It is always valuable to engage the other side. Especially when one finds the other side utterly bewildering. The other side I am trying to engage is American political conservatism. My guide today is Matthew Continetti, a brilliant conservative policy…
Skepticism holds seeds of hope: The SBC and clergy sex abuse
People speak of hope as if it is this delicate, ephemeral thing made of whispers and spider’s webs. It’s not. Hope has dirt on her face, blood on her knuckles, the grit of the cobblestones in her hair, and just…
Here’s what I’m learning in therapy
I’m not a person who lives with classic depression, but there have been several times in the last few years where I truly didn’t care whether I lived or died. The most recent episode lasted nearly two years. I chalked…
Letter to the Editor: I also stand with Brittney Griner and kneel for the Anthem
Letter to the Editor August 12, 2022 Dear Editor: I am voicing my agreement with Rodney Kennedy in speaking out to bring Brittney Griner home. She is an American. She has accomplished more than most in her WNBA career, bringing…
A thoughtful question at Bubba-Doo’s
Before I arrive at my favorite country store, I can know instinctively who I might see once I get there. All I’ve got to do is glance at my watch. Based on what time it is, I’ll have a decent…
In applauding Victor Orban, U.S. conservatives call their shot
Conservatives in the United States have called their shot. According to baseball lore, Babe Ruth, in game three of the 1932 World Series at Wrigley Field, pointed his bat at center field. He then hit a homerun in that spot….
Christian nationalism is a danger to our nation
It is time to defend Christianity from Christian nationalists. This term distorts the message of Jesus and endangers one of the basic liberties provided to every American in the Bill of Rights. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) recently gave voice to…
Advice from a sunflower
In the early morning, I watch their golden faces from my kitchen window. Often, I whisper a prayer for those in Ukraine. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost six months. “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot…
What I learned at Wake Forest Baptist Church
I was saddened, but not surprised, at the announcement that the Wake Forest Baptist church, whose members met in Wait Chapel on the campus of Wake Forest University for 66 years, is dissolving. I am sad because I’m a graduate…
Why can’t we accept sexual and gender diversity in humans as well as in all creation?
This is the sixth in a series of articles on sexual diversity. If God’s handiwork has a trademark, surely it is diversity. “I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree” wrote Joyce Kilmer. There is…
I’ve been unaware of my privilege, and if you are a man, you probably have, too
In this time of increased, and justified, attention to gender inequities, I have been thinking about my own life. It occurs to me that while I have supported women colleagues, female students and girls within my circle of family and…
Are left-wing radicals pushing Cracker Barrel to the edge of the slippery slope?
On Aug. 1, liberals won a huge victory in the culture war. Analysts at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store read studies that promised consumer attitudes about plant-based meats are becoming more affirming and posted: “Discover new meat frontiers. Experience the…