Hats off to a courageous church

I would like to publicly congratulate Flat Rock Baptist Church of Mt. Airy, North Carolina for its courage in following God’s leading, even at the cost of being spurned by kindred congregations. And I would like to congratulate a group of pastors and messengers...

Finding Beauty When We Look Beyond the Surface

Probably nothing evokes our area of the country more than a magnolia blossom. Although the trees themselves are impressive with their shape, height and waxed leaves, when the blooms emerge, they almost speak, saying “Deep South.” These trees and their...

Listen Up: Why Your Pastor’s Sermons Don’t Help

I was surprised and perplexed as I examined my curious, contradictory behavior. My wife and I go each summer for a week to the ChautauquaInstitution in western New York state, where we hear outstanding ministers from a variety of pulpits. I always take a notepad to...