Dave Miller

At the Pastor's Conference tonight, James McDonald announced that his church is going to become part of the Southern Baptist Convention. Wow! It was only a few years ago that McDonald was describing congregational church government as a thing of Satanic origin. He recently repented of this and I would see no reason to interpret that repentance as anything but genuine and real. Many people were less than thrilled that when he was invited to speak at the Southern Baptist pastor's conference. "Why is he being invited to speak to the SBC Pastors' Conference? Should the conference be … [Read more...] about Breaking News: James McDonald and Harvest Church are Southern Baptist #SBC15

As soon as Steve Gaines is done preaching, we will meet across the  street for a "Bluster of Bloggers" at Barley's Restaurant. (We will ignore the fact that it is a brewery, too!) I'm headed over there about the time the Bellevue Pastor gets started to try to reserve a table - they don't take reservations in advance. I'll get an iced  tea and wait for you guys. It looks like things will wrap up here before 4:30, so it's gonna be an early supper. We will stay till we are done. Again, Barley's is directly across the street from the main entrance of the conference center. Head out … [Read more...] about Bluster of Bloggers at Barley’s – Coming Soon! #SBC15

Her name is Megan Crosby, and she plays softball in Texas. If you look on YouTube and other social media outlets, she recently surpassed Hitler, Saddam, Pol Pot, Caligula, and Usama bin Laden as the worst person who has ever lived. I'm working with my iPad and not sure how to embed the video. If you haven't already seen it, just google Megan Crosby or go to YouTube and look for "Ejected or Not? 6/6/15" and the video will come up. Megan is a junior catcher for the Needsville High School softball team, which was in the championship game of the state tournament in Texas. Twice, she gave the … [Read more...] about The Most Horrible Person in the World

(I'm paraphrasing)   (I think and hope I got most of my note back) GREAT MESSAGE! Luke 22:24-34 There is a power in the church to overcome whatever it is that is in the world. Jesus has announced his betrayal and his coming death. But now, here he warns them of the changes that are coming. But he still evidences no fear of the future. The culture around us is changing. Baptism was a Bible Belt Bar Mitzvah - you needed a Christian identity to be part of the culture. The culture has changed and we are not longer at the center. Our temptation is to lack confidence and to embrace … [Read more...] about Dr. Russell Moore (Updated) #SBC15

Dean Fulks is from Lifepoint, Columbus. The theme this year is "He must increase and I must decrease." Jonah 1:1ff Why run from revival?   Racism? Nineveh had consistently brutalized the Israelites. An evil people. Jonah, from a northern tribe, may have bitterness against them and he may not want the goodness of God to flourish in Nineveh?  Wanderlust? Maybe Jonah was just captivated by the lure of another place. Tarshish was a far--off place. Ideal. His point is about Jonah and his failure. But God will be glorified whether in our successes or in our failures. Jonah ends … [Read more...] about Dean Fulks at the Pastors Conference #SBC15

I'm getting ready with a post from Brent Hobbs who is here in Columbus, and then I will be posting a lot of thoughts - both here and on twitter (@davemiller7 and @sbcvoices) during the PC and the Annual Meeting. It doesn't look to be a controversial or life-altering convention, but you never know what a group of Baptists will do for fun and frolic. I intend to catch all three sermons tonight and do something akin to blogging them - though perhaps not with the same fervor as I did with the Racial Reconciliation conference at the ERLC. I probably won't be posting any regular posts - … [Read more...] about Rapid Fire Blogging Week #SBC15

Well, it happened again. The ACP statistics were released and things are not looking good for the SBC. About the only positive statistic is church planting - there are more of our churches out there. But fewer people are attending them (by quite a bit). Fewer people are being baptized in them (by a disturbing amount). Missions giving is down, though the reports on CP giving confused me a little - they are up, they are down, yes they are, no they aren't! Let's put it in perspective. We are not a growing denomination anymore. Neither are we in the kind of free-fall that some of the mainline … [Read more...] about The SBC Has Been in Decline Since Before I Was Born – And I’m OLD!

There is a school of fish, a herd of cows, a pride of lions. When bloggers gather, it is called a bluster! Last year, our bluster on Monday evening was one of the highlights of the convention for me. We had a large group that gathered at a Cheesecake Factory in the Baltimore Harbor. What was intended to be an hour or so turned into an evening. We sat and ate and talked and laughed. I'm not kidding when I say it was the most fun I had at the convention. You are invited this year. Same time - right after the afternoon session of the Pastor's Conference ends. The place will not be the … [Read more...] about A Bluster of Bloggers – SBC Columbus 2015. Monday Evening!

I am ready to fall in love. I want to fall in love. All I need is someone to fall in love with. My heart beats fast in anticipation of finding The One and making a commitment. No, my wife has no cause for jealousy. I’m just looking for a candidate to support in the current field of 3127 declared or possible Republican candidates. I’m waiting for one of them to come and sweep me off my feet. But I’ve to play hard to get this election cycle. I’m waiting, candidates – single, unattached, and available. I’m an Iowa Republican and I’m a public speaker! With the caucuses coming up you might find … [Read more...] about Dear GOP: I Want to Fall in Love, But I’m Playing Hard to Get