John Pierce’s Blog

TESTIMONY TIME: Jimmy Carter affirms his faith, pays tribute to influences
A review by John D. Pierce Anyone who grew up in church where “testimony times” were frequent will feel at home reading Jimmy Carter’s latest book, Faith: A Journey for All (2018, Simon & Schuster). Indeed the personal Christian testimony of the Baptist layman...

How to ignore Jesus and still call yourself Christian
By John D. Pierce One would think the very designation of “Christ” in Christianity would make it hard to dismiss the life and teachings of Jesus and his call to be faithful followers. But then, Jesus said a lot of hard things about sacrifice, selflessness and...

The unstable ground of limited discrimination
By John D. Pierce Last week the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) staked out some new ground after years of growing resistance to its no-gays hiring policy — approved in 2000 in response to growing threats of funding withdrawal from churches desiring formal action...

Coming soon!
By John D. Pierce Soon the next issue of Nurturing Faith Journal will roll of the presses — and there is time for you to subscribe right here. Some highlights of the March-April issue — along with the superb weekly Nurturing Faith Bible Studies by Tony Cartledge —...

RAIN & CHANGE: A conversation with singer/songwriter Ken Medema
By John D. Pierce For decades musician Ken Medema has moved audiences toward meaningful worship, thoughtful reflection and a lived-out faith with a wide embrace. His music comforts the weary while challenging the self-satisfaction of a too-comfortable faith. Year...

Lessons from being out of place
By John D. Pierce “Have you ever felt like the whole world is a tuxedo and you’re a pair of brown shoes?” That deadpan line comedian George Gobel once delivered on The Tonight Show to crack up host Johnny Carson came to mind last week. I knew that out-of-place feeling...

Ringing the bell for freedom
By John D. Pierce The shiny bell in my home study is beautiful in appearance and sound. But is more than that: It is gift that that reminds me to be bold in “ringing the bell for freedom” — as I was charged by the generous man who gave it to me. David M. Smith of...

Author/pastor Jim Dant offers brief, biblical defense of LGBTQ Christians
By John D. Pierce, Executive Editor of Nurturing Faith Journal & Bible Studies and Publisher of Nurturing Faith Books No issue impacts congregational and denominational life today more than how to include or exclude LGBTQ persons. Some churches and Christian...

Modern Christian purity rituals
By John D. Pierce Unlike Jesus, many modern American evangelicals — who at times feign affection for this particular first-century messiah — fear getting soiled by contact with those considered to be social, racial and economic outcasts. So they work hard at keeping...

The “Be nice” problem
By John D. Pierce Generally, most of us want to be nice — and are deemed nice. We care about people, respect their differences, and we seek to around nice people ourselves. Persons who don’t behave nicely in our society create enough ugliness — with no need for us to...

Handy-dandy guide for supporting a national leader who violates everything Jesus said and did
By John D. Pierce It may seem like a bigger challenge for fundamentalist ‘Christians’ than many have found it to be: claiming to be a Christian while supporting daily political offensives to the basic human ideals of decency, justice, equality and mercy that Jesus...

Pearl stories
By John D. Pierce The world is less gracious today after the death of Pearl DuVall in Cordele, Ga., yesterday. Everyone needs more mature, mentoring people in their lives who lead by words and deeds. Pearl was one of those for me in my early years as a campus...

Remembering Sarah Frost, with affection and appreciation
By John D. Pierce Today, on the eve of Christmas Eve, family and friends will gather in Dublin, Ga., to celebrate the long and remarkable life of Sarah Austin Frost, who died at home on Thursday night at age 97. She was a special person — beloved by many. I was...

Holy interruption
By John D. Pierce The coming of Christ was a holy interruption. It occurred in a very specific place and time — prompting the questions: Why here? Why now? Most of us grew up with idealized versions of the story from a sanitary stable to a cry-less baby to an...

Distinguishing between OK and offensive
By John D. Pierce It is an interesting time to be Christian in America when so much of white evangelicalism has gone nuts. Most baffling is what is considered acceptable and what is not. And the opportunistic preachers and politicians remaking Americanized...

Responding to misguided ‘baby killer’ posts
By John D. Pierce Here’s a new game: Whenever someone posts a sensible political affirmation, guess how many responses it will take before an incredulous person drops the “baby killer” line into the comment stream. It has happened a lot recently following the special...

