The halls are beginning to fill in the convention center. Plenty of meetings and fellowships are already taking place. We visited some great churches this morning. Our group went to FBC Famersville and/or Cornerstone Baptist in Arlington. The Pastors' Conference gets started in just about an hour from now. Here's are a few things I'm looking for over the next 4 days. Presidential Election This week the SBC will decide who will lead the convention as president over the next two years. (Ok, technically one, but the second election is basically a formality). We've made no secret about our … [Read more...] about What to Watch: Four Questions Before #SBC18
We Are Entering Convention “Free-for-all” Mode
I am at my hotel getting ready to head over to the convention site and so are most of our group. That means that we are entering convention mode. Only posts about the SBC will appear. We won't likely take submissions, though you can send them. It is likely they will be overlooked in the busyness of the next 4 days. If you are a contributor and have something, just post it, even if something else just posted. We are likely to have a lot of short posts rather than longer ones. Check @sbcvoices for ongoing info. We will try to post news and reactions for those of you who are … [Read more...] about We Are Entering Convention “Free-for-all” Mode
SBC: Is This a Time for Lament?
I have a confession to make. I believe with all my heart that the Bible is inspired, word by word, and that it is truth without any mixture of error. But when I read through the Bible there are portions that I will sometimes skim a little more carelessly than others. The genealogies of 1 Chronicles may not get my word for word attention as Romans 8 does. I don't give Leviticus' instructions on infectious skin disease, bodily discharge, and mildew the same rapt attention that I give 2 Corinthians 4 and 5. And, when my assigned reading has been Lamentations I may have let my eyes glaze a … [Read more...] about SBC: Is This a Time for Lament?
The Southern Baptist Convention Is a Symphony Not a Melting Pot (Luke Holmes)
In 1915 America was in crisis. The large wave of immigrants had threatened what people deemed the “American way of life.” In other words, people didn't like that others were different from them. It was in this culture that Jewish scholar and writer Horace Kallen wrote his 1915 essay “Democracy versus the Melting Pot.” Kallen challenged the popular notion of America as a melting pot. To Kallen the very idea of a melting pot contradicts part of what it means to be American, of a country of people founded on freedom and equality. He challenged that America was not a melting pot, but a … [Read more...] about The Southern Baptist Convention Is a Symphony Not a Melting Pot (Luke Holmes)
Places to Eat Near #SBC18 Convention Center
Brandon Smith posted this on Facebook. I thought it might be a helpful resource for those heading to Dallas this week. I'm adding Google Maps links for your convenience. Posted with permission. SBC friends, here are some recs for eating near(ish) the convention center next week (from a born-and-bred Dallas boy): Coffee — Ascension; Crooked Tree; Houndstooth Breakfast — Cafe Brazil (or here); Bread Winners Lunch/Dinner — Taco Joint (preferably on Peak St.); Pecan Lodge BBQ; Brick & Bones; Twisted Root Burger; Cane Rosso Pizza; Uncle Uber’s Sammiches; Pappadeaux Seafood; … [Read more...] about Places to Eat Near #SBC18 Convention Center
Five Questions Heading into #SBC18
My suitcase is packed. I am headed for Dallas. This will be my sixth Southern Baptist Convention. My first was in Houston in 2013, and I haven't missed one since. I am excited to hear reports of what God is doing among and through Southern Baptists. I am excited to enjoy some tasty tex-mex. And I am excited to get together with friends that I interact with all year but only see once a year. But before we gather in Dallas, I thought I would put together a brief list of questions that I have heading into #SBC18. Surely there are other questions. Surely there are things that will come up that … [Read more...] about Five Questions Heading into #SBC18
“Slaving to Serve” (Ephesians 6:5-9) – From the Voice that Matters Most
Passage: 5 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as you would Christ. 6 Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people, 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. 9 And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. Ephesians 6:5-9 … [Read more...] about “Slaving to Serve” (Ephesians 6:5-9) – From the Voice that Matters Most
Breaking the SBC’s Addiction to the Wrong Kinds of Power
How big is your church? Small? Medium-sized? Large? Mega? How many baptisms? How much money do you take in? How much money do you give? How much money do you give to the Cooperative Program? How many were in church last Sunday? What kind of impact are your making? How many have you led to Christ? How hard are you working? What are the results? The measurables? How effective is your leadership? We did everything "right." Why didn't we see the same success as the church down the street? Why are they "stealing" our people? Who do they think they are? They're just growing because the … [Read more...] about Breaking the SBC’s Addiction to the Wrong Kinds of Power
Women, You Are Not The Backup Plan
Who doesn’t like a solid backup plan? I’m a self-proclaimed A-type and have great appreciation for a well thought out plan of a plan; I usually have, not one but three or four backup plans to the backup plan. The whole thought of a backup plan though is that you will only see its carefully crafted abilities and process if and when the first plan fails. I don’t remember the context of where I was or even who said it to me, but when speaking about women in leadership and ministry and trying to figure out my place, I somehow grabbed hold of the idea that I was only supposed to be the backup … [Read more...] about Women, You Are Not The Backup Plan
Breaking: Patterson Has Withdrawn from #SBC18 Convention Sermon and Evangelism Task Force Report
Being reported by SBC This Week and other sources on social media: BREAKING: Dr. Paige Patterson has withdrawn from the convention sermon and evangelism task force report. #SBC18 #SBCAM18 — SBC This Week (@SBCthisWeek) June 8, 2018 Scott Coulter, Patterson's former chief of staff, said on Twitter a full statement will release shortly and that the move was "in an effort to bring full harmony to the Southern Baptist Convention." We'll update this post with the statement when it's released. Update: 11:25 Statement is posted at the Southern Baptist Texan Website. Full … [Read more...] about Breaking: Patterson Has Withdrawn from #SBC18 Convention Sermon and Evangelism Task Force Report