The Transylvania Times -

A dispute arose among (the disciples) as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But (Jesus) said to them, “The Kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority are called benefactors. But not so with... — Updated 9/9/2020

(This column is the second in a series based on the work of Walter Wink) In my last column I wrote about a biblical worldview enumerated by Walter Wink, former professor of biblical interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in... — Updated 8/26/2020

This column is the first in a series based on and expanding the seminal work of Walter Wink who was professor of biblical interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City. He is remembered for his trilogy on the... — Updated 8/12/2020

According to projections from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, if 95 percent of Americans were to wear masks in public, more than 33,000 lives will be saved by the end of September.... — Updated 7/29/2020

Might we be a spy and not know it? No, not a spy that works for an intelligence agency. I am referring to the way we survey the behavior of loved ones. This was especially true regarding my sons. I watched them. My attention was... — Updated 7/15/2020

“Just Mercy” is a compelling movie. We see how prejudice was embedded in southern culture and how attitudes towards blacks left a legacy of psychological and social trauma. The storyline is about the exoneration of Walter... — Updated 6/24/2020

Jeremiah, one of the greatest prophets of Hebrew scripture, proclaimed a message of sorrow and hope as well as judgment about the apostasy of his country. Jeremiah lived during a time of tremendous upheaval for the Hebrews. The Bab... — Updated 6/12/2020

The Torah begins with a journey. Avram and Sarai, who will become Abraham and Sarah, hear a voice that urges them to embark on a journey to an unknown land. They are addressed directly by YHVH, the Lord: “Go to yourself, leave... — Updated 5/27/2020

Writer John Powell, author of the book “Why Am I Afraid to Tell You Who I Am,” tells how he and a friend of his were strolling down a New York City street, a walk the two took frequently. They stopped at a newspaper vendor’s... — Updated 4/8/2020

By Dr. John Campbell I want to send a letter of resignation. Resign from playing God! Resign when I find myself trying to resolve imaginary problems that reside in the future. When I insist on solving ones that are unsolvable with... — Updated 3/12/2020

Editor’s Note: This column is written to honor Black History Month. When I called Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves’s office in early February a secretary answered the phone. After identifying myself, she asked me where I was... — Updated 2/26/2020

Are we not apt to judge people and ourselves as either good or bad or at the least a mixture of both? Jesus didn’t. Jesus made a profound psychological point about people in the parable of the good Samaritan. He suggested that... — Updated 2/12/2020

One of my joyful memories is history classes with Dr. Richard Zuber at Wake Forest University. I had been invited by history department professors to take part in the Senior Honors program in history. I became a member of a small... — Updated 1/29/2020

Over the holidays I saw the movie, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” starring Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers. The movie is based on the story of Fred Roger’s relationship with a reporter who was assigned by “Esquire” to... — Updated 1/15/2020

North Carolinian William R. Davie was a delegate to the Federal Convention and a proponent of the impeachment clause in the Constitution. He said that, “If he (the president) be not impeachable whilst in office, he will spare no... — Updated 1/2/2020

A young boy had to read a line in class: “Sir Walter Raleigh was a gentleman. He laid his cloak upon the muddy road so the lady wouldn’t soil her shoes when she entered the carriage.” When he read the line, the boy stumbled:... — Updated 12/19/2019

l Have you heard the story “Welcome to Holland”? Written by Emily Perl Kingsley, the parent of a child with Down Syndrome, it’s about the experience of having your life’s expectations turned upside down: “When you’re go... — Updated 11/6/2019

Sunday, Oct. 6, was World Communion Sunday. Members of our congregation celebrated the Lord’s Supper with thousands of Christians the world over. That experience is always touching for me. When I hear the words of invitation-... — Updated 10/23/2019

Pumpkins and apples are plentiful. The air is slightly crisp. The sun feels different. School busses drop off children at school or home. School supplies line the aisles of Walmart. A few leaves are changing. Summer light at the... — Updated 9/25/2019

You may have heard brief reports about the plight of the Yazidis and Christian groups in Iraq when Islamic State fighters raided their villages. Nadia Murad was one of the many women and children who were captured and enslaved by... — Updated 9/11/2019

The United States has the highest documented incarceration rate in the world, surpassing China, North Korea and Russia. In 2008 the United States had around 24.7 percent of the world’s 9.8 million prisoners but only 4.4 percent o... — Updated 8/28/2019

Sitting around the potbelly stove at Hemby Bridge Country Store a group of men, some chewing tobacco, others leaning in their cane back chairs, would offer homespun opinions, often humorous, about the news of the day. Solve the... — Updated 8/7/2019

The Biden-Harris dispute in the first Democratic debate is old news by now. Or is it? Didn’t that moment represent something bigger about our country and ourselves? Surely, that was a stunning moment. Kamala Harris, Senator from... — Updated 7/24/2019

A writer in the book, “Courage to Change,” caught my attention with this quote: “I will take time to clear my mind of unnecessary, hurried thoughts. There seems to be a limited amount of space in my mind until I do. But when... — Updated 7/3/2019

Caroline Weldon. Ever heard of her? I hadn’t either until I saw the movie, “Woman Walks Ahead.” The title is taken from a name given to her by the Lakota tribes of the Dakotas. After watching the movie, I wanted to find out... — Updated 6/19/2019