Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
The Audacity of Hope
Something of an awakening occurred among many of the faithful. It's almost as if scales fell from their eyes and they saw that they were not really being represented by conservative politicians so much as they were...
African-American Baptists Reflect on Obama’s Historic Victory
In light of Barack Obama's victory in Tuesday's presidential election, many people are considering what his election might mean for race relations in America. Reflections from several African-American Baptist ministers...
Praising Eeahooah?
It's tempting to talk about election results this morning, but candidates on every side have decried "pundits" to such an extent that I'd just as soon not act like one and add to their consternation. On the subject of...
Baptist Democrats Face Mixed Election Results (Updated)
Two Baptist Democrats faced mixed results yesterday in congressional races for seats that have been long held by Republicans. Democrat Larry Kissell defeated Congressman Robin Hayes for North Carolina's eighth...
Failed Leaders Ignore the People
Transitions in power are much like passing a baton in a relay race. The relay teams that win are often not the swiftest but the ones who have learned to negotiate and properly execute the exchange. It requires...
Theological Realism Is Needed about President Obama
President-elect Barack Obama is neither the messiah, nor the antichrist. He is first and foremost a politician, whose adoring adherents deny his feet of clay and demonizing opponents refuse to respect him. Hopes are...
Polling the polling place
Equipped with comfortable shoes and a large cup of hazelnut coffee, I arrived at my designated polling place, Northside Christian Church in Macon, Ga., at 6:38 AM. A quick count showed 64 persons ahead of me — or, as a...
Jesus Calls Us to Pray for Bread for Today and the Coming Day
Jesus will break bread in the eschatological banquet and share with those oppressed by the social structures of the world. First, we need to understand that bread was a staple of the first-century diet, and calling on...
‘Hit a Jew Day’ Isn’t New
I recently learned of a new Jewish holiday about which I knew absolutely nothing. It's called "Hit a Jew Day." According to an Oct. 24 story in USA TODAY, a few students at a suburban St. Louis middle school created...
New Board Game Focuses on Thanksgiving
Americans should give thanks, even amid economic hardship. That's the message ”and opportunity ”of a new board game. Simply called The Thanksgiving Game, the "game's mission is to help people focus on what's really...
Is the sky falling?
On Saturday morning I received an "urgent" e-mail from a conservative Christian activist who quoted a recent letter from Don Wildmon of the American Family Association, claiming full agreement with the most horrid...
You Say It Yahweh
Should Christians avoid pronouncing the name "Yahweh" out of deference to the Jews, as the Vatican has declared? It's a good thing Rev. Dunn is Baptist, because if he were Roman Catholic he would no longer be allowed...
Is Obama a Christian?
Sen. Barack Obama is not a Christian, according to the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission, an organization that claims advocacy for Christian religious liberty and opposition to anti-Christian bigotry. "By any...
Dole Campaign Ad Targets ‘Godless’ Opponent (Updated)
Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) ran an advertisement last week accusing her challenger of being in league with "godless Americans." The 30-second ad provoked a lawsuit, counter-ads and now a new ad from Dole, which...
Can I pull for the Dodgers?
As an Atlanta Braves fan through thick and thin, pulling against the Los Angeles Dodgers was almost as much fun as pulling for my home team. Former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, one of the sport's greatest...
You say it Yahweh …
One of my favorite all-time comic strip images is an old Kudzu cartoon in which the Rev. Will B. Dunn discusses different names for God, and concludes by saying "You say it Yahweh, I'll say it mine."It's a good thing...
Azerbaijan Pastor to Be Tried Today
Washington, D.C. (BWA) -- Hamid Shabanov, a Baptist pastor in Azerbaijan who was arrested on June 20, faces trial today. He is charged for the illegal possession of a weapon. Shabanov is the second Baptist pastor in...
‘Know: The Cross’
It is the symbol of our faith. There are others to be sure, but there is no one symbol that captures it all, reminds us of it all, or that says it all like the cross. In the sanctuary of First Baptist Church, there is...
Mo. Baptist Climate Resolution Attacks Global Warming
Messengers at the 2008 annual meeting of the Missouri Baptist Convention adopted a resolution on "environmental stewardship." However, the resolution barely promoted environmental stewardship but instead mainly...
Revisit the Mother of the Sons of Zebedee
My story begins with the Synoptic Problem. I hope you'll keep reading anyway. As most of you will know, there are four gospels in the New Testament. The Fourth Gospel, the one according to John, is so obviously...
Conflicted lives
Appointments in Richmond and Charlottesville, Va., gave the opportunity to visit Thomas Jefferson's beautiful home place, Monticello, yesterday morning. The crisp air, changing leaves and sense of historical importance...