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Comic Belief: The Blame Game

It started with the first family. Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent. And of course the serpent didn’t have a leg to stand on. The problem, of course, was not the apple in the tree; it was the... Continue Reading »

President’s Perspective: Race, the Gospel, and Politics

As South Carolina Baptists, we have a unique opportunity before us on Tuesday evening, Nov. 13. We have been invited to hold our annual worship service during our state convention at Mother Emanuel Church in downtown Charleston where nine... Continue Reading »

Outside the Walls: Fishing Tips

“Get the net! This is a big one!” There is nothing more aggravating than watching another man catch fish. My father had a knack for knowing where to throw the lure and how to feel a large bass slowly... Continue Reading »

Editor’s Word: What a Great Name for a Pastor

What a great name for a pastor: Church. Wes Church, that is. He is the new senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Columbia, having served on staff for 16 years at the church. Even though he is stepping... Continue Reading »

Comic Belief: Just Say No — I Mean Yes

There is no such thing as self-control. Do you realize you can’t “not” do anything? The more you try “not to do,” the worse it gets. The moment I’m on a diet, I think about Twinkies and Snickers, even... Continue Reading »

Wholly Healthy: Finding Discounts on Prescriptions

Medications aren’t cheap. The reasons for this are many and complicated. For instance, research and development costs, coupled with government regulations, make it very costly for companies to bring new medications to market. Those are understandable reasons for increased... Continue Reading »

President’s Perspective: Essentials of Disciple-Making

The Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay Christian Resources) created a stir in 1990 when the Church Training department became “Discipleship Training.” Discipleship was a popular word then, and our leadership rightly emphasized disciple-making as an essential function of... Continue Reading »

Outside the Walls: Outreach Versus Evangelism

“I just had an amazing gospel conversation! At our outreach block party, I was talking to a man who was having a tough time, and I shared with him about how God has gotten me through tough times and... Continue Reading »

President’s Perspective: The Great Promise in the Great Commission

Over 2,100 Baptist churches make up the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and every single church has a place in God’s kingdom. The vast majority of our churches average around a hundred people on Sundays, although the large churches get... Continue Reading »

Comic Belief: Rise and Whine

A man joined the military, and he was issued his identification tag. It noted his blood type (Rh factor) and his religion. Following his name and serial number were the words “A negative Protestant.” Here are some questions for... Continue Reading »

Worldview: The Imprecatory Psalms

These are the psalms where the author prays evil or invokes a curse against his enemies. The word “imprecatory” comes from the Latin word imprecatio, meaning the “invoking of evil,” or “prayer.” For New Testament Christians, these psalms are... Continue Reading »

Editor’s Word: Detours on the Roman Road

For most of my 37 years as a pastor, I primarily used the “Roman Road” when witnessing to lost people (Romans 3:23, 3:10, 5:12, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-13). It did not always lead to an immediate profession of faith, and... Continue Reading »