James L. Evans - Decaturdaily.com

Sharing God’s concern for the poor

There is a constant refrain in the faith tradition shared by Jews and Christians. It begins with the Law of Moses, flows through the prophets, and finds perfect expression in the teaching of Jesus. … more

11/6/09 | 173 views | 2 comments

The unfinished business of the civil rights movement

In “Parting the Waters,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning story of the early years of the civil rights movement, Taylor Branch describes some of the differences between Dr. King’s goals and those of … more

10/30/09 | 190 views

‘The Lost Symbol’ is not the only thing lost

I just finished Dan Brown’s latest thriller, “The Lost Symbol.” Don’t worry. I’m not going to give anything away. I will say that the book is a real page turner in the same spirit as his … more

10/23/09 | 278 views

Controlling the words, part two

I wrote recently about the growing furor over plans to update the New International Version of the Bible with gender neutral language for God. Instead of the more familiar “Father,” God would … more

10/16/09 | 274 views

Separation of church and Jesus

Several years ago a friend of mine was working as a youth minister for a church that was exuberantly evangelistic. The pastor spoke eloquently and often about “winning the world for Christ.” … more

10/9/09 | 362 views

Stealing money for health care

I have written a few columns recently suggesting that health care reform is not only needed, but is also a moral imperative. It is a gross national sin for us to have the medical resources we have … more

10/2/09 | 357 views

Pain of loss, punishment and God’s judgment

In August, the national convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America met in Minneapolis. On the first day of their meeting, a freak tornado struck the downtown area. The storm toppled the … more

9/25/09 | 437 views

Religious right: A movement in search of an issue

At the end of 2008, the religious right was in tatters. It appeared that many Americans had grown weary of the constant negative messages emanating from right wing religious leaders. Lions of the … more

9/18/09 | 669 views | 3 comments

Controlling the words while translating the Bible

One of the most popular biblical translations among evangelical conservatives is the New International Version. Introduced in 1978, and immediately endorsed by Billy Graham, the NIV has sold more … more

9/11/09 | 553 views

Legislating protection from above

When it comes to Homeland Security, folks in Kentucky are not fooling around. Forget hiring more police officers or beefing up the resources of the National Guard. James L. Evans In … more

9/4/09 | 775 views | 5 comments