Tragedy, hope and the peanut farmer’s daughter
By John D. Pierce Sometimes hope comes wrapped in tragedy. Such was the case when Alabama peanut farmer Nathan Mathis stood outside a political rally in Alabama last night holding a photo of his daughter Patti Sue who took her own life in 1995. With obvious guilt and...

Silence is deadly when it allows Christianity to be redefined into a narrow political agenda that promotes discrimination, ignores Jesus and excuses abuse
By John D. Pierce Resistance to alarmism often keeps thoughtful people from sounding needed alarms. More likely they will roll their eyes and hope “this too shall pass.” In doing so, however, such silence allows religiously-fueled alarmists — who fear nothing more...

Better understanding beliefs and practices as easy as A-B-C
By John D. Pierce Not everyone is curious and questioning. Some settle for easy, insufficient answers rather than digging a little bit deeper for truth. For the curious-minded, however, good answers are not always hidden. It’s just a matter of looking in the right...

Caution: Handle with care
By John D. Pierce My mother was not a neat freak — which with four sons would have been an effort in futility anyway. But one thing was always in its proper place in our house. Nothing was ever stacked on top of the Bible. Reverence for the only book with “Holy”...

When does it become a different religion?
By John D. Pierce The religious faith I affirm and practice is not the same as many who use the same brand name along with some common rituals and language. It is simply too different to be called the same religion. The deities we worship have vastly different...

Books blog part 2: Making more
By John D. Pierce This follows yesterday's blog about giving away most of my personal library recently. Sometimes when asked what I do for a living my first response is, “I make up stuff.” Most writers don’t use such a line that might imply not telling the truth. For...

Books blog part 1: Making room
By John D. Pierce Assembling an impressive personal library was a sign of taking knowledge (or at least the perception of knowledge) seriously for my generation of seminarians and up-start minister types. Filling shelves, especially with hefty theological volumes,...

Just pick one!
By John D. Pierce My friend Steve Bean and I grew up in church-going families. As teenagers we found our first “real jobs” (defined by a paycheck with tax withholdings) at the restaurant in a newly opened Days Inn along I-75 at the Georgia-Tennessee border. Our...

It’s Sunday in Athens
By John D. Pierce This Sunday, Nov. 5, as part of its All Saints’ Day observance, the First Baptist Church of Athens, Ga., will remember its longtime former pastor Jon Appleton who died last November. During that service I will present the congregation and the...

World’s best-prepared Sunday school teacher
By John D. Pierce ORLANDO, Fla. — Wise writers avoid superlatives like oldest or largest because some reader usually provides evidence to the contrary. But I feel safe deeming R.L. (Dick) Atkins as the most prepared Sunday school teacher in the world. If anyone has...

Wasted days and wasted nights
By John D. Pierce Jesus’ life and teachings didn’t matter very much. At least that’s the idea one gets from those American Christians who see his only earthly purpose in coming to die as a penalty for human sinfulness — and then rocketing off to heaven to fix up some...

2 great Western experiences; pick one!
By John D. Pierce Nurturing Faith Experiences are unique, small-group opportunities to be inspired by nature, enjoy good company, share delicious meals, stay in high-demand housing in and around national parks, and make some really great memories. Attentive,...

The easy way to tell if a pastor is being ‘biblical’ or ‘political’
By John D. Pierce This time of deeply divisive, partisan politics is especially challenging to church leaders trying to keep their folks together and focused on the greater priorities of faithful living. At least that is true for those good pastors who have not...

One more than the rest of us
By John D. Pierce One Sunday several years ago I was pulpit pinch-hitting at First Baptist Church of Ringgold, Ga., the small northwest Georgia town where I graduated from high school. The deacons, as is the custom in many Baptist churches, gathered for prayer before...

Hawaii experience — just one guy shy
We have filled all spaces for the Nurturing Faith Experience: Big Island, Big Sky set for March 10-16 2018, on the Big Island of Hawaii — with one exception. We have room to add one guy willing to share a room with someone already registered. If you are interested in...

Got a bell? Give a bell?
By John D. Pierce The Christian community at Koinonia Farm in southwest Georgia could use a bell at their chapel. The chapel has been renovated and a bell tower was donated — but no bell. The demonstration plot for peace, people and pecans was founded by Clarence...

Humor and hope: Life with the Kings
By John D. Pierce ATLANTA— “It was the church that made us who we were,” said Albert Paul Brinson, standing in the historic sanctuary of Ebenezer Baptist Church, that he attended as a youth and later served as associate minister to co-pastors Martin Luther King Sr....

