By Jim Denison I lived in Malaysia during the summer of 1979. When Ramadan began that year, everything changed. Muslims ate nothing from sunrise to sundown; most would not even swallow the moisture in their mouths (public places posted signs…
The legacy of Elijah Lovejoy
By David Wilkinson A few days ago I stood at the grave of Elijah Lovejoy, a journalist, newspaper editor and Presbyterian minister, who was murdered on Nov. 7, 1837, by a mob in Alton, Ill., for his courageous and uncompromising…
Getting your life in gear
By Barry Howard I learned how to drive in my grandfather’s 1966 Volkswagen Fastback — a straight shift. Learning to change gears while simultaneously pressing the clutch proved to be quite a challenge. However, once I mastered the art of…
The climate changes and we do nothing
By David Gushee The New York Times ran a front-page article by Justin Gillis this past Sunday called “In Weather Chaos, a Case for Global Warming.” It makes for an interesting study, both because the Times finally ran an article…
Mosque in Manhattan
By Norman Jameson What is the issue for Christians in the American debate about whether or not Muslims should be “allowed” to build a mosque in Manhattan? Such a mosque would not be the first in Manhattan. In 1991 a…
With marriage debate, remember real people are involved
By Joe LaGuardia Just when I thought politics could not get any more heated, federal judge Vaughn Walker overturned Proposition 8 — the California law banning same-sex marriage in that state — Aug. 4. The decision claimed that the law…
Jesus at the hospital
By Amy Butler I’ve heard it told that some pastors really like to make hospital visits. Me? Not so much. It’s not that I don’t understand their purpose in the larger scope of my job; of course I do. I’m…
The summer of Baptist discontent and hope
By Bruce Gourley During the summer months each year, Baptist groups in America gather to preach, worship, pass resolutions and reevaluate the mission and direction of their churches and denominations. In recent years, these summer convention gatherings have seemingly been…
Upheaval
By Bill Wilson Upheaval. That’s one of the nicer things we call moving. Our household’s recent move has been a journey into disorganization, disorientation and general discord. A genuine necessary evil. More than once during recent weeks, we vowed to…
Clergy couples cope with pain of dismissal
By Roger Lovette I recently sat in a room with 13 ministers and their spouses who had gathered from across the country for a week-long retreat. The group was connected by a common thread: Each minister had been dismissed from…
Is Palestine the link to peace?
By Jim Denison It has been my privilege to lead several study tours of Israel. Each time, I am struck again by the tiny size of the Holy Land. Comparable to New Jersey, it is only six miles wide at…
What some Baptists don’t want to hear about others
By Laura Rector “Why did you go to Southern Baptist Convention schools when they don’t support women in ministry, Laura?” That’s the refrain I often hear, as I’ve moved into more moderate circles in recent years. It’s usually followed by…