Just a week before Christmas, Baptist disaster response teams from the Mid-Atlantic remain at work in New York and New Jersey, assisting residents still impacted by Hurricane Sandy’s landfall there on Oct. 29. In the past seven weeks, Virginia Baptist…
Is ‘The Hobbit’ a ‘Christian’ film? Yes and no.
(RNS) — Travel along, if you dare, with Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit — either in J.R.R.Tolkien’s beloved 1937 novel, or through the first installment of Peter Jackson’s film trilogy based on the book, which opened in theaters Dec. 14….
At Christmas, the babe in the manger isn’t always white
(RNS) — When Kip Banks’ family pulls out its nativity scene each Christmas, the African features of the baby Jesus provide lessons on both the Bible and self-esteem. Banks’ 8-year-old son, Kip Jr., has told his father that the Christ…
Is ‘The Hobbit’ a ‘Christian’ film? Yes and no.
(RNS) — Travel along, if you dare, with Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit — either in J.R.R.Tolkien’s beloved 1937 novel, or through the first installment of Peter Jackson’s film trilogy based on the book, which opened in theaters Dec. 14….
At Christmas, the babe in the manger isn’t always white
(RNS) — When Kip Banks’ family pulls out its nativity scene each Christmas, the African features of the baby Jesus provide lessons on both the Bible and self-esteem. Banks’ 8-year-old son, Kip Jr., has told his father that the Christ…
‘Baptist Standard’ goes digital-only
By Bob Allen Starting next year, Texas Baptists will receive their denominational newspaper in e-mail inboxes rather than postal mailboxes, as the Baptist Standard moves to digital-only format starting with the Jan. 14 issue. The move coincides with decisions by…
Christmas key time for Hospitality House
By Jeff Brumley It’s always tough visiting loved ones in prison. A spouse or parent can see incarceration taking its toll over the years while they continue to deal with the legal, financial, social and emotional impact of the crimes….
OPINION: How to put Christ back in Christmas
I’m sure this has happened to you this year at least once. There you are, full of Christmas cheer and, like all good Jesus followers have just won the fight for a prime space in a checkout line so you…
OPINION: Missing the forest for the trees
When I was little I hated getting in trouble. I really hated it. It wasn’t so much the possibility of punishment as it was the feeling of tension, knowing I was at odds with my parents or someone else. In…
EDITORIAL: Crèche evangelism?
The night before, Almighty God, creator of the universe, had stepped into actual human existence in that baby boy’s birth. Countless times we have taken our places as spectators in the sanitized stable soon after Jesus was born. The young…
Two Baptist churches recognized for contributions to affordable housing in Washington suburbs
ARLINGTON, Va. — Two Baptist congregations in Washington’s Northern Virginia suburbs have been recognized for their contributions to affordable-housing efforts in the region. The Church at Clarendon sits in the heart of one of metropolitan Washington’s most densely packed neighborhoods….
Solar project proposed at Ridgecrest
By Bob Allen A public hearing is scheduled Jan. 9 on a massive solar-energy project proposed on the grounds of Ridgecrest Conference Center, a retreat facility near Asheville, N.C., owned by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. New…