A college colleague told me about a tense Sunday morning when he was a part-time pastor. The deacon chairman confronted him before worship with a stern request (the Baptist deacon chairman is akin to a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army).
After presenting my views on freethinking at a gathering in South Carolina, one petite elderly lady approached me with an unhappy look on her face: “Do you believe in the afterlife?” she asked.
It’s a Facebook page for denominational pastors, and it was recommended to me by our student pastor. I’ve since offered it to several others, telling them it will entertain or make you angry.
A photo of yet another football team kneeling for prayer on the gridiron got me thinking again about “showy faith.” I couldn’t tell if these were Jewish, Muslim or Buddhist players … just kidding. When we see a team kneeling in a circle, we k…
A newspaper column, perhaps especially one that centers on religion and secularism, invites a variety of responses. One response might be to ignore it. Another is to read and let it go. Another might be to think about the ideas or questions raised and consider whether to respond to the write…
“Our flag was still there” after the British assault on Ft. McHenry in 1814. Now there’s a different assault. Some protest the American flag in the worship place, decrying “Christian nationalism.”
Our denominational publishing house contacted me last year after a writer had to drop out of an assignment. The editor asked if I could write guidelines for teachers to go along with the curriculum. Since the three lessons were from the Gospel of John, I relished this study and found it rewarding.
A prominent businessman approached the pastor to discuss his brother’s funeral. The deceased was widely known in the community as a scoundrel. The man told the pastor, “I’ll give you $500 if you’ll call my brother a ‘saint’ in your funeral sermon.”
A friend wrote in response to an article we both read on returning to faith communities in the midst of religious conflicts (“We need a truce in our wars over religion. Here’s a glimmer of hope,” E.J. Dionne, Washington Post, Sept. 11, 2023).
“God is doing big things in the Selma and Dallas County area for those that make themselves available and seek His Kingdom first!” - Jonathan “JB” Brown, Camp Director.
A denominational organization just endured a time of testing. Critics said it was “woke” and took money from a liberal icon whose name is anathema to conservatives. An independent researcher found that 98 percent of funding came from the deno…
A local church is meeting elsewhere during renovations, and their electronic sign flashes, “Temporary worship.” It is only the next panel that tells the current location, so be patient!
Our Alabama Baptist retreat at Shocco Springs is a gorgeous place, and I’ve enjoyed every event I’ve attended there. Several years ago, I attended a two-day training course for pastors. A conference for senior adults was on site at the same t…
