We've all heard it hundreds of times—SBC Headquarters is the local church and not some denominational agency. If this line is nothing more than a misleading notion humbly tossed out under the pretense of sounding spiritual, then we should stop saying things we do not really mean. However, if it is indeed true, since I represent one and only one such local church, I am compelled to submit this memo from my SBC Headquarters Branch to every Southern Baptist institution in general and to the ERLC in particular. It is our policy here at headquarters to extend great latitude toward our entity … [Read more...] about Memo From SBC Headquarters
The Greatest GCB of All Time
This is the story of the two GCB's whose unfailing legacies will forever define the Summer of 2012. In a year when the Mayans had predicted that everyone and everything on the face of the earth would completely vanish into thin air, we can all agree that both of these GCB's certainly held up their end of the bargain. One GCB presented a controversial drama striking at the very heart of many deeply rooted Southern Baptist values in a way that many found personally offensive and totally unnecessary. The other, of course, was a television show. We are now eight … [Read more...] about The Greatest GCB of All Time
Time to Bring Back the Parsonage?
In my ministry, I have been privileged to serve as Pastor of four wonderful churches--three with parsonages and one without. When living in a parsonage, I sometimes felt the desire for a home to call my very own. Asking others about drapes, carpets and repairs made me feel like I lived in a nice apartment with a friendly landlord, but clearly had no authority to make the place my own because, of course, it wasn't. I was thrilled to finally enter the world of mortgages about twelve years ago. But there is one very significant occasion when living in a parsonage can make a lot of sense, both … [Read more...] about Time to Bring Back the Parsonage?
Stuffed Baboon Reading Darwin
Upon entering the office of the President of Southwestern Seminary, one finds to the immediate right a baboon hunted by Dr. Paige Patterson. Resting in the primate's hands is a copy of Charles Darwin's "Origin of the Species." If you don't find this the least bit amusing, may I suggest that you get out more. After exiting the President's office, I walked down the hallway and noticed the portrait of one of my retired professors in the field of Biblical Backgrounds, who was open about his belief in evolution. I'm sure he must be pleased to know that Darwin's theories continue to enjoy … [Read more...] about Stuffed Baboon Reading Darwin
A Hill On Which To Live
Earlier this week, it was my pleasure to visit the campus of Southwestern Seminary for the first time in many years. Not certain what to expect, I came away pleasantly surprised and profoundly impressed with the tremendous progress being made at my alma mater. Allow me to highlight just a few areas where God's Hand is clearly at work: New Student Housing: Chad, a student from Georgia who read Scripture in Chapel, was kind enough to take me to dinner and show me the new student housing that is still being constructed in phases. Suffice it to say that the new units are attractive and … [Read more...] about A Hill On Which To Live
Message the Messengers!
Recently, on more than one occasion, Southern Baptists have been encouraged to "Trust the Trustees" when it comes to the handling of our denominational matters. In response to that worthy slogan, might I suggest another one that I believe is more transparent, more consistent with congregational polity, and frankly, more Southern Baptist? "Message the Messengers!" Did we not form a Task Force to study a Great Commission Resurgence and report back to the convention? Did they seal their meeting minutes for fifteen years? We were told to "Trust the Trustees," or in this case, the Great … [Read more...] about Message the Messengers!
Please Pacify the Plodder!
(This piece is in response to the piece that was just posted a few minutes ago, a re-post of William Thornton's SBC Plodder article concerning the housing allowance. Comments are open on this post as a place of discussion for both sites. Here is that article.) Can someone please print a copy of SBC Plodder, wrap some fish in it, and send it to our friend William Thornton? In the imagery of The Godfather, this is how one signifies that someone dangerous to the mafia, such as Luca Brasi, now "sleeps with the fishes." Someone needs to send William a message, and fast. William is a talented … [Read more...] about Please Pacify the Plodder!
The Descriptor to End All Descriptors
Although it seems much longer, it has now been nine and a half weeks since Southern Baptists in New Orleans approved the informal descriptor "Great Commission Baptists." At the time, I sat in a well known New Orleans eatery and ordered a "Po Boy at Mothers" while quipping that, because some people did not like this traditional name, we should at least be given the option of referring to the sandwich as a "Rich Girl at Fathers." While the new sandwich descriptor is not catching on, the same can certainly be said for the new SBC moniker. By now, even the least conscientious webmaster has had … [Read more...] about The Descriptor to End All Descriptors
I Miss Dave
Just saying. But since he's out of the country and totally unable to defend himself, I do have a few questions I was hoping some of you could help me with: Did Dave really say, "I'm going to Taiwan?" Or did he say, "I'm going to tie one on?" They don't call it Miller Time for nothing, and have you noticed he always tries to steer us away from discussing alcohol? Did Dave really pack the infamous Gatorade colored sport coat, and if so, does anyone know the Chinese phrase for "Jolly Green Giant?" Since Obama and other politicians leave the country whenever there's a scandal … [Read more...] about I Miss Dave
The Aniston Principle
What is truth? (John 18:38) In life, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish what is true from what is false. I mean, who wants to base their judgments and decisions upon faulty information? If only we could measure the plausibility of truth claims and sort through the cluttered deception of worldly fabrications. May I suggest, free of charge, that we adopt “the Aniston Principle” for the systematic processing of information by the otherwise gullible? Mr. Joshua Garlathy dodged child support payments for over a decade, owing $32,000 in back payments. Hiding in Hawaii, he was unwilling to … [Read more...] about The Aniston Principle