Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Transit Worker Fired for Burning Quran Sues State
TRENTON, N.J. (RNS) On the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, Derek Fenton stole headlines by burning pages from the Quran in lower Manhattan to protest a planned Islamic community center there. Two days...
Muslim Advocacy Group Sues over Okla. Shariah Ban
(RNS) A Muslim advocacy group filed suit Thursday (Nov. 4) in Oklahoma, saying a just-passed amendment forbidding judicial use of Islamic law is unconstitutional. The suit, filed by the Oklahoma chapter of the Council...
Openly Gay N.H. Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson to Retire in 2013
(RNS) Openly gay Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson, whose 2003 election caused a major schism within the Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion, announced on Saturday (Nov. 6) that he will retire in...
Violence’s Toll on Christians in Iraq, Middle East
The tragedy in Baghdad, resulting in the loss of so many innocent lives, has focused attention once more on the plight of the Christian population of Iraq in particular, and of the Middle East in general. Once...
It’s Time for Obama to Use Bully Pulpit
The Nov. 2 midterm election results exposed a weakness in President Obama's administration that hasn't been mentioned in the post-election commentary. Conservative (Republicans and Tea Party types) say the election...
Reagan’s Budget Director Wants Bush Tax Cuts to Expire, Critiques Tax-Cut Religion
With every Republican Party leader preaching a religion of tax cuts, one Republican sounds like John the Baptist in the wilderness, a lone voice with a counter message, a disruptive note, a word of truth. That...
Wearing God Out
A sermon delivered by David Hughes, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, Nc., on October 17, 2010. Luke 18:1-8 Have you ever wondered what prayer is like from God’s point of view? Actually, that very question...
The Word
A sermon delivered by David Hughes, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, Nc., on October 10, 2010. 2 Timothy 2:8-15 You could hardly blame the opponents of early Christianity—especially the Romans—for being...
Act Naturally
“Do it again. And again.”My daughter Abigail and I were caught in a rain delay during the Braves-Marlins game at Turner Field today. Yes, today. Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010.
We were “extras,” seated seven rows behind actors Ryan Reynolds and Olivia Wilde in section 113 behind the first-base dugout. Universal Pictures was filming an upcoming movie titled “The Change-Up.”
Along with the stars, we were directed to cheer for the hometown Braves without showing anticipation of the “rain” that would be dropped on this cold sunny afternoon. On the first take, we rushed for cover a little too quickly, the director said.
So we were directed back to our wet seats — while Ryan and Olivia were given dry shirts and touch-ups from the makeup artist.
Peculiar Treasures
A sermon delivered by Keith Herron, Pastor, Holmeswood Baptist Church, Kansas City, Mo., on October 31, 2010. Luke 19:1-10 One of the oldest villages on the planet is Jericho and if those old walls could talk … if...
Telling the Story
A sermon delivered by Howard Batson, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Amarillo, Tx., on October 24, 2010. John 9 What is it that keeps you from telling the story? I guess we’ve just shown you how NOT to do it. Just...
Persecution, and prayer
The stars seemed brighter than usual this morning as I ventured out with the dog and Samuel mosied down to the bus stop. The cold clouds of the past two days had blown away, leaving open skies speckled with brilliance....
Forbes Names Pope World’s Fifth Most Powerful Figure
(RNS) Pope Benedict XVI won the No. 5 spot in a list of the world’s most powerful people, one of only two religious leaders in Forbes magazine’s list of 68 influential men and women. Benedict was sandwiched between...
Israel to Allow Civil Marriages
JERUSALEM (RNS) For the first time in its 62-year history, Israel will soon allow a limited number of couples to marry in civil ceremonies. The Civil Union Law, which received final parliamentary approval this week,...
Faith Groups Press Geithner on Foreclosures
WASHINGTON (RNS) A national network of faith-based organizations, homeowners and community organizers met with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Wednesday (Nov. 3), urging him to tackle problems with fraudulent...
What Might Jeremiah Say to Midterm Elections?
Jeremiah probably should be our patron prophet these days. His 45-year career as a spokesman for God is the longest of our biblical prophets, and the circumstances of his service reflect striking parallels to our time....
Blessed Are The Poor? Jesus Can’t Be Serious
It is not my usual practice to take issue with something Jesus said, but I have struggled for years to understand what he meant with "Blessed are the poor." I did not grow up poor, but it was always just one missed...
“Conviction”
"Conviction" is a movie about a brother and sister. Betty Anne (Hilary Swank) is always standing up for her wayward brother, Kenny (Sam Rockwell), who is always getting in scraps with the law. But when a murder happens...
Reversal
A sermon delivered by Rand Hyde, Pastor, Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ark., on October 31, 2010. Psalm 149:1-9; Luke 6:20-31 Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? The reading...
A two-way street
Forgiveness is a two-way street. The Lord’s Prayer says so: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” A recent survey shows that most Americans have a deep desire to live in a climate of forgiveness. The...
Supreme Court Wrestles over Religious Scholarship Program
WASHINGTON (RNS) Is a state law that allows tax credits for donations to scholarship programs unconstitutional if most of the recipients attend religious schools? That’s the question the U.S. Supreme Court wrestled...