When You’re “Caught Between Hope and Hell”

It is public knowledge now that one of my students, Rae’Jonn Higginbottom, was arrested by Clinton Police and the FBI in connection with bomb threats that were called in on Clinton High School in Clinton, Miss. Just an hour before he was arrested, Rae’Jonn...

Do You Rest on Former Endeavors or Live in Present?

When columns I have written are used on EthicsDaily.com, there is an identifying line or two at the bottom about who I am: a “former” board member of the Baptist Center for Ethics and a “former” moderator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship...

Afterword … Israel2013 Travelblog10

A few days after our return from Israel and almost recovered from the hectic schedule and jet lag, I’ve had a little time to continue considering a question that Cameron Jorgenson, our tour’s co-leader (who teaches theology and ethics at Campbell...

How You Can Practice True Power of Forgiveness

Recently, the youth group at my church was looking at forgiveness. It is such a big issue for everyone: How can we find forgiveness for the things we feel guilt for? And how can we forgive others who have hurt us? One of the other leaders had just returned from South...

Balancing the Tension Between Pastor, Prophet Roles

A recent conversation with a young pastor friend turned, rather naturally, to the delicate and difficult balance of the pastoral and the prophetic dimensions of congregational ministry. Everyday needs and personal challenges in a faith family call for the deepest...