Guest Blogger

This was originally published at Joel's blog, themelios. Hopefully the headline didn't chase too many people off. Last week, Andy Stanley, Lead Pastor of Northpoint Church which meets in multiple locations throughout the metro Atlanta area, said something very discouraging to many smaller church pastors. While preaching to his own congregation and praising the way the church had invested in his own life, Stanley apparently went off-script for a bit to berate anyone with children who would keep them in a small church. The rant climaxed with this declaration by the Atlanta mega-church … [Read more...] about What Small Church Pastors and Andy Stanley Can Learn from Each Other (Joel Rainey)

I have been traveling the same path to work for almost 20 years.  I go north from my suburban home to the city where my office is.  Just shy of downtown, there is a split where two lanes go to the left and two go to the right.  I take the left branch, which immediately puts me on the left side of four very busy lanes . . . with the next right exit being the one I need to take . . . during rush hour, when all four lanes are packed. In all the years I have taken this route, I have learned to pay attention to the smallest signals given by the other drivers.  Those signals range from the most … [Read more...] about Signals (by Poor Richard)

(I was supposed to post this a couple of days ago, but I've been enjoying the flu. Most of you know Joel. You may not know that he recently returned to the pastorate!) Two days ago, the "Super Tuesday" elections seemed to solidify the already large lead of the current front-runner for the Republican nomination for President. Donald Trump has surprised nearly everyone, and if the trend continues, we are headed toward a Republican convention that will nominate him to face off with the Democratic nominee--presumably Hillary Clinton--in the November general election. It is truly sad that … [Read more...] about Evangelicals and Donald Trump: Its not Him. Its Us. (Joel Rainey)

Many men smarter than me have made this point before, but after a year of coaching Junior Varsity sports it really makes sense to me. On the football field all of my receivers wanted to try to catch the ball with one hand and shout Odell, in reference to the Giants receiver that made this catch last year. Meanwhile their ability to catch probably doesn’t exceed that of Adele, the musician who sings this. On the basketball court every single player thinks they’re a shot blocker ignoring the fact that you couldn’t slide a quarter under their feet when they jump. Blocked shots get the crowd … [Read more...] about You Replicate What You Celebrate (Dustin Lair)

I received this by email - I know the source, a reliable one. He did not want to publish with his name attached because of personal relationships. Southern Baptists hold to autonomy steadfastly, defiantly, obstreperously, and obnoxiously. It is not only part of our common statement of belief but also part of our DNA as Southern Baptists. Local church autonomy means that every crossroads, white frame Baptist church, every county seat 'Fust' Baptist church, every hipster PizzaSojourn Church is a law and unit unto themselves. The church arranges for their own clergy, pastor, and staff with a … [Read more...] about Local Church Autonomy At Its Worst (Anonymous)

In my recent read through 1 Kings 21, in preparation to preach this coming Lord’s Day, I decided to get a better understanding on (evil) King Ahab’s condition. The last verse of chapter 20 says he “went to his house sullen and vexed.” In 1 Kings 21:4 he went “into his house sullen and vexed” again, for a second time. in 1 Kings 21:5 he was “so sullen” that he was not eating. Then in 1 Kings 21:27 he was described as being “despondent”. Those are very descriptive words. They represent a condition of ones countenance. What brings on this kind of condition that one is described as … [Read more...] about Am I Coveting? (Paul Thompson)

I like to dialog with people, either personally or online, as long as things don’t get ugly.  I’m not good with real conflict.  I will happily stake out a position and defend it.  Sometimes I’m good at it, sometimes I’m not.  If you’re like me, sometimes you just throw something out there and realize that you don’t have the tools or knowledge to defend it well.  In that case I do a little more research to see if my case is stronger than I think, or perhaps I need to rethink my position.  But one thing I always try to do now, and I’m getting better at it, is to see the other side.  I no longer … [Read more...] about There Are Some Things I Just Don’t Get – Bill MacKinnon

Andy Addis is lead pastor of Crosspoint Church in Hutchinson, KS. I am attending a meeting this week in Atlanta… well, at least, I hope I am. Right now I am sitting in Dallas, stranded with about 300 of my newest friends at the airport. We should have been to Atlanta about…. wait for it… one minute ago, but here we sit in the Lone Star state. It started with the captain saying they couldn’t close the forward cargo door, and they were sending for a mechanic. I heard a joke a few rows up, something about getting a bigger hammer. A nearby gaggle of passengers laughed. But, the … [Read more...] about First World Problems (by Andy Addis)