Word&Way Voices

Much of today’s news is about immigration. Perhaps we should focus on the immigrants rather than rules and regulations. I must admit I am biased, since two of our four children came from Korea.

It’s time for women to have equal access to pulpit ministry and to be called as pastors of churches. For some, that sentiment is old news, settled long ago; for others, it is offensive or just plain wrong. But many believers are somewhere in between.

New York’s Reproductive Health Act permits abortion on demand up until the moment of birth.

We all have that person in our lives; the one we can never please or do enough for, the one who always finds fault and invariably withholds a word of blessing.

Baptists have used the past century to divide ourselves. Had we done this with grace and love and the intentional purpose of expanding the kingdom, we might not be experiencing the pain we have today.

There is something about the Christmas season that is sure to light up most any face (except for the most die-hard Scrooge), especially as we get closer to the big day. And it seems that the Christ of Christmas shows himself to us in several meaningful ways that we would least expect this time of year.

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 how we spend our time, volunteers are still the critical backbone of most churches.

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.

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 that God’s will is an ironclad, one-option only maze?

One wrong turn, and you’re toast.

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: how biblical perspectives on children can inform our larger work of justice for all humans. My study and preparation took me on an amazing journey.