Longtime Word&Way Columnist Doyle Sager Passed Away
Doyle Sager, a Word&Way columnist and the lead pastor at First Baptist Church in Jefferson City, Missouri, passed away Friday (Jan. 22) after a battle with cancer. He was 69.
Pastor Rushes Home to Missouri City Hit by Twister
Doyle Sager was nowhere near Jefferson City, Missouri, when a tornado etched a wide, destructive path across the municipality Wednesday night -- but he felt its emotional impact.
Invisible
Every day, people enter and exit my life. But do I see them? The question haunts me. How do I break the habit of rendering others invisible?
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.
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:
Seminary Education: Does It Stick?
Returning home after a memorial service for former Midwestern Seminary President Dr. Milton Ferguson, I started thinking. What do I remember from my seminary days? Does my
Check Your Idols at the Church Door
Much has been written lately about our subtle, invisible idols. These false gods manifest themselves when we put our politics above the gospel, the U.S. flag above
Easter Jujutsu
Many Christians forget that Easter is not a one-and-done celebration, but rather the beginning of a season called Eastertide, a time that lasts until Pentecost Sunday (this
You Can Go Home Again
Earlier this winter, 48 years and one week after my younger brother Dennis died from injuries sustained in a car accident, my two siblings and I, along