FIRST-PERSON: January is coming
Gary Ledbetter laments the tone of division among Baptists displayed in social media over two unlikeable candidates vying for the White House. "It's time to talk less," Ledbetter, editor in chief of the Southern Baptist TEXAN, writes. "It's time to pray more" yet making sure of "your own core beliefs."
BAPTISTS: Reporting on the SBC
Gary Ledbetter, editor in chief of the Southern Baptist TEXAN, assesses the periodic tensions between Baptist leaders and Baptist journalists -- and their shared commitment to advance the Great Commission.
FIRST-PERSON: Life and death, blessing and cursing
Gary Ledbetter, editor of the Southern Baptist TEXAN, voices hope that "some will be saved" in a culture afflicted with "hate for God and love for death." Thousands of churches and millions of Christians still understand "that their neighbors, even the inconvenient ones, bear the image of our Creator," Ledbetter writes.
FIRST-PERSON: About 5 miles down the road
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (BP) -- After the previous day's Supreme Court ruling, a family gathering stirs Gary Ledbetter, editor of the Southern Baptist TEXAN, to note the value of "wrinkled and scarred relationships" that speak convincingly of love and commitment. "They have seen that doing the right things, generally, produces something worth passing along," he writes.
FIRST-PERSON: Pro-lifers, walk & don’t grow weary
Though abortion clinics are on the decline, advocates for the unborn and supporters of pregnancy resource centers must remain vigilant, Texas editor Gary Ledbetter writes.
HOUSTON SUBPOENAS: Miranda rights for Christians?
Gary Ledbetter of the Southern Baptist TEXAN: the Houston subpoena issue is an indication that Christians have been "Mirandized – read our rights" to worship inside our homes and churches but not live as transformed people in a pluralistic culture.
FIRST-PERSON: Planned, and unplanned, pregnancies
GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP) -- Last year was a great year for pro-life Texans, at least when compared with the past 40 years and the other 49 states.
FIRST-PERSON: Homeschooling as a fundamental right of parents
Columnist Gary Ledbetter says an asylum case involving a German family in the U.S. is raising a serious question: Does our government believe homeschooling is a fundamental right?
FIRST-PERSON: Self-control, obesity and stress
As a fellow struggler, I approach the issue of health and fitness with caution. I'm too large and inactive, and I sometimes let worry and stress rob me, and those around me, of joy. So how do I write about the subject without being a hypocritical nag?
FIRST-PERSON: Our man in Alpharetta
GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP)--The announcement of Kevin Ezell as the new president of the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board answers a couple of important questions for our denomination.
