50 years ago today, Nov. 12, 1970, I leapt out of the fundamentalist foxhole 
by Bill Jones

“The devil sure got ahold of you!” – November 1970 “Bill, do you ever stop and pray for the president of our country or just complain about him? As Christians that’s our responsibility according to the Bible, or do you read it anymore? I can’t believe we grew up in the same church. ☹” – Read more . . .

Joe Biden: Breaking a 44-year presidential mold 
by Bill Jones

As I watched the continuing Presidential Election 2020 saga Wednesday evening, I heard one network anchor declare that former Vice-President Joe Biden, with 253 electoral votes (at that point) awarded by some networks and 264 by others, was “standing on the doorstep of the White House.” At that moment, something occurred to me that I Read more . . .

Regarding the Amy Coney Barrett hearings: a couple of thoughts 
by Bill Jones

I plopped down in front of the TV this morning just as Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) began speaking, and I watched him make his opening statement. I thought he hit all the right notes, especially regarding the Republicans’ hypocrisy AND especially, their intention to use Barrett to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, Read more . . .

50 years ago today, October 5, 1970: the Shawnee tornado . . . and being Matthew 25 people 
by Bill Jones

I was barely into my sophomore year at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma. It was a Monday, the middle of the afternoon, as I recall. I really don’t remember much before or during the tornado, except that it was unusually dark for an October afternoon; there was no light streaming through the windows of Read more . . .

Responding to a reader’s concerns, Part 5: Seeing Jesus through different lenses – Does our faith shape our politics OR our politics shape our faith? 
by Bill Jones

Click here to read Part 1. Click here to read Part 2. Click here to read Part 3. Click here to read Part 4. It is obvious that you and I have very different lenses through which we view things like Celebrate Freedom Sunday, Mike Pence’s speech, and so forth. We apparently even have different Read more . . .

Responding to a reader’s concerns, Part 4: FBC Dallas holds a political rally disguised as “worship” 
by Bill Jones

Click here to read Part 1. Click here to read Part 2. Click here to read Part 3. Click here to read Part 5. In your previous email, you took issue with my calling Celebrate Freedom Sunday at FBC Dallas a “political rally.” I watched the entire “service,” and maybe I should have added another Read more . . .

Responding to a reader’s concerns, Part 3: Can a liberal Democrat be a Baptist . . . a Christian? 
by Bill Jones

Click here to read Part 1. Click here to read Part 2. Click here to read Part 4. Click here to read Part 5. I was especially disappointed by your use of quotation marks enclosing the word “Baptist” as applied to Kamala Harris; then you made clear the reason – “her liberal political views are Read more . . .

Responding to a reader’s concerns, Part 2: What is the mission of Weekly Baptist Roundup? 
by Bill Jones

Click here to read Part 1. Click here to read Part 3. Click here to read Part 4. Click here to read Part 5. Dear ————-, Your emails have left me a little puzzled. I appreciate your kind words of appreciation for Weekly Baptist Roundup. However, your request for “a balanced coverage of VP Mike Read more . . .

Responding to a reader’s concerns, Part 1: Letters, I get letters (with a wink and a nod to Perry Como) 
by Bill Jones

Click here to read Part 2. Click here to read Part 3. Click here to read Part 4. Click here to read Part 5. I recently received two emails from a reader of my Weekly Baptist Roundup (WBR) e-newsletter. The questions and concerns expressed by this reader helped me to realize that not all WBR Read more . . .