As a pioneer in the field of grief, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross used to hold workshops all over the world. In these workshops people didn’t just learn about grief; they had a chance to do deep grieving of their own. A friend…
Strangers among us
By Bob Burroughs Where were these words spoken? 1. “Greetings! How are you today?” 2. “Hello! I’m so very pleased you are with us today. How can I assist you?” 3. “I’m so glad you came in today. If there…
What churches can learn from the Olympics
As the Olympics got underway, the whole world seemed abuzz with excitement. Much of that excitement, though, quickly turned to complaints on the internet. Almost immediately the hashtag #NBCFail had cropped up on Twitter and became a trending topic. The source of…
Food courts and fender benders
Editor’s note: this blog post appeared previously as a commentary on baptistnews.com. We have not yet arrived—not completely and totally. Baptist women serving in ministry still hear words of opposition, encounter suspicions and doubts, and experience the pain of exclusion….
The one constant
By Amy Butler Some things never change, or so they say. I don’t know if that statement is true, but I do know that if some things never change, life is not one of those things. Oh no. The older…
Going to hell in a hand basket?
Just over a week remains for the month of Ramadan. I have had several opportunities to join with friends at area mosques to share in the iftar, i.e. breaking of the fast. I have had the joy of bringing along…
Claiming our rightful place
By Molly T. Marshall A recent CBS news clip posed the question, “Is 2012 the year of women in politics?” We know that women do not predominate in House or Senate; approximately 17 percent of elected officials are women. Interestingly,…
Claiming our rightful place
By Molly T. Marshall A recent CBS news clip posed the question, “Is 2012 the year of women in politics?” We know that women do not predominate in the House or Senate; approximately 17 percent of elected officials are women….
Are there good reasons to start new congregations?
A quarter of a century ago I moved to South Carolina in response to the call of the largest Baptist body in that state. Baptists of various tribes in South Carolina lacked a commitment to starting new congregations. I was…
Running on fumes
By Jimmy Gawne Every weekend millions of Americans gather together in homes, sports bars, community centers and even houses of worship. They set aside differences of politics, religion, gender and sexuality. Joined by a bond high speed, each proclaims his…
Running on fumes
By Jimmy Gawne Every weekend millions of Americans gather together in homes, sports bars, community centers and even houses of worship. They set aside differences of politics, religion, gender and sexuality. Joined by a high speed bond, each proclaims his…
Stones in my pocket
I have an affinity for stones. Not gem stones, although they are quite lovely, but rather stones that remind me of the rock of the Earth from which they came. I like that rocks and stones were on Earth long…