By David Gushee A casual newspaper reader might think there are two discrete places called “Israel” and “the Palestinian territories” but a visitor soon discovers the intertwining of these populations. That intertwining could be a good thing. There were parts…
Mind the gap
By Bill Wilson Three years ago, our youngest son graduated from college. Yeah! Following graduation, he had no idea what he wanted to do with his degree. Boo! Solution: take a “gap year” and spend it in South Africa working…
There is power in the ‘blood’ hymns
By Amy Butler In worship this summer we’ve spent our time revisiting some of the basics of faith and practice in our life as a church. Each week we’ve included a ritual of some sort in worship, intended to help…
Warren Buffett, taxes and Jesus
By Andrew Daugherty The third-richest man in the world, Warren Buffett (who has pledged to give 99 percent of his wealth to philanthropic purposes), wrote in a New York Times op-ed Aug. 14 that super-rich Americans like him are not…
When theology and reality don’t meet
By Jillian Farmer The phone rang. My dad tearfully explained that he and mom had separated and would be getting divorced. I was devastated, shocked and overwhelmed. My parents’ 34-year marriage was ending. As a seminary student I’ve been in…
Tom Clancy and terrorism
By Jim Denison Tom Clancy first introduced us to Jack Ryan nearly 30 years ago. Fans have watched as Ryan saved the world from nuclear war, single-handedly defeated Irish terrorists, took down a Colombian drug cartel and eventually became president….
Prestonwood saga shows clergy abuse database is overdue
By Christa Brown Most major faith groups in the United States have denominational processes for assessing reports about clergy sex abuse. The Southern Baptist Convention does not. Instead, the SBC has chosen to denominationally do nothing. That choice makes the…
The freedom of Will
By Bill Leonard Will Campbell turns the gospel of Jesus on its head, at least where standardized, predictable concepts and actions, left-wing and right, are concerned. Preacher, writer, lecturer, farmer, raconteur and soulful iconoclast, Will Campbell is an equal-opportunity prophet….
I apologized to Vicki today
By Gary Cook Gaston Oaks Baptist Church in Dallas is a remnant church of the historic Gaston Avenue Baptist Church. I came out of retirement to be the permanent part-time pastor at Gaston Oaks and am grateful I did. I…