It’s a months-old story that has taken on a new life because of social media. Last summer, well-known gospel singer and Fort Worth pastor Marvin Sapp was speaking at a large Pentecostal convention in Baltimore, MD, when he told the ushers to “close the doors, close the doors, close the doors” until he raised $40,000. (It’s unclear how much money was raised.) Whatever the case, did Rev. Sapp go too far? Media coverage and online responses told the story... Read more
Russian president Vladimir Putin has been many things in his 72 years: a law school student, KGB officer, member of then-Russian president Boris Yeltsin’s inner circle, and leader of post-Soviet Russia. But a Christian? Is Putin really a Christian as he claims? The Russian president is shrouded in mystery, and it’s hard to separate the mysteries from reality. But let’s give it a try, all the while knowing our findings will be educated guesses. I’m no expert on Putin, the... Read more
This article is different from my usual “Woman to Woman” posts. It’s written in conjunction with RootsTech’s “World’s Largest Family Discovery Event,” which will be held March 6-8. Learn more about it here and at the end of this article. But first, let me share one of my family’s most meaningful stories. Grandma’s Faith Story & Mine A hero here, a villain there… Families can be fascinating. One of my distant relatives signed the Declaration of Independence and another may have... Read more
And Many Christians Think That’s A Problem Donald Trump has announced that controversial right-wing pastor Paula White-Cain will lead the White House Faith Office that he recently created. She also will continue to serve as Trump’s faith adviser. The two of them are dangerous to religious freedom, but there are ways Americans can fight to protect everyone’s rights. Some Christians are angry about her appointment, and they are justified. At face value, the announcement concerns a routine presidential appointment. However,... Read more
Religion Has Become Part of the Conversation Don’t be surprised if religious faith is part of the conversation leading up to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans Sunday. The head coaches and starting quarterbacks for the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are outspoken about their beliefs and will undoubtedly express them before and after the big game. Faith, football and the Super Bowl apparently go together. What Are Coaches, Quarterbacks Saying? Lately, the Super Bowl LIX coaches and... Read more
How much do you know about the Old Testament? Take this quiz and find out. You may also want to check out my previous Bible quiz. Today’s quiz – like the earlier one — is divided into three parts with 10 multiple-choice questions in each section. The first section is fairly easy, but the questions become progressively harder as you proceed. Play individually or break into teams if your group is large enough. Earn 20 points for each correct answer in... Read more
America chose one of the most devout Christians to ever become president of the United States in 1976. As we prepare to lay President Jimmy Carter to rest on Jan. 9, we should recognize and honor him for a life well-lived and a faith for the ages. Looking at today’s political landscape, it seems highly unlikely that Americans will elect a morally upright person like Jimmy Carter to high office anytime soon. Voters either cannot tell the difference between honesty... Read more
Troll the Yuletide carol, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la…. Hum a few fa-la-la’s and you may recognize the song as Deck the Halls. What about these words: make the Yuletide gay? It’s from the song Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. What is Yuletide? And what do Yuletide and Yule have to do with Christmas other than being mentioned in a few songs? It turns out they have a great deal to do with Christmas. How Yuletide Began Ancient Germanic pagans introduced the... Read more
What is Advent? Advent is a season within a season… a time when many Christians briefly put aside Santa, his elves and reindeer… stressful shopping trips to crowded malls… overspending… family arguments… and unfulfilled expectations for the holidays. Advent is a time when Christians seek the quiet, meaningful side of Christmas. It’s a time of hope and joy, warmth and light within us. And this inner light shines even when the world grows cold and dark and winter hits us... Read more
Three different points of view yield the same conclusion: Christian nationalism cannot exist. So, why does it? Pope Francis once said, “When a Christian becomes a disciple of ideology, he has lost the faith….” Minister and author Johnathan Leeman insists, “There is no such thing as a ‘Christian nation’ in a Baptistic understanding since the membership borders of the nation and the church will not overlap.” And the writer in me recognizes an oxymoron when I see one. The Oxford... Read more
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