Recent Articles
A Baptist Pioneer Remembered for Building Interfaith Bridges
Never seeking the limelight, Wayne Martin began building interfaith bridges before it became fashionable to do. He passed away recently at age 85, leaving a legacy of healthy growth of a spirit of community across interfaith lines.
March 4, 2020
Tornadoes in Tennessee Kill at Least 25, Cause Widespread Damage in Nashville (NPR) Plan Would Turn Historic Louisville Church into Hotels, Apartments (WDRB) Joe Biden Reaches Out to Voters of Faith on Super Tuesday (Time Magazine) Oklahoma Bill Would Allow Display of...
Why Does Anti-Semitism Exist? Hatred Needs a Scapegoat
The term ‘anti-Semitism’ dates back only to the late 19th century, but hatred of Jews goes back at least to ancient Egypt. Dating back to the Old Testament scapegoat, people look to assign their sins somewhere other than themselves.
How Churches, Ministers Build Healthy Relationships – Part 1
It’s not always true, but healthy churches and healthy ministers tend to find one another. Congregational health and clergy health are somehow connected. How does it happen? There’s a psychological theory for that.
The Humanities Give Us Our Best Clues to Self-Understanding
Even though the humanities are undervalued in higher education, they remain at least one bulwark against the bulldozer of utilitarian ruthlessness. A human life well lived is one that enriches humanity – our own and others.
March 3, 2020
US Imam’s Life Story is Filled with Humor, Hope, Mercy (EthicsDaily) Central Seminary Trustees Name Durso as New President (Word and Way) Jehovah’s Witnesses Complete Entire Bible in American Sign Language (RNS) Churches Temporarily Changing Mass Practices Amid...
When Christian Insurance Firms Bamboozle the Least of These
Faith-based Christian healthcare organizations can exclude anyone with preexisting conditions from healthcare coverage and price gouge the sick and recovering with no consequence. Yet, who would Jesus insure?
US Imam’s Life Story Filled with Humor, Hope, Mercy
To read the life story of Imam Imad Enchassi is to marvel at how he has lived through war, ongoing discrimination and the travails of a refugee – and done so with great success and with mercy and love beyond degree.
Why the Future of Ministry Leadership Won’t Be in Seminary
With many grads incurring sizable debt after seminary, many churches cannot afford to pay an affordable salary to professionally trained clergy. We need shorter and more focused virtual centers of learning.
March 2, 2020
Southern Baptists Have Only 13 African American Career Missionaries. What Will it Take to Mobilize More? (Christianity Today) Jen Hatmaker: Here’s What Happened When I Questioned the Evangelical Beliefs I Grew Up With (Dallas Morning News) Sociologist Andrew...
Ashes to Ashes and Everything in Between
By: Ginger Hughes The minister smeared the ashes across my forehead—one swipe down and one across forming a misshapen cross. “From the dust God created you, and to the dust you shall return,” she whispered, looking into my eyes. It’s the season of Lent—a time of...
Reaction and Response: Report Details L’Arche Founder’s Wrongs
The late founder of L’Arche International, Jean Vanier, ‘engaged in manipulative sexual relationships with at least six adult … woman,’ an inquiry found. Faith leaders called Vanier’s actions manipulative and horrifying.
Inspecting Difference Between Secularization, Secularism
The difference between ‘secularization’ and ‘secularism’ is not widely known. Secularism is a worldview with no room for God. Secularization represents a society’s unwillingness to enforce any particular worldviews on its citizens.
Look Back | Lent Reminds You to Seize the Moment
Christians today use the 40 days of Lent for introspection, self-examination and repentance. Preparations are being made all around us for another growth cycle. Why should that be any different within our spiritual lives?
February 28, 2020
Barr, DeVos Speak at Religious Broadcasters Forum (Washington Post) West Virginia Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Bible Courses in Public Schools. A Jewish Third-Grader Testified that its a ‘Bad Idea’ (Jewish Telegraphic Agency) Church Denied 8-Year-Old First Communion...
