Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Georgia/Russia Conflict Divides Baptists in the Region
Armed military conflict between Russia and Georgia has spilled over into a war of words between the two nations' Baptists. Malkhaz Songulashvili, archbishop of the Evangelical Baptist Church of Georgia, has been...
Jesus Modeled What it Meant to Love Our Enemies
A few years ago, as I was teaching on Jesus' command to love our enemies, a very perceptive young man asked me, "How far should we go to love our enemies?" Not only was this a thought-provoking question, it was one I...
Dellanna O’Brien led WMU in tough times
Dellanna O’Brien, who led WMU in tough times, died Sept. 7By John PierceFRISCO, Texas — Dellanna West O’Brien died September 7 at a Dallas hospital. She was executive director of the national Woman’s Missionary Union...
Too much information
Every now and then, when someone starts describing their latest marital spat or gastrointestinal illness in more detail than others want to hear, it's likely that someone might remark "T M I!"Too Much...
SBC Leader Promotes Demonization of Muslims
A Southern Baptist leader credited with rejecting the demonization of Islam has a track record of promoting and offering derogatory statements about Muslims. Although Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist...
Should We Apologize for Slavery?
The question came up on an American Airlines flight from Nashville to Dallas. I was reading the September-October issue of Sojourners, a liberal Christian magazine, and my seatmate was reading over my shoulder. We were...
Sarah and Southern Baptists: Part 2
In an earlier blog I described the dilemma in which Southern Baptists find themselves over the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as the Republican choice for vice president. I'll not rehash the case that can be read below....
Disaster relief update (NC)
As tropical storm Hanna approaches the North Carolina coast, N.C. Baptist Men (NCBM) director Richard Brunson reports that the organization's biggest feeding unit, called "Manna One," is set up and serving meals to...
Mus musculus domesticus
It should come as no surprise to learn that marine archaeologists studying the remains of a 3,500 year old shipwreck have discovered, embedded in the sediment, the jawbone of a mouse.The Bronze Age ship, which sank off...
Omitted Titles in New Baptist Hymnal Reflect Theological Shift (Corrected)
Songs sung in church are more than words and music. They are teaching tools and a record of a congregation's values and beliefs. A new hymnal, just released by LifeWay Christian Resources, aims to set those standards...
What I Learned and Heard From Two Days Among American Muslims
The annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America was more like an annual convention of Baptists than most Baptists would want to know: leaders wrapped the will of God around appeals for funds; scripture...
Weather Politics, Weather Theology
Sometime around the middle of August, James Dobson's Focus on the Family released a video urging Christians to pray for rain. Not rain to end the drought in the Southeast and other places, but rain to drown out a...
Sarah and Southern Baptist silence
Vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin stirred up a lot of noise last night. Yet this highly-talked-about story during this most unusual political season seems to be getting the silent treatment from most...
Our AC Addiction
These days you don't have to drive too long before you'll come across a hybrid car. High gasoline prices are finally having an effect. SUVs are out and hybrids, as well as other high mileage vehicles, are suddenly very...
Poll Says Most Parents Satisfied With Their Children’s Education
More than three-fourths of parents of school-aged youth say they are satisfied with their child's education, according to a new Gallup Poll. Gallup's annual Work and Education survey showed a perception gap between the...
SBC Leaders Nervous About Election
Southern Baptists on Sept. 24 are launching a 40-day Prayer Vigil for Spiritual Revival and National Renewal. The daily prayers will include requests for God's guidance in voting, for the election of more "godly"...
Squeezing lemons
It's fascinating to see how the Religious Right has latched onto Sarah Palin, John McCain's surprise choice as a vice-presidential running mate, as a heroine of their favored "family values."They needed a heroine,...
Labor Day Study Finds Growing Pay Gap Between U.S. CEOs, Workers
The CEOs of large American corporations made as much money in one day as the average worker earned over an entire year, according to an annual study timed for release around Labor Day. This year's "Executive Excess"...
Labor Day Study Finds Growing Pay Gap Between U.S. CEOs, Workers
The CEOs of large American corporations made as much money in one day as the average worker earned over an entire year, according to an annual study timed for release around Labor Day. This year's "Executive Excess"...
Ramadan, A Time For Change
Monday morning, Sept. 1, I left my hotel in Columbus, Ohio, before daybreak. The weekend at the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America had been eventful and full. Not really expecting there to be...
Minister-Led Chicago School Boycott Protests Funding Inequity
An Illinois state senator and Baptist minister organized a Tuesday boycott of Chicago public schools to protest inequities in state education funding. Hundreds of students skipped opening-day classes and attempted to...