Dave Miller

My granddaughter is inconsolable today, crying her 7-year-old eyes out. She came out to check on her bunny and found that it had gone to bunny glory. She'd had it for less than a year and to be honest, since she moved to the country recently and got a couple of cats, she'd spent less and less time with the bunny. When she found it lifeless, though, she was absolutely crushed. It would be easy to tell her to get some perspective, to recognize the suffering all around her and to see that in the grand scope of things, one little bunny doesn't matter all that much. I was crying a few moments … [Read more...] about Perspectives in a Pandemic

Seventy-one percent of the earth’s surface is covered with water and I have gone swimming, diving, or snorkeling in as much of it as I have been able. I spent a lot of time in the Atlantic, a little in the Pacific, and have dipped my toe in the Indian Ocean. Never made it to the Arctic. Growing up in Taiwan, I pretty much lived in the Morrison Academy swimming pool in the summer and in college, I took a SCUBA class which took us diving off Palm Beach. We explored “the Wrecks” in about 60 feet of water and did a drift dive 90 feet down in the Gulf Stream. Jenni and I have gone snorkeling in … [Read more...] about “Christ-Active” Thanksgiving

There is a lot of room under the banner of Great Commission Baptists for people who do not see eye to eye on many issues. Some among us seek to narrow the fellowship of Southern Baptists, or Great Commission Baptists, according to their own preferences. If you do not do as they do, prefer what they prefer, vote as they vote, think as they think, you are not a true Southern Baptist. We are an odd and ill-defined fellowship with an ill-defined identity, and so this kind of claim to Southern Baptist identity becomes possible. Boiled down, though, there are three basic aspects that identify … [Read more...] about “Great Commission Baptists” Have a Big Tent

It is the election that never ends, it just goes on and on my friends. Some people started counting it not knowing what it was, and they’ll just keep on counting it forever just because it is the election that never ends… I stuck that annoying song in your brain, so, you are welcome. That may be the least annoying thing I do in this post. Let me share my theme. It is time for Christians, and for Southern Baptists, to honor God by accepting the results of this election with grace. We must stop acting silly and spouting nonsensical conspiracy theories about “stealing elections.” See, the … [Read more...] about Thoughts and Observations about Our Election

I have had discussions with friends recently who asked that question. Many younger Southern Baptists wonder if fighting the fight against the established powers who resist progress on racial issues, who protect sex abusers instead of exposing them, who think our solutions lie in the 1950s and 60s, more than in the NT, is worth it. Why not cut bait and move on? I have seen discussions among minorities who, seeing the way Southern Baptists fawned over a man like Donald Trump, wonder if the SBC has any  real passion to correct its racist past. At times, I wonder too. Of course, those … [Read more...] about Why Should I Remain Southern Baptist?

I'd like to share some observations and predictions about the election here today. Before you take any of my predictions too seriously, remember that I stated with full confidence that the GOP would never nominate Trump in 2016, and once they did, I stated here that Trump had absolutely no chance of becoming president. My previous failures at prognostication do not prevent me from engaging again in prognostication. 1. Everyone says this as established truth, but our actions and words sometimes ignore it - whoever wins tonight, God is still on the throne. All of those "the future of the … [Read more...] about Election Day Observations and Predictions

I believe that voting is an issue of freedom of conscience - falling under Romans 14-15. Each of us must decide under the Lordship of Christ how to vote. There have been a lot of bullying efforts by supporters on both sides, but in my experience, some in the GOP and passionate Trump have mastered this art recently. "No true Christian would vote..." If you have decided to vote for Trump, fine. You do not need to convince me if you are convinced in your own mind. I am turned off by those who present Trump as "God's man" and refuse to admit his faults and failings, but I understand those … [Read more...] about A Question: Am I Biblically Obligated to Vote?

If you were raised by someone normal, you have my condolences. My dad, Lew Miller, was one of the pioneer Southern Baptist pastors in the state of Iowa. At one point, Immanuel Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids gave about 70% of the Cooperative Program money in the state. We left Immanuel to go to Taichung, Taiwan, as Foreign Mission Board missionaries for one term. Dad pastored an English language church near CCK Air Force base in Taichung and we saw what amounted to a revival at that base. The Vietnam war ended and the base shut down. During the most tense times at the tail end of the Keith … [Read more...] about Weird Dads Are the Best Dads

LifeWay's CEO, Ben Mandrell, and their Trustee officers have brought a lawsuit against Thom Rainer (in apparent contradiction of Scripture). They announced that they were ending the lawsuit to seek a peaceful resolution, but it was later found that this was not the case. They were only "suspending" their legal action during negotiations. Thom Rainer made a statement a couple of days ago asserting several clear facts which could have been easily disproven by LifeWay or their trustee officers with simple evidence. No evidence has been produced. Instead of seeking peace, Mandrell and LifeWay … [Read more...] about Breaking News from LifeWay – Thom Rainer to Seek Peace

It appears that LifeWay Trustees may be realizing the damaging optics of this lawsuit they instigated against Thom Ranier, the well-respected former CEO of LifeWay. I was given a statement distributed by Todd Fannin, Chairman of the Board, written to the Trustees, but released to the press. The Trustee Executive Committee met today to discuss the most recent developments with Dr. Rainer. While there have been numerous public misstatements and inaccuracies surrounding this matter, we have been and continue to be hopeful that we may resolve this issue with Dr. Rainer regarding his … [Read more...] about As the LifeWay Lawsuit Saga Turns…UPDATE – Trustee email