Dave Miller

Owen Strachan had an interesting post last week in which he reflected on another article on the prevalence of boasting in modern social media. I won't repeat it, but I would recommend it if you haven't already read it. He talks about the danger of letting social media become a tool for self-promotion and braggadocio. It is certainly a struggle to walk that fine line. I've noticed something that bothers me. Maybe I'm just being crotchety in my advancing old age. But I've noticed that same kind of struggle in our promotion of our churches in social media. It seems to me that we walk a … [Read more...] about The Fine Line between Praising and Bragging

Saw this over at Denny Burk's site, then followed it to Youtube. Would ESPN intentionally cut away from a Tebow-related discussion because it got too "religious?" I'm guessing this is just a glitch, but it is a very suspiciously-timed one!   … [Read more...] about Did Skip Bayless get Censored for Talking about Tebow’s Faith?

I have been a regular attender at a Southern Baptist church since nine months before I was born. I've been a member of 10 different Southern Baptist churches over the last nearly five decades - and what a turbulent 50 years they have been. I was saved and baptized in February of 1964 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was a different denominational world that I was baptized into than the one I serve in today. I heard the frustration in my dad's voice a few years ago as he talked about his church search in the new community into which he and mom had moved. "I can't find a … [Read more...] about The Tie That Binds? The Sea-Change in Southern Baptist Culture

As I grow older, I understand more clearly what nostalgia is all about.  I remember days when life was simpler, when I had “free time” and hobbies; when I read books for fun; when I shot hoops in the driveway and took naps on Sunday afternoons. Life today is complex. There are bills to pay, yards to landscape, tasks to accomplish, posts to post, pressures to endure.  I hope that doesn’t sound like whining. I consider myself normal in this, not unique. We live in an all-out, pedal to the metal, fast-charging world. I don’t know what it was like to be king of Israel, but I imagine it had … [Read more...] about An Undivided Heart

WARNING: Having just declared my intent to steer away from discussions of Calvinism, I'm going back to the subject less that 48 hours later, now that Frank Page has named his Calvinism Committee (or whatever they are calling it). There is a certain irony intended in the title of this post. I have written forcefully about my disdain for the "God's Man" rhetoric that has been employed by search committee chairs. You can read one of my rants here. I may have mellowed a little, but I still agree with what I said two years ago. I think it is a dangerous tactic to label someone "God's Man" to … [Read more...] about Frank Page is “God’s Man” for THIS Moment (and…the Calvinism Committee is here!)

Trevin Wax posted a 311-word summary of the entire story of the Bible, the story that was at the heart of the development of the "Gospel Project" Sunday School curriculum, which is evidently blowing up! LifeWay has consistently printed the plan of salvation in materials, but in preparation for the release of the Gospel Project decided to rewrite it in story form, appropriate to the purpose of the curriculum. Here is the Bible, summarized in 311 words. Obviously, a summary like this can't be exhaustive, but my view is that is a pretty good attempt. God's Word to You: A Summary of the … [Read more...] about The Bible in 300 Words: The Foundational Story of the Gospel Project

Elijah was on Mt. Carmel facing the prophets of Baal and Asherah.  He waited all day while they called to their gods to bring fire on the altar, but “no one heard, no one answered.”  He taunted them, they cut themselves, they made a ruckus that would have gotten the attention of any god, if that god existed.  Still, no answer came. Then, as evening drew near, it was Elijah’s turn.  He prepared the altar and the bull.  He stood before the people and prayed a very simple prayer.  He asked God to bring fire on the sacrifice to show the people of Israel that Yahweh is God – the only living … [Read more...] about Water on the Altar: Letting God Be God

A Story It was a not-uncommon snowy day in Cedar Rapids a decade ago. Several inches had piled up on the streets and the snow plows had not yet cleared First Avenue. I am a legend in my own mind at snow-driving, loving to slip-slide my way through snowy streets. I drove a small, rear-wheel-drive truck, which is about as bad as it gets in the snow. But I'd learned to handle it and I seldom let snow slow me down. I got frustrated when I got behind a real slow-poke. I mean, this lady was going no more than 10 to 15 MPH. The right lane had been informally plowed by the cars driving down the … [Read more...] about Can We Profit By Discussing Calvinism on Blogs?

Sorry, I drove all night to get home from Cedarville, so maybe I'm a little grumpy. But I just wish Ryan had run for president!  He has the kind of budgetary sense the US needs. If you want to talk politics, here it is. Just be nice.  Remember, I'm grumpy. … [Read more...] about Count Me a Little Annoyed: Paul Ryan Should be the Presidential Candidate!

In the story recorded in Acts 5, the Sanhedrin was furious and bloodthirsty. In defiance of the Council's command the Apostles continued to proclaim Christ and that set them off. Called before this intimidating body, Peter was anything but timid. He called them to account for the death of Jesus, proclaimed the resurrection and announced his intentions to obey God rather than to cower before them. This insolence infuriated them and they were determined to squash that annoying sect. Enter Gamaliel. He was one of the more influential teachers and leaders in Jewish history, even being quoted in … [Read more...] about The Gamaliel Solution: A Way Forward in the Calvinism Wars?