Awakened but confused?
By John D. Pierce One Saturday afternoon a few years ago I dropped into Rembrandt’s Coffee House in the lovely Bluff View Arts District of Chattanooga. Few others were there at the time. But just moments later the soft music and slow pace were interrupted by the...

The changing face of sin
By John D. Pierce During my formative years, sin was pretty easy to identify if not avoid. Sin was playing poker, drinking beer, missing a church service (without going to another on vacation and bringing a bulletin for proof), holding baseball practice on Wednesday...

Are white evangelicals agents or subjects of change?
By John D. Pierce Sometimes we good church people like to avoid confronting our corporate failures. We gloss over the racism and sexism at the historical core of American Christianity, particularly in the South We don’t want to face the ways we err — hoping no one...

Reflecting on the ‘Words of Jesus’
By John D. Pierce Had Jesus lived on earth at a much later time his poetic and revealing Beatitudes (in Matthew 5) might have been released under the title “Greatest Hits.” He opened what is called the Sermon on the Mount with these blessings that provide a better...

Praying things don’t get back to normal
By John D. Pierce Flooding in Texas and beyond and Irma’s blast to the Southeast have upset the normal pace of life for millions of Americans, as well as others on some devastated islands. For some the pain is long lasting while for others the wrathful weather simply...

Halfway to Hawaii
By John D. Pierce A very unique opportunity is available March 10-16, 2018 on the Big Island of Hawaii. It will be an adventurous week of exploring creation with a gifted astrophysicist. Paul Wallace, who writes the “Questions Christians ask scientists” column in...

What the Nashville Statement clarifies and why we should be grateful
By John D. Pierce, Executive Editor, Nurturing Faith Journal Much pushback has come from thoughtful Christians and others following the harsh, single-focused condemnation of same-sex relationships and “transgenderism” (as these mostly preacher-types call it) — and of...

‘It’s a birth order thing’
By John D. Pierce Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot of personality traits and behaviors explained in terms of birth order — though such interpretations have been around for a long time. While some patterns are obvious, there tend to be quite a few exceptions as well....

Sacrificing Jesus for short-sighted, self-serving gains
By John D. Pierce It is odd and sad seeing so many American evangelicals giving up on Jesus and choosing a course that affirms their prejudices and justifies their fears and anger. What a strange time to be Christian in America. The loudest voices of selective moral...

A time that can inform our time, if we let it
By John D. Pierce Like cities around the nation in 1960, Atlanta had two daily newspapers. On Tuesday, March 15 of that year, the evening paper, The Atlanta Journal, gave front-page coverage to the arrest of 79 of the 200 African-American college students who dared to...

Seminary to offer M.Div. degree program in West Louisville
By John D. Pierce, Nurturing Faith Journal LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Students at Simmons College in West Louisville will have access to a full Master of Divinity degree program beginning in the spring of 2018, thanks to collaboration between the historically black college and...

Fire and that which follows
By John D. Pierce Warnings are everywhere out West — from flashing roadside signs to Smokey the Bear working overtime. Fire danger is high according to every indicator — and smoke from existing wildfires in forested lands travels hundreds of miles according to the...

Peaks and valleys
By John D. Pierce Yesterday’s drive across Glacier National Park from east to west on the Going-to-the-Sun Road offered breath-taking views. The abundant wildflowers and wildlife along Logan Pass soothed the soul. We shared Psalm 95:3-4, which affirms: For the Lord...

Experiences await us
By John D. Pierce Tomorrow begins back-to-back Nurturing Faith Experiences to the beautiful Rocky Mountains in northern Montana, led by Bruce Gourley, our local Montanan and guide extraordinaire. We look forward to exploring the handiwork of the Creator and enjoying...

Read all about it!
By John D. Pierce The September/October issue of Nurturing Faith Journal is hot off the press. It features my conversation with the insightful and inspiring Guy Sayles of Asheville, N.C. Astrophysicist Paul Wallace considers Galileo’s role in the unnecessary war...

Down in the valley
By John D. Pierce Grief is a deep valley that calls for more than shallow responses. Easy answers, bad theology and one-size-fits-all prescriptions for dealing with grief compound rather than relieve the pain. Rooted in long and effective pastoral experience and...

