It's hard to believe that the SBC Pastors' Conference is almost here. Social media posts are beginning to pop up with people making their way to Phoenix. I hope you are planning to join us in Phoenix, Arizona Sunday evening and all day Monday. We have 12 preachers from 12 average-sized Southern Baptist Churches who will be lifting up the name of Jesus as they preach expositionally through the book of Philippians. Including today, we have only 3 days left before the conference. I've been posting a call to pray for one speaker each day until the day of the conference. I hope you will take … [Read more...] about SBC PC: Pray for Michael Allen
Paint on some stripes
I learned something from the Internet this year, even though it came from a few years ago. The National Air and Space Museum has a post about D-Day where they explained the stripes painted on Allied aircraft during the Normandy Invasion in World War II. (It's here. I thought about borrowing a picture and linking it, but I don't know if that's fair-use or not.) To summarize the historical material, originally the aircraft of the Allied forces relied on a basic Identify-Friend-Foe system that was automated. Ground crews and naval forces accessed the same system, but it was neither super fast … [Read more...] about Paint on some stripes
Things We Did Right This Year with the Pastors’ Conference
Someone asked me today, are you going to be glad when this is over. I wasn't sure how to respond. Being president of the Pastors' Conference has been one of the great adventures of my life. When Todd and I sat in the green room last year ready to be introduced, I was excited and terrified. Seeing it all come together has been amazing. One the other hand, normalcy will be welcome. We've made mistakes along the way, of course. And we have seen so much of the hand of God. I have been reflecting, in those brief moments when I wasn't answering a question, ordering something, dealing with a … [Read more...] about Things We Did Right This Year with the Pastors’ Conference
SBC PC: Pray for Spencer Plumlee
It's hard to believe that the SBC Pastors' Conference is less than a week away. I hope you are planning to join us in Phoenix, Arizona June 11-12. We have 12 preachers from 12 average-sized Southern Baptist Churches who will be lifting up the name of Jesus as they preach expositionally through the book of Philippians. Including today, we have only 4 days left before the conference. So I am posting a call to pray for one speaker each day until the day of the conference. I hope you will take a moment each day to pray for these men as they finish up their sermon preparations. Spencer … [Read more...] about SBC PC: Pray for Spencer Plumlee
The Resolutions Committee Report for #SBC17
In years where there is no major issue scheduled for a vote, the report of the Resolutions Committee is one of the things most worth watching. Last year Southern Baptists passed a resolution "On Sensitivity And Unity Regarding The Confederate Battle Flag." It was controversial, but passed with the overwhelming support of the messengers gathered in St. Louis. The 2014 convention in Baltimore included a resolution "On Transgender Identity." While that one was not as controversial among messengers, it did receive some discussion from the floor at that year's convention. This year we have … [Read more...] about The Resolutions Committee Report for #SBC17
2017 SBC Voices Dinner
Each year the SBC Voices blog hosts a dinner during the Southern Baptist Convention for contributors and commenters. We usually meet at a local restaurant and everyone buys their own meal. Because we are expecting a larger crowd than usual and because the restaurant selection in the immediate downtown area of Phoenix is limited, we are doing things a little differently this year. We will be meeting in the Governor's Room at the Hotel San Carlos on Tuesday, June 13 at 5pm. The meal is being catered by Fired Pie in Phoenix. The menu will be pizza, salad, dessert, and drink. The cost is $10 … [Read more...] about 2017 SBC Voices Dinner
SBC PC: Pray for Jose Abella
It's hard to believe that the SBC Pastors' Conference is less than a week away. I hope you are planning to join us in Phoenix, Arizona June 11-12. We have 12 preachers from 12 average-sized Southern Baptist Churches who will be lifting up the name of Jesus as they preach expositionally through the book of Philippians. Including today, we have only 5 days left before the conference. So I am posting a call to pray for one speaker each day until the day of the conference. I hope you will take a moment each day to pray for these men as they finish up their sermon preparations. Jose … [Read more...] about SBC PC: Pray for Jose Abella
Faith in America to Protest #SBC17
Last week I became aware that Faith in America (FIA), a pro-LGBT advocacy group, plans to protest the 2017 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention being held next week in Phoenix, AZ. Yesterday a story regarding their plans was published in Baptist Press. This group desires to have homosexuality and transgenderism "removed from the sin list." However, it's as Bart Barber said on Twitter and Facebook, "Presuming that human beings get to edit 'the sin list' is pretty much the top item on the sin list." FIA representatives intent to engage messengers in conversations throughout … [Read more...] about Faith in America to Protest #SBC17
SBC PC: Pray for Jamar Andrews
It's hard to believe that the SBC Pastors' Conference is less than a week away. I hope you are planning to join us in Phoenix, Arizona June 11-12. We have 12 preachers from 12 average-sized Southern Baptist Churches who will be lifting up the name of Jesus as they preach expositionally through the book of Philippians. Including today, we have only 6 days left before the conference. So I am posting a call to pray for one speaker each day until the day of the conference. I hope you will take a moment each day to pray for these men as they finish up their sermon preparations. Jamar … [Read more...] about SBC PC: Pray for Jamar Andrews
The definitive, irreverent guide to #SBC17
Here's all you need to know about the Southern Baptist Convention 2017 annual meeting in Phoenix. Adam Blosser has done a good job prepping folks for the meeting but there are a few things left to cover. Here you go... The 2017 SBC app I'm all apped up and it's actually pretty clever and covers the exhibitors, Baptist Press, even 'locate me' if you get lost. Under the 'attendees' section you can find both Bart Barber and myself, twice apiece. We both have doubles just for the meeting. His is because he is in such demand and can double his appearances. I use mine to take flak from … [Read more...] about The definitive, irreverent guide to #SBC17