First, a disclaimer: I’ve never experienced life as an “old” person. Like many of my fellow young Americans, I do not ponder what life will be like at 80. Though firsthand experience of old age escapes me, startling statistics around…
Our rhetorical Civil War
“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies.” —Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural Address, 1861 So it was then, March, 4, 1861, that Lincoln uttered these words to a struggling, soon-to-be-divided United States. We hear these words 151…
Loch Ness Found in Classrooms
Seeing isn’t believing; believing is seeing—at least when it comes to the Loch Ness Monster. As it turns out, students in private Christian schools across Louisiana use textbooks that claim the monster was a dinosaur that existed at the same…
Welcome the moneychangers?
Although Jesus did through the moneychangers from the Temple, perhaps we would be well served to welcome them back. With summer nearly, officially, underway not only have beautiful flowers, graduations, and Romney/Obama attack advertisements arrived, but a so too has…
Walking spoils of war
Veterans Affairs needs an overhaul, and churches can lead the way in veteran care reform—only if they work together. I’ve wondered how the church would respond to wounded veterans’ needs. In communities across the country veterans return attempting to fight…
What will churches do about wounded vets?
By Zachary Bailes On Monday, it was announced that The Huffington Postwon the coveted Pulitzer Prize for national reporting. Beginning on Oct. 10, 2011, they ran a 10-part series titled “Beyond the Battlefield.” The series was an exploration of the…
‘Stand your ground’ a national ethic?
By Zachary Bailes Throughout Easter weekend I kept thinking about Good Friday. In the wake of Trayvon Martin’s death, I wondered if the fear that put Jesus in the tomb was similar to the fear portrayed by “Stand Your Ground” today….
Trayvon and Troy
By Zachary Bailes In the past week people gathered to hold vigils, protests and to speak out for the one who can no longer speak: Trayvon Martin. We find ourselves caught in a whirlwind of understandable fury and anger over…
It’s better to debate than downsize
By Zachary Bailes Southern Seminary President Albert Mohler predicts the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will split over the issue of homosexuality. Meanwhile, Kentucky Baptist Convention Executive Director Paul Chitwood announced incentives for employees to take early retirement or resign voluntarily as…
What’s ailing Rick Santorum
By Zachary Bailes Doctors are on stand-by for Rick Santorum, the Republican front-runner. They are trying to understand how the First Amendment could induce vomiting. The cause for concern stems from his appearance on ABC’s This Week where he discussed…
A letter to Franklin Graham
By Zachary Bailes Dear Franklin Graham: Your father once remarked, “Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion; it is like a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.” Your Tuesday Morning Joe…
Contraception and the rosary
By Zachary Bailes The Obama administration recently initiated a directive requiring religious institutions to offer coverage for contraception in their health-care plans. Among those raising concerns is the Catholic Church. Contraception and Catholic theology aren’t compatible it seems, and in…