By Chap. Lt. Col. Larry M. Kirk, USAF (Ret) Independence Day is that day of celebration on which I hang my heart. My heart rejoices that while our country wasn’t founded as a Christian nation, our forefathers did instill Godly values into our document — The Declaration of Independence. Our forefathers rejected the idea of a state-run church in favor of freedom of religion for all. Our government cannot dictate
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector I have heard that a dog is a “man’s best friend” for most of my life. As a child growing up, dogs were not my best friends. I didn’t like dogs and dogs didn’t like me, as evidenced by being bitten several times by “man’s best friend.” Dogs were a part of God’s creation that I thought I could do without.
By Johnnie Godwin Contributing Columnist, B&R Someone supposedly asked Daniel Boone if he ever got lost. As I remember it, he replied, “No, but I did get bewildered in the woods for four days one time.” I identify with the answer to the question. At age 82, I know where I’ve been and where I’m going; but often I don’t have a clue where I am in the midst of
By Todd E. Brady Vice president for university ministries, Union University, Jackson After the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention recently in Birmingham, Ala., I returned home grateful, encouraged and even more eager to invest in the next generation. Southern Baptists are not a perfect people, for I am one. However, our denomination is seeking to be both convictional and compassionate in our mission — ensuring that our actions
By Chris Turner [email protected] DUSSELDORF — I heard the distinct sound of a thick coin hitting the bottom of a tin box. It was a toneless plop. I snapped my head to the left to see a neatly groomed man of about 30 looking up into the face of the statue rising above him. He crossed himself, lowered his head and touched the saint’s feet as he intently mumbled a
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] God is on His throne and He’s in control, but Satan is not on summer vacation. It seems like the more Southern Baptists and Christians try to do the right thing, the more Satan interferes and creates confusion and chaos. Southern Baptists took a strong stance against sexual abuse, especially of children, during the recent meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in
By Randy C. Davis TBMB President & Executive Director I love sunrises and sunsets. I don’t think there’s anything more beautiful than a sunrise in all its glory or a sunset in all its splendor. The fact that our Lord has given us another day of abundant life on our way to eternal life is a special gift. My friend, Paul Clark, Jr., loved the hymn, “For the Beauty of
By Debbie Richard I would like to tell you a story about an 8-year-old girl. Her parents did not go to church. The family loved the outdoors, so most weekends were spent camping. Since both parents worked, the girl and her younger brother had to have a sitter. It so happened their sitter was the wife of a Baptist preacher. Every afternoon when their father picked them up, the preacher
By Roc Collins Director of Strategic Objectives, TBMB I recently overheard someone cynically remark, “It seems like everybody is way too focused on numbers in church.” I understood what he was saying, but I would argue that focusing on numbers is a godly pursuit. Before I deepen the chasm of cynicism even further, please hear me out. Every number represents a person so valuable to God that He’d be willing
By Randy C. Davis TBMB President & Executive Director President George W. Bush once stood in front of a group of people trying to make sense of the world that seemed to be coming undone around them. “One thing is for certain,” he said. “We did not ask for these challenges, but we will meet them. I say that with certainty because this nation has strong foundations and won’t be
By Chap. Lt. Col. Larry M. Kirk, USAF (Ret) Independence Day is that day of celebration on which I hang my heart. My heart rejoices
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector I have heard that a dog is a “man’s best friend” for most of my life. As a
By Johnnie Godwin Contributing Columnist, B&R Someone supposedly asked Daniel Boone if he ever got lost. As I remember it, he replied, “No, but I
By Todd E. Brady Vice president for university ministries, Union University, Jackson After the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention recently in Birmingham, Ala.,
By Chris Turner [email protected] DUSSELDORF — I heard the distinct sound of a thick coin hitting the bottom of a tin box. It was a
By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector [email protected] God is on His throne and He’s in control, but Satan is not on summer vacation. It
By Randy C. Davis TBMB President & Executive Director I love sunrises and sunsets. I don’t think there’s anything more beautiful than a sunrise in
By Debbie Richard I would like to tell you a story about an 8-year-old girl. Her parents did not go to church. The family loved
By Roc Collins Director of Strategic Objectives, TBMB I recently overheard someone cynically remark, “It seems like everybody is way too focused on numbers in
By Randy C. Davis TBMB President & Executive Director President George W. Bush once stood in front of a group of people trying to make