The mandate of the Scriptures in James is clear, to care for the widow and the orphan. If this is the case, then why are we so slow to do so? Why are we living in a time where there…
Jack Brymer influenced a pivotal generation of Baptist news
Everybody deserves to have that one person in life who sees your true potential and is determined to bring it to fruition. I was fortunate to have such an encourager, who was my boss for five years, my friend for…
Observations on adult versus childish reactions to disappointment
During the 53 years since I graduated from Mississippi College, there have been occasional opportunities in my international work with others to apply some of the information I was taught in the 16 credit hours of classes from my psychology minor. Especially during…
The election’s good news and bad news, with a side of hope
First the good news: The fact that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris prevailed over Donald Trump and Mike Pence is obviously the most important thing that happened on Nov. 3. The removal of Donald Trump from the office that he…
On being a church with a mission or being a missional church
“Either we are defined by mission, or we reduce the scope of the gospel and the mandate of the church. Thus our challenge today is to move from church with mission to missional church.” The move from church with a…
Letter to the Editor: Why have Christian leaders decided to be political?
Read our latest Letter to the Editor from Robert Rogers of Escondido, Calif. “Perhaps we as Christians need to remind our religious leaders that the love of God does not differentiate between political parties. It’s time for our leaders to…
Clinging to the White House and a lesson from Ezra
The transition from one presidential administration to the next has been disrupted by the refusal of the present occupant to accept the verdict of the voters. He and his followers are clinging to the White House. And a substantial company…
When it rains, remember the Disney Rules
Today, we loaded up our little circus and took a drive. The kids had a school holiday, and we planned a little fun out of the house. Didn’t matter that the weather forecast screamed “stay home” or that the clouds…
62 years later, we learned the truth about Uncle Ray, a truth we needed to know
Veterans Day seemed a bit more sacred to me this year. After a contentious election and reshuffling of chief military officials, I thought about our connections to those who serve on the home front or abroad, often in life-altering, terrifying…
Breathe free, huddled masses; we’re sorry for how our nation treated you
The Statue of Liberty, Mother of Exiles, stands a little taller this week. Her fabled torch shines brighter. Once again, she beckons her welcome to “huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Our presidential election signals a change at our borders….
What counseling domestic abuse victims taught me about the election results
One of the difficult and sad responsibilities that falls to counselors such as my wife, Anna, and myself is working with victims of domestic violence. We share that difficult task with law enforcement, with the exception that these cases can…
Bonhoeffer Moment No. 4: ‘Are we still of any use?’
“Are we still of any use?” Dietrich Bonhoeffer asked that question of German Christians near the end of his 1943 essay, “After Ten Years.” We American Christians might ask it of ourselves 77 years later. The nation’s presidential election is…