By Darrell Gwaltney It is that time of year again. The pitchers and catchers have reported. The Spring Training games have begun. Baseball is back. Rogers Hornsby, the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer, once said: “People ask me what…
Evangelicals find “the heart of God” on immigration
American Evangelicals are gradually joining the push for immigration reform and the impetus behind this shift in emphasis is most apparent in Focus on the Family, a para-church organization founded by the controversial James Dobson. But Dr. Dobson has yielded…
I left the church. Don’t hate me
By Elizabeth Evans Hagan Five years ago now, I found myself in a position countless said I’d never be in. I was installed as the pastor of a Baptist congregation. I was 28. In response to this new call, I…
Lent and longing
This Lent at The Well, we are exploring the Lord’s Prayer together. Even though, we’ve just begun, I can tell this is going to be a meaningful season. We are gathering for worship and service opportunities, and are also meeting…
‘Leveling up’ religion
By Susan Sparks Many probably think I’m on a slippery slope to hell. I drink beer, I dance, and God help me, I’m a Baptist minister. However, it’s not the Stella Artois or tango lessons that are greasing my downward…
Flawed heroes
Flawed heroes are the only ones available. This should not surprise us. Take biblical heroes for example. A friend and I have been discussing the Noah story lately. My friend is not taken with Noah. As he notes, Noah tells…
Dangerous Lent
By Bill Leonard In my Baptist upbringing we didn’t pay much attention to Lent. Ash Wednesday, for example, was just another prayer meeting night. Yet, we did not disregard the classic Christian struggles — repentance, confession, humility, mortality — that…
If you do not have love…
With a population of 3,400, you wouldn’t expect Allendale, South Carolina to bring much to the table when it comes to welcoming the stranger. This area has been noted numerous times as the poorest county in the state. They do not like…
Perspectives on Immigration: cultural concerns
Immigration reform is an issue making headlines in our nation. Both sides of the political aisle discuss and debate the best way forward for the nation, while seeking to preserve both the laws of our land and the dignity of…
Marriage in the New Testament
By Miguel De La Torre The concept of marriage in which women were relegated to property evolved from the Hebrew Bible by the time we get to the New Testament. The New Testament discouraged marriage, placing it secondary to a…
A new theme song for CBF?
On a recent Sunday, our church choir sang “Find Us Faithful” as the anthem in the traditional worship service. I have always liked this song that was written by Jon Mohr and popularized by Steve Green. In fact, we used…
Remembering C. Everett Koop (and Lewis Smedes)
By Roger Olson Yesterday, Monday, Feb. 25, former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop died at his home in New Hampshire. He was 96. Anyone who paid attention to public controversies knew of him in the 1980s as a rock-ribbed…