Archives for 2014

Louis has been a regular and respected commenter at this site.  November is the month that our church celebrates “Missions Month.” It is a great time of emphasis on international, domestic and local missions work. We highlight the work of the International Missions Board, other mission agencies, and local work. We hear testimonies from missionaries and people who work with other Christian organizations. At the end of the month we take up an offering, which we use for funding missions activities during the year. I believe strongly that the Church is to fulfill the commission that Jesus … [Read more...] about What’s In a Name? (by Louis)

The young man was absolutely smitten by her. But I knew, and I think deep down he knew, that he was stuck in the friend zone. She considered him a dear friend but nothing more. But she never had the painful conversation with him. She never told him that their chances of being together were about as likely as being struck by lightning and winning the lottery on the same day. And so he stayed in limbo. She knew his intentions but she didn’t do anything with them. She left him always wondering about her intentions. As a result he was never sure if he was totally free to pursue … [Read more...] about A Plea to Pastors and Pastor Search Committees

This is the SBC Plodder at his curmudgeonly best! (He used that term, I just stole it!) It has been almost two full years since I put up a post about how our International Mission Board's Journeyman program, the two to three year overseas program for single college graduates aged 21-26 is completely dominated by females. My humble 2012 post: Young, male, restless conservative SBC seminarians: SNIVELING WIMPS The irreverent phrase that not-so-gently stepped on the little twinkies of our young, single, male seminarians was, "SNIVELING WIMPS." How impolite, and impolitic of Plodder to call … [Read more...] about A personal mission for David Platt in regard to young, male, sniveling wimp SBCers (William Thornton)

I believe that our immigration policy is in need of reform, particularly with regard to Mexican immigrants. Mexicans benefit from coming here to work. Americans benefit from having them here to work. Mexicans coming to the United States are far more likely to encounter evangelical Christianity than they are in Mexico. I have them in my church, as do most pastors in Texas. Ethnic churches are one of the major growth areas of the Southern Baptist Convention. I've only ever heard two arguments against permitting Mexican immigration: One is economic and one is political. The economic argument … [Read more...] about In Defense of Amnesty

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Thanksgiving approaches and there is a lot in life to be thankful for—my family, my church family, and my friends, for starters; all of whom I dearly love. But for a moment I want to … [Read more...] about A Band of Brothers

There has been a plethora of posts and articles opining on the life, ministry and travails of Mark Driscoll. As a part of that discussion, the issue of restoration comes to the forefront. When a minister falls, in whatever way he falls, can he be restored to ministry? Can an adulterous pastor, who repents and is spiritual renewed, eventually become a leader in a church? What about someone who is divorced? Someone who got mired in financial malfeasance? Can a biblically qualified elder (or deacon) who strays from the path and disqualifies himself ever get re-qualified? Or is disqualification … [Read more...] about Can a Fallen Leader Be Restored?

My church has a benevolence fund, and it is my great joy as pastor to be the one who delivers checks to those in need. We've been able to give and give generously to those in the church family who lose a job or have some other family hardship. That is a pastor's joy. It is not quite so much fun when one of the Siouxland "regulars" calls the church asking for a handout. There is a group of people who evidently spend their days calling or dropping by churches to ask for money. I'll be honest, I hate it passionately when one of those folks calls or shows up. I'm not claiming that is the most … [Read more...] about “Can Your Church Help Me with My Rent?”

WHY THE GALILEE GRIGGS MEMORIAL DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF BAPTIST CHURCHES EXISTS By William Dwight McKissic, Sr. Servant/Moderator of the GGMDABC And Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Church, Arlington, TX Impacting the Next Generation for the Kingdom Psalm 145:4 I. INTRODUCTION AND TESTIMONIAL Jesus established the church in order for the church to represent His Kingdom on planet earth. The church’s primary role is to be ambassadors of Christ’s Kingdom. Although the church and the Kingdom are not synonymous, they are interrelated and interdependent. The theme of Jesus’ preaching was … [Read more...] about Concerning the Galilee Griggs Memorial District Association of Baptist (by Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr)

One of the downsides of spending the last 24 years preaching at only 2 churches (14.5 in Cedar Rapids, now closing in on 9.5 in Sioux City) is that preaching over the holidays gets to be a little difficult. My people have heard pretty much every sermon I've got in my arsenal, some of them twice! So, the Christmas season is coming and I'm looking for some fresh ideas and new perspectives on seasonal sermons. Here's some of my observations and thoughts about Christmas preaching: 1) Many of you in the younger whippersnapper crowd eschew preaching Christmas messages (or others based on … [Read more...] about Can Someone Help Me Prime My Christmas Pump?