My wife and I would really like to get rid of our dog. We got him nearly 7 years ago as a bribe or our daughter. I'd ripped her out of the only home, the only school, the only church she'd ever know and dragged her across Iowa to Sioux City and it seemed like fulfilling her longstanding request for a canine companion might be a way to mollify her. A friend arranged for us to adopt a 6-year-old, overly-friendly, odoriferous, and incredibly lazy black lab named Tubbs. He's been a part of the family ever since - and a pain in the neck. He's made messes (of various kinds), chewed things he … [Read more...] about Pro-Life in America: Someone Switched the Price Tags
An Evil In America: National League Baseball
Spring Training is in progress and the first pitch of the baseball season is only a month away. It is time to address an evil that goes on in America's National League ballparks every day of the baseball season. Pitchers bat! (That is not a misprint. They actually make pitchers pretend to bat in the National League.) Ridiculous! Some people were created with the ability to hit a baseball and some with the ability to hurl it. We don't ask Alex Rodriquez to pitch, why do we expect CC Sabathia to bat during interleague play? It is a violation of nature. Sure, there is an exception to the … [Read more...] about An Evil In America: National League Baseball
Divorce, Remarriage and Ministry: Paul’s Groundbreaking Teaching – 1 Corinthians 7:10-24
NOTE: I have just released a book which compiles (and edits and expands) these posts. It is called "Disqualified? What the Bible Says about Divorce, Remarriage and Ministry." It is available on Amazon.com. The Kindle version will be released in the next couple of days - not sure what the hold-up is there. This book reviews the biblical evidence on divorce and remarriage, beginning with the cornerstone in the Old Testament - the twin principles of God's intent of marriage as a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman and the understanding of the brokenness caused by sin. It then lays the … [Read more...] about Divorce, Remarriage and Ministry: Paul’s Groundbreaking Teaching – 1 Corinthians 7:10-24
Divorce, Remarriage and Ministry: Were Paul’s Views Scripture or Opinion?
NOTE: I have just released a book which compiles (and edits and expands) these posts. It is called "Disqualified? What the Bible Says about Divorce, Remarriage and Ministry." It is available on Amazon.com. The Kindle version will be released in the next couple of days - not sure what the hold-up is there. This book reviews the biblical evidence on divorce and remarriage, beginning with the cornerstone in the Old Testament - the twin principles of God's intent of marriage as a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman and the understanding of the brokenness caused by sin. It then lays the … [Read more...] about Divorce, Remarriage and Ministry: Were Paul’s Views Scripture or Opinion?
The “GCB” Debate: An Apology, a Plea, an Aspiration
It has been nearly a week since the Task Force reported its findings to the Executive Committee of the SBC and it is safe to say a lively discussion has ensued. Several people have commented here that the issue of the name change is not that significant and that we should be talking about other things. That may be so, but there is no question that there has been a great deal of interest generated here on the topic. In terms of page views, Tuesday was our busiest day ever, last week was our busiest week ever, and February is already our busiest month ever even though it is only the 27th of … [Read more...] about The “GCB” Debate: An Apology, a Plea, an Aspiration
Can You Help Me – I May Get Fired
I realized this morning during Sunday School that I had a very small split in my trousers. I thought I was good to go. After our second service (where I stood at the front with my back to the crowd the whole time) I realized my pants were split pretty much all the way. I'm not sure how much of myself I exposed to my congregation this morning, but I don't think even Lydia or Rick are looking for that type of transparency in leadership. I really wish I'd worn the Spiderman suit. … [Read more...] about Can You Help Me – I May Get Fired
Did the Task Force Violate SBC Bylaws?
Howell Scott, in the comment stream on Rick Patrick's article, "Informal Descriptor or Officially Approved Optional Replacement Name"used SBC Bylaws section 19 as proof that Bryant Wright's appointment of the Name Change Task Force was inappropriate. I would like to take a moment and address the specific issues that Howell raised. I am not a lawyer, nor some kind of constitutional expert, but I do believe that Howell's interpretation is faulty here. He is using a section of the bylaws that has nothing to do with this task force and using faulty reasoning to condemn the task force … [Read more...] about Did the Task Force Violate SBC Bylaws?
Identify that Superhero…
Is this: Joe Blackmon? David Worley? Dave Miller? I'll never tell! … [Read more...] about Identify that Superhero…
Why I Like “Great Commission Baptists”
Let me start this with a of honesty. I chose the word "like" instead of "love" for a reason. I don't love this solution. In my perfect world, we'd be voting to actually change the name of our convention to "Great Commission Baptists" instead of just adding it as a designation. Like Dr. Paige Patterson, I've wanted to see our regionally-focused name replaced for a long time. But the Task Force determined (and from what I have seen, rightly so) that a name change would cost so much and be so legally difficult that whatever benefits might come from it were not worth it. So, we are going to … [Read more...] about Why I Like “Great Commission Baptists”
Observations on “Great Commission Baptists”
For more info, here is the link to the BP article. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=37224 1) This should come as a surprise to those who thought there was some kind of pressure to force an agenda on everyone. They studied the issue and came up with what they think is a "win/win." Reasonable folks without an agenda came to a reasonable decision. 2) When you see the wide range of Baptist leaders who support this (Al Mohler, Paige Patterson - about as far apart on Baptist issues as you can get) it has a good chance to pass. 3) The name will not be a legal change or even a dba. … [Read more...] about Observations on “Great Commission Baptists”