Ethics & Justice: 
2019 Currie-Strickland Lectures – Muslim Immigration: Following Christ Through the Debate

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This week, I attended the 12th annual Currie-Strickland Distinguished Lectures in Christian Ethics at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. These lectures are named for David R. Currie, who led Texas Baptists Committed as executive director for over two decades (1988-2009); and Phil Strickland, who served as director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission Read more . . .

Baptists: 
Jimmy Allen: ” . . . thanking God for the touch of T. B. Maston in my life”

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There can be no one definitive memorial column to JIMMY RAYMOND ALLEN. His footprints in Baptist life and the wider Christian community are much too big for that. So I simply want to share a few of my personal and special memories of my friend Jimmy Allen. I commend the reader, as well, to excellent Read more . . .

Faith:
The message of Christmas: Then neither do I condemn you

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(I originally wrote this for the Texas Baptists Committed Web site [www.txbc.org] and published it as a Baptist Reflections column 10 years ago, on December 23, 2008. I’m republishing it here, because this message is needed as much in 2018 – perhaps more – than in 2008.) Jesus’ words seemed to accuse the accusers. If any Read more . . .

Baptists:
“No. 1: MARY ALICE,” the premiere

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Friday evening, I attended the premiere of “No. 1: MARY ALICE,” the inaugural entry in the micro-documentary series, each entry to feature a woman pastor, co-produced by BAPTIST WOMEN IN MINISTRY (BWIM) and ETHICS DAILY. The namesake of this first entry is MARY ALICE BIRDWHISTELL, senior pastor of CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH in Waco, Texas. Accordingly, Read more . . .

Baptists:
Billy Graham: A couple of stories you haven’t heard

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November 7 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late Baptist evangelist BILLY GRAHAM. This brought a couple of stories to my mind. The first is a personal story – one concerning my dad, A. JASE JONES, who served for 22 years (1/1/57-1/1/79) as Midwest Area Director with the Interfaith Witness Department of Read more . . .

Church & State:
Voting Christ’s values – a perspective, part 3: What do Christ’s values have to do with government?

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In part 1, I cited the Beatitudes as setting forth Christ’s values, and added my own comments on how these might apply to the issues we face as we vote in the mid-term elections. In part 2, I cited the passage from Matthew 25, in which Jesus spoke of separating the sheep from the goats, Read more . . .

Church & State:
Voting Christ’s values – a perspective, part 2: The Sheep and the Goats

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In part 1, I cited the Beatitudes as setting forth Christ’s values, and added my own comments on how they might apply to the issues we face as we vote in the mid-term elections. Now I want to move to another passage, also from the gospel of Matthew. In Matthew 25: 31-46, titled in most Read more . . .

Church & State:
Voting Christ’s values – a perspective, part 1: The Beatitudes

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Some evangelical leaders have been quoted as saying our nation elects “a president, not a pastor,” explaining that – in electing a president (and, presumably, other government officials) – they are willing to ignore Christian values in the interest of electing someone who will “get things done,” in other words, further their own political agenda. Read more . . .

Baptists:
TBC’s legacy, my own journey, and a few of the key people in both (remarks to my retirement dinner)

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(Click here for video of the entire program.) First, a few thank yous to: • George Mason and Wilshire Baptist Church, for hosting this dinner • Heather Mustain, for facilitating all of the preparations • Chef Elizabeth Ferguson and your staff, for the wonderful meal • David Hammons for taking care of the sound and Read more . . .