By Hillary Kimsey Lee and I grew up in church together. We were usually co-champions in Sunday school Bible trivia. We loved Lord of the Rings. We went on a couple dates. The night before the first final exam of…
Why do you keep asking God to throw you a Hail Mary pass?
Some Christians treat God like an all-star National Football League quarterback such as Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, or Drew Brees. They have failed at some aspect of the game of life and ask God to throw them a Hail Mary…
The growing costs of convenience
By John Chandler I used to have a knack for remembering phone numbers. With the advent of speed-dial, that’s long gone. This is one tiny instance that makes me wonder, what else have I forgotten? In 2008, Nicolas Carr wrote…
What’s in a canon?
When I talk about the canon in my New Testament class, I often have students who are surprised that the current list of 27 books that are in our New Testament have not always comprised canon lists. In fact, I…
Headwinds can help churches fly
By Bill Wilson I had a first-ever experience recently flying out of New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The weather was deteriorating, but we boarded our flight on time and I had high hopes of getting out before things backed up. We…
Change is coming to Baptistland
By Christa Brown Last Saturday in Florida, a unanimous jury awarded $12.5 million to a man who, as a child, was sexually abused by a Southern Baptist minister. Significantly, this verdict was assessed, not only against the local church, but…
Sometimes spiritual discipline requires a ‘thumbs up’
By Amy Butler I recently read an article about “running ministries” which opened with a story about a ministry called “Sweaty Sheep,” a Kentucky group that sees running as church. I try to be open to alternative perspectives, diversity in…
A Baptist’s report from Tehran
Report from Tehran, January 22, 2014 I spent the afternoon today ambling along the streets of Tehran soaking in the city, negotiating the tiny, bustling alleys of its bazaar, and reflecting as I stood in front of the former U.S….
Something stinks in West Virginia
By Bruce Day It was after my walk on a hiking trail, as I was parking to attend a conference, that I saw a most stunning sight. Berry College, in Rome Ga., has the great fortune of being home to…