Do you millenials know what is meant by a clock "ticking" anyway? Heres the countdown clock for the SBC annual meeting in Birmingham. Don't worry, it's digital. Wouldn't want to stump the whippersnappers with an analog clock. Go ahead and get a copy of SBC FAQs: A Ready Reference by Keith Harper and Amy Whitfield. You will have a chance of knowing what you are talking about concerning convention business if you have this and read it. When all of J. D. Greear's appointments are considered as a whole, there will be no SBC president who has ever appointed a more diverse group - laypeople, … [Read more...] about Some assorted SBC news and the countdown clock to Birmingham is ticking.
Stories From The Mission Field
With our church's recent emphasis on praying for our missionaries, we've been contacted by some IMB personnel about sharing their stories here. We received one such story this morning, and the following is my summary of their story. I'm keeping all names and countries private, even when the missionaries are in an open country. Security is a top priority. We were working with a mother and her daughter one afternoon, and a conversation showed us the typical mindset of the natives in our country. They were happy to talk about Jesus, but the mother said she would never go back to church. … [Read more...] about Stories From The Mission Field
Praying for IMB Missionaries: Lessons and Requests
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post about praying for our International Missionaries. In the weeks since, I've learned more about our missionaries and their work, and have some more prayer requests to pass on to the voices community. First, I want to thank those of you who read my original post and responded with encouragement, and contact information for missionaries and their families. The IMB publishes a daily prayer bulletin, but it does not cover all requests. I've been able to connect directly with some of our missionaries and list their requests for prayer on the Twitter feed … [Read more...] about Praying for IMB Missionaries: Lessons and Requests
Doctrinal Concerns of Southwest Baptist University Alumni
Having observed the recent controversies at our alma mater, Southwest Baptist University (SBU), a number of like-minded alumni have corresponded and determined it would be beneficial to provide alumni testimony and express our concerns regarding SBU. All of us had amicable relationships with our professors. Some of our professors welcomed us into their homes and treated us with genuine kindness and respect. These positive experiences notwithstanding, we are compelled by recent events to bring to light doctrinal concerns related to some of the Redford faculty and their teaching. We have read … [Read more...] about Doctrinal Concerns of Southwest Baptist University Alumni
So You Want Your Own Deaf Ministry, Eh?
I've had conversations with local pastors and associational leaders who expressed fascination with Deaf ministry and missions. "We," the response comes, "need to do something like that." Everyone has a wife, or a friend, or an aunt who knows sign language and many of them "used to interpret down at the church." But one guy took it farther and said, "What would we need to do?" Well, that depends on what you want. What is your aim? What do you need to hold in your hands at the moment you cry, "Ha! We made it!"? For your reading pleasure and thoughtful consideration, I've included several … [Read more...] about So You Want Your Own Deaf Ministry, Eh?
Is He Worthy? A Good Friday Meditation
The veil of heaven was pulled back for a moment and in Revelation 4, John recounts his vision as glorious worship is directed to the One who is seated on the universe’s throne. Angelic beings gathered around him crying, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” The Elders of the company of the redeemed encircled the throne and lifted their praise to the Father who was worthy to receive all praise. But as we enter chapter 5, drama arises. The Father holds a scroll in his right hand, a scroll which will reveal his plan for the future of the world; his … [Read more...] about Is He Worthy? A Good Friday Meditation
It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Coming!
SM Lockridge. Published this six years ago. Thought I'd put it back up. Thought I'd throw this one in just for fun! I'm working on Good Friday and Easter. Then headed to Florida for a week. Unless the world falls apart I won't be blogging much. He is risen. … [Read more...] about It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Coming!
Easter sunrise services and how Armand made my deacon hall-of-fame
Easter came about a month after I arrived at my first church, an average sized congregation in rural South Carolina. Our church was the only one of several SBC churches in that part of the county that had a full-time, if modestly paid minister. My church and three others traditionally joined for an Easter sunrise service at the side of a small farm pond owned by one of the members. A cross was erected by the water, evidently without thought of the crucifixion actually occurring 'on a hill far away' as the inspired old hymn goes. The service was a classic cooperative venture with the four … [Read more...] about Easter sunrise services and how Armand made my deacon hall-of-fame
Milestones at SBC Voices
I coached at Isaac Newton Christian Academy in Cedar Rapids for about 13 years, before I moved to Sioux City, both soccer (we were the dominant program in Eastern Iowa among Christian middle schools) and basketball. I kept track of stats and analyzed them. I still have the files. Numbers and statistics fascinated me. SBC Voices is coming up on a strange confluence of significant statistical milestones. Wordpress has analytics and I monitor them and noticed that several statistical boxes are about to be checked. This is in a time when we have been having a lot of discussions about the future … [Read more...] about Milestones at SBC Voices
Pointless Cooperation
A much-valued tenet of Southern Baptist life is the emphasis we place on cooperation among churches. We even have an entire funding program named for this; it's apparently a Very Big Deal. Cooperation is how we fund seminaries, send missionaries, reach America, fight for religious liberty, and support Southern Baptist churches in general. Personally, my family is a product of SBC life, and therefore of the Cooperative Program (CP). Wife and I work as church planters among the Deaf. The IMB covers us through gifts from churches across the nation. We are eternally grateful for the support … [Read more...] about Pointless Cooperation