Just when I thought I was a stranger in my own denomination, Dr. Grant Ethridge invites a list of actual Southern Baptist Pastors to preach at the Southern Baptist Pastors Conference. This list is certainly not complete, and I'm sure there are likely to be a few outsiders invited to the party, but it's pretty hard to go wrong with David Jeremiah, David Platt, Fred Luter, Johnny Hunt and Jack Graham. A year ago, we were embroiled in a bit of controversy over this conference. I suppose there is still time for that to develop, depending on the remaining speakers. But so far, from my … [Read more...] about Pastors Conference Shout Out
SBC Issues
Commune periculum concordiam parit.
Lest I violate 1 Corinthians 14, the title means this: Common danger brings forth harmony. This was the "use that word in a sentence" example from the Latin Word of the Day email I got a few weeks ago. I would actually consider having this tattooed on someone else, because it's just a great statement. So if you'd volunteer for that, email me. I would like to give you a few thoughts on this phrase, commune periculum concordiam parit.Especially as it applies to the Great Commission Baptists of the Southern Baptist Convention. I. First, let's look at the word harmony. Harmony is a great … [Read more...] about Commune periculum concordiam parit.
A Bridge Between Night and Day
In the soft moonlight of midnight, shadows dancing against the baby-blue wall of the nursery from a cottonwood tree moving gently in the nighttime breeze, it is party time. The baby is awake and searching for his toes, his pacifier, his blanket, his mommy or his daddy. He is ready for his day to begin; he wants to explore. Yes . . . in the soft moonlight of midnight. Smiling, cooing, laughing. In the first 10 years of our marriage, Lisa and I had five babies: four boys and then, a daughter. It was common among them to go through a period when they would have their nights and days … [Read more...] about A Bridge Between Night and Day
The Cancer of the SBC
As I spend time in the SBC, at meetings and conventions and gatherings, I have noticed a trend. We are getting to be a negative, pessimistic and critical group of people. We grumble and gripe and complain and whine and pick and poke. We criticize each other, we criticize churches and pastors and theologies and books and teachers and leaders. We point out where everyone else falls short, where everyone else is wrong and how we are doing it better. Sunday School guys don't like the Small Group guys, Small Group guys don't think Sunday School works anymore. The home church guys don't like … [Read more...] about The Cancer of the SBC
Forget Calvinism and name changes… let’s talk about something really important!
In case you have missed a part of the social media bandwagon, pictures of brooms standing on end have been appearing all over the place. Even saw a Christian message board go nuts at the phenomena—it must be a sign of something. Popular explanation—Jupiter, Venus, and Earth are all in some sort of crazy gravitational alignment. My church custodian and I would like to see your broom, and raise you four brooms, a dust mop, and a dustpan: Is it nary but a sign of the closing of the age? Brooms standing on end, dogs and cats living together…mass hysteria! With this harbinger, I have … [Read more...] about Forget Calvinism and name changes… let’s talk about something really important!
“Calvinism” — Breakdowns in Communication
In our ongoing discussions of important issues, one perennial problem is breakdown in communication. An issue where this problem seems to occur often is in our discussions about Calvinism. Just what do we mean when we use the term “Calvinist”? Because the term is used in a variety of ways we often fail to communicate and misunderstanding occurs. Unfortunately, such misunderstanding too often leads to unnecessary division and offense. For positive dialogue on this or any issue, both the speaker and the hearer have a responsibility to strive for understanding. The speaker must communicate … [Read more...] about “Calvinism” — Breakdowns in Communication
Examining “The Gospel Project” – Webcast, March 14, 2 PM CST
There has certainly been a wide divergence of opinion about the LifeWay Sunday School curriculum, "The Gospel Project." The Gospel Project identifies itself as a " Christ-centered curriculum that examines the grand narrative of Scripture and how the gospel transforms the lives of those it touches." In a three-year plan of study, the curriculum traces the gospel story from Genesis to Revelation, attempting to do more than just present unrelated moral stories, but to weave them all together to explain the gospel, the theological underpinnings of the gospel and the missional life to which … [Read more...] about Examining “The Gospel Project” – Webcast, March 14, 2 PM CST
Pro-Life in America: Someone Switched the Price Tags
My wife and I would really like to get rid of our dog. We got him nearly 7 years ago as a bribe or our daughter. I'd ripped her out of the only home, the only school, the only church she'd ever know and dragged her across Iowa to Sioux City and it seemed like fulfilling her longstanding request for a canine companion might be a way to mollify her. A friend arranged for us to adopt a 6-year-old, overly-friendly, odoriferous, and incredibly lazy black lab named Tubbs. He's been a part of the family ever since - and a pain in the neck. He's made messes (of various kinds), chewed things he … [Read more...] about Pro-Life in America: Someone Switched the Price Tags
An SBC Blog Experiment
How about a little change of pace and mutual encouragement? Answer one of the following questions in the comment stream: What do you love about the SBC? Or What is something God is doing in your church, association, state convention, or other ministry? Here are the guidelines (for this post only and I know we can do it!): Positive comments only – if you don’t have anything nice to say, comment on a different post No hidden or subtle swipes at some other group or position No Convention politics No sarcasm, snarkiness, condescension, orneriness, or mentioning of … [Read more...] about An SBC Blog Experiment
An Evil In America: National League Baseball
Spring Training is in progress and the first pitch of the baseball season is only a month away. It is time to address an evil that goes on in America's National League ballparks every day of the baseball season. Pitchers bat! (That is not a misprint. They actually make pitchers pretend to bat in the National League.) Ridiculous! Some people were created with the ability to hit a baseball and some with the ability to hurl it. We don't ask Alex Rodriquez to pitch, why do we expect CC Sabathia to bat during interleague play? It is a violation of nature. Sure, there is an exception to the … [Read more...] about An Evil In America: National League Baseball