By Carolyn Tomlin Contributing Columnist, B&R According to the dictionary, the term New Year’s resolutions is defined as “making goals for the new year.” We aren’t certain when this custom started, but this practice was recorded by early Babylonians over 4,000 years ago. These people believed that whatever that person did on the first day of the year had an important impact on their life for the next 12 months.
By Richard Ross Professor of student ministry, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas This year I am celebrating my 50th year focused on teenagers and the adults important to teenagers. What a blessing it has been for the Lord to give me this ministry focused on youth for my lifetime. Yet, after a half-century in this vital ministry, I’ve come to the inescapable conclusion a radical reevaluation is desperately
By Johnnie C. Godwin Contributing columnist, B&R Marcion was a second-century heretic who rejected the Old Testament and cut the New Testament to suit himself. He would have strongly disagreed with my belief that all Christians need to know the Bible as we have it and to know its Author (see II Timothy 2:15; 3:15-17; John 5:36-40; Hebrews 5:19; 12:2, KJV). Despite the uniqueness of the Bible as the greatest
By Bruce Chesser President, Tennessee Baptist Convention It is always an honor to be named as president of any organization of which you are a part. I am honored to have been elected to serve you for the next year as the president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. I have had the opportunity to live in Alabama, Texas and Arkansas prior to living in Tennessee. I was born and lived
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] Due to the way the calendar fell this year, the Baptist and Reflector this week is actually dated Dec. 25. As a result, most of our readers will not read this issue until after Christmas. The staff of the B&R hopes all of you had a very Merry Christmas and that you had a great day celebrating the birth of our Lord
By Art Toalston Contributing writer, B&R Maybe you’ve seen a missionary cry. Interviewing a missionary in Ecuador some years back, my heart was gripped when he spoke through tears of the persecution experienced by the indigenous people he worked among in the Andean mountains. It was midday, we were in a cold, dark room. All I could do was sit there and dig for empathy within my soul as he
By Carolyn Tomlin Contributing Columnist, B&R For many families, the Christmas season is the busiest time of the year. In addition to the numerous activities, there is the shopping and wrapping of presents. What should be a time to honor the birth of Christ the Savior is turned into a most stressful time. This year, help your child make handmade gifts for parents, grandparents, teachers, friends and siblings. You’ll be
By Tim Frank Pastor, First Baptist Church, Carthage Recently, the staff of one of the local funeral homes in our county hosted their annual “Hope for the Holidays” service and invited me to share a word of hope and practical help to those in attendance who had lost loved ones. The holidays can be very difficult for an individual or a family as they grieve during this season which is
By Todd E. Brady Vice President for University Ministries, Union University, Jackson “Happy Thanksgiving!” “Merry Christmas!” “Happy New Year!” This is the time of year when everyone is encouraging others to be happy. But for those who have lost a loved one, there is a sadness that no amount of encouragement can overcome. For these folks, holidays seem like something to survive, not enjoy. For some, all the songs, gatherings
By Lonnie Wilkey [email protected] There has been growing evidence over the past two decades that Christians are becoming increasingly reluctant to openly share their faith. Research from The Barna Group, LifeWay Christian Research and others in recent years confirm that more and more Christians are having fewer gospel conversations. That leads to the question: Why? Why are people who affirm their faith in Jesus so unwilling to share their faith
By Carolyn Tomlin Contributing Columnist, B&R According to the dictionary, the term New Year’s resolutions is defined as “making goals for the new year.” We
By Richard Ross Professor of student ministry, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas This year I am celebrating my 50th year focused on teenagers
By Johnnie C. Godwin Contributing columnist, B&R Marcion was a second-century heretic who rejected the Old Testament and cut the New Testament to suit himself.
By Bruce Chesser President, Tennessee Baptist Convention It is always an honor to be named as president of any organization of which you are a
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] Due to the way the calendar fell this year, the Baptist and Reflector this week is actually
By Art Toalston Contributing writer, B&R Maybe you’ve seen a missionary cry. Interviewing a missionary in Ecuador some years back, my heart was gripped when
By Carolyn Tomlin Contributing Columnist, B&R For many families, the Christmas season is the busiest time of the year. In addition to the numerous activities,
By Tim Frank Pastor, First Baptist Church, Carthage Recently, the staff of one of the local funeral homes in our county hosted their annual “Hope
By Todd E. Brady Vice President for University Ministries, Union University, Jackson “Happy Thanksgiving!” “Merry Christmas!” “Happy New Year!” This is the time of year
By Lonnie Wilkey [email protected] There has been growing evidence over the past two decades that Christians are becoming increasingly reluctant to openly share their faith.