Archives for 2014

Last November I went to Senegal—one trip in a series by which our church is trying to take the gospel to an Unengaged, Unreached People Group. While living among our people group, we stay in tents that we pitch in the Community Center. This building houses the offices of the rural community's President, Vice-President, and Secretary. A "rural community" in Senegal is something like a township in some US states, and they elect officers. God has blessed us with a good relationship with the President and the Vice-President of the rural community. The President is a believer, and on that very trip … [Read more...] about My Own Miracle Story

Among the more interesting books I've recently read is Miracles by Eric Metaxas. Together with several members from my church, I recently heard Metaxas at an event at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and purchased a copy of the book (which he graciously autographed). I finished it a couple of days ago. Few books have both thrilled and puzzled me as much as this one. The overall design of the book is deductive-inductive. The first few chapters propose an deductive case for the possibility of the miraculous. From the current state of theoretical physics and from the philosophical … [Read more...] about A Case for the Miraculous?

Blogging plans are always a little bit loose. Something could come up - breaking news, a Baptist scandal, or something. Anything can happen. But barring some huge event, I'm not planning to hang out here at SBC Voices much over the next few days. I'll probably stop in to check on things a time or two. I'll try to get back into the swing of things on Monday. SBC Voices contributors - "Post 'em if you got 'em" rules apply. If you have something you want to post, put it up. Don't step on someone else's post. If there is another post up, make sure it gets 5 or 6 hours before you post yours - … [Read more...] about Have a Happy Thanksgiving – See You Monday

Black Friday was always a Festival for Mammon, a bastion of commercialization and evidence of the crassness and materialism of the American people. The rush when they open the doors at Best Buy was something amazing to see, in those days when I was on dawn bargain patrol. We used to try to get a couple of hours of sleep then head over to the local Best Buy about or so in the morning to get in line for the 6 AM opening melee. Then the opening was moved to 5 AM and we had to pretty much spend the night outside the store. Something changed for me when they they moved the opening up to midnight … [Read more...] about Just Say No – A Suggestion about Black Friday Encroachment

A few years ago I bought Family Tree Maker and a subscription to Ancestry.com. I tracked my ancestors back to Europe (I am a descendent of the Merovingian kings – you should show some respect). The Millers come from Carbon County, Pennsylvania, but I couldn’t find when they emigrated from Germany. The Pratts, my mom’s side, settled in St. Louis in the mid-1800s. One branch of the family came over on the Mayflower and ended up in Piscataway, NJ. It was a fascinating study. What I didn’t find in any of this was a slave owner. There were a couple of branches that lived in Virginia, so you … [Read more...] about Am I Guilty for America’s Racist Past?

I saw this link and went to Benjamin Watson's Facebook site. He is a tight end for the New Orleans Saints. I have to admit I'd not heard of him prior to this, but I think it's about the best statement I've seen on the Ferguson tragedy.   At some point while I was playing or preparing to play Monday Night Football, the news broke about the Ferguson Decision. After trying to figure out how I felt, I decided to write it down. Here are my thoughts: I'M ANGRY because the stories of injustice that have been passed down for generations seem to be continuing before our very eyes. I'M … [Read more...] about From a FOOTBALL Player? Benjamin Watson on Ferguson

Although I disagree with the Darren Wilson verdict as I understand the facts of this case, I am committed to the notion that a jury verdict must be respected and responded to with civility and restraint, even when there is vehement disagreement. Therefore, I deplore and decry the rioting, looting, violence, burning, anarchy, and acts of disrespect, rebellion, and violence exhibited toward police and civil authorities in Ferguson, and elsewhere. I am absolutely convinced that Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin would both be alive if the persons that killed them had not profiled them. Darren … [Read more...] about Keeping the Faith in Spite of Ferguson (by William Dwight McKissic, Sr)

Thick, black smoke billows from a burning car in Ferguson, Missouri. A grand jury has investigated the shooting of Michael Brown and has determined that the evidence does not offer sufficient cause to indict officer Darren Wilson for any crime in the shooting. We often use the word "apocalypse" to describe events that are chaotic and destructive. Both adjectives certainly describe 2014 in Ferguson. First came the shooting. Then came the riots. Two other young black men have died in the Greater St. Louis are in the meanwhile. The Missouri National Guard had to intervene. The Department of … [Read more...] about Ferguson Apocalypse

Confession time – many of you have followed the events in Ferguson, Missouri, a lot more carefully than I have. I have followed the story but not delved into every eyewitness report or followed the debates closely. I did, however, follow the news coverage Monday and watched the St. Louis County DA’s press conference. I have a few opinions and observations that I’d like to proffer for your consideration. It is with great trepidation that I wade into this quagmire. Racial issues can be explosive, even on a Baptist blog. But here’s my take. 1) Justice was done in St. Louis County. I saw … [Read more...] about Observations on the Ferguson Tragedy