By Roger Lovette Most everyone has a Mama story. One of my favorites must have happened when I was in the seventh or eighth grade. My mother never had many advantages in life. Married at 16, she worked in a…
Lessons in leadership from Osama bin Laden
By Amy Butler Opportunities for debate and discussion have skyrocketed in the wake of this week’s news reports of the death of Osama bin Laden. Right after the news broke, it seemed to me that everyone on Facebook had a…
The real royals
By Derik Hamby Many folks were glued to their TV sets watching the events of the Royal Wedding. My 6-year-old daughter was amazed. She thought princes and princesses were only in her Disney movies. She said, “Daddy, I am going…
Embodied hallelujahs — an invitation to dance
By Angela Yarber Liker many ordained Baptist pastors, I recently guided my congregation during the seasons of Lent and Easter with spiritual disciplines, preaching, worship and baptism. This week I shout hallelujah with my body. I dance. Angela Yarber April…
An Easter PSA
By Elizabeth Evans Hagan There’s nothing like Easter Sunday to make folks happy. Songs and shouts of “Alleluias” fill our sanctuaries. People arrive dressed in their Easter best. Old and new friends alike are in the same room for a…
Lessons from storms past
By Barry Howard On Palm Sunday in 1994 a tornado touched down near Ragland, Ala., and cut a trail to Rome, Ga., demolishing hundreds of homes, destroying five church campuses and taking 29 lives before leaving that area. Entire communities…
The ‘Arab Spring’ and the future of American Christianity
By Jim Denison Since January, we have watched the wildfires of change sweep across the Arab world. What will be the result of this pro-democracy movement in coming months and years? What lessons for our churches can we learn from…
Resurrection perspectives
By R. Kevin Johnson Throughout the coming weeks, Christians around the world will continue to celebrate an exciting Easter season and the reality of the risen Christ. The scriptures used for worship and devotion during this time include Jesus’ physical…
Vanishing mountains
By Bill Leonard Zeb Mountain, Turner Spur, Peters Knob, Big Fork Ridge, Millard, Cow Knob, Cherry Pond, Payne Knob — those are but a few names of the over 500 mountains from Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia that have disappeared…