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Articles by Barbara Nixon
Interfaith Voices: How to heal a nation in pain Original
It’s a special Fourth of July this weekend as our country turns 250 years old! We are celebrating, as we normally do, with picnics, parades and fireworks. But just beneath the surface, it’s clear we are a nation in pain — divided internally and diminished globally. kAmx’G6 366? 2D<:?8 >JD6=7[ “w@H 42? H6 962= E96D6 5:G:D:@?D 2?5 492==6?86D 2D H6 =:G6 :?E@ @FC D92C65 7FEFC6n” w6C6 2C6 >J E9@F89ED]k^Am k9am!2EC:@E:D> @G6C ?2E:@?2=:D>k^9am kAmu:CDE[ H6 >FDE C6EFC?
Interfaith Voices: How to heal a nation in pain
It’s a special Fourth of July this weekend as our country turns 250 years old! We are celebrating, as we normally do, with picnics, parades and fireworks. But just beneath the surface, it’s clear we are a nation in pain — divided internally and diminished globally. kAmx’G6 366? 2D<:?8 >JD6=7[ “w@H 42? H6 962= E96D6 5:G:D:@?D 2?5 492==6?86D 2D H6 =:G6 :?E@ @FC D92C65 7FEFC6n” w6C6 2C6 >J E9@F89ED]k^Am k9am!2EC:@E:D> @G6C ?2E:@?2=:D>k^9am kAmu:CDE[ H6 >FDE C6EFC?
If child abuse causes lifelong harm, why execute? | Opinion
Tennessee has made clear that it takes the sexual abuse of children seriously.
If child abuse causes lifelong harm, why execute? | Opinion
Tennessee has made clear that it takes the sexual abuse of children seriously.
If child abuse causes lifelong harm, why execute? | Opinion
If child abuse causes lifelong harm, why execute? | Opinion Tennessee recognizes the lifelong harm of child sexual abuse. Christa Pike’s case asks whether sentencing reflects that truth. May 15, 2026, 6:07 a.m. ET Tennessee has made clear that it takes the sexual abuse of children seriously.
Interfaith Voices: Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater
It is indeed a rather old and tired cliché, but the advice “don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater” is what keeps coming to mind when I think about the way religion is criticized and often discarded in our country these days. Please subscribe to continue reading… Barbara Nixon is retired United Methodist clergy living in Albany. She currently offers personal spiritual counseling and leads a variety of faith/belief workshops. This is her 10th year coordinating Interfaith Voices.
Interfaith Voices: Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater
It is indeed a rather old and tired cliché, but the advice “don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater” is what keeps coming to mind when I think about the way religion is criticized and often discarded in our country these days. While there is no denying that throughout history, religion has been used to control people through fear and violence, I think it’s crucial to distinguish between corrupt, self-serving institutions and the precious, enduring spiritual paths they once represented.
Interfaith Voices: How to respond to longstanding conflict in Mideast
My faith tradition teaches me that we are all children of God. Not just the Christians. Everyone. While this may not be language that is comfortable for you or familiar to you personally, it’s one way of thinking about humanity in a more global sense. The lines we draw on maps and the way we define our places in the world as nations throughout history have given rise to so much fear, anger and destructive reactivity. I see this now surrounding the nightmare conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Why time management tips aren’t actually working for you
Time management remains one of the most asked for personal development topics, and for good reason. Time is our number 1 resource…we can’t get any more of it no matter what we do, and there’s always a lot to fit into a very small 16 hour daily window (assuming we sleep for 8 hours a night that is!) But the thing is that time management tips are everywhere. I could list loads right now and you’d probably know them all.
Interfaith Voices: Thinking about why we exist … Original
“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are humans that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:3-4, NRSV) These verses from the Hebrew Bible are among my favorites in all of Scripture. What is my place in the grand scheme of things? Do we matter? Why are we here? These questions always draw me back to my most fundamental understanding of life as a follower of Jesus.
It's all about the baby Original
Several years ago, I was pastor of a church in Boise, Idaho. My drive home from church each day took me past a little gift shop on a busy street. It was a couple of weeks before Christmas when I happened to notice the reader board in front of the shop. It read: "We forgive you. Please bring back the baby." I was intrigued and after a few days, my curiosity got the best of me, and I pulled into the parking lot and stepped inside the shop.
