Alan Cross blogs at Downshore Drift where this post originally appeared. It has been 5 years since the Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) Task Force was appointed by then-SBC President Johnny Hunt in 2009. The GCR Task Force, chaired by Ronnie Floyd, gave its Report/Recommendations at the SBC Annual Meeting the following year. The Task Force had 22 people on it, including one Asian, one Hispanic, and one African American. Almost all of the participants were from the Deep South. Did this overall lack of ethnic diversity on the Task Force lead to the GCR Report basically ignoring the issue … [Read more...] about Fred Luter, the GCR Task Force, and the Continued Need for Ethnic/Cultural Diversity In SBC Leadership (by Alan Cross)
Archives for May 2014
Charlemagne
Two Key Men 2 of 2 Charlemagne As I mentioned in the previous post, the Middle Ages gave us some key figures in the History of Christianity. We may disagree with them on some levels, but we are indebted to their furtherance of Christianity. While we may not like to think about the direct link we possess to them, they do serve as the ancestors that we look back upon. I mentioned in the last post about Gregory “The Great.” He was elected Bishop of Rome in 590 and had significant contributions. Many of them weren’t ecclesiastical, but political. Under the direction of the ordaining work of … [Read more...] about Charlemagne
A Time to Marginalize: Some People Need to Be Ignored
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us that all things have their proper time and place. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to … [Read more...] about A Time to Marginalize: Some People Need to Be Ignored
Pornography, Cerebral Plasticity, and Transformation
“Pornography satisfies every one of the prerequisites for neuroplastic change...” psychiatrist Norman Doidge, in The Brain That Changes Itself (2006) I've got this buddy, a counselor for a Christian organization. I got him really caffeinated one day - enough espressos will befuddle anyone save Juan Valdez - and starting prying. "Longest shower you ever took after a counseling session? Biggest loser you ever counseled? Hardest thing for people to grasp?" "Oh, hardest thing to understand? That's an easy one: Romans 12:1-2. Cognitive or mental transformation is a real thing. It happens … [Read more...] about Pornography, Cerebral Plasticity, and Transformation
A Thirst For Knowledge, A Thirst For Porn
A group of guys are sitting at a table arguing about who won the 1984 World Series MVP. If the year was 1994 then the argument would go on until somebody got home and looked up in their copy of Sports Almanac. Today the argument will last only as long as it takes for someone to grab their iPhone and consult the mighty Google machine. Willie Hernandez. Argument over. You want to know something, then you Google it. It’s your God-given right to have this information and it is at your finger tips. We are an information-saturated culture. I’d almost argue that many of us are addicted to … [Read more...] about A Thirst For Knowledge, A Thirst For Porn
I Got this Tattoo to Share the Gospel
The following might be a familiar scenario: After noticing a new addition to your Christian friend’s arm, you couldn’t help but ask what inspired him to pay money to a stranger to stain his skin with a tool forged in the pits of Mordor. (Can you tell I hate needles?) The response might have gone something like this, “I got this tattoo to share the gospel with other people that have tattoos.” It’s important to state that not every believer that gets a tattoo does so for this reason, but many do. And some believers do other things in order to “share the gospel,” like attend certain parties, … [Read more...] about I Got this Tattoo to Share the Gospel
Family Faithfulness & The Lord’s Supper (by Job Dalomba)
Guest Post by: Job Dalomba Each week at Emmanuel Church, we observe the Lord’s Supper near the end of our corporate worship service and personally speaking, it is an emotional event. I am reminded of the forgiveness of my sins and reflect upon the specific sins in which I have been convicted of during this worship service. Coming to the table is an act of faith because we are acknowledging our helplessness to atone for our sins. The body and blood of Christ are set before us and there we face works based righteousness or righteousness found only in Christ. Is my righteousness enough for … [Read more...] about Family Faithfulness & The Lord’s Supper (by Job Dalomba)
Interview With Dr. Dennis Kim, Candidate for President of the SBC (by Alan Cross)
I recently had the opportunity to ask some questions of Dr. Dennis Kim, pastor of Global Mission Church of Greater Washington. Dr. Kim is being nominated for the office of president of the Southern Baptist Convention in Baltimore, MD in a couple of weeks by Rev. Dwight McKissic of Cornerstone Baptist Church (Arlington, TX). After being introduced to Dr. Kim via email through a mutual friend, he has graciously agreed to answer my questions regarding his life, ministry, and nomination for SBC president. Dr. Kim's nomination is the definition of a grass-roots pick, as he was approached by a group … [Read more...] about Interview With Dr. Dennis Kim, Candidate for President of the SBC (by Alan Cross)
The Kissing Cousins of Divorce and Heresy (by Joel Rainey)
Joel Rainey is the Director of Missions at Mid-Maryland Baptist Association, an adjunct professor at Capital Bible Seminary and blogs at Themelios (Twitter - @joelrainey). Last month, the Christian music community was shocked to hear of the pending divorce between musicians Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken. After 13 years of marriage, the couple announce the dissolution of their union due to Derek's infidelity. As a pastor of more than 20 years, my heart breaks every time I hear of a couple splitting up. I've been in those counseling rooms, and the visceral emotions and long-term damage … [Read more...] about The Kissing Cousins of Divorce and Heresy (by Joel Rainey)
A Memorial Day Tribute (by CB Scott)
America is at war. As of yesterday, 05-24-14, the number of men and women of the American Armed Forces who have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan was 6,805. It is highly possible that before anyone reads this post another father or mother will be notified that their daughter or son will not be coming home. Another young wife or husband may get the news that his or her spouse paid the ultimate price. A little boy may learn that his daddy will never coach him in Little League again. Some little girl may come to the realization that when she gets ready to go to her high school prom, her … [Read more...] about A Memorial Day Tribute (by CB Scott)