Originally published on "Dave Miller Daily." Okay, that title was total clickbait - I admit it. I am happily married. Well, a better description might be "exhaustedly married." We married off our daughter on Saturday, now all 4 of our kids are married. All four kids, their spouses, and all 5 grandkids (plus the Virginia ham in the oven) were in Springfield, Ohio, for the weekend and "Bapa" and "Nani" are still recovering. There's nothing legal about my separation. I don't even know how to officially leave the Republican party. Is there a paper somewhere that I'm supposed to … [Read more...] about I’m Legally Separated – Looking for Something New
Why Not Focus on Biblical Preaching at the Pastors’ Conference?
I’m not sure which convention it was, but it was during my time as a pastor in Virginia. I was deeply discouraged and considering throwing in the towel, for reasons that I won’t go into and simply do not matter now. A friend and I went to the Pastors’ Conference together and sat through sermon after sermon. I was amazed, feeling as if God had singled me out. The theme was perseverance. These men preached sermon after sermon about enduring in hard times, sticking it out when you were ready to quit. God used those two days to encourage me and give me the lift I needed. I can’t remember the … [Read more...] about Why Not Focus on Biblical Preaching at the Pastors’ Conference?
Whatever Happened to the GCR? The Heart of the Problem
In the six years since the SBC adopted the Great Commission Resurgence report, "Penetrating the Lostness," we've not seen a dramatic turnaround in our statistical decline and because of that, the effort has been written off as a failure, a waste of time. It is my intention to review the work of the GCR and ask the question, did it really do anything? Was it a failure and a waste of time as so many have assumed, or has there been some good that came of it? My intent in the weeks leading up to the SBC Annual Meeting is to look at each of the seven recommendations the report included and see if … [Read more...] about Whatever Happened to the GCR? The Heart of the Problem
Sample Employee Misconduct Policies
With some fear and trepidation, I present our church's policies as a template for others to use. Please understand, these are over 2 years old now, and recent Supreme Court decisions already have us in a process of rewriting them (especially Obergefell). Also, each state's laws are a little different, so what works in Iowa might not be precisely right in your state. We culled these from various documents - some denominational, some available on the internet, some from our insurance company. On some policies (not included here) precise wording is crucial, often for reasons that escape … [Read more...] about Sample Employee Misconduct Policies
Grace, Sexual Predation, and Dealing with the Past
I will never forget an email I received one Sunday morning. I sat down at my desk after our first service and read a note from one of our members. It was one of those! The sin she'd uncovered and was reporting was bad - really bad (did not take place at church). It took my breath away, but I knew how to proceed. We had written a set of policies that told me exactly what I was supposed to do and I worked the plan. Those policies had been written with expert input from insurance companies and other sources that have done extensive work to advise us on how to react. If I'd gotten that email in … [Read more...] about Grace, Sexual Predation, and Dealing with the Past
Pranks and the Christian: How Far Is Too Far?
I have to admit, it's one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Millicent Phillips got pranked by her brothers recently after having her wisdom teeth pulled. While still on anesthesia, they convince her that a zombie apocalypse had taken place and they drove her around asking her questions. It is comic gold. Honestly, her reactions are priceless. Here's my response: 1) If she murders her brothers and I'm on the jury she gets off paying a small fine. 2) These guys probably better sleep with one eye open. 3) My impression of Millicent Phillips is that she is a really nice … [Read more...] about Pranks and the Christian: How Far Is Too Far?
SBC This Week – Interview with JD Greear (Gaines and Crosby Coming)
SBC This Week's podcast from Friday had an interview with JD Greear, the first of the presidential candidates for the SBC to announce. It is worth your time to listen. Keep an eye on that site. Future podcasts will include interviews with Steve Gaines and David Crosby as well. (from their "about" section) SBC This Week is a weekly news roundup from around the Southern Baptist Convention as well as guest interviews from today’s top church leaders. The podcast is hosted by Amy Whitfield and Jonathan Howe. … [Read more...] about SBC This Week – Interview with JD Greear (Gaines and Crosby Coming)
Whatever Happened to the Great Commission Resurgence?
The GCR was a failure. The GCR was a waste of time. The GCR was a backroom deal proven by the sealing of their documents. It has become almost a truism in certain circles of Southern Baptist life that the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, the Report they produced, and that which has resulted from that, was a tremendous failure. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and so is effectiveness. Some, disdainful of the direction and priorities of current convention leaders, have little choice but to see the initiatives of those leaders as failures. Others, more balanced in their perspective … [Read more...] about Whatever Happened to the Great Commission Resurgence?
So You’re Telling Me, There’s a Chance!
I've been voting since Jimmy Carter defeated Gerald Ford in 1976 (yeah, I'm old). This is my eleventh presidential cycle and it was to be my tie-breaker. I've voted for the winner 5 times and for the loser 5 times. Though I'm told that I'm the most liberal Southern Baptist since Jimmy Carter, I've been voting GOP every time and was hoping this election, reacting to the unpopularity of Obama, might vault me back above .500 for my lifetime. Then, politics got crazy - just plain weird. Most of the weirdness can be attributed to the entrance into the Republican race of the … [Read more...] about So You’re Telling Me, There’s a Chance!
We Have a Winner (Sort of) in the Voices Bracket Challenge
Though the North Carolina/Syracuse game is still ongoing and all people of goodwill can continue to hope that the Syracuse Orange mount a comeback and get rid of the unspeakable evil known as the Tarheels, the Bracket Challenge is effectively over. No one chose either Villanova or Syracuse and the current leader chose North Carolina. What that means is that there is no way he can lose. Some of the guys that also chose Carolina can move up (you get lots of points for Final Four and Championship game wins) but no one is passing our leader. So, he's got it wrapped up. He actually chose North … [Read more...] about We Have a Winner (Sort of) in the Voices Bracket Challenge