The word “sermon” comes from an old Latin word meaning “discourse.”  But a sermon is far more important than a speech.  A properly prepared and delivered message is a powerful thing – God’s truth delivered through the voice of a herald.   In most church services, the sermon is a central element.  It’s too important to cut-and-paste.  It deserves focus, skill and passion.   So how do you preach a sermon that is faithful to the text, honors God, and... Read more

One of the greatest highlights of the National Prayer Breakfast was our visit with the Rev. Dr. Barry Black. Chaplain (Admiral) Black is the 62nd Chaplain of the US Senate. I first met Chaplain Black at Andrews University in the spring of 2010 during my graduation ceremony for the PhD in Global Leadership from Andrews. He was being awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Andrews University and was the commencement speaker the day I graduated. Belinda, my wife, and... Read more

During the week of the National Prayer Breakfast, I hosted a dinner for Buckner friends on Capitol Hill and the guests we invited to the breakfast. Two esteemed friends joined us for dinner and spoke to the group. The first was my good friend, Stan Holmes. He was so kind to invite us to the National Prayer Breakfast. His vision for the breakfast is to gather friends of various faiths and countries as well as leaders from across the United... Read more

I had the wonderful privilege to participate in the 2014 National Prayer Breakfast during the first week of February. I have decided to write about this event on Presidents Day, an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, it is still officially called “Washington’s Birthday” by the federal government. While several states still have individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other figures, Presidents Day... Read more

Pastors and faith leaders from across the country will have the opportunity to meet with several members of the House Republican Conference tonight at the U.S. Capitol. While the Republican Party is no stranger to hosting faith-based events, the “Faith Leaders GOP Meetup” will mark the first formal opportunity in 2014 for religious advocates to take part in a round-table discussion with legislators. Participants will not only receive a first-hand account of the legislative agenda concerning religious freedom, but are... Read more

Governor Jeb Bush, Governor Mike Huckabee, Dr. Nicole Baker Fulgham, Dr. Karen Swallow Prior, Catholic Educators, encouraged by NHCLC support SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), regarded as the leading voice for the 16-million-strong Hispanic American Evangelical Christian community, today joins Christian and conservatives in their support of the Common Core State Standards. The NHCLC, called “America’s Largest Hispanic Christian Organization” by TIME magazine, is rallying its 40,000 member churches and Hispanic... Read more

January marked the anniversary in American history of the enactment of a law granting Puerto Ricans complete U.S. birthright citizenship. The 1940 Nationality Act, which became effective January 13, 1941, applied the rule jure solis to persons born in Puerto Rico after that date. In other words, they were considered “natural born” U.S. citizens with full rights, thus opening up a world of possibilities for those once seen as strangers in this land. As we consider the millions of Latinos... Read more

About 10 days ago I had the privilege to participate in the launch of Greater Dallas Movement Day, a gathering of over 1,400 leaders from the Christian faith community representing business, government, social services, education, and congregational contexts. We experienced a major victory in the gathering of this group to make new friendships, to learn about each other, and to consider how we might work together to improve our city. We tackled a number of issues and met by affinity... Read more

Letting Justice Flow As headlines swirl with news of the recent expiration of unemployment benefits for thousands of individuals, many have asked what role the church should play in helping to meet the needs of those hardest hit by the country’s economic downturn. As we grapple with this tough issue in our respective communities, let us not forget that God dealt with the issues of poverty and justice first. Why else would these topics be mentioned over 2100 times within... Read more