Conventional Thinking: Christmas wars & peace
I recently saw a Facebook contest that encouraged people to pick their favorite Christmas song. In an NCAA Tournament-style bracket, the contest pitted 64 songs against one another in a round-by-round process, with one song to win out in the end. While I’m not sure if “O Holy Night” or “Jingle Bells” or “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” (or another) will ultimately prevail, this was a reminder that Christmas songs continue to hold a...
Conventional Thinking: Turkey & table talk
Thanksgiving is here, and that means family members who may not normally gather will assemble around tables to give thanks. This joyous opportunity, though, is often marred when disagreements and debates arise. From politics to sports to religion, there are no shortage of topics these days that can divide people quickly. Christians are not immune to the temptation toward sharp division and disagreement. That’s why it’s important to...
Conventional Thinking: Marijuana’s march
The 2018 midterm elections saw many winners and losers. Yet the much-discussed Nov. 6 vote had one big winner that some people are not talking about. That “winner” is marijuana, which is actually a loser for families and society. On Nov. 6, voters approved recreational marijuana use in Michigan, as well as so-called medical marijuana in Missouri and Utah. Indeed, 2018 as a whole has been a banner year for the advancement and...
Historic: Langston BSU/BCM project brings unity, opportunity
LANGSTON—Wednesday, Oct. 31 marked a historic day on a historic college campus in Oklahoma. A group of Baptist faithful gathered at the newly remodeled Langston University Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) Building for a special noonday and building dedication event. eaders with the Oklahoma Baptist State Convention (OBSC) and the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO) joined with Langston students and new and longtime...
Conventional Thinking: It’s time
Let me admit something. I did not grow up being involved in Southern Baptist life. In fact, I did not attend the annual meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention or the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO) until I was well into my 20s. It’s not because I was out of church. I was saved as a child and in church for the most part, but my involvement was minimal and certainly not far-reaching. When I finally did decide to...
