Opinion

If Protestants had saints, Dietrich Bonhoeffer would be one of them. And Feb. 4 would have been his day. He was a German pastor and theologian, a prolific writer and an early opponent of Hitler. He ultimately paid for his resistance with his life, when he was executed in April 1945 by the Nazis just days before the Allied troops liberated his prison camp. He was 39 years old when he died.

Parents' decisions to withhold vaccinations for their children may put others at great risk of contracting diseases unnecessarily.

Many religious leaders believe it is past the time when racial discord should have been resolved. The faith community can lend a prophetic voice as legislative remedies are formulated and proposed. They can make sure they and their congregations demonstrate acceptance and support themselves. Churches not only can make a difference, they must.

Being honest about one's life offers God a palette for transformation -- a fresh start.

Celebrate Christ's coming at every opportunity and commit yourself to the Savior who prompts believers to help reconcile the world to himself.

Ferguson has much from which to recover. Different from Joplin, Ferguson has the potential to rise from strife in relationships, work through its problems and model a healthy community.

I absolutely love Christmas music. As early as possible each year, I begin listening to it. In fact, I’ve decided that if merchants can begin airing holiday commercials on TV right after Halloween, I can start listening to Christmas carols, too. Have you ever pondered why God chose the medium of music to proclaim the birth of Jesus? Why is music so central to our faith — not only at Christmastime, but all year long? Let me suggest a few reasons.

For most people, the day of thanksgiving may bear little resemblance to the earliest days of gratitude for a good harvest celebrated almost as long as times of harvest in rural settings in cultures that long predated America itself.

Is your congregation receiving all its spiritual vitamins and minerals? We all know how crucial a balanced physical diet is; our spirits also need a healthy mixture of “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). But before you stop reading this column because you think it is for pastors only, be assured that everyone can do something to assure that our Sunday worship services offer a variety of spiritual food.

While the Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting was light on business, this year's rendition praised longtime worker -- Raymond R. "Bob" Kenison for his 36 years of dedicated service to children and youth through the Missouri Baptist Children's Home.