Are You Prepared to Give Up All Hope for Lent?
The 40 days of Lent place Christians on a journey of self-denial. However, the larger lesson of Lent might be we are called to abandon worldly hopes in order to embrace God’s hopes. Are you ready to give up all hope?
Lenten Lectionary | Journeying with Jesus into the Wilderness
Lent provides an opportunity to go knowingly into the wilderness, to visit Jesus as he is being tempted and to gather strength from Jesus’ strength. To have an insight into Jesus’ wilderness journey gives insight into our own.
Kids See the Truth: We Should Love and Care for the Homeless
We are responsible for each other, including homeless people. Children understand we should love and care for homeless kids and families and provide them with housing, clothing, medical care and education. Do adults understand too?
February 27, 2020
Most Protestant Churchgoers Don’t Attend Alone (Baptist Standard) Religious Right Defector Frank Schaeffer Take on Pro-Trump Evangelicals and Abortion Alike (Newsweek) Attorney General Barr to Christian Media: Accept God, Reject ‘Collectivist Libs’ (Talking Points...
Lenten Lectionary | Are You Angry When Your Cheese is Moved?
Our journey through Lent mirrors the cheese, mice and mazes in the business fable, ‘Who Moved My Cheese?’ When circumstances change, do we continue on despite the change or do we get angry and frustrated?
Ash Wednesday: The Oddity of Prizing a Day of Great Darkness
While it appears odd to prize a day of great darkness and a day memorializing death, Ash Wednesday reminds us God has not left humanity alone in darkness. Jesus was – and will be – there in that darkness.
Report: Many ‘Recyclables’ Mislabeled, End Up in Landfill
While an increasing number of products bear a recycling symbol, once consumers use the item and place it into a recycling bin, it often ends up in a landfill or is incinerated, a report said.
February 26, 2020
Southern Baptist Wars: The Untold Story is the Rage of Evangelical Women (GetReligion) Pensacola Cross to Stand (Baptist Joint Committee) West Virginia House Approves Bible Course Elective for High Schools (WOWKTV) Trump Declines to Condemn India’s Anti-Muslim Law...
Having Faith: Planting Shade Trees We’ll Never See Bloom
Even though we may not see the fruits of our labor for others in our lifetimes, the people of God must decide that hardships will not embitter us but instead will embolden us to help bring about a change.
Why You Should Begin the Lenten Journey
An ancient practice that Baptist congregations and individuals have recently begun to embrace, the Lenten season is all about realism and renewal as we bring our lives before God for examination and deepened relationship.
Oh, Lord! Please Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
When writing on controversial subjects for the public, it’s easy to be misunderstood. No matter how hard you try to make your thoughts clear, if the subject is controversial, you will be misunderstood by some. Case in point.
February 25, 2020
Kayne, Out West. What is the Superstar Doing in Wyoming? (New York Times) How the Fight for Racial Justice Pushed Charleston Beyond the Segregated Hour (RNS) Presiding Bishop Joins Other Christian Leaders Opposing Trump’s Proposed Cuts to Social Services (Episcopal...
Humor, hope and mercy fill the pages of an American imam’s life story
By John D. Pierce My favorite line among so many in Cloud Miles: A Remarkable Journey of Mercy, Peace and Purpose (2020, Nurturing Faith) is when Imam Imad Enchassi recalls receiving and responding to an ugly message posted on his Facebook page. With typical, though...
Why So Many People Admired Basketball Legend Kobe Bryant
Still feeling the pain of his death on Jan. 26, the public will pay their respects today to basketball legend Kobe Bryant. Since the beloved athlete’s death, many have asked, “What did Kobe do to deserve this outpouring of emotion?”
Tel Motza: The Temple Beneath the Bridge
Beneath a huge bridge on the main road from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, you can find the remains of an ancient temple, known as Tel Motza, which may have been used to worship both Yahweh and other gods.