After we turned not one but two comment streams a little on the silly side, let's just go ahead and do this. Preachers are known for bad jokes, cheap puns, and other humour tactics. So, let's share a few here. Note: this is about taking a minute and laughing at the truly funny. Save all comments regarding SBC policies, American politics, and anything else serious for some other time and place. Also, ask yourself this question: does Jesus laugh at other people? Humor that mocks ethnicity, disability, or gender has no place in your laugh line, so leave it out. Additionally, if you know a … [Read more...] about Open Mic Night: Share the Punny
Conflict and Me
Well, they've done it again. One more time, a body of Baptists has gone and done something I disagree with. In fact, they've done something that qualifies as downright foolish. One could easily question the ethics of their actions, the righteousness of their thought processes, and perhaps doubt the salvation of the people involved. Who has done what now? Oh, any number of things: Brewton-Parker College hired somebody. Louisiana College fired somebody. Southern Seminary didn't fire anybody, Southwestern Seminary did. The KBC voted for this and the Florida Convention did not vote on it … [Read more...] about Conflict and Me
SBCVoices Forum: Books for Ministers
I think we have discussed this before, but times change, and our audience may be different than it once was. Plus, I can't find it. We see on this blog people who have been traditionally educated by seminaries, non-traditionally educated, and a few of us that are not really educated at all, formally, in the work of the ministry. So, as a semi-0pen discussion, what would be your answer to this question: If you were going into an English-language area to provide training to pastors, both new and long-serving, who had no access to formal education, what five books would you take? Would … [Read more...] about SBCVoices Forum: Books for Ministers
Reflecting on Twelve Years (by Doug Hibbard)
Dear Olivia, I feel like this is a good year to write you this letter. You’re twelve now. You’re starting to learn a lot more about how the world works, and there are some things that I think you need to know. I want to start off, though, with an apology that I think I owe you. I don’t feel compelled to offer the same apology to your younger siblings, but I owe it to you. You see, you are not growing up in the world that your Mom and I brought you into. Some things changed between your birth day and your first birthday. Those changes showed me that you are growing up in the wrong … [Read more...] about Reflecting on Twelve Years (by Doug Hibbard)
Movies and Sermons, The Butler and the pastor
Having followed the discussion regarding the movie The Butler, I thought I would add my two cents worth. Not about race relations in America--that would take a whole different post with a whole lot of explanations. What I find interesting is tracking the reactions to The Butler. It is evident that, in the typical style of Hollywood, the creators of this movie played fast and loose with the facts at hand. Portions of the overall experience of life for an African-American during those years were portrayed as if they happened within the life of the family actually named in the film. That these … [Read more...] about Movies and Sermons, The Butler and the pastor
Church Discipline
A few weeks ago, someone raised a question in a comment regarding church discipline. I don't remember exactly how it was phrased or who raised it. What I recall as the essence of the question was this: What is church discipline, specifically in a Baptist context? Which is, of course, a great question. I would attempt to give you a blog-length answer, and I will start at the end and work backwards. The first point to consider is this: What is a "Baptist context?" What is it about Baptists that makes this question different? Here are some key truths regarding Baptists that matter for … [Read more...] about Church Discipline
Continuous Improvement
Fearless leader Dave hath lamented, again, that we contributors are not contributing as abundantly as we need. He's right. I would plead busy but in truth, I have to plead hesitant. I'm working, offline, on a few thoughts on issues raised around here, but I'm just not sure I'm up for minding that comment stream. I do, though, have this to say. Recently, I read a book to review for Kregel Ministry. It was One Year to Better Preaching. This little volume contained more than 52 exercises to strengthen your preaching skills. I'm not going to give you a full review of the text here, because I … [Read more...] about Continuous Improvement
Defining the Terms of the Discussion
With all due respect to the great minds that have contributed posts on the subject of continuationism and cessationism, I'm going to join in to offer what I see and why I see it. I am not going to attempt to settle the entire issue, but to add to the confusion discussion on just what "tongues" means. David Rogers in his earlier post, "Are Biblical Tongues a Personal Prayer Language," offers one way of striving to define the term "glossa" from the Greek of the New Testament. His post begins with 1 Corinthians 14, and then works from that point to explain the meaning of "tongues" throughout … [Read more...] about Defining the Terms of the Discussion
Starving Buffalo Hunters
In times past, I have regaled you readers of SBCVoices with tales of the woods and the lovely woodland creatures. Well, and then how I took the lovely woodland creatures and turned them into dinner, but they are lovely on the plate as well. In fact, the only thing that leans me toward a post-millennial view are Genesis 9:3 and Acts 10:13. That God has progressed the world from the vegetarian garden to our modern bacon cheeseburger days is the only sign of sustained progress I can find. I have decided, however, to give up deer hunting. On average, I get 40 pounds of usable meat from a … [Read more...] about Starving Buffalo Hunters
A quick note
Ladies and gentlemen, I know you all read Dave Miller's post about heading east. Just a few minutes ago, Dave posted this on Facebook: Totalled my Durango. Uninjured. Stranded in Hermann, Missouri. First of all, prayers of thanks that Dave is ok. Then: Please pray for Dave: 1. He's in Missouri, which always requires prayer. 2. He's totaled his vehicle, needs prayer for guidance. 3. He's not with his grandchildren, which is like depriving him of oxygen and needs prayer for patience. Thanks for praying for Dave. Now, back to Bart's post. … [Read more...] about A quick note