By Chris Turner
Director of Communications, TBC

Tennesseans are a pioneering people, and a hearty people. It took resolve to come over the Appalachian Mountains and settle a wild and rugged territory. It took a greater resolve, bolstered by a deep commitment to Jesus Christ, for Tennessee Baptists to root the gospel in the hearts of people and stay at Great Commission work in the face of daunting challenges. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Everyone knows the analogy of the frog in the kettle. Put a frog in a kettle of water and it is happy as can be. Slowly but surely turn the temperature up and before the frog knows it the kettle is boiling and the frog is cooked.

Christians, the kettle is not only boiling, it has boiled over.

If you don’t believe it, consider the case of former Atlanta fire chief Kelvin Cochran. [Read more…]

By Todd Brady
Vice President, Union University

Throughout the fall, the nation’s eyes have been riveted on Ferguson. Our focus was again zoomed in on Ferguson last Monday night as my wife and I stood with bated breath in front of our kitchen television awaiting the Grand Jury’s decision concerning the sad happenings of this past summer.

For the last four months, tensions have tightened and emotions have escalated as community leaders and individuals on the street have continuously shared their opinions about the situation. [Read more…]

By Randy C. Davis
TBC Executive Director

You’ve just gotten off a flight. It was delayed leaving, cramped while flying, and late landing. You trudge to the luggage carousel fully expecting to file a lost luggage claim. After a long wait, there it is, riding the conveyor a bit tattered or dirty from where it was dropped on the ground.

“Well, at least my luggage made it,” you mumble to no one in particular. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

The Baptist and Reflector celebrates a milestone in 2015 — its 180th anniversary.

On Jan. 1, 1835, the first copy of THE BAPTIST (the forerunner of the Baptist and Reflector) rolled off the press. See replica of the first issue on this page.

Former B&R Editor Fletcher Allen compiled a history of the paper (Telling the Truth in Love)which was published in 2005.

In his “prologue” Allen recounted a portion of a letter received by the B&R when it celebrated its 140th anniversary in 1975. [Read more…]

By Jim Burton
Contributing Columnist, B&R

Sometimes a critical health diagnosis may be short-lived and the patient returns to good health. Then there are times when the news forces an individual to face their mortality.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has had an extraordinary amount of exposure due to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge earlier this year. Today, more people are aware of the disease associated with Lou Gehrig.

But do they understand what it means for the individual — and their family — who receives the diagnosis? [Read more…]

By Mike Glenn
Pastor, Brentwood Baptist, Brentwood

I was trained to write thank you notes. Whenever someone gave me a gift or showed me an act of kindness, my mother would sit me down and watch as I wrote my thank you note.

The penmanship had to be up to standard; the wording precise and sincere. Now, if someone gives me a gift, I can’t enjoy it until I write a thank you note. [Read more…]

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — Though Christians hold strict views of behavior in light of sin, they should be sensitive to the many people who are depressed and realize that “depression is real,” according to Art Webb, counselor at Watauga Baptist Association.

The mental illness of depression is not only real, but it and other mental illnesses are exacerbated by the demands of the holidays, agreed Webb and two other counselors at Tennessee Baptist association offices. [Read more…]

By Randy C. Davis
TBC Executive Director

I don’t believe there is a more emotionally exhausting time throughout the year than the Christmas holidays. First, there’s all the cheer. What’s not to love about this time of year? The music, the decorations, the family time, the seasonal treats that are (unfortunately) everywhere. It is like festive overload.

But then there is sadness and grief, and the emotional exhaustion that comes from this also being the most stressful time of the year for so many people. For instance, December started off as a rough one. I received news of the tragic death of a young mom from East Tennessee, and then sudden death of a children’s minister from West Tennessee. Two separate tragedies, yet one great emotion: overwhelming and deep sadness. [Read more…]

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

“Love you.”

Slightly more than a month ago our daughter Joanna posted a video of our almost 2-year-old grandson Eli, who is starting to put words and sentences together. When he said those two words, “Love you,” my heart melted.

By all accounts (or at least those of the doctors and nurses), I never should have heard Eli talk. He was born with numerous health issues and spent weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit of a Greenville, S.C., hospital. He was not supposed to live. [Read more…]