I recently testified at a Missouri House Judiciary Committee hearing on a bill requiring those who file separation of church and state-related lawsuits in Missouri to reveal the identity of the plaintiff. I was there to urge passage of the bill as a matter of religious liberty for all. But State Rep. Mark Ellebracht (D-Liberty), who sits on the committee, had something else in mind when he questioned my testimony. Here is what I said to the committee: “The Freedom from Religion Foundation … [Read more...]
No other name, but Jesus
I said I’d never do it. But I did it. And actually, I’ve been somewhere near the worst of them all. I said I’d never be one of those moms who went through the whole list of her kids’ names before hitting on the right one. But at least once a week the entire time my kids were growing up, I would want to say something to one of them and…there it was: roll call. I’d hit every name on my five-kid list, and sometimes even throw in a couple of my own siblings and a stray cousin or two. To add … [Read more...]
Days of indignation
Unless you have been on vacation in Antarctica, you have heard by now about an article in The Houston Chronicle about sexual abuse in some Baptist churches and some inappropriate responses by church leaders. The reporters were somewhat careful to maintain journalistic principles while filing the report. Consequently, they opened a wound and shined a light on something we’ve heard whispers about for years, even decades. My immediate reaction was nausea. Trust was violated by people in … [Read more...]
Will Missouri reject New York’s savagery?
New Yorkers are willing to kill babies at birth. Such barbarism became reality when New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, signed a bill Jan. 22 legalizing abortion up to birth. Praise God Virginia lawmakers had enough of a conscience to reject similar savagery Jan. 28. Now it is Missouri’s turn to speak – with a roar. Missouri has a national reputation of being among the strongest pro-life states. Twelve pro-life bills have been introduced in this session in the Senate and another 22 in … [Read more...]
Consider a donor advised fund to accomplish goals
Donor advised funds are a way by which individuals or organizations make an irrevocable contribution to the Missouri Baptist Foundation and then provide non-binding advice on where you would like the income and/or principal distributed, which can include your chosen charities. A donor advised fund provides a flexible way for you to direct your charitable giving to your various charities over time while receiving immediate tax benefits. You make the contribution and then the Foundation makes … [Read more...]
Words have meaning
Few things in life are as frustrating as having a conversation and realizing that key words are defined differently. For instance, I recently had a conversation where “God’s calling” meant one thing to me and another to a friend. I quickly came to the realization that until we agreed upon the meaning of the phrase we would never reach any unified conclusion. Far too often we forget the significance that words have and how important it is to bring clarity to definitions, especially when it … [Read more...]
Make a choice, make a difference
We’ve lived in the same house almost 15 years. That means I’m on about the 5,375th consecutive day of turning on the garbage disposal instead of the light. Oi, habits. I was working on forming better habits though. Breakfast, for instance. Surely I could at least pull together a bowl of cold cereal, right? Not as easy as you’d think. That first cardboard flap of a new cereal box? Major box-opening stress there. One wrong rip and the tab will never fit in the slot. You could hardly convince … [Read more...]
Marriage and repentance
There are so many profound short verses in God’s Word that have application for life. One of those short verses that can be overlooked is Colossians 2:6, “Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him.” The apostle Paul in the previous portion of the epistle gave thanks for the followers of Jesus in Colossae and prayed for their spiritual growth. In Colossians 2:4, he shares with this young church that he doesn’t want anyone to be led astray “by persuasive arguments,” … [Read more...]
Pro-LGBTQ laws may pose problem for Mo. Baptists
The Ad Council, a non-profit that has, for the most part, stayed out of super-charged political debates, has joined the crusade to convince lawmakers to force well-meaning Americans to give up their freedom of conscience when disagreeing with LGBTQ demands. Known for public service advertising like “Don’t drink and drive,” the Ad Council recently produced free advertisements implying widespread discrimination against LGBTQ people. The radio ad is running nationwide. It represents the … [Read more...]
An effort to fund Christian education
So have you checked out the price of college these days? I remember my first semester back in 1989, the tuition was $600 for the entire semester. (I am not even sure that would buy you a single credit hour today, especially if you add in all of the fees.) OK, so I may be exaggerating a little bit, but the point is still just as true, a good college education is not as inexpensive as it once was. While it is true for all education, it is especially true for private educational … [Read more...]
Where to?
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalms 119:105 (NKJV) Have you ever gotten into a taxi and the driver said, “Where to?” Perhaps you quickly told the driver where you were going. As we raise our children, we also must know the direction we want them to go. Most Christian parents would readily say that they want their children to become responsible adults, obeying God’s Word, and living a life that is pleasing to God. Few, however, have set goals as to how they … [Read more...]
God wants to bless every baby, parent
“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy” (Luke 1:41-44). Elizabeth was a living testimony to a miracle. She and her husband … [Read more...]
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