Patience and payoffs: when the old becomes new
By John D. Pierce Downtown Macon, Ga., has seen many of its historic structures returned to life in recent years — and Frank and Susan Broome have certainly done their part. Their restoration of four older homes near the Mercer University campus brought recognition...

Books that make us better
By John D. Pierce Nurturing Faith keeps rolling out books that are inspiring and informative — that make us better as we seek to grow, learn and live in purposeful ways. The latest two to roll off these presses are well worth reading. Tony Cartledge is a gifted Bible...

Strang happenings
By John D. Pierce To what degree are some American evangelical leaders willing to sell their spiritual souls for political porridge? The answer arrived in a press release this week announcing the upcoming book, God and Donald Trump, by Charisma Media CEO and Charisma...

Thanks, Tony, for 10 great years!
By John D. Pierce Though both Georgia boys who attended seminary at the same time and place, Tony Cartledge and I didn’t get acquainted until we both backed into second or third careers. (Tony taught school briefly before becoming a pastor.) Though latecomers to the...

How Fundamentalism can end up mean — and why knowing so is important
By John D. Pierce Fundamentalism involves attitudes and resulting behaviors as well as beliefs. That most-helpful insight was clarified for me years ago when reading the thorough and thoughtful theological treatment of the subject by Fisher Humphreys and the late...

Rational responses to nationalistic worship don’t work
By John D. Pierce Thoughtful Baptist theologian Roger Olson of Baylor University, in his commentary at ethicsdaily.com today, addresses again the troublesome practice of Christian congregations conducting worship services that elevate nationalism above the worship of...

Confession is hard, rare and needed
By John D. Pierce The trauma on Capitol Hill is fresh and real. One can appreciate how rattled lawmakers have rallied around the oft-foreign notion that those of the opposing party are patriotic Americans with just different, though passionate, political views....

Hard to “evangelize” when you continually alienate
By John D. Pierce Having long ago left most traces of my earlier Southern Baptist identity, I have little interest in the denominational workings that were once part of my life. Also, I resist commenting (usually) on their antics — including their annual summer...

Clarifying religious persecution
By John D. Pierce For many Americans there is a constant need for clarification of religious persecution and liberty. Here is such an opportunity. More than 20 persons attending a Baptist worship service May 28 in Taraz, Kazakhstan, were taken to a police station...

‘What do you do?’
By John D. Pierce A common introductory question is, “What to you do?” The response is usually tied to one’s profession or educational pursuits. Follow-up questions and responses often lead to connections — or at least the sharing of more information. Those in sales...

What if?
By John D. Pierce What if you could spend a day with an active participant and Christian leader in the Civil Rights Movement who was mentored in life and ministry by Drs. Martin Luther King Sr. and Jr.? Such opportunities come along very rarely — and will not be...

‘Lean into beauty’
By John D. Pierce William L. (Bill) Hendricks was a gifted theologian who died in 2002. Long before meeting him personally, I read his books and heard him speak to large gatherings of college students. Though less flamboyant, he reminded me in some ways of Charles...

Big Island, big sky — big opportunity!
By John D. Pierce Exploring the marvels of creation is time well spent. It expands the mind, warms the heart and puts our lives in right perspectives. That’s why I’m excited to announce a new Nurturing Faith Experience, March 10-16, 2018, on the Big Island of Hawaii —...

5 reasons to go to Glacier
By John D. Pierce There is still a little time and space for you to participate in a grand adventure we're calling Nurturing Faith Experience: Glacier East-to-West. Here are five of many good reasons to join us August 5-11. ONE: Sharing great meals with great people....

Join us at Johns Creek!
Nurturing Faith's annual Judson-Rice Award Dinner on Thursday, April 27, in Alpharetta, Georgia, will be a wonderful event and we want you to join us! Executive Chef Chris Harwell and staff will serve a fabulous buffet meal — and a delicious reception before. Jazz...

It’s no time to be liturgical snobs
By John D. Pierce Like many Baptists, the church and denomination that nurtured me practiced worship in ways that no one would confuse with Catholicism. Even lighting candles raised fear that the Protestant Reformation would unravel. Like many Baptists today, however,...

Gullibility often leads to false witness
By John D. Pierce Phineas Taylor Barnum, “P.T.,” for short, may have underestimated the birthrate of suckers. And among them are many who have been born twice. False information accepted and advanced as truth has been around for as long as humanity. However, the...
Educator, innovator David Cassady named president of Baptist Seminary of Kentucky
By John D. Pierce, Executive Editor, Nurturing Faith Journal GEORGETOWN, Ky. — The Baptist Seminary of Kentucky (BSK) has named Christian educator, publisher and consultant David Cassady, founder of the communications and consulting firm Faithlab based in Macon, Ga.,...

