Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Never Too Late to Be Baptized
Picture this: Three men, of an age indicating wisdom. One, in a hot pink shirt and dark glasses, is driving a three-wheeled cart. A golfing trio enjoying a Sunday morning on the greens? Not at all. In fact, two of the...
Howard Finster, Man of Visions
"I was a farmer," Howard said to a friend. "I could plow, cultivate, plant, gather, and preserve; all it took to be a farmer. But I finally quit." It wasn't the last thing that Howard Finster quit on his journey from...
Drama Stages a Comeback in Evangelical Churches
In an age of sound bytes, DVDs and laser shows, churches are rediscovering the ancient art of drama as a new, exciting element of worship. "There is a strong movement towards drama among evangelical and Black churches....
Why Teddy Roosevelt Went to Church
Some people attend church regularly. Some attend church sparingly. Some do not attend church at all. As a minister, I have observed a variety of motives that lead individuals into active church participation. What are...
Hard Lessons about Church Authority
The Roman Catholic Church has had to face up to decades of denial and wrongdoing in recent weeks—something churches don't do very well. Amid the dambreak of accusations concerning the sexual abuse of children by...
Dramatic Changes Can Transform Congregations
People--even people in churches--are talking about change these days. Congregations change every time a sermon is preached and a lesson is taught, but the changes discussed today run much deeper. They challenge...
Philip Morris’ New Name Brings Criticism, Ridicule
Philip Morris Companies Inc.—parent to Philip Morris USA, Philip Morris International, Miller Brewing and Kraft Foods—announced in November 2001 that it would ask stockholders to approve a name change for the parent...
The Limits of Mother’s Day
In the Christian South, Mother's Day has come to occupy a semi-sacred status. In fact, many churches will use their worship services this Sunday not only to honor mothers, but also celebrate and promote a vision of the...
Hughes Provides Surprising Example of Mother’s Love
Hooray for Karen Hughes. This Mother's Day, she gets my vote for Mother of the Year. (Of course, I'd normally vote enthusiastically for Joanna Knox, mother of our daughters, Lindsay and Molly. But this year I'm setting...
“Spider-Man”
The story goes that when Stan Lee wanted to produce the Spider-Man comic, the powers that be at Marvel Comics did not find a geeky teenager with superpowers enticing. Yet Lee, along with co-creator and artist Steve...
More Churches Screen Ministers, Overlook Volunteers
Most U.S. churches require backgrounds checks on clergy, but few screen volunteers. Seventy-two percent of churches require written applications from prospective staffers, and 26 percent of churches screen volunteers,...
Sin Is a Big Word
"Sin" is a big word, much bigger than most of our small notions about it. Sin has been described as "giving in to temptation," "missing the mark" and "trespassing against God or other human beings." The Bible has a lot...
Considering Kids Who Are Homeless
About 10 years ago, my then-four-year-old daughter voiced an unusual bedtime prayer. With the kind of sincerity heard only in a young child, she asked God to "let the poor have everything we have." This prayer caught...
Facing the ‘Power People’ with Courage, Skill and Prayer
All kinds of churches have "power people"—members who, by many accounts, prevent the church from moving forward. The power people are often deacons and their families. They might be long-time church members, even...
No Easy Solution to Protecting Kids from Internet Porn
Parents hoping for an easy solution to protecting their children from Internet pornography won't find it, according to a recent report by the National Research Council. Perhaps the most comprehensive study to date,...
Pastor Shortage Showing Up in Small Churches
There's no shortage of students entering seminaries, but denominational leaders are scratching their heads and asking why there's a growing shortage of pastors. In 2000, the total enrollment in 225 seminaries...
The View from the Sidelines
In The Wounded Healer, Henri Nouwen recalls a striking incident from several years ago. He was serving as chaplain on a Dutch cruise ship making its way to Rotterdam. They were in a thick fog. Everyone was edgy and...
Protestants, Catholics Favor Israel
As fighting continues between the Israelis and Palestinians, a new Gallup poll reveals which side Roman Catholics and Protestants favor. The poll revealed that Protestants were slightly more likely than Catholics to...
In Tribute: Eulogies of Famous People
Some are long, and some are short. Some are deeply theological; others scarcely mention the name of God. They are the final words of tribute spoken about people upon their death—the eulogies of the famous and beloved....
Outdoor Air Pollution: Getting Ready for Summer Smog
Smog season is upon us, with higher levels of ozone (smog) occurring from May through September. More than one in three Americans live in areas with unhealthy outdoor air, and in many areas it is getting worse,...
The War on Terrorism and the Terror of God
Lee Griffith, a well-established social activist and author, provides a timely service to the Christian community with The War on Terrorism and the Terror of God. He presents a clear and thorough call to a consistent...