Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Parents Troubled by Effects of Alcohol Advertising on Youth
Two-thirds of parents think seeing and hearing alcohol advertising makes it more likely that teenagers will drink, and nearly three-fourths say alcohol companies aren't doing enough to limit exposure of their ads to...
Magician Will Play Russian Roulette on Live Television
British magician Derren Brown will play "Russian roulette" live on Britain's Channel 4 Oct. 26. Members of the public have the chance to be the person who loads the revolver by filling out a form at the Channel 4 Web...
Will Baptists Support Their Tax-Reform Initiative?
For the record, Alabama Baptists were calling for tax reform before Bob Riley was elected governor. At their annual meeting in November 2000, messengers to the convention approved Resolution No. 5, "On Resources for...
Christian Coalition Divided Over Alabama Tax Reform
In a surprise move, the Christian Coalition of America has come out in support of Alabama Gov. Bob Riley's plan to restructure the state's taxes, breaking ranks with the religious-right organization's state chapter,...
A Work Ethic That Works
Can you recall the jobs or professions of the following television characters from the past? --Jim Anderson, "Father Knows Best" --Mike Brady, "The Brady Bunch" --Archie Bunker, "All in the Family" --Tom Bradford,...
What Didn’t Make the Headlines
News reports about the most recent meeting of the Baptist World Alliance General Council focused on a 75-28 vote to accept the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship into membership. But much more went on that didn't make...
U.S. Prison Populations Rise
Even though the crime rate is down, prison populations grew 2.6 percent last year, according to the most recent Bureau of Justice statistics. More than 2.1 million persons were incarcerated in federal, state or local...
A Traditional Baptist Church
It is a typical and familiar story, yet still painful to hear. A church is engulfed in a fundamentalist purge. Those wishing to "purify" the church cry liberalism. Members are accused of not believing in the Bible and...
Tisha B’Av: A Holiday of Exile
"Who knows why tomorrow is significant for Jews?" The teacher of our Jewish and Christian study group answered his own question. "It's Tisha B'Av, the ninth day of the month Av." This year Tisha B'Av falls on Aug. 7;...
TV Ratings Guide Parents on Age-Appropriate Programming
As parents became more concerned about the content of rapidly multiplying TV shows, they demanded help from the TV industry to monitor that content. As part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Congress asked the TV...
‘Seabiscuit’ Packs a Gospel Message
The "Gospel According to Seabiscuit" is playing to enthusiastic crowds. Laura Hillenbrand's best-seller, Seabiscuit: An American Legend, has my parents' seal of approval—a seldom-awarded honor for a book given to them...
Should Christians Seek to Convert Muslims?
Lawyers and doctors, detectives and journalists are some of the professionals whose success hinges upon the proper use of questions. Knowing what to ask (and when and how) is often the difference between winning and...
Graying Job Seekers Try Not to Look Their Age
Faced with a tough job market and concerns about age discrimination, some older job seekers are attempting to hide their age from prospective employers. Everything from omitting dates from one's resume to coloring...
Baptist Ways: A History
Bill Leonard's new book Baptist Ways has generated anticipatory excitement for several years. Its genesis, in part, was in a decision by the Board of the American Baptist Historical Society for a new volume to continue...
Alcohol: A Prescription for Health?
I am often asked what to make of the widely reported health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. Many new branches of research have increasingly lifted these health advantages above the statistical noise of...
Banks Catering to Hispanics
With Hispanics now ranked as the largest minority group in the United States, banks around the country are working hard to cater to this increasingly affluent market. Merrill Lynch, Citibank, Bank of America and others...
Executive Director Seeks Support to Expand BCE’s Footprint for Common Good
Roughly a week after Sept. 11, 2001, a New York Times reporter told me that the United States' military campaign against Muslim terrorists had the preliminary code name "Infinite Justice." He asked me what I thought...
1-in-5 Workers Lost Jobs in Recession, Study Says
Nearly one in five Americans, or 18 percent, was laid off during the 2000-2003 recession, according to a new study. And not only are workers losing their jobs, but their employers are not providing them with adequate...
Nip It in the Bud!
Barney Fife, a beloved but exasperating character on the old "The Andy Griffith Show," was often as full of himself as he was with half-baked ideas. But he was well-intentioned, and at least occasionally he offered...
WWJDrive Tour Confirms That Message is Sound
My wife and I recently completed an 11-city, eight-state "What Would Jesus Drive?" tour of the Bible Belt that began at the First Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, and ended at Riverside Baptist Church in Washington,...
Cry Me A River
I'm a parent. I struggle. Is it just me—or do those two statements naturally go together? While wanting to respect my children's privacy, I tend to reveal my struggles. That is especially true with an adolescent...