SBC Issues

I'm heading on a mission trip on Thursday, to Taiwan. I recounted the provision of God in a blog post yesterday.  It was amazing. But some have pointed out how expensive mission trips are. We will spend between $15,000 to $18,000 on this trip.  I will preach around 15 times in 9 days, and our team will lead youth group ministries, lead worship and do other tasks at a missionary conference. It's a lot of money for the ministry we are doing.  Is it valuable?  Is it worth it? It is cost-effective in terms of ministry? Tough questions. Some say that mission trips are a waste of time and … [Read more...] about Overseas Mission Trips: Do They Serve a Legitimate Purpose?

On Thursday, I am leaving for a mission trip to Taiwan.  When God does something amazing, it is incumbent on the recipients of that amazing work to recount the goodness of God. I want to share what has happened and how this has all come together. Our primary work this time will be serving at the Taiwan Missionary Fellowship, a gathering of evangelical missionaries from all over Taiwan.  We will be leading the youth ministry for the week.  Ben and Deserai (my son and daughter-in-law) will also be leading the music and worship time at the morning sessions for the adults and I will be teaching … [Read more...] about Declaring the Glory of God: How God Provided for My Trip to Taiwan

Editor: Saw this interesting discussion-starter on William Thornton's site, SBC Plodder. He agreed I could repost it here.  From what I hear, churches that aren't belt tightening and cutting back a little are more the exception than the rule. One of the things about visiting different churches each week, my worship plan for the past seven months or so, is that there is almost invariably a financial statement available in the foyer. I've been known to sneak one out for more careful review at my leisure. To tell the truth, when I scrutinize another church's financial statement I get a … [Read more...] about How’s Your Church Doing Financially? (by William Thornton)

It was my second concussion that was the most embarrassing.  It was a rainy Friday afternoon, when I finally had the opportunity to play football with the big boys.  (Of course, I’m not really sure that it was rainy—I was concussed, remember—but it sounds good anyways). Here I was 4’8, 12 years old, and finally playing football with my dad and his friends on lunch break.  Being the short kid all through elementary school (and even now in adult life) I know that I’m going to be underestimated until I prove myself.  In football I would never get a pass thrown my way until I could show my … [Read more...] about Proverbs for Christian Blogging: The Necessity of Fixed Eyes and Guarded Hearts

Editor's Note: the "save as pending" and the "publish" button are pretty close in our set-up, and this got published this morning, by accident. I'm republishing it tonight to give you another chance to read it - not compressed around other posts. Last night a handful of folks from church went to a nursing home to stage a little surprise birthday party for a woman who turns 95 this week. It was a simple affair with a small cake and the sounds of “Happy Birthday” filling the corridor as she was wheeled towards us. We hit the gentle crescendo right on cue as she saw our faces and put it all … [Read more...] about How to Prepare for your 95th Birthday

Were you are amazed as I was watching Nik Wallenda cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope?   In addition to listening to his constant stream of praise to our Savior, just the magnitude (or, perhaps idiocy) of what he was doing was shocking. He walked across Niagara Falls on a cable.  The pictures and video were nothing short of astonishing. But, during that entire walk, he was never in danger. He was tethered to a safety line. If he had fallen, he'd have only been embarrassed, not dead. The stunt was still incredible - my heart was beating rapidly as I watched - but Nik Wallenda … [Read more...] about Walking the Tightrope: Balancing Love for Sinners with Acceptance of Sin

Peter was a fisherman.  He had done it all his life, even when he was a disciple of John the Baptist.  Then, one day, Jesus walked by.  “Follow me, and I will make you a fisher of men.”  And Peter followed him.  He left the nets behind and followed Jesus for more than three years, throughout Galilee, to Jerusalem, to Gethsemane, and to the Sanhedrin.  There, it all ended. “I swear to you, I never knew this man.” With those words, Peter denied the Lord he had sworn to serve.  And even when the most glorious miracle of history occurred, even when Jesus was raised from the dead, even when … [Read more...] about It’s No Time to Go Fishing!

But I agree with the sentiments in this picture.   Andy Griffith was not just funny, it was hilarious.  It was not just family-friendly, it was squeaky-clean (well, except for the moonshiners!).  I am still convinced it was the best show that has ever graced the small screen (well, the black and white episodes before Barney left).  The first season's Christmas episode is unquestioned brilliance. I remember an episode where a hard-driving businessman breaks down and can't get a part for his car. He is frustrated with Mayberry and its small-town ways.  On Sunday afternoon, Andy and … [Read more...] about Maybe I’m getting old…

“That’s what speed do”. Jarrod Dyson is one of the fastest players in MLB.  He was a 50th Round Pick.  That’s around the time when baseball teams start picking the guy with a wooden leg who lost his real one in a freak combine accident.  Guys that get picked this late do not make an influence in the game of baseball.  Or at least they aren’t supposed to.  But Jarrod Dyson is really fast. As a Royals fan I absolutely love watching Dyson play.  It’s exciting to see him slap a ball to the shortstop and then watch the usually sure handed shortstop get a little jittery because he knows if he … [Read more...] about Jarrod Dyson, Rollie Fingers, And How We View the World

  Stole this from Eric Schumacher, who I am sure stole it from someone else! … [Read more...] about New Rules for Discussion at SBC Voices