Archives for December 2013

It may have been lost on us who hang out in only Baptist circles that our brothers and sisters in the United Methodist Church (UMC) had a fairly serious dust up last month.  For me, I have many friends in the UMC, some of whom are ordained by the church.  In fact, it was one of my ordained friends that passively brought my attention to the situation when she posted on her Facebook page a request for people to pray for the situation.  Furthermore, my wife and I have United Methodist ties in our past.  So, I am always interested about what's going on with that denomination.  Indeed, all of us … [Read more...] about 7 Reflections on the United Methodist Church’s Discipline Against Rev. Frank Schaefer

I am woefully late on this one, but we are nearing the end of our Fat Pastor, Fit Pastor Challenge. Some months ago, a number of our regulars committed to trying to lose some weight. We've been weighing in and checking our progress. The Challenge ends on December 31. So, anyone having success? Some of you (like me) finding the stuggle overwhelming? I've been doing a lot of walking recently, but the last week hasn't been quite as good. I need to be consistent in exercise - that is a key for me. So, guys, how's it going? You still have a few weeks, but the holiday battle is great  - … [Read more...] about Fat Pastor, Fit Pastor: Down the Holiday Homestretch

I love the Christmas season, joy and cheer for everyone except those who are upset by everything they see.  Yes, Christmas has become big business and it can be all about the "stuff" but we can't let the joy of the season be overshadowed by the anger we shouldn't be expression so loudly, especially when we focus on what the hubbub is all about.  It seems every year the Christians are upset about something, and making a point to share their anger.  I remember a call to boycott Hallmark one year because they didn't have Jesus on the Christmas cards.  Let's look at a few things we have seen … [Read more...] about Paganism, Holidays and X-Mas. Tis the Season for Angry Christians.

VIII. The Lord's Day The first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities on the Lord's Day should be commensurate with the Christian's conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark 2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3,33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1,19-28; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-10; I Corinthians 16:1-2; Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10. FBC … [Read more...] about Sunday Night Church: Blessing or Burden?

I have offended more than one of my good friends by my unwillingness to address certain topics, issues and people through the years. Some have wondered if I lack conviction or am afraid of confrontation. The first is seldom true - I'm a pretty opinionated man, more often described by those who know me as dogmatic (even belligerent) than wishy-washy. The second is a possibility. I do not enjoy conflict and I think the tendency to avoid conflict, while generally a good thing, has been one of my biggest struggles as a pastor. But I do not believe that my unwillingness to address certain issues … [Read more...] about It’s NONE of My Business!

It was a terribly sad Sunday. As I stood before the people, preparing to pray with them, I was met with many saddened faces. And yet a few seemed to have a cheery disposition, as if a great victory had been one. I knew what was going on. Clearly our church was divided by the latest controversy launched on the internet. They, like me, had read the scathing article on Friday evening exposing Pastor Celebrity. And so, I knew that the smiling faces were those excited that the latest celebrity pastor had been exposed. Likewise, I knew the frowns were indicative of the sorrow one feels when … [Read more...] about On the Latest Controversy

I haven't written anything on my idea of Woven Theology in a while, and I have watched the Calvinist/Traditionalist debate continue to roll.  I want to through this out today, most of the argument is based on "what" and I find it disturbing.  While the Calvinists have a stronger scriptural argument, the Traditionalist have some points that cannot be overlooked and ignored.  Both of these things fit together, but I am not so interested in "what" but the "why" that drives me. It's never been enough for me to know that something works, I want to know why it works.  When it comes to Salvation, I … [Read more...] about Looking for Why, A Woven Thought

In 2006 I told every blogger-friend who would listen to me, "Of course you realize, by blogging today we are guaranteeing that we'll never work as or be elected to anything in Southern Baptist life, and it might even be very difficult to move from one church to another." Some of us chose to blog anyway, for a number of reasons. Foremost among them would have to be (a) we thought what we were doing was important, and (b) we weren't sure any church, denominational entity, or voting body would ever be terribly interested in using us whether we blogged or not! That's one of the reasons why Dave … [Read more...] about On Being a Blogger-Officer in the SBC

I am really angry about something. No, it has nothing to do with anything here at SBC Voices or with any of my social media interactions. Those sometimes raise my blood pressure, but usually only for a moment. The specifics of my anger are unimportant and will remain secret. In general terms, some people I thought were my friends did something that hurt me pretty deeply and made me realize that they evidently did not share the respect I had for them. Sometimes, I will start stewing about this, and my blood pressure rises until I think it is going to boil over. I think about whether I should … [Read more...] about Anger: A Growth-Killing, Soul-Chilling Sin