Dave Miller

I am a CP guy. My current church gives 12% to missions through the Cooperative Program and that is the smallest percentage of the 4 churches I have been involved in during my 31 years of ministry. A couple of my churches gave in the neighborhood of 20% and my last church was giving near 15% - I believe in the Cooperative Program! I think it is an amazing and genius idea that has enabled us to fund an unparalleled world missions program. I have fought against tendencies to fix our church's financial problems by cutting missions giving - that is the easy way out, and I am convinced, the wrong … [Read more...] about Are We Entering a Post-Cooperative Program Era in SBC Life?

It can always be a little bit of a minefield for a lily-white Iowa guy like me (not enough sun to even maintain a decent tan!) to talk about racial issues. Years ago, my church and my association in Cedar Rapids were making specific efforts to reach out and fellowship with a predominantly black church in town. We had a wonderful joint service. A representative of our state convention was there and stood to make remarks about the meeting. In the process, he made a statement that made me cringe and evidently gave great offense to the choir from the black church. He was simply trying to say … [Read more...] about What I Have Learned from Dwight McKissic about Racial Reconciliation in the SBC

We ain't here! Nothing to talk about! (Oh, and before you ask, I wrote this Monday night and scheduled it to post today!) … [Read more...] about Really? You’re reading blogs TODAY? Go eat some turkey, watch some football. Hang out with your family. Oh, yeah, GIVE THANKS!

I am on my way to Ohio for a family reunion. I won't be posting or paying much attention to blogs. Our contributors may post if they wish, but I don't think they are going to do much either. So, have a great Thanksgiving and I will see you Monday. … [Read more...] about I’m Giving My Voices a Break

(This is the sermon I preached at our two morning worship services yesterday, November 18. I thought it might be an encouragement to a few of you.) Okay, be honest. If you found out that we had bugged you over the last couple of weeks, since…oh…say…November 6, would it be safe to say that we would hear a lot of complaining coming from your mouth? Perhaps some moaning and groaning about the choices the America people have made and some fear expressed at the future of our great land? I have been around a long time and have never seen a time when conservative Christians were as despondent and … [Read more...] about Giving Thanks in a World That Stinks!

This post is the fourth in a series based on the book, "Southern Baptist Identity: An Evangelical Denomination Faces the Future," edited by David Dockery. The previous post, "Southern Baptist Identity: Southern Baptists in the 21st Century" (link - https://sbcvoices.com/southern-baptist-identity-southern-baptists-in-the-21st-century/) discussed Dockery's introduction to the book. On the surface, it seems like a silly question. The SBC is still the largest non-Catholic denomination in America (the world?) and our statistical problems pale in comparison to those that other denominations … [Read more...] about Southern Baptist Identity: Does the SBC Have a Future? (Al Mohler, Chapter 1)

I sucked my thumb.  There, I said it.  My deep, dark secret is now out.  I loved that thumb.  It gave me security and pleasure.  But my mother had a different opinion.  She knew that my thumb-sucking needed to stop and she took it upon herself to end my habit. She got a product called “Thum” and coated my thumb with it.  That stuff tasted bad - I mean really bad. I guess it wasn't poison, but it sure tasted like it. It took all the fun out of sucking my thumb.  The pleasure gone, I gave up a habit I loved. “Do not love the world, or anything in the world.” John, in his first epistle, gave us … [Read more...] about A Bad Taste

This has been circulating on Facebook, so you may have seen it. I begged and pleaded with people to assure me that this is a spoof, some sort of put-on. But it appears to be real. I am speechless. Not sure what to say. … [Read more...] about Adventures in Christianity: High-Fashion Baptisms?

Deep Fry this and serve a little bit of heaven at your Thanksgiving table! … [Read more...] about A Thanksgiving Feast

I am preaching through Acts on Sunday nights and this week I was in Acts 3 where the story of the healing of the lame beggar is told. As I was working on my sermon Sunday afternoon (and keeping my procrastination license current), I had a thought that stunned me, saddened me and challenged me. I would like to share it with you. The story is familiar. A man born without the ability to walk who spends every day begging for alms in front of the entrance to the Temple. Day after day he sits there and nothing changes. Then one day Peter and John walk by and he asks them for what he wants and … [Read more...] about A Lame Beggar, A Lame Religion, and a Life-Changing Encounter