Opinion
What a Resident of Myanmar’s Kachin State Wants You to Know
A military coup in February has ended Myanmar’s decade-long democratic experiment. Here is what one resident of Myanmar’s Kachin State wants you to know.
One Week in America
It has been a challenging week in the U.S., with high profile court cases, political tension and calls for “one religion under God.” People of good faith must continue to look for glimmers of light and hope.
Generosity Is More Than a Seasonal, Nostalgic Exercise
The season of Thanksgiving in the U.S. invites us to reflect on generosity. Because this concept and attribute is emphasized in most faith traditions, it must be more than a seasonal, nostalgic exercise in our lives.
How Beautiful Are the Shoes …
Observing young children in my neighborhood playing outside barefoot brought back childhood memories. It also led to a reflection on what the Bible has to say about footwear.
Everywhere You Go, Be Who You Are
The statement of a young man from Uganda offers much food for thought about how we view ourselves and how others perceive us. He offers a needed reminder to be ourselves wherever we go.
Australia Making Headlines for All the Wrong Reasons
Australia is making headlines. Lack of substantive action on climate change mitigation has drawn the Pacific nation and its prime minister into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Does Your Church Need a ‘Come to Jesus’ Meeting?
The church has been called ‘a hospital for sinners,’ but what do you do when the call for an ambulance is coming from inside the house of worship? Perhaps a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting is in order.
Who Bears the Cost for Technological Advances?
What is involved in making smartphones and other devices we all rely on? For all the benefits of technological advances, who bears the cost? These are questions we should all be asking.
“Fire Shut Up in My Bones”: A Powerful Drama for Our Time
The opera “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” dispels the notion that opera is only for the elite or is something belonging in a museum. Adapted from the memoir of Charles M. Blow, its powerful drama speaks to myriad issues in our day.
Ernest Childers: First Indigenous Person to Receive Medal of Honor in WWII
Second Lieutenant Ernest Childers was the first Indigenous person awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II. I want to thank each and every veteran for their service and sacrifice, and especially my Indigenous brothers and sisters.
Why You Should Hold on to Hope Despite Disappointment
The weeping of Jesus and the lamentation of Jeremiah reveal that disappointment will always accompany the hope for a different and better future. Here is why you should hold on to hope, nevertheless.
‘The Wonderful’ Documentary Offers Dose of Hope
Did you ever want to be an astronaut? Do the dysfunctions on Earth make you want to escape to space? Perhaps a new documentary can offer you a dose of hope.
A Cry for Mercy for Myanmar and a Call for Congress to Act
The brutal military coup in February ended a decade of democracy in Myanmar (Burma). The Burma Act of 2021 has been proposed in the U.S. Congress to provide concrete responses to the ongoing atrocities. Here’s how you can help.
Hey, Church! Take a Clue From Snitker
Worried about what your congregation will look like after the pandemic? Perhaps you need to follow the lead of Atlanta Braves’ manager Brian “Snit” Snitker.
What Should Be the Basis for Charitable Giving?
Why do people donate to charitable causes? Is it guilt, greed, altruism, some combination of all three? Let’s take a moment to reflect on our philanthropy.
‘Great Resignation’ Offers Insight, Warning to Churches
Millions have quit their jobs during the pandemic, in what has been called “the Great Resignation.” What are the factors contributing to this trend? What parallels, insights and warnings does this offer churches?
Six False Gods of White Evangelical U.S. Christians
Many white, evangelical Christians in the U.S. find themselves in bondage to several idols or false gods. Here are six examples, among many.
Dia de los Muertos and Shared Altars
I have slowly begun the work of decolonizing my identity as a Latina and a Christian. Part of this journey has been introducing and honoring practices of the culture, such as honoring the dead and their lives.
On the Need for Informed Voting
Informed citizens are vital for a functioning, effective democracy. We should encourage more people to vote, and make it as easy as possible, while emphasizing the importance of researching the candidates and proposals on the ballot.
COP26: the Science, the Scientists, the Politics and the Christians
COP26, currently taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, is a crucial meeting about the world’s future. How did we get to this point? And what are the key issues that must be addressed?
Is America Moving to the Right, Again?
The first election cycle following the 2020 president election raises questions about the direction in which the country wants to go. While the implications are not yet clear, people of good faith should look forward as they continue working for justice.
Disinviting Jon Meacham a Teachable Moment for the Wrong Reasons
Samford University’s decision to disinvite Jon Meacham from speaking due to student protest is the latest iteration of ‘cancel culture’ in some institutions of Baptist higher education. It offers a teachable moment for all the wrong reasons.
Let Them Learn
Education has been one of many COVID-19 casualties. First, teachers, students and parents had to navigate virtual learning. Then, another struggle emerged that might have a more enduring negative impact.
Beware of Your Inner Circles
Polarization seems ubiquitous these days, with many rejecting John Donne’s aphorism, ‘No man is an island.’ We need to cultivate relationships with others who are different from ourselves, being open to true dialogue.
Why, Yet Again, We Can’t ‘Just Move On’
White evangelicals in the U.S. are often opposed to a sober reckoning with the racial injustice woven throughout U.S. history, suggesting that we ‘just move on.’ Here is why this is both impossible and improper.
COP26 ‘Last Best Hope’ to Mitigate Climate Change
World leaders are gathered in Glasgow for COP26, a conference seen by many as the ‘last, best hope’ to mitigate climate change. Let’s stay in tune and in prayer for COP26 over the next few weeks.
Is the Health and Well-Being of Women Not a Good Use of Tax Dollars?
Discounting their voice and experience is a common reality faced by women worldwide. It’s seen in business decisions, in church actions and in legislative agreements, such as paid family leave being jettisoned from a trillion-dollar spending bill.
How Should You Respond When Someone Expresses Suicidal Thoughts?
I learned a lot about suicide while working as the mental health manager in an east Texas prison. Here is some information about how you should respond when someone expresses suicidal thoughts to you.
Samford University’s Decision on Jon Meacham Disheartening
Samford University disinvited Jon Meacham from speaking at a series of events connected with the university’s incoming president. While the plan is to reschedule his lecture, the decision is problematic and disheartening.
‘Dia de los Muertos’ Encourages Remembrance, Gratitude
While Halloween gets most of the attention in the U.S., the “Day of the Dead” is an observance that should be more widely recognized and understood. It encourages participants to exercise their memory and gratitude.