke 16:19-31 (Luk 16:19-31 NIV) 19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20...
The Life That Really is Life
A sermon by Randy Hyde, Pastor, Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ar. September 29, 2013 Psalm 91:9-16; 1 Timothy 6:6-19 Some of you, at least, are aware that I am an avid amateur...
Is Ideology the Pervasive Idolatry of Our Time?
Most introductory courses to the New Testament begin with attention to the context of first-century Judaism. A part of that attention notes the "parties" among the Jews of the time. The Sadducees were the well-to-do...
As Rich Get Richer, Will Ancient History Repeat Itself?
It's too easy when reading about ancient history from the Bible to allow our eyes to roll back in our head out of boredom. Most of that boredom is because we think that it just isn't relevant to our lives today,...
Heaven Starts Here, Not Some Point in the Future
I had the privilege of sitting in on our youth Bible study one recent Sunday night. The topic was "decisions" and our associate pastor, Felicia Fox, was doing an awesome job of managing the chaos of 10 preteen and...
Posturing
We've all seen it, I'm sure -- most commonly when we were four or five years old, maybe even nine or ten, in more elaborate fashion. Some kid makes a loud noise in class, or draws an ugly caricature of the teacher on...
5 Bad Blogging Habits That You Need to Break
I try to read a lot of blogs, but I've stopped reading some because of common bad blogging habits. The poor form of writing makes it difficult to read the content and take the authors seriously while the poor use of...
Congress Debates as Marginalized Face Consequences
The lectionary readings for this coming Sunday are bracing. They speak of destroyed cities, exilic experience and leadership failure. They sound much like the America many are enduring. Lamentations begins with this...
British Christian Charities Urge Climate-Change Action
There is a need for urgent global action to avert global warning. That's the view of a number of international development charities following the publication of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)...
Dethroning Money and Using it for Kingdom Purposes
Jesus tells an intriguing story in Luke 16:1-9 about a dishonest manager who strikes off significant amounts owed by debtors so that when he is dismissed, he would be welcomed into their homes. "His master commended...
Europe’s Baptists Urged to Embrace Baptist Relations Covenant
Neville Callam, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), encouraged European Baptists to adopt the principles of the Covenant on Intra-Baptist Relations affirmed by the BWA General Council in July....
Syrian Refugee Women Forced into “Survival Sex”
The ongoing crisis in Syria and the resultant humanitarian catastrophe for millions is taking an intolerable toll on individuals, families, communities and nations. Desperate times lead to desperate measures. This is...
Blugrass music in a white collar town …
Sir Walter Raleigh got into the spirit outside the convention center.When civic leaders from Raleigh persuaded the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) to leave Nashville and host its annual shindig in a...
Frozen Anyone Out Lately? Perhaps It’s Time for a Thaw
Recently, I learned that due to the religious politics of the day, early in the 14th century the Italian poet, Durante degli Alighieri, better known as Dante, was banished from Florence, Italy – the city of his birth....
British Baptists Take Steps to Be More Welcoming
Hundreds of churches in the United Kingdom observed Sunday, Sept. 22, as "The Big Welcome." Sponsored by the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) and others, this initiative encourages Christians to invite someone...
European Baptist Federation Convenes in Slovakia
The 2013 European Baptist Federation (EBF) Council convened in Bratislava, Slovakia, with a large turnout of leaders, pastors, teachers and other delegates to receive reports and recommendations and to reflect on...
Good news, but at risk …
Along with countless other Americans, I remain mystified that House Republicans insist on holding the country hostage -- on threat of a government shutdown -- if the Affordable Health Care Act (aka "Obamacare") is not...
Will Millennials Be Positive Influence on Our World?
Millennials have been the topic of debate. Blogs, books, newspaper articles and religious institutions have spent time, energy, money and a great deal of worry trying to label the differences between "millennials,"...
Rich Presumptuously Expect the Poor to Serve Them
The Oxford English Dictionary defines "presumptuous" as "characterized by presumption in opinion or conduct; unduly confident or bold; arrogant; presuming; forward; impertinent." If that doesn't clear things up, you...