Why I don't quote the Bible Original
While this may seem odd coming from a pastor, I intentionally don't quote the Bible. Of course I do cite Scripture when preaching or teaching, but I never do so in casual conversations. I have several reasons for this. The problem of authorship There are some who understand the Bible to be the direct word of God - flawless in every way that could matter. There are others who say that God is not exactly the author, but those who did write it had a direct line to God as the source.
8 Tips for How to Read a College Textbook
A textbook is not a mystery novel. It’s perfectly okay — and even ENCOURAGED — to skip to the end of the chapter/book to see how things turn out. Here are eight tips for how to read a college textbook: After reading the title of the chapter, read the chapter preview. In here, you’ll typically find a list of objectives for the chapter, which will let you know what to focus on as you proceed. Flip through the entire chapter, reading the headings and subheadings only.
A Magazine, All About *You*
For my PR students at Auburn University Here’s a fun assignment that will help us get to know each other. Since our class is semester is online, it’s even more important to help your class learn more about you since we won’t have the face-to-face time that we’d have in a traditional brick-and-mortar class. Using your choice of software or online service (such as the Magazine Cover creator at Big Huge Labs), create a magazine cover that depicts you (personality, background, aspirations).
“Choose Your Own” Case Study Paper
When my kiddos were young, they loved the series of Choose Your Own Adventure books. Riffing on this, your second paper in PRCM 2400 will be a “Choose Your Own” Case Study paper. At the end of each chapter in your Public Relations textbook are discussion questions. (Some of these discussion questions are ones we’re using as actual DQs in Canvas.
Interview with a PR Practitioner
For this assignment in PRCM 2400, you will choose and interview a public relations professional. In our course in Canvas, submit a Word file with your 500-word (minimum) recap of the interview. In addition to the recap, you’ll need to provide me with the PR professional’s contact information (name, title & company, phone number and e-mail address) at the top of the first page, before your recap of the interview.
Is Your Content Dry as Toast?
Wondering how to take your content that might be a bit dry and make it better for your listeners to learn from? Here are a few suggestions. Tell stories rather than list info when possible Share bold/extreme, relatable examples to stress why your info is critical Are there horror stories you can share that will express the risks of them not paying attention to and using your information? If so, use them.
10½ Ways to Learn the Most in a Virtual Training Session
Even though most of us are beginning to return to the office now, virtual training sessions will continue in many organizations. Here are 10½ ways to help you get the most from a virtual training session. Book time on your online calendar so that others in your organization will know you are unavailable during the training time. PRO TIP: Add in an extra 15 minutes after the class for your own reflection and wrap-up notes on the training.
Interfaith Voices: A look back at 7 years of the column
BARBARA NIXON Seven years ago I approached Mike McInally, the editor of the Gazette-Times, with an idea to create a regular feature for the Religion Page, a column I would manage, offering a rotation of Corvallis writers who would share a variety of spiritual/religious perspectives.
15 Questions Interviewers Love to Hear
An interview is a two-way street; both the interviewer and candidate are trying to learn as much as possible about each other in a short period of time to determine if there is a fit. Sometimes job candidates get so wrapped up in trying to develop stellar answers to questions they anticipate being asked that they neglect the flipside of that: coming up with great questions to ASK their interviewers.
10½ Ways to Learn the Most in a Virtual Training Session
Even though most of us are beginning to return to the office now, virtual training sessions will continue in many organizations. Here are 10½ ways to help you get the most from a virtual training session. Book time on your online calendar so that others in your organization will know you are unavailable during the training time. PRO TIP: Add in an extra 15 minutes after the class for your own reflection and wrap-up notes on the training.
Certified Listening Professional
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Interfaith Voices: Exploring the 'what is truth?' question
Interfaith Voices: Exploring the 'what is truth?' question This is the season of Lent on the Christian calendar, a time of deep personal introspection. This Lent, I find myself asking the question, “what is truth?” — the same question Pilate, Roman governor of Judea, asked of Jesus just before handing him over to be crucified. (John 18:38) We use this word “truth” in various ways.
