Posts by BBC

Many people enjoy following the men’s college basketball tournament that continues this weekend. Amazingly approximately $6 billion dollars is wagered on March Madness. If you watch the players closely, many of them talk a lot on the court. There is a lot of trash talking and boasting that goes on. This type of behavior is…

Over the last decade as American men and women have been serving and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan some of their funerals here in the United States have been protested by a small group of misguided people who are largely from one family. The fact that the leader of the group calls himself a pastor…

Mark records fewer words of Jesus than any of the other Gospels. The first half of Mark (1:1-8:26) is about the person of Christ. Jesus moves through Galilee with power and compassion. He is almost constantly active and his growing popularity is met by growing opposition. Jesus is frequently telling people he has healed or…

Tonight are the Academy Awards, Hollywood’s annual celebration of itself. I’ve always liked movies so I will probably watch at least some of it. One of the things you sometimes hear at a key point in a movie is. “I’ve got good news and bad news.” This is true not only in movies but sometimes…

Traveling as I did the last two weeks provides the opportunity to observe and listen to other people. On February 2, after attending a three day gathering in Florida with American Baptist pastors, spouses, and denominational leaders, Jill and I settled into our seats on the plane that would bring us home. Seated in front…

Mark 5:1-20 NASB And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, 3 and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able…

But now, this is what the LORD says he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;  I Have summoned you by name; you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will…

 “8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set youb free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending…

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.…