By Michael Poole Recently researchers completed a meticulous survey of the San Andreas Fault. They identified detailed features that point to imminent danger. It’s strange how things break apart, spew and spit, quiver and quake, only to then get back…
How to talk to kids about trauma
As the country saw the horrific bombings at the 2013 Boston Marathon on television, we learned that there were adult and child victims. Television crews and photographers were at the finish of the race and they captured the raw footage. Every news channel…
Attracting a new generation of leaders in ministry
When I was growing up, Christian ministers were widely held in high esteem. Although a few Elmer Gantrys may have been in the mix, churches and communities generally received their ministers with respect and honor. As a result, many Christian…
Why Pope Francis is good for Christianity
As Pope Francis starts his papacy, it is very clear that his leadership will set a very different tone for the Catholic Church. Upon leaving Rome, Pope Francis paid for his own room, rejected lavish apparel, and referred to himself more as…
Is today the day war begins in East Asia?
By Leroy Seat Today might be the day war breaks out in East Asia. This is the “Day of the Sun,” the most celebrated holiday of the year in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Day of the Sun commemorates…
Satan and Jesus in black and white
By Miguel De La Torre Much was made over the character of Satan as portrayed in the History Channel’s recent miniseries The Bible. Many viewers complained that the actor found to play Satan, Mohamen Mehdi Ouazanni, resembles President Barack Obama….
When will SBC address clergy sex abuse?
While other major faith groups have recognized the need for clergy accountability mechanisms, Southern Baptists persist in denominational do-nothingness.
At home in the 17th century
By Bill Leonard Seventeenth century Baptists would have known exactly what was happening when two Rowan County state legislators recently proposed a resolution, affirmed by 11 other legislative colleagues, that declared that the United States Constitution does not “prohibit states…
Underestimating staff burnout
You don’t think your staff are stretched thin? Don’t think you are above burning out? Have you checked the health of your organizational staff? Perhaps you underestimate the power of staff burnout in your congregation or organization. It’s real and…
Brad Paisley as Wheelhouse prophet
By Darrell Gwaltney Jesus says that prophets are not accepted in their hometown. A few of the songs on Brad Paisley’s new album Wheelhouse will likely prove that point. Paisley offers a new album filled with familiar country music topics…
Since it is not 1965, we have to do church different
[This is the second blog post in a series. The first was “Since it is not 1955, we have to do church different” found at http://www.baptistnews.com/blog/generational-differences/since-it-is-not-1955-we-have-to-do-church-different-2013-03-28/#.UWVSpsph7s4.] On Sunday night February 9, 1964 the Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show…
Humanitarian aid as a weapon of war
By Rupen Das The two-year-old conflict in Syria is now being played out in three different but interconnected arenas. There is the military conflict that, at the moment from all indications, is deadlocked. There is the media battle, which the…