Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Time to Reclaim Proverbs 31: It’s Not a To-Do List
In Proverbs 31, we come face to face with a multiplicity of courage-giving images. It's filled with strength, words spoken in love, and thoughtful and courageous actions. At the crux of the poem is the phrase "a wife...
Skype Interview: Kevin Hagan Discusses Feed the Children
"We know that if we only feed the children, that doesn't really address the issue of poverty that exists in the communities in which they live," says Kevin Hagan, president and CEO of Feed the Children. Hagan, who has...
UK Baptists Join Campaign to Up Organ Donations
Although the number of people donating organs after death has risen 50 percent since 2008, more donors are needed. Churches have been called on to help in a campaign backed by the Baptist Union of Great Britain....
4 Lessons You Can Learn from Multicultural Churches
In 2010, the United Nations estimated that, for the first time in the history of humanity, there were now more people living in cities than in towns or rural areas. It is estimated that this will rise to seven out of...
How Your Church Can Help Returning Soldiers
A local hospital called me early on a Monday morning to visit one of their new patients. All I was told was that this gentleman had been homeless and had served in the current war. Upon arrival, I was told to go to the...
Moderate Baptists Make Slow Progress on Women Pastors
Several years ago, while I was working for a state Baptist convention, I received a phone call from a woman who had recently accepted the call as pastor of a church that participated in the convention. She was about to...
Will Disregard for Environment Lead to Destruction?
Editor's Note: The following is an excerpt from Grace Ji-Sun Kim's book "Colonialism, Han and the Transformative Spirit." Another excerpt appeared previously. Contrary to our personal belief, it appears that money has...
Governments Accountable to God for Poor’s Care
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of co-authoring an op-ed with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon titled "Standing in the Gap for Working Missourians." It was written in support of providing health coverage to 300,000...
On Earth Day, Let’s Become Caretakers, Not Plunderers
It's Earth Day, a day in which we recognize the beauty of the Earth as a part of God's creation. It's also a time when we can assess how we're doing in the creation story's notion that we are the Earth's caretakers....
Opposing Prejudice and Intolerance Against All
Even though April 9, 1948, is a day of infamy for Palestinians, few commemorative ceremonies are usually held. Sixty-five years ago, organized Jewish terrorist groups, including the Irgun and Stern gangs, attacked Deir...
Don’t let Eric Barger rock your church
By John Pierce Experienced ministers know how the scenario goes. A relatively new member who has jumped into congregational life wants to share some “concerns” he has about the church. At the appointed...
Cowards? Yes.
Gabrielle Giffords had it right when she called them cowards in an op-ed piece published yesterday in the New York Times. The cravens in question are U.S. senators who have effectively shot down any efforts at making...
Mumford Musician Wary of Christian Baggage
Marcus Mumford, front man for the popular musical act, Mumford and Sons, has caused a stir among evangelical Christians. When asked by Rolling Stone magazine if he considers himself to be a Christian, Mumford said: "I...
How Your Plastic Water Bottles Hurt the Planet
Raising children means packing school lunches, including a drink. Water is always a safe and preferred choice, but our household dilemma is how to send water with them. We often use water bottles, preferably reusable...
Women in Ministry Must Pave Way for Next Generation
Hebrews 11:39-40 proclaims, "All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not...
Love Will Find a Way
A sermon by Robert Browning, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Frankfort, Ky. John 21:1-19 I wonder what Peter thought when Jesus singled him out from the other disciples and started asking him questions. How do you feel...
The Song of the Lamb
A sermon by Michael Cheuk, Pastor, University Baptist Church, Charlottesville, Va. Revelation 5:11-14 What a privilege we have this weekend to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Jubilate, our university student choir! ...
The Street Called Straight
A sermon by Randy Hyde, Pastor, Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ar. Psalm 30:1-12; Acts 9:1-20 Let’s start today with a definition. The word we want to define is normal. The word is an adjective and means,...
The Acts of an Easter People: Humble Repentance
A sermon by Jim Somerville, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Richmond, Va. The Third Sunday of Easter Acts 9:1-20 Today we continue an Easter season sermon series from the Book of Acts called “The Acts of an Easter...
Jailhouse Religion
A sermon by David Hughes, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Winston Salem, N.C. Acts 5:12-32 About six years ago, I participated in a crusade in the Forsyth County prison system. My assignment was to preach in a prison...
No Fairy Tale Ending to This Story
A sermon by Robert Browning, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Frankfort, Ky. John 20:19-23 Communion Devotion Today’s text takes us to a house somewhere in Jerusalem on Easter evening where several of Jesus’ followers...