“Ladies and gentlemen, fellow messengers and Convention workers, there’s a lull in the events here and they’ve asked me to fill it. Therefore, I’d like to take a moment to talk about the IMB…more or less. “As you well know, your churches labor to send missionaries throughout our nation and the world. You’ve given so much of your time, your volunteers, and – to be quite blunt about it – your money. Your sacrifices are too numerous to list here, and yet list them is exactly what I would love to do. That is not what I am here to say, though. “Part of international missions, indeed a … [Read more...] about Notes on SBC President, the IMB, and Ethnicity
SBC Issues
George Whitefield, John Wesley, and the Southern Baptist Convention (by Dr. Tim McKnight)
Dr. Tim McKnight is the Lead Pastor at Lakeview Family Church in Hartsville, SC. He blogs at DrTimMcKnight.com. We appreciate him (and Joel Rainey who sent this article to me) sharing this with us. As I prepare to leave for the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting in New Orleans, I am grieved over the current dissension in our Convention regarding the issue of Calvinism. The current debate relates to the recently published statement of faith entitled “A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation.” As I read the debate over the issues, I am … [Read more...] about George Whitefield, John Wesley, and the Southern Baptist Convention (by Dr. Tim McKnight)
How Did We Get Into This Mess (and How Do We Get Out)?
Our modern SBC is. . . well a mess. We have divisions, factions, dissensions, rivalries, and all sorts of things that the New Testament tells us to avoid. We are broken into groups and clubs, and so many are in to many different groups, we forget who is on our side and who is the bad guy. We can't agree on a whole lot, and it seems like we are divided to the point of destruction. How did we get here? What happened to us? I have a few theories that I would like to toss out and see if we can't find something to agree on for a change. First, I think we gave the devil a foothold. I don't … [Read more...] about How Did We Get Into This Mess (and How Do We Get Out)?
Why I Said “Yes”
An odd thing happened last Saturday. I am headed to Taiwan in a month for a two-week mission trip. I was sweating it out at the church, running a yard sale to raise funds to buy the plane tickets (purchased Tuesday - a miracle of provision). While I was trying to encourage customers to purchase the junk I was peddling, I got a text message. "Dave, some of us have been talking and we think you should be nominated for 2nd VP of the Convention." You don't get a text like that every day. My initial response was, "okay." But after I talked to a few friends about it I began to have second … [Read more...] about Why I Said “Yes”
Interacting with Thom Rainer’s “Five Reasons I Avoid Writing Negative and Controversial Blogposts”
Thom Rainer, the president of LifeWay, has written a wonderful blogpost entitled, "Five Reasons I Avoid Writing Negative and Controversial Blogposts." It is must reading for those of us who blog or comment. I identify with everything he said. Take a minute, click the link and read the entire post. Waiting........... Good, you are back! Now, let's look at and examine each of Rainer's points. Rainer's Excellent Points The points here are copied directly from Rainer's post. The comments are mine. 1) A controversial post often creates sides, dividing people who probably agree … [Read more...] about Interacting with Thom Rainer’s “Five Reasons I Avoid Writing Negative and Controversial Blogposts”
In No Particular Order
Thank you. I open and close most of my prayers with those words. I'll slowly become aware of the morning sun as I sleep off another late-night run, and I'll think, "Thank you, dear Lord. Thank you for...." I don't always start my list with the most important item, or with the most recent. I offer my gratitude for items that spill out of me in no particular order. I'd like to do the same here today. So, in no particular order, I would like to thank the following parties: Seminaries who only use the BFM Megachurches Deacons, male and female GA/RA coordinators, if any still … [Read more...] about In No Particular Order
Bloggers and Beignets: Cafe Du Monde! Monday, 9 PM, Be There!!
There has been a lot of enthusiasm for having a bloggers' get-together during the Convention. After some discussion, it seems like the best time to do this is Monday night, right after the closing session of the Pastors Conference (scheduled to end at 9:00 PM). And, if it is New Orleans, it has to be Cafe do Monde. Now, that is little more than a mile from the Convention Center. I don't know if any of the buses run that way, but who among us couldn't use a brisk walk (followed by pastries)? You are invited. Bring friends. Unless someone wealthy comes along, you are responsible for … [Read more...] about Bloggers and Beignets: Cafe Du Monde! Monday, 9 PM, Be There!!
Defining the “New Baptist Majority”
The Blog world tends to be transitory. This week I posted an article by Mike Bergman about baptism, and it got a few comments. Four years ago, baptism was one of the hottest topics in the blogosphere and an article like that might have blown up. Moderate alcohol consumption, tithing and other topics have had heir moment in the sun. Of course, Calvinism has remained front and center throughout all of this. I have tended to be reactive, writing on whatever seemed to be the hot topic at the moment. But I have come to a series of convictions that I want to keep in front of our readers, … [Read more...] about Defining the “New Baptist Majority”
A Pre-SBC Sale: An Offer You Can’t Resist!
Blogging, Baptist Battles & Burnout
Originally published at From Law to Grace on June 11, 2012 Who would have thunk it. My mom has become a Baptist blog fanatic. A lifelong Southern Baptist who is in her late sixties, my mom began reading my blog several months ago. From there, it did not take her long to find the SBC blogs -- as in Voices, Tomorrow and Today. That's a good thing, because she has not had anything new to read on my blog in the last 3 1/2 weeks. On Saturday she commented that I hadn't published any new articles as of late. I told her I had taken a break from blogging (more on that in a minute) and … [Read more...] about Blogging, Baptist Battles & Burnout