I’ve been reading articles about what life will be like after the pandemic. Lots of folks long for things to “return to normal,” but many commentators express doubt that things ever will be the same. For example, all the buffet restaurants in our area have closed, and most will never reopen. The Chinese buffet in our town has closed, and our granddaughter is really sad about that. Lots of employees have been working from home since March. For some companies that has gone so well, that the companies plan to downsize their office space or eliminate it altogether. This is expected to cause a … [Read more...] about After the Pandemic, What Then?
SBC Issues
ERLC should answer questions from the Executive Committee [update: I hear there has been answers submitted]
[But I don't know what the answers are. They will be dribbled out to the hinterlands eventually, I suppose, unless some Baptist pundit gets his hands on them and tweets them.] This is a long-running, slow motion deal. It is critical in many ways that we get this right. SBC Executive Committee creates ERLC study task force. This was back in February. Mike Stone, chairman at the time, said: "This is not a governance issue. This is a budget issue related to their fulfillment of their mission and ministry assignment. We continue to hear reports that are largely anecdotal but increasing in … [Read more...] about ERLC should answer questions from the Executive Committee [update: I hear there has been answers submitted]
Ridgecrest Conference Center scares me…
...only because I’m here at the place and looking around at things to spend money on if I owned it. When I arrived mid-week, I didn’t see another guest. Lots of staff. No paying customers save for one pastor who is appreciatively discounted. No complaints from me. Lifeway announced earlier this year that they were going to sell the conference center. The virus has caused all conferences here to be cancelled. Normally, the place would be crawling with students attending events. As it is, only a few families are here for getaways. We’re all masked up. Lifeway said the center was … [Read more...] about Ridgecrest Conference Center scares me…
Leaving the SBC behind? This has to be discussed about Cornerstone Church
I don't recall a more widely discussed departure from the SBC than that of Cornerstone Church in Atlanta. In my memory only a few high profile, moderate churches leaving the denomination generated as much publicity. Christianity Today has the most comprehensive story about this: Atlanta Church Splits With SBC for Downplaying Racial Issues [Pastor John] Onwuchekwa, who grew up in Houston, the son of Nigerian immigrants, said the SBC tried to make him feel welcome. But from the beginning, he had concerns. “We got on the bus with skepticism, nine years ago,” he said. In 2015, with help … [Read more...] about Leaving the SBC behind? This has to be discussed about Cornerstone Church
Southern Baptist Dictionary
In 1828 Noah Webster published his crowning achievement The American Dictionary of the English Language. The book was the culmination of his life’s work and contained 70k words, of which 12k had never appeared in a dictionary before. Webster learned 26 languages to help in his work and introduced American spellings of words like color and labor. A good dictionary helps us understand the origin of words, the meaning of words, and gives examples of them in sentences. Dictionaries give us a standard set of meanings for words, ensuring that when we use a word, everyone can understand what … [Read more...] about Southern Baptist Dictionary
Put John Lewis statue in the rotunda, Alexander H. Stephens in a museum
This is a totally parochial article, pertains to the state of Georgia. Each state gets to put two statues in the Capitol Rotunda. The last time I was in the place, I gazed absentmindedly at our state's statue of Alexander Hamilton Stephens while some group's tour guide blathered on about the statues. Stephens was the Vice President of the Confederacy and a virulent racist. Find his pre-Civil War quotes about the struggle being about white supremacy. Not much nuance about his views. A perpetually sickly person, it is said that he never weighed over 100 pounds. He made up for that with his … [Read more...] about Put John Lewis statue in the rotunda, Alexander H. Stephens in a museum
A Good Reverse-Bivocational Option (Scott Wells)
Editor: After a recent article discussing bivocational pastoring options, a regular reader, Scott Wells from Ohio, sent this to me. This was prompted by responses to the recent post “Is the small, single full-time clergy staff church a luxury churches can no longer afford?” I am what I would call a reverse bi-vocational. In addition to serving as a full-time pastor, I also serve part-time as a chaplain in the National Guard. I would like to make a case for why it can be a win-win for smaller churches and their pastors. An NG chaplain will miss a minimum of two Sundays per year because … [Read more...] about A Good Reverse-Bivocational Option (Scott Wells)
So, wear a stinkin’ mask…
...if that doesn't exert you too much. Here I am in my blogging sanctum sanctorum, my basement of course, all masked up but only for illustrative purposes. I don't quite get it when I see people in their car alone with a mask. I stay pretty close to home these days but venture out to Lowe's or Kroger's when we need stuff. I'm under authority here in my domicile and a room needs painting; thus, not one but several trips to Lowe's to get the right color and all that. I wear a mask. Thus far, no one has screamed at me, looked askance at me, or sneered at me for doing so. Lucky … [Read more...] about So, wear a stinkin’ mask…
“Woke” won’t work here
“Woke” is a dog whistle, a red flag signal; a brainless, thoughtless, mindless, vapid bit of freshman frat boy drivel. If the word is snarled out in a comment it’s a lead pipe cinch that the comment is a flash of drive-by nonsense. There are good arguments for and against renaming SBTS buildings. “Woke” or lack thereof isn’t one. Editors here differ on some of these questions. Contributions are welcome for and against. If we were gamblers there would have been heavy odds that this piece by DMcK would generate a record number of trashed comments. We’re ultimately on the same side, or so … [Read more...] about “Woke” won’t work here
Baptists You Should Know – Robert Earl Beddoe
The history of the SBC includes thousands of missionaries, pastors, workers, and others who often get lost to history. My goal is to highlight a few of those people in order that we can be encouraged and inspired by their lives and sacrifice. Robert Beddoe was born to a prominent Baptist family in Dallas, Texas September 9, 1882. His mother was the daughter of RC Buckner, the founder of the Buckner Orphans Home, and his father A.F. Beddoe was both an ordained minister and a doctor of medicine. His mother was later the elected leader of the Texas WMU organization, and his family constantly … [Read more...] about Baptists You Should Know – Robert Earl Beddoe