MARION, Ala. (ABP) — Judson College is poised to receive a $9 million Christmas present. Proceeds from the estate of Marian Acree Tucker of Dadeville, Ala., will be the largest bequest ever given by an individual donor to the Baptist-affiliated…
Hybrid holiday ‘Chrismukkah’ shows tension in blended American families
DALLAS (ABP) — There's a new winter holiday on the rise, and it could be the perfect opportunity to enjoy Fa-La-La-La Latkes, Blitzen's Blintzes, and Christmas trees filled with “menorahments.” It's not Christmas. And it's not Hanukkah. It's both. And…
Colleen Burroughs, friends bring water to drought-stricken Malawi
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — When Colleen Burroughs heard a news report last year that a drought in Malawi threatened to kill 5 million people, the Birmingham resident, who was raised in Malawi by Baptist missionary parents, knew she had to…
Rosalynn Carter ordained as deacon by Baptist church Plains, Ga.
PLAINS, Ga. (ABP) — Former First Lady Rosalynn Smith Carter was ordained as a deacon Dec. 10 by Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga. Though raised a Methodist, Carter, 79, has been active in Baptist congregations since her marriage more…
Opinion: Christmas trees and menorahs: Sharing space or sharing a story?
I'm willing to bet that no one has a favorite holiday story about time spent in an airport. The main thought that we have involving airports is that we spend as little time as possible in them. Of course, if…
BCE, others urge Wal-Mart to practice Golden Rule
DALLAS (ABP) — Wal-Mart, the self-styled low-price leader, can't seem to get a break these days. While the giant retailer has recently come under attack from pro-gay groups for backpedaling on diversity initiatives, a group of Baptist pastors and leaders…
Avoid Christmas stress by getting organized, expert says
DALLAS (ABP) — 'Tis the season for anxiety attacks as to-do lists grow longer and days grow shorter. But families can reduce holiday stress by following a few simple organizing tips, author Marcia Ramsland says. “The holidays are as much…
New Jersey passes civil unions with same rights as marriage
TRENTON, N.J. (ABP) — On Dec. 14, New Jersey became the third state in the Union to offer gay residents legal protections similar to marriage. The New Jersey Assembly — the lower chamber of the state's legislature — passed a…
His ‘dream come true’ carries nativity to the big screen
Ironically, production of The Nativity Story took about as long as the period of time the movie portrays—from just before Christ's immaculate conception to just after his miraculous birth. That such a breakneck production schedule actually worked and the movie…
Theological opportunity?
Perhaps I'm an opportunist, but whenever things happen that are not likely to happen again, I try to take advantage. As, for example, in 1986 while spending a weekend with my family in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park when…
ANOTHER VIEW: Waiting with a purpose
When I was giving birth to our first child, one of the nurses asked my husband how he was doing, since he was just standing there, having nothing to do but watch me struggle through labor. My husband, who would…
Face toward Mount Gilead
On a recent Sunday morning, this columnist—like Jacob of old—arose, turned the ignition in his Pontiac van (well, that part was unlike Jacob) and set his face toward Mount Gilead. The Mount Gilead in this story is due west from…