Dave Miller

Since the publication a couple of weeks ago of the admission by Jonathan Howe that the story published by Baptist Press on Jennifer Lyell was not accurate, I've been dealing privately with a man (I won't give any information on him, other than he holds a responsible job at a non-SBC parachurch organization) who constantly wanted to find fault with Ms. Lyell and continue to besmirch her reputation. I finally cut him off, because I was getting so frustrated with his ignorant insinuations. It is hard to imagine the damage done by the Baptist Press's irresponsibility in March when they first … [Read more...] about Expanded Statement by Baptist Press about the Jennifer Lyell Story

A debate has raged on Twitter in recent days that strains credulity - not that the topic is being debated but the force with which it is being argued. The question is whether David's sin with Bathsheba was adultery or did it constitute rape. Did David rape Bathsheba? That is a valid discussion, but as is often the case, social media has turned it into a free-for-all. If you do not share my opinion on the topic your biblical bona fides are called into question. If you believe that David raped, you are putting your emotion ahead of biblical exegesis and don't really love God's word. If you don't … [Read more...] about Only Heretics Disagree with Me about David and Bathsheba

In a statement from the new VP for communications, Jonathan Howe, Baptist Press admitted that their previous reporting on the Jennifer Lyell story was woefully inadequate. When Jennifer told her story, Baptist Press, though it was begged to do so by many, including Jennifer herself, failed to make it absolutely clear that there was nothing consensual about the "relationship" between her and Dr. David Sills. Because of their failure to report the story accurately, many attacked Jennifer, asking why she was not disciplined for her "immorality." (It was disgusting, to ask why a victim of … [Read more...] about Baptist Press Admits Previous Inaccurate Reporting on Jennifer Lyell/David Sills

Have you heard about Carson King? What a roller coaster ride he's been on in the last few weeks. The casino worker attended the biggest event of the year in Iowa, the Cy-Hawk game, in which the good guys from Iowa City prevailed over the evil pretenders from Ames (Iowa beat Iowa State on a weird muffed punt play, 18-17). Carson got tickets to the game and carried with him a hand-painted sign begging for donations that would warm the cockles of the hearts of many of you Reformed guys. He said he needed beer money. Somehow, his sign got on ESPN's "College Gameday" show and what happened … [Read more...] about What Social Media Giveth, Social Media Bloweth Up!

Next summer will mark the 40th anniversary of my first paid ministry job and I consider it an honor to have been called to the service of the Savior, to have drawn my income from ministry for nearly four decades. I wouldn't do anything else. The privilege of proclaiming God's word to people, of telling lost people of the hope there is in Christ, of being a part of people's lives - that is an honor and blessing for which I am eternally grateful. Ministry has also worn me out. I have known the betrayal of close friends, have experienced lies, false accusations, and gossip from the sheep I was … [Read more...] about Loneliness, Despair, Fear: So You Wanted to Be a Pastor?

Permit me to state some facts before I begin my rant. I am a lifelong teetotaler. My only experiences with alcohol have been medicinal or accidental. I have never purposely taken a drink. I was raised that way and I have no desire to live any other way. I am not a prohibitionist. I believe that efforts to classify wine in the Bible as grape juice border on the silly. People drank alcoholic beverages and the Bible does not call that sin. There are warnings in the Bible about choosing what is wise, about avoiding the consequences of alcohol abuse, and strict prohibitions against … [Read more...] about I Hate Alcohol

It has been a weird week. I headed down to Florida planning to do some painting, yard work, and general handyman stuff on my parents' home and as we headed down the specter of a tropical storm named Dorian was raised. At first, it looked like it might be a minor hurricane but it began to grow and pretty soon it was being talked about as the biggest Atlantic hurricane ever with a sharply defined eye headed straight for the Ft. Pierce/Vero Beach area where my parents lived. We fastened the storm shutters and got ready, and we waited. And waited. And waited. And waited. Dorian decided to … [Read more...] about Does God Love Florida More than the Bahamas?

As I mentioned in my last post, I am in Florida working my mom and dad's home. Today, I fixed up a bathroom and did a little puttering around the place. Nothing major. Then, about noon, my sister called. She lives about 45 minutes south of here in northern Palm Beach County and she'd been cavalier about tropical storm Dorian that was headed this way. She's lived here most of her life and has seen hurricanes come and go. Today, when she called, the cavalier attitude was gone. Dorian has strengthened and is now expected to be a Category 4 hurricane when it hits us. For those of you with SEC … [Read more...] about This is NO Way to Welcome a Guest

I remember having a light-hearted discussion with a lady during my first ministry as a youth pastor in Tequesta, Florida. She was chiding me about something and I was pleading my youth and inexperience as an excuse. I remember her words. "Pretty soon, that excuse will no longer fly." I am in a plane right now on my way to meet my wife in Raleigh. The logistics are complicated but she was in Cincinnati helping our youngest daughter and her husband move into their new home. My little baby now owns a house. Wow. From Raleigh, we are heading to Florida to visit my parents. Dad just turned … [Read more...] about On the Downhill Run