My child’s kindergarten teacher taught him a prayer, which his class recites before lunch. Do you think that is OK, or should I talk to her? If the public school teacher shares your religious beliefs, you might be tempted to…
SECOND OPINION: The source and cure for what ails us
For more than a decade I hosted a nationally syndicated talk show. I read five newspapers a day, 30 journals a month and a few books a week. All of that helped me learn to spot certain trends, and all…
Bebber’s ministry in D.C. challenges visiting churches to take ministry home
WASHINGTON — Many walk the streets of Washington, D.C., with no place to call home. And, for most, it’s something they never planned or a place they’d never thought they’d be. But life threw difficulties their way — a few…
Redeeming the time: Family fun and meaningful memories don’t demand a big bankroll
In tight economic times, families should recognize making memories doesn’t mean breaking the bank, family ministry experts agree. Dream vacations to Disney World can be meaningful memory-building times for families, but so can shared trips to a store or afternoon…
Offering given for churches in financial crisis
I have had the privilege of pastoring seven fine Virginia Baptist churches during the past 45 years. During these years of service I have developed a great appreciation for our Virginia Baptist mission work and a love for our Virginia…
CBFV of Virginia looks to future with new coordinator, 10 initiatives
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia’s future will be invigorated with the help of 10 initiatives, said the group’s new field coordinator during the CBFV General Assembly March 13-14. “This is a sketch of what we could look like in…
Natural selection not a rejection of God or faith
A friend at the Virginia Council of Churches shared with me the recent issue of the Religious Herald in which John Klink wrote, “We must be careful not to let ourselves be deceived by the lies of the theory of…
Having fun in Virginia at no cost — now that’s good!
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Virginia is for Lovers,” Virginia’s tourism department is sharing a list of free things to do on vacation. For more details click on www.Virginia.org. Activities include: Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail. Virginia has some…
FAITH DIGEST
Faith lowers stress, research suggests. Canadian researchers have discovered strong religious convictions can lower stress and enhance the performance of basic tasks. A team in Toronto put 28 students through tests measuring both levels of religious observance and stress caused…
Celebrate Baptists’ 400th anniversary with day trips across Virginia
European Baptists are throwing a huge party in July in Amsterdam to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the church founded by John Smyth and Thomas Helwys in 1609. If Amsterdam is not on your summer itinerary, there are places closer…
Jimmy Carter: Christians have duty to pursue peace in Holy Land
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Former President Jimmy Carter’s recent book, We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan that Will Work, reviews the contributions of past U.S. presidents toward peace in Israel and Palestine, and advances his hopes that…
State Dept. reveals predecessors’ designations of freedom violators
WASHINGTON (ABP) — More than two months after George W. Bush left the White House and Condoleezza Rice left the State Department, the agency has revealed its list of the world’s worst religious-freedom violators. The big news is that nothing…