Editor: This is the third installment from this anonymous retired missionary (again, I am aware of the missionary's identity and felt the reasons for anonymity were valid). Part One can be found here. Part two here. David Platt is a godly and unusually gifted man who speaks passionately on behalf of God’s glory among the nations. I thank God for him and we should all be disappointed if he does not continue that ministry. When David realized that he could not pastor a church and be president of the IMB at the same time, he chose the local church over the IMB. David chose to lead one church … [Read more...] about IMB – Too Valuable to Lose, Part 3 (Anonymous IMB Missionary Emeritus)
Planned Parenthood Continues to Be Fully Funded by Government
A $1.3 Trillion Omnibus Spending Bill was passed late last night in the Senate after being passed in the House. It now goes to President Trump for his signature, which is expected. There is a lot to this massive spending bill, but of interest to Evangelicals will surely be the continued funding at almost $500 Million per year of Planned Parenthood, an organization that performs approximately 330,000 abortions per year. A Republican majority House, Senate, and Presidency has no impact on the half a billion dollars a year that goes to Planned Parenthood. This is the second year in a row we … [Read more...] about Planned Parenthood Continues to Be Fully Funded by Government
Guidelines for SBC Presidential Campaigning – Starting the Discussion
Is it okay for a candidate for president of the SBC to campaign for office? If so, what is allowed and what is not? Let's agree to something from the outset. We are Baptists, so autonomy is going to make it impossible to set universal rules. Each candidate, each entity, each entity head is going to have to set boundaries according to the dictates of conscience. But autonomy does not preclude us from attempting to establish some parameters and coming to some kind of agreement as to what is acceptable and what is not. There was a time, during the CR, when entity leaders of the SBC got … [Read more...] about Guidelines for SBC Presidential Campaigning – Starting the Discussion
What is this “neo-societal method of giving” that Ken Hemphill writes about?
Churches have reduced their level of giving, and, many have moved to a method of giving that is neo-societal: They give a small percentage through the traditional Cooperative Program option and then give the remainder of their mission dollars through designated giving, some to Southern Baptist entities and some through other mission agencies. – Ken Hemphill, in an article on his Louisiana Baptist Convention hosted campaign website. Money is an issue in SBC life, particularly the systems of giving and allocation of SBC churches denominational gifts. I don't object to anyone raising … [Read more...] about What is this “neo-societal method of giving” that Ken Hemphill writes about?
More Inappropriate LBC Campaigning – Calling Up Disaster Relief Workers for Hemphill “Rallies”
Friends, Today, I was forwarded, by a number of people, an email that apparently went to all SBC ‘Blue Hats’ in Louisiana. I’ve actually served as a Blue Hat as well as a White Hat during Katrina (this is all Disaster Relief speak for those of you who wouldn’t know) but I didn’t personally receive this email from the LBC building. I’m not sure how to even process what I’m seeing. I think that someone at the Baptist Building in Alexandria either actually thinks we are all stupid or truly doesn't care what we think at all. Coming off the heels of the story about the inappropriateness of … [Read more...] about More Inappropriate LBC Campaigning – Calling Up Disaster Relief Workers for Hemphill “Rallies”
Church treasurer arrested after funds go missing
...the alleged embezzlement amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars and that many mission offerings and pastor’s retirement payments for a 23-year period were unpaid. Hannibal-area church treasurer arrested after funds go missing The lament of church financial advisors and accountants is that they cannot get churches and pastors to pay attention to the fact that they are highly susceptible to having church money stolen by trusted members who are volunteer treasurers and secretaries. The quote above ought to get the pastor's attention. I have to stifle the feeling that there's … [Read more...] about Church treasurer arrested after funds go missing
How Toys ‘R Us Made My Kid Hate Toy Stores, and How He Learned to Love Them Again
This past week, I went with my family on a little vacation. We drove to the North Georgia mountains and then on to North Carolina. We were in search of mountain trails, beautiful vistas, and majestic waterfalls. Our first stop was in Helen, Georgia for the afternoon and evening before we picked out our two oldest sons on a youth trip in the mountains. Helen is a German-style touristy town with a lot of neat shops and attractions. As we were walking down the street, we saw a toy store and mentioned to our 12 year old son that we should go in. "I don't want to go in a toy store. That's … [Read more...] about How Toys ‘R Us Made My Kid Hate Toy Stores, and How He Learned to Love Them Again
How to Pray for Missionaries (Mark Terry)
The sad news I received yesterday (Ed note: this post came a few days ago) inspired this post. Here is an excerpt from a letter from David Platt to the IMB missionaries, staff and trustees, sent on Wednesday, March 14: “It is with a heavy heart that I share this news. This morning (Wednesday, March 14), in the Democratic Republic of Congo, four colleagues in Africa were involved in an automobile accident: Randy and Kathy Arnett and Jeff and Barbara Singerman, along with a national driver named Jean Louis. Kathy Arnett was pronounced dead at the scene, and Randy Arnett was pronounced … [Read more...] about How to Pray for Missionaries (Mark Terry)
Satellite SBC meetings and remote voting: the best terrible idea around
Happens every spring: someone has a eureka moment and asks, "Why can't the SBC Annual Meeting be held in both a central location and numerous satellite locations?" The arguments are always the same. Some tout benefits seen as inherently positive and some arguments express a dissatisfaction with current decisions of the SBC that would be solved by greatly broadened participation. Here's a sampling of comments.. There is no way my church can afford to send messengers all over the country, but we could get to a central location in our state. It would be awesome to be able to go to an … [Read more...] about Satellite SBC meetings and remote voting: the best terrible idea around
Hemphill Election Website Secretly Sponsored by Louisiana Baptist Convention
If I have learned anything during my time as a pastor in Louisiana it is confirmation that power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely (originally from a letter by John Dalberg-Acton 1st Baron Acton to Mandell Creighton dated April 5, 1887). Please no jokes about the political irony of living here in the home state of Huey Long where “Every Man is a King.” For years I’ve wondered… what will it take for my fellow LA Pastors to see through the obfuscation, manipulation and bad stewardship which we allow to continue unchecked in Alexandria. I’m flummoxed as to what will it take … [Read more...] about Hemphill Election Website Secretly Sponsored by Louisiana Baptist Convention