Paul Thompson blogs at "The Bridge" and is a pastor between here and Japan somewhere! He was our second place blogger in the Blue Collar Blog Madness tournament this year. Last night I read two interesting pieces. One from Medical News Today, the other from J.C. Ryle Quotes. Medical News Today: Like A Drug: The Rise Of American Megachurches This article was about recent research by University of Washington about the rise of the American Megachurch. I found the article interesting... I think the observations by researcher, James Wellman could be spoken of more than just the megachurch. … [Read more...] about The Modern Megachurch and the Wisdom of J.C Ryle (by Paul Thompson)
Football is in the Air (by CB “Sabanation” Scott)
Editor: CB Scott needs no introduction. All over the United States young men and small boys are getting ready for the first of the season game of America’s greatest sport, FOOTBALL. Old men are cleaning B-B-Q grills, buying pork ribs, chops, and butts, and all the while checking to make sure their favorite team shirts and jerseys from last season still fit for when they go to the first game of the season so they will look trim and athletic for their tailgate debut. They are also making sure their wives ordered all the right tickets to the right games. No self respecting FOOTBALL fan wants … [Read more...] about Football is in the Air (by CB “Sabanation” Scott)
Denominations Ought to Be More Like Family (by Trevin Wax)
Editor: I read this post at Trevin's site and thought it was brilliant. Trevin was gracious enough to offer it to me to repost here. I am grateful for that. Enjoy! There is never a dull moment when the Wax family gets together. We are all opinionated, loud, and passionate. Just ask our spouses. Or our kids. We have never been the kind of family who gets together at holidays and birthdays and wastes time with chitchat. Polite conversation is boring. So we tend to focus on subjects you’re not supposed to discuss in polite company. Politics and theology dominate. Sometimes, when I see … [Read more...] about Denominations Ought to Be More Like Family (by Trevin Wax)
Nathan Finn Calls Attention to the Pseudo-History of Barton or, Is This the Consequence of the Marriage for which Dr. Land Called? (by Todd Littleton)
Editor: This post originally appeared at Todd Littleton's blog, "Edge of the Inside." I am predicting a lively debate! Play nice boys and girls, as I am on my way to Cedarville to deposit my daughter for her sophomore year. I recall a conversation on politics last year. We stood in the hallway while others carried boxes of food to folks in need. She was lecturing me on American History. All she knew she learned at a series of events at a gun range. I don’t even recall the book in her hand except that she constantly referenced my need to read it. She came for a box of food but would save her … [Read more...] about Nathan Finn Calls Attention to the Pseudo-History of Barton or, Is This the Consequence of the Marriage for which Dr. Land Called? (by Todd Littleton)
Can We Please Stop the Fighting? (by Alan Cross)
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. - 1 Corinthians 1:10 Can Baptists talk about anything except for Calvinism/Non-Calvinism these days? Why is this happening? I have never seen the Baptist Blogosphere this bad. I mean it. And, I've been around from the beginning back in 2005. This is the worst that it has ever been. All sides are warring and everything becomes a fight and we are willing to destroy other people to prove a … [Read more...] about Can We Please Stop the Fighting? (by Alan Cross)
Re-defining Success, by Jeff Christopherson
Jeff Christopherson is NAMB’s regional vice president for Canada and the Northeast. This excerpt is from his book Kingdom Matrix: Designing a Church for the Kingdom of God (Russell Media, 2012). Proceeds from the sale of this book will go to North American missions. We are grateful that Jeff shared this with us! This story, my story, changed my view of success. Allan and Helen Christopherson, married June 4, 1960, in Prince Albert. With only an eighth-grade education, Allan supported his young family cleaning beer storage tanks at Molson’s brewery. His salary package included only one … [Read more...] about Re-defining Success, by Jeff Christopherson
A plea to all media outlets re: ‘the Westboro cult’ (by Marty Duren)
Editor: Marty gave me permission to repost this. To All Media Outlets, Reporters, Writers and Editors: It is abundantly clear to most Americans that the “Westboro Baptist Church” is neither “Baptist” nor a “church” according to any commonly accepted meaning of either word. As a Christ follower, and a long time church attender, I enter this plea to stop using the phrase “Westboro Baptist Church” in favor of the more accurate “the Westboro cult.” The journalistic profession has turned out a small number of plagiarists whose words were stolen from the creativity and hard work of … [Read more...] about A plea to all media outlets re: ‘the Westboro cult’ (by Marty Duren)
Needed: Solidarity Not Stridency (by Todd Littleton)
Todd Littleton blogs at The Edge of the Inside. He wrote a four part series reflecting on the 2012 SBC Annual Meeting through the lens of offering his first ever motion on the floor of the SBC and its demise as Ruled Out of Order. While the nexus of his thoughts turn on a singular incident, Todd finds it illustrative for what ails us. Rather than post these in series form, Todd offers them as stand alone posts. His first post on the subject ran here at Voices, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here. Maybe what he offers is a Minority Report or as his chosen website title indicates, a perspective from … [Read more...] about Needed: Solidarity Not Stridency (by Todd Littleton)
Needed: Conviction Above Procedure
Todd Littleton blogs at The Edge of the Inside. He wrote a four part series reflecting on the 2012 SBC Annual Meeting through the lens of offering his first ever motion on the floor of the SBC and its demise as Ruled Out of Order. While the nexus of his thoughts turn on a singular incident, Todd finds it illustrative for what ails us. Rather than post these in series form, Todd offers them as stand alone posts. His first post on the subject ran here at Voices and Part 2 here. Maybe what he offers is a Minority Report or as his chosen website title indicates, a perspective from the Edge. I … [Read more...] about Needed: Conviction Above Procedure
Needed: Prophets Not Protectors (by Todd Littleton)
Todd Littleton blogs at The Edge of the Inside. He wrote a four part series reflecting on the 2012 SBC Annual Meeting through the lens of offering his first ever motion on the floor of the SBC. While the nexus of his thoughts turn on a singular incident, Todd finds it illustrative for what ails us. Rather than post these in series form. Todd offers them as stand alone posts. His first post on the subject ran recently here at Voices. Southern Baptists pride themselves as literalists. The tendency is to employ a rabid love for the meaning of words until it does not suit the purpose. Southern … [Read more...] about Needed: Prophets Not Protectors (by Todd Littleton)