Well, it has been a couple of weeks, but such is the life of a pastor. Here are a couple of IMB prayer requests from Africa today. Thanks for praying and for the rest of the IMB prayer requests from Africa today, go to ://Beautifulfeetten15.wordpress.com Niamey City—Pray that the IMB workers in Niamey City will be living examples of the hope that is in them through Christ Jesus. Nairobi—Pray for the Nairobi-Rosslyn Academy as they start a new year. Especially pray for discipleship relationship to develop between teachers and students. East Africa—Pray for a pair of affinity group … [Read more...] about Prayers for IMB August 5, 2019
It’s Friday, Sunday’s Coming: In Memory of Karen Scott
Friday, August 2, 2019, a friend of mine, one I had never met in real life but had grown to love through online contacts, found out what S.M. Lockridge meant when he said, "Sunday's Coming." It is a bit weird, but many of my best friends are people that I met through blogging. One of those, a man I have known since my earliest days of commenting on other people's blogs, is Dr. C.B. Scott. His hard-headedness matches the strength of his convictions and his integrity. I think I have argued more passionately (I'd call it angrily, but...) with him than just about anyone else in the blogging … [Read more...] about It’s Friday, Sunday’s Coming: In Memory of Karen Scott
In the span of 15 months implosions of both Traditionalists and Calvinists
My first writings here on SBC Voices was a matched pair of articles on Calvinists in the SBC: What I like about Calvinists and Why I'm wary of Calvinists. Those were in the summer of 2011 and, as I recall, each had hundreds of comments. What made me wary then was (1) Calvinists can be, well, rather arrogant, (2) I’ve been around too many churches that have been wrecked by Calvinists, (3) Calvinists have been known to be less than forthcoming with search committees. It looks to me like Calvinists, having grown considerably in stature, acceptance, and influence in the SBC, have moved from … [Read more...] about In the span of 15 months implosions of both Traditionalists and Calvinists
Failing by Faith: Verses We Baptists Don’t REALLY Believe
I have been preaching a long series on Sunday mornings on the Holy Spirit and am currently going through 1 Corinthians 12. As a part of my Sunday message on verses 4-6, I ended up in Hebrews 11, don't ask me how. I took my people through a favorite section of the "Hall of Faith" and showed them one of those passages of Scripture I call, "Verses We Don't Really Believe." We believe the whole Bible, of course, but we don't REALLY believe those verses about loving our enemies, returning good for evil, giving thanks for everything, and a host of others - you get me? In Hebrews 11, we read about … [Read more...] about Failing by Faith: Verses We Baptists Don’t REALLY Believe
Impactful Reads: Death in the City
Death in the City by Francis Schaeffer is one of the most impactful books that I have read (in fact, I've read through it three times now). The title might sound a bit head-scratching. It is based on a series of lectures by Schaeffer in the late 1960s derived form the biblical books of Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Romans. He draws the title from Lamentations 1:1 which speaks of Jerusalem after the inhabitants were either killed or exiled to Babylon and then sat empty, hence "death" in the city. Ultimately, Schaeffer was writing a critique of western culture as it was shifting (and continues … [Read more...] about Impactful Reads: Death in the City
“We don’t have a pastor, just a preacher”
With that succinct sentence a church member issued a severe indictment of the man who was their pastor and preacher. I'd heard it before. The line is a standard complaint of some church members who aren't enamored with their current pastor. I may signify something more serious, that members have arrived at the conclusion that their pastor is totally inadequate in performing pastoral duties. In the case at hand the member was expressing frustration that the pastor didn't relate well to most of the members, didn't make sufficient effort to build relationships, and, perhaps, performed minimal … [Read more...] about “We don’t have a pastor, just a preacher”
Letter to white evangelicals: decision time (Erich Bridges)
RICHMOND, Va.—Dear white evangelicals: It’s decision time. You can’t pretend any longer that President Trump is not a racist. Evidence to the contrary is overwhelming. Any number of examples going back years should have tipped you off. Like when Trump launched his political career by falsely claiming that Barack Obama wasn’t born in America. Or when he said many of the Mexican migrants coming across the border rapists and drug dealers. Or demanded the closing of U.S. borders to all Muslims, regardless of their countries of origin. Or said some of the white supremacists who rampaged … [Read more...] about Letter to white evangelicals: decision time (Erich Bridges)
Finally, a formal statement about the Founder’s debacle
Tom Ascol has a statement, here. Here's a word not in the statement: "apologize" Here's another word not in the statement: "sorry" Here's a word, used once, in the statement: "regret" We regret the pain and confusion we caused by this unwise alignment of image and idea. Not exactly a profile in courage or confession to speak of an "unwise alignment." It was scurrilous. Glad he took responsibility for it. I find the whole thing a calamity in our cooperative SBC family and this statement is not all that satisfying to me. I can't ignore that one of Ascol's guys buttonholed at … [Read more...] about Finally, a formal statement about the Founder’s debacle
Are you feeling the call to Hawaii?
Did you know that the SBC website has church job listings throughout the country? Some of those vacancies could use a little extra advertising, so I’ve taken it upon myself to highlight one every once in a while (with a little humor mixed in). The last vacancy announcement was located in a sportsman’s paradise. This one is located in a literal paradise: the island of Oahu. Cornerstone Fellowship – Mililani Mauka Church has not one, but two vacancies they’re looking to fill. The first is an interim pastor for “no less than 6 months and no longer than 12 months.” The second is for their next … [Read more...] about Are you feeling the call to Hawaii?
The Art of Pastoral Honesty (Adam Wyatt)
No matter where you pastor, you will have to navigate through difficult issues. A smaller church or a rural church can sometimes be more difficult because the difficult issues are much more entrenched in the church culture. If a pastor is going to navigate the issues and steer the church toward positive Gospel-centered change it is important that he learn to use the pulpit to honestly deal with issues that need to be dealt with. I believe that there is no better way to lead a church toward positive change than by faithfully preaching the gospel. Sure, planning is important. Outreach is … [Read more...] about The Art of Pastoral Honesty (Adam Wyatt)