Interfaith voices: The time to act is now
Interfaith voices: The time to act is now Return to homepage × You have run out of free articles. You can support our newsroom by joining at our lowest rate! Already a subscriber? Log in or Activate your account. Loading&hellp; × Sign Up Today and Support Local Journalism Enjoy more articles from Albany's Most Trusted Information Source. Subscribers can log in for unlimited digital access Like all children who grew up in California in the late 1950s, I learned “Golden State” history in fourth grade.
PR 101 for the Overwhelmed
PR 101 for the Overwhelmed View more presentations from Barbara Nixon Social bookmarks to sites/topics mentioned in PR 101 for the Overwhelmed
Interfaith Voices: Understanding why Jesus was executed
According to the Christian calendar, Holy Week begins tomorrow. Having journeyed for several weeks through Lent, a season of personal introspection, we Christians turn our focus once again to the life of Jesus and all of the actions leading up to his execution. After all, Easter Sunday is a rather hollow, secular celebration with egg hunts and butterflies if one doesn’t appreciate all that comes before.
Interfaith Voices: Understanding why Jesus was executed
According to the Christian calendar, Holy Week begins tomorrow. Having journeyed for several weeks through Lent, a season of personal introspection, we Christians turn our focus once again to the life of Jesus and all of the actions leading up to his execution. After all, Easter Sunday is a rather hollow, secular celebration with egg hunts and butterflies if one doesn’t appreciate all that comes before.
Interfaith Voices: Taking action at the intersection
The word "intersectionality" has its roots in 1980s feminist theory, exploring how intersecting socioeconomic factors contributed to particular kinds of discrimination toward women. It wasn’t added to Webster’s Dictionary until 2017 when, for better or worse, the understanding of the word had morphed.
Interfaith Voices: Confessions of an uneasy Christian
A couple of years ago, I wrote an article for "Interfaith Voices: about the difficulty I had with using the word “Christian” in describing myself. The word had become loaded in the secular world to the point where I felt the need to always offer further explanation of what that word meant to me.
5 Ways To Stop Self-Doubt From Crippling Your Motivation
It’s the simplest ask I’ve ever put out into the world. It’s my one wish for everyone reading. All I want is for you to give your life everything you’ve got. Seeing what you are capable of is my one goal. Seeing how you lived instead of how you feared your challenges is beautiful. I know it’s easier said than done but I know you have more in the tank.
Interfaith Voices: Even half-empty, it's still beautiful
Holy Week, the final week of Jesus’ life, is at hand. The season of Lent draws to a close. For many Christians, these past five weeks have offered opportunities to look at life in light of our mortality: How am I spending my time? What worries or fears are distracting me from living fully and freely? What regrets or unresolved situations have a grip on me? In what ways am I holding back who I am?
Interfaith Voices: Nine rules for the spiritual road
Just a few months ago, the congregation I serve unanimously adopted a set of tenets — statements about our church that they discussed and reworked in small groups for several weeks.
Interfaith Voices: Hard work ahead in the 'tragic gap'
I submitted this piece for publication Tuesday morning, before the election results began to be tallied. I did this intentionally because my thoughts are the same no matter who is elected as our next president.
Guest column: The first call for parent support
When I had my only child, I was living 2,000 miles from those I could trust the most when it came to navigating the unpredictable waters of parenting. Transplanted far from home, I couldn't ask family or lifelong friends to come by for a reprieve, or to demonstrate ways to calm a child at bedtime, or quickly inquire how they handled a disciplinary situation.
Interfaith Voices: There's no doubt about doubts
One of the stories from the Gospel According to John that is frequently reflected on in the weeks following Easter is that of “Doubting Thomas.”Thomas, one of the 12 closest friends and followers of Jesus, gets singled out following the resurrection because he tells his fellow disciples that he’s going to have to experience the risen Jesus for himself in order to believe he is alive.
5 Ways To Stop Self-Doubt From Crippling Your Motivation
Ever had that feeling of doubt that just pops into your mind when you need to think most clearly? Or that niggly voice that keeps whispering that you’re not good enough, or that you really don’t know what you’re doing, especially when you really need to stay motivated? Or you might be making fantastic progress, until you start to question yourself making it a bit more challenging to get going again. If so, you’re definitely not alone.
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