In my role as a “public Christian” who leads a church and weighs in on the issues of our day through speaking, discourse, and writing, I am eager to nurture environments in which people can openly disagree…but without the fear of being caricatured, labeled, or demonized. In other words, I am for disagreeing in an agreeable fashion. I guess you could say that I am a strong advocate of tolerance.

He’s becoming a man

Q. My son is about to go off to college, and I’m concerned about how he’ll handle his money when he gets there. We’ve taught all our children how to use your envelope system, and to save and give, but I’d like some advice on how he can safeguard his finances a little better.

A vital component in keeping your marriage healthy is to start making healthy changes in you.

Symbolism can be very important in conveying ideas and remembering the past. Throughout America, there are religious landmarks that can reinforce the significance of faith in our land.

The Newsmax website has compiled a list of its “Top 50 Religious Landmarks in America.” Some are not expressly Christian, but there are a number of these that have a direct tie to the Christian faith.  I have picked out a few on which to concentrate.

One of my first memories of flying in an airplane was when a very pretty flight attendant appeared and started instructing the passengers about safety. What stood out to me the most then, and every time I have boarded a plane since, is, “Put your oxygen mask on first before helping others.”  Why is this so vital in ensuring survival? If you don’t have your oxygen mask on your own face, you won’t be alive long enough to help anyone else of course.

Recently I visited an elderly friend (let’s call her Adeline) in a well-to-do suburb. Adeline is a widow, living alone in a four-bedroom two-story home. Being over 85, she seldom trudges up the fifteen steps to the upper floor. But she is not really alone. Adeline has neighbors.  

“I knew that the Lord was leading me to culinary school. I didn’t know that would lead me to go out and serve the less fortunate and build the ministry I now have.”

RRJ:  Kim, you grew up in Athens, Alabama in a Christian home.  How did your parents create an environment for you to know God’s love through Christ? 

Kim:  Growing up, my parents were both hard working. My father worked in a textile plant in Decatur, Alabama and my mother worked in the home.  We attended church on Sunday mornings, but were not really involved in other church activities. My parents also used our home and life routines to create an environment for us to connect to God and know his love through Christ. While I was raised in a Christian home, it was much later before I invited Jesus into my heart.

If I Had Two Lives

by Dan Vorm

I feel like I should have been familiar with the name Costas Macris, but confess it was unknown to me until a biography unexpectedly showed up in the mail. Written by Dan Vorm, If I Had Two Lives is a stirring tale of an amazing life. I don’t know how it got to me, but I’m glad it did.

Our First Baptist Family has a wonderful tradition of providing all of our first graders with a special Children’s Bible.  I write each of the children a special note in their Bible and we dedicate a Sunday evening service to presenting the new Bibles to these precious children to convey to them the vast importance of being a life-long student of the Scriptures.  A few weeks ago we presented 53 children with their special Bibles.