Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Shifting Course, St. Paul’s Orders Protesters Out
LONDON (RNS) More than a week after welcoming anti-corporate protesters onto its grounds, London’s historic St. Paul’s Cathedral now wants them to go away because their presence is costing too much money. Asking the...
Muslim Mortgages in Limbo After Bank Collapse
TORONTO (RNS) The collapse of a lender that offered Shariah-compliant mortgages has left Muslim homeowners in the Toronto area with many questions and so far, few answers. Founded in 2004, Toronto’s UM Financial...
How Dying Churches Can Turn Things Around
I've been pastoring traditional, Baptist churches for four years. I've worked in them for six. In these years I've heard the cries of God's people. I've listened to their stories, and a lot of these stories are similar...
How Can You Be Kinder? Here Are 30 Ways
In this time of so much turmoil and uncertainty, most people aren't losing their minds, killing strangers or giving up. Instead, they are hunkered down, pulling together, depending on one another and finding their own...
Grant to Open Access to British Baptist Documents
Following the award of a substantial grant, the treasures of Baptist history in Great Britain are set to reach a wider audience. Regent's Park College in Oxford has successfully applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund...
Just say no — but not to everything
By John Pierce Naysayers seem to be evenly distributed. You can find at least one in about every organization (especially churches) and community. They like to speak first and often — as well as work behind the...
All under one roof
I'm not much of a shopper, especially as a destination experience, but I finally got around to visiting an IKEA store. I've heard people talk about IKEA as if the stores had pearly gates and golden streets. I've known...
Church Wrestles with Growth of Wisconsin Shrine to Mary
CHAMPION, Wis. (RNS) Philip and Barbara Hesselbein came to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help to pray for a grandson who has an inoperable brain tumor. Darlene Searcy prayed for her family and for herself; she has...
Vatican Hails End of Gadhafi Regime
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Vatican called the death of Libya’s longtime leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi the end of a “harsh and oppressive regime,” and pledged to work with the country’s new government. Gadhafi, 69, was shot...
D.C. Pastor to Lead Democrats’ Faith Outreach
WASHINGTON (RNS) As President Obama gears up his re-election campaign, the Democratic National Committee has tapped a well-connected Washington pastor to lead the party’s religious outreach. The Rev. Derrick Harkins...
Remaining Silent in the Face of Injustice
While I love reading the biblical prophets, preaching from them is a difficult, daunting task. I imagine many of us who are engaged in regular preaching often avoid the prophetic texts when they appear in the...
Is Your Workplace Toxic? How You Can Solve It
By all reports, the workplace is at its most toxic level. Bullying, disrespect and hostility are rampant. The protracted economic meltdown has only served to make matters worse. The result is an unhealthy environment...
Occupy Wall Street Raises Questions about Why Christians Occupy Church Pews
Jesus showed up at the demonstration of the Occupy London Stock Exchange on Oct. 15. At least, a demonstrator was dressed as Jesus, according to an Associated Press photograph. Occupy London Stock Exchange is a spinoff...
Revolution
Moammar Gadhafi is dead and another revolution is over -- or is it? The trouble with overturning a government is figuring out what to do next and getting it done before another uprising begins. I know this firsthand....
What Would Jesus Laugh At? Quite a Bit, Says Colbert’s Chaplain
WASHINGTON (RNS) Three priests—a Dominican, a Franciscan and a Jesuit—walk into a bar. According to the Rev. James Martin, it’s not only the opening to a good joke, but quite possibly the saving grace of religion....
Taking Time to Befriend People on Life’s Run
It has been odd but good: over the last month or so, when I have been jogging through town, people have spontaneously decided to join me. I'm still not sure why. Maybe it's because I was moving so slowly and they liked...
Some Baptists Are Eroding Religious Freedom
Jon Meacham, the esteemed Newsweek religion columnist, is right when he says that calling into question Mitt Romney's faith is "bad for all of us." Now, before anyone immediately starts to object that I need to keep my...
S.C. Undermines Immigrants’ Right to Feel Safe
Santos is a fifth-grader at my school. When he was in second grade, he was in my classroom for the first half of the school year. His parents are migrant workers, so when the spring, summer and fall work on South...
Render
A sermon delivered by Randy Hyde, Pastor, Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ark., on October 16, 2011 Psalm 96:1-9; Matthew 22:15-22 The timing of this familiar story from Matthew’s...
Raising Our Ebenezer
A sermon delivered by Michael Cheuk, Pastor, Farmville Baptist Church, Farmville, Va., on October 16, 2011. 175th Anniversary of the founding of Farmville Baptist 1 Samuel 7:7-13 Today, we celebrate the 175th...
The Love-Fruit Connection
A sermon delivered by Wendell Griffen, Pastor, New Millennium Church, Little Rock, Ark., on October 16, 2011. John 15:5-12 5I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit,...