Giving the Gift of Giving
Rather than just giving Christmas presents to the needy, two Kansas City-area church churches are giving the gift of giving and helping parents or guardians to pick and give their own presents to their children.
Volunteering for Disaster Relief
Baptist disaster relief volunteers are modern-day “Good Samaritans,” always prepared and ready to reach out to people whose lives have been turned upside down. These trained volunteers donate their time and energy, go to the communities most in need, work and share God’s love in
Hands & Feet
While the 21st Century church has more increased competition for members’ time than ever before, men and women who volunteer still make up the majority of those serving the Kingdom of Christ. In other words, even though our multimedia world gives us more options for
Cautionary Tales About Church-State Romance
For 21 years, I’ve pastored a church within three blocks of our state Capitol. I’ve seen Republicans and Democrats come and go. I’ve prayed with and argued with governors and legislators from both parties. Have I handled every situation correctly? Not a chance.
All Creatures of Our God and King
Saint Francis of Assisi is remembered as one who valued creation as a mirror of the Creator. He once wrote, “If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal
Drawing Straws to Determine God’s Will?
Let’s see a show of hands. How many of us grew up hearing testimonies and sermons at Vacation Bible School, church camps and revivals, implying
The Subversive Gift of Children
Earlier this summer, I was asked to prepare a paper for a workshop at the Baptist World Alliance in Zürich, Switzerland. The topic was children and justice:
Reassessing Rituals on the Way to the Promised Land
Do you and your family have any rituals or traditions that you practice on a regular basis? Maybe every time a person enters your home, they must
Erecting Monuments on the Way to the Promised Land
What are the ways you or your family recognize significant accomplishments that occur in life? If you are like my grandmother, there is a mantle
Working Together
The politics of Jesus can be messy. We may wish there were no politics involved in Kingdom work. And, yet, there most always has been and likely