Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
No Margin for Error
Sermon delivered by Howard Batson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Amarillo, T.X., on September 13 2009. 1 John 5: 6-12. Traveling via the airlines has probably been never more difficult than it is today. All the...
Do-it-yourself religion
Americans' proclivity for do-it-yourself projects appears to be extending more and more into the religious arena, a tendency that has serious implications for the church. Parade Magazine recently reported on a survey...
SBC Leader Invokes Nazis in Health-Care Discussion
A top Southern Baptist official has accused President Barack Obama and congressional Democratic leaders of attempting to do "precisely what the Nazis did." Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's...
Can’t We Steal a Little Money to Pay for Health Care?
I have written a few columns recently suggesting that health-care reform is not only needed, but is also a moral imperative. It is a gross national sin for us to have the medical resources we have and then only provide...
Progressive Christian: Beyond Conservative and Liberal
Editor's note: This is the second part of a series in which Drew Smith, director of international programs at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Ark., examines what it means to be a progressive Christian. In my...
Baptist Senator Splits from Birthers, Criticizes Glenn Beck for Cynicism
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has again parted ways from the Republican right, the Birthers and conservative cable TV and radio hosts, something the leaders of his own Baptist denomination have not done. Asked last...
Without Insurance, Foot Injury Could Have Been Tragic
My son isn't one of the millions of Americans getting by without health insurance. In fact, he had medical insurance when he needed it. But because he is my son, I've spent no small amount of time wondering, "What if?"...
British Churches Call for Cuts to Nuclear Weapons
A "feeble and ineffective" measure. That's how Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Church leaders described Prime Minister Gordon Brown's recent announcement that Britain was prepared to consider cutting its fleet...
The number on the door is not all that’s changed
During Berry College's annual Mountain Day last Saturday, my former roommate Joe Purcell and I ran into each other in the student center. After catching up on family and checking out the fancy new Cage Center next...
Lessons From a Church Meeting
This sermon was prepared by Wendell Griffen, pastor of the NewMillenniumChurch in Little Rock, Ark., on October 4, 2009. Acts 1: 12-26. When we read Acts, the fifth book in the New Testament, we learn about many firsts...
All vines and no potatoes
I spent most of this past Saturday morning digging sweet potatoes at the Covenant Community Garden in Fuquay-Varina. We raise organic crops in a nice plot behind Fuquay-Varina United Methodist Church. Gardeners share...
Responsible Corporations Split from U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Is the United States Chamber of Commerce good for the United States? Not necessarily. The Chamber of Commerce's agenda on climate change is antithetical to the public good. At least, that's what more and more...
Sound of Silence: Can We Truly Escape Technology?
One of my ministerial friends is on a "silent retreat." At face value, it sounds pretty attractive, with no looming distractions, no interruptions and no pressing deadlines. The needed rest it promises is particularly...
Question Marked: What Did Jesus Mean by “Don’t Defraud”?
I'm involved in a dispute with a long-time friend and former teacher about the interpretation of a passage in Mark. It's the one about a person coming to Jesus with the question of what must be done to inherit eternal...
Not all routines are ruts
Variety may be the spice of life, but routines can add a little flavor too. My morning routine is to open my Mac at the Panera Bread Company in Macon, Ga., or whatever city I happen to be in at the time.Hazelnut coffee...
Baptists Respond to Asia and Pacific Disasters
Washington, DC (BWA) --Baptist World Aid (BWAid), the relief and development arm of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), is coordinating relief efforts to the Philippines and Indonesia after these countries were badly...
Smoke what you’re selling
Brian McLaren delivered the Reavis lectures at Campbell University Divinity School this week, and he said lots of good things that were well worth hearing and ruminating upon. I may do a little of that in this space...
CBS Reporter Gives a Christian Witness
A Christian testimony was unexpectedly heard on Monday afternoon at CBS News headquarters in New York City. That I had not anticipated hearing such a witness discloses more about my expectations of national TV...
Ambitious Senate Climate Change Bill Introduced
On Sept. 30, two U.S. senators, Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.), introduced ambitious legislation designed to reduce carbon emissions and stop global warming. With many moderate Democrats offering...
Do We Guard Our Privileges or Share Our Blessings?
Everyone wants to be special. Everyone. Some people think they are special. Especially Baptists in America. Every Sunday in every church across our land, Baptists can be heard thanking God for blessing them with the...
‘Brother Jimmy’ turns 85 today
President Carter, born Oct. 1, 1924, celebrates his 85th birthday today. Congratulations to the best known Sunday school teacher in the world.A decade ago I attended his 75th birthday party, the first event held in the...