The deviled eggs nearly ruined the Thanksgiving feast before it began.   The apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh.  I believe I’ve found mine:  peeling boiled eggs. I grew up in a family of delicious meals, holiday or not.  Almost every one of them featured a crystal tray filled with beautiful deviled eggs sprinkled lightly with paprika. 

Camden, our 6-year-old grandson spent the night last week.  He was sleeping on a pallet in our room. About 3:00 in the morning I heard him get up.  He came to my side of the bed and said, “I just feel like I need to get in the bed with you and Buddy,” so, of course, I let him.

ATLANTA - God can use  prayer for government leaders “to make a difference in our lives.” That’s what the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s Mike Griffin says is the driving force behind the annual Christmas Prayer tour he leads through the state Capitol. Beginning next week, Georgia Baptists will once again have an opportunity to see the Capitol in its Christmas finest while also praying for lawmakers and other political officials.

WASHINGTON (BP)— The U.S. Senate voted to enshrine same-sex marriage as the law Tuesday while rejecting efforts to strengthen religious freedom protections in the proposal. With 12 Republicans joining all Democrats present, the Senate voted 61-36 for the Respect for Marriage Act after defeating three GOP-offered amendments intended to heighten safeguards for religious liberty. By passing the bill, senators voted to repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and to require federal and state recognition of any same-sex marriage considered legal in the jurisdiction where it took place.

Despite the uncertain economy, retailers saw record sales on Black Friday and a similar surge is expected for Cyber Monday. The question now is whether inflation will impact charitable donations on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 29.

MOBILE, Ala. (BP) – A former Southern Baptist seminary professor and his wife have filed suit against the SBC and 10 other individuals and entities connected to the SBC, including Jennifer Lyell and Guidepost Solutions. In a filing made in the Mobile, Ala., Circuit Court, David and Mary Sills allege “defamation, conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and wantonness concerning untrue claims of sexual abuse” initiated by Jennifer Lyell.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The closer it gets to Christmas, the more likely it is church pews will be filled.  Half of U.S. Protestant pastors (48%) say a Christmas Eve service is their churches’ largest event during the holiday season, according to a Lifeway Research study. The frequency of the highest attendance events builds up to Christmas Eve and then tapers off into January. 

This Bible study expands upon the Explore the Bible curriculum from Lifeway Christian Resources. This week's study focuses on John 1:1–14.

This Bible study expands upon the Bible Studies for Life curriculum from Lifeway Christian Resources. This week's study focuses on Psalm 33:6–15, 18–22.

DAWSON, Ga. – Christmas will be merrier for nearly 10,000 kids who will receive backpacks filled with toys and other goodies courtesy of Georgia Baptists. The Christmas backpack ministry – done through a partnership with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, the state’s Baptist associations, and local churches – ensures that every needy child receives gifts. “This is a ministry that our churches have gotten excited about in a big way,” said Ricky Thrasher, the state Mission Board’s liaison to the associations.

The International Mission Board has announced Annel Robayna as the new Hispanic church mobilization strategist, serving with the mobilization department. In his role, Robayna will work with 3,390 Hispanic congregations across the Southern Baptist Convention to mobilize pastors and church members to reach the nations with the gospel.

PEACH TREE CITY, Ga. – Nathan Hill, a North American Mission Board church planter who specializes in starting deaf congregations, will be the featured speaker at a Christmas party in Peachtree City on Dec. 11.

MARSHALL, Mo. – Building Bibles became a community event at the First Baptist Church of Marshall last month. “We turned our Family Life Center into a ‘Bible-Making Factory,’” Millie Randolph, member and mission team leader, said. “We ordered 5,000 Bibles to assemble for the Philippines, but we ended up doing 7,290."

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) – Texas seminary student Mang Siing recently became a part of history when he served as the narrator for the Zo language translation of the world-famous Jesus film. The effort marked the film’s 2,000th available language.

January 27, 2018, was a cool and windy day in North Texas, but one that asked for a bike ride. Ever since a torn meniscus ended his running regimen, Tan Flippin had spent considerable time on a bicycle to stay in shape. That day the then-57-year-old was riding along a stretch beside a subdivision – a stretch that had recently undergone some street repair.

NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.

GRAYSON, Ga. – Marie Still is thankful for all that the Lord has given her, but, this Thanksgiving, she’s even more thankful for what He has taken away. Excess weight. Still has lost 197 pounds over the past two years, an answer to prayer for a bubbly Christian lady who desperately wanted to improve her health so she could better serve Christ.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – About five years ago, Lynnette Ezell and a friend walked into a north Georgia Department of Family Services office bearing diapers. “I made an appointment and said, ‘How can we help?’” Ezell told Baptist Press in a phone interview, recalling the moment she sat down across the desk from a social worker.

Along with being a pastor's wife and a columnist, it is my great privilege to be a dental assistant at a pediatric practice.  I didn’t find out what I wanted to be when I grew up until I was 44.  (Late bloomer.)  Most people despise going to the dentist.  They hate it like, well, a toothache.  In spite of that, helping kids and teenagers have cavities filled or teeth wiggled out (a.k.a. pulled) is my favorite thing ever.

DALLAS, Ga. - “Turn around.” That’s what driver Jack Shultz said he felt God tell him after he drove past New Hope First Baptist Church’s drive-thru prayer ministry on Saturday. Shultz explained that he was in a hurry but asked God to put it on his heart if he should stop for prayer, and he believes God responded.

NASHVILLE (BP) – The first two episodes of the third season of “The Chosen” has begun a 12-day run in more than 100 theaters across Georgia. Series creator and director Dallas Jenkins  told Baptist Press that achieving acclaim and success for the show has never been his motivation.

Alice Holt, director of preschool and children’s ministry at First Baptist Church of Ellijay, was recently honored for 20 years of service.

PINEVILLE, Ky. – The pounding of hammers. The ear-piercing screeching of circular saws. The thwacking of lumber tossed upon lumber. It’s all music to the ears of volunteers working with Carpenters for Christ, a Georgia group that spent last week in Kentucky helping renovate housing at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College outside Pineville.

ROME, Ga. – Outstanding contributions from Joe and Charlotte Ware have resulted in the extreme makeover of Shorter University’s sciences building. Shorter students are now enjoying four new state-of-the-art science laboratories.

This Bible study expands upon the Bible Studies for Life curriculum from Lifeway Christian Resources. This week's study focuses on Deuteronomy 6:1–9.