Escape to the high country this August
By John D. Pierce What if you could go to one of the most stunningly beautiful places on earth... ...and have all the planning, transportation and other details handled for you... ...in a fun, personal and relaxed way... ...from the time you land until you leave? You...

Spend the day with a ‘living source’ of the Civil Rights Movement
By John D. Pierce While millions visit Atlanta each year to learn about the Civil Rights Movement, few get the personal perspective of a participant in the struggle that defined our nation. That unique opportunity will be available on Thursday, Sept. 14. Dr. Albert...

A good case for a good God — and a good bit more
By John D. Pierce The movie adaptation of The Shack is a wonderful gift for anyone who believes in divine goodness and human redemption. And it’s hard to imagine a greater gift than redemption. Especially those of us from a Christian tradition — that understands God...
Is Bible study worth it?
By John D. Pierce Let’s be honest. A lot of purported group Bible study is little more than reading a few verses and asking, “What do you think?” Often the resulting conversation moves quickly from the biblical revelation to the reinforcement of whatever opinions were...

Meet Lydia — and click, friend and follow Nurturing Faith
Welcome, Lydia Fields! — who is developing, expanding and driving social media for Nurturing Faith now. And we want you engaged in these wonderful ways of staying informed and sharing ideas too! Lydia knows social media strategy and our audience very well. A gift...

Luck and a legend
By John D. Pierce In recent years I’ve spent a good bit of time visiting daughters (or dawghters, as I call them) at the University of Georgia. [I’ll split the proceeds with any lawyer friend who wants to trademark that term.] Their tenures at UGA were separated by...

A nice evening in Alpharetta
Nurturing Faith Publishing warmly invites you to attend the 17th annual Judson-Rice Award Dinner on Thursday, April 27, honoring educator, author and visionary leader Dr. Kirby Godsey. It will be an evening filled with lively music, great food and excellent...

Up or down?
By John D. Pierce Among the numerous emails that land in my box each day are occasional ones from an older man in Virginia continually touting the evils of homosexuality and dispensing misinformation. He needs another hobby. Like many older persons, and a good number...

History — beautifully captured and shared
By John D. Pierce Congratulations to author Cynthia Wise Mitchell, and the history committee and congregation of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church in Birmingham, on the publishing of this beautiful volume that commemorates 60 years of faithful service. Nurturing Faith is...

‘Good Book’ keeps the focus on large, important biblical themes
A review by John D. Pierce The Good Book is a good book about the Good Book. For those not raised on Sword Drills and Sunday school, it is an especially helpful resource for how to approach the Bible, which author Deron Spoo notes can be intimidating and “notoriously...

