Dave Miller

Word is that Brewton-Parker College has been reaffirmed by SACS. They are no longer on probation.  The Brewton-Parker website likely has more details than I have now. This is wonderful news for the staff, students and supporters of Brewton-Parker. I congratulate my friend CB Scott. Hopefully this good news will sustain him when Ohio State steamrolls the Crimson Tide.  … [Read more...] about Brewton-Parker College Reaffirmed by SACS

The Evil and Despised Alabama Crimson Crud They are arrogant, obsessed and they have a payroll higher than most NFL teams, but Bama is in. This is a fallen world and evil sometimes wins. Alabama won enough to earn a spot. Of course, it doesn't matter how many they win as long as they lose ONE MORE GAME this season. All people of sound mind and good will are hoping for that. The Team with the HORRIBLE uniforms (from Oregon) Dale, could you please tell your Ducks to consult a fashion expert. They are really good, but watching them in those uniforms is just horrible. In a side … [Read more...] about The NCAA Playoff Teams HAVE TO Be….

Blogging plans are always a little bit loose. Something could come up - breaking news, a Baptist scandal, or something. Anything can happen. But barring some huge event, I'm not planning to hang out here at SBC Voices much over the next few days. I'll probably stop in to check on things a time or two. I'll try to get back into the swing of things on Monday. SBC Voices contributors - "Post 'em if you got 'em" rules apply. If you have something you want to post, put it up. Don't step on someone else's post. If there is another post up, make sure it gets 5 or 6 hours before you post yours - … [Read more...] about Have a Happy Thanksgiving – See You Monday

Black Friday was always a Festival for Mammon, a bastion of commercialization and evidence of the crassness and materialism of the American people. The rush when they open the doors at Best Buy was something amazing to see, in those days when I was on dawn bargain patrol. We used to try to get a couple of hours of sleep then head over to the local Best Buy about or so in the morning to get in line for the 6 AM opening melee. Then the opening was moved to 5 AM and we had to pretty much spend the night outside the store. Something changed for me when they they moved the opening up to midnight … [Read more...] about Just Say No – A Suggestion about Black Friday Encroachment

A few years ago I bought Family Tree Maker and a subscription to Ancestry.com. I tracked my ancestors back to Europe (I am a descendent of the Merovingian kings – you should show some respect). The Millers come from Carbon County, Pennsylvania, but I couldn’t find when they emigrated from Germany. The Pratts, my mom’s side, settled in St. Louis in the mid-1800s. One branch of the family came over on the Mayflower and ended up in Piscataway, NJ. It was a fascinating study. What I didn’t find in any of this was a slave owner. There were a couple of branches that lived in Virginia, so you … [Read more...] about Am I Guilty for America’s Racist Past?

I saw this link and went to Benjamin Watson's Facebook site. He is a tight end for the New Orleans Saints. I have to admit I'd not heard of him prior to this, but I think it's about the best statement I've seen on the Ferguson tragedy.   At some point while I was playing or preparing to play Monday Night Football, the news broke about the Ferguson Decision. After trying to figure out how I felt, I decided to write it down. Here are my thoughts: I'M ANGRY because the stories of injustice that have been passed down for generations seem to be continuing before our very eyes. I'M … [Read more...] about From a FOOTBALL Player? Benjamin Watson on Ferguson

Confession time – many of you have followed the events in Ferguson, Missouri, a lot more carefully than I have. I have followed the story but not delved into every eyewitness report or followed the debates closely. I did, however, follow the news coverage Monday and watched the St. Louis County DA’s press conference. I have a few opinions and observations that I’d like to proffer for your consideration. It is with great trepidation that I wade into this quagmire. Racial issues can be explosive, even on a Baptist blog. But here’s my take. 1) Justice was done in St. Louis County. I saw … [Read more...] about Observations on the Ferguson Tragedy

There has been a plethora of posts and articles opining on the life, ministry and travails of Mark Driscoll. As a part of that discussion, the issue of restoration comes to the forefront. When a minister falls, in whatever way he falls, can he be restored to ministry? Can an adulterous pastor, who repents and is spiritual renewed, eventually become a leader in a church? What about someone who is divorced? Someone who got mired in financial malfeasance? Can a biblically qualified elder (or deacon) who strays from the path and disqualifies himself ever get re-qualified? Or is disqualification … [Read more...] about Can a Fallen Leader Be Restored?

My church has a benevolence fund, and it is my great joy as pastor to be the one who delivers checks to those in need. We've been able to give and give generously to those in the church family who lose a job or have some other family hardship. That is a pastor's joy. It is not quite so much fun when one of the Siouxland "regulars" calls the church asking for a handout. There is a group of people who evidently spend their days calling or dropping by churches to ask for money. I'll be honest, I hate it passionately when one of those folks calls or shows up. I'm not claiming that is the most … [Read more...] about “Can Your Church Help Me with My Rent?”

One of the downsides of spending the last 24 years preaching at only 2 churches (14.5 in Cedar Rapids, now closing in on 9.5 in Sioux City) is that preaching over the holidays gets to be a little difficult. My people have heard pretty much every sermon I've got in my arsenal, some of them twice! So, the Christmas season is coming and I'm looking for some fresh ideas and new perspectives on seasonal sermons. Here's some of my observations and thoughts about Christmas preaching: 1) Many of you in the younger whippersnapper crowd eschew preaching Christmas messages (or others based on … [Read more...] about Can Someone Help Me Prime My Christmas Pump?