Over the past week since Christmas Day, I’ve been thinking about the church's celebration of Epiphany on January 6th, the Wise Men, Herod, the Flight to Egypt, and how we can either worship Jesus as the Messiah ... or reject him and even put him away through defending a way of life that has no place for him because we find him to not be useful for our larger ends. I recognize that the celebration of Epiphany doesn't necessarily encompass the Slaughter of the Innocents or the Flight to Egypt, but the Biblical story in Matthew 2 flows quickly from the Wise Men presenting gifts to Jesus to the … [Read more...] about Jesus, Epiphany-January 6th, and a Ruler Bent on Protecting His Kingdom At All Costs
SBC Issues
The man who was no longer Baptist
The Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma was only a year old when Alonzo Nunnery came to pastor in Oklahoma. The young convention had formed as a merger in 1906 from the conventions in Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory and Nunnery came to the state to pastor in Granite, Oklahoma, from Tennessee. Nunnery spent from 1907-1939 as a pastor in southern Oklahoma, and undoubtedly left a mark on the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (BGCO). His contribution, though less than desirable, helped the fledgling convention cement its beliefs and firm stand in their convictions. Born in … [Read more...] about The man who was no longer Baptist
Things you didn’t know about the SEC
Vanderbilt, currently the league doormat, was formerly an SEC powerhouse. Tulane used to be in the SEC, dropped out in 1966. Tulane has more SEC football titles than Mississippi State and Kentucky, as well as Arkansas, South Carolina, Missouri and Texas A&M, which have never won the conference. Georgia Tech was another SEC powerhouse but in the worst decision Bobby Dodd made, left in 1964. Tech's record against rival Georgia is something like 12-46 since then. The ACC can have the Jackets. The SEC headquarters is in Birmingham. Most SBC conventioneers walked past it when we had … [Read more...] about Things you didn’t know about the SEC
There are a few million reasons why two SEC teams are playing for the championship
If Alabama played Cincinnati a dozen times they would beat them a dozen times. If Georgia played Michigan a dozen times they would beat them a dozen times. The players are that much better. It doesn't hurt that both Saban and Smart are paid more than other coaches. It doesn't hurt that both schools have assistant coaches who make over a million a year. I love shocking staid friends by telling them the highest paid state employee is Kirby Smart, head football coach. It ain't close, either. Money, money, money...big money wins football games unless you for some strange reason like … [Read more...] about There are a few million reasons why two SEC teams are playing for the championship
2022 declared “The Year of the Real Pastor”
You can say you read about it first here. The declaration was made about an hour ago by your humble hacker and plodder retired pastor. Here's to the Real Pastors among us! The guy who looks out on Sunday morning and sees the SBC median and average and below attendance, or no more than a couple hundred souls. That's about as many as the Senior/Lead/Top Dawg Pastor can actually pastor. The guy whose membership and community, when someone asks who the pastor is of his church, replies with his name only. God bless all the associates, assistants, age-category sub-pastors but THE pastor … [Read more...] about 2022 declared “The Year of the Real Pastor”
Top SBC events of 2021
1. Creation of the Sex Abuse Task Force. To be cussed and discussed for a generation. 2. Ed Litton elected SBC president. A surprise that Mohler didn't make a runoff. Litton's sermon practices later became top news. 3. SBC Executive Committee CEO, Ronnie Floyd, resigns. Vision takes a back seat to perceived leadership failure. 4. Mass resignations of Executive Committee members. The CBN exits for reasons they think are compelling. Bye. 5. Churches mostly back to normal after COVID. 6. Russell Moore resigns as CEO of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. And goes Presby … [Read more...] about Top SBC events of 2021
The SBC, the EC, and Waiving Attorney-Client Privilege (by Jon Canler)
Over late summer and early fall 2021, the Executive Committee (EC) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) deliberated whether or not to waive attorney-client privilege (ACP) as part of a sexual abuse investigation into the actions of the EC over the past two decades, an investigation overwhelmingly demanded by the messengers to the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting. As the deliberations drew out, with resistance from some on the EC who were not willing to waive ACP, all kinds of commentary were offered to explain what was happening. As is readily apparent from this statement, some within the SBC … [Read more...] about The SBC, the EC, and Waiving Attorney-Client Privilege (by Jon Canler)
Voices Top Ten Articles of 2021
If something big happens this week, like the Second Coming, I'll let one of the other guys handle that. So, here are the top ten articles. We keep score here...on everything. Russell Moore Letter to SBC President on the Current Crisis in the SBC [Full Text], Brent Hobbs, June 5th. Copy and paste job of Moore's letter to J. D. Greer, a pre-election surprise. J. D. Greear's powerful message to the SBC Executive Committee, Brent Hobbs. February 23rd. This was an address by Greear back in February. The article linked the video of Greear. SBCers wanted, I presume, to see him and listen … [Read more...] about Voices Top Ten Articles of 2021
Has the SBC reached its winter solstice?
Today's the day. The sun comes to a slow stop from going southward and inches back up. I'm a little depressed but things will literally be sunnier from now until beyond the contentious SBCAM in June. My fair locale has 9 hours and 53 minutes of sun today. The farthest north I've ever been, North Pole, Alaska, has a meager 3 hours and 44 minutes of sun today. Gimme a handful of vitamin D pills, quick. But how's the SBC looking, metaphorically speaking, in regard to sunlight and darkness? From where I stare out at the gray, cloudy, chilly, leafless dimness it looks pretty bad. I have … [Read more...] about Has the SBC reached its winter solstice?
Christians and the Public School (by Dale Huntington)
Growing up in a family of mostly secular humanist educators, I never once questioned if I should be going to public school. My father was the elementary school principal my friends referred to as Dr. Huntington and my mom was a school teacher and a college counselor for most of my life. So, when private Christian school and homeschooling were mentioned to me, I had no point of reference for it. And to be honest, the homeschooled kids I met seemed like they were from a different planet. It was in public high school where I was exposed to Christian teaching about the wrath of God and the saving … [Read more...] about Christians and the Public School (by Dale Huntington)