I used to live on the "Field of Dreams" side of the state of Iowa and I've been by there a few times. Recent weather patterns leave no one questioning whether this is heaven. It's certainly not the Lake of Fire either - too cold for that. But my silly little title leads into my silly little question. I've seen some odd trends developing in funerals in my neck of the woods recently and I wonder if it is just a western Iowa/eastern Nebraska/southern South Dakota thing (we aren't called the Tri-State region for nothing) or if it is a national trend. I raised it on Facebook and got some … [Read more...] about Funeral Trends: Is It Just Heaven…uh, Iowa?
Credit Where Credit Is Due
I am not an ACC fan. In basketball I cheer against them like I do against the SEC in football. Historically, Clemson has been my least favorite ACC team in football. But I think it's clear right now. The ACC is far and away the best football conference in America. There were times during the season I thought we might grasp the ring for the Big 10, but our teams swirled the bowls and got flushed. The SEC had Alabama and not much else. We won't even talk about those "12" conferences. The ACC is at the top of the heap this year. And the best team in America is … [Read more...] about Credit Where Credit Is Due
Meryl Streep and Christian Engagement: The Need for a Principled Church
I can't remember the last time I watched one of those Hollywood or Nashville awards shows. They seem to have one every other week and I know about them because I have a few friends who breathlessly tweet about who sang what song and who won what award. I don't care. I am hopelessly uncool and un-hip. If you offered me a million dollars I couldn't name a song by U2 or Taylor Swift and I have no idea who won the Academy Award for anything last year - except that I know it was for a movie I didn't watch - they always award the movie with the best liberal political message and ignore any movie I … [Read more...] about Meryl Streep and Christian Engagement: The Need for a Principled Church
A Lily in the Muck: An Old Blogpost Gives Me Hope
I read a post this morning that brought a tear to my old eyes. When I was a student at Southwestern back in the dark ages, before the CR took hold, I had two preaching classes. (If you are feeling defensive of Southwestern, please read to the end!) The first was taught by a professor whose doctoral dissertation had been a denial of the doctrine of inerrancy. The second, the one I liked best, was taught by a professor who was later fired by Southwestern for inappropriate behavior. I did not exactly get the best of the best. I am thankful for the homiletical training I had at Dallas Seminary … [Read more...] about A Lily in the Muck: An Old Blogpost Gives Me Hope
A Russell Moore Reality Check – Be at Ease, Supporters!
In a couple of months the NCAA selection committee will release its results and we will know which teams will participate in March Madness, the NCAA basketball tournament. My team, the Iowa Hawkeyes, after a slow start, is playing better now. The Big 10 does not seem to be as good as it has been in recent years, so maybe the Black and Gold can garner enough wins to secure a place in the tourney. We have a lot of young players - three freshmen start and by the end of the season they might have matured. Let's say that they are a 7 seed, so their first game will be against a 10 seed. They will … [Read more...] about A Russell Moore Reality Check – Be at Ease, Supporters!
SBC This Week: Interview about 2017 Pastors Conference
Jonathan Howe and Amy Whitfield do a weekly podcast called SBC This Week - informative and helpful. This week, in addition to the their regular features and coverage of the ERLC controversy, they ran an interview that Jonathan and I did a few days ago. http://www.sbcthisweek.com/pastors-conference-roster-released-erlc-in-the-news/ The interview with me starts around 24:35, but the whole program is worth a listen. … [Read more...] about SBC This Week: Interview about 2017 Pastors Conference
Take the Rogue One Preacher’s Challenge
I saw this on a friend's facebook. I'd credit him but I'm not sure he wants it. He can claim it if he so desires. We've had the ice bucket challenge, the mannequin challenge, and a host of others. How about this? Sunday, when you stand in the pulpit, begin your sermon with these words.... I am one with the text and the text is with me. Merry Christmas Adam!! By the way, video would be wonderful. … [Read more...] about Take the Rogue One Preacher’s Challenge
A Fresh Take on Recent SBC History
I heard a theory on Southern Baptist life recently. Maybe you’ve heard it before and it just hasn’t made it’s way up to Sioux City. I’m waiting on the delivery of a new bed that is long overdue because the delivery company says that our city of over 100,000 on a US Interstate is in a “remote area.” Maybe this theory has been around and like my bed just hasn’t made its way up to the remote frozen tundra of Iowa. As I have often said, I’ve been attending a Southern Baptist church since 9 months before I was born. I’ve never been a member of or regularly attended any church that wasn’t a … [Read more...] about A Fresh Take on Recent SBC History
Dr. Moore and the 2016 Elections: A Thoughtful Plea for Healing
Dr. Russell Moore has released a thoughtful article in which he reflects on the 2016 election season and the role he played in it. He shares his heart, his convictions, and even an apology. It is an introspective Dr. Moore who looks back at the battlefield that was Election 2016. I found myself sharing almost all of Dr. Moore's convictions this year. I've been accused of being a sycophant or something, but the fact is that I arrived at my convictions independently of anything Dr. Moore said. I've not spoken to him in some time, though we've shared a Twitter like or two from time to time. My … [Read more...] about Dr. Moore and the 2016 Elections: A Thoughtful Plea for Healing
Is Common Sense an Endangered Species?
This is not social commentary. It's a simple question. Iowa is about to get hit by a winter blast tonight - I mean the real deal. It's gonna get so cold that even real churches are considering closing! The liberal churches close all the time here in Siouxland at the slightest weather provocation. They cancel like SEC area churches. But right now it's about 2 degrees and wind chills are somewhere around 30 below. By the time our Sunday School hour starts tomorrow morning, the actual temperature is expected to be somewhere around 20 below. For you limited education and experience folks - … [Read more...] about Is Common Sense an Endangered Species?