Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Battle of the Bulge Going Global
Americans aren't the only ones battling the bulge nowadays. Obesity has become a worldwide problem, spreading to nearly every corner of the globe. In Germany, every third child under age 12 and every fifth teenager are...
Group Promotes, Celebrates International Forgiveness Day
A California-based group believes the healing power of forgiveness can transform societies for the better, and to that end it is promoting the first Sunday in August as "International Forgiveness Day." The Worldwide...
Difficulty of Forgiveness Prompts Approaches, Strategies
Even chimpanzees hold grudges, scientists say. Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory University are trying to determine just how long it takes for a chimp to chuck hard feelings and move...
“Seabiscuit”
It has been a long time since I have seen a film audience burst into applause, yet this happened not once but twice in my screening of "Seabiscuit." "Seabiscuit" is based on the true story of a racehorse that became...
“The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”
If the original "X-Men" film had not been so successful, "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" would have never been made. This loud film is much more a showcase of special effects than an attempt to give the...
Back-To-School Spending Expected to Rise
Before kids head back to school, consumers are heading to stores, and retailers are hoping that increased spending this year signals a recovering economy. The National Retail Federation says spending for the...
Run the Race, Preach the Gospel
"Thou shalt not use running illustrations in thy sermons." This commandment is non-negotiable in my sermon preparation. I know that Isaiah 40 offers wonderful words of encouragement that "those who wait for the Lord …...
Meet the Metrosexual
Macho is out, and the well-dressed, wine-savvy, salon-visiting, body-conscious, gourmet cook is in. This brave new breed of men, who are in touch with their feminine side while decidedly straight, represents a growing...
The Freedom of the Pulpit
It isn't in any of our Baptist confessions. No doubt Tony Campolo in recent weeks has wished that it were. But the freedom of the pulpit, we say, remains one of our most cherished Baptist traditions. Campolo was...
“Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life”
Rarely is a sequel better than its predecessor, but "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" is much better than "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" because it actually went back to the source material: Indiana Jones. More...
Happiness Is . . .
While researchers have for years studied what makes people sad, only recently have they begun the scientific study of happiness. Already they claim to know what makes people happy. Their findings debunk the...
A Personal Note from BCE’s Executive Director
Twelve years ago next week, I began the riskiest and most rewarding journey of my vocational life. I resigned a paying position to start an organization with virtually no funds among a conflicted people who felt...
Baptist Leader Asks Bush to Send Troops to Liberia
Baptist leaders are calling on the United States to immediately send military forces to Liberia to protect lives of innocent people caught in a civil war. "It is incumbent on the U.S.A. to support the peace-loving...
Kids’ Well-Being Improving, Study Says, But Child Obesity a Concern
The well-being of American children is improving in many areas, according to a recent report. Infant and childhood death rates are down. There are fewer young people smoking and fewer children exposed to second-hand...
Why I Can’t Be Vegetarian
Females are 100 percent more likely than males to be vegetarians. That is the result of an unscientific survey of the Lofgren Rosell household in Kansas City. Three female family members—a wife and two teenage...
“Lara Croft: Tomb Raider”
With "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" opening July 25, some viewers will likely want to check out the original on VHS or DVD. But be forewarned: The original is a shard of common pottery, whereas the sequel...
Sacred Stories of Ordinary Families
In today's world where families face many uncertainties, what better resource is there for understanding and dealing with challenges than the stories of other families who have had similar experiences? Families with a...
Retailers, Renters Play Movie Ratings Game for Home Market
Media consumption by minors is a hot topic. It gets even hotter when sex and violence come up. Most of the attention regarding consumption of media sex and violence by minors has focused on three areas: song lyrics,...
Oprah Tops List of Pop Culture Icons
Who's the all-time greatest icon in popular culture? Oprah Winfrey, according to VH1. The cable channel is counting down the top 200 popular culture icons this week, and the talk-show host bested superhero Superman to...
Is There a Prayer You Can Offer For Me?
"Is there a prayer you can offer for me?" Her question culminated our one-hour conversation and would not have been extraordinary except for the fact that she is a Muslim and I am a Christian. "I don't know whether it...
Stakes High for Young Gamblers, Experts Say
Gambling among America's youth is on the rise, and experts say the long-term stakes are high since young gamblers are the most likely to develop addiction problems. While the games are typically small-time—underage...