Editor’s Word: Intersection of Slang with Scripture

Slang is a form of speech that has been around for many years, and every generation develops its own unique slang. Some slang continues from generation to generation. But what happens when slang intersects with Scripture? It all depends on what kind of slang it is. God’s Word is truth. Slang may not be. People […]

President’s Perspective: It’s Time to Wake Up!

I announced the theme of this year’s annual meeting last November, but God has continued to shape the heart of that theme over the months that followed. Coming out of the social depression and missional uncertainty of a global pandemic, many — if not most — of our pastors and churches had understandably fallen into […]

Wholly Healthy: Minor Wounds Can Be Big Problems

I’ve seen a lot of wounds over the course of my medical career — some of them from car crashes, others from assaults. Many of them have been work-related injuries or resulted from the use of tools around the home. Still others have been due to animal bites or stings. The injuries I listed above […]

Comic Belief: Sinking Sand

I’m writing this as summer comes to a close. It has been a hot season in Texas. It has been so hot that the dogs are chasing the cats, but they are both walking. We are now in the middle of hurricane season. I have had a lot of experience with hurricanes — in fact, […]

Wholly Healthy: What Is an Ectopic Pregnancy?

I just saw a post on social media that proclaimed, “An ectopic pregnancy is not a real pregnancy.” This was, of course, in response to legal questions in the wake of Roe v. Wade. It was also wrong and confusing. As Christians, it is incumbent on us not to simply be people who scream slogans […]

Outside the Walls: Unwanted Lives

Shelley was an unwanted child. Ruth had longed for a child of her own and adopted Shelley at birth and loved her. Ruth never hid from Shelley that she was adopted. It was important to her that Shelley know that she had been “chosen.” Shelley would wonder at times who her birth mother was. The […]

Comic Belief: S.P.R.I.N.T.

How do you sprint through life? Not with your mobile phone, but with your personality? Here’s how to spell sprint: Get Specific. Life is not lived in general. Life is lived very specifically. Decide exactly what you need to do. You can say that you will have a better marriage next year. Guess what? You […]

Outside the Walls: Nations Moving to Neighborhoods

“Do you have anyone from Asia your church is reaching?” a missionary asked while having lunch with a pastor friend. The pastor shook his head and said, “We have not taken a mission trip to Asia.” “I’m talking about right here in your community.” The pastor looked up from his lunch and asked, “Do you […]

Editor’s Word: The Month of August

Someone recently said, “August is sort of a nothing month.” I disagree with that assumption. It is a hot month, often the hottest of the year for the people of South Carolina. Kids are going back to school and college football is ramping up for another season. The anticipation of autumn begins to influence our […]