Old North dorm, built sometime in the 1890s, sat on a high point overlooking the scenic Ouachita River. As rumor had it, Old North probably would collapse once the termites stopped holding hands. If you didn’t know better, you’d be…
The spiritual discipline of losing
This is the 11th in a BNG series of articles on Christianity and democracy related to the celebration of America’s 250th birthday. The series has been curated by Carol McEntyre, senior minister at First Baptist Church of Greenville, S.C. One…
It’s time for churches to directly defy unjust immigration policies
During the lead-up to the Civil War, the Underground Railroad was formed. Many former enslaved individuals, abolitionists and faith communities helped people escape the South to freedom, often in Canada. Of course, this happened against the law created by the…
Between Isaac and Ishmael: An American family divided, hope unbroken
When Ethan was sitting across from me, I heard something soft in his face, something that does not match the weight he carries. His voice had the calm of a man who has known both love and loss and still…
How much is enough?
It happened before Sunday school, the way the most interesting conversations often do — not inside the carefully prepared lesson, but earlier, during chit chat, before anyone officially called the class to order. Someone mentioned Elon Musk had become, or…
How your church can respond when the love of your life dies
My wife, Bobbie, died of Alzheimer’s disease earlier this year. While I have been a pastor more than 45 years and have conducted more than 500 funerals, I was not prepared for the grief that overwhelmed me when she died….
Trump’s self-aggrandizement results in ‘Code Red’ environment
According to the U.S. Parks Service, 7,000 fireworks are typically used for pyrotechnics displays in our nation’s capital. For the MAGA-aligned “Freedom 250” Independence Day celebration, Trump insisted on 850,000 fireworks — 120 times the normal amount. Ahead of the…
What patriotism is not
The president has spread abroad a kind of patriotism that is foreign to this great nation. His actions have mimicked King George III of England, for whom patriotism was obedience. In the Declaration of Independence, we (mainly white males) claimed…
Remembering Robert Bryan Sloan
Robert B. Sloan was born and raised in West Texas — in don’t fence me in West Texas. Born in Coleman, raised in Abilene, he died in Houston, America’s fourth largest city on July 4, a fitting place and day…
This Fourth of July, will you get your hands in the dirt?
This Fourth of July, somewhere in America, a church will drag the American flag over to the altar and call it worship. A preacher will stand in a pulpit built for the gospel and preach nationalism instead, and no one…
Conscientious AI objectors: HR’s role in keeping workplaces human
In the aftermath of Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical letter Magifica Humanitas, human resource professionals are gearing up for a previously unexplored scenario — religious accommodations to avoid using artificial intelligence tools in the workplace. Pope Leo’s letter cautions humanity about the potential…
Before the fireworks, be careful what you drink
The Fourth of July was a big celebration during my childhood. My siblings and I proudly wore our new red, white and blue outfits while family and neighbors gathered for cookouts. Children ran around the park or lake until dark….