By Susan Sparks Recently, I saw an image on Pinterest that said “Life*” at the top, then underneath, in small print by the asterisk, it said: “Available for a limited time only, limit one per customer, subject to change without…
The congregational container
By Terry Maples Because I sometimes fly to distant cities as part of my work, I purchased a suitcase to meet airline carry-on luggage specifications. My new suitcase has a regular zipper to access my belongings; it has a second…
on she bears + self discovery
“(Elisha) went up from there to Bethel; and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go away, bald head! Go away, bald head!” When he turned…
Flower fights
By Bill Leonard In his 18th-century journal entitled, The Carolina Backcountry on the Eve of the Revolution, Anglican Parson Charles Woodmason offered this assessment of the people called Baptists: “They don’t all agree in one Tune. For one sings this…
Baptist identity and Millennials: Re-imagining church
By Bruce Gourley Within recent months David Gushee, ethicist at McAfee School of Theology, has argued that it is time for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to grow up and adopt organizational doctrinal parameters. Not doing so, he argues, alienates young…
Pain demands to be felt!
By Seth Vopat If you haven’t taken notice yet of the latest young adult fiction book to obtain massive fan appeal then you are missing out. John Green’s novel-turned-movie, The Fault in Our Stars, isn’t your typical teenage fiction novel….
Who am I, and what am I doing?
“I hurried to the gate, made my way on to the plane, stowed my luggage, and sat down next to Mother Teresa! I smiled and made eye contact. She politely said, ‘So, who are you? And what do you do…
The new face of generosity
By John Chandler I grew up bringing my Baptist “Six Point Envelope” to church: Present. Bible Brought. Bible Read Daily. Lesson Studied. Giving. Worship. Note that the scorecard was on an envelope intended for my Sunday school offering — which…
The problem of violence
By Erica Lea I remember when the Columbine High School shootings happened in 1999. Schools across the country went into lockdown. Most of us were left mouths open watching news reports, trying to process and understand what happened and why….