Shelter of love
By John D. Pierce Bill Davies and I have been friends since my student days in Rome, Ga., when he was a youthful Christian education minister at the First Baptist Church there. So last Thursday evening we had plenty to talk and laugh about over Mexican food — which I...
Q&A with Frederick Douglass
By John D. Pierce Q: Thanks for taking the time to talk today? FD: Sure. It’s been awhile since I’ve done an interview. Q: Well, what do you make of this newfound attention? FD: We'll, it’s a bit surprising, but it seems some of the things I’ve been saying for longer...
Stuff to know and ponder
By John D. Pierce The March-April issue of Nurturing Faith Journal is rolling off the presses soon — filled with original content addressing important and inspiring matters for thoughtful and compassionate Christian living. Here’s a sampling: Discover how a Rome,...
Politically redefined Christian ethics undermines the Gospel
By John D. Pierce Many American evangelicals have radically redefined Christian ethics in terms of mere political opposition to legal abortion and same-sex marriages. Basic biblical, moral standards such as truthfulness, character and compassion have been pushed aside...
Shoot better
By John D. Pierce Not all great photographers can teach their skills well, but Bruce Gourley certainly can. I’m indebted to him for helpful hints along many trails, shores and mountaintops. So Nurturing Faith is pleased to sponsor an informal and informative workshop...
Roberto Clemente’s ‘problem’ is ours too
By John D. Pierce Johnny Pesky, the late Boston Red Sox player and manager for whom Fenway Park’s right field foul (really, fair) pole is named, said he’d seen but one hitter who could get solid wood on the ball as well as his friend and teammate Ted Williams. That...
What threatens American Christianity, and who will say so?
By John D. Pierce Many church leaders face a serious dilemma created by deep political division and even acrimony within congregations. It’s hard to keep Christian communities together when participants are arguing divisive politics online, at coffee shops, and even...
Dr. Bob Cates ‘went about doing good’
By John D. Pierce Dr. Robert M. (Bob) Cates of Rome, Ga., died yesterday (Dec. 28) from recently discovered pancreatic cancer. Our prayers are with his wife, Martha, and other family in grieving his loss. For many hailing from this Northwest Georgia community Dr....
Ministry after the Gatlinburg wildfires has a personal touch
Story and photos by John D. Pierce, Executive Editor, Nurturing Faith Journal GATLINBURG, Tenn. — Christmas lights sparkle and a full moon illuminates the mountain peaks on this cold, predawn morning in the resort town of Gatlinburg. Few others are out and about so...
History matters; so do our words and deeds
By John D. Pierce The renaissance of downtown Chattanooga in recent decades has brought much to enjoy from the North Shore to the Southside — making the choices challenging when deciding where to eat and what to do on a given day. It is a quite different place than...
Turning 200: Historic Augusta church plans yearlong celebration
By John D. Pierce “It will be a year of remembering and celebrating God’s faithfulness to this church,” said Janet Hudson, chair of the 200th anniversary committee, as First Baptist Church of Augusta, Ga., readies for a yearlong celebration of its history spanning two...
Freedom more than courage provides needed voice
By John D. Pierce After addressing a pertinent issue directly and boldly I sometimes receive much appreciated affirmation for being courageous. But the opportunity to write in such an open, unrestricted way is more the result of the freedom granted by those who...
On GIVING TUESDAY, please do!
Giving Tuesday (Nov. 29) comes on the heels of the busiest in-store and online shopping sprees. When Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive, he wasn’t referring to more sweaters and ties for those with already bulging closets. Personal generosity fuels...
Where racism resides
By John D. Pierce Where does racism reside? Ultimately, it finds its resting place in human hearts. And there is even more evidence recently that a large number of such hearts huddle under church steeples on Sundays. Oh, we can ignore such reality in an effort to move...
Supertramp, Billy Graham and Texas Baptists
By John D. Pierce Christianity Today published a recent tribute marking the 98th birthday of Billy Graham. The now-aging evangelist was instrumental in the founding of the publication. In the friendly article (titled “The Remarkable Mr. Graham”), biographer Grant...
Lasting impact
By John D. Pierce We all have those teachers whose impact lasted beyond the final exam. My list of classroom heroes includes Dr. George Braswell. His seminary class on cross-cultural communication has long informed my understanding and practice of relating to those...
Nothing to do with Jesus
By John D. Pierce One significant revelation in this endless political season has been the clear disclosure of “the Christian right” as a political movement having nothing to do with Jesus. Absolutely nothing. And it never has. It’s always been about power, and...
Pickin’ the news
By John D. Pierce Religion news is not an insignificant subset of information for the faithful few (or even many). In fact, religion plays a role in almost all the news that impacts our lives. One service we are pleased to provide is a daily dose of wide-ranging...
Learning to lose
By John D. Pierce After more than 20 years of publishing my opinion I’ve learned to not take the praise nor the pushback too seriously — realizing that only weak writing receives one exclusively or neither. Long ago I embraced the guiding principle that one of life’s...
America’s shallow approach to abortion ignores more than it addresses
By John D. Pierce No topic of discussion creates more heat and less light than abortion. In fact, those who most passionately express their opinions on the matter are usually those who offer the least insight — instead pushing code words and catch phrases that suggest...
Good answer
By John D. Pierce Nothing provides a good night's rest like having the whole family under the same roof. That was my rare and treasured experience last night. A few years ago I casually coined the term "dawghter" when referring to our firstborn — now a graduate of the...
Lessons for children and ourselves
By John D. Pierce Each generation is responsible for keeping alive important stories that can inform and shape the next generation. The children's book, Mr. Tuck and the 13 Heroes: A True Story does just that. It is the account of a 13 African-American students in...
A good man remembered: Howard E. Butt Jr.
By John D. Pierce His name was well known and even more so his initials, bequeathed from his entrepreneurial father. The family’s highly successful grocery business put H.E.B. on the map in Texas and beyond. Often loyal customers refer to the closest of their stores...