Real people. Up with people. People, people, people. Death, terminal illness, divorce, drug abuse, financial difficulties or gay marriage. What do all of these have in common? They involve people. Regardless of the issue, churches and pastors minister to real people. A recent article, written by a Baptist pastor from Georgia, was titled, “With marriage debate, remember…
Weekend Seven: Mosques, Marriage & Transparency
Two controversial issues continue to dominate the news this week. On Friday, in a completely predictable move, President Obama, fresh off his second White House celebration of the Muslim holiday Ramadan, endorsed the construction of the Ground Zero mosque. Obama, who did not have time to attend the Christian Prayer Breakfast in his backyard on the National Day…
Civil Discourse & Baptist Blogs
Is civil discourse dead in America? If this week’s death wishes for Sarah Palin are any indication, then my answer would be a resounding yes! Following the news of former Alaska Senator Ted Steven’s death in a plane crash on Tuesday, two New Hampshire Democratic politicians publicly mused how they wish Sarah Palin would have been on board the…
Being There: The Ministry Of Presence
“The most important ministry you can offer a family in the midst of difficulties is your presence.” Perhaps one of the most helpful lessons that I learned while a student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Spoken from decades of pastoral experience, Dr. Bill Cubine, retired Professor and Seminary Chaplain at Southern, taught his students that the…
I’m A Southern Baptist! Says Who?
“I’m a Southern Baptist.” “You are not!” “I am too!” “Are not!” “Am too!” . . . You get the picture. There are currently some in the Baptist blogosphere and elsewhere who are trying to define (or redefine) what it means to be a Southern Baptist. I’m not talking about who gets to be a messenger to the annual meeting…