Seeing isn’t believing; believing is seeing—at least when it comes to the Loch Ness Monster. As it turns out, students in private Christian schools across Louisiana use textbooks that claim the monster was a dinosaur that existed at the same…
Out on a limb
By Bill Leonard On June 30, Daniel Vestal retired as coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, an organization established in 1991 from divisions in the Southern Baptist Convention. In many ways his ecclesiastical journey reflects transitions in multiple religious communions,…
Andy Griffith’s kinder, gentler community
Andy Griffith died on the Outer Banks of his native North Carolina where he lived. A few years ago, I took my senior adults to the Outer Banks, and, other than seeing the place where “Nights of Rodanthe” was filmed…
Celebrating with Chilean Baptists is a moving experience
What do you do when— in what may be the only time in your life—Baptists from all over the world come to your country for the Annual Gathering of the Baptist World Alliance? Chilean Baptists decided to create a moving…
Keep the flame of liberty burning bright
By Roger Lovette Nobody has expressed the essence of America more than the artist Norman Rockwell. His pictures are embedded in our hearts. He pictured the Four Freedoms: from fear, from want, worship and speech. Remember that ugly crowd in…
Asking for Help
I still remember the look I got from a fellow church member when I mentioned in conversation that I had been seeing a pastoral counselor. The expression was a strange mixture of disbelief and pity. I don’t regret saying it,…
Heart and soul
Two teenagers banging out a duet on an out-of-tune, Sunday School classroom piano. I’ll admit it. that’s the first thing I think of when I see the words, “heart and soul.” And yet, it’s what I’ve chosen to call this…
Accident reminds editor of life’s value
By Bill Webb I experienced my first ride in an ambulance on May 12 after suffering the first traumatic injury in my 60-plus years. I had been thrown from a bicycle near the end of a leisurely ride with my…
BWA annual gathering is about relationships
On Saturday I left for Santiago, Chile to attend the Annual Gathering of the Baptist World Alliance. I look forward to seeing current friends and making new friends from throughout the world. Periodically I am asked by a Baptist in…