Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Palestinian Christians: PLO Deserves UN Recognition
Palestinian Christian leaders issued a statement to the international community supporting observer-state status for the Palestine Liberation Organization at the U.N. "We believe the Palestine Liberation Organization's...
From His Hands Through Our Hands
A sermon delivered by Howard Batson, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Tx., on November 11, 2012. 1 Chronicles 29:14 This morning, we look at the central passage for our stewardship emphasis for this season. It...
The Restorer of Life
A sermon delivered by Randy Hyde, Pastor, Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ark., on November 11, 2012. Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17; Hebrews 9:24-28 Halavie Dale was my English teacher my senior year of high school....
Investing in God’s Mission
A sermon delivered by Michael Cheuk, Senior Minister, University Baptist Church, Charlottesville, Va., on November 11, 2012. Isaiah 58:9-11, Matthew 5:14-16 November is our stewardship emphasis month, and this year our...
Ruth: the Rest of the Story
A sermon delivered by Jim Somerville, First Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., on November 11, 2012. The Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, I need to...
Power Principles
A sermon delivered by Wendell Griffen, Pastor, New Millennium Church, Little Rock, Ark., on November 11, 2012. Psalm 146 1Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! 2I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will...
Managing Church Conflicts When Both Sides Are Right
One of the most helpful insights I have gained in recent years for understanding the leadership culture of congregational life is the concept of managing polarities. Polarities are ongoing, chronic issues that are...
Cornel West Calls Obama ‘Republican in Blackface’
An African-American seminary professor blasted President Obama for being an inauthentic African-American. Union Theological Seminary professor Cornel West accused Obama of being "a Rockefeller Republican in blackface."...
The Smallest Remind Us of Life’s Struggles
We were walking up the beach on the sand as the tide moved out toward the ocean. I was holding Zeke's hand, talking with him about sea things. "I didn't know jellyfish swam this close to the shore during the spring,"...
Mills, still …
I've always thought that old mills are about the most picturesque sights to be found, and when they still work, it's even better. We often forget, unless we get engrossed in a historical novel about early America, how...
What Impact Did Election Have on Religious Right?
Through the years this Sightings column has never commented on presidential campaigns, and the contest held this year is no exception. Today, self-liberated from the practice of opting-out, we can survey the comments...
Skype Interview: Jim Somerville on Bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to Richmond
"There are people who are willing to partner with us who would never join the church," says the pastor of one of America's historic congregations. That realization has been "one of the real discoveries" of a new...
Technology Transforming War into Video Game
In 1983, a few years before starring in the cult classic "Ferris Buehler's Day Off," Matthew Broderick portrayed a young computer hacker who broke into a national defense computer system in the movie "War Games."...
5 Ways Ministers Can Avoid a Healthy Life Balance
I'm in the middle of a writing project, staring the topic "Life Balance for Clergy" between the eyes. Just like a staring contest between kids, after concentrating and staring a few moments, I dissolve into laughter....
What Churches and Bowling Alleys Have in Common
I was buying my meal ticket for our Wednesday night supper at church when Mina Tatum asked me, "What was that you said in your sermon a few weeks ago? That only 17 percent of the American population is in church on any...
British Baptists Welcome New Archbishop of Canterbury
Baptists in Great Britain have welcomed the appointment of Rev. Justin Welby as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, citing his wisdom, mediation skills and commitment to mission. In a widely expected development, the...
Yes, I remember …
His name was Stanley Scott, and he made a difference. On the first day of first grade, I was scared. The old yellow school bus blew its horn as it came down the hill and rolled to a squeaking stop in front of my house....
McDonald’s Goes Vegetarian in India
Last month, McDonald's announced that it will be opening its first purely vegetarian restaurants in India. If you're headed to the Golden Temple in Amritsar or Vaishno Devi in Kashmir and decide you'd like to grab a...
Coptic and Anglican Leaders Chosen
Changes in political leadership were not the only leadership shifts occurring in the global community in November. Two new Christian leaders were chosen. A new Coptic Christian pope was chosen at St. Mark's Cathedral...
How Churches Can Help Our Nation Embrace Civility
Last week's election results are now clearer. The political extremes will likely be meaner. The political center will likely be thinner. The prospects for civility and the common good will likely be bleaker. The...
Well, well …
After a week in which news was constantly being made and I thought I'd croak if I heard one more announcer say "We have breaking news," I diverted my interest to some news that's both truly old and really...