I believe all of us who serve in ministry feel inadequate from time to time. I surely do. Sometimes I reflect on the Apostle Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 2:16b—“And who is sufficient for these things?” Clearly, Paul felt a sense of inadequacy in regard to the responsibilities he bore. We would all join Paul in asking this question: Who is truly sufficient? Our church members assume we are masters of all aspects of ministry; after all, we graduated from the seminary. The reality is that we are typically good at some things, poor at others, and get by on the rest. I do fine with … [Read more...] about Who Is Adequate for Ministry?
That Helpless Feeling
A few weeks ago, we faced the unexpected: Our not-even-three-week-old baby spiked a fever that wouldn't break. A trip to the emergency room was followed by being admitted into a children's hospital for a three-day stay. Fortunately, the problem proved to be a virus that simply needed time to pass. But in the midst of the wait, there was one feeling, for me at least, that was strong: helplessness. Life is precious. Life is also vulnerable. You learn both as a new parent. We like to think that we are strong and in control. We like to think that we can provide safe spaces for our … [Read more...] about That Helpless Feeling
The supreme irony of the year: Tom Ascol calls on the SBC for “deep seated repentance”
You can't make this stuff up. I'm not going to link it. We had the Militant Trads, but they self-destructed. We've had the Rabid Cals for years, Ascol was a pretty decent spokesman for that segment of SBC life. Now, hopefully, the Rabid Cals have self-immolated. It's Wagnerian, brethren/sistren: Gotterdammerung. You might have to change a gender or two to get a good fit. Thank God for the sensible multitudes in our convention. Ignore the rest. _____________ Shortest article ever. Doesn't need to be explained. … [Read more...] about The supreme irony of the year: Tom Ascol calls on the SBC for “deep seated repentance”
Some Questions about Salaries and Our Entity Presidents
I understand why people want to know what entity presidents make. I do, too. If a secret email was circulating the interwebs with the salary packages and someone said I could have the password to open the email for $10, I’d probably be asking if they take PayPal or Cashapp. I am as curious as the next guy. I have written on this topic previously and expressed my views. In my mind, my curiosity is not a sufficient reason to break protocol on confidentiality and to violate the trustee system. I do not believe that I have a legitimate claim, even as a pastor whose churches, over the last 40 … [Read more...] about Some Questions about Salaries and Our Entity Presidents
My first sermon, being overpaid, and a peculiar racial church situation
I came to seminary from a secular job and volunteer positions in my large church with no preaching experience. Soon, I was offered an opportunity to preach in a small town in the Mississippi Delta, the 'Fust' Baptist church thereof. With some effort I cobbled together a sermon of a sort on Isaiah 40, I think, and headed down on the Lord's Day to the church. The church had a nice looking brick structure in the middle of town. A Sunday school class was in progress when I arrived, one of the men of the church teaching a couple of kids on the steps of the pulpit platform. Worship was for … [Read more...] about My first sermon, being overpaid, and a peculiar racial church situation
Prayers for IMB Europe: July 19, 2019
Here are a couple of prayer request from our IMB workers in Europe for this Friday morning. Thanks for praying. Belgium--24 volunteers on 3 different volunteer teams from TN and NC will be doing mapping and surveys in the Drongen area of Ghent, Belgium to begin the process of planting a new church. Pray that the Lord will reveal persons of peace. These volunteers will also be participating in coffee and hot chocolate distributions early each morning (through the 26th) to festival goers at the Gent Festival. Pray for good conversations with those who have open hearts and minds. They will … [Read more...] about Prayers for IMB Europe: July 19, 2019
SBC entities should voluntarily, annually disclose CEO compensation
Morris Chapman, former SBC president and Executive Committee CEO, made a motion last month in Birmingham: A motion by Morris Chapman of Triune Baptist Church in Arrington, Tenn., to request that the Executive Committee amend the SBC's Business and Financial Plan where necessary to strengthen the fiscal accountability of the SBC's entities to the convention. I don't know what he had in mind, although I could make some guesses. No one would know more about the issue of the SBC Executive Committee's Business and Financial plan and the fiscal accountability of SBC entities, or lack thereof, than … [Read more...] about SBC entities should voluntarily, annually disclose CEO compensation
Are you feeling the call to Alaska?
Now that I'm a seminary grad, I'm on the hunt for a lead pastor position. I want to be open to anywhere if God so leads, but absent some clear direction otherwise, I am maintaining my search focus on the midwest. That means there are hundreds of pastoral search committees around the country that won't see my resume. 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 flare I can only hope will be worthy of our very own humorist, William Thornton. First up, the First Baptist Church of Petersburg, … [Read more...] about Are you feeling the call to Alaska?
Donetsk…9 Years Later
Here are a few paragraphs from a story I posted yesterday. It's from Joe, missionary to the Ukraine. It's reprinted here with permission. As a missionary I am used to living in different cities, countries. In early 2010 I found myself in an uncomfortable place. A broken engagement in 2009 left me broken. I wasn’t even sure that the mission organization I was attached to would even invite me back. I was in Fort Worth in those early months of 2010, wondering what would happen. After some healing and time away, my current supervisor talked with me about 3 cities. One was in a European … [Read more...] about Donetsk…9 Years Later
Racial Blind Spots, the Jerusalem Church, and Southern Baptists
With our 2019 perspective, we find it absolutely unbelievable that the founders of the SBC could preach the gospel while also owning slaves and regarding people for whom Christ died as sub-human. There are discussions ongoing as to whether the founders - blatant and unrepentant racists - were actually saved. We took action at the Annual Meeting this year that would prevent the founders of our convention and their churches from being a part of our convention today, because of their racism, an action I enthusiastically supported. Were the founders of the SBC false believers? Were they truly … [Read more...] about Racial Blind Spots, the Jerusalem Church, and Southern Baptists