By Sara Hunt Young CBF leaders, I’m one of you. We’re on the same team, you and I. Our stories are woven with similar threads. You and I, we’re passionate, alive and ready to see the good news of our…
Broken immigration system breaking lives
By Miguel De La Torre We often say our immigration system is broken, but seldom do we contemplate how our immigration system is breaking lives. Sandra Lopez is just one life to be crushed under the immigration grinding mill. She…
Nelson Mandela: Peace wager
By Alan Rudnick As the world reacts to the death of Nelson Mandela, we cannot help but read and understand his amazing history of peace. Fighting against injustice and apartheid in South Africa were his notable achievements, but Mandela did…
Liberal like Jesus
By Terry Maples Language naturally evolves over time. I’ve observed the evolution of many words since my childhood. One example is the word “mouse.” When I was young the word referred to an undesirable furry rodent or the more winsome…
Dear CBF
By Lesley-Ann Hix I was in elementary school when my church ordained one of our female ministers. We were excited. We even decorated her car. Someone painted, “Take that, Paige Patterson!” I asked my mom what it meant. “She’s a…
A season to prepare
By Jerrod Hugenot Perhaps like you, I find myself somewhere between the heady rush of the season’s good tidings and the weighty counterpoint of reality.” How does one navigate the “Christmas season” while admitting that it’s a difficult time for…
Thanksgivingization
By Alan Rudnick It seems every year retailers are pushing holiday seasons earlier and earlier. I walked through the home improvement giant, Lowe’s the day after Halloween and saw Christmas decorations, holiday goodies and Christmas lights already on sale. Was…
Paying our dues
By Roger Lovette On this Thanksgiving week I remember that old couple who were members of the rural church I served. Once a month, without fail, they would hobble in and hand me a check. They always said the same…
Two for the price of one
By Elizabeth Evans Hagan Growing up in a male-centric church culture, it was not uncommon for me to hear the phrase growing up in relation to pastors and their wives: “Oh, wow, isn’t is great that the preacher’s wife is…
Between heaven and hell
By Leroy Seat Americans remember Nov. 22, 1963, as the date of the assassination of President Kennedy. And the public media has widely publicized today’s 50th anniversary of that tragic event. Some Christians will remember that Nov. 22, 1963, was…
Missing the beach chair in the Bahamas
By David Burroughs Ending a sabbatical with a visit to the Bahamas seemed just right. Dreams of loads of time for personal reflection while lounging on a beach chair filled my mind. The reality turned out to be a bit…
Loving our neighbor
By Claire Kermitz I always knew I was white, but it took packing up my car for a two-month-long mission immersion in Overtown in Miami for me to begin to realize that being white carries privileges beyond my control. I…