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Let’s Adopt the Baptist Faith & Message This Year

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Let's have a define-the-relationship talk. Let's make 2019 the year that we make it official. Let's bring the whole Southern Baptist family together in agreement around The Baptist Faith & Message. We've waited long enough. The BF&M has existed in its current revision for nineteen years this coming summer. It is not going away. It enjoys broad support within the SBC. All of the SBC entities at the national level have adopted it years ago. It works just fine. It will strengthen our unity, not divide us. The recent kerfuffle at Southwest Baptist University in Missouri highlights … [Read more...] about Let’s Adopt the Baptist Faith & Message This Year

Advice from Old Preachers

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An interchange I had with William Thornton a few weeks ago caused me to think about advice given to me by old preachers. I was ordained to the gospel ministry at the FBC of Bentonville, Arkansas, in 1971. Several older pastors gave me advice and counsel, both that day and in the following weeks. I wish I could remember all they told me, but I do remember these gems. Preach the Word and love your people. Probably, all our Voices readers have heard this one. It’s really common, but it is common for a reason. It is good advice. A pastor should focus on preaching the Bible, and he should love … [Read more...] about Advice from Old Preachers

The Lottie Moon offering seems to be doing well…

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...in the churches this year. Anecdotal evidence here but I'm hearing of healthy increases in some churches. My church did much better. This is the SBC's oldest and best mission offering. Whatever is askew in our convention doesn't diminish the need for a global strategy for missions where resident workers who are immersed in the culture and speak the language share the Gospel. I think, overall, Southern Baptists understand this and give faithfully and often sacrificially. There have been years when the LMCO jumped $20 million from the previous year. Not sure where we will be when the … [Read more...] about The Lottie Moon offering seems to be doing well…

Common Sense Reflections on Bowl Season

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I know, I am more noted for my passionate opinions on sports. Love the Yankees. Hate the SEC. Consider Alabama and Nick Satan an abomination against all that is decent and good in America. There. But as the college bowl season draws down (I know there is one big game still out there, and perhaps a few others I am not aware of), I would try to make some reasonable reflections on what we have seen. 1. This year, there were probably only TWO teams that deserved to be in the College Football Playoff.  It would appear that Clemson and Alabama are the two best teams in the nation this year and … [Read more...] about Common Sense Reflections on Bowl Season

Some duds of 2018

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I'm owning up to some of my articles that didn't quite capture the interest of folks around here. Duds. ___________ In the dead of mid-winter last year I wrote on things admirable, deplorable, or forgettable, a compilation of well-used and ill-used vocabulary. Seems that post was altogether forgettable. Nary a comment, not even a snarky one. Want to hear crickets? Write a piece on leadership changes in state conventions. In spite of the fact that about 90% of Cooperative Program revenue flows through sixteen legacy state conventions in the south, there seems to be little interest here … [Read more...] about Some duds of 2018

Fabulous SBC Voices College Bowl Game Contest

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There are sixteen bowl games left, including the championship game. I'm not counting some minor bowls not worth watching. The ones that are left, not including Auburn who isn't going to make my list of anything, are the ones below. Heck, one of the goofball bowls cancelled their game. Go figure. ______________________________________ Saturday, Dec. 29 1. Orange Bowl, Alabama vs. Oklahoma 2. Cotton Bowl, Clemson vs. Notre Dame 3. Peach Bowl, Florida vs. Michigan 4. Belk Bowl, Virginia vs. South Carolina   Monday, Dec. 31  5. Military Bowl, Cincinnati vs. Virginia … [Read more...] about Fabulous SBC Voices College Bowl Game Contest

Ten Key Questions for the SBC in 2019

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Predicting the future is a dangerous thing. I have a copy of Sports Illustrated that predicts that the Atlanta Falcons will defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the upcoming Super Bowl. Atlanta was to have defeated the Vikings in the NFC title game. These football experts get fewer predictions right than a broken clock. I track it. I lack clairvoyance and am no great expert at the SBC's inner workings. I have often not foreseen the issues that would arise. Who knew that 2018 would see the downfall of icons and heroes, presidential campaign tactics scraping the barrel in ways we have never … [Read more...] about Ten Key Questions for the SBC in 2019

The SBC single best moment of 2018

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That would be the moment  in our annual session when messenger and trustee of Southwestern Seminary, Bart Barber, said the following: I am an old-time Baptist congregationalist. My church has business meetings every month because I want us to have business meetings every month. I believe in our polity. And it is a part of our polity that our entity heads do not get to remove trustees when they become an inconvenience to them, that entity heads have to answer to their boards both when they want to do so and when they don’t want to do so, that seminary employees have to abide by board … [Read more...] about The SBC single best moment of 2018