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President’s Perspective: God Can Use the Worst to Produce the Best

“The Worst Year Ever.” That’s how Time magazine described 2020 in its December edition, and justifiably so. No one will miss a year marked by a global pandemic, business shutdowns, social unrest, natural disasters, and a divisive election cycle.... Continue Reading »

Outside the Walls: Who Are South Carolina Baptists?

I was having a conversation with my 9-year-old son, Corder, about my new role as chief strategic officer for the South Carolina Baptist Convention when he posed the question. I thought of the complexity of the South Carolina Baptist... Continue Reading »

Editor’s Word: A Year of Hope and Challenge

The year 2020, with all its drama and turmoil, has given way to 2021, with its hopes (one of which is a vaccine for COVID-19) and challenges. Jan. 17 is Sanctity of Human Life Day (some will celebrate it... Continue Reading »

Outside the Walls: The Year of Hope

What Christmas gift from your childhood do you remember the most? The year was 1983. I had given Mom a variety of gifts that she could potentially choose from. It takes a kid a few years to figure out... Continue Reading »

Wholly Healthy: Christmas Therapy

It doesn’t take a physician to say that these are difficult times, resulting in significant depression and anxiety. We have pandemic, social upheaval and political theater. And all of it transmitted to us 24/7/365 on cable and satellite. Worse,... Continue Reading »

Comic Belief: Flashing Red Lights

The children begged for a hamster, and after the usual fervent vows that they alone would care for it, they got one. They named the hamster Danny. Two months later, when Mom found herself responsible for cleaning and feeding... Continue Reading »

Editor’s Word: One Solitary Life

There is a piece of prose that has grown in popularity since its inception in 1926. It is simply titled, “One Solitary Life.” I first came across this in 1971 while taking a New Testament survey course at Anderson... Continue Reading »

Comic Belief: Bath Fizzies, Loofahs and Candles

Legend has it that during the 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy gave a great speech to a large and excited crowd assembled in front of the Alamo, where a handful of Texans had held off a large army... Continue Reading »

Wholly Healthy: Abortion Reversal

Women who are pregnant have the option of terminating their pregnancies two ways. One is by having an abortion procedure. The other, however, is to take pills obtained from Planned Parenthood, personal physicians or even online. Taken early in... Continue Reading »

Outside the Walls: Whose Side Are You On?

I stared into the eyes of my Little League football team. They could taste victory if they would just work together. There was a lot riding on this game for my two sons, including respect, bragging rights, and the... Continue Reading »

President’s Perspective: An Historic Meeting

This year we will celebrate the 199th year of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. This will be our 200th annual meeting. When we look at the history of denominations, this is really an amazing feat that testifies to the... Continue Reading »

Editor’s Word: Election Year

When Barack Obama, one of the most liberal senators in the United States Senate at that time, was elected president, I remember admonishing the church I served as pastor to pray for him. Whoever is elected president this year,... Continue Reading »