(William's blog, the SBC Plodder, has had some insightful commentary on state and national entities and their spending priorities. Here is another entry from the Plodder questioning the questioners - those who are not happy with NAMB's current spending priorities. Worth a read!) The North American Mission Board is Southern Baptists' second largest entity with a budget for 2012 of $115 million. NAMB gets the second largest slice of Cooperative Program money, about ten percent. Their annual mission offering, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions, totaled over $56 … [Read more...] about So, how do we expect NAMB to spend our money? (by William Thornton)
Don’t like changes at NAMB? Here’s a novel idea… (by William Thornton)
(The SBC Plodder has been ruminating and cogitating, and has some wisdom to share with us.) In the past decade or so, it seemed that you couldn't type or say the words "North American Mission Board" without appending the word "dysfunctional," or worse. In my view things have changed and I support the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering without the serious reservations that I have had the past few years. Evidently, others feel the same way since the AAEO was significantly up for 2011. NAMB has been the SBC's main newsmaker the past few years and I know of no SBC entity that has undergone … [Read more...] about Don’t like changes at NAMB? Here’s a novel idea… (by William Thornton)
of fans and bandwagons… (by Ricky Kirk)
(Ricky Kirk blogs at Panta ta Ethne and was one of the Final Four in our recent Blue Collar Blog Madness. Thank you, Ricky.) So the University of Kentucky achieved another win to add to their already stellar basketball program and legacy. Give credit where credit is due, but some know, and everyone will now know, I am not a UK fan. Yes, I was born and raised (for the most part) in Kentucky. For some reason I just never jumped on the bandwagon and became a fan, much less a follower. Speaking of bandwagons, what is it that makes a person decide to be a fan only when a team is … [Read more...] about of fans and bandwagons… (by Ricky Kirk)
How “The Hunger Games” Reflects Biblical Truth (by Alan Cross)
(Editor's Note: Back at Christmas my Frank Page hitting wife bought me a Kindle Fire, and my spoken Word poetry genius daughter got the book "The Hunger Games" for me. Since I tend to do what my daughter tells me to do, I read the book. Immediately, I got Kindle copies of the rest of the trilogy, then devoured the movie last week. So, I'm a fan. Alan Cross, who blogs at Downshore Drift, wrote this great article and I asked him to publish it here. He said yes. Here it is.) I found a lot of Biblical truth in The Hunger Games trilogy. I finished reading it yesterday and think that some … [Read more...] about How “The Hunger Games” Reflects Biblical Truth (by Alan Cross)
What Really Matters in the Church? (by David Worley)
Tennessee pastor David Worley (known as Volfan007 to many) offered this good word about the essentials of church. What should a church be most interested in? Numbers and finances? Budgets and Backsides in the pews(or chairs)? I don’t think so. Oh, I’m not saying that these things are not important. They are. And, nobody would be more excited about my church having double the attendance that we have now, than me. Nobody would love to see the finances being much better and overflowing, than me. But, there are some people, who would make these things THE most important factors in determining if … [Read more...] about What Really Matters in the Church? (by David Worley)
Can one be a member of more than one local church? (by Stephen Young)
(Stephen M Young is a missionary living in Brazil. He blogs at "Beyond Outreach" and has a personal blog as well. I appreciate him sharing this post with us.) I am interested in the opinions here on SBC Voices. Can someone be a member of two local churches simultaneously? (Let’s keep the hypothetical to SBC churches.) I am putting the question out as a general question, but have added some examples to think it through. Case 1: A missionary who, being sent as a member of his home church, joins with a local church in the country in which he is working. Can he be a member of USA Baptist … [Read more...] about Can one be a member of more than one local church? (by Stephen Young)
Whatever Happened to the GCR? (And how we can still have one). (by Alan Cross)
(Alan Cross blogs at Downshore Drift. If he's not in your feed, he should be.) The Great Commission Resurgence. This was the rallying cry of the new SBC 2-3 years ago. Southern Baptists had a task force that met for a year and made recommendations to the convention that dealt with funding mechanisms, an emphasis on church planting, and a suggestion to get more money from state conventions to the International and North American Mission Boards. These are good suggestions, but they weren't exactly the things that would lead to a true, grassroots resurgence of the Great Commission on the … [Read more...] about Whatever Happened to the GCR? (And how we can still have one). (by Alan Cross)
Perspectives on the Name Change Proposal (by Chris Roberts)
What's in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet - Juliet, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet It would seem that Juliet was mistaken, at least in part. While a name itself does not change who we are, names can tell something about who or what we are supposed to be. There is a reason why we call ourselves Christians, believers, and saints; these names all identify some aspect not just of who we are but what we are to be in Christ - Christ followers, those who believe the word of God, those who have been made saints through the blood of Christ. There is a … [Read more...] about Perspectives on the Name Change Proposal (by Chris Roberts)
THE SBC IDENTITY CRISIS: A RESPONSE TO PETER LUMPKINS By Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr.
Peter Lumpkins posted a provocative piece concerning the SBC/GCB name change proposal that prompted me to opine and pontificate with regard to my posture on this proposition. I'm in favor of a name change because of regional, racial and public relational baggage/issues associated with the current name. However, I agree with you: if the original stated reasons for the name change proposal were valid-and I believe they were-then money is an invalid reason not to change the name. To not change the name for monetary reasons is a borderline insult. Given the convictions, courage, strength of … [Read more...] about THE SBC IDENTITY CRISIS: A RESPONSE TO PETER LUMPKINS By Wm. Dwight McKissic, Sr.
Al Mohler, The Super Nerd
Albert Mohler describes his desire for reading from the time he was a young boy. God even uses nerds for His glory! … [Read more...] about Al Mohler, The Super Nerd