Dave Miller

There I go again - a misleading title. Actually, there are very few points that one can draw from the terrible events in Orlando last night. When we drove away from Columbus last year we were shocked at the news coming out of Charleston, SC - a white supremacist loner had killed 9 people at a Bible study at a black church on Wednesday night. Now, as we are headed to St. Louis, we hear about the Islamic terrorist who killed at least 50 people in a gay bar in Orlando. Our immediate tendency is to start trying to make generalities and to draw conclusion - to do what my title did in jest, to … [Read more...] about Terror Strikes Again: This Proves My Point!

I am running so far behind in getting ready and leaving for the convention - a recent Africa trip has had that effect. However, it seems that our group has decided that our best bet for a gathering is to meet at the supper hour at the "Old Spaghetti Factory" at 727 N 1st Street, within walking distance of the Convention Center, at the supper hour on Monday night. It's usually pretty early, but come on down. I have made a very generous offer. If the Pastor's Conference election goes well (defined as winning with at least a 95% majority) - then I am picking up the tab.  Seriously, we … [Read more...] about A Bluster of Bloggers, St. Louis Style – Old Spaghetti Factory, Monday Supper

I am sitting in the Ziguinchor airport in the Casamance, southern Senegal. When we finally got back out of the Essing villages after 8 days, I read an exchange by the "Voices for a New Baptist Future" group. We've fallen into our old patterns, haven't we? When we elected Fred Luter as our president we slapped ourselves on the back because we'd put those bad ol' days of racism in the past. Some of us who have continued to raise the issue have been chastised - why keep hammering on the issue when we have clearly made so much progress? Those days have passed. Why keep hammering on that? We … [Read more...] about Play that Funky Music, White Boys

I'm finishing my packing, hoping to get a minute or two of sleep tonight, then it'll be off to Detroit, Paris, Dakar, Ziguinchor, and Nyassia, where I hope to fix all the problems Bart created. In my absence, I've asked the team to manage the site sort of informally. General posting rules apply. If you have something ready to go and no one has posted for about 6 hours, let it fly. If someone has a really hot topic up, you might be wise to set your post for the next morning. Try not to step on anyone else's post. I hope to be back in the USA in time to celebrate Cleveland's victory over … [Read more...] about Miller Out

*Okay, this is another one of my sensationalistic titles. Trusting Christ is the best thing I've ever done. Getting married. Having kids. Having grandkids (WAY better than having kids). Walking my daughter down the aisle. My hyperbole is granted. I'm trying to make a point. And, I was successful because you are READING THIS! I've taken mission trips all over the USA and all over the world. I've been to Taiwan twice (where I went to high school) and I think we did some good ministry there. I've been to Honduras twice back in my Florida and my Virginia days, doing construction work. … [Read more...] about The Best Thing I’ve Ever Done*

My desire for alliteration and titular brevity and cuteness may have derailed my post yesterday, and it bothers me. I wrote to make an important point and the discussion has missed the mark. Discussions tend to do that. I made the point that we need to follow Paul's example and treat our human righteousness, our human culture, our human heritage - all that Paul refers to in Philippians 3 - as "dung." I referenced Dr. Wallace's excellent piece that placed the word skubala on the shock scale somewhere between the word crap and the more shocking s-word. Of course, the discussion raged not … [Read more...] about Paul, Profanity, and Precision

In Philippians 3, Paul said something that would likely get me fired from my pulpit if I said it on Sunday. He was speaking of his culture, the way he grew up, his heritage and upbringing, and he left no doubt about how he regarded it compared to the joys of knowing Jesus. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:7-8 Rubbish. He counted them … [Read more...] about Culture, the Christian, and Paul’s Profanity

I don't have much time - sorry, I know you want another one of my 3000-word essays, don't you? If someone posits that God is judging America today he is generally scorned. I've actually heard people say that God doesn't judge nations, only individuals. That's a hard argument to make biblically. Isaiah and Ezekiel, as well as other prophets, devote large sections to that precise thing - the judgment of God on nations. Yes, eternal judgment is an individual thing, but temporal judgment seems to be poured out on rulers, on nations, on corporate entities. I guess everyone turns into a … [Read more...] about Is God Judging America?

I have never met Ashley Unzicker, but she impresses me as intelligent, enthusiastic, and really funny. When her pastor's candidacy for SBC president was announced, she put together the "It's tricky" rap that was something of a viral sensation throughout social media. At the time most of us had a good laugh - most of us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2P2tqFlMnQ But then other candidates began to come forward to be nominated. At this point, there are three candidates - JD Greear, Steve Gaines, and David Crosby. I have not decided for whom I will vote. This post is not about the … [Read more...] about Changing the SBC’s Election Culture

I really do. I hate the site with all my heart. Why? Because I always wanted to start a site like that and Adam beat me to it - there is no way I could ever approach or top its brilliance. Best site ever - and I hate them for it. And just when I think - that is the best ever, they get better. What's your favorite Babylon Bee story? I've got about 20, but the one I read today about Jerry Falwell Jr was brilliant. "Deny Your Conscience, Take Up Your Guns, And Follow Trump," Urges Jerry Falwell, Jr.  And this one - I recently read Jen Hatmaker's "clarification" of her stance … [Read more...] about I HATE the Babylon Bee