Growing up in Mexico as a missionary kid gave me a different perspective on my native land. Whether always welcomed or not, I could not help but filter my own early sense of patriotism through the lenses of classmates.
ABHMS sponsors service to celebrate ADA
By Bob Allen American Baptist Home Mission Societies was among sponsors of an interfaith worship service in Washington celebrating 25 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Curtis Ramsey-Lucas, managing director of resource development for the American Baptist Churches USA…
The 4 dangers of relevance
In church life, it seems we always desire to be relevant. We want relevant teaching and preaching with practical application. Relevant youth and children’s programs, and even relevant music. There is, however, a danger in always trying to be relevant…
Tragedy strikes America’s ‘happiest’ city
By Bob Allen The pastor of First Baptist Church in Lafayette, La., urged church members to pray and be open for “conversations about Jesus” after a deadly shooting in a movie theater in their hometown July 23. “After every mass…
A necessary heretic
Last week, the long-awaited new book Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates finally hit shelves. Its release was moved up from October to July in light of recent events yet again raising the ongoing concerns of race in…
10 Ways To Determine If Your Christianity Has Been “Americanized”
While the word “Christianity” ought refer to a single religion, the reality is that many cultures have succumbed to a process of syncretism where there are actually many, many forms of Christianity that look nothing like the original picture on…
Disputed cross memorial sold to private group
By Bob Allen One of the nation’s longest-running conflicts between church and state may end in a win-win resolution with the sale of a 43-foot cross located on public land to a private association. The U.S. Department of Defense sold…
What a pastor learned at Comic Con
Going to Comic Con International is like drinking from a fire hose. There is so much going on and you want to be part of all of it. But like drinking from that fire hose, you eventually end up being…
Rights and offenses: The Confederate flag
On Friday, July 10, at the South Carolina Capitol, the Confederate flag was removed. On Sunday, July 12, at my church, the Confederate flag was prominently displayed. I saw the oversized flag attached to the back, right-side of an oversized…